Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN 31 LIBRARIANS REPORT 1944-45 HE library year was not particularly satisfactory. Some improvements were initiated but the circulation, the factor upon which a library stands or falls, was far below the level we had hoped for. Rectiflcation of this failing must be a major aim of the librarians next year. This session, for the first time, books were purchased from a wholesaler. This meant a considerable saving of money and the allowance for new books was stretched proportionately. In an effort to stimulate interest, displays of book jackets were set up on the library notice board. These were changed frequently and were an effec- tive advertisement. Next year it is hoped that more display work will be undertakeng for instance, it might be possible for the junior art classes to do some book posters or for special library periods to be held in some of the literature classes. A deficiency much deplored by my pre- decessor, Mr. Harrison, was, at last, remedied. Locks were placed on all the book cupboards. This meant that all illegal circulation was stopped and that the librarians could keep an efficient check on book losses. An energetic - perhaps too ener- getic - system of fining was initiated this year. Culprits who left their own property lying about the library room or who kept books overdue were pen- alized. By this means, the library realized a tidy sum. This money was used to purchase a pipe rack, to which a small plate was afiixed, for Mr. Archdale. 1 should like to thank my fellow librarians, particularly Eliot II, for their splendid and unstinting assistance. It is to be hoped that next year, with further improvements, circulation will attain a more satisfactory level. J. N. B. SHAW A MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN When over Britain's Isle last May The dreaded Hitler's pathway lay, A mother ami her children three Set forth, fair Canada to see. The voyage was with terror fraught And far to north was safety sought But Quebec's fine port was duly reached And here the ship was safely beached. The waiting train the four then sought And to Montreal were quickly brought. From there they sped to Fundy's shore And thought their troubles safely o'er. Alas that this was not to be For measles seized the children three, And that they might again be well Nurse Long came with them to dwell. For three weeks Michael lay abed While plans were forming in his head, A puppet show was promptly played With settings round his bed arrayed. And soon in Clibr1g's wood did stand A cabin built by Michaels hand. Too quick the summer days are past And to the Manor House at last Their mother brings the Marshalls three And to the school at once goes she Where Michael and David lessons learn. And praise and blame alike they earn. While winter comes to bring them joy And skates and skis they both employ, And strive by force of much strong will To learn their use with master skill. While sometimes in their narrow beds Dreams pass through their boyish heads Of Cambridge where their parents fiy In airships through the English sky And hopes that these same ships may come To Canada to bring them home. -By M. J. M.

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30 on the lawn in front of the school, drawing inquisitive glances from pas- sers-by, and often gasps of amazement from the boys themselves. Armed with a revolver, Mr. Richard- son led his picked platoon through this maze of wood, rope, iron and wire. The whole course was done at the double and two rows of rubber tires, staggered slightly, presented some diffi- culty as they lifted their knees high and ran on their toes. Finally, fairly ex- hausted, they had to run up a sloping log, a task made even more difficult by the falling rain. The company fell in again and we marched out to the flag pole and formed square. Captain Craig then said a few words. He said that our inspec- tion was much better than he had ex- pected it to be, considering the loss of our instructor and the continual bad weather. Complimenting us on the steadiness on parade, he mentioned that THE ASHBURIAN this was a quality of a good soldier. Captain Craig also said that we, who hoped to lead our country in the future, could not do so until We had learned to be led ourselves, and from appear- ances we had learnt the basic principles of this. The Headmaster spoke very briefly, the Company marched off and the parents and friends who had brave- ly endured the elements dispersed. On our last parade of the year, the following Monday, a bright day for a change, Mr. Archdale thanked the Corps for the good show they had put up, and presented the Woods trophy for the best platoon to Cadet Lieu- tenant Richardson of No. 3 Platoon. It was won last year by No. 2 Platoon under Cadet Lieutenant Price, now our Commanding Officer. The Company then dismissed, with some of us still hoping, knowing that some honest effort had been given for the Sherwood Cup. DREAMING A hemlock tree stands in a glade, While the violets sleep beneath its shade. While the eagle soars aloft on high, The hemlock tree stands quietly by. The sordid city sprawls in the sun, The people toil till their work is done. But the hemlock tree just stands in state, While beneath its shade the violets wait. The sordid city I'll always hate, But there I 'm decreed to meet my fate. While a hemlock tree stands in a glade, With violets asleep beneath its shade. -By R. HEAVEN.

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32 THE ASHBURIAN THE PLAYS HE Annual Plays were held on Satur day, March the second, at the Technical School Auditorium. Two plays were presented -Hassan., by James Elroy Flecker, and Shall We J om the Ladies? by Sir James Barrie. Hassan is the story of a sweetmeat seller of Bagdad who attempts to win the love of a lady called Yasmin, and becomes involved in an intrigue against the life of the Caliph of Bagdad. He manages to foil the intrigue, but not to win the lady's love. We decided not to attempt the lavish Oriental setting of the original, and the entire play was perform- ed in front of a curtain. Only the first two acts were presented. The title role was played With skill and feeling by William Eliot, whose grief when he found he had been duped by his friend Selim presented a truly pathetic spectacle. The other parts were all convincingly handled, and it is invidious to pick out any individual for special praise, but we feel, never- theless, that we must mention the really fine performance of John Hooper in the difhcult part of the poet, Ishak. The second, Shall we J om the Ladles?, a one-act play, was of completely dif- ferent style. As the curtain rises we find a house-party in progress, the guests of Sam Smith, a benevolent- looking little bachelor, are seated around the dinner table. Then their host rises and tells them that one of them is the murderer of his brother, and that he has invited them all to his house to find out which one. The remainder of the play shows the reac- tion of the guests to this news, and it ends on a tantalizing note as a horrible scream is heard. We never find out who the murderer is. This play was pro- duced in co - operation with Elmwood. All the parts were well played, and the convincing reaction of all the guests added a great deal of life to the per- formance: but we could not have done justice to the play had it not been for the fine work of the Elmwood girls. The part of Smith was played with great aplomb by Michael Shenstone, who handled subtly the difficult change in manner from a kindly host to a relentless sleuth-hound. Our thanks to the Technical School for its kindness and help, to our ushers and usher- ettes, to Miss Graham of Elmwood for her assistance in producing Shall We Join the Laales?, to Shenstone for his making of the announcements, to our eflicient stage managers, and last but not least to our hard-working producers and casts. G. F. THE 1'oLLow1NG ACCOUNT wAs WRITTEN BY MR. J. N. B. SHAW FOR UPANORAMAH I suppose one goes to amateur theatri- cals for one of two reasons: in order to be entertained, or in order to be amused. The first motive is fulfilled when the players are of a reasonably high quality, the second when they are of an unreasonably low quality. Of course, most important, a visit to an amateur performance is always profit- able because, good or bad, it is never boring. It was with a thought such as this that your reporter attended Saturday's