Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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[22]

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of England. The boarding school I was at allowed us more freedom, but we certainly did not work as hard ! I feel sure this will not be the opinion of all other English girls. The boys ' schools out here seem to be run on very much the same system as our Public Schools, but they still seem to stick to the old fagging system which has become much less severe in England and in some cases ceased during the last few years. Owing to the different types of climate, sports in the two countries are different. Ground Hockey and Lacrosse are played in girls ' schools at home during the winter terms; these two games are far more fun than Basketball, which is very similar to our game of Netball. But above all English sports I prefer the ski-ing in Canada. To me it is the best of all winter sports and I only wish we could transplant the Laurentians and the snow to England! The Canadian climate on the whole seems to me to be very pleasant, except for spring which is dreadful, just wet slush and no life anywhere. In England, however, it is the best time of year, the trees begin to bud, the birds to nest, in fact the countryside wakes up. I was amused to discover that the northern lights, seen practically every night over here, are exactly the same as the aurora borealis so rare in England. The camps which are run in the summer out here to enable children to get out of the cities in the hot weather are an excellent plan and I only wish that the idea would be taken up in England and so give the children living in the large cities healthy surroundings for a portion of the summer at any rate. I was horrified to discover that there was only one playhouse in Montreal; in London there are about as many theatres as there are movie houses. This is perhaps one of the things I miss most. And as for the Quebec law forbidding children under the age of sixteen to enter movie theatres, I think it is simply ridiculous. In England the films are graded into three classes, universal, which anyone may see, adult, to which children accompanied by an adult may go and horrific to which no children under sixteen may go. This system works very well and is a great deal more sensible than the Quebec system. The French Canadian houses, with the steps going up the outside of the houses., were something quite new to me; not even in France have I seen anything like it. The popular drink Coca-Cola has not become a wellknown drink in England and is very difficult to obtain; I amazed people when I came out, by drinking it and, what is more, liking it! On the whole my impressions of Canada are excellent, and I am enjoying my visit here immensely. But no one can blame me for preferring my own country! Jessica Horniman, Matric. II, Ross House. [21]

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CONTRAST The boat slid away from a country Apparently lifeless and black; She crept from the harbour unlighted And silently turned on her track. No-one knew she departed. Save those within her on board. No lights in the harbour or city Betrayed ought to the foe far abroad; Though no lights shone out brightly And no visible life could be seen Though all seemed dead and forgotten, A fire glows through shutter and screen, A fire that ' ll burn forever. Kindled with hatred and love. Far brighter, far fiercer than either The moon or the stars up above. The boat drew into a country After fifteen days on the sea. Where hundreds of others were harboured, Where they hooted and whistled so free. Lights shone far up the river. Millions and millions all round. Which glimmered and flickered and twinkled With scarce a black space to be found. With yelling and hooting and screaming. We drew into the dock at New York; Amid hustle and bustle and shouting. We got away from the dock to walk. Along full, busy, brightly lit streets. And sky-scrapers dotted with lights — Here no shutter, thick curtain or screen Hid that life that hummed gaily at nights. Shelagii Forbes, Form Vb, Ross House. [23]