New London High School - Whaler Yearbook (New London, CT)

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BULKELEY NEWS 7 The Seven Wonders of Bulkeley School. O DOUBT every pupil who has reached this advanced stage of his educational career has read or heard a little concerning the Seven Wonders of the World. Nevertheless there is a large proportion of us who have never made the acquaintance of the still more famous and interesting Seven Wonders of Bulkeley School. Since this is the case allow me to give you all an informal introduction, and quiz you about them. We will all admit that Old Bulkeley is classed as a marvel because of its out-put (not put-out) of prominent men consisting of lawyers, doctors, congressmen, clergymen, merchants, professors and newsboys. Yet the wonders that assisted in the moulding of their notable characters are not so familiar to us and they will be the subject of my questions. First we have the elevated ladder in the cloak-room. By what athletic promoter or far-sighted janitor was this gymnastic exerciser erected? Was this the sole instrument intended for the preparation of our renouned warriors of the track, diamond, and gridiron? Who can tell the date of its erection or its past history? The next time you go downstairs perform a few tricks on these self-blistering rungs and try to solve its antiquity. We will now turn our attention to the wall clock in Room 1. Its tireless hands never ceased long enough to permit them to write an auto-biography of its turning so I am at sea to relate its origin. Consequently I will restore to questioning. Was it the present of some “timely” graduating class or the remembrance of a prosperous alumnus? Well, what a trifling matter it is anyway so long as it continues to fulfill its chief function, that of telling us when good old 1.30 is at hatid. The third marvel is the marble fireplace directly under the previously foretold wonder. Doesn’t it seem a queer and out of the way place for such a sample of architecture? Was it ever deemed necessary to revert to this primitive method of heating? Did the architect have in mind the sitting-room of a certain stately colonial mansion? Well, it is obvious that it is there although its presence is unaccounted for and if some enterprising senior class would like to hold an old-fashioned pop corn festival they will know where to obtain an important factor of the ceremonies. Of course we are all familiar with Room 7. “The Cafeteria,” or Physical Laboratory. But why those ornamented lunch chairs? This species of furniture is seldom referred to as a part of a class-room. To a stranger these chairs surely present a most fascinating and amusing appearance with their artistically carved initials, trade-marks, slogans, numerals, pic-

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6 BULKELEY NEWS of 1919, will give a five dollar gold piece to the orator named by the judges as second best in the delivery of his oration. If the judges decide there is a tie for second place a five dollar gold piece will be given each holder of second honors. The prize is not given in any sense as a material reward, for it is too meager. But it is donated with the purpose of obtaining a more wider and satisfactory recognition of talent. We hope that our intentions will be met with approval by both the judges and the audience at graduation. Who Is He? There’s a dude who fools his way at school, A smile on his face, and a shine on his shoe; A diamond stick pin, and a stride on him too. Believe thouest me, he’s some slick dude. His hair is combed down all ’round his crown, The walls of his temples as thick as a clown; He walks with a spring like a swinging gate, He comes to school tho’ he’s always late. He goes to his classes with one lonely thought, “Though I’m always late, I’ll never get caught, I’ll slip in a seat that’s nearest the door, It won’t be long; I’ll be free once more.” He forgets his books, then thinks he’s swell, He hates his lessons; his teachers—oh well. Yet he expects 100 for being so slow, But when the marks are out he’s 30 or so. —Sisson '21

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8 BULKKLKY NEWS tures, and an undiscovered pre-his-toric code of hierogliphics. But don’t mistake this room for a wayside restaurant and yell out for a ham sandwich or a boiled egg or you will perchance be served an unappetizing goose egg with zero relish. So while in them let this be your motto, “Rest ye in peace, but eat at home.” Marvel number five is a much warmer one, being, in fact, the source of our heat. This source is located in the cellar, not far from the gas light, about which the venerable sages gather and discuss the perplexing topics of the day. How many of us knew that this furnace is a special design and make, being manufactured in this city by the Hopson Chapin Company and was set up in the year of our Lord 1899 A. D. (After Dark?) The Lunch Counter constitutes the sixth wonder. Yet when we want to partake of its products we do not hesitate and think of its origin or social standing. By what thoughtful janitor, teacher, or pupil was this useful commercial medium first established? Who did the erecting and painting? Nevertheless, with so cloudy a past the counter maintains its standing with the “Keep Smiling,” “Child’s” or “Churchill’s.” Every prospective student knows about the counter and we certainly must hand it to Jimmie for the wonderful way in which he keeps stock. Now I reach the climax and will use for the seventh marvel, although last but not least, the much abused and knocked Freshmen. For they as a group surely do confront us with a most complicated and troublesome problem. These men, boys, or children,come from the Lord knows where and their future is still more cloudy. Who is able to tell their reputation or abilities ? Does not the teacher wonder whether or not tl'ey are capable of learning anything ? Do not the Sophomores wonder when they can hold an initiation ? Do not the Juniors and Seniors wonder if any F'reshie will ever develop into a star baseball or football player? And their parents wonder if their dear little ones are able to maintain a satisfactory average. Do not the Freshmen themselves wonder and become amazed at everything from the Sophomores to the janitor? Well, the best and wisest advice to them would be to let them continue to wonder and some good day they will wake up and find themselves Sophomores, wondering how it ever happened. F. Gannon '20.