Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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18 The Branksome Slogan nothing but reliable information about other countries, — read as much as possible, and travel as widely as you can. Only in this way will you come to understand and sympathize with the problems, worries and fears of the various nations, and they with yours. Only by interchange of opinions and co-operation will the peoples of various countries be prevented from rushing blindly at one another ' s throats, impelled by suspicion, jealousy, and ignorance. Realize that the glorious work of bringing about a better understanding between nations is yours. Leave it to others and it will never be done. When each one of us begins to grasp this fact and to become really broad-minded, — then, and only then, may we begin to hope for and to merit a happier, more under- standing, and consequently peaceful world. Remember always that true civilization is built, not by the mass-effort of the mob, but by the united, whole- hearted efforts of each individual working intelligently towards a common goal. KATHARINE CANNON (Clan Ross). The School Library Within the last three years there has been a great revival of interest in reading at Branksome. This is due to the extension of our library, made possible by Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Thompson and the Alumnae, who endowed a section in memory of Dora Olive Thompson, thus making it possible for us to secure a considerable number of interesting and readable books. We are, of course, in constant need of more and more new books, and two plans have been devised to meet this demand. One of these is the holding of Library Day , which is now an annual event of the school year. On this day the girls bring books they have read and would like to see in our library, or the price of a new book. The other plan is in connection with the endowment of the new shelves that have been put up in the common room. By this plan, any present or former pupil or friend of the school may, by the payment of one hundred dollars, endow a shelf with a brass plate bearing the name of the donor placed above it. Several of these shelves have already been provided for, besides two new sections, one devoted to religion, donated by Miss Read, and another section, endowed by one of our old girls, Susan Smith. This year, the space given to our library has been extended. The adjoining south room has been added and also part of the common room. All three of these rooms are used by the senior pupils for morning study. Although our library is not yet as large as we could wish, yet we have a great variety of interesting books, and one of the most pleasant places in which to spend a quiet hour is the Branksome Library. ELEANOR BIRKETT (Clan Campbell).

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Few people realize the full importance of the menace which is today creeping insidiously upon us — the danger of losing all individuality and becoming completely obscured and absorbed into the maw of the mob. I am not speaking so much of the spreading Nazi regime and like movements, which quite obviously spell death to individual powers and rights, as of those smaller, more insignificant and consequently more dangerous organizations which are gaining so alarmingly fast both in strength and number. We have fallen into the lazy way of conducting our charities, deciding our politics, bringing up our children, and even doing our thinking in groups. In so doing, we are beginning to lose all faith in our own individual ideas and efforts, and to place all trust in the judgment of the mob. Rob man of his ego — of his sense of responsibility and importance in the scheme of society, and he loses all efficiency, keenness and incentive to work. He becomes merely one of a great group, ready and willing to leave every matter of importance to the decision of the rest . They, in turn, evade the issue so that many vital problems are left permanently unsolved. Avoid this state of mind. Break away from the herd. Think your own thoughts — plan your own actions, and never weakly cast away ideas because they have not the full approbation of your friends. There is no need to join a society in order to help the poor, or the country, or even the world. That of which the latter stands in direst need today is a little intelligent and understanding thinking on the part of the individual. People are so appallingly narrow-minded. They declare that they hate certain foreigners because they have heard through a friend of a friend that they are dirty, treacherous, unkind to their animals, or something equally absurd. And then they have the supreme audacity to run about clamouring for Peace, when all the time they are doing their utmost to promote the opposite. Never let yourself be influenced by these idle babblers. Surely most wars are caused by ignorance and urged on by false propaganda. Believe 17

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El Mejico Long hours spent in lazy sleeping, scanty meals and occasional work comprises the usual day of most Mexicans. They rise very early before or with the sun so that they can do their work before the heat gets too intense. Most Mexicans have a few acres where they raise their own food and some to sell at the big market. They labour in these fields all morning until about eleven, when they go home to lunch. All their meals are very much alike and there is no discrimination between the type of food eaten morning, noon or evening. Hot tamales, chili, peppered omelets, pomegranates and any other highly seasoned foods are what they like. When the noon-day meal is over, everyone in the little adobe huts lies down for a siesta. Shops are closed and the whole city sleeps peacefully for a few hours. When the sun begins to go down about four o ' clock, the city market opens and all the nearby farmers bring in their vegetables, shawls, rugs, poultry, woven baskets, pottery or whatever they are going to sell, and set up their wares in little individual stalls. Barter is often used because very little money is in circulation among the poorer people, and what few pesos they do have, they hoard for taxes. When the market closes they pack what they haven ' t sold on their little grey burros and start for home. Mexicans live by the sun, and so it seems very natural that when the civilized nations first invaded Mexico, their chief god was a sun god. Mexico is not a very progressive country and never will be until the poorer people, who make up a large portion of the population, are educated. Until then, the Mexicans continue with their pleasant, monotonous life and refuse to be disturbed. BARBARA TEMPLETON, Form II B. 19