Rockwell Keeney Jr 1934 Typed Letters

Phillips Academy Andover, Mass May 21, 1933

Dear Mother and Dad: j This morning the whole school Is enthused over our victory in the Harvard Interschoolastics. We are the defending champions and at best *It was thought that we wduld do no better than a third. However the track team came through and won 53 points while Exeter came in second with 36 points. This almost insures a victory f^r us In the Exeter track meet in two weeks. Fe took six firsts and scored in every event but two. Bill Harding won the pole vault and Kingman who is captain or tennis and has only been out for track about two weeks won the mile in a beautiful race so I hear. The baseball team meanwhile was losing a close game to the B.C. Ireshmen. The baseball team has been having rather tough luck . Two fellows have been injured playing first base and another first baseman quit so 1 trying to get we're stil... that winning qomblnation. Billhart seems to be saving me for the prom or something

Not much else has been happening. I got 95 In a history exam the other day. The pri tomorrow and ze exam is it, but I have a chance of winning not a very, big chance it's

, One room in the dorm here is developing into a regular zoo or something. These two fellows have each £501 a large aquarium with tropical fish, several plants, and a recent addition, two baby squirrels. He keeps them in a large wooden box with wire netting on the front which they climb all over if they're feeling playful. He takes them put for exercise often and they have got so now they come when he calls them. The$ make wonderful pets.

iI KK got the shoes, cookies, -and check.

ftLj

ti-W*kto.-

HarttflM

~" „.L,J _„■

lil

-.>.__ _______________t a_.

Phillips Academy Andover, Mass. May 28, 1933

Sear Dad and Mother: This week has been rather unfortunate in some respects but everything is all right ndw. To begin with, I lost my pocketbook with about four dol lars in it. There was an identification card in It but I found that a few days later lying on a walk, 'so I guess there is pot much chance of recovery. That's the first money that I've ever lost, I think. Then,I lost a room in Paul Revere by .04 points and have got a double room In Foxcroft instead. They gave the Ifirst rooms th the finat ones who were highest on the" schol arship list and I was third. On top of that Tom^1 uampion couldn't get a scholarship room so I have to fllnd another room mate.

i

I took the hist&jyy prize exam along with nine others last Monday. It was for two hours and by far the hardest exam that I have ever taken. A prof at Yale made it and he thought that it was for college students I guess. I did pretty well in it but I haven't much chance of the priZB. My studies have been going along as usual, we are reviewing in most subjects and It's pretty easy. &xams will be coming thick and fast these last few weeis. I am going to spend about all day to-day writing a long iheme.

* I don't know yet whether I shall come home with tau or earlier with Normand. I understand you will be coming home about three o'clock Friday afternoon. Is that right. Your letter was somewhat indefinite. There Is plenty of time to decide that. I rather think I'll stay.

˂v* Last night Miss ftarx gave a banquet for all the waiters in the Commons. It was a wonderful full course dinner with steak and strawberry shortcake as the main features. Free tickets for tie movies went along with it and a gook time was had by all. That's about all the news; we're expecting to trim Kxeter in track nest week. It won't be long before I'll "be seeing you.

^xley

i%.- Udim ^*X˂;IAI"| /***$- "VIA* ˂^jp^ -v-Ao fa-**4jLo 7-W4 Q.CL&˂Jj /^^^

June 4, 1933 Phillips Academy Andover, Mass.

Dear Mother and Dad: No doubt you have heard about the outcome of thetrack meet. 79 to 47 in our favor. It was a sweltering day, the kind when 9s ice cream and pop salesmen take people's money away from them, &*veryone thought that we would win, but the result was far beyond the most optomistic prophecies. We took ten firsts and Bill Hardigg tied for another inx the pole vault. I'll send a Phlllippian for further news.* I'm glad we had a chance to have at least one victory parade this year. I didn't know what to expect but it was certainly wonderful. I suppose you have been through it all but I think you'll be Interested in what happened. At eight o'clock the whoi.e school assembled behind the band and a horse and wagon which carried the team. All of the students except the seniors carried torches which were strung out solid for about one hundred yards, we marched with much noise and bolsterousness fiown main street, over to Abbott, to Dr. Fuess 1 house where he gave a speech, arid then in back of the cage where a hugh bonfire was burning. There the customary speeches were given and cheered enthusiastically. After the regular movies«which lasted until 11:30, we sat up until 12:30 eating and talking about the meet. It was a great meet and a gpjrreat day as one member of the team said; I think the room stuation will work out all right. If everything works out all right,which it won't if things go as they have been going, I'll room with FPred Capers, who is about the most prominent non-fraternity member of the school. He defeated Tom Campion for xOaa football manager, and will probably make a better room mate. I got a 97 In another history test which brings my average over 95* To offset that I got a 60 in a geometry test. He's giving me a makeup though as I proved the wwrong theorem by mistake. Signing off now to go for a swim.

