St Marys Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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I love the roadside birds upon lhe topr Of dusty hedges in a world of Spring. --Francis Ledwidge PRINGI Are there words enough in this or any other language or even in a combination of all the tongues of the world to describe adequately the wonders of this glorious season? l doubt it, for Spring doesn't mean exactly the same thing to any two people. To your next door neighbor it might mean putting up the screens or painting the new fences or planting seeds. Mother probably connects house- cleaning with Spring when she will go over your abode thoroughly from top to bottom. Hundreds of birds chirping on the telephone poles aren't exactly welcome to sister on a Spring morn, after she has stayed out too late the night before. But no matter how much grumbling and scowl- ing it might bring to some unappreciative souls, to all it gives of its beauty and peace. Mother Nature, paint brush in hand, splashes a rhapsody of hues throughout the world and with each stroke hearts become lighter and the sorrows and mis- llsmt S' E ll A ,rparkling eye and :harming Jrnile Vivaciour, yet serene, Buhbling laughter, childish glee Prove rhe'r sweet sixteen. Old man Gloorn and rainy dayf, Troubles and lrials are seen ll i1h hopeful eyes and rheerful .rrnile When one i.r sweet Jixleen. Cherry rahef, banana rplilx. Sweet music, rerordingr keen, A corner booth and a football .rtar Are heaven at .rweel rixleen. ' joan Donnelly. '53 Mxncus Ronacu, '51 fortunes of Winter are forgotten. It's the one time during the year when Mother Nature becomes a little vain, like a woman modeling .1 new dress who adds a flower here and there to enhance her natural beauty. When else during the year do you see life about you in everything? When else could you come upon a newly hatched bird, fallen from its nest and the sweet protection of its mother's wings? You see its wonderment at the strange world and its feeble attempts to call for its mother. Spring, in fact, is like a new born babe itself, full of life and love. It stretches its arms out to the hearts of all those who would embrace it. lt brings renewed courage and hope to hearts disillusioned with the cares of the world. The old become young again as life takes on a new meaning. All ages are encouraged to strive toward higher goals which stop at nothing less than conquering the world. Spring, then, is ushered in as the season of life and new hopes after the drabness and deso- lation of icy winter and as an introduction to the growth of these living things and the fulfillment of these hopes in the summer months that are to follow. Wiatlwa Mary, 1l'illJ her guiding hand Taught the King of all the land,- Taughz obedience and truth, Taughl perferlion lo lhir Youlh. Mary laid her motherly heart Open, lo be torn apart By the seven Jufordr of grief Which lasted long wiihaur relief. So much help ir needed now. Tearh all mothers, show lhem how To gnide lheir children for lhe bert, So with you .romeday lhey'll rerl. Pat MrKenna, '52

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in our youth. True values are now apparent. At this stage, life has given us most of the answers and knowing the answer brings with it a sense of satisfaction, even though, at times, of regret. Like the city dweller we should seek to rectify all our past mistakes. It is never too late to make amends. .For those who are growing old, formal school- ing has long since ceased, but no matter what our age, we can still learn. Experience is the best teacher and, by the time we have reached the K . . Ah, what if Jo rare ar 4 day in june. --lame! Rurrell Lowell AH, WHAT IS SO RARE AS A DAY IN JUNE ! Especially since I registered my first squeal on june twenty-first, the beginning of sum- mer. Those were hectic or shall I say heated days. They placed me in a two by four crib which never gave me enough room to squirm around to avoid the heat. I often wonder if this is the reason why I'm only five foot two. As I became acquainted with the other babies, we worked out a system that each would take a turn crying so that the nurse would come breezing through and provide a bit of air. Finally, they bundled me up and we journeyed home. Everyone wanted to hug and squeeze me so that by the time they were through I could have been wrung out. Even yet I can feel those uncomfortable undershirts, diapers, and blankets clinging to me as if they were afraid to let go. Sometimes I used to recline in my coach with the merciless sun beating down on my bald head and ponder over why I had to select such a season for my birthday. I came to the conclusion that I probably wouldn't have many crosses to bear in later life because I was having them all now. Perhaps the worst