St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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The Prefects SCHOOL NOTES The promise that the School Year 1950-'51 would be well above average has been fulfilled. The enrolment rose to 149 178 Boarders. 71 Day Boysl, the academic achievements-notably in the 'lVIatrics.'-were outstanding and in School Games our old rivals were almost always defeated and at times overwhelmed. The Cameron Cup and the Wloodward Cadet Trophy returned to the School, while in Athletics the Old Boys were defeated in the Relay and Calton broke the long-standing record for the Hurdles. It has been indeed a great year, but, these results being due largely to the high proportion of Seniors in the School, the 'Matrics.', in direct consequence of this, have produced a toll of leavers who may not be replaced in size, if in numbers, for some time, and it may well be, therefore, that 1950-'51 will come to be regarded as a vintage year and a challenge to those to come. Be that as it may, it has given us Roses in December. The Scout Troop and Cub Pack have flourished exceedingly and crowned the year with a very successful camp at Sooke. Al- ready they have become an integral part of the School. The general amenities continue to be improved. The Dining- Room is no longer stuffy, cheerless and cold. Indeed those who have not visited the School for some time would have had diffi- culty in recognizing it on the night of the Christmas Banquet, when 6

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ll-ED TORIAI. September 15, 1951. Up betimes and early to the School Office, this being the last day before the Magazine must go to the Printers and an unconscion- able busy twelve hours of labour before me. And do suppose that with a measure of application I may in no very great length of time make a fair enough piece of writing to do bravely for an Editorial. But, Lord, when I do consider the multiplicity of our operations during the past year, and the many Clubs and Societies and Matches and Events and Alarums and Excursions Cboth within and withoutj upon which I must make comment, I am at a loss where first to make a beginning, and of a truth can but with difficulty envisage my poor little wood of an Editorial for the multitude of the trees. Then of necessity rllust come the same little Devil that doth haunt all writers of Editorials to whisper in my ear his reminder that all these aforesaid Clubs and Societies and Matches and Events Cyea, and the Alarums and Excursions to booth are dealt with in full, each in its own and proper quarter of the Magazine, and that, though as it were I am given leave in passing to touch upon them lightly, yet I must go no further, which would be a trespass upon the offices of the reporters who are therein concerned. SoI do once again, this year, find myself reduced, in a moment of reflexion, from a plethora of matter very near to poverty and want, and know not whether in its place merely to treat aerily of the year's weather or, as I have known one Editor do aforetime, boldly leave the first page of the accursed Magazine blank, in publick protest that an Editorial be an untimely, unnecessary and altogether plaguy thing. So I begin to fret and to fume and to chew my quill and to utter harsh and unseemly words against the first begetter and in- ventor of Editorials, until good Mistress McDonough, toiling over against me, be hard put to it to attend to her secretarial duties and must fain request me to put off my Editorial travails until a later time of the day, and so I do. Thus at night I do sit in my study until twelve of the clock with a fair white sheet of paper empty before me and no more mat- ter in my mind than a mouse, when of a sudden comes my Good Hlife from her bed to make inquiry why I am so prodigal of electrick light at such an ungodly late hour ffor 'tis a pesky sexi. But, when I tell her that I am but another Editor at my very wits' ends for an Editorial, she berates me roundly, saying that the business is easy enough in all conscience, and bids me merely to put down that the School goes well Cwhich, in very truth, it doesd and, to my Readers fsupposing that I may have anyl, Good Greeting and as Merry a Perusal as they can get from these pages, and to add that if they desire the rest of the matter they will find the same by a turn or two of the leaves: and for myself to make all dark and to come to my rest, it being very near midnight. The which without further ado I decide to write, with as good a countenance as I can raise, and then do switch off the offending electrick light and so to bed. C.F.G. 5

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the new curtains were put on display and the old stove, whose size so belied its efficiency, gave way to two modern heaters. Some improvements are not so obvious but none-the-less of considerable importance, as, for example, the digging of surface drains around Harvey House. These, like the treasure of the Incas, had been lost to view for so long that research in the archives and again with spades and shovels failed to reveal them, so that new drains were inevitable: but at least the Winter Sport of Sailing in the Trunk Room should no longer be a compulsory activity. The old Bell 81 Howell projector has been replaced by a new Ampro and breakdowns should be a thing of the past. WVe have had a number of Qld Boys visit us this year and would welcome still more. It was particularly pleasing to have Rear-Admiral Wfallace Creery, C.B.E., R.C.N., address the School on the first day of the School Year, and Brigadier Ae. Bell-Irving, O.B.E., carry out the Annual Cadet Inspection. It is such ties which give the School its great strength. The major events of the year-Speech Day, Sports Day, Cadet Inspection etc.-are treated in detail elsewhere, but one and all were highly successful. On Armistice Day the lNIemorial Board was carried to the Memorial Hall for a short but impressive service. The Head- master read Capt. Harvey's Letter and called the Roll, the Rev. Lowe read the Prayers and the Head Prefect, R. Calton, placed the wreath. No holiday was granted as it was felt that this is not a day of rejoicing but a day of remembrance, and a quiet hour was stressed. The War Memorial Boards are now under construction and will be unveiled at 11:00 a.m., December 19th. The Lord Bishop of British Columbia will officiate and the actual unveiling of the Boards will be performed by Col. C. C. Merritt, V.C., and an Qld Brentonian, whose name, unfortunately, has not arrived in time for Press. The Boards will be similar in design to that commem- orating the 1914-'18 XVar, but each will have the addition of the School name and crest. Old Boys and Friends of both Schools are cordially invited to be present. lNIay we take this opportunity of reminding readers that the lNIemorial Fund is permanently open for the purpose of improving the amenities of the lNIemorial Hall, and that this is an opportune time to help it along. Contributions, which will be acknowledged by the Headmaster, are permissible for Income Tax relief. For the first time for years we were visited-on the same day-by Fire Inspectors, Health Inspectors, Plumbing Inspectors et alii. As a result of their visit the main building is plastered with Fire Exit notices for the benefit of those who may not know the way downstairs, and we are still awaiting an official recom- mendation for certain new wiring in Harvey House. lNIeanwhile the speed with which the main building has been evacuated in practice is comforting. 7