St Marys Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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66 EE, VM SO EXCITED. If it's the last thing I ever do, I'll ask him a ques- tion!l' squealed Phyllis. t'Speaking of questions, Bernie, don't forget to let me see the ones you've prepared, said Nick, the man responsible for our interview with Perry Como. At this point, Father Cassel, our talkative padre, chimed in, f'l'm hungry. f'How about a date, Father? questioned Mrs. Becker. Quite taken back, Father was embar- rassed when offered a chocolate bar as a second choice. Munching contentedly, Jan inquired, f'YVhen shall we get to New York? I'm famishedlu When aren't you, dear? Youlll eat us out of house and home! The car made a turn for the worse as Phyllis, who had never before seen New York, shouted in her high-pitched voice, '4Look at that skyline! Regaining his composure, Nick, our capable driver, promised Phyl that the interior was even more spectacular. I'll tell you what Weill dog to make this trip a little more interesting we'll eat in the restaurant of the C.B.S. Building. 'fEating where the stars eat! l' quoted Phyllis. How exciting! Do you think we might see any cowboys?7, 'YI doubt it,'l said Bernie sarcastically. '4We might see Howdy-Doody, though. With this, Father Cassel broke into a chorus of 'tIt's Howdy-Doody Time' and all the rest of Howdy's fans joined in. Having passed through the Lincoln Tunnel, we found ourselves in the midst of New York's 73 A MEMORABLE MEETING JOANN BECKER, ,SS PHYLLIS LIVOLSI, '55 BERNADINE NICKELS, '55 bustling traffic. Since, as is usually our pre- dicament, we slow-moving Philadelphians were behind schedule, Nick hurriedly parked the car and directed us to the well-known restaurant. Hastily surveying the menu, everyone's eyes lighted up, except Bernie's, at the delicious sug- gestions. Our disgusted editor sighed All this appetizing food and I have an upset stomach! This always happens to me! Please order a bowl of broth for me, Fatherfy Ummmm-this sounds good, but so does this. Mommy, do you think I could order both?i' whispered Jan to her shocked Mother. Mrs. Becker answered the question indirectly by giving the patient waiter a single order. Having finished ordering, the contented group settled back and began to converse. 'fBernie, would you please give me those ques- tions now? asked Nick. Oh, jan, where is the list? I gave it to you, didn't I?l' After several minutes of futile searching, jan, crimson with embarrassment, remembered that the question sheet was still in the car. Well, that's all right, reassured Nick, 'Kwe'll get them later. Oh, here comes the foodlil The delicious meal finished, a happy and well-satisfied group followed Nick through sev- eral passages, arriving finally in Perry's studio. Watching the preparations and then the tele- vision broadcast was a revealing experience. Each of us was amazed at the work, time, and effort that are necessary for the production of a fifteen-minute program. Unity is important and so is a spirit of coordination.

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last very long for reasons which I'm sure are easily surmised by you, gentle reader. My final collection is at three o'clock-dis- missal time. Thatls really funny! I may get all of SOL but at least, I get something to add to the rising funds. And so at the end of a Monday, I feel like john W. Snyder and I look like G.I. Joe on his return from battle. Oh yes, I almost forgot, I also conduct a loan agency, which does a thriving business. Every girl, when her bank account is nil, pays her bills from the class dues. This has proved to be very beneficial, since each one pays, as soon as she can, the amount borrowed plus. Some of the girls ride home on the class dues they gave me that dayg but -the next day it comes back two- how proud We should be of . . . fold. Now and then, thirst prevails, and a few cokes are bought, or hunger strikes and the crowd moves to the local snack shop on a loan. This isnlt too helpful to me, because up there, we are inclined to go a little overboard. Even so, the -treasury is reimbursed promptly. At present, we are engaged in saving for our Senior prom. So, I have limited the loans to no more than 5045 per person. You see, we're going to have the best prom ever, because we are the UACESJ' Please don't think Ilm complaining about being the Senior tax collector. I'm just telling you the honor and fun it is to be treasurer for the H43 ACESY' Our Democracy EMOCRACY, a form of government, is a way of life that it sometimes taken for granted by the people who benefit from it. The American people realize what it is to fight for the freedom they know and need. Men have died so that their families and friends could enjoy life the way God intended it to be enjoyed. Anybody can just exist, but it takes a strong kind of person with the backing of a good gov- ernment to have the luxuries that will make his life happy and useful. Education is a main factor of American power. panic-stricken, I realized I was . . . ANNA BONELLI, '55 The happily playing children of today will be the serious, fighting men of tomorrow. They will be taught to decide for themselves, to know what they want in life, and to achieve and main- tain their goals in the best way possible. Today, men are dying for the right to be free, while in other parts of the world, men are de- voting their entire lives to building a govern- ment beneficial only to themselves. The will to work and be educated, combined with the desire for freedom, will keep America the most pow- erful nation in the world. Trapped I COULDN'T MOVE to the left. I couldn't move to the right. I was trapped. He knew it and so did I. I had gotten out of a lot of tough spots before this one, but now I did not know of a way out. There just wasn't any. His men were all around me, and, if I made ANN BEHAN, '55 one bad move, I was done for. But with all my carefulness and planning, he still got the jump on me, Then, getting up from my chair, I said, Gee, Uncle Sam, I don't -think I will ever beat you at a game of checkers!