cross of all was the time when the family decided to travel to the seashore. The car was loaded down with bag and baggage. Fre- quently I feared they were going to pack me up in a suitcase by mistake. All the way down I clung to Mother for dear life. This driving busi- ness was mighty peculiar. Nevertheless, I thought autumnal period of our lives, we certainly do not lack experience. Old age is not a time to be dreaded, but rather to be anticipated with a certain feeling of gladness. It is considered so enviable a state that God has promised it as a reward for those who are nearing the end of a well spent life. The wish that we may live to see our children's children is incor- porated into the marriage service. What further proof do we need to appreciate fully what should be the most fruitful time of our lives. PAT HARTSOUGH, '51 I'd better mind my P's and Q's, so I settled back and drank a nice warm glass of milk. By the way, have you ever had warm milk on a hot sum- mer's day? Most invigorating! To skip a few minor incidents, we arrived. Everyone wanted to take me to the beach. I thought they'd pull off my arms and legs. It was agreed fand I still say a prayer of thanks, that mother should carry me. As you know, a young child such as I, is not allowed in the water. Nevertheless, Mother being a pious woman, the day being the feast of the Assumption, and the custom being to bathe in the water three times, Mother decided she should begin my Catholic training early. The first time she poured a little on my face, the second time my feet became a little chilled, but the third time proved disastrous. A little boy wanted to see Baby, so Mother proudly displayed me. The child must have remembered that opportunity knocks but once for he proceeded to tip his bucket in my direction. Someday I'll find that imp! The most fun was arollin' up the boardwalk. The only time I became worried was when my brother sent the coach flying and then chased after it. Some people were so thoughtful that when they saw me coming they would step aside. Some would even stop. my coach before it traveled over the railing. ' When the still sky glowed with radiant stars, when a soft wind blew my curl, when the fisher- men cast their lines into a moonlit sea and all the children rode the hobby horses, then it was, that I enjoyed the Summer most fully. Yes, what is so rare as a day in june?

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A Senior 's Farewell St. Mary's Academy 5401 Old York Road ' June, 1951 Dear Classmates: The end of another term at St. Mary's Academy has arrived. To us, the Class of June, 1951, this ending dif- fers from preceding terms in that we are cutting the last tie with our carefree childhood days. 'Let us recall some of the events that took place during these youthful days. It seems like only yesterday when we first approached the portals of St. Mary's Academy. It did not take us long, as freshmen, to blend in with the gay and homey atmosphere that has long been tradition at St. Mary's. Do you remember'Freshman Day when giggles and grins tried to hide the embarrassment of a green Freshie, and how those many seeming injustices, Such as carrying chairs and occupying those back-breaking benches, were soon accepted with good sportsmanship? Though hard to believe, we actually finished those 'infant days' and were now definitely on the verge of growing up. It did not take us long to inherit the title 'wise fools.' 'The Queen's Court,' the performance we sopho- mores gave to our older sisters, the Juniors, was for a time, the main topic of all Maryites. Sophomore year also brought eligibility to take part in many extra-curricular activities such as the operetta of that year, 'Countess Maritza' . This, plus many other incidents, helped to make it an unforgettable year. -Slowly but surely, we, as juniors, were entering an eventful year. A traditionally celebrated Junior Day greeted us into this new year and soon came the long awaited 'Night of Nights', our Junior Prom. How wonderfully grown-up and starry-eyed we were that night! Yes, it was all a part of life at St. Mary's and suddenly before we had time to realize-the one-time baby froshes, now, with f tearful eyes, were standing before Mother and the entire student body, accepting our Class Rings. Yes, it was hard to believe all this was happening to us, but finally, with happy memories and an overflowing heart, we closed the door on our Junior Days and all they symbol- ized to return again next year as - Seniors' . Now as we Seniors draw near to our departure, we hope that we have left and set a good example for all future graduates. The happy times and joyous moments we have had here at St. Mary's will always remain in the heart of each and everyone of us. We have come a long way together, but' 83