St. Joseph’s College Arabi Pasha and the Uplands Tortoise
View(s):(Extracts of an article by the late A.C. Dep from a publication ‘Historical and
Social Studies’ edited by former Chief Justice Priyasath Dep)
This is, indeed, a strange combination. But the story of St Joseph’s College cannot be told without referring to both. Arabi Pasha was an Egyptian National Leader, who was exiled in Sri Lanka, with six of his supporters. The Uplands Tortoise was also a foreigner, having come in the hold of a Dutch ship. Both were tourists attractions, well known here and abroad.
During this time the Catholic youth did not have a suitable College for higher studies and had to attend Royal College or St Thomas’ College. Archbishop Bonjean who noticed this deficiency, appealed to the Catholics in 1892 to help him to start a College like these two institutions. The response was most encouraging and he entrusted the selection of a suitable site and the starting of the College to Fr Lytton. On 2 April 1892 a public meeting was held at St Mary’s Church, Maliban Street, Colombo. Fr Collin, the Vicar General presided and Fr Lytton outlined the proposal. The College would cost about Rs: 100,000/- . Another meeting was held at St Joseph’s Church, Grandpass. Soon after the Church purchased the Uplands Mill property, 27 acres in extent, for the purpose. This was rented out to John Clovis de Silva of Moratuwa.
The Battle of the Sites
The Government now, wanted to acquire this site and Fr Lytton went in a deputation and interviewed the Governor. Meanwhile the land was surveyed and the notice informing the public of the purchase of this property was gazetted. Messrs John Caderaman and Wilfred Perera interviewed the Government Agent. While Fr Lytton went with a petition to interview the Secretary of State. But all this was in vain. The Catholics had to yield, as the property was required for a public purpose – the Harbour Extension works. The Catholics, then, sold this property and purchased the Lake House property, 10 acres in extent at Maradana for Rs: 60,000/-
The Uplands Tortoise
In the Uplands property lived a large tortoise, popularly called the ‘Uplands Tortoise’. It had been in the Island according to some, for nearly 150 years, and was a Tourist attraction. In September 1875, the Author Anthony Trollope had seen it and remarked “that an aged tortoise was the chief celebrity of the City”.
When the Catholics sold this property, they wanted to remove this tortoise to the Lake House property. But the Government claimed it and sent it to the Victoria Park, where within a month it died. It could have ended its days at the Lake House. property, as a Josephian. The Catholics offered £100/ for the carapace to send it to the Chicago Exhibition. The British Museum was also interested in it. Finally it became an Exhibit at the Colombo Museum. It was a female tortoise, totally blind and measuring 6 ft from snout to tail and 4 ft 6 inches in width.
Lake House and St Joseph’s College
In the Maradana property was the Lake House, build by the Senior Puisne Judge Mr.Stewart, in 1876. This House gained prominence, when the exile Arabi Pasha came to reside in it, in January 1883. Though this was a spacious building it was not strong enough to be built upon. The College needed a three – storied building to house boarders, as well. In July 1894, Fr Guillaume went into occupation of Lake House while Fr Lytton went abroad in search of suitable teachers. On the 17th December 1894, Monsignor Zaleski laid the foundation stone for the building. Archbishop Bonjean had died in France on 2 August 1892, Bishop Pagnani of Kandy and Bishop Joulain of Jaffna, assisted in the ceremony. The College was named St Joseph’s College.
The building took 14 months to complete and was formally opened on 2 March 1896. There were 211 boys in the College proper and a lesser number in what was known as St Charles Preparatory School. Instructions were given in Latin, Greek, Modern languages and Science. The Lake House building was made use of to house the Chapel, the Library, the Teachers’ room and the Bursar’s room. The kitchen and bathrooms were in rear section of this building. Fr Lytton was the Headmaster or the Rector of the College.
The College Staff
The three Professors, Drennan, Pope and Hughes, got down by Fr Lytton were there when the College opened. The fourth T.Keegan was expected soon. The names of some of the priests, on the Staff, were revealed when Mr.Pope married Miss Cahill at St Phillip Neri’s church. Among those present were, Fathers Collin, Conrad, Williams Burke Fulham Macdonald Lanigan, Boyer Guillaume and Nicholas. The names of other teachers transpired in other ways. Mr. Eugene de Silva’s name was mentioned when he was sued for breach of promise to marry. And Mr. Aloysius Perera was referred to as the Drawing master when he did the portrait of Archbishop Bonjeen in oils. Fr Y.M.Le Jeune OMI, DD of St Edmunds was one of the early professors. In 1905 the BA Degree was conferred on him by the Cambridge University.
Litigation
Fr Collin, the Vicar General took over as Rector from Fr Lytton. In 1898 he was charge by the Colombo Municipality for burying night soil in the College premises. He was twice fined and after a study of the problem, the Municipality arranged to send Bombay carts to remove the night soil. Fr Melga sued the Municipality and obtained a reduction in the Assessment Tax. In 1901 Fr Lanigan was charged in Courts for assault. He had caned Eric Marshall, the son of the Superintendent of Police, for writing in his Latin Exercise Book, four lines of nasty rhyme. The number of cuts given was raised from 5 to 21. The Magistrate rejected the plaint as a punishment prescribed had been inflicted
The Progress of the College
At the first prize giving in 1897, the Portrait of the late Archbishop Bonjean was unveiled by Archbishop Melizen. The Rector, in his report stated that there were now 212 boys in the College and 217 boys in the Preparatory School. Before long seven students were entered for the Cambridge Local examinations. Three passed in the junior and two in the senior. Wilfred Muller and Ernest de La Harpe passed in the First Division of the London Matriculation examination.
A Cricket Club was started with Fr Fulham as President and R.R.de. Soysa as Captain. A pitch was prepared and practices were started. In 1898 St Joseph’s beat Royal College by 9 wickets. In Soccer, Fr Fulham captained the side. In Athletics at a sports meet over 16 events were worked out. Fr Fulham acting as starter,
Now there was no need for Catholic parents to send their children to Royal or St Thomas’ College. The Vicar General ordered Catholic parents not to send their children to non catholic schools. School attendance kept growing and the college was becoming popular. In 1898. Hassan Didi, the Maldivian Minister sent his son. Ibrahim did to St Joseph’s. Other Didis followed. The early Josephians, too, acted in this way and a great tradition was built up. My father Lambert Dep was in one of the first batches of students, who came in with the start of the College and taught for 39 years. His sons, his grandsons and now, a great grandson four generations in all, have been linked with the College, from the beginning till today, almost continuously. There may be others who could trace the links far back
The Expansion of the College
From the very start the buildings were found to be inadequate. A new two storied wing 200 feet long was started in 1898, for class rooms and teachers quarters. The timber shed of this caught fire in 1899, destroying Teak timber. The Police put out the fire. This was completed before the Bonjean Hall came up. The foundation to this was laid by Cardinal Moran on 19 March 1902. Another wing was contemplated to replace Lake House. But Lake House continued for many years more providing space for the needs of the College.
In the 20’s there was a story that Lake House was haunted by Arabi Pasha, and small children were afraid to go to the rear of this building. An attempt was made to clear this mystery in the Josephian Jubilee number (1896-1921). In the article “The Lake House Mystery” the writer has stated that one of Arabi Pasha’s servants had committed suicide in this building. This may very well be. For Arabi Pasha was not attached to any place in Sri Lanka. His attachment was only to Egypt, whence he returned in1901. His spirit may be elsewhere, but his name was linked with Lake House. This building was ultimately replaced by the other wing only in the 1930.
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