Oakwood Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (Toronto Ontario, Canada)

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THE OAKWOOD ORACLE Q Bulletin from Zbeahquarters Despite frequent and biting re- marks to the contrary, it is an un- doubted fact that the fourtlis are by far the most intelligent forms in the school. Any fourth-former will tell you so, and surely they, of all people, ought to know. One of the most striking evi- dences of their brains is their ability to amuse themselves at all times with the simplest materials. A blackboard and a piece of chalk, or a piece of paper and a pencil are sufficient to render them perfectly happy. With these commonplace pieces of furniture they can embark on the very enjoyable pastime of knots and crosses. Hangman they consider merely childish, but knots and crosses can be appre- ciated by any ardent student of Geometry. The best form of the game is played with the aforementioned blackboard and section of chalk. The size of the blackboard permits a great deal of ground to be cover- ed with the curious designs sym- bolic of the game, and this, besides pleasing the eye, has the added at- traction of allowing the players to see how many times they have won, or lost, without the fatigue of keeping the sco1'e in another place. Another advantage is that when the entire board has been covered, the marks can be erased, while the game begins again. There are, of course, disadvan- tages, also. After several weeks of play, official interference is apt to occur, after which it is wisest to move the camp and carry on the war in another vicinity. One of the best things to be said for the game as played with a paper and pencil is that it can be played at times other than lunch period or recess. It is, of course, much better if both players can occupy the same seat, but when this is impossible they should try to sit one behind the other. In this position the paper can be placed on the rear desk of the two and the other player must then turn half-around in order that he or she may have free access to the paper on which the game is being played. These tactics can, in ordinary cases, be continued for some time before anything occurs to put a stop to operations. M.C. IV. Silhouettes Across the sunset sky There winged a bird Silhouetted Against the crimson clouds. High on a wooded hill There stood a tree Etched Against the tinted sky. And down the placid lake There came a ship Clear cut 'Gainst the deepening sky. H. S. K., VB. Page Tlrcufy-On:

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rm: OAKWOOD ORACLE Zllibe Qbracls I came into the Temple of the Oracle And unto the High Priest 1 made question: Oh thou, to whom the curtain of the future is as nought, What, when the years have spent their might, will be my fate '? Where in the sun shall be my place 'T Or shall the heavy shadows envelop me for aye? l waited long, and heavy were my thoughts, And anxious was my soul within me .... Then the answer came, deep and impressive as the truth itself- I shall not, my son, reveal to thee, for thou art young, And thy heart halteth at the gate of life, All that the slow years hold for thee. llut hearken to my words, for they are wise, And, hearkening, shalt thou heed, I pray for thee. Work! for the mark of Idleness is on thy brow, And that will bring thee poverty, unless thou brush it from thee as a brand that burns. Cast from thy life Irreverence, that stands before thee, making mock. Hen 'gainst thy masters hast thy tongue been laid, And all they taught thee hast thou lightly held. Turn not night into day, and seek not, constantly, the halls of Dance, So that thy cheek be pale with weariness, When the bright sun doth shine upon a world that needeth thee. The very best thou hast is scarce enough To halt the moving finger that doth write thy fate. lleware, lest in oblivion thou sinkest deep I- But look upon the reverse of thy fate! Oh I can see more plainly now! Ah, yes, thy manhood doth assert itself! lirect thou standest, and thine arms are bare, And thou dost labour with an earnest brow, And all men give thee honour due. For thou hast seen with anxious eye The error of thy youthful daysg hast cast aside e'er 'twas too late The folly of a careless heart, And hast become by thine own will and act ,X Man indeed. ADl'lLAIDI'l IC. li. STl'lI'lNlIl'IllG, SA. 71 fix Q My Z ,if if T QE? 717: N f e at 2 ff J N P' K' . 5 M 'Tax !0 X 4 , F gf fd - V, ! f its ,.f f , BVOLU' TI ON liflflf Tll'I'Ilt.lf

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THE OAKWOOD ORACLE Qui: Gunther illibing-2 The Public and High Schools of the city have recently received con- siderable publicity in the Toronto press, not merely in the news sec- tion but also in the letters to the editor, which may be assumed to reflect public opinion. One of the most ridiculous as- sertions made has been that school pupils receive too many holidays, particularly collegeiate students who get Friday afternoon off dur- ing the fall. Anyone who makes such a statement does not realize the mental strain produced by un- remitted study. A large number of university students lately have suffered complete loss of memory through overstudy. We, in the collegiates, do seven or eight hours studying five days a week and it is only proper that we should receive sufficient holidays to save us from permanent or possibly fatal results. The statement that we get after- noons off during the Rugby season is also misleading. In the first place the Rugby season does not last longer than half the fall term and secondly we do not get the whole afternoon off but only about an hour and a half. Another letter that has evoked considerable comment was that of a farmer who said that his son had gone to college for four years and had learned to play rugby but no- thing useful. The playing of rugby having nothing to do with the choice of a course why it should be mentioned in so derogatory a man- ner is rather obscure. People who wish th.eir sons to learn a trade should send them to a school de- signed for such a purpose. The University is intended primarily to impart culture. We, in the collegiates, realize best which reforms we would most welcome. Our course in science might be broadened. The Calculus, a most useful branch of mathema- tics, might be substituted in place of the more or less useless geome- try. Various opinions are held in regard to the place of Latin in the schools. A more natural method of teaching modern languages so as to get a working knowledge, might also be introduced. Sports should be encouraged more. That is, sports for every- body. Watching the school team play has very little exercise value. Leagues might be organized in all the major sports and run so that everyone played. In this connec- tion it is well to remember that it is the game, not the winning that counts. Very little social activity is en- couraged by the school. A dra- matic society would fill an empty place in school life and a monthly informal dance would receive much approbation. Although no Utopian system has yet been evolved, our school, however, is not such a bad place. G. D. S., 5A Slerrp .lei ry was plain mongrel-long ears, clumsy feet, awkward mo- tions, and a uniquely mottled coat all testifying to the fact. A long tail with the graceful curve of 21 banana terminated his anatomy. lla- looked strangely grotesque in the dim light of this early summer morning as he ambled d0Wr1 2111 Page Tzrcnty-T'u'o alley-way. Occasionally he stopped and sniffed with the air of a con- noisseur onre of the many garbage cans that lined this alley. Jerry was not hungry for he had already dined farther back. He would sleep, he decided, and forthwith curled up in a patch of light from the rising sun.