Annie Wright School - Shield Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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(9 ZJne f Sw-eta One feast was held in a bathroonn. Creaky footsteps were heard: we were sure a teacher was conning. Two or three of us were sitting in the tub when some one turned out the light; another turned on the cold faucet by mistake. Some smothered squeals and much scrambling followed, although whether we were caught and punished is swallowed up in memory. Field Days were always happy events, as were our days riding horseback out on the prairies of South Tacoma. Our first lawn fete to celebrate Field Day was very pretty, and each succeeding one grew prettier. The plays, the commence- ments, the planting of the class trees, the hiding, hunting and finding of the Spade caused great fun and excitement. Bishop Keator was almost like a second tatner to me. Since my mother had passed on when I was a year old many of the good people at the Seminary, faculty and classmates, seemed to want to make up to me what I lacked in this respect. Bishop and Mrs. Keator were always most loving and kind, even having me visH +henn on occasions. Fritz Keator, their son, was my principal playmate until I was ' Even now I can see Mrs. Keator standing erect, singing church solos in a lovely rich deep voice. Bishop had no voice to speak of. but at an occasional chapel he would stand, rocking back and forth on his two feet, robed in bishop ' s purple-and- white. singing his best but never in key or on the note. His crescendoes often came at our stops. To young girls at the susceptible age of giggling his singing was almost too much to bear. I believe I stayed in many Saturday afternoons because I had giggled at Bishop. (I should say with Bishop, because one couldn ' t laught at him — he was too dear and too solemn.) When spring came I stopped giggling because I wanted my Saturdays to go boating at Pt. Defiance, or violet-picking on the prairies. My art teachers of course meant much in my life. I see them and thank them, even though I cannot name them. As I have said. Miss Fitch seemed austere to many and I am told some marveled at the moral courage I expressed for a child so young; my devotion to her was great. To me she was always kind and loving, many times indulgent. An almost daily experience in my early years at the Seminary was in being allowed to paint water-colors sitting on the floor in her reception room. When my water glass was at its muddiest I ' d inevitably tip it over onto her prized Oriental rug. But to my remembrance she never punished me for it. Miss Fitch and Mrs. Keator introduced me to Europe by telling me of it. From them I learned of the beauty of the Passion Play at Oberamagau and the charm of foreign countries. As we all know. Miss Preston, who replaced Miss Fitch, did much to build up the Seminary, even building architecturally. Miss Fitch gave the Seminary quaintness. a boarding school atmosphere of Victorian flavor. Miss Preston brought efficiency, ability and foresight. The various honors given me at the Seminary, (among them the Key) I was always grateful for. They gave me assurance that I could find my place, could do my part, could be a good scout. If the child is father to the man I hope my life will prove to be a life of accomplishment, accomplishment of that which is good and constructive. One of the best things I learned in our sports at the Seminary was to be a good scout, to take defeat with a stiff upper lif. and victory as modestly as possible. That applies now in after life — applies more than the algebra and Latin. After all character building Is the important thing. Page twenty

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her bustles, huge puffed upper sleeves, long swishing taffeta skirts, countless trim- nnlngs of braids and buttons and puffs. There was the inevitable high backed tortoise-shelled connb, high tucked net and ruchinged collar, each to add even more to her already enormous height. Or was it that I was so wee and from my limited perspective she seemed to tower so far above me? Miss Fitch had a handsome brother of the old-school type who often called. Miss Lottie ' s beaux were the delight of us all. It was such fun for someone to have a beau and to be able to see him without special permission. It gave a dash of romance to our cloistered lives. Although in 1906 we were living many years after Godey ' s prints, because of the old-fashioned quaintness of Miss Fitch and her family, my impression today of twenty-five years ago is a pagaent-review of Godey plates, but with the faces of these good friends above the bustles and puffs of silk. There was Miss Raynor. a small, frail gentlewoman who had a cookie-jar in her room. She sat at the head of a table in the dining room, and taught Bible lessons. She was gently slipping on when I knew her, her snowy head bowing and her manner receding. She passed on before I was long at the Seminary. Those I remember with affection, who aided me through the maize of academics or helped to make the Seminary home to me were — Miss Guppy. Miss LeVegue, Miss Seeber, Miss Drake, Miss