LET'S GO

July 3, 1927
Volume Three, Number Seven

PARISH PUBLICATION: 1925-1932
Special thanks to Joe Boman and family for the loan of their bound copies of this rare publication.
Further thanks to Father Rauch for the loan of one issue which the Boman's didn't have
Without those loans this project could never have taken place.
Bob Corbett -- March 2004



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."



OUR PASTOR'S LETTER

My dear Parishioner;

The General Contract for the New Church was let to the firm of Gillespy & Daly, on Sunday, June 19th. They were the second lowest bidder and were awarded the contract because they are favorably known in Catholic circles and have been highly recommended by several city pastors for whom they built schools and rectories in recent years; the contracts for heating, lighting, plumbing, electric fixtures were also let; and the estimate for decorations is under consideration. The successful bidders and their bids will be found in another part of this issue; the total, exclusive of decorations, approximately is $170,000.

Decorations such as are planned for St. James Church are sufficiently attractive to make everyone who has seen the blue prints and specifications, unhesitatingly agree, if we could have them, our church would surpass in charm, the parish churches in St. Louis. People would come from all over the city to observe them and would go away edified.

This may seem to be an exaggerated idea of their worth, but the scheme is so unusual, and the reputation of the artist so well established, there is every reason for believing the possibilities are great.

The artist, Mr. Gaytee, though known nationally, has had few opportunities of showing his skill in St. Louis. He is employed by St. Louis University to decorate the White House Chapel which is under construction. He decorated the Chapel of Notre Dame University, Indiana; the Pro-Cathedral in Minneapolis, etc., and many other churches and chapels in most of the states east of the Mississippi. His studio is in Minneapolis.

The decorations were planned with the building and harmonize with it and one another so completely, it is almost impossible to eliminate any one of them without destroying the general effect. The color scheme is variegated with stone, glass, oil, tapestries, bronze and ornamented wood touched with gold leaf to reflect the rays of the sun in myriads of tints and shadows suggestive of calm and mystery, and disposing one to peace and reflection and to the quiet enjoyment of Christ’s presence in the tabernacle. Everything within the church will impart, and increase the impression that this is the House of the Most High God, and not an edifice that could, by a few deft touches and alterations in furniture, be changed overnight from a church to an auditorium equally suited to a picture show, a theatre or a barn dance.

The decorations begin in the Sanctuary and one’s attention is focused there by the artifice of the unusual in the Altar Table, the reredos, the tapestries and the greater illumination beneath the canopy that shall surmount and extend over the tabernacle.

The Altar itself shall be a plain table, having no shelves nor pretentious embellishments, it shall consist of a slab of Mankatoe rock fashioned and built upon four piers of plain masonry. The Tabernacle shall set on the table, and antependia and curtains of tapestry, the color of the vestments used for the day, shall decorate the front of the table, and encircle the tabernacle. Six large and two small bronze candlesticks and a large bronze crucifix shall set in a horizontal line at the back of the table on the slab.

In the background against the wall a tapestry twenty feet high and twelve feet wide depicting Christ, the King triumphant, receiving the homage of Angels, and on either side a picture extending to the side walls shall represent the Nations and the Church acknowledging His Dominion. These pictures shall be in a frame of carved wood and a part of the design supporting the Canopy.

The woodwork in the Confessionals, Vestibules, Organ Screen, gallery screen and canopy, will call for craftsmanship of a high order; it is included in the general contract and will cost $10,000.

Seven large stained glass windows have been donated, and if installed would be out of keeping with plain glass in the rest of the building. The design and color of these windows is a feature in the ornamentation that is beautiful and instructive. The large window at the back of the church lighting the organ loft, the nave and throwing a flood of light directly on the Sanctuary, is especially worthy of attention. It contains nine medallions in one sit two figures reading from books and in front is another whose face is full of anguish, petitioning Heaven in a standing posture with outstretched arms, begging for something more; this represents the Old Law and its insufficiency. The next medallion shows Christ coming with the key of the treasures of graces and handing them to St. Peter the third shows St. Peter informing the world of God’s Mercy, and he exhibits to them Baptism h which they are cleansed, Holy Communion, the food by which they are made strong, Matrimony by which their borne life is sanctified, Penance by which their sins are forgiven, Holy Orders through which the power given with the keys is perpetuated and transferred and Extreme Unction by which the soul of the dying man is disposed to enter the life after death.

The medallions in the windows in the Nave tell the story of Christ and His ministry beginning with the Angel addressing the Blessed Virgin and ending with the Crucifixion.

