Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 27 text:

The; Branksome: Slogan 25 HOUSE AND DAY SENIORS S. McEvoy E. Brydon E. Beck E. Innes M. Morley M. Brown B. Siambaugh L. Dumaresq W. Gibson E. Hamilton F. Macleod I. Mueller M. Gerrard R. Stock F. Wilson J. Sweatman M. Flaunt B. Loynes Metropolis at Midnight (As Seen from an Aeroplane) Fireflies skim ' round the feet of the high gods, Giant skyscrapers which blot out the stars ; Fireflies, that whisk through myriad caverns Tin whistled and purring, are motor cars. The sprays of glory are electric signs Thrusting rainbow fountains into the night, Arm ' ring with emeralds, rubies and diamonds Great stone structures emplumed with swirling light. ELEANOR WYLIE, Form IV (Clan Macleod).

Page 26 text:

24 The; Branksome Si ogan Our MusncKoL V ee K n dL. (February 22, 1931) This year for the third time a hilarious party of BTanksomites went to Muskoka Beach Inn for a week-end of winter sports. Under the guid- ance of Miss Smellie and Miss Faulkner about twenty girls assembled in the Union station carrying a rare and peculiar assortment of skiis, poles, snowshoes, skates, and suitcases. This excited mob was herded into an almost private car. Fortunately no babies, and no oranges were present. The trip, which took about four hours, certainly was not boring. Some whiled away the time by playing bridge. The usual collection of movie magazines was to be seen scattered around the car. Miss Read provided a substantial tea which kept us all from grim starvation. We reached Gravenhurst about half pasit nine and piled into two- horse open sleighs. The night was cold and clear, but there was a circle around the moon telling of foreboding storms which, fortunately, did not break during our sojourn. After having been received at the Inn by Mrs. Alderson we dashed to the cabins for a good night ' s sleep (which few of us enjoyed). During the week-end we filled our time with skiing, snowshoeing, toiboganning, sleigh-riding, and archery; and ourselves with the most scrumptious meals (to which we did ample justice), and fresh air. Sunday morning the Aldersons kindly provided a treasure hunt for us which lasted the whole morning. The lucky winner was Lucille Dumaresq — and the prize a box of chocolates. Sunday evening, reluctantly bidding good-bye to Mrs. Alderson, we clambered into the sleighs. On our return to Gravenhurst we invaded the station and demanded food. After this we grabbed berths and went to bed. A certain party ' s pyjamas suf- fered somewhat from the rough treatment received from some impish girls. And then Monday morning ! Taxis — and everybody in a daze ! A subdued, and very sleepy week-end party quietly returned to school dragging the paraphernalia which had been so gaily carried before. KATHERINE LEA (Clan McLean).

Page 28 text:

26 The Branksome Si ogan Minnetonkah and Waukegan Stand Rock, once see , is a sight to be remembered forever by anyone who admires the glory of nature and loves the romance of legend. It stands a mere four and a half feet from the mainland in one of the many lakes of Wisconsin. It is fifty feet high and its diameter measures not more than three feet in any place. At the top it suddenly spreads out and there is a table-Hke surface about five feet across. Jagged rocks and treacherous eddies form a dangerous base to this phenomenon of nature. Ivy climbs up its sides and tall pines on nearby cliffs cre,ate a background of green for the grey monster. Surrounded by the fresh green of untouched forests, beaten into its strange shape by the storms of untold centuries, this proud and lovely rock is made still more won- derful by the haze of romance which many strange legends have given it. There is one in particular I would have you hear — the tale of Minne- tonkah and Waukegan. This legend, like so many others, is one of love and sorrow. Minnetonkah was an Iroquois maiden held captive by the great Algonquin tribe. In the battle, during which she had been taken, young Waukegan, the son of the Algonquin chief, had proved his mettle as a warrior, bringing back more scalps than any other young man. As Minnetonkah was the daughter of the Iroquois chief, it was thought that she and Waukegan, both being of high birth, would soon become fast friends. But whether Minnetonkah was too grieved to notice Waukegan, or too proud to have a friendship forced upon her, or perhaps too mindful of her tribe ' s disgrace to unbend before a foe, in any case, friendly she would not be. For many months she kept herself aloof, made no friends, and thought only of her home in the east. But, indeed, she was only human, and at length she began to notice Wau- kegan. Once begun, this friendship flourished rapidly. Joy was in every heart but that of old Chief Keokuk. He could not bear the thought of an enemy girl as the squaw of his beloved son. As Minnetonkah and Waukegan became more and more attached to each other, the rage of old Keokuk increased. At last the lovers were forbidden to meet and had to do so secretly. They chose as their trysting spot a small cavern which had two openings — one not far from the village and the other opposite Stand Rock. It was inevitable that Keokuk should hear of this retreat, and on the evening he made the discovery, he determined to part the two forever. With a few followers he entered the opening nearest the village. He did not creep stealthily but walked boldly, talking in a loud, angry voice. In this way he unwittingly warned the lovers. While knowing of their peril, they could think of no way to escape it. The cliff above and below was bare and steep, and only Stand Rock re- mained as a possible refuge. Keokuk was almost upon them before they determined to risk the perilous jump. With help from Waukegan, Minne- tonkah landed safely, but, alas ! just as the brave warrior was about to follow