St Johns College - Ozanam Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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THE OZANAM 41 aments exclaim, after seeing a villain take a desperate chance and fail, Do you know what I would have done in his place? Again, consider the matter from another view-point. Suppose that instead of follow- ing the villain, the path of the hero is most carefully watched. Wliy, even here there is danger. All of us know that in the modern story, the hero, to use an old expression, is more sinned against, than sinningf' What I mean to say is that, although he will unhesi- tatingly retaliate injury done to himself, he will never start the unjust action. No, the villain will perform the first injustice. As soon as the action is under way, we try to imagine what particular form of deviltry the villain may attempt. Having set out to find one, our imagination runs riot until a feasi- ble-loolcing piece of mischief is found. Sup- pose the villain chooses another manner of evil doing. Then immediately and whole- heartedly we begin to compare the respective qualities and points of success of the two plans. Without mentioning baser results, I have shown how evil effects may arise from even fairly-good drama. Do not, for this reason, think that the only result of the drama upon morals must be evil. Far from it. The ef- fects of the drama are not of themselves ex- clusively either good or bad for morality. As with most things else upon this earth the effects of the drama are just what we make them. C- Retrgspegt Recollections are as a gen- eral rule interesting, but es- pecially so this year which represents the ful- fillment of the long cherished dream--a Col- lege building exclusively reserved for Col- lege students. A resume, then, of the activi- ties of the past year serves to perpetuate to a small degree the events which made our life in the new building most enjoyable. An appropriate exercise upon beginning a year of study was the annual retreat held in October. Rev. Father Francis P. Kemper, S. J., former Prefect of Studies here, pre- sented very thoughtful instructions which made a lasting impression upon all his hearers. We were all better students for having taken part in this all-important spiritual retreat. The University had the honor of having in its midst the Rev. Father John I. Zahm, S. J., its first Prefect of Studies, upon the fif- tieth anniversary of his entrance into the So- ciety of Jesus, celebrated October 7. The students of both the High School and Col- lege departments joined in a program of congratulation in Westminster Auditorium. The next few weeks of school were spent in organizing the various societies. The Stu- dent Council elected Julius Pilliod as its president and began its activities early in October. The Philharmonic Society held some important meetings. The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin and the Ozanam Literary Society were part of the regular schedule. In athletics we may pass over in silence the triumphs of the basketball team: these have been recounted in a former issue. We are glad to mention the development of real school spirit which they accomplished. Certainly this year was one of firsts. It was the first time in the history of the school that a dance was held in the name of the University. A student mixer was conducted under the auspices of the Student Council on November 7. Socially, it was a grand success. Financially, it was a triumph, as was evidenced by the appearance of new fur- niture in the college lounging room. The Council presented a Student Shuffle on Feb- ruary 23 as a sequel to its first success. While we are reviewing the social annals we cannot neglect to mention another first Thanks to the initiative of Mary Manse stu- dents a new chapter was written in the his- tory of St. John's University when the young ladies of the women's college invited the young men of our own college to a get-to- gether party in Brescia Hall on February 20.

