Memories of life at St. Joseph's College in the later 1910s and early 1920s

Ann ‘Inky’ Rodgers

The dinky tooted twice over the tussle, and stopped at the redbrick station gate house and deposited me in the care of the teachers of Saint Josephs College at the tender age of 10. I was lucky and had years of pre-boarding school routine received second hand from my two older sisters and brothers. They talked, laughed and acted school shop when home for the holidays and vacation. So it made me a veteran of the first order before I enrolled at the Valley school.

My two older sisters were students at St. Joseph College for seven years before they received their Associate Degrees in teaching degrees in June. I entered the following September with practical and acquired experience, self educated to tricks and ready to illustrate my talents. I arrive bag and baggage with their secondhand navy blue uniforms, white net veils, under clothes and clothes members. Nothing new except a tuck or two for fitting purposes. From the moment I landed on the scene there were two strikes against me -I was neither pretty nor bright like my sisters. I didn’t earn a degree but was honored magna cum laude with a perpetual nickname – Inky.

A Tour Of The Familiar Haunts

The gate and the two red brick gatehouses gave the entrance a very private and secluded dignity. We the students used to say we were “behind bars” looking through the small iron side gates.

The avenue was long, broad and bordered with four rows a beautiful shade trees. A favorite past time was roller-skating up and down the driveway. We had leaders and teams for the chain races on skates. The avenue with its two rows of payment served as an excellent racecourse. We had to get special permission and a chaperone went with us.

Burlando

The front door is the entrance to the marble hall, where the visitor’s registration book was kept. The hostess greeted us and sent us on our way.

The parlors were a haven of rest. They had the best soft seats in the school. There was a round green sofa that reminded me of a merry-go-round. To be wanted in the parlor was the greatest thrill. A visitors were a rare occasion. We were so proud for the moment and hurried to make ourselves beautiful, to greet our guest.

The distribution hall also known as the commencement hall was just playing stage- fright hall to me. In all my years I never conquered the disease. Class plays, school plays, pageants, monthly concerts, and recitals were beautiful and great occasions for the talented students and the famous commencement marches and bows to the tune of a master-musician, throwing tantrums are events never to be forgotten.

Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals where our most welcome and honored visitors. We collected holidays from them for souvenirs. The only trouble with the distinguished churchman wqas they didn’t come often enough to please us.

The oratory was on the second floor above the parlor in Burlando. The students gather there for morning and night prayers and Children of Mary services on Sunday before dinner. It was very pretty and heavenly. The Madonna was completely surrounded with small electric lights, flowers and ferns. There was an organ in the rear near the Dean’s kneeling place.

If one didn’t show spiritual signs of devotion at least the physical signs of callous knees were present.

The museum also known as the old curiosity shop was on the second floor, located over the front door. It was filled with foreign and antique coins, jewels, precious stones, relics, souvenirs, and many dust collectors of historical value. We like to visit the museum; it gave us a view of the avenue and the visitors.

Room number 16 was near the museum. It was a very large college classroom, beautifully finished with bookcases, pictures, desks, ferns and various plants. It was the alumni teachers’ room.

The classrooms were on the third floor. They were very neat and orderly, with individual combine desk and seats. The rooms were decorated with bookcases, ferns, plants and beautiful pictures. Prayers were said before each class to enlighten our minds. French prayers for the French class and Latin prayers for the Latin class and so with all the foreign languages.

I trotted to class with my pony disguised and enclosed in an English book wrapper. It was saddled before I left the study hall for classes. I felt very guilty, because there were several large “God Sees Me” signs on my way through the long corridors to haunt me “Suspicion Always Haunts the Guilty Mind”, (Shakespeare) and I would be too frightened to use the pony after I arrived for Latin class. A pony’ a pony’ my kingdom for a pony (apologies to Shakespeare) sure gave me Latin security, and forbidden books were always the most interesting and were guarded against rates.

