This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand -- People who do things move -- the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune -- "LET'S GO."
EASTER morning with its lilies, spring breeze, charm, and eternal hope. Keep me a Christian. O Lord, I do not want to die at the end of a troubled day and be no more. Give me the hope of a glorious Tomorrow.
Let me see the dawn of unending day. You made me out of dust but not entirely. I have at least the wings of fancy and I can fly. Yes; higher than my sensual appetites, and the smoke of a pagan hamlet.
I am rapturous in my day-dreams because I believe my spirit is immortal and though chained to flesh that is all heir to disease and death, it has the essence of something that disease cannot corrupt nor death destroy.
I am great because I am made to Your image and likeness and You are God. The foolish shall not rob me of my faith.
You made the earth, the flowers, the singing birds and gave them beauty but not the power to think, hope or love. I think, I hope, I love. I cannot be entirely a dying organism and destined by Thee to hasten on to inevitable doom where thought and hope and love shall forever cease.
This body is but an instrument on which my spirit plays in disjointed harmonies the tremulous thoughts of a self-conscious being. I would play more pleasing ditties but I am trying to make music on a broken reed.
I beheld the Cross of Good Friday, the Tomb of Saturday and was saddened. I thought my God had come to comfort me but agony and death do not bring cheer.
So came the night - and death.
Today is Resurrection Day for Thee. For me the Tomb has lost its terrors. Take me by the hand, I am Thy child. Lead me even into the darkness which I fear, but hold me and I shall not tremble. Yes, lay me to rest but watch by my dusty pillow and call me to Thee when Gabriel shall blow the trumpet and the dead shall rise.
Thank God. I am a Christian and hope to rise on the last day as rose my Lord at Easter time.
P.J. O'CONNOR, pastor
The heresy of today is Birth Control and sex indulgence. All former heresies were, to a great extent, intellectual and started in the Schools; this is sensual and has a quicker and wider appeal. It affects and depraves the unthinking masses.
Economic conditions and world war reactions dispose people to think that they have a right to do as they please in this matter, and it is the genius of Protestantism to magnify and justify individual interpretation of conduct. Majority action is considered righteous action. Customs good or bad are presumed to have God's approval.
The daily press is assuming the right to umpire the fight between the Catholic Church and the rest of the moralists. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a recent editorial rendered a decision in favor of the Federation of Churches and rules the Pope off the field.
Not all Protestants approve of this complacent intrusion of self-constituted moralists who would tear down the customs Christianity has established. Bishop E.C. Monzon, speaking Holy Week at Christ Church Protestant Cathedral, is reported to have said, "Now-a-days there are many who are endeavoring to make themselves at home in the house which religion has built after they have destroyed the foundations upon which that house has been built" .....
"There are some things that are final. The multiplication table is final. You may not like it but there it is, no matter how we go about it, it is final. The Ten Commandments are final and from them there can be no appeal. The Sermon on the Mount is everlastingly final. These things are final because they are in harmony with the personal character of God. Morality and religion are evermore bound together."
The Divine authority of the Catholic Church may be denied but its historic precedency gives it at least a claim to speak for Christian civilization. This Church affirms that Birth Control, through the use of contraceptives, is contrary to nature, indecent lust and a violation of the fundamental laws of morality.
Father Pathe was advertised in our last issue as the big attraction of the Mission, but in the designs of providence, he was scarcely given a place in the program. He temporarily lost his voice after preaching on St. Patrick's night and was ordered by a throat specialist to abandon his missionary efforts for three months and submit to immediate treatment at St. Mary's Hospital. His condition is much improved.
His place was filled by Father Peter Forbes, assistant Pastor of the Rock Church, and later by Father Kenny whose monastery is Kansas City. He had just completed a Mission at Overland Park. Father Pathe completed a Mission at Herrin, Illinois the Sunday before his arrival at St. James and the two weeks previous he and Father Moriarty completed a Mission in Detroit. These are two Irishmen by birth and Father Kenny was reared in an Irish section in Montreal and apparently lost nothing by it of race tradition and characteristics. These are four admirable priests. The more intimately one knows them the better he likes them.
There is a promise of marriage between Anthony Rubano, son of Raphael Rubano and Maria Iannaro, of St. Francis of Sales Parish, and Dorothy Guglielmucci, daughter of Angelo Guglielmucci and Bridget Salomoni, of St. James Parish.
