Read "Square and Compasses" by Oliver Optic online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The students gathered in the schoolroom as usual on Monday morning. There was no little excitement, even among those who had no interest in the prizes, for it had been announced that the awards would be made at this time. So closely had every student who had any ideas in regard to the plan or location kept them to himself, that no one could even make a guess as to who would get the prizes.
"We have found some merit in all the plans," said Mr. Plint, who was the chairman of the committee. "We agreed that it was a tremendous undertaking for young gentlemen under twenty to plan a wharf and a building, and it was hardly to be expected that a single one of their efforts would be acceptable. But all have had the benefit of the thought and study the subject has given them, and the unsuccessful ones may reap a harvest in the future from it of a thousandfold more value than the prizes.