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

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31 MARGARET FISHER and MARGOT GOODER Banff School of Fine Arts Banff! How often I think back on the summer spent there at the School of Fine Arts! It was a sixfweeks' course in painting that I chose, although one could study, besides painting, such related Fine Arts as ballet, drama, music, languages, and crafts. This summer, Margot Gooder and Elaine Glena both received scholarships in ballet, and Diane Bishop joined the piano class for two weeks. Yet we saw comparatively little of one another since our activities and companions led us along separate routes. Let me relate something of our activities. First, the excursions our art classes made. They were not ordinary excursions, but ones when oil paints spilled or melted in the sung ones when lunches were lost, forgotten, or compressed, ones when we would get back to school just in time for dinner, and had to eat in slacks and smocks!forbidden costumes in the dining room! On the last outing we went to Lake O'I-Iara, a silent lake in the mountains, high above the main road, which could only be reached by small jeep lorries that ground and cracked up the rough, steep way. Since no tourists had managed the ride that day, we were left sole patrons of the lodge and open fireplace, and we drank tea and warmed ourselves before exploring. I think only one dutiful soul attempted a sketch. Whenever our location was near a tourist trampled spot, we were amused, but more often embarrassed, by the inquisitive faces of sunf glassed visitors who would appraise our work from over our shoulders. One small girl asked me cautiously whether she could buy my sketch for twentyffive cents! It was a very fair offer, I thought. At mealtimes an eflicient shuttle service between the kitchen and the tables brought food and dishes, and we sometimes employed ingenious schemes to obtain extra desserts. As a number of my roommates were taking French Conversation, I also frequented the French Table in the diningf room. Fortunately we managed not to starve, although some persons who either accidentally or stubbornly also sat at these tables, hardly able to utter a French monosyllable, were not so successful, and only by underhand whispers or desperate gesticulations received their helpings. In the absence of an instructor at the table, however, English was used rather more often than necessary! Memories of the off hours vary from horsef back riding, tennis, and canoeing, to weekly French Evenings, and long walks accompanied by Hquelques merveilleuses chansons francaisesn. Sometimes there were singsongs in the residence, and latefnight philosophical discussions, and some' times we dreamt up unusual pranks. How difficult, and perhaps impossible, to tell all that was gained! But I know that it will be refreshing and inspiring to recall those days, for they will be a strong staff on which to lean when' ever I begin to feel weary of considerations, and life is too much like a pathless wood . . . SIGNE SALZBERG, Grade XII The Social Scene The I-Iallowe'en Initiation party went off with a bang , with everyone costumed this year and participating along with the initiates. The buoyant Auntie Maimen, and the Prefects' skit, Persef cutin' Prosecution , were outstanding. A small boy on a tricycle with a ticket for speeding pleaded in vain with the hardfhearted judge. Cupid Capers had a Parisian flavour this year, with checkered tablecloths, and wine bottles as candleholders. Red hearts, gold arrows, and lace frills reminded us, however, that this was still our Valentine Dance. Grade VIII and IX may have expected a few lingering April showers at their May Day Dance, for large coloured umbrellas filled with balloons hung everywhere. From all reports, the dance was a huge success. With the rest of Grade X and the Graduates, we are now looking forward to the Graduation Dance which usually adds a glowing finishing touch to the School's social scene. P xriucm MCMAHON JUDITH KNIGHT

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30 They were going to the King's wedding on Green Dolphin Street at the foot of Gentian Hill. As they walked by the deepfflowing brook, johnny Tremain and Maria Chapdelaine joined them. The towers in the mist could be seen as they walked along the bridge of San Luis Rey. They arrived at Northanger Abbey and bowed before the seats of the mighty Scarlet Pimpernel, Ivanhoe and Napoleon. The bride entered with her father, the Count of Monte Cristo, and her sisters, Mary and Emma, followed as bridesmaids. Behind them came the King and his brother, Lord jim. They knelt before the robe of the little minister and he blessed them, saying, I hope your love is eternal and that your lust for life continues. The service ended and the bride, with a royal flush, followed in the path ofthe King. Shirley and jane left by the door to the North and walked through the little flowers to their Uncle 'Tornks cabin, which was far from the madcling crowd. DORA DEM PSTBR, Grade IX Two Hours in Switzerland On Tuesday, October 27th, most of the senior school saw a very fine film about Switzerland. Mr. Lundi, who showed the film, is Swiss himself, and so is well acquainted with and completely devoted to this lovely country. He kept up a stimulating and often amusing commentary throughout. He left for a few moments at one point during the movie, and amazed us all by returning dressed in a beautifully embroidered native costume. During a brief intermission he told us that in Switzerland there are sixty different men's costumes, and over a hundred women's. On the screen we later saw remarkable girls' costumes with lace caps and gaily coloured skirts. Nothing could compare with the scenery. Who could forget the unbelievable Lac Bleu, so clear and still that its fish appeared to be suspended in air? The fields upon fields of wild flowers were a topic of conversation for some time afterwards, as were the mountains and quaint villages. The climax was the Swiss version of a Fox Hunt . One could almost feel the thrill of skim' ming over the snow on skis with the fox , as the hounds followed in hot pursuit. Who could help but appreciate the fox's wiliness and sense of humour when she tied her wouldfbe captors' skis into impossible knots, or when she donned different winter garments, took a camera, and placidly photographed them as they flew by? But all good things must come to an end, and the fox was at last surrounded. She received a face full of snow for being so elusive, and fox and hounds returned together, the best of friends. Mr. Lundi told us a legend that when the Lord had made the earth in six days, He found that He had a little of all the beautiful things left over. With these, He made Switzerland on the seventh day to please Himself. As we watched the last enchanting scenes, we felt that we could appreciate how this legend had arisen. Louxsn MCKENTY, Grade XI A SINGING CLASS