There is a promise of marriage between Frank Schodroski, son of John and Mary Shodroski, of St. Stanislaus Parish, and Othea Lauterwasser, daughter of Louis Lauterwasser and Kathrine Fisher, of St. James Parish.
The Mission given by the Redemptorist Fathers in St. James Parish during the two weeks preceding Palm Sunday, aroused the spiritual interest of the entire flock. The church was nearly filled at all the evening devotions and the attendance at Mass each morning was satisfactory. The biggest crowd was in attendance on the evenings when the instruction on the duties of one's state in life was given. On actual count there were present on these occasions 673 ladies and 590 gentlemen.
The instructions differed little from those usually given at Missions. One of the audience said. "I heard it all before, but the manner of presentation had a convincing attractiveness." Father Moriarty, a small wiry little man about 42 years old, had a prodigious voice and a keen rapid-fire method of delivery. He eats and sleeps little and has been facetiously called Ghandi by a clerical acquaintance. He is untiring and active and animated. No one goes to sleep in the audience whilst he is speaking and his persuasive eloquence is destructive of religious indifference. His companion. Father Kenny, is moulded in manner that leaves the edge off his character. He does not cut as keenly or as quickly but gradually makes all impression of culture and fine scholarshtp. He reasons calmly and ccnvincingly and slowly wins his hearers to his will.
Many careless Catholics after listening attentively to the instructions, wondered how they could have lapsed in to indifference and were deeply repentent. They in all probability, will be in future among the most zealous of the flock, and the Mission will remain for them a turning point in their lives. There are very few Catholics in the parish who did not make the Mission. Some may have been excused because of illness or unavoidable interference. Those who deliberately rejected this grace are in a sad condition. The church bells rang each evening a funeral knoll, a symbol and a warning of the spiritual death of those who did not correspond with the grace of the Mission. This is not a matter to be taken lightly. Often the truth of the admonition has been driven home in a parish by a sudden and unprovided death. The writer recalls an instance in St. James Parish after a Mission that brought home this fact with startling emphasis to a careless family. The day after the Missionaries departed a man who had joked about the Mission and did not attend was found dead in his bed though he or the family observed no indication of the tragedy that was impending.
In the providence of God there is given to all men the grace of a last chance to repent. God does not wish the damnation of the Sinner. But there is a limit to His forbearance and He does not force the human will. He made men free to save or lose their souls. God who created us without ourselves will not save us without ourselves.
Again we exhort those who did not make the Mission to avail of God's patience and mercy. There are hundreds of Confession boxes in our city churches. No one can drag a sinner into the sacred tribunal, but he knows the way himself. Every Saturday comes the call to repentance until a Saturday arrives when the soul has passed before the judgment seat of God.
We congratulate the people of St. James on the fine spirit of devotion manifested by the greater number of them during the Mission and we congratulate the Missionaries on their eloquence, self-sacrifice and zeal. In our estimation the Mission was a splendid success. More than 400 men enrolled in the Holy Name Society or renewed their membership on the evening the Mission closed. These men, young and old, were evidenely deeply impressed with the dignity and grandeur of a Christian life and will continue to manifest their conviction each month the Society goes to Communion.
The Pastors and Missionaries extend to all their appreciation for their earnest devotion and splendid effort during the Mission and wish them the joy of an anticipated glorious resurrection at Easter.
On Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week, thirteen ladies volunteered their services to give the Church its annual Spring cleaning. Luncheon was served by Mrs. Klasek and Mrs. Moore. Those who assisted were Mesdames Menner, Engelhardt, Doering, Griffin, Moore, Foley, Cullen, Wagner, Marshall, Cooper, Wiber, Heady, Plengemeier.
There were many who made the Mission who determined they would never again lose God's friendship. Each one resolved he would keep God's Commandments and might have added, "I don't mean maybe."
No doubt about the good resolutions and the wish, but new formed resolves are like aeroplanes; they must be tested by time and strain before they can be deemed even fairly secure. No man who lives is reliable. Temptations are the bane of men. They may leave us for a time but they are never lost; they always find the way back.