The two large windows in the gables at the north and south of the transepts and close to the sanctuary shall have depicted incidents from the life of Christ that shall teach the two great lessons of the gospel, namely, Mercy and Love.

The color scheme would be destroyed unless the walls and wood ceiling were in tints that would blend with the windows anti tapestries.

The Stations of the Cross are tapestries set in relief in ornamental plaster. The lighting fixtures, altar brasses and Sanctuary Lamp are of a special design in bronze to blend with the heavier colors of the ceilings and walls. The architect has designed each item in the list and adjusted the size, shape and color to conform with aesthetical ideal embodied in the whole; a beautiful church is planned and will be executed if we can see our way to sign the contract.

The fresco on the interior walls consists of five coats, one of which is aluminum and another of lacquer, the aluminum, being metallic, preserves indefinitely the paint and the lacquer gives a golden hue to the field on which stencil design of various colors will adorn the outer surface.

The only ugly feature of the proposed decorations is the cost, $43,000.

After samples and designs of the glass and tapestries were submitted in church to three congregations, many of the parishioners spoke to me and knowing I was undecided, the majority of them advised me to go ahead and that funds would surely be forthcoming. Two young people, one of whom is a non-Catholic, said: “We are so charmed with the scheme we promise to find, some place, $500 to help defray the expense.” I said, “I would not be afraid to sign the contract but I am too keenly conscious of how impossible it is for the majority of the parishioners to increase their already generous contributions.”

“It is not impossible,” he replied, “ask the parishioners to sacrifice their outings this year, if they contribute the amount each spends every week for pleasure there will be more than enough to pay for the decorations.”

The outcome of these deliberations are: I have decided to sign a contract for those portions of the decorations which have been donated, these include the big tapestry which is a part of the main altar, the cross for the main altar, the Sanctuary Lamp, the stations of the cross, the ten little windows within the Sanctuary, the two windows in our Lady’s Chapel, the seven large windows in the body of the church.

There are in all 43 windows; those in the gables are not yet donated, nor are the tapestries for the tabernacle, the antependia for the altar, the tapestry for the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, the Baptismal Font, the Candlesticks; the cost of these will be seen in the list of bids.

The building committee and the Boosters Club are in favor of completing the church, installing the decorations and trusting to the generosity of the parishioners and the possible increase in congregation.

I am rather inclined to agree with the one who said, St. James parishioners are so accustomed to live above their means it is natural for them to want to buy a costlier church than they can afford, and have decided that we will borrow $75,000 and when our funds are expended we will come to a sudden stop.

Yours in Christ,
PATRICK J. O’CONNOR, Adm.

HONORS TO CHILDREN IN THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

There is usually keen competition in the parochial school for class leadership. In the annual examinations the following got the highest honors in their classes

Second Grade -- Eileen Duggan, 1st; Owen Lavin and Gertrude Foy tied for second, Rita Ward, 3rd.

Third Grade -- James Kelly, Martha Cantalin, and five pupils, Sadie Sharamitaro, Hubert Ward, Edward Corbett, Antoinette Daddona, and Gerald Lutz tied for third.

Fourth Grade -- Agnes Duggan, Mary Louise Godfrey, Mary Zielinski.

Fifth Grade -- Veronica Brady, Mildred Sullivan, Pascal Palumbo, Veronica Coad.

Sixth Grade -- Eileen Houlihan, Veronica Duggan, Helen Kelly.

Seventh Grade -- Mary Kearney, Gertrude Stoverink, Agnes Frattini.

Eighth Grade -- John Houlihan, Dorothy Buescher, Robert Duggan.

THE SCHOOL CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT

The school children’s entertainment was deferred on the evening of June 17th, because of rain, but was successfully staged on the two following evenings.

The airdome was crowded on both evenings, the numbers of the program were many and the children received continued applause. On Sunday night, Father Russell Wilbur addressed the graduating class and gave an interesting lecture on the philosophy of civil government.

Twenty-nine children were awarded diplomas.

CAN WE DO IT?

It will be seen from the statement on the previous page that the church, if completed according to the specifications, would cost $204,182.00 and that the assets to meet this expense may be estimated not to exceed $191,000.00, leaving a deficit of $13,182.00. This is the item in our calculations that pains most. It is difficult to see how the money can be raised and it is almost impossible to eliminate items of furniture sufficient to make this reduction without destroying the general scheme of decorations.

