St Marys Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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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

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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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from here each of us will travel a separate path. Wouldn't it be interesting if we could push aside the screen of the future and see each other as we will be twenty-five years hence? A few will probably be successful: the majority will be living comfortably and some few may be considered by the world as failures. We must chart our courses ahead and know where we are going in order to succeed. Wishing is not enough: the will to struggle on, despite adversity, is necessary, too. While you may not reach the pinnacle, you may carve a little place in the sun for yourself. True, we may not all have equal talents or abilities, but in doing our utmost to perfect ourselves in our particular vocations, each of us will be well satisfied and well rewarded. If we try, perhaps one day it may be said of us, in the words of Ben Jonson, concerning the immortal Shakespeareg 'He is not of an age, but for all time . May God in His Divine Providence always keep our Class of '51, close to His Sacred Heart and guide us in living a good and holy life devoted to 'Jesus through Mary . Farewell, Seniors! Your friend and classmate, h Hilda Murlasits, '51 SOLPHORA 1.4 IT WAS ON ONE OF Sunny Italy's hottest days that we enthusiastically decided to chart our course for a trip to that now extinct crater, Solphorata, located outside Naples. Upon our arrival we immediately sought and hired a well- equipped guide. Naturally, while everyone else was enraptured by the scenic views, I became interested in tapping out a tune on the crater soil which sounded like a large hollow drum. Sud- denly, I was rudely thrown to the ground and sat trembling as all hovered over me laughing glee- fully. lt seems our guide, to my utter amazement and fright, dropped his stick on the ground mak- ing the crater grumble and growl fiercely. He explained to our bewildered group that the earth under us was only six feet deep and that below this there was a boiling lava connection between this crater and Mt. Vesuvius. It is heard whenever Vesuvius is dormant and this crater is slightly JEANINE PAsQUAlun1.Lo, '52 active, and vice versa. He told us that at any time it might erupt and become a crater again. By now we had journeyed to the middle of this huge formation and the reflection of the sun on the sulphuric soil made it intensely hot. We watched with wide, startled eyes a crevice whose base bubbled over with boiling, charging, and popping lava. This being the last sight, to my secret satisfaction, we started the trip to the mouth of the crevice. Then it happened! A loud blast! Oh, I thought to myself, this is itg the crater is erupt- ing! With this my larynx began making strange noises and I started praying swiftly. But our calm, cool and collected guide assured us that it was merely a few workers dynamiting the rocks close by for sulphur. Nevertheless, I was only too glad when we departed from Solphorata and I made a firm resolution that there would be no more craters for me!