Beware! my lad. beware! when temptations return. They come back the road they went, and they will have the old appeal: Yes! they will appear sweeter and more attractive because they have been absent. Should you resist for a time, they will lessen their demands and chide your effort. To weaken your opposition they will offer a compromise. "It is not sin," it will suggest. "to do thus and thus;" but I warn you, compromise is the trump card of temptation. Associated with it is distraction - the thing that makes one forget his pledge, and sloth or laziness that tends to make you take the easy way because the hard way tires. Yet the hard way is the only highroad, Christ said, that leads to Heaven.
Not half heartedly but forcefully you must resist them. A weak will dies aborning. Face the fact that temptation offers you something that your natural urge demands. It would not be a strain upon your will unless it made a strong appeal toward pleasure, ease or gain. Temptation is very human. But you desire with all your soul to be a Christian. Fill yourself to overflowing with this desire. A counter stroke of a different emotion is the best defense. Face your tempter with strength and courage. Say - Get behind me Satan, Whole-hearted hate for sin is not enough, there must be also whole-hearted hate for the bribe the tempter offers.
But you must have something which is strong enough to hold and this is a firm ring of spiritual discipline, a kind of daily dozen.
Here it is. Daily prayer, no stalling. Ask God to help you. He has promised He will give if you shall ask.
Weekly Mass. Oh yes, plenty of excuses if you are looking for them! And
Monthly Confession on a regular Sunday. Be firm with yourself - though the tempter comes from without he works from within.
St. James Alumni Dramatic Club will present on Wednesday, April 22. at the St. Louis University Auditorium, the play, The Goose Hangs High. This is a clean, humorous production that has a practical moral for youth. The goose, it would appear, is the principle and the courage that makes a man a man. The play will be a success because the young folk are united in their effort to put it over big. Reserved seats can be had from Marie O'Gorman, HIland 8340; Fred Coad, STerling 1588; and Dan Murphy, HIland 0753.
Patrons who donate $3 will be awarded 2 reserved seats.
Members of the Cast are: Bill Hefele, Dolores Brady, Charles Jones, Genevieve Martineau, Jack Houlihan, Joe Phelan, Virginia Jones, Florence Wilsdon, Robert Duggan, Norman Fehrensen, Helen Martineau, and Dan Murphy. The director is Mr. Joseph Kelly.
Father O'Connor asked the ladies who were cleaning the church to give him some news for Let's Go. The irrepressible Mrs. Cullen replied, "Father, you will have to go some place else, we're not that kind of women."
The Minstrel Show presented by the Minstrel Mothers of St. James Church on St. Patrick's night at Lambskin Hall, was in the estimation of many, the best of the many good shows given so far by the Mothers' Club.
Adele McVey Conroy was the star among stars. She had the audience in a highly hilarious susceptible mood and toward the end of the performance whatever she did, no matter how trivial, aroused laughter. She could easily, had she the inclination to cut loose, have provoked hysteria but she apparently did not want to be the whole show, and she moderated her impromptu performance and kept close to the text of the program.
She was one of the end men and a member of the Harmony Trio. Mrs. Sam Gittens and Mrs. G. Wamhoff were her associates. Their talents entitled them to recognition and the overcrowded house encored them repeatedly. They regaled the enthusiastic audience with a generous service of popular songs, the rest of the cast joining in the chorus and rounding out the program with individual musical numbers and a few classy steps and jokes.
Preceding the Minstrel there was a delightful assortment of vaudeville acts that were appropriate to the occasion and appealed to the heart of the Gael. The Orchestra knew Irish music and the audience appreciated the rendition of Irish airs and jigs. These awoke memories and emotions that made the dramatized numbers that followed easily fit into a St. Patrick's Night program.
The curtain rose on a scene depicting an Irish horne. Mrs. Oates sat at a table, sewing. Her countenance is distinctly Irish and her natural appearance required nothing of the artificial to make her attractive. Her matronly shape and quiet unpretentious pose gave her a motherly bearing; the transparency of her skin, the changing rudiness of her cheeks, the nervous display of passing emotions, her copious mantle of grey hair and fine chiseled features proclaimed the role she was playing, and Mrs. Cramer heightened the effect by her song and expression as she sang that Old Irish Mother of Mine. The act was a reminder of the spiritual and physical beauty of the Children of St. Patrick. Mrs. Oates is the mother of a nun and the fact that she was selected to play the role of the Old Irish Mother is a tribute not alone to her but to the ladies who made the selection. She is really a very beautiful woman and her silent act of sitting on a stage before a vast audience made her natural bashfulness a convincing evidence that her proper setting is the seat of honor in a Christian home where beauty is as beauty does. Mrs. Cramer in sweet song gave voice to a fine sentiment of family affection. The little sketch in its plain simplicity was an excellent portrayal of Irish life.
