St Johns Catholic Academy - Eagle Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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T H E E A G L E Twenty-One ADVICE T O UNDERCLASSMEN VVe have come to the parting of the ways. After four years spent within the walls of our Alina Mater, we are about to pass the first great milestone in our journey through Life. And it is only now that we realize fully what our years at St. Johnls have meant to usg what, in the course of time, they will mean to you. Now, having attained the realization of our dreams-gradu- ation-let us give these few words of advice to our underclassmen. Be ambitious, young friendsg aim high in lifeg endeavor to achieve some- thing great for yourself and for mankind. Be capable in what you undertake. Be honorable in all things. Be afraid of nothing but evilg be anxious for nothing but good. So you will honor God and serve your country. If you heed the foregoing suggestions, yours will be the power to travel to your destiny on a path which no cloud can darken. Success will favor you and your life will be filled with a peace and love which no worldly sorrow can destroy. SENIOR CLASS. -ol nr It PRGBLEMS YET TO BE SOLVED How Florence can be so dumb? Why Kate Stack wanted a back seat? lvhere Ray gets it fhicj? How the bat got that way? Yvhat St. Vincentas would do without Agnes? VVhy Frances Culkin doesnlt invest in an alarm clock? VVhere Maurice Moriarty gets the right to wear green? VVhere Kochski got the brogue? YVhy Agnes couldn't wait?

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Twenty THE EAGLE HIS SACRIFICE The clock on the mantle struck nine. Adriano Darreti nervously paced the floor of his apart- ment. It seemed to him that the one decisive moment of his life had come. At ten-thirty he was to make his first public appearance as a violinist,-an appearance which would decide whether he was a success or a failure in the vocation upon which he had set all his hopes. In his hand he held a telegram, stating that his mother, who was lying in a semi-conscious con- dition in a hospital some hundred miles away, was calling for him. It would be impossible to cancel his engagement at the opera. It would spoil his only chance to show to the world the skill that was born in his fingers. Yet, although his debut should be a success, he would never forgive himself if his mother died before he reached her. All his life he had dreamed of the opportunity which lay at his feet tonight, still, had not his mother sacrificed much for him and was she not dearer to him than all worldly honors? These thoughts passed through his mind. liloments like these were precious. The seriousness of his mother,s condition had not been explained in detail. Now she might be on the brink of death and here he stood, weighing in his conscience the steps he was about to take. As the thoughts of his childhood came before him, there seemed to be no choice. Early the next morning he ascended the steps of St. lNIary,s Hospital. Five minutes later he was ushered into his mother's private room. Here lladame Darreti, who was suffering from injuries resulting from an auto accident, had recovered consciousness. She received her son with that show of affection and love as no other in the world bore for him. It was the look of tenderness in her eyes that rewarded Adriano for the sacrifice he had made. Here, clasped in her arms, he realized he would have given life itself rather than forsake her at death. Rczcnrdcfl. lfadame Darreti was slow in recovering from the injuries that physicians had thought fatal. The thought of what the accident had cost her son caused her more worry than the wounds. Though she prayed unceasingly that he might be given another opportunity, all Seemed ill vain. Darreti, during the years of his mother's convalescence, was not idle. So diligent was he in the practice of his loved music that he added a touch of unrivaled sweetness to the beautiful and passionate melodies. Seven years passed. Adriano had more friends, he had gained a foothold in society and was fast gaining prominence in music circles. Then Fate seemed to smile on him. He was to be the first player in a concert being held at the Metropolitan Opera House. Rosa Ponsello, Fritz Kreisler and others, masters of the arts which they practiced, were also engaged. De Barro, one of the greatest violin- ists the world had ever heard, was on the same program. It was this DeBarro that Darreti had held as his ideal and in all his dreams had come visions of this great musician. Thus it was that Darreti had but one thought in mind. That was to equal his ideal. As the curtain rose, the orchestra played a selection from lIoZart's Unfinished Sym- phony.', As the beautiful notes of the prelude died away Adriano Darreti walked from the wings and gracefully bowed to his audience. For this, his first appearance, he had selected Ivagneris Evening Starf, In this, the greatest of his works, IVagner poured out the hopeless and ardent longing of his own unhappy love. From the standpoint of technique and emotional intensity, this is an epic work. From the first stroke of his bow Darreti held the hearts of his amazed audience. Ivhen his bow again rested at his side and the recesses of the opera house were still echoing with the strains of the beautiful music, Adriano waited for the approval or the disapproval of his critical audience. There was a brief moment of silence. Had he failed? But no! Listen, Darreti! The spell is broken and the audience is acclaim- ing you. Receive, Darreti, your reward from the musical world. Then go to her who awaits you in success or failure. She will say to you as the Maker of us all said to His Son This is lily Beloved Son in Ivhom I ain well pleased. II.-XYMOND H. BILLS.

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Twenty-Two T H E EAGLE AVIATIO DURI G During our last year in high school, we graduates had ample opportunities to note the progress of aviation. Eventually airplanes will be one of the chief means of transporta- tion, then we will remember that the prac- ticability of these machines was shown during the time that we were seniors. l'ndoubtedly im- provements will be made, but time will prove that aviation was most influenced by the flights that took place recently. After Colonel Charles A. Lindberghts famous flight from New York to Paris, the subject 6'Aviation,, entered the discussions in many of our lessons. VVe combined English with Ameri- can History by writing 011 the greatness of his success and the effects of his trip on future aviation. 4tLindy,,, the man of courage and daring, became our ideal and our hero and wc proclaimed him loudly. Lindbergh deserves our thanks for he is re- sponsible for the increase of universal interest in aviation. He dared to fly alone across the ocean, thus encouraging other aviators. lVe know that Lindbergh influenced the young people ofthis country, making them eager to prove their worth. Probably more than one of us was urged on by his dauntless spirit to do our very best and to reach our goal. The next airplane flight of importance was made by Chamberlin and Levine. These two men made the first non-stop flight between New York and Germany. This time the bonds of communciation carried beyond Lindbergh's stopping place. Again we saw the O R SENIOR YEAR possibility of safe, smooth transport from one country to another. VVe hailed these two fliers as heroes also, for had they not followed the pathways that lead across the fenceless sky? The two flights mentioned were made east- ward over the Atlantic Ocean. Baron von Huenefeld, Captain Koehl and lllajor Fitz- maurice made the flrst successful flight west- ward over the North Atlantic, April thirteenth. They landed their airship, the '4Bremen,', on Greenley Island after a fierce struggle with the elements. The success of these representatives of other countries shows us that the llnited States is not alone in her eagerness to derive the full benefits of aviation. Airplanes are serving our country in more ways than one. Consider the llfississippi Yal- ley, sunk in its floods and New England, ravaged with sleet storms and turbulent waters. First aid was brought to these wrecked places by airplanes. During these trying times, it seemed that airplanes were flying everywhere on errands of mercy, drawing mankind closer together in bonds of sympathy and understand- ing. Very quickly this astounding miracle of man's conquest of the sky became an accepted fact of every day life. Yet, during the last year, we have often asked, '4VVhat may we ex- pect neXt?,' All things seems possible now. Wlhcn the skyways have become our roads, we will remember that when this era of flying took its greatest step forward we too were begin- ning a new chapter in the book of Life. BIAE B. Koen.