The gong on the second floor corridor kept the classes moving on time.

The sewing room was on the second floor near the gong. All kinds of beautiful needlework, knitting and dressmaking were taught the students

Saint Francis‘ dormitory was on the fourth floor, above the classrooms. It had four rows of beds, alcoves and two cells for the two teachers who slept there. I quote the theme phrases of the day, “strip your bed and turn your mattress” and “don’t sit on the beds”.

The nightly foot-tub baths, and one student took cold cream bath only – she was ahead of her time – beauty in advance. The foreign students took perfume baths – the heavily scented variety. But the teachers preferred us to take good old soap and hot water baths.

Often the lights would go out in the midst of the bathing plus the final night prayers. I often wished I were a cat or an owl so I could carry on after dark without handicaps, but I was blind as a bat and so was my baby sister. One night she was caught unaware and her washing continued after lights were out. She was struggling to carry out the Dean’s motto, “cleanliness is next to godliness”, so she toiled on and split the black liquid shoe polish on her one and only bath towel, but was not aware of the damage. So when drying her body she felt the towel slightly damp but didn’t realize it was the shoe polish being rubbed over her entire anatomy. Then she went to bed ignorant of the fact that she looked like the ace of spades. That was a very cold windy night. The windows rattled and I was chilly and couldn’t sleep. So I gathered up my blankets and decided to join forces with my sister to sleep the rest of the night in comfort. In the morning was the grand discovery of the shoe polish from head to toe and my sister in tears. At first she thought I was the cause of the disaster since I was her bed partner. She spent the morning soaping and soaking herself and crying her fate of woe. She look like a tar baby and was gray for days from the leftover ‘french gloss’ shoe polish.

When the lights went off we were supposed to be in our beds, but I was always late and would often find a ‘french bed’ en waiting. That caused disorder and laughter and early morning arising plus punishment.

The dormitories were small medium and large. In winter they were rated warm, cold, and freezing. The favorite and delicate students fell heir to the small warm dorms on the third floor near the Dean’s room. They had late sleep and early bed as a reward for good behavior. The large freezing dorm was on the third floor. It was the nest for the hale and hardy; the Spartan spirit of students climbed the four-story building many times a day. No comfort thrown in for good behavior - just plenty of fresh mountain air plus ozone and on windy nights rocked us to sleep while the windows rattled, boards squeaked, student snored and talked in their sleep. Then a large mighty tower bell to disturb our slumber in early morning - followed up with a hand bell to ring in her ears.

The bells of St. Francis will always be remembered - and the awaking up prayer. One of the foreign teachers who was quick in mind and body - called the girls for church one morning - rang the tower rope bell (that could be heard for miles), then the hand bell (enough noise to arouse the dead) and said the awakening prayer. I didn’t arise on the first alarm but settled among my blankets for an extra snooze. The teacher was very much disturbed and pushed me and the mattress out of bed - with the announcement of “wake up and get up - live Jesus - long ago.” Then I had a great rush for the chapel so as not to be late for mass. I was never on time - such rushing, running and dressing en route – middy-blouse, skirt and tie in hand.

Midnight feast were great adventures. We picked some secluded spot and smuggle personal food and soft drinks from the break room. We conducted our own tour with flashlights hoping not to be caught. The night watchman often discovered us and split the beans to the Dean. Then the inquisition would follow in the morning in the study Hall. The guilty ones had batting eyelids, trembling voices, sweating hands and shaking knees who called on to confess. Then the punishment pronounced and carried out, such as memorizing long Gospels, literature, Latin or some difficult problem to solve and be kept from recreation and amusement indefinitely.