Miss Sheehan danced Irish jigs and hornpipes remarkably well, considering she is only a little Irish American girl. Perhaps unbeknown to us, she is a real Irish Colleen and her daddy's pet.
Bess O'Gorman Gallaher's troup of merry dancing girls, Miss V. Jones, Miss B. Brennan, Miss F. Balmer and Miss F. Wilsdon, danced something that is not in our verbal repertoire. Tips and taps marked the music beats. To a listener with closed eyes and little knowledge of dancing it was a rhythmical beating of time with pointed heel and dainty toe taps; not quite as temperamental as a jig or reel, but a classical reproduction of the footfalls that make hearts merry, and Bess is the teacher of this very modest merry dance. We want more of Bess in our dancing academies.
Mrs. Barney Quinn came from St. Luke's Parish to take a part in the Minstrel show; her heart, she says, is with St. James; we would encourage her to be one of us but we cannot see our way to tempt her to break her spiritual allegiance unless she brings her home across the boundary line. Her Russian Dance appeals to the Irish because it requires grit and good wind. and she had both notwithstanding the fact that her Children are a great deal taller than herself.
But that handsome girl who sang between the acts, Miss Helen Van Cutren of Epiphany: everyone was pleased with her Ask Me. It would be impossible, in our short space, to give individual notice to the many other excellent performances. All the ladies in the cast sang and played in a manner that did credit to their director, Mrs. Henrietta Bafuno Uxa. There was not a wrong cue observed in the entire program, though the time given in preparation for the Minstrel was short and had many interruptions.
The attendance was noticeably a St. James parish crowd. The greater part of the seats were reserved and taken a week before the show. Those who came without having secured reservations deemed themselves fortunate in getting standing room.
Mrs. Ben Plengemeier was master of ceremonies and was markedly precise and efficient, and Mrs. Harold Kern also had a prominent part.
Fathers Pathe and Moriarty, missionary fathers, sat in the audience with the Pastors and were observed to manifest keen delight. As a prelude to the evening's entertainment, Father Paths devoted his evening sermon at the Mission to the faith of St. Patrick.
Milton F. Napier is a candidate for a member of the St. Louis Board of Education to be voted on April 7. Being a non-partisan candidate every citizen is urged to vote for him regardless of party. He is a native St. Louisan; and his record as an active participant in various branches of school work since 1918 speaks for itself. Mr. Napier is very much in favor of a high school in this district. He is president of the Scruggs School Patrons' Association and has been unamimously endorsed by them and other Patrons' and Improvement Associations over the entire city. I wlll appreciate it as a personal favor if you cast your vote for Mr. Napier and ask some of your friends to do likewise.
Albert E. Schweitzer, Attorney,808 Paul Brown Bldg. Adv.
Dear Father O'Connor:
Since you deem it a proper policy for Let's Go to print ads that are the inspired statement of men seeking political position, I request you to give publication to the rollowing:
I am a teacher and constant reader of Let's Go and can give an estimate of candidates soliciting votes for membership in the Board of Education from a teacher's viewpoint. The best friend we have in the Board is Mr. Murphy. He is just, intelligent and consetentious. He is free from religious prejudice and promotes the best interest of the children and the taxpayers. He is the only candidate who has been endorsed by the Forest Park Improvement Association. His election is practically assured, but goodwill means nothing unless it is recorded at the Polls. Mr. Emil Barth who is also running for reelection is his friend at Board meetings and a friend of all teachers. They should be elected.
One whose slogan is, "Fair Play."
Catherine Mahon, daughter of Mrs. Mary Mahon, 6125 W. Park Avenue, and Loretta Pate, daughter of Mrs. Catherine Pate, 6224 Berthold Avenue, were professed at St. Agnes Dominican Convent, New York, March 26. Their names in Religion are Sister M. Kathleen and Sister M. Audrey. Congratulations, Sisters!
The young people of the parish have organized a splendid Athletic Association and play Basketball and Handball every night in the Old Church Hall. Mr. Ed. Weigle of Maplewood coaches the girls, and Jack Houlihan is president of the young men's association. Eddie Ready is coaching the school children. Invitation to join the organization is extended to all.
