Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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18 The Branksome Slogan widely-varied factors p ra of the great fieid of sport, I LJl swimming is undoubtedly one l v of the most popular and most If beneficial. From time imme- ' morial water has had an irresist- ible appeal for man and he has devised various ways and means of surmounting the waves. One of his first methods was, doubtless, to swim, and down through the ages, the aquatic art has developed, until to-day it is one of the most scienti- fic and beneficial of all exercises for the development and stimulation of mind and body. Until the past year, swimming has had, of necessity, little or no place in the athletic curriculum of Branksome. What swimming we did, had to be done out- side of the school and naturally, there- fore, could not be considered as a por- tion of the actual school life. Accord- ingly, we all hoped and dreamed that sometime, in the dim future, Branksome might boast of a pool of her o.wn and that swimming might take its proper place among the athletic accomplishments of the school. The pool, which is situated beneath the gymnasium at the west end of the school building, was begun last May and completed and opened on October 4, 1926. Sixty feet long and 30 feet wide, it is said to be the largest tank in any girls ' private schoo l in Canada. At the deep end of the tank is a splendid diving board, while the opposite end is quite shallow enough to safely accommodate those who do not swim. Although there are dressing-rooms and beautifully equip- ped sho-wer-rooms at the north end, still the natatorium has ample room along the sides and ends of the pool itself to seat the audiences for any events which may be held there. During the fall term, we had several aquatic meets into which the girls enter- ed with the enthusiastic sporting spirit which is ever typical of the school. Re- lay races between the boarders from the three houses and the day girls roused friendly competition, while various ex- hibitions of swimming and diving de- monstrated the aquatic skill of the parti- cipants. Outside of the ordinary plunge periods, weekly classes in swimming, div- ing and life-saving are held under the excellent supervision of Miss Barker and Miss Maclennan, that .we may become more proficient ourselves and render more safe the lives of others. At the close of the very successful first year of this new addition to the athletic curriculum of Branksome, we are even more deeply appreciative of its advan- tages than we were at the opening of school and we feel sure that this sport will gain in popularity and importance each succeeding year. CATHERINE McBURNEY. A Fairy Ship Riding on the sparkling, dancing waves I see A golden, shining thing that seems to be A fairy galleon, all brave with many a silken sail, A lovely meteor that leaves behind no visible trail. Thus musing, I prayed that I might seek Ever those things that aren ' t futile and weak. But look beneath the dross to find the gold Of the spirit, t hat yields return of a wealth untold. E. MAGEE, Form III.

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Edttortal HE question whether or not sports arc worthy of the place they hold in the life of a boy or girl at school or at the uni- versity is a question which a great many people are asking themselves to-day. Sports are becoming more and more highly specialized, so highly, in fact, that they often take on the appearance of a business. This should not happen — they should be essentially a relaxation from the more serious pursuits of life — but a very necessary relaxation, especially to those engaged in business or study. It is a fact discovered by the early Spartans that strength, endurance and perfect bodies can be obtained only by partaking in out-door sports; yet, in spite of this, even in schools, a large num- ber of students do not participate in the games and in later life the proportion is much larger. There are many reasons why, after leaving school, a girl or a boy might be unable to play games, but at school there arc practically none. Every school is, or should be, equipped with the requirements for games, and enough time allotted each pupil to make it possible for them to par- take in games. The saying that one hasn ' t time is a poor excuse. The lessons instilled by co- operation, team-play, quick thinking and a keen school spirit which rarely come until one is proficient at a game .will amply repay the time spent. To those who specialize in one sport only I would say that from each game one obtains different advantages, one game suplying what another lacks. There- fore, let us all partake in sports as much as we are able without letting it interfere with our business or studies and try to become good sports in both senses of the word. SHEILA LEE, Form V. 17

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A Legend of Mount Fuji OUNT FUJI, or Fuji-yama ( The Never-dying Moun- tain ), seems to be typically Japanese. Its great snow- capped cone resembles a huge inverted fan, the fine streaks down the sides giving the appearance of fan-ribs. It has been fittingly described: Fuji dominates life by its silent beauty; sorrow is hushed, longing quieted, peace seems to flow down from that changeless home of peace, the peak of the white lotus. The reference here to a white lotus is as appropriate as that of a fan, for it refers to the sacred flower of Bud- dha, and its eight points symbolize the eight intelligences of Perception, Purpose, Speech, Conduct, Living, Mindfulness and Contemplation. The general eff ect is one of religion, and on the other, a fan vast enough and fair enough to coquette with the stars and soft moving clouds. It is not then surprising tc find that legends have grown round the venerable and venerated mountain. Like so many mountains in eastern countries, it is asso- ciated with the Elixir of Life. The fame of Fuji, so an old legend tells us, reached the ears of the Emperor of China and he conjectured that Mount Fuji must yield the Elixir of Life itself. He accordingly collected his retainers and set sail for the Land of the Rising Sun. The junks rushed before the roaring winds like a shower of gold petals, but eventually the storm abated, and the Em- peror and his people saw the white splendor of Fuji rise before them. Hour after hour the procession climbed, the golden robed Emperor ever .walking in advance, until the sound of the sea was lost, and the thousand feet trod softly on the snow, where there was peace and life eternal. Nearing the journey ' s end, the old Emperor ran forward, for he wanted to be the first to drink the Elixir of Life. And he was the first to taste of that life which never grows old; but, when his company found him, he was lying on his back .with a smile upon his face. He had indeed found life eternal . . . . but it was through the way of death. MOMIJI UBUKATA. 19