We were not allowed to use curling irons and ‘make-up” or apply art to our faces. But we always return to school well supplied with beauty aids. ‘Cosmetic Raids’ were conducted during class periods. Then pale faces, lips and straight hair followed until a new stock could be smuggled in. In the meantime we had to pinch our cheeks and bite our lips or blush our way to beauty with braids instead of curls. Larger ribbons and buster brown collars where the vogue. Bobbed hair was forbidden unless the student entered school with short hair. Hair was not supposed to be cut by amateur barbers.
One night I decided I would look chic with short locks instead of thick hair a yard long. It would be so easy to wash, comb and adorn. So I cut my crowning glory by flashlight. Next morning I felt lightheaded and on entering the oratory I was not greeted by the Dean with smiles but was ordered to the study hall to wait my punishment - it was quite drastic. I thought – “what mighty contests rise from trivial things” (The rope of the look) - Alexander Pope.

The catacombs were below the parlors and distribution halls in the basement. Costumes of all designs, ages and nations were stored there. It was very spooky when we would go in search of Halloween garb.

The music room was on the top floor above the study hall in the square building. Each music student was enclosed in a small room with only a piano and a stool. The teacher in charge of the music room made rounds and had a Hawk’s view (through the glass window of the door) of all the students when they were practicing - also an earful of their talent. My practice period proceeded my geography class – so instead of playing a waltz in 3/4 time I studied my geography lesson and banged away. The teacher knew the difference - paid me a call and collected my school books and other distractions.

The music room also had vocal students. It was there that the do; re; me; and the fa; sol; la; ti; does; trilled out upon the air and lo - the valley echo. It was where the harp – harped; the violin – squeaked; the cellos – roared; the mandolins – jingled; the guitars – wailed; the saxophone – blared; and the drum – drummed; the ukulele - plunked; the traps - trapped and snapped all the many different musical instruments tried to get a note in edgewise.

The study hall was below the music room in the square building on the second floor. It was a large square room with the fire escape building at one side. It was bright and cheerful like a sunparlor filled with large beautiful ferns. A small table and chair on a platform amid the firms in the front center was the Dean’s throne for lectures, meetings and inquisitions. The individual desk and chairs were placed in long rows and filled the rooms. We sat according to class. The desktops were covered with green felt to promote silence. They were four large white pillars, that supported our heavy class schedules. There was a piano for school and class singing and an organ for hymns.

The study hall was a general meeting place for the student body and the Dean’s talks and school singing with the Dean playing the piano. Her favorite songs were: 1) The Minstrel Boy To The War Has Gone; 2) All Together, All Together; 3) Tenting Tonight, Tenting On The Cold Damp Ground; 4) Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, The Boys Are Marching; 5) Row, Row, Row, Your Boat and 6) The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.

For class signing one year we had a new young teacher. Some of our class decided to exchange names and at room call the teacher didn’t know the difference. The Dean appeared on the scene one day and discovered the trick. The teacher was mortified. We were sufficiently punished by the Dean.

During study period familiar pranks of mine were reading for bidden books – covered with school books covers and writing letters home on composition paper. I managed to keep occupied and out of trouble until I was caught in action. Then out came the dry Latin and that would cause me to dose in an upright position. I translated the nap as resting my eyes. But I never got any sympathy from my fatigue. There were ‘God Sees Me’ pictures hung everywhere.

The college and high school playroom where on the first floor below the study hall. It was a very large square room. Here jazz music, dancing and mail were the favorite pastimes. All the various holiday parties were held here with much decoration and refreshments. The charity fairs, banquets – also indoor gym lessons for the student body.

There were three playrooms with a piano in each room; one room exclusively for the seniors on the second floor across from the library near the Dean’s office. The senior’s playroom was more for reading, writing and lounging. The senior’s main privilege was uncensored mail, coming and going.

A playroom for the elementary school was on the first floor across from the cloth room and below the Dean’s office and stationary. Here games were played with fancy dancing a specialty. It was similar to the large playroom except on a smaller scale.

