St Johns College - Ozanam Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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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 I4. 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 I8. at the Ursuline Audito- rium. The social activities of the school were eclipsed by the formal Junior Prom. which took place Friday evening, May 8. 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 15, 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 adornment 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. C.

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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. Why, 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 sinning. 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-looking 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. J. C. Ret!-gspect 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 hrst 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 teamg 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 Shuttle 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. ,Iohn'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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I Sl :I H I ' If I BE I - 3562 FROM FAR AND NEAR L I JE I It I I I I ll JM And now the honorable Doctor Eliot of Harvard has come out with his views on the immigration question. According to the doc- tor the unassimilable races are the Jews and -the Irish! To think, my dear Americans, that through all these years the safety buildings of Boston and New York have been the arsenals and rendezvous for hordes of armed aliensl ls it not a shudder-causing cogitation? This statement of Doctor Eliot, however. has been the cause of another of life's little ironies. For lo, who but the dear old World's Work itself should come out in defense of the Catholic Irish. The reason: the Irish, plague take them, happen to fall ethnically in the W. W.'s pet Anglo-Saxon or Nordic race. The periodical begins by admitting that perhaps the Irish have not been absorbed so well as men of other nationalities that come in the Nordic group. Facts show this, it is admitted. But, maintains the magazine. this condition is not due to any inherent unassim- ilability, but rather to the policy of the Cath- olic hierarchy, which frowns on any inter- marriage with Protestants. lf the time ever comes, the article concludes, when Protes- tants and Catholics can marry as freely as do the members of the several Protestant sects, then that separateness of which Doctor Eliot complains will end. In the first place, it might profitably be asked in what does Americanism consist. Is it necessarily a losing of all race identity? Is it the dropping of all previous character- istics, and being refashioned in a kind of a standard mould? Or does it not rather con- sist in an attitude, an approval of America's ideals and a strong determination to live worthy of them and to do what one can to further them? Again, in reply to the sug- gestion made by World's Work, it is a ques- tion whether a change in the sentiment of the Catholic Church toward mixed marriages would work for the happiness of this country. It might do something toward the further assimilation of the Irish-if that be a good. But if we are to judge by past experience of such marriages it would also result in an in- crease of marital unhappiness-and that is an evil which is already so great that the very existence of this country is threatened by it. Doctor Eliot is also authority for the state- ment that love at Erst sight is the best and truest kind. This department does not feel called upon to make any comments. An article by Father Ryan of Catholic University appearing in the Catholic World for May holds much that is of interest to col- legians, ex-collegians, and non-collegians. As its title it proposes the much-mooted question: Do the Prohibition Laws Bind in Con- science? It meets the issue frankly, and settles it with a finality that is characteristic of Father Ryan. A Let us quote from the concluding para- graphs: The Eighteenth Amendment, writes Father Ryan, and those provisions of the Volstead Act which forbid the sale of intoxicating liquor and which prohibit action involved in, or immediately connected with, the sale of intoxicating liquors are binding in conscience .... All these prohibitions are binding in conscience because they are neither unjust nor construable as 'purely penal' legislation. On the other hand, the non-commercial and private manufacture, possession, and transportation of liquor for consumption by one's self or one's friends, remain lawful in the field of conscience and morality. The provisions of the Volstead Act which pro-