Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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16g Monkey Seeg Monkey No Do I could still hear them, even though I hunched my shoulders and stared grimly at the back wall with its mocking picture of a chartreuse jungle, and caricatures of us doing the most silly things. Remil, carrying the show as usual, sat on 21 high branch, eating peanuts and insulting the crowd. Shisim sat at his side, occasionally delivering a comment. Hey, Sa-ada! Remil called, Come up here. You'll get used to it! I looked at them and blink- ed undecidedly. Please do, Sa-ada, Shisim pleaded in her voice that always made you smile. Well, I would come, but I certainly wasn't performing for those chat- tering humans out there. Look at that big fat man, doesn't he look like Remil? giggled Shisim. I nervously nodded, but Remil was teasing a little boy for more peanuts. A big voice thundered below me and the fat man was offering me a peanut. Dare I? Shisim, giving me a Go on, Sa-ada, urged push which nearly upset me. At that, a great roar went u from the humans. I looked at Shisim were both laughing. and thdv fat man, but they At me? I covered my face with my hands. An- other great roar went up. The fat man didn't have a peanut anymore. He had given it to Remil. 1 You-you horrid big blunderbuss, you awful elephant! I exploded. People's laughing red faces met me again. Miseraible, I ran down and hunched 'again before the mocking chartreuse jungle. Brenda Dougall, Grade IX. The Fascination of the Forbidden Dedicated to all those children who do pull up i Cwith apologies to Columfbusj . . . Push down, don't pull up. The italic word don't attracts us immediately. We are not an 'ornery' race-but in our blood there is a cor- puscle foreign to all but American children. It all began about 1492 when an Italian fellow was told not to sail too far away from Spain, or he would fall off the world. Christopher was not a difficult chap-he just wanted to see how far he could go before he fell off. But he did not fall off! I-Ie sailed to America and there he begat us-a new people-people whose blood contains CC.-Columbus Corpuscles. The addition of CC. to our life stream was, on the whole, a good one. CC. blooded people are more brave, more resolute, more diligent and more adventurous than people without these cor- puscles. However, this supplement producedone dangerous tendency-the tendency to do a don't. Therefore, I am speaking in defence of us who, due to our inheritance, are fascinated by the for- bidden. Don't-itis begins at an early age, and we, Christopher's descendants, cannot control ourselves when we are very young. The don't in every statement draws our attention more surely than the magnet draws the pin. There is in us an al- most insatiable desire to see what will happen, and only under the careful supervision of some- one older, can our first don't tendencies be checked. But, as we grow older, the Columbus corpuscles themselves change. You see, the same blood that originally dared to fall off the world finally flowed into a new port. And other CC. carriers have proven that they too, can eventually find a harbour. In closing may I ask something of my opponents Qworthy and now, I trust enlightenedj and some- thing of my colleagues fgrateful, perhaps?j. You people who have not our corpuscles, have patience with us in our strivings, and assist us. Make your requests positive. And children-be fascinated by the forbidden- but for every don't that you do-find, as Col- umbus did, an America. P.S . . . Don't believe a word of this. Dawna Duncan, Grade XI. Customs She fell back terrified as she opened the door. There, illuminated by the porch light, stood a crowd of marauders. Behind them in the dark- ness she saw more sinister figures grouped about. Out of the black night came shouts and jeers, blood-curdling screams, and other ominous sounds. What is this? she asked herself and glanced fearfully at her husband who quickly came to her side. Together they stood in full sight of the fierce gathering, ready for anything that might happen. The group on the doorstep moved for- ward peering at the frightened couple and gazing about the room. What do you want? asked the man. A short figure in ragged clothes laughed gleefully, as another tattered beggar stamped over to the couple and stared into their eyes. Trick or treat! he warned them as his mates held open the bags they carried. The two bewildered immi- grants began to understand. It was all a joke. Thinking of the bag of oranges in the cupboard she hurried to the kitchen and returned with the bag. Off came the children's masks as the oranges were distributed. There was the boy from next door and the little girl from across the street. just children! Next year they would know of this cus- tom, but it had certainly frightened them this year. Lyn Stephen, Grade IX.

