Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 30 text:

28 The Branksome Slogan A Bull Fight In the West Indies, especially in Pana- ma, bull-fights seem to be quite as com- mon as our game of rugby. As I was visiting Panama in the season of bull- fights, I decided to see one and judge for myself how cruel it really was, or whether it was much worse than rugby after all. Grasping my ticket in one hand and my precious Spanish translation in the other, I was finally shown my seat by one of the ushers, who seemed to under- stand my poor Spanish. Gazing around me with interest, my eyes fell upon the entrance into the ring of a black carriage drawn by four white horses, which came to a stand at a beau- tifully decorated box; this, I thought, must be some great personage of title. Then as the cheering arose, I saw the Governor-General of Panama step out of the carriage, followed by his family. The arrival of the Governor-General must have been the signal for the en- trance of the Toreador, for he entered the ring a moment later, and was greeted by a great shouting from the people. I was more anxious to see the entrance of the bull, and turned my gaze to where it entered by means of two heavily barred doors, which shut the bull in a small ring, while the Toreador entered. With a wave of the Toreador ' s flag, the barred doors opened and as quickly as I could see it happen, the bull was half way across the ring, charging the Toreador with all its might. I was about to scream to warn the Toreador of the bull ' s approach, but my cry died in my throat as I saw the Toreador leap lightly to the side, as the bull passed him. The next few minutes I seemed to be living in a nightmare as bull and man fought and dodged each other with skil- ful ease. The bull now seemed to be tiring of its fruitless efforts to down its antagonist, gave a mighty roar, which made my blood freeze, and leapt at the Toreador, taking him unawares. He fell to the ground bleeding, while the bull saw another chance to crush him with his dangerous horns. I noticed the Toreador, cut and bleed- ing, slowly rise to a sitting position, and reach for a small dagger hidden in his belt, and as the bull lunged towards him, he plunged the dagger with all his strength between its forelegs. The bull, with a dying roar, once more tried his attack, but another mighty plunge of the dagger, directed at his heart, caused a groan and thud to follow, and, as the bull fell to its death, the Toreador fell unconscious to the ground. I stumbled away from the ghastly scene, as quickly as I possibly could, be- ing now well convinced that I would rather see a thousand rugby games than try and look pleased and excited at a bull fight. Thus I left the gruesome scene behind, feeling that I could never see a bull again without becoming death- ly ill. HELEN MURRAY.

Page 29 text:

The Branksome Slogan 27 A Bad Fall The wind was blowing cold and raw, I got up feeling rather damp, That day was dull and wet, My books were everywhere; With books, I ventured from the school, The algebra was swathed in mud, And for my home, was set. Touch it, I ;did not dare. But as I reached the French House steps, I slipped upon some ice. And with a clumsy thud I fell. Which didn ' t feel so nice! My green umbrella, dripping wet, Was useless for that day. So I walked home through slush and rain, Like some wet dog, astray. GRACE WHEELWRIGHT. (Age 14.)

Page 31 text:

The Branksome Slogan 29 C0l The Basketball Team. The Illumination Shafts of silver, Shafts of gold, Rose and purple Lingering hold; White rushing waters. Deep roaring falls. Amber and turquoise Lighting up all. Piercing crystal, Through the night. Lights the falling Waters bright; Fast tumbling rapids Onward they roll. Lights gayly playing, Have falls a soul? WILMA BATE.