FEINT SONGS

A STREAM SINGS IN A POET'S LINES:

"CRUMBLE, CRUMBLE,
VOICELESS THINGS;
NO FAITH CAN LAST
THAT NEVER SINGS.

FOR THE LAST HOUR
TO JOY BELONGS;
THE STEADFAST PERISH,
BUT NOT THE SONG."

LET'S LISTEN TO THREE FEINT SONGS. A BRONX, NEW YORK, CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL WITH AN EVENTUAL 95% GRADUATION RATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. IT DELIVERS AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION TO ABOUT 500 POOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC AND WEST INDIAN CHILDREN. PRIVATE CHARITY (AS WELL AS TUITION) AFFORDS THESE CHILDREN A MORAL AND DISCIPLINED HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

TWO HIGH SCHOOL BOYS FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN MY STATE SCORED A PERFECT PAPER IN THE NATIONAL LATIN EXAM. THEY WERE TWO OF 426 PERFECTS ACHIEVED WHEN 135,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION, TOOK THE TEST SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN CLASSICAL LEAGUE.

ABOUT 100 WOMEN IN THE U.S. (3000 WORLDWIDE) ARE "CONSECRATED VIRGINS" WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR SECULAR LIVES TO GOD. THEY PARTAKE OF THE WORLD BUT NOT COPULATION.

SUCH FEINT SONGS TO SUCCESS CAN ONLY RESULT FROM SERIOUSLY HELD BELIEFS. A QUALITY EDUCATION, A DEDICATION TO AN IMPORTANT LANGUAGE, A COMMITMENT TO VIRGINITY - EACH REQUIRES AN ACT OF FAITH IN ONE'S SELF TO TRIUMPH OVER THE ODDS.

WHEN AMERICANS CAN NOW BUY A CEILING FAN WITH A REMOTE CONTROL, THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST TRANSCENDENT SUCCESS. IT'S MIGHTY TOUGH TO LIVE COUNTER-CULTURAL. LISTEN CAREFULLY AS THE BUBBLY, SINGING RIVULETS FLOW.