Words of encouragement are all very well but if contracts are made money must be on hand when bills are presented, hence we are in a quandary what to do. We don’t want to undertake obligations which we foresee we might be unable to fulfill.

No doubt the expenditure considered from a very human standpoint will in a short time more than justify the venture, because a very attractive church will be a strong factor in increasing the congregation, and raising the income. It would also appeal to the pride of the parishioners and improve their morale. It also happens that when people have what they want in the way of a church edifice they feel very satisfied and are willing to leave the pastor do the worrying about the debt.

As we see it the problem is not yet solved, the pastor will assume only an obligation which is reasonable, the congregation, if they want more must, as individuals and as a whole, accept their share of the burden before anyone’s head is in the halter.

This can be done by consistent and regular contributions to the 4 per cent collection. Every now and then an individual drops behind or slows up in his payments, and there are a certain few whose total contributions during the past five years are surprisingly insignificant.

The financial committee have proposed that the books he thrown open to them so that they may adopt ways and means for collecting from those who appear to have neglected their duty. This we do not like to do, it is not in accordance with our custom, we take a pride in the tact that our method of raising funds does not imply coercion or harsh methods. Our parishioners, as a whole, are generous and self-sacrificing Catholics. There are many who have really opened their purses and permitted us to take what we ask. It would be a lack of gratitude to imply that they should be spurred on to do more. There are, however, in the outer fringe a percentage of indifferent Catholics who, though they do not go to church and probably are not readers of Let’s Go, have sufficient faith and enough good nature to give a generous donation if they were properly approached these we mean to reach as soon as possible and it has been decided to assign the work to Father Pohl and the members of the financial committee. He will take such means as he deems best, it is his first attempt to raise parish funds and it will give him an opportunity of proving his mettle. Should he attain the success we anticipate, his ability as a go-getter will undoubtedly be recognized by his superiors.

In all probability there are a number in the parish who will want memorials in the church, there is such a variety of these a moderate sum may be raised and it will be the duty of the financial committee o become informed as to the price and approach the people who are likely to desire them. The time is at hand for being practical, parishioners back in their payments are requested to respond to this appeal and all who contemplate making a gift to the church should visit the pastor at their earliest convenience,

BAPTISMS IN JUNE

John W. Phelan. 1337 Ripple Ave.
Frederick Melvin La Rose, 1352 Central Ave.>br> Thomas Edward Kehm, 6744 Nashville Ave.
William John Frankle, 2341 Ecoff Ave.

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Sister Gabriel, principal of the Parochial School, is spending her summer vacation at the Mother House, at Sparkill, N. Y. Other members of the community expect to remain at the convent.

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The trenches for walls and the tunnels for heating and plumbing pipes are being dug for the Church, and concrete for the foundations will be poured into the casings before the week-end.

THE ALUMNI BANQUET

More than 120 members of St. James Parochial School Alumni Association banqueted in the main floor of the Statler Hotel on Sunday evening, June 26th.

The graduating class of 1927 to whom the banquet was tendered, were given a table in the center of the dining room and were officially received into the Association by the president, John McAnnar.

Joe Wiss gave the address of welcome and Miss Virginia Jones introduced the new members. Master John Houhihan responded to the class toast.

Speeches were also made by Ray Dolan, Arthur PahI, Dan Murphy, Fathers O’Connor and Pohl.

Miss Genevieve O’Gorman gave a historical sketch of the Alumni which Let’s Go considers worth preserving.

The speeches were short, clever and to the point: the young folks took themselves very seriously and were deeply interested; they seemed to like the formality of the occasion and manifested a fine easy dignity and self control. The Association never was more impressive than at this, the 19th, annual banquet. The men and women, most of whom are in the opening bud of life, are splendid specimens of the race and their faces manifest a spiritual idealism and a fine openness of expression that is a by-product, if not a direct result, of their Christian education.

The Alumni Association, said Father O’Connor, brings the past into the present and the present into the past. The class of 1904 shake hands with the class of 1927, and old memories and new are linked together. The spirit of the Parochial School is year after year renewed and strengthened, and classes immerge and are fused into a body that represents the best of the boys and girls who graduated from St. James School. Usually the boys and girls who attend the annual Communion and Banquet, are the ones who appreciate most highly the benefits of their education; their interest in the successive classes of graduates is an index of zeal and their presence with the Alumni is an assurance that their faith and goodwill has not been blunted by contact with the world.

A check for $400 was presented by the President to Father O’Connor, a second installment toward the fund for stained glass memorial windows in the New Church for Father Casey, Sister Catherine and Sister Louis.