Williams. Miss LaVenture, Miss Taylor, Mrs. Welsh. Miss Findlay. Miss hiamilton and many others whose faces I now see but whose names have left me. Because we lived in the old building we had many nooks and crannies for explora- tion, feasts, and stow-aways (the latter for the purpose of cutting classes). I ' m quite sure no corner nor ledge of the old Seminary building or grounds was a secret to me. In the twelve years I was there I climbed every tree, every tower, every wood-pile to say nothing of Irncw ' na fhe a ' ch tectural details of pantry, ice box and store rooms. Speaking of store rooms, some who read this may remember one amusing prank I got into. We were always hunting food, like the Zulus of South Africa. We wore middies and bloomers for play. The only entry possible to us to the inner store room where the dill pickles, oranges, jams and such delicacies were kept was through the transom. Several of us plotted the attack, making sure to do it while cook and waitresses were out of the way. Empty barrels and boxes were arranged and I was hoisted over the transom. The door, of course, was under lock and key. What to do on the other side was quite a problem, but I scrambled down, using shelves for a ladder. My middy and bloomers stuffed full of pickles, oranges, crackers and such things, I climbed again to the transom. Not realizing the limita- tion of space in transoms I wondered what was happening, when as I squeezed through, orange and pickle juices oozed and crackers cracked. Needless to say our loot was ready for a damaged sale. But we were never discovered, as far as I remember. We loved having feasts. It was so hard to waken, though, in the middle of the night. I slept through many feasts simply because I didn ' t waken. My part already contributed, the others ' portions were thereby enlarged. Needless to say the culprits said they were sorry I didn ' t get there, but they didn ' t really try very hard to waken me. Page nineteen

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(9 I7 7 tF T SHi ' eL i © As I had no mother, my father told me I was to go through to graduation. That meant twelve years. After five years I ' d count to myself Seven more years. After eight years. Only four more. It was the only world I knew except summer holidays with an aunt and classmates. I admit it was often very lonely because I had no boxes of goodies and not many letters from home. I decided that someday I would make up for being in one place all those years — I would see the world I learned of in geography. Later, after college. I went to Europe to i- a,. Much to surprise I knew the historical background of all I was seeing. Paintings in museums were old friends, languages were easy for me. especially French. Then I looked back to see where all this latent knowledge came from. Most of it I learned at the Seminary. I seemed to know more than all my companions put together and I had never been considered to be a precocious child. You can imagine my gratitude to my Seminary teachers OS I climbed cathedral towers, walked cobbled streets hoary with history, or stood before Leonards de Vinci ' s masterpieces, because they had introduced me to them years before in the classroom. While I remember the fun, even some little troubles, and many dear good people, after all underneath a fine, solid education was going on — knowledge was being gained. Since then further travel to almost every part of the world has made me appreciate even more the good foundation I received at the Seminary. During twelve years I saw students come and go. principals come and go. faculty come and go while I remained on at the Seminary. I out-stayed them all. After these long years of boarding-school I graduated in white cap-and-gown. Several years later Bishop read a sweet wedding service for me in candle-lit, chrysanthe- mumed St. Luke ' s church. That was the last time I remember seeing Bishop and one of the last times St. Luke ' s was used. The old order changes, but It is supplied by one progressive and new. My love and best wishes for the success of my Alma Mater are ever with Annie Wright Seminary and those that are now carrying its banner aloft. Vernita Swezea Seeley, (Mrs. Paul Stark Seeley) 500 Vista Ave ' ue Por+hnH O ' - oc ' . Miss Preston, 1913-1929 Saved from oblivion by Mrs. Wells, carried through financial stress by Mrs. Wh ite, maintained and upheld by Miss Fitch, and ever blessed and nurtured by the inspiring love and loyalty of Mrs. Raynor. the Seminary was ready to enter a new period of her development, when Bishop Keator with rare wisdom and foresight, chose Miss Preston for principal. Highly educated herself, and experienced in the fine art of teaching, she knew the value of superior scholastic - --- ' ' ' ' a, and raised the rating of the Seminary to first class. She also realized the desirability of building up customs and traditions in the school that would give it individuality, and inspire loving devotion to Its memory. At her suggestions Bishop Keator offered a ten dollar prize to the member of the Alumnae Association, or of the Student Body, who should write the best school song. Page twenty-one