The Choir is receiving innumerable compliments. Its rendition of the "Seven Last Words" was excellent. Miss Carreras, the organist, will play the music of the Sixth word during distribution of Communion at the High Mass Easter Sunday which will be at 5:30.
Joe Gioia, 1315 Tamm Avenue, was operated at St. Anthony's Hospital for Hernia. He had a recent set back.
A noticeable increase in attendance at Mass was recorded by a count of the Congregation in St. James Church the Sundays when the Mission opened and closed. The attendance at the various Masses was on:
March 15-
1st Mass ...... 131
2nd Mass ...... 390
3rd Mass ...... 506
4th Mass ...... 431
............... 1458
Sunday. March 29-
1st Mass ..... 202
2nd Mass ..... 451
3rd Mass ..... 572
4th Mass ..... 452
.............. 1677
However. the count is not to be taken as a conclusive proof that the increased attendance was due to the Mission. There are in every congregation a number who are known as Palm Sunday Catholics. These are an uncertain factor in the routine life of a parish. Their discipine is regulated by a whim and they are as unstable as the wind. They attach more importance to a piece of Palm than they do to the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the precepts of the Church are dead instructions to many of them. They do not bind these favored souls. They are outside the law though within the fold. There are many others in the Congregation who do not associate with the flock because they like to go where they please. This privilege has its reasonable limitations and we do not wish to curtail it, but we do ask all good parishioners to cousider the practical effect their presence each Sunday in their parish church has on their more indifferent neighbors. Their regularity in attendance arouses local interest in parish affairs. Action speaks louder than words and moral support avails of every opportunity to strengthen the ties between pastors and flock. Straying sheep are often lost and strategy does not ignore the smallest detail of discipline.
In the territory included in St. James Parish there are many Catholics who by tradition belong to National parishes. The old folk do not go to any church and their children are uninstructed and neglected except in so far as they are influenced by their Catholic neighbors and the local pastors. The Pastors have stretched out thetr arms to bring these little ones into the fold. They have invited them into the parish school and give them free education. They cannot influence them unless they receive the cooperation of practical Catholics in their vicinity. This is one of the most urgent reasons why we stress parish interest. These children are American though their parents may be foreigners. The mission field is at our door and the souls of those children will be charged against us unless we take an interest in their education and church attendance.
Criminals are not born, they are made because morals are neglected. Foreigners of Catholic tradition are often accused of being the spawn. We can readily agree with those who advance this theory, provided the statement is amended. Children of foreigners are no better or worse than other children but if their parents discard their spiritual traditions and Christian principles and make money their sole objective in life, their children soon learn American ways, and the American ways that most attract them are: Get money right if you can. but get it anyway and don't let conscience bother you.
Gaynor Veronica Nelson, 4980 Wise Avenue.
Francis Anthony Pilla, 1353 Graham Ave.
Joan Joyce Boerckel, 6446 Wise Avenue.
John Prindable, 2167 Esther Avenue.
William Vasquez Brennan, 1025 Art Hill Place.
Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Dan Murphy assisted in the Rectory during the Misston. Their cooking was appreciated by the clergy, but it was difficult to distinguish individual performance as many choice dishes were prepared in private homes and presented at opportune times by Mrs. Placke, Mrs. Crotty, Miss Merriman, Mrs. Boman, Mrs. Hefele, Mrs. Bosche, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Pierce, Mrs. Heil and Mrs. Klasek. Thanks, ladies. Your kindness and helpfulness are EVIDENCE of your BIG HEARTEDNESS.
The ladies donated $60.00 for flowers to decorate the Sanctuary during the Mission. The men gave only $5.00. But what could they do. Though the collection was annouuced, there was no one appointed to take the money.
William Baer, baby son of Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Baer, Tamnm Avenue, is ill a critical condition at the Children's Hospital.
Mrs. Hannah Brady fell recently and broke her hand.
On Monday after the Mission, Father Kenny accompanied by Father O'Connor, visited the sick and convalescing in the parish and gave Holy Communion to Mrs. Hastey, 6458 Lloyd Avenue; Mrs. Killian's sister, Mrs. Mathis, 6831 Manchester Avenue; Pat Phelan, 6609 Wise Avenue; Mrs. Wiss, 6645 Wise Avenue; Mr. Byrne. 6443a Dale Avenue; Mrs. Reardon, 1575 Louisville Avenue; Mrs. Hannah Brady, 1339 Graham Avenue; Mrs. Purcell, 1324 Graham Avenue; Mrs. James Harris, 6217 West Park Avenue; Mr. Michael Shelley, 6655 Berthold Avenue; Mrs. Witte, 6542 Berthold Avenue.