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40 THE OZANAM The first blow will be so brutally effective it will render the country practically helpless. The only efficacious means of combatting an aerial attack is by air-plane. Surface guns are inefficient. A nation's war strength is no longer measured by man-power, but by air-power. Recently in Washington Brigadier Gen- eral Mitchell strongly advocated that our Air Force be improved and increased. He was at once deprived of his rank and shorn of his powers as head of the Air Service. Higher officials claimed he was too out- spoken. Startling example this, of petty jealousies existing between our Army, Navy and Air Service. Our jeopardy lies in just such disunion. It is important that this state of affairs be rectified at once. Unity in our departments of defense is paramount. Amer- ica, if we would remain supreme among the nations-we must look to the air. J. T. R. When we speak of the moral effect of the drama we must take for granted that man is naturally imi- tative. It follows that he will imitate what he sees in the drama, or at least in that part of it which appeals to him and lingers in his mind. If this is so then the movie, since it is nothing but silent drama, has had no small share in shaping the morals of the present generation, and has been in a large measure responsible for the 'crimes of this generation. The Moral Effect of The Drama Unquestionably we must also attribute a part of this evil to the fact that children are no longer kept close to their mother's apron stringsg and that, in consequence, the child is to a great extent left to its own resources in the matter of amusements. Naturally the young person does not turn to the Art Mu- seum, the Zoo, or the Aquarium, for all these soon lose their noveltyg but, craving for thrills and excitement, the child ordinarily turns to fields anew, -that is, to the movie. But 'why the movie? Primarily because this source of either innocent enjoyment or moral delinquency is found in every neigh- borhood. Now in the desire for the movie we hnd the first incentive to evil. The child must have money for the show. If the par- ents are strict they will often refuse the child the fee of admission: yet, if the child is very intent on, or wrapped up in, the show it will not hesitate to obtain the money by some means or other. Then there is the bad example of the mod- ern movie, which is especially dangerous be- cause children are more apt to imitate than are their elders. This is no pessimistic view-point: we must take things as we see them, and draw our own conclusions. I do not say that every movie is bad for the child nor that children should be kept away from them, but in this matter a modicum of discretion should be used. So much for the child. When a man goes to a play, movie, vaude- ville, or other, he may have one of many pur- poses in his mind. He may simply be after amusement, as is the general case. Possibly he has read the book from which the play is produced, and desires to see how the thing would look when enacted on the stage. Or, if he be a man who cares little for the wel- fare of his soul, he may be on his way to the theatre for the reason that the play showing at that place has been derided as immoral and unfit to be seen by a decent man. Be that as it may, he is on his way to the show. Arrived there, he takes his place. The curtain risesg the play has begun. After a time there comes a part of the play wherein the villain is in a tight corner. He is sur- rounded and has either to kill or be killed. The audience hopes for him to be killed, yet at the same time in their subconscious selves they are considering ways of escape, if they were in the villain's place. The trait is al- most universal. How many times have we not heard people of the most varying temper-

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42 THE OZANAM The affair was well attended and everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. It is these kind of projects that will serve to build up a new spirit of appreciation between the stu- dents of both schools. The annual alumni banquet was a very auspiciious gathering of over two hundred members and friends. It is very evident that the association is developing new energy by the real spirit that was displayed on this even- ing of February 14. The addresses and other entertainments were worthy of a greater St. John's. The College debated in a new field this year as a result of the formation of the Ohio- Michigan Debating Conference. Two de- bates were held with Toledo University, of which St. john's lost one and won the other: two debates with Bluffton had the same results. On Wednesday, March 25, the Ozanam Debating Society was honored with the pres- ence of Rt. Rev. Bishop Stritch. At the invitation of the Vocational committee, the Bishop gave an informal talk on the dignity and nobility of the priesthood. He appealed to the students to think of this high vocation when considering their state of life. The public presentation of the Dramatic Society this year was Seven Keys to Bald- pate. This famous Cohan success was well received by packed houses on the evenings of April I7 and IB, at the Ursuline Audito- rium. The social activities of the school were eclipsed by the formal Junior Prom, which took place Friday evening, May 3. Stu- dents, Alumni and their friends revelled in the art of terpsichore engulfed in an atmos- phere of rhythm which only Frederick Sey- mour and his associate players can create. From nine till one the Woman's Building was the scene of one of the most pleasant dancing parties of the season. And this ambitious pro- ject. the first of its kind attempted at St. john's, has set a high standard for the future. City-wide interest in our College was brought about for an ever memorable ten-day period, during the famous moustache contest in which the members of the Senior class were the entrants. On Friday, May l5, ten youths laid aside their razors and none of the ten upper lips knew the touch of steel until noon on May 25. Every man in the race had the beginnings of an item of adomment while Mr. Urban L. Pilliod was awarded the trophy as the winner of the classic. Much publicity was given this event by the Toledo newspapers. L. F. G.