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32 T? miss' 4 White House at Sea Admiral Elliot thumbs through the log of the good ship Balmoral , and chuckles as she recalls one memorable day. May 8 600 hrs.-Seaman Laycock up first again - sitting in crows' nest awaiting Dawn , 800 hrsf-Breakfast interrupted by loud splash. Kosinski walked the plank. Burnford and Cowie late again. 1100 hrs.-Bo'sun Evans and his mate, Rensaa, held turtle races on the poop deck. 1200 hrs.-Delicious Chinese food for lunch- compliments of chief cook, Shan Drog end of Macduff's diet. 1300hrs.-Unfortunate mishap to Hawkins and Snodgrass during strenuous game of shuffleboard. Situation remedied by Able Seamstress Anderson. 1400 hrs.-Ship's hairdressers, MacArthur and Reid, carrying a pot of red dye to Madame Mitchell's Beauty Salon, col' lided with Speedy McDougall, the cabinfboy, but deckfhand Jones soon swabbed all clean again with her port- able golden mop. 1600 hrsf4S.O.S. from The Dougallu received by radiooperator Andrews from marooned mariner deRoche, afloat in a tub for three days without a coke. 2000 hrs.-Ship's concert, Pettyfoflicer Fisher rendered Some Enchanted Evening with improved accompaniment by Midf shipman Lyevonly 62 wrong notes. Gooder, the Chief Steward, gave a dramatic reading of one more chapter of Bushes of Briar -the latest novel. Lindy Funnell, a stewardess, demon' strated The Limbo Dance seen on a trip to Hawaii. 2100 hrs.fStowaway found in cabin of a merchant called Muter. Identined as Charlie Albertsen and thrown into the hold. 2200 hrs.-Midshipman Scrase played Taps on her mouthforgan, and another day ended with Muscles MacCharles on watch with fearful companion Cuddler . Red House Directory KNOWN As Home Town FAMOUS Fon Arneson, E. Libisnuth Lac du Bonnet her cry, Ride 'em, cowboy! Baker,TJ. Plortz Vlinnipeg saying, Brack!' Dempster, D. Dumpy Saskatoon being Scotch Gibhins, R. Kibes Shoal Lake whistling Lansky, D. Ditto Carman being born in Denmark Leach, L. Peach Winnipeg once owning seven dogs Long, G. jo jo Costa Rica feline characteristics! Lucas, S. D. Duck Regina interest in Verne Malone, D. Deird Winnipeg hopscotch McKee, D. Muckeekie Winnipeg shouting, Psst, buddy! Mitchell, D. Di Manitouwadge singing, Old Shep Pitt, L. Fitz Kenora her letters Riley, C. Cuda Calgary badminton Schmied, C. der Schmidt Churchill her stuffed animals Shandro, Shannie Edmonton her mother's food Smith, C. Bubbles Prince Albert gymnastics Swafiield, L. Jewell Eskimo Point taking wa ter on cereal What Would You Have Done? Stranded, that is what you might call it when you have to stay in bed with a cold and you feel perfectly all right. It all began one day near the end of term when I started to cough during an examination. I soon had my own little glass of iced water on my desk, along with a box of cough drops, a box of Kleenex, and, of course, my exam paper. That night after supper, a thermometer was put in my mouth and it was declared that I had a temperature. So, over to the inflrmary I went. I thought I looked a bit like an Eskimo with my coat on top of pyjamas and dressing gown, kneefsocks pulled up over my pyjamas, and great big boots on. In one hand, I carried a shopping bag overflowing with my belongings, and in the other, a pillow and my blue pyjama dog to keep me company. The days that followed were the most boring of my life. I hardly saw anyone and if it had not