The Alumni are contemplating raising funds with which to erect the basement of a parish ball. Father O’Connor encouraged their ambition and Promised that the parish would give $2 for every $1 that they had collected.

The Annual Communion took place June 5th at the mass that was offered for the repose of Sister Catherine, 120 of the graduates assisted. Breakfast was served afterwards in the school hall by the following ladies: Mrs. John McAnnar, M. Jones, G. Wiber, A. Chevalier, P. Ludden, K. Engelhardt, B. Quinn, W. Kirby, C. Arlt, J. Irvin, M. Cooper, D. Murphy, L. Bisso, Miss E. Ehle, Miss Mary Ward and Catherine Ward.

A short business meeting took place after the breakfast and the following officers were elected: President, Arthur Pahl; Vice-President, John Moore; 1st Assistant, Jerry O’Connell; 2nd Assistant, Chas. McVey; Secretary, Rosalie Moran; 1st Assistant, Helen Ludden; 2nd Assistant, Ione Arnold; 3rd Assistant, Rose-Mary Wiss; Treasurer, Walter Strathmann; Assistant, John Mahon.

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A farewell party was given to the 8th grade graduates by the Angelic Warfare Society and the children of the 7th grade on the evening of June 16th.

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The Angel Sodality entertained new members at a luncheon on the afternoon of June 12th. Ruth Heil, the prefect, presided and urged the new members to be faithful.

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The Sisters, accompanied by the Angelic Warfare Society, went on a boat excursion on the St. Paul on Monday, June 27th. They were pleased with the outing.

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Stephen Boyer, Garner Ave., who was convalescing from an operation for an abscess on the lung, had to return to the hospital where he was again operated upon. He is in a weakened condition, and suffers a great deal.

OUR GRADUATES

Twenty-nine children graduated from St. James School and will commence the next stage of life which is the period of adolescence. What the future holds for each of them is problematic; the germinating principle in nature works in physical growth of animals and plants and the moral fiber of a family is an inheritance that cannot be gainsaid; spirit, courage and intelligence are elements in man’s nature that have their ebb and flow; these constitute the energetic possibilities for action and are capable of development, they are the power that energises human effort, and gives a human being potentiality; but the directing agency is in the Will.

Secular education concerns itself with the development of potentiality. Christian education is not satisfied with energy in being, it endeavors to develop the will to restrain, to subdue, to direct, to govern; it supplies it with motivity and gives ideals and conceptions of right living which postulate man as creature that has a body and an immortal soul, created to know, love and serve God in this life and be happy with him in the next.

If man is only an animal whose complex cells are storage batteries for intelligence and no more, biology should be the basis of all morals, living well is all there is to life, and sacrifice and unselfishness are the empty gestures of human vanity, the peacock should be the symbol of man’s ambition and his school of ethics, the barnyard.

Education must have its aim and the target is either in Heaven or Earth. The Catholic child is taught in the parochial school that life has its initial experience on earth and its fullness in eternity, and success is to be measured by the axiom “What does it profit a man to gain the whole, world and lose his soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Christian civilization has a historic basis. The grandest lesson a school can teach is the one big fact of history, that God so loved the world He sent His Son. Our laws, customs and traditions have grown from this presumption and our culture and big heartedness are the fruits of this belief.

There may be great men who had no religion, but conscience came before courts and penitentiaries are man’s rebuke to men who fear not God.

It is pitiable to restrain and punish men for being selfish and self-centered when we make no effort to give children motives for being good. Patriotism and self-respect are not practiced to such an extent by our leading citizens as to make them models for our children to copy, and when we eliminate religion from education we have nothing on which to build human conduct except such ideals as these.

The graduates from our parochial schools are susceptible to the virus of false conceptions of life that is propagated through popular magazines, movies, and current literature. They have their full share of human infirmity and passion, their lives will be a battle in which some, we fear, will fall, they are not invulnerable because of their education, but they have had a taste of the sweetness of innocence, and memory has stored away a knowledge of the peace that belongs to virtue and the happiness they had when as children they reverenced God, poured forth their little souls in songs that Angels chant. Yes, they shall look back to the church and school perhaps from afar, and no depravity shall so cloud their vision as to blind them to the way home to better things. Every Sister and Priest they see shall awake memories of school days and the Master they were taught to love shall beckon, the Good Shepherd, seeking his lost sheep, shall seem to whisper “All you who labor and are burdened, conic and I will refresh you. My yoke is sweet and my burden Light.”

