Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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28 The Branksome Slogan today, and the skirt was very full. Mama ' s gown was very elegant, for it was of brocaded silk, and there were few gowns at the party that rivalled it. The first dance of the evening was extremely pleasant, and, even though our music is not of the best, I ' m sure one of the most enjoyable in which I have ever joined. The square dances were the most popular. After dancing merrily for some time, my brother and I returned home. The snow was too deep for our carriage though, so we came home in our sleigh and pair. Why! I never realized I was writing for so long a time. It is dawn already. Dawn ! The very word contains so much, so very much, for, with this day, a new era dawns for us, and my dream of a wonderful city begins to be fulfilled. With the enthusiasm that prevails among the people the advance of Toronto will be boundless ! Trinidad Trinidad, the land of sunshine, is just off the north coast of Venezuela. The natives gave this beautiful island the name of lere, or Land of the Humming Bird , because of the large number of humming birds that inhabit it. A trip across the northern part is most interesting. Starting at Port of Spain, the capital, you can drive through the Maraval Valley by the Saddel Road where most of the time you are under an arch of bamboo trees. It is a sight no one should miss. This road leads you through the Santa Cruz Valley where on both sides you are surrounded by cocoa trees. At last you arrive at the village of San Juan, named by the Spaniards when they were in possession of the island. Now you are travelling on the Eastern Main Road with the mountains on one side and the far off plains of Caroni on the other. Three miles from San Juan is St. Joseph, best known because it was here that Sir Walter Raleigh captured and burned the town from the Spaniards. Two miles farther, St. Augustine, with its College of Tropical Agriculture, is seen, and on the distant hills, the Monastery of the St. Benedict Monks. Tunapuna is the next village and then Tacarigua with its vast sugar estates. The scenery in this region is very beautiful ; the poui blossoms are out and the hills are a mass of orange and yellow speckled with green leaves. We now pass Arima, which is the centre of the Caribs, the original natives of Trinidad. A long stretch of uninhabited country, mostly forests, lies in front of us before we arrive at Sangre Grands, the centre for the cocoa and cocoa-nut planters. We are off again and soon are passing through the famous Moira forests with its huge trees, often over a hundred feet high. The sea is in the air and we are not surprised to see huge white

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The Branksome Slogan 27 schools, for public buildings and for homes. We do right to be proud of him ! March 6th, 1834 This has been a most exciting day. It all began when word was heard that the town of York is to be no longer, and the City of Toronto has been born in its place. Everyone is so enthusiastic over the little expected honour that there have been revelry and celebrations all the day. To begin with, there was a fitting ceremony at the lovely new Par- liament buildings, when our town was officially made a city, I wondered at the time if it were possible that Colonel John Graves Simcoe, founder of Toronto, and his family, felt such a thrill of pride as I experienced when they entered the famous canvas house that was the first Government House of Upper Canada. The house had belonged to Captain Cook, and had been given by him to Colonel Simcoe ' s father. At that time, this fair city was called Toronto, and, though the meaning of the word is unknown, it, in itself, has been chosen for the name of the seat of the Government House of Ontario. With the completion of the ceremony a large number came to our home for tea. Among our guests were Chief Justice and Mrs. Osgoode, Mr. William Warren Baldwin, our noted citizen. Dr. Strachan and Mrs. Jamieson. The latter invited those present to a dance in the evening. The dance was large and the entertainment very elegant. Some of those in attendance came as far as fifty miles just for the enjoyment of one evening. Our hostess is noted for many miles around for her lovely parties and they are always well attended. The mayor, Sir William Lyon Mackenzie, was present, and also a number of the military set, and the evening was well spent in whist, dancing, chess and conversation. My brother and I left reasonably early, being the youngest present, but, as it is the general rule to dance till daylight at Mrs. Jamieson ' s, I suppose the party is continuing still. I wore a blue silk gown, with a bunch of flowers at the neck, and a bustle of blue and yellow. The bodice, of course, was tight, as all are.

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The Branksome Slogan 29 breakers dashing against the rocks. Tall cocoa-nut trees are seen all along the shore as they thrive best here. Finally we arrive at Toco only too glad to jump out and walk along the great sandy beach or sit under the cocoa-nut trees enjoying a drink of cocoa-nut water. Then for a plunge into the warm salt water. Trinidad is indeed a land of sunshine and an excellent place to spend a holiday. SALLY MORTON (Clan Campbell). Clan Talk Clans play quite an important part in our school life. Have you ever thought that they mean more than just teams for games and competitions ? In the dear, dead days, the life of a Scotsman was the life of a clansman. When Scotland had her own kings and queens, the Scottish clans played a more important part than they do to-day. The clan chieftains led their men to war to avenge the slightest wrong. Fighting was an every day occurrence. The kings and queens who sat on the Scottish throne had to depend on the support of some strong clan, for a powerful chief could, and frequently did, make or unmake a ruler. If a clan felt itself in the least insulted the members would rise . The kilted warriors, armed with bows and the great swords, called claymores, would swarm from their mountain glens at the first notes of the pibroch, the war music of the bagpipes. Blood-thirsty fights, slaughter and days of waiting and marching were all in the life of a clansman. There were no exceptions, every member of the clan was ready to go through anything for the sake of his clan. Isn ' t that an inspiring idea for Branksomites ? If you hear a word of insinuation or accusation against your clan, just take your claymore and slay the offender. CRINGAN TRIMBLE (Clan Douglas).