Saint Marks School - Lion Yearbook (Southborough, MA)

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started off the term on the wrong foot, tripped, and then crawled around until June. Gilly and Mike began things by selling imported water guns at (naturally) black-market prices. Then everyone, in- cluding Fred, tore a hole in their Brooks Bros. suit pockets for their guns, just to ‘‘be ready.”’ Gae ended all this very soon, however, with a little lecture after morning prayers. Then, except for making tape recordings of the Thursday night lectures and a “mild” coke and ginger ale (et al) party in Framingham, there was almost nothing to do. Once the boys might rush out two St. Markers a day, or someone might try to hunt up a back copy of the V index (he never found it), and the Cercle (their motto, ‘‘all that glitters is not gold,’’) even displayed shining performances on French Night—but there was actually nothing to do. So it happened. In spite of the four monitors present and the nature of the ceremony they were about to perform, I could not help but feel that the whole atmosphere on that May night was very unofficial and very secular. Immediately after Hutch was bent up and “baptized” (complete im- mersion, including clothes), the “evange- listic’’ spirit seized everyone and before the services were over for the night (and the week), approximately thirty boys, one corridor, and one ceiling (Maxyvoy and Biff missed by minutes) had been aquatically acquainted. When the mist had cleared and the Fire had cooled, a seventh form with a new head mo emerged, the school’s most “influential form” controlling every school organiza- tion except the Blue and White and the Stationery store. Then, just two weeks later, the form’s second win over Groton united everyone again (with an occa- sional exception) and made them realize that, regardless, a diploma is a diploma. I should say more, though, about the Groton baseball game. With mad Buzzy gone, there was a frantic search for some- one to hex the Grotties. All doubts were dispelled when Dwight D. drove up for the week-end, equipped with everything a boy needs for popularity. After proper

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Instead it was kind of musical culture period. When he wasn’t practicing for an aria in the chapel, B. Carooster Hall would accompany his voice with an ac- cordion in the headmaster’s study. Of course, Averell was indispensable at the piano, playing all the hits, including “Of Thee I, Of Thee, Of Thee I sing, BABY.” Also it was time now to begin thinking of the sixth-form dance—and everyone did, except Jiggy, naturally. The major com- plications on the weekend included: Gus getting Weatherbee Aiken’s girl, Hutch- ins getting Hall’s girl, nobody getting Shaw’s girl, Van getting no girl, every- body wanting Richie’s girl, Ballande get- ting his girl, and most of the rest of the form getting townies. I'll say just one more word on the weekend— Maribeth. Though Mr. Badger got sick as a dog one week before the opening night of the musical, Doe Shep and President Lou- don pushed everyone, and on production night the boys were practically sitting in their laps. College Boards, the annual bore, was the final event of the eventful term which also included the form’s first drastic discipline measure. Four fourth-formers were paraded before a barrage of “sirs’’ and silly questions. (Example—Concern- ing the discovery of taboo coke bottles in his room, the boy was asked “Why?” “I don’t know, SIR.” Neilsen: “Is your thirst any greater than mine?”) On the first day of vacation after Mike had taken off for the land of Oranges, Indians and Judy, and almost everyone else had head- ed home, a group of six gathered in Provi- dence where Doctor Sears, Sober Andy, and Sherry Shaw displayed their teen- icide talents. Aprit 1953. Dear Diary, It’s spring. It’s in the air. It’s in the boys. They’re anxious. So am I. I keep thinking of the future and its events. I 13 imagine I can see Bevo kissing all the babies in the country (especially around Jimmy Ryan’s) in his effort to sit in Congress, and Boomy Coon asking for lower wages in the Senate. And there’s Randy playing halfback for the Detroit Lions, and Charlie Steedman buying a sports arena after he’s made his first million, Gus running all the banks in Mexico, Fred Harvey bankrupting the restaurant business, Willy making up crossword puzzles for the New York Times, Buzzy as an usher at the Met, Averell as a father, Denny following the sun, Bob “Hilton”? Armstrong buying the Virgin Islands, Gordon as the president of Hahrvard, and Morrell as the capitalist who cleaned up by selling vodka when the Russians invaded America. All this might be true. I wonder. And I’m tired. May 30, 1953. Dear Diary, The only trouble this term arose when Mr. Barber decided that big boys, in- cluding monitors, ought to act like big boys. I don’t think all the trouble was their fault, however; it might have been something higher than that—and I don’t need to mention a name; it’s all in the record. Still there is no denying that the form

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ceremonies, Oracle Davis predicted a 10-2 win. I said those boys would end the year with a wham, and they did. After the 16-9 triumph over the Grots, two “double- pro” members decided to celebrate the victory on the town. After a midnight stroll, they returned only to find the whole police force looking for them. After this, some members of the form were so downeast or disappointed that suicide and soul-searching were the main topics of conversation. All became outwardly unified, if not inwardly, before the end, and the form settled down for exams. JuNE 11, 1953. Dear Diary, I’m going down to the chapel after this entry. I was thinking now of how much the Barbers have helped me, too, and the faculty. How grateful I feel. Tomorrow the boys may graduate. 15 NEWS FLASH! Souruporo, Mass. (AP) Jung 13. Locan AUTHORITIES ARE STILL BAFFLED TODAY OVER THE DISCOVERY OF AN APPARENTLY INSANE LION THAT WAS FOUND CRYING AT THE ALTAR RAIL OF THE St. Mark’s CHAPEL YESTERDAY EVENING. No OFFICIAL EXPLANATION HAS YET BEEN GIVEN AS TO HOW OR WHY THE LION HAD HIS BREAKDOWN. THE LION OFFERED NO RESISTANCE WHEN THE ATTENDANTS CARRIED HIM AWAY, HOWEVER. A VETER- INARY PRESENT AT THE SCENE DIAGNOSED THE CASE THIS WAY: “IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE LION HAD BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AT SOMETHING FOR QUITE A WHILE. It’s ENOUGH TO GIVE ANYONE A BREAK- pOowN, I GUESS. “PERHAPS THE REASON HE DIDN'T OFFER ANY RESISTANCE WAS BECAUSE HE FELT HE HAD DONE THE JOB SATISFAC- TORILY, THE DOCTOR SAID.