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Eight o'clock found us in quite a state for, at long last, we would meet Perry Como. jan com- plained of butterflies in her stomach, Phyllis, squirming in her seat, kept assuring Father Cassel that she wasn't the least bit nervous. Father, delegated as our esteemed photographer, said, while checking his equipment, HI feel like a spy for N.B.C.l' Of all, Bernie was the calm- est-that is, when she wasnlt biting her nails. Since Nick had arranged the entire meeting with Perry's agent, we expected little or no trouble. At last-oh blissful moment-out HE walked. Much to our surprise, Perry was dressed very casually in slacks, sport shirt and sweater. He put us all at ease immediately by telling us of his interest in golf and the stiff neck he had received that afternoon while playing. Hearing this, Mrs. Becker helpfully said, When my Howard goes golfing in the cold weather, he always wears his long underwear. The laughter with which this remark was greeted put all of us completely at ease. Grate- ful to Mrs. Becker for this timely exercise of her perfect savoir faire, we endeavored to assume a nonchalance as we launched into our request for an interviewf' With a delightfully sincere simplicity, our Perry obliged. The Como family, consisting of five all told, resides in Sands Point, Long Island. The chil- a trip abroad through . . . dren, Ronnie, David and Terri have- already begun their music careers with piano lessons. Ronnie, the eldest, boasts of the privilege of being an altar boy at their parish church, Our Lady of Fatima. Perry earnestly believes that faith in God, more -than anything else, has been the secret of his succcess. Starting in 1933 with the Fred- die Carlone band, our gracious host's popularity grew until, in 1943, he cut his first record for R.C.A. Victor, ftGoodbye, Sue. Since then, his record sales have skyrocketed. Disc jokeys throughout the nation daily play his platters. He has topped the million mark with eight of his recordings, while numerous polls have accorded him first place among the nation's vocalists. Being a very grateful man, Perry Como ex- presses this gratitude by donations to various charities. Cardinal Spellman recently bestowed on Mr. and Mrs. Como the titles of Grand Knight and Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in recognition of their Catholic Action and never-failing good example. Perry's advice to all young aspirants, regard- less of their field, is typical of his complete trust in God.- Be yourself, strive continually to im- prove, and always keep faith in Godf' Letters fo Joan June 20, 1954 Dear Joan, This is the life,--a ship, the pride of the crew and the passengers! Every part of it is truly ship shape ! The inviting aroma of delectable, well-prepared meals is constantly filling the air in the vicinity of the kitchen. We don't know the meaning of boredom. At night there is dancing, bingo, or horse racing. During the day, there is table tennis, shuffle board, . swimming, or the movies. Often, we twho don't get seasickj look over the endless stretch of water. I have seen vast expanses of flapping ripples and jumping waves receiving the sun's golden gift and Betty Eichner, '55 witnessed the fierce, raging battle between the upper and lower sea worlds. The angry sea has even lifted its uncountable, wrinkled hands out of its boundary to touch the soft arc of the sky. I wish we could see all this together. Love, Betty June 22, 1954 Dear Joan, ' We arrived safe and sound. But, it wasn't quite so simple as those few words would lead one to believe. A few eager beavers started the powerful, vibrant words, We'll reach Cobh at 5:00 A. M. The ship