Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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THE ASHBURIAN 9 SCHOOL NOTES Opening Day cnooi. was reopened this year on September 10th, 1953, at 9.00 a.m. Besides a great number of new boys, Nlr. Perry also wel- comed six new members of the staff. They were Nlr. T. L. lYeatherall, replacing Capt. Higgs as trainer of our Cadet Corps and gymnastic instructor, Xlr. il. li. jobling, teaching Nliddle School French, Xlr. R. R. Locke, teaching .Iunior School Nlathematics, and Xlr. R. XV. Darby, junior Housemaster and Second Football and llockey coach, and Miss Fiona Gilmour as assistant Nlatron. Xlr. Peter Hopwood joined the Staff in the Spring Term, replacing Nlr. Locke. On Friday, llth of September, the Chairman of the Board, Nlr. E. N. Rhodes, welcomed us back and asked the Headmaster for a half holiday for the next Friday. One of the first sights which struck us as we entered the school grounds, was the Argyle Building, which was near completion. This new building was officially opened on Saturday the 17th of October after two successful football games against B.C.S. Other changes which we observed, were the redecoration of some rooms and the installation of floors in others. Also, a little later in the year, a garage and work rooms were built in the back. E11tertaim11e11t On the 31st of October at 7.00 p.m., the Hallowe'en Party was held in Rhodes Hall as last year-there were movies first, and then a contest among the juniors for the most original costume. After this, refreshments were served in the tuck-shop. The Christmas Party was held on the last evening of the Autumn Term, and turned out to be a success indeed. We first feasted on a delicious turkey dinner, boys of different nationalities were seated at the head table and requested to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in their native language. After this, we proceeded to the gymnasium where we saw an excellent film on the Coronation, followed by a prefect skit on the masters. Then-as the highlight of the evening, Santa Claus CML Darby, well disguised! came in and handed gifts to members of the Staff and boys. To conclude the party, our four famous Ashburian choristers-Mr. Sibley, Mr. Belcher, Mr. Snelgrove, and Mr. Devine stepped in and treated us to harmonized Christmas Carols, after which everybody joined in a Carol sing-song. The evening was certainly a success and I am sure that everybody enjoyed it. This year there were various trips of interest arranged for the Senior students, such as: a visit to the Parliament Buildings, a visit to the R.C.M.P. Crime Detection Laboratories, a trip to the National Gallery, and various Science trips, including the main one to Montreal.

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3 THE ASHBURIAN EDITGRIAL is shamelessly confess that before sitting down to write this Editorial, we have cast back through earlier numbers of the Ashburian and of other School Magazines seeking inspiration and to secure ourselves against repetition or plagiarism. The result has been disheartening, for we find that most matters of importance have been either firmly or lyrically dealt with. Spring freshets have been drained and dried, long winter underwear has been softly and reluctantly shed, playing fields have been scrutinized, Queen Elizabeth has been crowned and God Cas Browning jocularly remarkedj is in His Heaven. VVe find, too, that wide fields have been carefully weeded. Un- punctuality, obstinacy, indiscipline, sloppy thinking and general unsatisfactoriness have been scrupulously eliminated. Several matters of topical interest suggest themselves, but must be instantly rejected as either irrelevant, disputatious or positively dangerous. For example, it would be injudicious to discuss the pot-holes in the streets of Ottawa, the delicate political imbalance in Indo-China, or whether Mayor Houde is being groomed for a more illustrious ofiice. Education, too, is obviously out. VVhat remains? Although this Editorial is in no way intended as a commercial plug, we may say that we have recently read a charming little book whose title We cannot immediately recall, by a Hungarian naturalist whose name at the moment escapes us. In it you may read a delightful and illuminating chapter on the Water shrew. This irritable but deter- mined little creature is, it seems, incredibly voracious and cruel. It can eat three times its own weight every day, if deprived of food, it will starve to death in the space of three hours, and it devours its living prey from the heels up. Its path habits, too, are peculiarly interesting. VVeak-eyed, it ignores all designated directions but learns its way by trial and error, whiskering, hesitating, complaining and snufliling along a devious and often circuitous route. VVhen it finds itself at a loss, it scampers back to the beginning and takes another run. But the author of the book assures us that it not infrequently arrives at its intended destination.

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10 THE ASHBURIAN Again this year we were lucky to have Mr. M. Humphrey and his illustrated travelogue for his eleventh consecutive year. For the second year, the lVilkins Bros. Travelogue on the Far East came to Ashbury. It proved to be just as interesting as last year. XVe had an illustrated talk by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. E. N. Rhodes, entitled European Rambles . Every Saturday throughout the year, we had excellent movies in Rhodes Hall, among the best were-Detective Story, Desert Fox, Desert Victory, and Five Fingers. Tribute is due to Mr. Sibley for procuring this fine entertainment. Another excellent evening's entertainment was provided by the Temple Choir, and on a Sunday afternoon a Song Recital by Miss Mona Harrison. Dietetics This year the food has been exceptionally good and wholesome, and thanks are due to Miss Short and her able help for providing such marvelous meals. Health The School remained in a healthy condition most of the year, thanks to our School Physician, Dr. King Rowan-Legg, to Miss Bray and her assistant Miss Gilmour. Gifts lVe wish to express grateful thanks to the following friends and Old Boys who have made gifts to the School: Mr. XV. D. Benson, for a collection of old school photographs, the Colombian Embassy, for a contribution to the library, Mr. C. P. CTinyJ Hermann, for providing two football trophies, Group Captain K. R. Patrick, for a television set, Mr. E. B. Pilgrim for a track and field sports trophy, Mr. E. N. Rhodes for a most substantial gift of books, and also an athletic stopwatch, Dr. C. K. Rowan-Legg for a track and field sports trophy, Mr. Hamilton Southam for his contribu- tion to the library, and Bishop XV. C. VVhite for his contribution of books from the library of the late Canon Cody. Note This year Ashbury has had a record attendance of two hundred and twelve boys-this should be regarded as an important step in the School's history. H. S. SOUTI-IAM, ESQ. lt is with deep regret that we report the recent death of Mr. H. S. Southam. onetime Chairman and longtime Governor. In his association with Ashbury he always showed great interest in the School's affairs and made many and varied contributions to its welfare. The name of Southam has for many years been impressively connected with Ashbury and we have presently two of that name in attendance-a nephew and a grandson of the late Mr. H. S. Southam.