Sacred Heart College - Gradatim Yearbook (Belmont, NC)

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The Gradatim CLASS PROPHECY It happened the spring that I was asked to christen the great steamer now called The Queen Isabclle, and. if I mistake not, it was April. I remember that because all hedges were white as I sped north to Washington. The wife of the Cuban ambassador, my one-time schoolmate. Violetta Del Cueto, met me in Washington, and we had enjoyable times together. But that was after the accident, for there was an accident, you know. Let me tell you of it; When I swung the bottle of champagne, through some misadventure it splurted back upon me. and for a time I suffered from suspended animation. But only for a time. (How was that? Please do not interrupt or I will lose my trend of thought completely!) The next thing I remember a little man — not so little you know but short — stepped up to me. Hurry up! he said. I ' ve waited long enough already. To whom are you speaking? I said, We haven ' t even been introduced! As if you didn ' t know me! he said, Why, I ' m the Bachelor! The Bachelor! I said. The Bachelor, he repeated. Perhaps your next remark will be that you have never heard of ' The Gentleman in the Moon ' ! I have heard of ' The Man in the Moon ' , I said. None of your wisecracks, he said, or I ' ll not take you there! I was about to ask where when he hurried me into some sort of conveyance, the name of which I have never been able to ascertain. It was unlike anything I have ever seen Don ' t talk so much. he said. Why, I haven ' t said even a word, I protested. Well, you were thinking, he said, and when women think it is just as if they talked. That ' s why I have remained a bachelor. I couldn ' t stand the noise! After some travel, wc stopped at a star that resembled an immense concert hall. All the light that shone forth. I was to discover, came from the violinist, Maria Maristany, whom I saw, even before we had stopped. Why, what an honor! I called out, but the audience, infuriated, started hissing me so loudly that I was forced to beg the little man to step on what- ever-it-was and get us out of there, which he did. What a place she has! I exclaimed. You were going to say ' in the sun ' , he said, and that would be untrue. This place is very many millions of miles from the sun. Are you good at figures? I changed the subject while he pulled out an adding machine and worked it with — his toes! Page Twenty-four

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The Gradatim EMMA: Sister is going lo ring the bell. I shall sec you on the campus. Dorothy. SCENE IV Dormitory. April, 1937, (The girls are dressing for the Passion Play). JOV; I suppose the Centurian would be very much amused if he could gaze on my impersona- tion of him. PAULINE: I wonder what St. Joseph thought of my impersonation of him at Christmas! (Dorothy enters room dressed as the Blessed Virgin) BRIDIE: Doesn ' t she look holy? MARY: (Looking out through window) I see some people arriving. Lets hurry to the auditorium. SCENE V Gymnasium, November, 1937. (Joy and Margaret are among the spectators of the first basketball game of the season ) . JOY: What do you think of our new coach? MARGARET: Not being a member of the team. I do not know him personally, but the girls like him and that means they will co-operate with him. He is very particular about regular practice and all the rules must be strictly obeyed. JOV: There they go for the last quarter, and the score is 3 7-7 in our favor. (Much cheering from the crowd as S. H. A. gains the victory.) SCENE VI Lawn in front of the Chapel. May, 1938. (The Abbot, priests. Sisters, children, and people of the community have formed a procession and are wending their way slowly down the path to the Shrine of Our Lady in the woods. Two little girls are carrying the crown for the Blessed Virgin, which is to be placed on her head by the girl who has received the highest honors in conduct and scholarship). SISTER: (Walking beside the choir). Please sing your best this evening, girls. The others are depending on your lead. GIRLS: We will. Sister. SCENE VII Tennis Ccjurt, September. 1938. (Some of the girls are seated on the benches becoming acquainted with two Cuban girls who have just arrived to join the Seniors). DOROTHY: (Interrupting the two girls who are speaking Spanish). If you girls wish to learn English you should forget Spanish for a while. MARIA: That ' s what Mother says, but I can express myself much better in Spanish. ViOLETTA: Tu sabes, me perdi en el colegio hoy. no estoy acostumbrada al edificio todavia ! SCENE VIII Auditorium, Class Night. May. 1939. (The Seniors have just finished a little entertainment. They are now in back of the stage very tearful and unhappy). JOY: Just think! This is the last time we shall ever be on the stage here except at Commence- ment. MARGARET: (Practically.) Unless you return to attend college. DOROTHY: The audience is waiting for us to say farewell. Let ' s go out and sing that little verse we have been practicing. (Seniors appear on the stage and sing together) Goodbye, dear friends — adieu! God bless you. we fondly pray Our hearts will ever be with you Though we ' re going far away. — Margaret Harrlss. Page Tiventtj- three 19 3 9 mmmm an tatmm i

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The Gradatim CLASS PROPHECY -Continued Soon we stopped at what seemed to me a hospital star. We stepped oflF. and not knowing what I was doing there. I felt, and I am sure I looked, utterly foolish, until the little man pointed to a desk on which was a placard bearmg the title. Dr. Harriss. There were so many degrees after the name that I was beginning to get dizzy when my companion unceremoniously hurried me off elsewhere. Can ' t I talk with Margaret? I said. You mean with Dr. Harriss, he answered. Be careful of your manners, or I ' ll be sorry that I invited you! Well. I said, but we were off without much more ado. The next trip is rather long. he said, and you may read these poems for relaxation. He pulled a dog-eared volume from one of his tiny pockets. It had been folded and re-folded, and its title was Poems by Joy Gilbert. They are the finest sonnets since Shakespeare, he said. I noticed the first was called Moonlight Sonata. That ' s why he likes them so much. I thought, but I said nothing. However, upon reading them. I discovered that they were very fine indeed, and I was very proud of the fact that I had been one of Joy ' s classmates. In just a few minutes I ' ll have to leave you, said my escort, for Mr. Sun IS becoming very impatient. I declare, sometimes I think he wants to be the whole show himself, and he sighed deeply. We soon arrived at a beautiful little cottage. Another of your friends ' said the Man-in-the-Moon. I looked around, but could see only a lovely little child on the porch. Mama thought you never would come, she said, Who are you. ' I asked. Sybil, she said simply and smiled at me. There was something in that smile I knew. A lady hurriedly opened the door and embraced me before I knew it. Why. it can ' t be. I said. But it was. It was Mary Fay Spencer of happy memory. At least that used to be her name, but she told me she had married the Postmaster General of the United States and that her hobby was stamp- collecting. Mary Fay, of all people! Come along, said Mr. Moon Man. or I ' ll leave you in mid-air. With that he started his funny motor again, and, although he did not mean to do it, I am sure, he — went off without me! I went off, too, off in the true sense indeed, Down, down, down, I went, until finally, with a jerk, I opened my eyes to see Violetta gazing anxiously into them, Never again agree to christen a ship. she said, until you can throw a bottle! What bottle ' I said. What ship? — Dorothy Hogan. Page Twenty-five