ii - Grade 8, 1934-35
Eighth grade gave me the chance, at last, to study Latin, something I had
longed to do since my introduction to the language through the Catholic liturgy. For
a few years, I had been reciting Latin as an altar boy and had been using a Latin-
English prayer book at Mass. I thought that might give me an edge in Miss Anna
Webster’s Latin class. Perhaps it did in some measure, but at the same time it was
something of a challenge to learn the classical pronunciation after years of using the
church pronunciation. Nevertheless, it was straight A’s for me all the way through
that year and next year in Latin II as well.
In the industrial arts practical applications - woodwork, metal work and
electricity - I wasn’t any more “mechanical" than I had been in drawing. With luck
and not too demanding instructors, I did complete a wooden broom holder, a metal
something and a small, rudimentary motor. I pulled mostly B’s, yet I knew I was
rather clumsy-handed, lacking in skill. I don’t know whether this inadequacy was
inborn or was due simply to non-exposure to tools in my family environment.
Daddy: No. Pop: No. Now Uncle Bud (Francis Wallace) was an expert amateur
carpenter but I don’t remember him in action, much less showing me how to do
anything. Nevertheless, I did learn a few fundamentals in my eighth and ninth grade
shop classes, enough so that over many years as a householder I have been able to
drive a few nails and screws, replace a lamp socket, frame a picture....
By the end of that second year of junior high, I had apparently settled in, if
my grade record is a reliable indicator. My final marks were six A’s and three B’s,
a rather significant improvement over grade seven’s three A’s and six B’s
.
Remarkably, I made A in Physical Education every six-week report period. I truly
believe the coach gave everyone A, for I certainly didn’t deserve one for my pitiful
diamond and court performances.
That year I was in the mixed chorus, which in May presented the operetta
“Rings in the Saw Dust," obviously a circus tale. Some of my best friends were in
the cast: David Weiss, Jimmy Scott, Shirley Driscoll, Mary Jackson, and the girl I had
a crush on during all six years at Allegany: Ann Hausman.
I was in the chorus of villagers (60) and the chorus of hottentots (15), whose
songs I don’t remember. I was also in the eight-member Busy Body Chorus and we
sang “Busy Little Bumble-bee," which I recently found I can still hum but the lyric
has vanished. It was an exciting experience.
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