St Georges High School - Lance Yearbook (Middletown, RI)

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W AUCHINCLOSS GYMNASIUM

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Svrlpnul iKruiP1u HHN school ended in june, WIS, We were afraid that we should not be able to till all-the vacancies caused by the unpiecedentedly large graduating class and those leaving from the I'ourth and lfifth lforms to enter the service ln all there were nearly htty places to hll in order to assure a full school for the following autumn. l ad l't' t lillicult two more of our Masters were leaving us to further deplete an already depleted Faculty, and nttiton o ist y, w new candidates were almost impossible to hnd. As the summer advanced, plenty of new boys turned up to hll up the school, but no new Masters. The date for opening came and still we were two short. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that the delay of opening, caused by the influenza, enabled us to secure the full complement to the teaching stall by the time school actually opened, the third week in October. Rarely, however, has there been a more anxious time than these lirst weeks of school. The terrible scourge of influenza had been exacting its toll from every part of the community, including most schools, and we were prepared at any moment to change the school into a hospital. For- tunately however we were spared and it was not until the early winter, when .the epidemic had diminished in severity, , 1 a V' that we had our turn of it at St. beorgels School., We got oft very lightly with no cases of pneumonia and lew serious cases of inlluenza. ,.. . .u . X xx . 1,-all lhe chief problem this year has been to covet thc iequned ground lost by the delayed opcmng. Ioitunitc y, the boys have been well with the exception of some influenza in the first part of the winter term, but they are nearly a month short of their regular schooling. The climate has favored us this year and more days have been spent out of doors than usual. Military Drill has kept up through the year and the high standard of the Battalion set the previous year has been maintained. ln the au- tumn, owing to the epidemic, all interscholastic football was given up, but with the return of spring, baseball has re- newed its accustomed popularity, and boating, which was omitted last year on account of the War, has again been taken up with great zest. At present, there are thirty boys rowing three times a week with Mr. Sturtevant and Mr. Cabot in charge. This year we are planning a NVater Sports Day on the Third Beach, in June. . 31

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Th i lNow that thc YVai' is ox ci, the grounds ol bt. George's bchool are once more regaining their former appearance. e helds in front are being seeded down to grass and it is hoped that by next autumn we can start Golf again. There have been few outward changes this year. One improvement has been made in the removing of the old wooden Gym lire, to the west side of erted into a dwelling house Fflslllm fl'0m the I10l'fll Of AflCl1ll1Cl0SS, Wfhere it was an eyesore and a source of danger from xane Avenue west of the Cottage. It is to be made over into a dormitory with one end conv l ' . . , fOr Mr. Lhristiue and his family. It will hold twenty boys and enable us, if we please, to discontinue. the use ol' the Lot- rage 35 11 Ll01'mlf0l'y Rnd Ht the Same time to slightly enlarge the school. NVith this dormitory finished, we should be able to get along for some time without building a new one, 'lhe need, however, of a new schoolhouse has long been apparent, and as the school slowly enlarges becomes im- perative. When the question came up of erecting a Memorial to our boys who had served and fallen in the Great War, the Trustees decided that it could take no more fitting form than that of a school building. Here was the heart of the school. Here, if anywhere, should take outward form the spirit of those who had given their all for their country. With this thou ht in view they sent out a circular letter to Old Boys and parents offering them the opportunity to subscribe to g , a new fund to be Spent in erecting a beautiful schoolhouse as a perpetual monument to the service of the song of 5t, George's School in the Great War. lt seems little enough for the living to give to the dead. But it must be worthy ot them. It must embody features which shall recall their superb sacrifice. lt will surely be a perpetual inspiration to future St. George's boys to grow in mind and spirit in a building made hallowed by such precious memoi ies. l erhaps the lessons of history taught within such walls will take on a new meaning. Perhaps the intellectual treasures of the ages will lind a new interpretation here. May whatever shall be taught within these walls always breathe the spirit of lofty patriotism and service that brought them into being. Looked at from this point of view One llundred and Twenty Thousand Dol- lars does not seem too large a sum to ask for. VVere it twice or three times as much, it could not give us or render unto them what they- have given us in spending life itself that others might be free. .-Xt the present writing nearlv seventy thousand dollars have already been contributed to this Memorial l'und, and we ask all those who wish to con- tribute, but have not yet done so-, to sigmly their intention at the earliest possible moment. S. PL. 33