Ben Sugden, 6447 Wade Avenue, has been an enthusiastic backer of his Pastors ever since he was big enough to run on an errand for one of them. He is now a salesman in the employment of Union Electric. He sells wash machines, electric clocks and all electric appliances. I will deem it a favor if you give him your orders. He can be reached by phoning HIland 4459.
P.J. O'Connor, Pastor.
Deep sympathy is extended to Mrs. O'Gorman and family of Maplewood on the death of Lambert, age 21, who died last Wednesday of a streptococcic infection of the throat.
There were about fifty persons attending the Mission whom Father O'Connor did not know. He became acquainted with ten or twelve new purishioners who are likely to be an asset to the Parish, and desires to meet the others who recently came into the flock. He will consider it a compliment if new parishioners make themselves known to him.
FOR SALE - Four room modern bungalow, 2023 Schaeffer Place. Call Mrs. Matreci, HIland 2875.
FOR RENT - Modern 4 room flat, tile bath, screen porch, $37.50. Call Mrs. Manion, HIland 4453. 6515 West Park Avenue.
FOR RENT - 1316 Ripple Street. Four room bungalow, large attic, bath, electric, furnace, garage; $35.00.
There is an old Dutch proverb: "Good paint costs nothing" .... And it's true when you stop to think about it, for good paint pays for itself by saving repair bills, by adding to the value of property, by making homes more livable. See me for estimates on general house cleaning and repair work W.T. Boman, 6452 Nashville Avenue. HIland 2031.
The Dolan Realty Co., 6401 Manchester Avenue, submit the following:
2004 Knox Avenue - 4 room brick cottage - $35.00,
6447 Dale Avenue - 4 rooms 1st floor, furnace, garage - $30.00.
1555 Tamm Avenue - 4 room modern flat - $40.00.
6532 Clayton Avenue - 4 room efficiency - $40.
1422a Tamm Avenue - 5 rooms, all modern - $45.00.
631la Famous Avenue - 3 rooms, bath - $16.00.
6241 Clayton Avenue - 3 room efflciency apartment, heat and electric refrigeration - $55.00.
The Mothers' Club are not prepared to make a financial report of their Minstrel Show, and request all ladies who sold or purchased tickets to make immediate returns. Mrs. P.H. Murphy sold $26.00 worth of tickets. She has been among the best workers in every affair given by the Club.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
April 1, 1931.
dear Charlie:
the Irish had a big evenin' when the Mothers Club give there show on St. Patrick's Day. mrs. McDonald was in the ticket office and mrs. Lawless was collecting at the door. the program, printed on "green" paper, displayed an assortment of Irish songs, irish jigs, an irish wit. that was enjoyed by a large audience, mostly irish. i sat behind one group composed of father O'Connor, father Pathe, father Moriarty, father Pohl and dermot Slattery, an that seemed to represent about the average throughout the hall; four irish to each alien. even the plot of the show was based on politics, which is conceded to be a Irish perfession.
miss Van Coutren sang irish ballads with such typical mannerisms that she wore a red dress to keep from bein mistaken for irish. mrs. Cramer sang with such unmistakable brogue that neither name, dress nor actin could belie her "kerrian" ancestry. her number with mrs. Oates as "that old Iris Mother of Mine", was very touching, an I expected with each word to see dermot Slattery break out in tears.
the dancing talent was plentiful and surprisingly good. one of the Sheehan twins danced Irish jigs, to the delight of the pastor. the four Tillerettes; Misses, Jones, Wilsdon, Brennan an Balmer showed a pretty assortment of steps, and remarkable rhythm, considering that it is very hard for four dancers to keep in step. mrs. Quinn was as agile an entertaining as ever, an exemplification of perpetual youth. bess Gallagher displayed dancing knowledge as well as ability. her waltz-clog was perfect.