The box room was below the large playroom in the basement in the square building. It was furnished with old school desks with our numbers for each student. We kept our personal food boxes stored there, such as ham, cheese, crackers, relishes, candy, nuts, and cakes, also canned food. Sometime there were raids on the box room by different students. Hot bread and molasses was served there at 3:30 p.m. and it was delicious.

The chemistry laboratory was in the basement near the box room. And what odors!

We liked to take the mercury and redecorate our gold rings, pins and medals into silver jewels. The quicksilver was on the loose quite often

The refractory was a nod-in and bow-ing out job. The top of the bell for law and order. I quote: “Order is Heaven’s First Law”. If one was a delicate pet you feel heir to a remnant of beef steak or special tidbit from the Dean’s table. I all my seven years of residence I never was pet enough to receive a special morsel relish from authority.

We made a delicious hard sauce called ‘goo’ or ‘gu’ (by mixing butter and molasses into a thick paste plus a drop of vinegar to make it light in color) to go with a fresh round bread. We had butter for breakfast but it was never present for dinner except for boot-leg method. We stored the leftover breakfast portion of butter under our tea cups - so dinner wouldn’t be neglected and be more appetizing. It was generally discovered and removed. What a disappointment when we arrive for dinner to find our butter missing.

Speaking of cups - I printed nicknames of teachers in ink and decorated my own cup. The Dean spied it and gave it to the strictest of all the teachers. When I arrive for class - what a shock I had - the cup was put on display and a severe lecture followed and after class scrubbing the powder admits tears was put to work. I never etched and sketch china after that episode.

Tea and coffee were flavored in advance with sugar and cream. What delectable bananas for Sunday breakfast. We remove the skin with our fork and ate the banana with our fork. We may delicious banana sandwiches. Our apples for a quarter and we dipped each bite in salt.

When the menu call for beef and lamb stew we always had a slice of bread for the foundation. Not to mention the tenderest of calves liver and bacon for breakfast on Saturday. We had the most delicious fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, butter, milk, cream, homemade bread, cake and pastry. All kinds of foul, beef, lamb and pork raised and produced on the school farm plus garlic in the spring time for good measure. Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday with rings, metals and thimbles. My fate was always the thimble. Special feast days called for banquet meals.

Reading aloud in the pulpit was also on the menu such as “The Lives of the Saints“, a course in etiquette - but worst of all for the digestion was a serving of the monthly and examination marks read aloud. Mine were more on the failing side as was my face red. It was like adding insult to injury to let the public know you were a stupid dumb bell. What mortifications! What horrors! The Dean’s theory: “success without good conduct scarcely deserves notice must less reward” also “A little learning is a dangerous thing”. On bowing out of the refractory I often dropped a forbidden fruits from my mini blouse or bloomer leg – a tattletale display. We were not permitted to take food out except in our stomachs.

During the flu epidemic we rated for meals a day plus immediate nourishment - to build up a resistance against the fatal germ.

The scullery was at the end of the refractory, where the dishes were washed.

The cooking school was near the refractory. The students prepare a dinner and then enjoy their lesson and banquet style.

The infirmary was on the second floor above the refectory. It was a large square sunny room. It was my only hope of escaping and unwanted midyear examination. My excuse - a severe headache and a stomachache for ailments. Something unseen and a hidden factor, and no thermometer or detector to tell the infirmarian how much misery I possess. The infirmaria was always sympathetic (even though faking was suspected) and generous with the cure-all – namely castor oil. The tasteless, odorless variety had not been discovered or invented. So it took long medication and a brave soldierette to become bilious with a pink tongue. What price faking. It was never worth the dose. Because you had a four in one complaint in the end. Examinations, floating liver, plus caster oil’s difficult handicaps. The infirmary was for the delicate, good, and blue women girls. The bad students suffered in silence and fainted in route.

The art room was on the third floor above the infirmary and the most cheerful and busy place. Monogram China, beautiful hand-painted church vestments, portraits and pictures of all shapes and sizes were works of the students.

Private rooms for the college students were above the art room on the fourth floor.

