St Johns Ravenscourt School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 90 text:

FOUNTAIN IN THE PARK The fountain stood in the heart of the park. From a distance it looked only as a shaped mass of grey marble, spewing forth the spray in crystal sheets. Its great beauty could only be appreciated when one was adjacent to it. It was formed in different ways in diverse places around its structure, and even these differed when viewed, from several angles. At one angle it was an embryo, expanding around a central core; at another, a maiden in the classical style astride a column, from which springs issued forth about her feet, and at another, it was an ascending order of platters, from which water would flow over one and would thus drop to the larger receptacle below it. At the southern end of the sculpture, there lay a pool, ringed by grey marble, and inhabited by fish of a deep, golden hue. It was fed in a familiar way, with streams of dancing water issuing from the mouths of beautifully formed fishes’ heads. A smaller “wishing pool” lay above the goldfish pool- constructed in the same intricate way, with smoothly- finished grey marble enclosing the clear, deep water. Then again, this smaller pool was terraced, all in masonry, into several smaller pools till each, fed by small and rushing water falls from the level before it, and each cataract rising in a steep crescendo as the water rushed by the layered pools. From another angle several figurines stood, formed with exquisite craftmanship and sculpted to a polygonal pedestal. From the midst of these shot out a powerful geyser of water, rising in height to some twenty feet. Ringlets of crystal spewed forth from the slate-grey pedestal, curving upwards graciously and falling back to a large shallow pool beneath it. Intricacy and detail were the two keynotes to this flowing, sculptured form. They were to be found everywhere about it. All were fashioned in velvet-grey marble—every aspect of the huge watery figure was of that slate-grey tone. The jets of spray were placed to their best advantage; the whole thing was enveloped in a curtain of it, that when penetrated revealed a fairy-land in stone. The original masons had been so exact in their work that at times the inanimate features and rings of pure, clear water seemed to contain living substance, and at other times they held an almost ethereal quality as though the inanimate hands of the figurines had spirit within them, and beckoned to you, not only in the graceful flourishes of stone, but also through this innate soul. All has been mentioned but the base of this massive piece. This formed a solid contrast to the rest of the fountain. Perfect symmetry lay behind this stern sentinel— everything about the base was perpendicular and somewhat angular. It was perfectly cubular, most unlike the flowing style of the sculptures about it. Yet the pedestal signified the fall from the “sublime to the ridiculous” and hence heightened the effect of the fountain by emphasizing more the stone figures supported by it. At night, tiers of coloured floodlights aimed at the fountain, and reflected off the mist, creating a pattern of rainbow shades as the light reflected off the spray. People came from near and far to see this nocturnal phenomenon, and it can be rightly said that none came away disappointed. So this masonry marvel stands, battling time and the elements to retain the lustre of its polished marble, and the intricacy and liquidity of its flowing flourishes. Thus it stands, a masterpiece in marble, a sentinel of the ages, a monument to the skill of man. Allan Bennett Form II 86

Page 89 text:

THE CORRUPT WORLD Although technical advances have been abundant, swift, and continuous, it seems that the ethically raw insides of man’s character have remained. Theoretically, when applied to a graph, the scientific discoveries and imporvements as a function of time from early stages of man to today would form a rapidly rising graph, while if the advances were re¬ placed by moral maturity, there would be a straight line, sig¬ nifying that while this earth is being modernized material¬ istically, man’s sense of peace, brotherhood, and co¬ existence has stayed the same as in prehistoric times. This worldwide corruption is epitomized in the United States, where in a sense of capital and facilities the standard of living is high. There also, lie the violence of the Democratic convention in Chicago, a prejudiced and sadistic leader, George Wallace, and unjust treatment of Negroes. In certain southern states of the United States such as Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, the position of the Negro is deplorable. There, Negroes, who make up over twenty percent of the population, are the bottom of the economic, social, and educational strata. Negroes are for¬ bidden to use certain segregated buses; homogeneous schools are predominant; one large section of apartments in each city is generally the only accommodation for the Negroes, and few white people would “debase” themselves to lease an apartment in their building to a Negro. These restrictions are imposed upon a black man in the South solely because he is a Negro, and have been inherited from white forefathers who first made the Negro perform slave labour at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. The southern states have sought to veil these misdeeds by passingvirtuous acts such as the Supreme Court decree of 1954 (that segregation in schools was unconstitutional), and the Civil Rights Act of 1965 which assured voting rights to Negroes; nevertheless, the ratio of eligible white voters who are allowed to vote to those who are Negroes is eight to five. While a prime example, the southern United States region is not the only microcosm of racial injustice. In Rhodesia and the Union of South Africa, the government enforces the corrupt racial segregation. In these nations, buses, taxis, hospitals, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and parkbenches are segregated. Soaring above these park benches are modern edifices of science and technology. George Wallace and his policies lie within the shadow of his rise to power. He used a relatively modern, and definite¬ ly progressive institution, representative government, to become a southern United States Congressman and candidate for President. Since rising to his post, Wallace has displayed the sadistic and animalistic traits which have characterized many corrupt leaders who have risen in this manner. Wallace is a segregationist and aims to deprive American Negroes of the few rights which they have achieved. He revealed his characteristic barbarism while giving a reporter his opinion of s trikes and peaceful protests. His comment was that if a protester placed himself in front of Wallace’s car, he would not sit in front of another thereafter. A similarly corrupt leader of this century was Adolf Hitler. Throughout the world, these types of govern¬ ment officials are in evidence and dramatically exemplify the contrast between the achievements of man (stable government) and ethical injustice. Another illustration of the misuse of power was the brutality with which the Chicago police force dealt with Vietnam demonstrators at the recent Democratic Con¬ vention. Demonstrators at the recent protest who walked peacefully along the sidewalks of Chicago, stopped at traffic lights, and obeyed other pedestrian rules were viciously attacked by the policemen who had been instructed to act in this manner by Mayor Daley of Chicago. These men had obviously been told by Daley to attack without asking ques¬ tions. Many newspapermen and reporters were among the victims. In one instance, a pair of reporters from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation were caught in one of these massacres. All around them, placard-waving teen¬ agers and adults were being clubbed viciously. One of these reporters relates that two policemen took hold of the other pressman, beat him savagely on the skull, dropped his bleeding body, and pranced away, holding hands and chanting, “We got him! We got him! ” Another contem¬ porary example of the barbaric misuse of power was the Soviet strongarm invasion of Czechoslovakia in late August of 1968. Again, the deterioration of morals is found to be keeping pace with an increase of power. As the world progresses in the fields of medicine, science, and moon probing, among others, these achievements are omnipresent. It shows itself by way of misuse of power and position, and by inheritance of age-old morals, to name a few methods. Because of the proportional rise in each, a Utopian, free, and modern society which some visualize cannot be reached, and the opposite extreme may well be attained. Raj Anand Form III 85

