Saint Marks School - Lion Yearbook (Southborough, MA)

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among others, the question of the merits of various brands in a form-wide cigarette poll. Towards the middle of April, a small group of prospective customers, shepherded through the corridors by the faculty department of publicity, were startled to discover the practical, busi- ness-like St. hlarkis approach evidenced by an embryo package store in the domi- cile of Choo-Choo and Van on North 2. That. spring found three young men's fancies turning rather heavily to very extra-curricular pursuits as Dorian, Valve, and Inflation made successive Sabbath treks to the outerskirts of Wellesley, com- monly known as Pine Manor. As the year approached its conclusion, the Fifth Form, as always, became a charming group char- acterized by willing smiles and an intense desire to please. Rich, hero of the younger fry and linked to Large James by a strategic similarity in rooming quarters, made a desperate bid for the crown, how- ever, virtue finally triumphed as Pete was named Head Mo for the coming year. The summer of '46 found many of us revelling once more in the glorious hills and woods and the peace that Feep made. Veterans Pete and Garry were little guns on the permanent council, the latter starting his newspaper chain with a rag called the Bungle. Newby's typical tact inspired a gigantic escape movement on the part of a few of his adoring proteges, while Benis Main Line aplomb was wrecked as he was dampened by a not-so- early morning dew. Horse arrived, looking underprivileged himself, for a month's vacation at the camp and immediately led his charges astray on one of the most disastrous hikes in history. Though dur- ing the war years the problem of getting supplies for the camp had been a difficult one, with the senior deity and Charlie back, there was an abundance of butter and lard. VVith the beginning of our long-antici- pated Sixth Form year we stood thirty- nine strong and ready to conclude our carefree prep school days as a capable and united senior class. A quick inventory of our personnel disclosed the loss of two associates over the summer. Thomp, never an advocate of sustained effort, had departed to organize cafe society at Gun- nery, and Julius, ever a recluse, to pursue the classics on the Western plains. Com- pensations for the loss of these two came in the form of five last minute camapign- ersg Wayward, the tow-headed draft dodger from Missouri, musical Fred from down Argentine way, the Dorchester Bomber, Slinger-finger's long-lost brother, Fred VV., and Charlie, who leaped the scholastic chasm with amazing grace to assist Muky on the organ. Football lured half the form back a week early for a period of intensified training. However, a last Saturday night in Boston once again forced visions of bankruptcy on the Statler. Egghead, Palm, and Valvo, fresh from the O. H. and weighted d-own by their respective old overcoats, moved in on Hatch and J asp, who had aristocratically chartered a

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of many graft deals came to a successful conclusion as a sober group presented a touching farewell gift to lWr. Schenck. The beauty of the occasion was somewhat marred, however, when the latter, sus- picious of his repenting inmates, told us to return the stolen articles immediately. With the draft in effect and the re- sulting dearth of able men, the Class of '47 took a substantial part in the ad- ministration of Brantwood that summer. In order to better the morality of Feep and associates, the Brew sent up Prohibi- tion Agent Berjell, who was always on the Brink of disaster and finally admitted defeat in a hopeless task. Our local deity Pete first exhibited his powers as an ad- ministrator, and Bob and Garry found Handy Andy, the seventy-year-old, Union- suited kitchen boy, an interesting if not amusing roommate. VVe returned for our Fifth Form year in high fettlc, enjoying to the utmost our first real burden of responsibility. The initial shock of thc year was the return of 0,Beehan, who had lost his Irish accent and progressed to the point of changing his wardrobe at least five times a day. Further additions were Sling, a genial mystic with a squeaky voice, lwuky, who started off a happy career rooming with The Will, and Choo-Choo, who had skipped. VVe were further amazed to learn that one of our form had been shot by one of Cupid's Long-Island-inanufactured ar- rows and soon planned to change the l. to P. Early in the ycar Caveman's artistic leanings suffered a setback when Billy B. informed him that art full of vim, Varga, and vitality was definitely not appreciated. The football season was off with a crash as a fair complement of '47 found themselves duck-waddling in search of Knuteis oversize football. A successful season was cut short by Lanierynjaundice, and a bed-ridden eleven greeted news of the Groton game cancellation with tears and sobs. Thanksgiving recess prevented Hatch and Death-Breath from setting an all-time high for messy rooms in succes- sion. It was on this occasion that J ughead and Palm, journeying belatedly to the Hub, arrived in time to help Sling, Sleaze, and Dixie restrain Nouveau John from his spirited project of Aviation Without VVings. December found Ben trying un- successfully to convert Berjell to pro- fanity, while lNIart swapped scientific gems for classical mysticisms from the Beagle in some well-hidden nook. Christmas vacation found most of us courting Santa Claus amid the pleasures of New York, and when we returnediwe found that the Christmas spirit still re- mained with the Doctor, who hi-boyed around distributing well-placed geese. Hockey had a mediocre, and basketball a good season, the latter resulting in the awarding of a major letter at the end of the term by a singular majority of the Brew. Spring term saw Dave's eloquence, ori- ginality, and directness of purpose flower as he considered every possible side of,

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sample room. Two floors up Jim, Horse, Mac, lvayward, and Caveman evaded the masses for twelve healthful hours of luxurious beauty sleep. lVith the school assembled, the Class of '47 slipped easily into their long-aspired- to positions under the able leadership of Head Mo Pete. Presently Robert the Crackup from Rosemont, Pa., liinped back, and with Cong's daily Any mail for the Vindexf' we knew the year had begun. It was about this time that Roscoe the Hound watered the quad for the first timeg although he wasn,t with us long, we all came to understand and appre- ciate him. Under Captain Powell, the eleven de- veloped rapidly and within eight weeks had completed one of the most successful seasons in school history. Belmont alone foiled the Gazelle Boy. Groton bowed 4-8-13 and a wild victory celebration fol- lowed, the first many of us had ever seen. The following Saturday found a num- ber of the form in New Haven for the Princeton game. Ned entertained lavishly and as a result Ben and Newbold learned a fundamental lesson. Wayward either couldn't read yet or JiII1,S note was too obscure, he waited three hours for Palmer who had long since given up. At this time the F.B.S., composed of Tony, Denny, Hasbrouck, and O,Beehan, appeared to rival the Larue Squad, a task in which they readily succeeded as the latter group gradually dispersed when its exploits became public. Christmas dinner provided a chance for Santa LeRoy and a group of not-too-ob- scure modern poets to cast playful as- persions in the direction of the faculty. The obscure compositions passed a trust- ing headmaster but were soon suppressed when an irate faculty group, all of whom were mentioned, got wind of the proceed- ings. The LION was contemplating print- ing the originals in place of the faculty picture as being more truly representa- tive of their souls, but censorship and decorum again played a vital part in the proceedings. Christmas vacation came as a welcome and a well-earned rest. The class average for the term hovered near the unprece- dented level of eighty and to all intents and purposes, the administrative de- partments of the school were functioning smoothly. Palmer and his stooges ran a record St. hlarkfs-Groton Dance com- plete with Pepsi-Cola, and before we knew it we were off on the second stretch of our Hnal year. Richard's team improved steadily and Archie's and Luther's squads did well. Refreshed by a visit from Santa, Will sought new diversions, and Mart, realizing the futility of attempting to sell last year's toothbrush to roommate Ike, sought consolation by joining Cong and Luther in The Cheering Section for The Little One. Moozoo, having roped in most of the school by dint of underhanded sub- scription appeals, produced a sequel to his Brantwood tabloid in the form of The St. hfarkerf' which tottered off to a