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

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,. 'l 32.1 at Q ig rf! ' My A 4 -' , fig Our Second Day In The Country On a beautiful Saturday, September 19, at Mr. and Mrs. George Andison's MareMar Farm, the Balmoral Hall Auxiliary ventured upon another Day in the Country. Praying for sunshine, mothers and daughters arranged their stands, and anxiously awaited their first patrons. The weather report had foretold a warm, bright day, and this we had. So, with a perfect setting and fair weather, what more could one ask? Crowds? VVe had those too - friends, brothers, parents, and grandparents all poured in. The girls, if not selling tickets, helping at food stands, or leading ponies, were run- ning errands, and perhaps selling usulky tickets in their spare moments, No one was left oult. Mothers could buy at the fresh vegetable stands while their teenage sons and daughters enjoyed an old-fashioned Barn Dan-ce: grandparents listened to the Scottish bagpipe players while the youngest members of the family took exciting rides on the Htwirling chairs. A special feature at the handicrafts stall this year were the Barbie doll clothes made by some of the Seniors. Special prizes for outstanding work were awarded to Margaret Andison for abridal outfit, to Sally Spohn and Frances Tanner for evening dresses: and Frances Tanner and Katharine Kilgour for day-time ensembles. The late afternoon entertainment featured a horse show and harness races. The audience received the horses very enthusiastically as they went through their paces. Thoroughbreds, saddle-breds, Kentucky walking horses, and hunters - they were all there, each with its own way of performing, and each entirely different. After adult riders hiad put their mounts through difficult dressage and show paces, some Balmoral Hall equestriennes put on a jumping exhibition which was followed by a display of riding by the Manitoba Team. Between riding events, four horses, and sulkies, each representing one of the School's Houses. sped around the track in four different races. Much to the delight of Glen Gairn the red horse proved to be the undefeated champion, bringing the house a new mascot as first prize. The end of the day found all the home-'baking and most of the handicrafts sold, and dozens of hot dogs and hamburgers ravenously eaten. As our friends drove away from the extensive, but well-filled parking field, they chatted gaily about lawn bowling fish- ing for prizes, throwing darts at balloons, and many of the other enjoyable features of this happy Day in the Country' DEANNA s1LvEs'rER KA'I'HRYN NEILSON MARY BRUCE af' , file, ... , WF' I -. ,. it W ' iff , , Y I ,-4 j, V yx . ul lffwfffowemn-'.:

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Mrs. Elliot For many, many years Mrs. Elliot has been in the hall of the residence to welcome the boarders when they arrive in September, to look after them during the year and to bid them farewell at the stations and airport. She has taken care of colds and 'flu and mumps and measles. And she has taken care of the noisy and the naughty ones, the sad ones and glad ones - and loved them all. Now it is time for Mrs. Elliot to look after herself. When she leaves us in Iune she takes with her our love and good wishes for many happy days of leisure. Utopia Down the majestic mountains which soared high above the virgin forest, flowed the unharnessed stream into the hidden val- ley below. This wide panorama was part of my country, Northern Canada! Free from the enslaving ways of man, it was not smothered by industries or dissected by roads: instead, it was engulfed with the in- tense beauty of the wilderness- I-Iow I had anticipated this moment standing alone be- fore my log cabin, while I beheld the glassy lake reflecting the setting sun - beholding my paradise! I remember, in my youth, my mother had to whisper to me in -chapel, Son, you're daydreaming again: listen to the sermon. As far back as I can remember, I always mused over the same dream. Now, twenty years of age, and alone in the world, my wish had been fulfilled. I had been unrooted from my home in the Niagara Peninsula by a hurricane which had wiped out my entire family. Luckily, if one could describe it so, I had been working miles away when the storm tore at our little bungalow and killed my two brothers, baby sister and parents. Then, I was living in a land of plenty - peaches, pears, apples and with all life's amenities: but now I was in a different land of plenty, a land not made by man, but by God alone. This land did not flourish with fruits and luxuries, but with silvery streams, golden sunsets and tower! ing evergreens. It was not only plentiful in beauty, but also in wildlife: the flashing trout, the fluttering grouse and the graceful deer were all emblems of the North. These animals could also serve me as food, if my stock ever ran low: but how I hated to kill defenceless things! I remember the tragic day, or what then seemed a day of true disaster, when my father had set a trap for the gopher that was ruining our lawn. How I had pleaded with him not to do it, but, as would any man who found his land being depleted, he set out to remove the destroyer. That night when it was trapped, I cried myself to sleep. At seven one cannot under- stand necessity, The falling thoughts and as I entered the cabin, I took a last look at my Utopia. The wind Whistling through the trees made it seem as if the whole forest were beckoning to me: it was as if magic, like an intense desire, was draw- ing me unto it. The hooting of the owl broke the entrancing spell and so, I closed the little wooden door behind me on that velvety night. only impatient desire. darkness terminated my Dawn brought the warmth of the sun, and I arose early to explore the surrounding landscape. How beautiful the woods looked soaked in dew. Every bird that flew over me, every leaf that fluttered in the early morning breeze, every flap of a beaver's tail gave me a tingling sense of freedom. As I explored the country, I knew this was the only place in which I could ever be content - the only place in which I could ever be free to live as I wanted- Every brook opened up a new kingdom to me, every crevice and canyon, a new world. It was my country, and it was free! DEANNA SILVESTER-Form V

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22 The Library Executive Honorary Librarian Senior Librarian - Susan Hutchings - Margaret Berry Pamella Kayser Circulation Manager -- Ruth Thomas unior School Librarian -- Mary Dickson Artistic Director - Susan Guest The Senior Library This year has been an unusually busy onq in the Senior Library, and a great deal of progress has been made. ln the fall, through the kindness of the Mothers' Auxiliary, new shelves were built so that they reached the ceiling on three sides of the room and some adjustable shelves were put in for the en- cyclopaediae and reference books. This pro-- vided room for expansion and large quan- tities of new books, especially on the Sciences, were ordered. The Mothers' Aux- iliary also provided for the building of a librarians desk which has added greatly to the efficiency and appearance of the library. The Senior Library Executive and Com- mittee helped Mrs. Kreutzer whenever they could. and each had particular jobs and times on duty in the library. Special thanks should go to Kay Alexander and Margaret Upham who always remembered when they were on duty, and .often did extra work, when they had a spare moment. It is always surprising to find out how much work it takes to process new books. For each new book the librarians prepared the filing cards which then had to be typed and filed. The book was accessioned, and shellackedg labels and plastic covers were put on and a pocket and date due slip were pasted in, before the book was ready for the shelf. Approximately three hundred and fifty books were put into circulation in this way this year. Many older books were repaired by groups of mothers and the Library is grateful for the many donations of new and used books. lt has been a year of exceptional achieve'- ment in the Library, and everything points to next year's being another interesting one in this important field of Senior School in-- terest. MARGARET BERRY