Page 91 text:

WHICH Swirling wisps of grey doubt swish past, Causing people to secretly shiver with fear. Have you felt that life is too dear? Or is it something that will last? Questions of existence have oft arose, Creating doubt in the minds of those who ask, “Is life only too hard a task? Or can it simply be defined in prose? ” Love and hate compare and contrast, Being results of both passion and fear. Have you felt that life is too dear? Or is it something that will last ? Gerald Schwartz Form VI STUDENTS IN REVOLT Do the student revolts of today reflect the crisis that our society is reaching, whereby it will destroy itself internally or do they show the hatred of innocent students for the corruption that evidently grips our society? I am inclined to believe that students are products of our society and will be influenced by it. They are revolting against the society, yet if they were given power, they would form the same society, because they know no other. Therefore, student revolts are simply making evident the increasing degrada¬ tion that our way of life is suffering from because of the reckless ambition of many of our inhabitants. The revolting of students runs on a parallel to the revolting of the working class. University students of today are being trained mainly as working class employees. They will have to begin at the bottom and work up. However, because of the greatly increased technical knowledge within modern students that attend universities today, students have become more self-confident and individualistic. They spend years in school; when they are out they expect to lead an easy life with good pay. However, in our highly technical society, a university education is a necessity for obtaining a job in the working class, which compels any student to begin at the bottom. The working class of today is revolting against its poor working conditions and lack of pay. This extrinsic reason for revolt is offset by the true reason for revolt, the wish to rise above the masses and be individualistic. Likewise, the students of today are fighting for individualism and individual recognition. Last year the student revolt at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia epitomized the connection between worker and student. The working class of Burnaby and Richmond no less than enthusiastically supported the revolt, and several businesses supplied the students with posters and billboards. The S.F.U. students had no particular reason for revolting. Simon Fraser University is one of the most adequately equipped universities in Canada. The mass of students was led on by a few radical students who had felt that student individuality had been lost. These radical leaders were prominent for a few months and then the students would follow another leader. The students had several new Deans appointed in the span of one year. However, the latest feeling among students has been a turn from the radical stand to a moderate stand. S.F.U. students have begun to realize that their position is very good, despite the apparent smothering of their individuality. The students have become individuals within a framework of the masses. The news media has influenced students greatly because of the extensive coverage given to student revolutions. Some students just go to revolts to get in on the excitement or to make the news. Some leaders are only starting revolts to make the news. There are many who believe deeply in their cause, but there are just as many who are happy as they are. Student revolts definitely show that there is a flaw in our society, but it is not a flaw which can be righted by giving a handful of inexperienced teenagers the power of control. Students have been dissatisfied and revolutionary for centuries. It is a stage in the life development of students. The less publicity these revolts get, the less violent the revolts will be, and support of them will soon die out. Student revolts do make us realize the corruption in some of the prominent establishments of our society and makes the individual view our society with less esteem. Kent Stewart Form V A TALE OF WOE The man, short and swarthy, kicked nervously at the old tin can. It rolled up the slight incline a way, paused as if wondering where to go and then rattled down into the gutter. This was how it was in life for Old Garth; he rolled uphill for awhile but then when his business failed, he was pushed into the gutter of the city—the slums. A quick glance at him told you he was badly off; his aged brown suit, under the strains of fifteen years, was faded and frayed, the more obvious holes were patched with bits of old rags, sewn in place with large, plebeian stitches and coarse black thread, his shoes were worn thin at the soles and were scuffed badly on top. He wore no coat, no hat. He had no money, no respect, no hope. Each day, uninspired, he shambled along through the higher class streets of the city, unfolding his palms towards any passers-by. Sometimes a pitying soul would drop a few coins into his outstretched hands, but more often they went by, silently saying “No.” Such was the life of the old man. No one worried about him, no one cared. Ted Bigelow Form V 87