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TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

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Told<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

The Sunday order, while relaxing a bit from week-day routine, <strong>by</strong><br />

granting half an hour more sleep in <strong>the</strong> morning, announced a Communion<br />

mass at 6 :30 a. m., High mass with sermon at 9 :00 a. m., an<br />

hour for study and one for special reading. Sunday afternoon had its<br />

walk or recreation until 4:30, and <strong>the</strong>n study hall until benediction<br />

at 6 :00 p. m.<br />

According to <strong>the</strong> Silver Jubilee historian, "<strong>the</strong> days (<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first<br />

year) wore on slowly for <strong>the</strong> pupils until <strong>the</strong>y got over <strong>the</strong>ir first<br />

spell <strong>of</strong> homesickness. Now and <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> even tenor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir school<br />

life was broken <strong>by</strong> some unexpected event. Thus, on Oct. 7, <strong>the</strong>y had<br />

<strong>the</strong> pleasure <strong>of</strong> welcoming Cardinal Gibbons at <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Pacific<br />

station. A little later a special entertainment was organized. For<br />

that occasion a little organ was secured which afterward found its<br />

permanent place in <strong>the</strong> college chapel. Fr. Diomedi happened to stop<br />

over for a few days, and was prevailed upon to <strong>of</strong>ficiate at <strong>the</strong> new<br />

instrument, while young Robert Monaghan dispensed sweet music<br />

from <strong>the</strong> violin, on which he was quite pr<strong>of</strong>icient.<br />

"Then came Yuletide with its spiritual joys and temporal gifts,<br />

but without <strong>the</strong> customary home-going. Vacations were spent at <strong>the</strong><br />

college. The modest Christmas tree was much enjoyed, and <strong>the</strong> pleasure<br />

was considerably enhanced <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> presence <strong>of</strong> friends from town.<br />

"Colder wea<strong>the</strong>r set in and with it came manv discomforts, chief<br />

••<br />

among <strong>the</strong>m being freezing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> water system. Fr. Monroe had a<br />

little shed erected over <strong>the</strong> pump to save at least <strong>the</strong> most necessanT<br />

water supply. But in spite <strong>of</strong> this protection, <strong>the</strong> pump froze and<br />

<strong>the</strong> inmates <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> college were reduced to <strong>the</strong> hard expedient <strong>of</strong> fetching<br />

water from <strong>the</strong> river, where <strong>the</strong> ice had to be chopped with an axe.<br />

To make matters worse, <strong>the</strong> dry fire wood gave out and as <strong>the</strong>re was<br />

no coal on hand, green wood had to be used for cooking and heating<br />

purposes. Those were trying times indeed, but all lent <strong>the</strong>ir cheerful<br />

help and tried <strong>the</strong>ir best to make a virtue <strong>of</strong> necessity."<br />

l\fusic and billiards must have been a recreation for <strong>the</strong> pupils after<br />

February, 1888, for Fr. Rebmann during that month purchased<br />

band instnlments and billiard tables for Gonzaga while on an Eastern<br />

trip. On regular holidays in winter, pupils enjoyed skating and<br />

coasting.<br />

In May, two large farm wagons carried <strong>the</strong> student body seven<br />

miles down <strong>the</strong> riYer for a picnic, accompanied hy <strong>the</strong> mounted faculty<br />

members. The first commencement was dominated <strong>by</strong> music and public<br />

speaking on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pupils.<br />

In August <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same year, Gonzaga became <strong>the</strong> temporary home<br />

230

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