Atlantic Union College - Minuteman Yearbook (South Lancaster, MA)

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f L it I' ff' ., 'ff gh -1 If 3.8 Do YUM TRCC-Ellllfllff-l3lIKllTi.l7CfilIl' l88Z-1884 Lancaster was well past its 200th anniversary as a town when South Lancaster Academy was established. The corner occupied by the South Lane caster Printing Company was the campus. The school building stood on the side nearest Main Street while on the site of the office of the South Lancaster Printing Company was a long wood shed containing cord wood, a row of sawhorses and several buck saws, which served as the only industry. Between this building and the schoolhouse was the ball field. The balls partook some- what of the nature of the students, only instead of going in one door and out another, they went in one window and out another - and left a bill. In those days the boys were very particular about having their shirts starched. When their complaints had completely exhausted the patience of the young ladies, they found their entire laundry, even heavy woolen socks standing about their rooms, still and uncompromising. They had been starched. One day a pillow was discovered suspended from the ceiling of a boy's room. Pinned to it was a slip of paper bearing these words, Tried and found guilty of eating shavings without chewing. Punished to the full extent of the law. The pillows were stuffed with excelsior. Professor Bell was absent. An older girl substituted as arithmetic teacher. The problem was original - a house. Dimensions for the doors were given. Amused looks appeared on the faces of the boys. The young teacher questioned sharply and received the drawling answer, They'd do, maybe, for barn doors. The dorm students were provided with reserved seats at the church. The following was the order of march - a lady faculty member led the way, followed by the girls, two by two. A professor led the boys, who also followed him in pairs. l884-l888 When the girls refused to appear at worship Sabbath mornings, they were confined to bed and served invalid's diet. At the matron's side hung a brown book, surnamed the smash-book, which contained records of all breakage. One morning a six foot lad weighing nearly two hundred pounds rushed in from the yard where he had been hanging out clothes. Sobbing bitterly he sought the matron and begged for the 'lsmash-book. The poor little lady fluttered in excitement. After many reassurances the culprit was induced to confess, 'A I- l - broke a clothes pin. The program for one day. 5:00 A. M. Rising bell. 130 A. M. Domestic work. :00 A. M. Breakfast and worship. 245 A. M.- l:45 P. M. School session. :00 P M Dinner tlVleat was served once a week with legumes There was one strictly vegetarian tablel One hour of work followed dinner. 3:45 P. M. Study period. lBoth inside and outside students studied at long tables under strict supervisionj 5 7 7 2 29

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5' , ,reef -E fy 6:00 I? xt. Recess. tNo one might walk farther than the board walkfl 6:30 P. Nl. Xkforship. 7:00 P. NI. Study period. 0:00 P. M. Lights out. XYhen the girls complained of their hard lot, the preceptress took them to visit the State School for Girls that they might by contrast see how fortunate they were. , I Each room was furnished with a small box stove and a wood box, which was hlled each day by a responsible young man. Each stove-pipe went out over the door and connected with a long pipe running the length of the hall. Frequently they lost connections, filling the dorm with soot. smoke, and excitement. Miss Rowena Purdon displayed the qualities of a heroine when she smothered a blazing lamp with a bed quilt. The quilt was not even blackened, and so she had no proof for her brave deed. ln l885 the first Latin class was organized. lt consisted of two people: teacher, Professor Ramsay: pupil, Miss Rowena Purdon. Elder Miles surprised those studying in chapel one day when, wishing to produce more interest in the ancient and almost lost art of thinking, he gave a lecture on Ruminating. Some time later he looked up to discover one lad chewing gum while contentedly gazing out of the window. Walkixag to- ward him the Professor asked, Wlaat are you doing, Mel? Innocently the boy turned wide eyes upon him and answered between chews, Ruminatingf' l887-1892 Joint worship was held in the double parlor of East Hall, the boys oc- cupying the front parlor and the girls the back. ln the center between the two groups which faced each other sat the principal of the Academy. ln those days punctuality was stressed. and all tardy members slipped in as noiselessly as possible. lt so happened that one particular young man had the misfortune to arrive just as the opening song was announced. Assuming an air of bravado, he marched to his seat in the front, swung his chair around with a flourish and then -- well the floors had just been oiled - and the young people began to sing Lift Him Up. Even the staid Professor Caviness laughed. No communication during study period was permitted if Mrs. Sara Jane Hall coulci prevent it. One young man who boasted of adhering to every ,jot and tittle of school regulations, was seized with a sudden overpowering desire to visit a friend on the third floor. Removing his shoes, he crept stealthily up to the second: from there with his eye fastened on Mrs. Hall's door he ascended the next ,flight backwards. Reaching his friend's room he backed in, trium- phantly announcing, She didn't get me that time, and turned to find him- self face to face with Mrs. Hall. Perhaps it is difhcult to believe that Elder E. C. Gilbert would ever be re- sponsible for any excitement in a literature class, yet one day when assuming the part of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice, it is reported that he caused the young ladies to scream and one to faint by his excellent acting. A40