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

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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.

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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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THE XAVIER 19 A LOYAL DAUGHTER. W ALL Street, that magnetic centre of power, known from j continent to continent, that whirlpool of finance which has done more toward the making and unmaking of men than anything else, had been unusually active. With copper the leading topic, Lawrence Dorsey and his colleagues had bid in at the opening of the Exchange and found themselves at the close richer by millions. It requires cleverness and foresight to operate on any stock quoted above market value, and all these qualities were strong in Dorsey. A millionaire capitalist, club mau and society favorite, his one aim in life was wealth and his only care and thought were for his beautiful daughter, Dorothy. The exact counterpart of a father whom she fairly idolized, Dorothy, chaperoned by a maternal aunt, Mrs. Oliver, was the centre of all social functions given in the stately mansion on Madison Avenue. Home only one short year from boarding school where she had been the pet and pride of teachers and pupils with her smiling, happy ways, her entrance into the glittering -whirl of society, had been heralded far and wide, and many looked with envy on the proud father and his charming daughter at her first reception. You may think that Dorothy’s mind was all aglow at the prospect of this gay butterfl)' life, but here you are mistaken. Only at the earnest request of the fond parent was she a willing partaker of its pleasures. Her one object in life was the happiness of her father, who as a shrewd speculator, starting with nothing, had gained the the top of the ladder and was now the copper king of America. Everything he had undertaken had been successful. There had been no such word as “fail” in his upward climb. It had been arranged that she and her father should attend the opera one evening. All week she had looked forward to this event with the eager delight of a music lover and the joyful impetuosity of a child. The longed-for hour came at last bringing Mr. Dorsey, pale, haggard, evidently laboring under strong emotion. Dorothy