Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/100

assistance that gave them ownership of their own homes. He has been a member of the real estate firm of Cermak & Serhant for twenty years, and for the past fifteen years has been a director in the Lawndale State and the Lawndale National Banks.

Thus was built up in the section in which he chose to make his home when he arrived in Chicago the greatest community of home owners and stable citizens that can be found in Cook County. During these years the “mule boy” from Braidwood continued to progress. At present Chicago and Illinois has for its slogan: “Al Smith for president; Anton J. Cermak for governor of Illinois.”

Socially during these years the same spirit prevailed in his every act. As Secretary of the United Societies for local Self-Government he established the reputation of being the leader of movements that had as their object the perpetuation of personal liberty, and thus created a feeling among citizens, even those who do not sympathize with his views of personal liberty, that he is sincere and honest in his convictions and does not use the popular question simply as a political football.

Anton J. Cermak represents two distinct personalities. In his office in the County Building he is a hard task master, insisting on a strictly business regime, and in his home or when on pleasure bent, he throws aside entirely the business austerity and becomes the most aimiable host that can be found.

His recreations are golf, motorboating, fishing, and his greatest pleasure is with his family at their summer home in Antioch; and wherever Anton J. Cermak is found seeking pleasure, his wife and daughters can always be found close by. He resides at 2346 So. Millard Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

The eighth member of St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle, Ill., has recently received a doctorate in philosophy. It is the Rev. J. F. Cherf, O.S.B., who has recently completed his classical studies at the Illinois University.

Rev. John F. Cherf, O.S.B., was born near Bryant, Wis., on Nov. 28, 1894. Since there was no Catholic School in his home town, he attended the public school. In the year 1907 he enrolled at St. Procopius College, Lisle, Ill., where after completing the classic course, he joined the Benedictine Order. In 1916 he received the Degree of Bachelor of Arts from St. Procopius College, and two years later was ordained to the priesthood. During the summers of 1917–18–19 he studied at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Ill. After devoting himself to graduate work at the same University during the scholastic year of 1920–21, he earned the title of Master of Arts.

From then on he was attracted to Latin paleography or the study of Ancient Latin Manuscripts. The majority of extant old books,