Notes
Nonprofit
Orpnizition
from
U.S. POST AGE
PAID Canun, N.H.
Ca rdi gan
Permit No. 1
Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, New Hampshire 03741
Issue No. 6
April 1973
New England ' s reputation for variety and fickleness of weather certainly is well deserved. During Spring vacation temperatures stayed unseasonably warm; the snow melted - as did the ice in the hockey rink, assisted, it is true, by kerosene heaters the lawns and playing fields dried out to the extent that some areas could be raked to remove the remains of Winter, and we were in good shape to start Spring sports upon the boys ' return. Then came the fourth of April and most of you know what happened. Our busses from Boston were delayed at the airport waiting f .or late planes , and were further delayed en route by a blinding snowstorm which left six inches of wet snow on the ground. A number of parents expecting an enjoyable drive to Canaan from various points in New England had instead a hair-raising trip on slippery and sometimes almost invisible highways. All arrived safe but late, and next morning we were back on schedule. It was a full week before this snow melted and playing fields were again useable. As if in apology, the weather then turned warm and we enjoyed a week of incredibly hot sunshine which turned the grass green, brought out tulips , daffodils, crocusses, dandelions and ultimately the ice went out of the lake on April 17th making Charlie Hickox the winner of this year's iceout contest. Beneath the pious mien of Chaplain Harry Mahoney lurks a deviousness not evident when he is in the pulpit. In fact , Harry is plotting and scheming all the time and teaching students to do likewise. It's all for the cause of magic, and from many applicants , he selects 15 boys each year who demonstrate the interest and potential skill for this craft to be in his Magic Club. Under his watchful eye which sees all , they learn basic principles of magic, sleight of hand, misdirection, card tricks , escapes , clos,e -up magic and stage magic. The Club is divided into two sections which meet for one hour each week to learn tricks, and watch each other perform . In addition to these meetings there are some interesting field trips. Last month several boys went to Boston to attend "Legerdemain Lectures at Leisure" a magic show sponsored by the Boston chapter of the Society of American Magicians. Since there were only a few other young magicians at the meeting, our boys were frequently asked to assist with performances. One magician blew up a big balloon, then called Fred Senese to come and sit on it. Magically, it didn't burst. So he called up two more boys to sit on Fred's knees, and it still didn't pop. Some balloon! Other outside activities have included helping Mr. Mahoney do a show for the Cub Scouts in Canaan. Anticipated is a visit to the Pediatrics Ward of the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanov,e r to entertain sick children. The highlight of the season is the trip next month to attend the Boston Magirama - an annual convention which attracts magicians from all over the world. About ten boys will go with Harry to see exhibits and performances almost continuously for two days and to visit with fellow magicians. The Magic Club is one of the oldest clubs on campus and each year there are more boys who want to join than can be accomodated. Harry still hears from boys who became interested in magic at Cardigan and are still doing tricks.
Tht s year ' s Kite ,' .;ontest didn't attract many ent ries. It was held the afternoon of Easter Su:-iday w·~.th only a. light breBze blowing . Awardz were mad.e for the highest and longest flying kite, f!)r the larg?.s t , and for th e smallest and most unusua.l. The highest flyer was nP-asured cy Mr . Baldwin with a portable trand t. With the :ild of t~1e compu+.er , he dot.ermined the kite "': o be 570 f eat :'l.bove gr ound. Only after the judges had announced t he winners was the prize disclosed - a steak dinner in the din: -,g room wi t h a ll the trirnr.iings. The winners could hardl y beli eve what they saw , however. A table res~:c-ved for them, whlt~ lin(3n tab]('clot h ~no pla.stlc cover) f l <1•..:e !'.'s, ~andl eJieht, juic~, :1..ndividual salads , thi ck steaks, baked potatoes, side dishes of veget ables , :i.ce cream rrith two kinds of sauce, mints a nd nuts. Most unexpected ;1as the :plea.s ure of ha•n ng Mr. ~ec1.r:tck wat-: on b .ble , serving, clearing, nnd f etching more milk as needed. Th~ waiter didn 't have a steak, either; only the wt nners. Next year we may have more er.trants i n this contest. Work has star ted on Clark-Morgan Hall whi ch i s having a new roof this Spring. To add to t~ e exci t ement of scaffolding, tru~ks a nd men-on-the-roof, Mrs. Shelton is running a Roof -On contest to guess the date the j-:ib i s f ully completed. Prize is heralded as "a n incredible edible " - per.haps a fort une cookie? Another incredible i s the bed Mark Wallace i s making in Shop this year, Fashioned from st urdy t i mbers, it i s in the styl e of a medieval castle - sturdy enough for a knight i.n f ull armor, It protably wi ll weigh close to JOO pounds when flni shed. Question; How will he get it home t o St, Loui s ? Some of the boys hav,~ fini shed their Shop pr ojects alreadj' and are devoting the remaining class time t o s chool projects. Their tea cher, Bruce Marschard, designed some very attractive outdoor benches for use by t eams and spectators at athletic events , A dozen of these are in the works - half of t hem a lready in use around the baseball diamond. Three more work tabl_es fo-r the Art Room are under construction, and then they are going t o build screens for the Chapel windows. we're looking forward to being atl e to ha ve the ChapeJ. windows open wi thout l etti ng in flies, bees and other sundr y fl ying insects. Many thank s to these boys and their resourceful teacher for these needed ad.di ti ens t.o th~ School. Soor, t he ninth grade ~~op class is going to visit a large lumber yard in Concord. There they will see t he whole proce3s of sawing, plani ng , dryi ng and grading - all the wcrk that goP. ::; into produc1 ng the plain boards t hey start their projects wi.th. An 1 nt eresting fina le to the ninth grade work this year will be a section on Naval a.rr.hitc ct ure a nd h~ll do c::ign. P'o!' th ct final exa111 each boy will have an ident1.cal block of wood and an identical lcn.gth of t1.me in which to design and carve a wood boat hull . The real test will come when they race these down a 200 yard course in the brook behi nd th e shop. Th e LibTary has just been gjven a beautiful framed photograph - one of Mr. B. A, King ' s. Last year at Commcncem(u;t, !o;t: were f or.t.1ma.t e to have an e:xhic,i t. 0.f :-'l:r . ~~!ng •s wonderful ph (.lt 1.1g :·aphs on display, Before School ended, t he boys tock a poll to se l ect thelr favori tei photo for "Best of Show" It. is this one t hat. Mr . King gaye ut.. We will app:.ceciate and en joy i t for years to come . M<1.ny +.hanks,
Notes from Cardigan i.s publ:ished monthly by Cardigan Mounta:tn School. second Class post aee paid at Canaan, N. H. 03741