REMINISCENCES OF THE ROYAL THOMIAN IN MY
DAYS BY GATE-MUDALIYAR A.C.G.S. AMARASEKERA
The first term of each and every year there
is much excitement looking forward to the annual Royal-Thomian
Match and you will see the Members of the "eleven" in the
cricket field viewed from under the shade of the giant Banyan
trees. Every day in the week except Sunday in the afternoon
after lunch, all the boarders had to assemble at the dining
hall, when the Warden does a "Sunday reading" for their
spiritual uplift. The Warden sits at the head table surrounded
by the Senior students and we small fry had to take up the rear.
This afforded the young ones plenty of cover to enjoy forty
winks after a heavy breakfast. Also others to throw bread balls
or shoot paper arrows at them and amuse themselves. The Warden
was not aware of all this mischief till I published a topical
cartoon in the "Dormitory Magazine" of which Francis Molamure
and Quintus Sproule were the Editors and I the Cartoonist. The
outcome of this cartoon was that Warden Stone discontinued the
"Sunday reading" and let the boys occupy themselves by
practising for the great event, the Royal-Thomian Match.
Some of the most popular giants at the game
were Douglas de Saram physically and metaphorically; the handsome
Francis Molamure, Claude Orr from Kalutara and one Goonewardena from
Galle and others who are vivid in my vision though not their names
and last but not least D. S. Senanayake.
When the Match day arrived those who could engage horse carriages
did so (there were no motor vehicles then) and I hung on to a
friend's carriage and jumped off it midway between Mutwal and
Cinnamon Gardens to enjoy a little profitable sketching.
When I heard the boys returning, I awaited them
and joined the joyful crowd myself, howling myself hoarse to end a
perfect day and to repeat the program the next day too. So much for
my interest in cricket.
