St Francis Xavier Academy - Xavier Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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THE XAVIER 17 moment by realizing this, we wavered, but rose quickly to the occasion, and went on with our old-time buoyancy not noticing the dark days and enjoying to the full the bright ones till June was with us once again: when after doing justice to the spread given by the out-going seniors, we made up a theatre party and spent a most enjoyable afternoon, not discussing the ethical points of the play or the dramatic ability of the actors, but in laying deep plans for our future as Juniors. The reforms we would make ! The new movements we would inaugurate ! With the opening of school in the fall came a shaking up in our large class of the past. The Commercial girls had finished the preceding term; then four of the English course failed to return; and another dear lady deserted us to join the famous class of ’07. But there was no discouragement as we were joined by two new members, Miss Frances Doran of Hope High and Miss Marie Kelton of Pascoag High, making us sixteen bright, merry girls, still ready for a good time, nothing daunting us. Junior year! Bringing in its train, class meetings at all hours of day and night, to reach some decision on the vital questions of the hour,—class pins, class officers, and to come to the more intellectual, the choice between Greek and German. Our truly innocent question, which was the easier of the two, caused such frowns and looks askance that we subsided. Finally thirteen brave souls remembering that the wives of consuls, attaches, and for the matter of that, ambassadors, sometimes go to Berlin, armed themselves cap-a-pie with German dictionaries, grammars and readers, and for the rest of the year a careful observer might have noticed that while they spared no pains in a thorough mastery of the language, they made still greater efforts to acquire the stolidity of countenance, the slowness of speech and the calm imperturbable manner which characterizes the true Teuton. The other three, each Margaret by name, found that White’s Greek Book had a wonderful attraction and Alpha, Beta, Gamma had no plebeian tones. Many pleasure trips fell to our lot this year; one in particular must be a bright spot in memory. The principal having kindly given permission to visit the State House while the General Assembly was in session, we set out one bright spring morning with the stern words, “Girls, be back at eleven forty-five,” ringing in our ears. A brisk walk brought

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16 THE XAVIER CLASS HISTORY, '08 THK Class History of ’08, may not be of very deep interest to the many future readers of The Xavitr, but to the members themselves it must recall more than one good time, one good laugh, and still more one good and kind correction. Four years ago the present seniors entered Saint Xavier’s full of youth and the expectations with which every girl is filled on beginning her high school course. In the first days of this happy period twenty-nine girls came in quest of knowledge, nineteen braving the Classical and English courses, the remaining number the Commercial. Everything was new, class-rooms, teachers and class-mates to be, but we did not feel strange or lost in the least for were we not given clearly to understand from the very outset by a constant repetition of kind acts on the part of girls and sweet thoughtfulnesses on that of teachers that the living motto of the school was, “Make it pleasant, make it sunshiny for everyone around you.’’ And reassured by this, did we not proceed to bask in both the pleasure and the sunshine that 7vas all around us? It was said some years ago b}' an outsider that one could always tell an S. X. A. girl, so laden down was she with books. Well, I don’t know about outside the Academy but this I do know if that person had visited us during the first week of 1904 she would have spoken truthfully, for everything was books, books, books; Latin, French. English, History, and last but above all Christian Doctrine. Clearly, it was a case of— Books to the right of us, Books to the left of us, While high-sounding terms, Volleyed and thundered. What a short time it was, that week of introduction, and then the hard and uphill work of first year High. Hard? Yes; uphill ? Yes; but so interesting withal that June actually came and took us by surprise. September 1905 found us still twenty nine in number, but not the same, for we were Sophomores, and the dread responsibility of giving good example to the incoming Freshmen had fallen upon our shoulders with its heavy weight duly impressing us with the stern fact that for the future we should have to “walk this way,’’ and look “just so.’’ Depressed for the

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18 THE XAVIER us to the Capitol and we were most fortunate in being present at what they told us afterwards was an exciting discussion. It was extremely interesting and as we watched the proceedings, saw the attitudes struck, heard the vibrant tones of voice, noted the defiance in look or gesture, we said to ourselves that making the laws of this Rhode Island of ours is not child’s play, but requires an amount of energy on the part of State Solons that perhaps few people realize. The real pleasure of the occasion however lay in the delightful welcome accorded us by the Governor himself, upon introduction. Its warmth and sincerity readily recalled what we had so often heard that he wishes every one to consider himself and this time herself “at home’’ in the House on the Hill. September, 1907, brought us into possession of our own— the much coveted title and privileges of Seniors—. It has passed rapidly, this year, and here we are at the “parting of the ways.’’ We would, before going re-visit the happy spots where in those four years, we have joyed to live. The recreation and dining hall from 11.45 till 12.25, sufficient to recall; the French conversations with the beaming and witty Mdlle. Thomeson, we hear even now her “continuez,’’ “tr6s bien.” The delightful physical culture lessons on Fridays with the charming and refined Miss Dodge, a staunch believer in the development of the intercostal muscles and muscles and muscles and that youth should worship occasionally and with dignity at the shrine of Terpsichore; the little class room at the end of the second corridor where the firm rule was maintained, “Ici, on parle Francais;” the exciting ascent of four flights on set days when we did not sweep the cobwebs off the sky, exactly, not having brooms, but we did mount out and upward in spirit and became thoroughly acquainted with the beautiful facts of Astronomy, that queen of all Science; the Chemical laboratory with its wonders and mysteries and our great reverence and respect for the hood. No nook or corner of this dear home that is not sacred to us by unnumbered associations. Our girlish hearts, joyful at advancing fortune, are at the same time filled with the saddest regrets. May that unwritten motto of the school, so reproduce itself in our future that each and all who come within its influence will realize that the true life consists in this,—“Make it pleasant; make it sunshiny for every one around you.’’ Marguerite Gray.