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

Page 7 text:

OUR PREFECTS BACK ROW-Diana Duncan. Gail Brooking, Dawnu Duncan. CENTRE-'Carol Nixon, Carol MaeAulay, Miss Mu1'1'ell-Wrigzht, Sylvia Pierce. Louise Albertsen. FRONT ROW-Norma Tweedy. Doreen Nichol, Eirene Landon The Presentation of Prefects' Cords On October 2nd at Morning Prayers our Prefects received their cords, their symbols of office. Carol MacAulay and Louise Albertsen, already Pretects, brought forward the new candidates-Gail Brooking, Dawna Duncan, Diane Duncan, Doreen Nichol, Carol Nixon, Sylvia Pierce and Norma Tweedy. Miss lblLlI'I'Cll-Xxffiglli spoke to us ol' the duties and responsibilities of a Prefcct and of ways in which we could help or hinder them. It is always a quietly thrilling moment as each Prefect takes off her belt and has the green cord tied on in its place. The service closed with the singing of O jesus I have promised which words seemed on this occasion more than usually full of meaning,

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Nami gf,-za vauenlcrnmr Dear Girls, A Chinese writer once said that success in life depends upon the number of persons to whom one can make oneself agreeable. As your Head Girl for the past year I hope I have to some extent succeeded in accomplishing this. This ofhce has been a tremendous experience for me-one that I shall not soon forget-one that has taught me many things. I shall long remember you all, and the year 1953-1954. From the time my appointment was announced at the Closing last june I have always felt your sincere cooperation, I thank you one and all for your friendliness and your unfailing loyalty un- der all circumstances and at all times. My eight years in this school have been very happy ones. To have been a student year after OUR HEAD GIRLFCAROL MACAULAY year for that length of time has indeed been rewarding, Each of these years can be remem- bered very vividly and has brought pleasant experiences. Each has also presented its prob- lems, but looking back only the hills are remem- beredg the valleys are forgotten. And now, though dillicult, I must say goodbye to Balmoral Hall-to the beautiful groundseto the buildings in which we have learned and laughed-to Miss Miirrell- Wfright, our Headmistress, who takes a sincere interest in the welfare of each one of us and to whom no effort on behalf of Balmoral Hall is too great-to the Staff who have guided us-to the prefetts who have worked with me and helped me in my tasks, finally to you, my good friends, I say farewell. It is my earnest wish that Balmoral Hall will encounter success upon success and this is not too muth to ask from .1 school blessed with such enthusiasm and loyal spirit. As I present my pin to our next Head Girl I shall be eager for her success as she takes the reins to guide you next year. All my love, CAROL.

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IO if Null H Hr s'l1fb,l- ll. flx Abednego This is the story of a mouse and a rat, Abed- nego and Mugs, who one day found themselves the subjects of a biological experiment. Mugs had heard that the set up was pretty good and as it was only going to be for a period of four weeks, he allowed himself to fall into circumstances which landed him in a cage. Abednegos purpose was different. While chewing through a Medical Science journal he suddenly felt a call for service and in answer, had volunteered So the two rodents who had never scampered across each other's path before, now found them- selves living side by side, but in very different conditions. Abednegos cage was well lighted, airy, austere but comfortably furnished and well de- signed for cleanliness and sanitation. Mugs' cage was more luxurious with plenty of scraps of soft fluff, but a health inspector could see at a glance that it was not designed for healthful, efficient living. Abednegos diet consisted of milk, vege- tables, fruit, whole grain cereals and liver. His routine consisted of sleep, exercise and oppor- tunity to develop his mouse mind. Mugs was allowed to nibble at cake and candy and drink pop all day long. This was all that he was re- quired to do, although for amusement, he could read the comics that lined his cage floor. Now, you may not know it, but each of these rodents considered himself to be in paradise. Perhaps to t VR ,:,..- lr-ul ,....,.-. F r and Mugs understand this you would like to know of their life histories and backgrounds. Abednego belonged to the Upper Crust of mice, known as Mus musulus. He was born in a hole in the wall of a six pillar mansion and from his first bite of Roquefort cheese was well established into the life of a cultured mouse of the Old School . Being well brought up he was taught neither to be seen nor heard, and to sit quietly among the pipes of the organ during Sunday Wor- ship. His scholastic abilities were very highly de- veloped and he had even eaten Les Miserables at the age of two months, fwhich is equal to the age of ten years in humansj Mugs was a rat, a rackateer rat who ran a Bu- bonic Plague Ring, He was born at the corner of No. 2 Lateral and No. 16 Main of No, 10 Sewer. In his teens he had been the leader of a hoodlum gang called the Gnawersu the members of which let nothing escape the mark of their incisors. From his earliest moments he knew he had to depend on his wits for survival. If his brothers keeled over after eating a certain innocent-loking morsel, he carefully avoided the same. He had a number of close escapes to his credit, One time he was caught in a warehouse that was being fumigated, but by burying his nose in a wad of cotton pack- ing he was able to wriggle to safety. Now you may understand the reason why these