Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN. charged with a deeper meaning. One, at least, of the plays of Shake- speare ought to be carefully studied during the year. As the history of Scotland was so closely connected with that of England at this time, especially through the association of Mary Queen of Scots with England it is to be desired that some correspond- ing knowledge of the religious, political and literary history of Scot- land be attained. It is not expected that all the books mentioned will be read by every member of the reading circle, or that the students confine themselves to those specially indicated. Miss Scott will be glad to receive sug- gestions as to books treating of this period, with the names of authors and publishers, which have been found to be interesting and helpful. Members of the Alumnae Association who are unable to attend the monthly meetings are invited to send reports of books read in con- nection w4th the course, and to communicate helpful suggestions. LIST OF BOOKS RECOMMENDED. Green ' s Short History of the English People. — Chapter VII. Eroude ' s Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Creighton ' s Queen Elizabeth, and Age of Queen Elizabeth. Court and Times of Queen Elizabeth, by Lucy Aiken. The Great Lord Burleigh, by Martin S. Hume. The Courtships of Queen Elizabeth, by Martin S. Hume. English Men of Action : Drake, Ealeigh. English Men of Letters : Bacon, Sydney, Spenser, Shakespeare. Traill ' s Social England.— Fo . III. Collier ' s History of English Literature. — The Third Eve. Wm. Winter ' s Shakespeare ' s England. Agnes Strickland ' s Life of Mary Queen of Scots. The Girlhood of Mary Queen of Scots, by Jane T. Stoddart. Scott ' s Kenil worth, and The Abbot. Kingsley ' s Westward Ho ! Miss Yonge ' s Unknown to History. Henty ' s Under Drake ' s Flag. Mrs. Barbauld, in her 82nd year, to Maria Edgeworth : I believe you w ll allow that there is not much new, or animating, or inviting, to be met with at my age. For my part, I only find that many things I knew I have forgotten; many things I thought I knew I know nothing about. Some things I know I have found not worth knowing ; and some thing ' s T would give — oh ! what would one not give to know? They are beyond human ken.

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26 THE BEANKSOME SLOGAX. READING CIRCLE OF ALUMNAE ASSOCIA- TION OF BRANKSOME HALL With the object of assisting those of our pupils whose actual school days are over to prosecute studies at home, a course of reading has been devised, and is herewith presented for consideration. The period popularly known as the Elizabethan Era has been chosen, not only as providing a wealth of material unparalleled in the annals of England, but as forming, in a true sense, the beginning and the inspiration of our modern English literature. The course of study will naturally commence with careful con- sideration of the HISTOEY of the period, for it is in the light of the conditions of the time that authors and their works are, in the first instance, rightly understood. In this connection it is suggested that the members of our reading circle begin with Chapter VII. of Greenes Short History of the English People, and supplement the sketch therein contained from the works of Historians who devote particular attention to the Elizabethan Era. It is important that the students feel the aspirations of an awakened people, and realize the eagerness for conquest, the sense of freedom, and the strength of loyalty that characterized the people of England at that age. BIOGEAPHY also, as presented in such a work as the English Men of Action ' ' series, will still further help the students to re,alize the spirit of the age. This historical course, however, would be quite inadequate without some investigation as to the condition of the masses of the people. Such a work as Traill ' s Social England, ' ' Vol. III., will enable the students to obtain an intelligent grasp of the social conditions of the time as manifested in the manners and customs, the occupations and recreations, and moral and religious standards. Books of history and biography will naturally be supplemented by such historical EOMANCES as Walter Scott ' s Kenilworth and Charles Kingsley ' s Westward Ho ! These contain within them the spirit, and indeed much of the detail, of history, and make the period to be living and full of meaning. Knowledge of tlie period through books of History, Biography and Eomance will naturally be followed by study of the HISTOEY of the EITEEATITEE. Eeiiable accounts of the lives of Edmund Spenser, Shakespeare and their literary contemporaries will provide the neces- sary information. A clear statement will be found in the admirable article on Elizabethan and Jacobean literature in the revised edition of Chambers ' Cyclopaedia of English Literature. In the light of this the works of Spenser, Shakespeare and other writers of note of the period be invested with a new interest and

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN. THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN Executive of the Alumnae Association Honotary President Miss Scott President - - - .... Gladys L. Stark ist Vice President Nora Wilson 2nd Vice-President - Margery Kilmer Secretary Olive Kinnear Assistant Secretary ...... Marjory Brodie Treasurer Alice Unsworth Executive Committee : Annabel Auld, Rita Chesnut, Jean Mac- Tavish, Laura Aitken, Alice Anderson. Executive of thz Branksome Slogan Editor - - - - - - - - Theresa L. Goldie Assistant Editor Daisy Robertson Business Manager - Ethel M. Ames Assistant Busi?iess Manager . . . . Muriel Robertson Cover Design Ediih Clarkson CONTENTS PAGE A FOREWORD Miss Scott - 5 EDITORIAL - - 6 THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION - The President - 7 THE ORIGINAL BRANKSOME HALL Jem MacTavish 9 THE LADY OF THE LAMBS ------ 11 ONE NIGHT 12 AUSTRALIA Gladys Cross - 12 CHARACTERS IN HORSES 15 LOST ------- Jean Ross - 16 THE PRESENT GIRLS 18 HOUSE NOTES - - - - I9 THE SONNET OF A SEASICK SOUL - - - - 21 THE CO-EDS - - - - - - - - - - 22 PERSONALS - : - - 23 IN MEMORIAM - 25 READING CIRCLE OF ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION - 26 NOTICES The Branksome Slogan is published bi-annually— Christmas and Midsummer. Subscriptions, 25c per copy, are payable to the Business Manager, Miss Ethel M. Ames, Glen Stewart, Kingston Road, Toronto. Contributions from Girls Past and Present will be gladly welcomed by the Editor. Miss Theresa L. Goldie, The Gore, Ayr, Ont.