The clothes room was located under the senior’s play room and library. Each student had a close number, mark within indelible ink, also name tape. There were individual clothes closets and drawers with your number. We were not allowed to borrow or wear each other‘s clothes but we managed to exchange a frock or two.

The library was on the second floor – looking out on the stone courtyard. It was bright and peaceful.

The stationary was on the second floor across from the Dean’s office above the small playroom. Law and order was carried out there. Religious articles, toilet articles, souvenirs of all kinds of school books and stationary equipment where sold to the students at a dear price –no cut rate. We could only enter one at a time on our purchasing tour. Sometimes we were put out without any results.

The Dean’s office was an inside square dark room. I was always very frightened when sent to the Dean’s office for misbehavior during classes. When the students have phone calls you talked from the Dean’s office - no privacy.

The large lavatory was on the second floor. Students came from all directions and distances to shampoo and bathe. There were private rooms and dormitories on the third and fourth floor of that building.

The chapel is the most beautiful shrine I’ve ever seen. It was very light and so was the confessional curtains - with the confessionals in front of the pews. Every Thursday morning was the appointed time for soul cleansing with the Dean in attendance. The students went to chapel by ranks and genuflected by a snap signal. The organist played the most beautiful hymns in the choir sang like angels. The visitor’s chapel was on the left side of the main altar.

On Saint Joseph’s feast day – March 19 – there is always a great celebration with solemnly mass and a priest (from the boys college) who look like Saint Joseph with the white beard always gave the sermon

Holy Agony Chapel was below the large chapel in the basement. It was dark and mysterious. To find your way to a confessional was quite a job. The feel and touch system method.

Thursday was the general holiday for the week instead of Saturday. It was the thorough cleaning day for our alcove, desk, soul and body.

The normal was room number 13 on the third floor above the oratory. It was a very large classroom and was used for the college teaching course.

The assembly hall was on the third floor above the museum. It was the college study hall and room for the science of religion lectures. Oral examinations of the college were held there – with the college student body and all the teachers in attendance.

Scopes were prepared for all examinations. 50 type written questions that covered the entire book. A sure cover-all and what a great headache and brain storm to get control of the knowledge.

Oral examinations were fierce and dreaded. I suffered premature heart attacks and mental collapse followed by premature gray hair. I was always a target for the professors and could never shake off my fear. What little I knew could never be uttered.

The college class rooms were near the assembly hall on the third floor.

One day during metaphysics class, that uninteresting abstract dry study - a miniature music box was hidden in an empty student’s desk drawer and played its jazz tune to enlighten our dull, heavy minds to something vital and concrete. Well, to say the least, the new professor was startled and couldn’t speak. In walked the Dean to observe class teaching and was greeted with the jazz music instead of philosophy. I should never forget that moment. I was instantly accused and told to stop it - but for once I was not guilty - and furthermore did not know at the time who did the daring deed. It was quite a merry-go-round because I couldn’t locate the toy – and it had to play itself quite undiscovered. I enjoyed the episode thoroughly and was proud of not being guilty for once - but it was hard for them to believe I was an innocent victim.

Blue ribbons and medals were given to the girls who were of sterling character and were known as the Children of Mary. They were the examples of the student body. The green ribbons and medals were worn by the aspirates. Good conduct awarded you the blue ribbon. It was given twice a year on special feast days.

Favorites were generally good and delicate students. They had late sleep, special diets, extra nourishment at 3 p.m. and at bedtime. Also special class courses and privileges.

Retreats were held once a year, usually in February or March for three long days and four nights. No classes appeal to me and I usually made a fair retreat - considering the source and strength of my devotion. Holy cards were given to welcome you out of the retreat.

January 29 - St. Francis DeSales feast day was the Dean’s feast day. It was a great occasion. It meant a holiday - late sleep, banquet meals. The students gave large and beautiful banquets of roses and spiritual banquet pictures. Most of all good behavior and the dean well please. Then a walk and a cross country cross-eyed view of the college boys and a climb to the Grotto and then Indian Lookout Mountain.