The parochial school educates boys and girls to face the real world and real life, and in these the fool says there is no God.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

It may never be given to you again to be in a parish where a Catholic Church is being built it is true in recent years people have become familiar with the building of churches; in almost all the adjacent parishes, churches have been built or are contemplated, and perhaps you have in your own way done your share towards their erection.

But is your name recorded in a window or a slab in any of the churches that are now erected in St. Louis and do you realize what a great privilege you have of doing something special in the way of giving a gift to adorn the House of your Lord?

There are occasions when you feel a sense of obligation towards your relatives and neighbors on Mothers Day you send a flower, at Christmas you remember, and a bride you do not neglect your presents are in keeping with the best tradition of goodwill and affection and they express more at these times than words could possibly convey.

The building of a parish church is a big occasion in the spiritual life of a flock, every brick and stone implies a sacrifice and the completed construction represents the united effort of all who have a self-sacrificing faith.

The general construction arises from the common fund, but the rich decorations and special mementos are the special privilege of the few who can afford to make them.

A gift, is going out of the ordinary to make a sacrifice more than might he reasonably expected, but it has power to express in its own peculiar way one’s appreciation for God’s goodness.

A gift looks cheap or otherwise when one takes into account the poverty or wealth of the donor; a poor person making an inexpensive offering expresses as best he can his affection and goodwill, whereas a similar gift from a person of greater means would be almost art insult.

Hence people who have rejoiced in health, prosperity and congenial companionship, ought to be glad to avail of the privilege of acknowledging their gratitude to the Almighty for all the favors they have received at His hands.

“Every good and perfect gift,” the scripture says, “comes down from the Father of Light in Whom there is no change.” This is your opportunity, others will avail of it, should you decide to leave it pass, you may later regret it.

When you come to church and observe the memorials, each one of them will point an accusing finger at you as if saying, “God gave you many things, even more than your fellows, and when a temple was being erected to His Glory, you did not associate yourself with those who made unusual sacrifices.”

“You can’t afford it,” you say; we can well believe it, but do you suppose that God, who is the Creator of the world, will permit you to suffer in want after you lavished your means in decorating His Sanctuary.

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The regular monthly meeting of the St. James Alumni Dramatic Club will be held in the School Hall Thursday evening, July 7. Returns for tickets are requested.

THE SCHOOL PICNIC

The school picnic, which was held this year at Ramona Hills, was fortunate in having a good day. The morning was cool and threatening, towards noon the sun came to the picnic in all its glory, the children romped around the 200 acres of woodland, rode on the merry-go-round, circled in the air in the Ferris wheel, competed with one another in the Roller ring and spent, not only their savings of the previous month, but made many calls on their parents for additional funds.

In the afternoon a few hundred machines arrived on the grounds carrying parishioners. Over 500 rode on the street cars. Two other schools, St. Catherine’s and St. Rita’s, were also present and added to the excitement of the occasion.

There was a ball game between teams picked from the senior members of the parish and the school children, and there were various athletic contests.

The ladies’ sack race, which was won by Mrs. J. H. Hruby, gave a good deal of excitement and pleasure. There was also a contest between the married ladies driving ten-penny nails into an oak post, the ladies swung their hammers with the skill of a mechanic and Mrs. Hugeback was awarded the honors of being the best knocker.

The young ladies’ race was a keen contest in which Mary Harris and Dorothy Brady tied for honors, both were awarded a prize after a second heat failed to render a conclusive decision.

Father O’Connor competed in the race for men over 30 and tied with Mr. H. V. Lutz, a former champion. Father O’Connor announced later that he was about to retire as it is hard to play the kid when one is near 45.

School Children’s Races for Girls

First Prize -- 8th grade, Helen Chiaurro; 7th grade, Spool race, Gertrude Stoverink; 6th grade, Thread the needle race, Veronica Duggan; 5th grade, Relay race, Louise Charleville and Helen Kilderry; 4th grade, blindfolded race, Virginia Grandinetti; 3rd grade, 100-yard dash, Frances Mergenthaler; 2nd grade, Wilma Charleville.

The kindergarten nut-gathering contest, Frances Walsh.

Boys’ Races

Eighth grade, Charles Corbett; 7th grade Andy Doering; 6th grade, Russell Gittens; 5th grade, relay race, Harold Plengemeier and Robert Corbett; 4th grade, Herman Stoverink; 3rd grade, relay race, Francis McLaughlin and Jack Brady; 2nd grade, Eddie Sugden; Kindergarten, Eugene Stucizo. Boys’ sack race, Dean Bisso.