hilarity reigned from the moment the Conroy-Gittins-Wamhoff "Five-Hundred Pound" trio put in there first appearance, with mrs. Gittins rolling a 5 gallon "prescription" across the stage on her way to the drug store to "have it filled", and Adele anxiously following to help her friend "take the medicine". later, bess Wamhoff added her poundage and harmonizing ability. The funny antics of these three, with the able assistance of mrs. Quinn and mrs. Plengemeier, made the show.
the plot burlesqued "women in politics" an give mrs. Kern a opportunity to "dress de meetin" which had been arranged by her campaign manager mrs. Griffin. mrs. Mudd had sum "pronounced views", an cleverly acted the part of the energetic suffragette, an the meetin would of been "successful" except for mary Murphy's heckling of the candidate, and her bulshevek efforts to make it "go democratic".
the jokes were well told, and appreciated by the audience, especially those at the expense of the priests. the show throughout was noticeably free of anything that might give offense to even the most sensitive nature; no grating expletives were used, an it was a good show.
the old naborhood, Charlie, is decidedly mission-minded on acount of a cupple of Redemptorist fathers, Moriarty and Kenny has been conductin a mission, an wen they got through, you could almost count the remaining "jelly•beans" on your fingers.
they started there work with the women, on acount of they knowed that was ware they was most room for improvement. so the first week it was the duty of the men to see that the women attended the missions, an i must say that they did a better job than the women did the second week wen they was suppose to see that the men attended. we packed the church with women for each service, but the ladies didnt do so well. We congratulate us.
wel, charlie, i guess you didn't know that you are a "Jelly-bean" but that is just what you are, the same as the rest of the men that did not attend the mission; father Moriarty says so. i wouldnt want to be a "jelly-bean", but they was a cupple times i thought they Was unnecessarily cruel to me, on acount of they brought out so many of my faults, I felt like they was holding up my life as a horrible example. "open confession" they say "is good for the soul", an these priests certainly confessed my short-comings; and i hope it will benefit me in proportion to the effort they put into it.
i had sum misgiving about the mission before it started, on acount of i had a premonition that "I wasn't goin to enjoy it", an that is why i tried to get lizzie Coyne to give me the address of the priest that told her she should not attend missions on acount of "they would depress her too much". lizzie wouldn't tell me who he was, so i had to attend, an now i am glad i did.
the pastor invited sum of the ladies that has well-fed husbands like dan Murphy, to help the housekeeper with the meals for the Missionaries, an so one day wen mary Murphy was there he asked her to make him sum irish corn bread. Mary looked surprised an said she never herd of it on acount of all the irish she knew took there corn out of a bottle.
father undertook to explain how he thought it was made, but mary can act pretty dumb wen she wants to, so this is the receipe she copied from his description: take sum eggs, add two parts of corn-meal to 1 part of flour; or maybe its two of flour an 1 corn-meal; no, i guess its the other way, but make it half an half; spread it on the mixing board an pour milk over it; mix, and fry an indefinate time over a hot or slow fire. N.B. -- the milk will run on the floor, so take it up with the dish rag an strain through the screen door.
wel charlle, now that Lent is over i guess you will go back to all of your bad habits, that is, if you gave up any. maybe you are one of these rare mortals that can't give up any bad habits on acount of you haven't got eny. father o'Connor made a reel sacrifice wen he give up penochle but wen he told me he had practically quit smoking his pipe, i couldnt give him much credit for making a sacrifice, on acount of even you or me wouldn't have no trouble givin up that vile brand he smokes.
your pertickler friend & uncle
HENRY
Mr. Lehmann, of Lehmann's Hardware, a merchant who has won the respect and good will of this community for many years by upright and efficient business service, returned to his home after being a patient for several weeks at DePaul Hospital where he underwent two major operations. We congratulate Mr. Lehmann and hope his recovery is complete.
Forest Park Improvement Association decided at its last meeting to form a coalition with other organizations interested in the immediate construction of Hampton Avenue viaduct. Addresses were made to a large attendance of members by Messrs. Murphy, Barth - candidates for election to the Board of Education - Cameron, Mueller and Mrs. Michaels.
Uncle Henry says the Missionaries held up his life as a horrible example. We always suspected Uncle Henry. During the Mission he had a bad tooth removed, but that is not our idea of a cure. Had he decided to improve he should have taken out a little more, and Miss Coyne adds, the operation should have reached his tongue.
Mr. Frank Harness, 5825 Nashville Avenue, is recovering from pneumonia.
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1931
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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