Mail was censored coming and going. We received it in the large playroom after school. We were always hoping for a ‘boat letters’ from the college boys.

The Ladies of Charity (blue ribbon college students) stage the Christmas fair also known as the charity fair given for the poor. It was quite an occasion and the students work very hard for success. It was held in a large playroom. Raffles and more raffles were the main attraction.

The May fair was held at the creek to raise funds for the missions. Races, boating and outdoor activities were part of the program - also a stray snake would show up and win the race. The college boys had a way of wandering along the creek and causing excitement and distractions.

Nanny I Meyer’s boxes were famous for the seniors. Very large angel food cake containing surprise miniature articles, such as thimbles, hearts, babies, rings and other fortunetelling trinkets.

Movies were held in town at the church school. The students didn’t pay on entering the show - but someone passed a hat around to take up a collection to help pay expenses. We were on or honored to drop a coin.

The oyster supper was held in the same building and always a great success for us because the college boys came and we had a touch and feel of the outside world.

The most honored Father Wordier from France visited the college and went on tour of the buildings and grounds. Only the students with Kodaks where allowed to go and missed classes. Pictures were taken on route. I was determined to be present so carried an empty Kodak - snapping fake pictures - why the guest smiled and posed for the occasion.

Physical culture was called physical torture. I enjoyed the sport much more then study and classes. We have different teachers, male and female. I played all the baseball games, basketball tennis and all the different races. We worked hard to raise the building fun for the gym – known as the Verdier building.

Hikes were planned for special holidays. We started soon after dinner for Gettysburg or some long-distance mountain climbing. We generally retreated with blisters.

Hayrides and strawrides were held during the fall. We would take picnic supper and musical instruments and sang old fashion songs. We dressed like country folks and play games such as ‘truth or consequence’. We travel for miles along the backcountry roads.

Sleighrides where thrilling and great sport. They were rare occasion.

The fountain and summer houses were on the large lawns. All shapes and sizes of iron benches were along the wide gravel walks. Outdoor plays and pageants were held on the lawns. Later the fountain was replaced with a merry-go-round swing.

Mother Seton’s spring and well is a stone shrine at the foot of a small hill. There was a formal rose arbor and flower garden in front of it. In winter we went sledding down the hill behind the spring.

The mill stream was beyond the pick up track and a concrete bridge crossed it. It ran parallel with the creek with quite a distance between them. This was considered out of bounds.

May processions were lovely but it was always a headache about complete white apparel. Whether the neck of the dress was too low and the sleeves too short. Sometimes the dress didn’t fit at all with the human padding of 10 or more extra pounds collected through the year and inches of height add it on. The officers of the Sodality read prayers and verses at various Madonna statues and crowned the Blessed Mother - followed by the singing a beautiful hymns.

Our Lady of the Fields was out beyond the apple orchards, situated on a small hill in a grove a beautiful shade trees and shrubbery. Old fashion scent shrubs grew there. We took as many as we could without being seen and tied them in our handkerchief and enjoyed their perfume along the May procession route.

Corpus Christi was lovely and a beautiful occasion, very solemn procession with candle lights and banners. Very small students walk backwards and carried baskets of rose petals - kissing them and throwing them along the way adoring the path in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

The farm consisted of many acres of cultivated rolling fields; various fruit orchards; vegetable and flower gardens were well cultivated. On rogation days the crops were blessed and so was the garlic. We were always happy to get out of class for this occasion.

The strawberry patch was near the yellow house. It was raided on occasion and what delectable berries. Inquisition and punishment followed the various fruit raids.

The grape arbor was near the pick up track. The most luscious grapes I’ve ever tasted. We were not allowed to touch them on the vine but I managed to get a sample once in a while. Their flavor was so much better than when served in the refractory. Proving forbidden fruit is always the sweetest.

