Page 54 - 1940

ly fluent in trombone notes; Holt Farley, at a tea dance. We celebrated “Franks-
just extremely fluent, and a track flash; giving” day and some other holiday a week
half a football team in Dave Bullwinkle, later. And then one day after lunch Charlie
Louis DeAngelis, Joe MacManus, Hal Scovil assumed command of the sacred
Nelson, and Bob O'Neil; a few swing fans podium in Study Hall. We thought all he
in Conrad Brown, Sam Gibb, and Dave would do would be to issue the yearly call
Thomas; that man with a wink for every­ for support for the Christmas plays. But
one, Chuck Isherwood; and Ed Worrall Charlie was in high spirits and immediately
and Carter Roberts, who soon were to be proceeded to elevate us spiritually with a
seen chuckin’ for Mr. Morton’s basketball speech which was well sprinkled with puns
brigade. Dave Bullwinkle, whom we soon and which contained a few choice remarks
learned to respect tremendously, had come directed toward the audience stooge, Louis
from Ireland as an exchange student. Jackvony. Intimate reports have it that
By the middle of October we were fairly Charlie actually made Jit beg for mercy.
well adjusted. At least a few of us were But the speech must have stirred something
climbing out of the well-known “rut” in besides a few senses of humor, for the
Room 11, and we felt we knew each other Proscenium Club found support (even
well enough to elect class officers. The Burton became a Thespian) and gave a
class of 1940 chose Adrian Sanford and memorable performance to finish off 1939.
Bill Hedges as president and secretary, Conrad Brown, Crompton Earle, and San­
offices which they also took over on the ford, who at the last moment filled in for
Student Activities Committee. George Pa- an ailing Scovil, were the bright lights of
pen and Jerry Myers became vice-president the Fifth Form.
and treasurer, and Fletcher Burton was On the first day after vacation we heard
elected as the fifth member of the S.A.C. that Sandy, Bellows, Dunbar, Waldron,
As the kingpins of the school, we con­ Hedges, and Martin had taken “Whit” to
tributed several members to the football Florida during the holidays. But much to
and cross-country teams and also adopted our dismay that first day wasn’t the only
that ancient Fifth Form characteristic, con­ day we heard about the trip. Whenever
ceitedness. How we dominated study-hall two Florida boys got together, their con­
bull sessions and boasted to Second and versation, irregularly interrupted by bursts
Third Formers of previous Middler teams! of laughter, turned to the trip. Meanwffiile,
These were our joys and luxuries, yet we we outsiders looked on, confused and en­
suffered still. Often did we stand amazed vious. There was plenty more talk going
when, after we had made a mistake at the on around school in those days: Mr. Paxton
board, Mr. Cate made his earnest en­ breaking all records with four performances
treaty, “Say you didn’t mean it.” And of Macbeth daily; Mr. Cate telling us of
never was there more activity in Study la belle truie; and in Room 3 Mr. Raines
Hall than in the period before a history presiding over the Jackvony-Nevin debates.
test, when forlorn Fifth Formers went to The winter of 1940 saw a definite trend
their neighbors to find out “what the story” for the better in athletics. Captain Pinky
was on the Tariff of Abominations or the Post, Jerry Myers, and Hal Nelson repre­
Federal Reserve System. sented us on the wrestling team, which was
But some days were highlighted by hap­ vastly superior to its predecessor. The
penings more pleasant than examinations. Florida boys, with the help of Howie Bacon
Once again the Hampton Quartet and Juba and Dave Bullwinkle, all but made the
made their annual pilgrimage to Moses swimming team just a chummy fifth-form
Brown. Fletcher Burton finally showed up institution. However, the team did have
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