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. -.--cG-l5 Shoes for Nancy She might go lame or get the blues If she should lack a pair of shoes. Get her sandals? Get her spikes? QThe first are worn by little tykesj. What of satin? What of leather Suitable for any weather? White for summer, black for fall, Tan for anytime at all? Something toeless? Something suede? fThese perhaps in Paris made?j All of these would be too fancy For my darling little Nancy. What of linen? fgood for sportsj Or rubber things of different sorts? Tell me, does she run and play? However does she spend the day? Does she dance half through the night? Or play at cards with all her might? Has she a liking for buckles and bows? Or does she go in for corns on her toes? How about waders right up to the thigh With diamond studs to catch the eye? None of these will do. Of course Nancy is my saddle horse. jane Savage, Grade X. Before the Curtain Goes Up As you tug open the heavy stage door and breeze past the watchful doorman, your head held high, and dancing kit your passport to fairyland in your hand, a feeling of smug superiority assails you. You are a part of this fairyland, part of this wonderful, exciting thing called show business. A familiar thrill of satisfaction runs up and down your spine and you skip down the cement steps two at a time. Down, down you go to the tiny barren cubicles with the glaring electric light bulbs and the ever-lingering odour of grease-paint. There is a certain, special magic about these rooms. Maybe it is the rows and rows of glitter- ing tutus with their stiff, dainty skirts. Maybe it is the pile of shiny pink pointed shoes heaped carelessly in the corner, toes newly darned, rib- bons stil crisp. Perhaps it is the smudgy mirror, the littered dressing tables, strewn with sticks of make-up, jars of cold cream and crumpled tissues. The magic, regardless of its origin, is potent. Once under its spell you are destined to remain under it always. I The theatre is quiet. Quickly you slip out of your coat, tie back your hair with a towel and seat yourself at the cluttered table. The transformation begins. Steadily and diligently you work, The minutes tick past. Sounds of the awakening theatre penetrate your wall of concentration. Dan- cers drift in and out. Have you some extra pins? Oh no! My zipper is broken 3 The transformation progresses. The crowd begins to arrive. Wisps of idle chatter float down from above. My dear, these seats are exquisite! I wonder how much Mrs. Blaine paid for that creation? The members of the orchestra start tuning their beloved instru- ments. The din increases. An air of suppressed excitement fills the theatre. A call boy rushes through the hall, Five minutes, ladies. The first gong sounds. Over your sleek, jewelled head the fluffy tutu slips. Hurriedly two slender feet are thrust into shiny slippers, shaking fingers fumble with the ribbons. One last quick glance at the smudgy mirror-almond shaped eyes, shaded lids, beaded lashes, flawless snow-white comple- xion, glistening netted hair. The house lights are dimmed, a hush falls over the audience. A burst of polite applause for the conductor and then the first soft, sweet strains of the overture descend, Last nervous glance at the tiny good-luck charm tacked above the dresser, last flick of the powder puff over the newly made- up face already shining with perspiration, last silent prayer-then a soft knock at the door and an even softer whisper, You're on, miss. 'Sonja Nelson, Grade XII. On Being Short Some people are inclined to believe there are no advantages in being short. To those especially, I dedicate this story. On the morning of November ninth, Miss Mur- rell-Wright gave five of us the surprise of our lives. Mavis Gossling, Maureen Hunt, joan Gun- ston, Helen Smith and myself were to be pages in the Sadler's Wells Ballet-not because we were good, mind you, but only because we were short! Maureen, Helen and joan had the thrill of car- rying on to the stage the White Cat fDorothea Zaymesj perched on her satin cushion, during the third act of Sleeping Beauty . Then they posed as monkeys behind trees, for Little Red Riding Hood fApri1 Olrichj. Mavis and I, as pages, stood transfixed, as we witnessed Margot Fonteyn do thirty-two jouettes fsome argue thirty-onej in Swan Lake . In the Sleeping Beauty , tingling with excitement, we carried the trains of the King and Queen fArnott Mader and Greta Hambyj throughout the court scene. After each performance, quite a gathering of Balmoralites could be found in our dressingroom. We made -sure that we had the stars' autographs, some of us boasting as many as ten, We were also the proud possessors of Miss Fonteyn's discarded toe shoes and Violetta Elvin's wilted roses, With these treasures in hand, we left the auditorium, five of the happiest shorties one could ever meet. Susan Carnegie, Grade X.

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WI7 I tl' lil: ff 0 a , S 7 S akin S i nl I C '- r' was The Christmas Carol Service The spirit of Bethlehem was felt very clearly at our fourth annual Carol Service held on Decem- ber 18th. We shared this beautiful service with a host of parents and friends and came away enriched with the feeling of 'good will towards men. The School entered the tree-lighted Assembly Hall singing Once in Royal David's City and after the opening prayer by Rev. Wm. C. Graham, the junior Dramatic Class presented Why the Chimes Rang , a short play so truly in keeping with the spirit of the Service. An interlude of traditional Carols in which the voices of School, choir and congregation joined, was followed by the Nativity readings and tableaux by the Senior Dramatic Class, accompanied by the School Choir. We were indeed in another age as we listened to the angels' song of peace on earth, as the humble shepherds knelt to adore the tiny Babe and as the Wise Men came again to Bethlehem from the East. After the Benediction, pronounced by the Very Reverend J. O. Anderson, the School recessed singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and as this well-known Carol came to an end it was evident that the Spirit of Christmas remained. Recitals: With an increased enrollment, and more music- ians, the music staff has been kept quite busy this year. All talent was displayed by both junior and seniors in the fall and spring recitals. With june close at hand, all of the pupils are concentrating on their choicest compositions, which will be heard at the final recital. Symphony for the Juniors One day about the middle of December Mrs. Price said we were to have some fun. There was to be a Symphony Concert for grades four to six. It was on Wednesday at one o'clock, We were going! The second number was jonathan and His Gingery Snare. jonathan goes into the woods to look for a pet. He finds different instruments and takes them home for pets. There were several more pieces performed. One was the Pizzicato Polka. In this number the violinists plucked their violins with their fingers. Then there was Sleigh Ride. You could hear bells jingling, a whip cracking and at the end a horse neighed. To close the con- cert were Christmas Carols and when Mr. Kauf' mann invited us, we sang with all our might. Patricia McMahon. Grade IV. Concerts: Winnipegs celebrity concerts were exceedingly outstanding this year. The boarders have attended several concerts. We specially enjoyed Brailowskys recital and in the spring term, two famous artists, Heifitz and Dame Myra Hess, greatly inspired all listeners. Their mastery of the violin and piano was the topic of numerous conversations, The students of grades seven, eight, and nine are now looking forward to attending the Minneapolis Symphony. Music Appreciation: S All music appreciation classes are made more interesting by the use of our extensive library of records. Many enjoyable hours are spent in the drawing-room listening to good music. A three speed attachment has proved most useful, and has permitted us to increase our record library. Diana Dlincan, Grade Xl.