The apple orchards where off the beaten path but we managed a raiding feast. I don’t understand why we were so anxious to raid the orchards, arbors and patches because we were served plenty of the same fruit in the refractory. The raids were always something to tell in confession.

Paradise the land of beautiful long stem violets, wildflowers, and all demon snakes. It was an island surrounded by Tom’s Creek. There were several swinging bridges and how we like to single file and swing and sway across the creek.

The creek was very much out of bounds. To go to the creek without permission - you were considered on the brink of probation and it was grounds for expulsion if you were caught meeting college boys there. It was the place for bootlegging love and smoking. It made you feel very sophisticated.

The creek was the main year around amusement. There were many rowboats and several canoes. A large high iron bridge crossed the creek. It was bound on one side by a stonewall. A dam and falls some distance down the stream served a stepping stones when the water was low. Ball games, races, athletic sports, picnics, feast, festivals fairs, and dramatic plays where held there.

In winter we ice skated and played winter sports on the ice. In the spring violets in wildflowers grew along the creek for several miles. Swinging bridges were way of crossing the creek at various places. The trestle was the bridge for the dinky or school train to cross the creeks. The train tooted twice over the trestle if there were passengers to get off at the college. There were stiles for the various fences around the farm.

The pike and all along the way what is our main flirtation spot with a college boys. We had a cross-eyed view and a long distance smile of them. The farsighted students were lucky ones. They at least had a situation at hand. The quaint covered bridge over Tom’s creek on the pike brought us within range for a short distance.

The Grotto was a beautiful shrine near the boy’s college. A wooden bridge crossed the mountain stream and a large stone grotto was on the other side. The grey stone chapel was on the side of the stream. It is up the mountain on the way to Indian Lookout. We went on picnics to the grotto. It was our resting and meeting place for the mountain climb, with huge rocks, tree stumps and rustic branches to sit on. Mountain paths from all directions led to the beautiful spot so hidden to the outside world.

Indian Lookout is on the top of the mountain. There one could see five states in the distance. Anyway it was a most beautiful view, from huge rocks on the cliff of the mountaintop. It took hours and will power plus youthful spirit to reach the spot. Sometimes we were lost on our way and would have a little tête-à-tête with the college boys that happened to appear on the range and lookout. This was considered a most successful view, invasion and conquest. Who wants to see five states I thought at the moment for this is communication with the ‘outside world’. It was delightful and illegal - making it most interesting.

To have legal communication with the ‘outside world’ meant getting permission, then a suitable chaperone and we would hire an auto to go to distance cities to dinner and shows; or to plays, and different ball game is at the boy’s college.

One Sunday afternoon a classmate of mine went for an airplane ride with me. A young pilot was barnstorming in the neighborhood. He had his wooden open-air job crate parked in a nearby feel. Our brothers had us out for dinner and we thought it would be thrilling to adventure among the clouds over the mountainside. We flew over the boy’s college and dipped over the girl’s college. We were hanging out and waving our middy ties to all the frightened people and we nearly landed on the chapel steeple. What excitement for such a short time at such a high price. It cost $10 a piece for three minutes to have a taste of the ozone and expulsion from school. Because we had no permission to contact the upper outside world and you have a wink at death. The next day the plane fell to pieces and was scattered over the field.

I should always remember those character building Sunday morning and Friday night lectures, plus the Dean’s favorite questions, even though I appeared half asleep and was often told to leave if I was to board to stay awake and sometimes I did depart. But here’s a sample of the Deans wisdom, depth and quotations I haven’t forgotten through the years. The Dean gave us a touch of all the great philosophers it authors as follows:

So here has been dawning, another blue day;
Think, wilt thou let it slip uselessly away?
Out of eternity this new day is born;
Into eternity, at night will return.
- ‘Today’ Thomas Garlyle

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