St Marys High School - Blue Mantle Yearbook (Milford, MA)

Page 10 text:

Sfe Jrisllp auiitr On the road to Hopkinton from Milford, are found eight or more beautiful acres of land dedicated to the dead from St. Mary’s Parish in Milford. Set back from the road and facing a small pond,rises a tall,slender tower of native granite. The tower, with its tiny windows near the very summit and rising aloft toward the sky,yet framed in a cluster of trees, reminds me of Milton f s description of Windsor Castle ’’bosomed high in tufted trees.” The reflection of the tower is de¬ lightfully mirrored in the pool at its feet, clear and symmetrical. That tower is unique, not only in Milford, but in the whole United States, for it is the only one of its kind in America. It is an Irish Round Tower, so-called because they were found hundreds of years ago, yes,even back to the nineth and tenth centuries, dotting the green shamrock-threaded hills of Ireland. They range in height from fifty to a hundred feet and can be seen for miles around. Why they were built or who built them, still remains somewhat of a mys¬ tery, even to the Irish people themselves. To the sons and daugh¬ ters of the ”Ould sod’ 1 ,, they are familiar landmarks so it was not surprising that a true son of Old Erin should erect in the cemetery of St. Mary’s in Milford, a replica of an Irish Round Tower. The particular model used was that of Glendalough. Its interested buil¬ der was the Reverend Patrick Cudclihy,the first pastor of St. Mary’s Church. It stands today,a perfect tribute to his zeal for the faith in the country of his adoption. The fragile loveliness of this Round Tower, as it stands re¬ flected in the pool of clear water,reminds us of the calm peace and quiet of the consecrated ground within which it stands, re-echoing the calmness and peacefulness of our heavenly home in the blue vauLt over head. The beauty of this Gothic gem lifts my sorrowful thoughts of the dead to their high home above and with Christina Rossetti, it bids me say: ”Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land. Yet if you should forget me for a v hile, And afterwards remember, do not grieve. Better by far you should forget and smile, Than that you should rememger and be sad.” Jean Clement ’45

Page 9 text:

For the first time in the history of the publication of The Blue Mantle, a copy of the 1944 edition was sent to the National Scholastic Press Association for criticism, commendation, and a scoring on the work done by the Senior Class of St. Mary f s High School. The object of the National Scholastic Press Association is to make possible co-operative effort on the part of scholastic editors for the continual improvement of school publications so that they may better serve the cause of education and the indiv¬ idual institutions which they represent. This association is conducted by the School of Journalism of Minnesota University. Upon receiving a reply to our contribution, it was found to the delight of all, that The Blue Mantle had received First Class Honor Hating. The criticisms in The Blue Mantle Score B ook were carefully studied in order that the present edition- 1945 might prove to have a better construction and include the corrections and suggestions offered. When the Class of 1945 began working on The Blue Mantle the score-book was checked and double-checked for advice on im¬ provements which could be made. This yearbook publication is the work of the Senior Class assisted by the student body. Articles, write-ups, features - are assigned to individuals or for class competition,The Com¬ mercial and Classical divisions joined in carrying out the sten¬ cil work and in the operation of the mimeograph machine. It is a long and difficult task but the finished product well repays us for the time and effort devoted to it. The Scholastic Award in the past year, has greatly aug - mented the interest of the students in making a lasting and a worthwhile publication. Working on the yearbook also makes the average student ac¬ quire new responsibilities in actual journalistic procedure as well increasing the mechanical skills in typing and stencil mak¬ ing, It offers the students an opportunity to display their nat¬ ural talents in art, individualism and composition. This year, the classes are working hard in order that they may improve the record made by the Class of 44 and that in the years to come w The Blue Mantle will carry a high standard of journalistic display with other high-ranking yearbooks from the high schools all over the country. Anne DesBarres 45 NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS CITATION THE BLUE MANTLE

Page 11 text:

Rev. William J. Foran and his faithful companion, Carina.