This month, we took a step back in time to explore the 1926 edition of The Dollar Magazine. Published quarterly before being compiled into a single annual volume, the magazine offers a fascinating glimpse into life at the Academy a century ago.
Every edition of The Dollar Magazine, dating back to 1902, is preserved in our Library. We encourage you to explore this remarkable archive and help keep the history of Dollar Academy alive.
Mr and Mrs Robert M’Call
March 1926
We have much pleasure in presenting to our readers a portrait of Mr and Mrs Robert M’Call, Devon Cottage.
Few are better known or more respected in Dollar than this worthy couple, who have recently celebrated their Golden Wedding, on the occasion of which they were the recipients of many useful presents from their family and friends.
Married in 1875 by the late Rev. R. Fleming, U.P. Church, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, they have spent forty-eight of their married years in Dollar, and have seen many changes during that time. Mr M’Call – a pupil of the Academy seventy years ago, when Saturday made no difference to the scholars – was an athlete of no mean ability, and after leaving School was a great help to his parents on the Dollar Mains Farm, a croft that they worked for nearly forty years.
Robert spent the first two years of his married life in Edinburgh, but came back to his native place and started work on the Dollar Mains Brick Works, which was at that time in a flourishing condition. After a time he transferred his services to the late Mr John Robertson, Builder and Ironmonger, and was employed in the building of many of the houses constructed by his employer.
Mrs M’Call – or shall we call her “Nurse M’Call?” – belongs to Aberdeenshire. She is a devoted wife and mother, possessed of broad and sympathetic views, and through her kindly qualities and her readiness to help and comfort those who suffer has made many friends. For some time, she might deservedly have been styled the second District Nurse on account of her many errands of mercy and kindly ministrations to the sick, and she is affectionately known as “Granny” to the local children.
To Mr and Mrs M’Call, who are both still hale and hearty, we offer our congratulations and trust that they may enjoy for many years to come the best of health and happiness.
The Sports of 1926
June 1926
Regarding this year’s Sports, there was, I think, a general impression that the day was a particular and shining success. Several circumstances contributed to make it so, of which the weather, that factor which no Committee can command, was the chief. The day was sunny, and a breeze had done its best to dry the ground from the rain of a few days earlier. Spectators may have found the atmosphere just on the chilly side, but it was an ideal day for competitors.
If the Committee cannot claim credit for the glorious weather they have every right to be proud of the net result of their organisation of matters which were under their control. I think old FPs will agree with me that never have the Sports been better conducted than this year. There were no delays, and the programme was carried through no time.
And then the reappearance of a Band was a great thing. Whatever fanatics may say or think about “the rigour of the game”, the Annual Sports, particularly at a School like Dollar, must ever be, and should be, a social as well as an athletic event. Music contributes almost as much as sunshine to provide as a festival atmosphere. Comments on the music provided by the Alva Band were all favourable. It seemed to play the right things, and to indulge in fewer of those intervals, which, in the midst of so many band programmes, make “stupendous outbursts of silence”.
This year the Former Pupils turned out for their events in what must have been record numbers. An extra and impromptu 120 was arranged amongst them, so that there was a scratch 120 in addition to the standard handicap event. Dr Parker must surely be the most senior FP who has ever run – and won! The handicap 120 was certainly unique in the fact that a father and son were competitors.
Heather
October 1926
The autumnal pageant incomplete would seem—
Did’st thou not robe with royal amethyst
The moor, and yonder mountain slope, now kissed
By fair September sun, whose mellow beam
Illumines Nature’s matchless colour scheme.
Sweet Child of bounteous Flora’s plentitude,
Although thy resting place be bleak and rude
Thy dainty blossoms yet the lovelier gleem!
Thrice welcome, flower of the fast fading year!
They beauties bloom when Summer’s store is spent;
When weary sigh the woods—when leaves drop sere—
Wan Winter’s boding browns soon will be bent.
Oh! May such winsomeness my evening cheer—
Such brightness to my later life be lent!
Alexander A Reid
School Mates
October 1926
I hold half of a golden key,
My class mate holds the other,
And only a part with its counterpart
Can open our chest together.
She sailed away with her half of the key
And we rarely wrote to each other,
We seldom heard and we seldomer met
To fit our key together.
Till—one grand day from over the sea
She came with a gallant brother,
We fitted our key and with hands that clasped
We lifted the lid together.
No trace of rust was there to dim
The treasures we’d given each other,
And not a moth had nipped a strand
Of the web we’d woven together.
Nellie Harvey
Alexander Ritchie
December 1926
We have pleasure in presenting to our readers the portrait of one who has given loyal, obliging, and lengthened service to the Dollar Magazine. Since the first issue appeared twenty-five years ago Alexander Ritchie has acted in the capacity of distributor of the Magazine to our Dollar subscribers. With him the Magazine ever comes first: as each issue comes to hand, he is ready to answer the call. His black leather bag—faithful companion all these years on his Magazine rounds—is quickly packed, and in a few minutes his familiar figure may be seen speeding on its way.
Born and brought up in Dollar, like his father before him, he has interesting stories to tell of Dollar and Dollar folk, and he tells a story well. His grandfather, William Ritchie, was an Englishman, and served in. the Navy in the stirring days of the press gang. His adventurous days over, he settled in our peaceful neighbourhood, and served in the Academy Gardens in its palmy days when John Westwood was in charge.
While following his vocation of grocer in Edinburgh, Mr Ritchie, nearly forty years ago, married Margaret Elizabeth M’Gregor, and of their family one daughter and three sons survive. Returning many years ago to his native village, he has long been employed as a surfaceman on the railway.
Their four sons, Angus, Alex, Willie and David, responded to the call of King and Country during the Great War. All returned save David, the youngest, who is numbered among the missing in Salonia. Willie was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous intelligence and daring in rooting out from a dugout near the British line a nest of enemy snipers.
Long may Sandy, as he is familiarly called, continue his appreciated services to the Dollar Magazine, and may he and Mrs Ritchie have many happy years in store.