Mr. John D. Bersch conducted the races in a highly satisfactory manner and was assisted by Frank Walsh, Al Dolan, Searg Mortineau, J. Anderson.

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Esther Arnold Miller gave birth to a baby girl at St. Mary’s Maternity Hospital on June 25th. They are very well.

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Mrs. O’Brien, 1228 Tamm Ave., was anointed Sunday morning. Her condition is serious.

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Miss Minnie Radin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Radin, 6815 Balson Ave., was married in the Rectory, Thursday morning, June 30, to Alfred E. Chagny, Maplewood. Mr. Chagny is a non-Catholic and usually in case of mixed marriage the ceremony is very much separated from the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, but not in this instance, Miss Minnie had her intended accompany her to 6:30 Mass when she went to Communion and immediately after went to the Rectory and was married.

UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
July 3, 1927.

dear Charlie:

you woodent hardlie no the old naberhood on account of the grading for the new church is neer finished so the place don luk the same an the lot is nice an level, an i understan the way they got the level of it wus father O’Connor walked up Tamm Ave. an tuk a pot shot at a cat which wus on the back of the lot, an he miss it, and so he got mad an insist that they cut off sum more at the front so he cud hit sumthing enywares on the lot, an i gess that is as good a way as eny other 1, dont you?

wel, it luks like we will soon be seein the church insted of jus talkin about it on account of the contrack is finly been let, an the reeson it wus hold up so long is so the paster an his hebrew bildin commity wood he positive that the contracker wood not hav to pay no income tax on wot he makes from the job, an with such feelers as Crottv an Boman an Arthur Pahl an Ludden and john Holihan to pick up wot crums the paster drops, the poor contracker is likly to have a leen feast, an i dont think a gang of buzzerds like that is gona leav much for the sparrows.

father Pohl got a tuff brake on account of he wus on retreat at the time of the school picnic, an so he mis out on the bigges day of the yr. for him, but father O’connor had enuf fun for both of them and he ruin my day by chaleng me to run a race with him, an he give me a fine trimmen, but the fack of the matter is i had a headack and my leg is been hurtin lately an i wus waring a new pare of shoes wich hurt my feet but if i menshioned them things people wood say i wus tryin to put over a aliby, an so i wont sa nuthin about it. the nex day after the picnic the mrs. said “my but your racing mus of did you a lot of good, on account of you have rosev cheaks this morning” and i said “my cheaks aint rosey, i am blushin with the shame of defeat.”

mrs. Plengemier had bad luck in the sack race on account of she cudent find a sack big enuf an i herd john Bersh say that nex time he wood have sum extra large 1s with elastic in the top.

sergent Martineau put over a fas one in the peenut race, an it wus uk this. he was holden his hat for frances Walsh to put in the peenuts wot she pick up, an wen he did’nt think nobody wus lookm he slip a cupple from his pocket an put them in the hat, an i had a sharp eye on him or woodent of seen it, an wen they count up, Frances win the race by I peenut. i wus surprise on account of i ust to think the sergent was a prettie deesent feller, but it jus goes to show wot constent ashociation with crooks will do to a feller.

the picnic wus not a reel success for me on account of the mrs. wus 2 busy to fix a basket of lunch and i dont think no picnic is a compleat without you have got sum sliced beats an patater saled an devil eggs and angle cake, but they is goin to be another I on the 24th of this mo. an. so she wil have another chanct to practice up on the axcepted picnic recepes.

father o’connor had a Iota fun with a feller wot wus runnln a gamblin wheel, an he stood their quit a wile winnin frum this feller, an given the money to the kids to spend, an finly he had the feller near broak, an now, ever time he sees a roman collar, he prays for rain and so it jus go to pruve that a man is got to liv rite.

the holy Name socity is talkin about given a minstrel show an if they are as gude as the mothers club it will be a fine show, but i hav got my douts on acount of them wimen has set a high stanard. It wood be alrite if tom Conry wus as funny as Adele and if buck Hefele cud sing lik cath and if Barney coud dance lik Marie quinn. Sam gittens wud be good 2 if he cud sing an jok lik his wif an at that, i rember in the old pre pro. days wen he cud put over sum reel comedy, specialy down at his uncle Georges place, how bout it Charlie? but, i unerstan they hav got sum prettie good talent an so they ought to put on a good show, specily if they get the wimen to give them sum pinters.

Your particlar friend and uncle,
HENRY

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