Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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28 THE BRANKSOME SLOCIAN CATHERmE BRESHKOVSKY One of the most interesting political prisoners whom the over- throw of Czardom liberated was Catherine Breshkovsky, ' ' The Little Grandmother of the Enssian Revolution. Though belonging herself to the wealthy class, she felt keenly the injustice of the peasants ' lot in Russia. Disguised as a peasant she went from village to village, sharing the hardships of the most downtrodden class in Europe, and trying to kindle in their liearts the fires which burned in her own. She was incarcerated many times and spent, in all, thirty-five years of her life in prison or in exile in Siberia. No one- was more active than she ill sowing the seeds of revolt against Romanoff despotism, and, when the dynasty was overthrown, she returned to Petrograd. Madame Breshkovsky had served the cause of liberty too long to tolerate the Bolshevism there. She escaped from Soviet-ruled Russia, and is now preparing for the regeneration of her country by enlisting the world ' s sympathy and support for its destitute children and war orphans. It was to collect money for orphanages in Russia that Madame Breshkovsky visited America, and, while in Toronto in June, 1919, we v ere fortunate enougli to have a short visit from her at the school. The girls formed a guard of honor on either side of the driveway, and, after giving three cheers and a tiger for Madame, presented her with a bouquet of roses. Standing on the steps of the motor, Madame Breshkovsky spoke briefly on education in this country, saying how fortunate Canadians were to live in a land where opportunities for learning were within the reach of everyone. Those of us who saw her will not soon forget the heroic figure of Breshkovsky, of whom an eminent man once said, ' ' My ideals of courage, fortitude, and self- sacrifice were raised for all time, and raised by the hand of this vomaii.

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THE BRANKSOMi: SLOGAN 27 SCHOOL NEWS A eoiiipetition in Swedish and Tactics between the different classes took place on May SOtli. Forms IV. and V. came first in Tactics, and Form II. came second. The Intermediate was first in Swedish and Miss Johnston ' s Foi-m second. On June 10th, Miss Hamilton presented prizes won by the Juniors in Dancing- Class. (Jeneral Pi ' oficiency Mary Andei ' son Pantomime Audi ' ey Banks Improvement Marjoi-ie Watson Minuet SheiJa Lee, Madeleine Mara On Wednesday, December 3rd, an evening ' s entertainment was given by Jean Slieafe, Mary Hendrie, Fi ' ancis Wiser, Isabel Ross, Margaret Pliippen, Helen Chitty, Susan Ross and Violet Mulock. Tableaus wei ' e shown of nineteen advertisements. Catherine Dewar Avon first pi ' ize for guessing tlie greatest number coi-rectly, and Nancy AVriglit and (loldie McLauclilin drew foi ' tlie second prize which was then Avon by CJ oldie McLauchlin. On December ]7th, prizes were presented in the Junior Dancing Class for the best work, the first to Dilhvyn Warren, and the second to Mary Anderson. There was a competition in Flag Drills on March 5th, between the four Forms, Forms IV. and V. of the Junior School, the Intermediate, and Form I. of the Senioi School. The competition Avas Avon by the Intermediate Class. In the last Victoiy Loan Essay Competition, thi ' ee Branksome girls Avere successful in cai-i ' ying off medals, Gladys Munro (Form HI), Goldie McLauchlin (Form II), and Dorothy Harding (Form II). On Tuesday, March 30th, there was a Physical Training Compe- tition in wands between Forms II, III, IV and V Juniors, and the Intermediate, in which the Intermediate Avon. There was also a competition between Forms II, III, IV (S), IV and V of the Senior School in dumb-bells. This Avas won by the Forms IV and V Line. THE DANCE Quite the CA-ent of the year w as the dance given by Miss Read for the House Girls of Forms IV. Special, IV., and V., Saturday even- ing, November first. Dancing took place in the gymnasium, and sup- per Avas served in the French Plouse, both being decorated for the occasion. The guests included the prefects of St. Andrew ' s and Upper Canada Colleges, and some of those Avho came to town for the McGill-Varsity Rugby match. Twelve o ' clock came all too soon, and brought to an end one of the most popular pai ' ties Branksome has ever had.

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Tin: ivKAXKso.AiK sl()(;ax 29 A CHRISTMAS DINNER Tlie sinall iiiining- eanip Avas in no great danger of liaving a Cbi ' istnias without snow. For three or four weeks tlie trail that led up the steep mountainside liad been closed by it, and the only letters that entered the camp were brought in by some pei ' son with a strong will and a plenteous knowledge of snowshoes. The few remaining trees, which the woodman ' s axe had spared, were bowed under their great load of snow. Do not let this give you the impi ' ession that tliei ' e was want in the camp. There was plenty of ' ' grub, the fuel supply was abund- ant, and evei ' yone possessed the amount of clothing necessary in such a place. Jack, the son of the boss, a healthy lad with a fi-eckled face and cuily black haii , was looking out of the Avindow of his cabin home at the wintry scene. He was not missing the Clnistnuis shopping, the sti ' eets bright with holly, the gloiy of the shoit-lived toys that do so much to nudve the life of a city boy happy, lie was not a city boy, and it was something else that had made his eyes brim with tears, until the view before him was one gi ' eat, white blur. His mother moved quietly al)out the room; the sobs of his sister, Crace, only intensified the silence that filled the cal)in. Three days befoi ' e there had been a cave-in at the mine, and, when file cal)le I ' cached the surface on its last trip, only five men w ere clinging to it. Jack, vv ' ho Avas sorting ore a short distance aAvay, did not I ' ecognize his fatlier anu)ng them, and realiz( d, therefore, that he had eithei ' been killed by the cave-in, or Avas a living pi ' isoner in the mine. Having been brought up in a hard school, and trained to man- hood long before his time, he did ]U)t begin at once to ciy, as many b oys woidd have done, but rushed to the men who had just come up from the mine, shouting, ' ' Where ' s Dad! One of the minei ' s, putting a comforting arm about him, said, Don ' t worry, my boy, A e ' ll get him out. He ' s safe; he Avas on the fourth level, and the ground ' s safe thei-e. AVe ought to be able to get him out in thi ' ee or four days. The boss is a strong man; and there is plenty of air and Avater on that level. That had been three long days ago. Come here, sis, Jack called, and led his sister into the next ] ' Oom. NoAv, look here, l:e said, I ' m going to tell you a secret, but you must fii ' st promise me that you Avon ' t tell a soul. Oh, lu) ! Jackie! Truly, I Avon ' t! she said, proud to be taken into her big brother ' s confidence. Well, said Jack, There ' s no one rouiul here can climb better that I can, the shaft ' s pretty neaily opened up, and I ' m going to take Dad ' s Christnms dinner to him. Noav, this is Avhere you conu in. Dad loves nu)th.ei ' ' s. mince pies, and you must get oiu of them, and anything else you think he ' d like, put it all in a gunny sack, and leave it in the Avoodshed Avhere I can get it tonight.