J ygylc^

1

■i

June 12,1933 Phillips Academy Andover, Mass.

Dear Dad and Mother: i Lots has been happening this last week, of course the most important was the tfxeter game yesterday. .Exeter had the best team that it has had in yeajjs according to what the Kxeter athletic director said. They went through the season undefeated and are stiij.1 undefeated In spite of all we could do yesterday. About 350 or more students made the trip and put enough spirit tinto the team BB SO that we were only beaten by a 3j- 1 score. Two very close &BB decisions would have given us a victory. Enough of that. You can read about at xte in the Phillipian. After we got back, the whole ^quad went out to the log cabin for supper and a good \time was had by all. j I find a few commentsjin my diary which might interest you . Last Sunday}night Bill, Wirt, and I had a wonderful fight down]in their room. That's where all the blood came from, we have to do that every so often to get rid of some?of our excess energy. I got 79 %n a tough EngllBh exam during the past week. The highest matfk in the class was 84. Also an 87 in PhyBics. Only two exams to go. Last Wed. Bill, Frank Rounds, and I tried to make some ice tea with cold water beforea thinking. We wern't very successful. I got a hold-off from P.A.S. if you remember what that is. Bill seeme to think I'll get In. Thurs. Bill was elected captain fcf the track team. That night Mr. Heely wasn't heme so we went out for a walk about ten o'clock and ended up by eating crackers, milk, and a cantaJ.oupe down at the infirmary with the nurse that was on duty. Friday there was the-baseball rally during the course of which I was generously cheered along with the other members of the squad. That night there was a wonderful display of lightning in the distance, the best I've ever seen, and 11:30 found three of us up on the roof watching it. Saturday I've told you about and to-day there's no chapel until 4:30 this afiternoon. *

1 I'm certainly looking forward to getting home. I won't have any classes between Tuesday at twelve and Thursday at 11, but I can sure spend a lot of time reviewing for the boards.

Tfne^nmrrrsg**

>\

7 Foxcroft Hall Phillips Academy Andover, Mass. sept 22, 1933 1 Dear Mother and Dad:

*

Well J school has started; that is, it has started officially, but I have donAJfery little more than I did at Vhome. We arrived Tuesday about 3-30 after having an excellent dinner at an inn at Framing-ham. Did nothing hthat afternoon except gfeet old friends. As I hadn't checked in at the office, I took the liberty of going to the movies in town with three other fellows. On 2 Wednesday, I did a part of every thing I should 1 have done. Unpacked part of my belongings, arranged part of my schedule, read a little, and waited at one meal. Yesterday was almost a repitltion of the day before except that I attended one class and waited at two meals, having^slept through breakfast. My schedule, although not exactly what I hoped for, is satisfactory. The main objection to it is not having an£ classes until five o'clock on Friday which is to-day. I am taking English 5, a three hour course, Chemistry with'Graham, Trig, and advanced Algebra with Tower, and German 1 with L.C. Newton. That makes fifteen hours in all and to complete the required 18, I am working with Leonard on a special innglish course. I did,'not get a head waiter's job, and I am ineligible for:- assistant head because I am a senior. There is still a chance of getting that Job as I don't think there are any uppers who can take the Job. I'll / have it

^

pretty"easy with Bill Harding as Head'waiter.

I am making a list of things for you to bring up when you come and shall send it sometime, t wlah you would send, a laundry bag, some soap, a comb, a the little dictionary which is in the trunk down cellar, in my laundry when you get a chance.

*

%X.

/