Brentwood College School - Brentonian Yearbook (Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada)

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Brentwood College Magazine the finest mare in England, and the Godolphin Arabian became the most famous sire in England of his period. This is sufficient to convince us that patience and kindness have their reward. All riders should develop the noble sentiment of sympathy for all dumb animals. They are here to give of their best to us and it is our privilege to see that they are not abused. Xenopiion. Speech Day ON SATURDAY, June 27, 1925, the Second Annual Speech Day took place at Brentwood College. During the early part of the afternoon various sports took place in the grounds. At four o ' clock several speeches were delivered in the gymnasium. Mr. Curtis, Chairman of the Board of Governors, said that the present year had opened with a full school, and went on to deal with the progress that had taken place during the past year. New tennis courts had been built ; new music- rooms and class-rooms were being constructed, and three playing fields were being put into shape. He mentioned the good name the College had made for itself both in work and play. Mrs. Nichol, wife of the Lieutenant-Governor, regretted that His Honour was unable to be present, because he had the interests of the school very much at heart. They had both watched the success of the School during the past two years, and gave their best wishes for its future. Dr. Ashton, Professor of Modern Languages in the University of British Columbia, in a very able address, spoke particularly to the boys of the School. He said the corner-stones of British education were unselfishness and loyalty. He asked the boys if they were happy. If they were not, they should attack the vexatious laws which existed. Each boy would find that the real enemy was him- self. The laws were made for the ultimate happiness of the boys, and many of them were the result of centuries of careful thought. To obey required a strong character, and the boy who obeyed well would be the man who commanded well. They should learn to obey, not as slaves but as freemen who knew the laws were as good for character as was exercise for the body. • The speaker asked the boys if they were proud of their School and prepared to be loyal to it. Brentwood College was nearly five hundred years old in that it was the descendant of the old British Public Schools. The boys ' duty was two- fold — to be worthy of the illustrious past and of the equally glorious future. The British public schools were more democratic in spirit than any new system he had seen on this continent. The democracy they taught was the democracy of toler- ance, of playing the game, of giving a fellow a chance when he was down — but it was not the democracy that threw overboard all principles and all decency. Dr. Ashton asked the scholars if they were grateful. They could not appre- ciate all their masters had done for them. A teacher could not count his time or Page Twenty-four

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Brentwood College Magazine Horsemanship IT is said that the horse and the dog are the two most intellectual of all animals — they certainly are the most intimate dumb friends of the average man. The horse is naturally of a shy and nervous disposition, because his natural state is one of freedom, but once he has gained confidence in his master, once he finds that his enforced captivity will not be abused by ill-treatment, then he becomes his master ' s faithful friend. Some horses are of a more vicious dis- position than others, but, practically without exception, any horse can be cured by one expedient — kindness. As far as managing a horse is concerned, some people do not seem to have the gift of riding, and even so, unless a person is keenly interested in it, then it is a decided failure, and the horse himself is the best judge of it. As soon as you mount him he knows whether he can ride you or you can ride him ' and he acts accordingly ! The good rider is he who not only thinks of the pleasure his horse provides for him, but he who thinks of the care and attention which should be given his mount in return. If a horse is treated unfairly, he will certainly take revenge. The story of the Godolphin Arabian, the founder of most of the best racing stock in England, is one of the most fascinating in equine history. This celebrated horse was sent by the Bey of Tunis to the King of France as a present and was accompanied by a Moorish slave, Agba, as groom. The French king, unaccustomed to such a finely-formed, nervous animal of which he knew nothing, as it differed so much from the heavy French stock, decided to have him sold. He was thus acquired by a drunken teamster, who put him to work in a garbage cart. Agba was separated from his charge, but he knew that though the horse was misunderstood in France, in Tunis, where king and commoner alike were horse- men, he was of great value. Agba wandered about the streets in the hope of finding the horse, to which he was greatly attached, and he was rewarded for his search late one night. He found him in one of the poorest parts of the city, in a miserable ' stable, a mass of skin and bones. He threw his arms around the horse ' s neck and with many caresses and words of endearment, proceeded to make him as comfortable as he could. While he was thus engaged, the carter approached. Scornfully rejecting Agba ' s offer to purchase the horse by a term of service, he kicked the Moor out of the stable. Agba, however, by no means gave up his purpose ; in some way and at some time so precious an animal must be relieved from his wretched situation. Meanwhile he must be cared for and his strength kept up. By sundry odd jobs about the city, he managed to pick up a little money, and with this, often stinting himself, he bought grain and medicine, and visiting the Godolphin Arabian at night, fed him and bathed his wounds. The horse changed hands many times under similar wretched conditions, but the faithful Agba always followed him. Eventually Lord Godolphin heard the story of the Moor ' s devotion and became interested in the horse and purchased him. He bred him to Roxana, Page Twenty-three

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Brentwood College Magazine measure his effort. He warned the Board of Governors that they were allowing Mr. Hope to overwork, and that the present system would ensure a Headmaster ' s funeral every five years. He advised the boys to cultivate a sense of humour — not to laugh at the weaknesses of others, but to laugh at their own — at their own conceit, self-pity, and little meannesses. And later when they decided to found a home of their own, they should choose a wife who had a sense of humour — she would need it. The Headmaster said that the College had been started on the lines of an English public school, but that it was being adapted to Canadian requirements. He said that he did not wish to discuss at length what the School had done either in class-work or in sports. He thought the School ought to be good enough not to have to boast about itself. His pet scheme at the present moment was the completion of the College Chapel, and he appealed for support from all those interested in the religious welfare of the boys. After the speeches the prizes were presented by Mrs. Nichol. School Prizes FORM PRIZES— Form V. 1st, Gray. 2nd, Nichols. Remove. 1st, Coleman ii. 2nd, Brock. Upper IV. 1st, Beairsto i. 2nd, Gilbert. Lower IV. 1st, Doherty. 2nd, Nickson. HEADMASTER ' S PRIZE FOR READING IN CHAPEL. Scott-Moncrieff. LEEDER PRIZE FOR PROGRESS IN MUSIC. Kirkpatrick. CHOWNE SCIENCE PRIZE. Hinton. WILLIAMS PRIZE, open to the whole School for conspicuous ability in Languages. Willock. CREASE PRIZE, for the encouragement of Art generally, for the best original paint- ing, drawing or etching. Playfair. CURTIS PRIZE, for conspicuous ability in Mathematics. Keeling. SCOTT-MONCRIEFF PRIZE, for the encouragement of English Literature. Roome. ANGUS PRIZE, for the encouragement of the Study of Natural Science. In the award due consideration is given to the exhibits of any boy or group of boys who have constructed working models, illustrating the application of Science to Commerce. Roome and Keeling. ONE EXHIBITION OF $100, awarded to boys who have shown the best school spirit during the year, determined by the boys, prefects and staff. Creer and Roome. YARROW CHALLENGE SHIELD AND MEDAL for Athletic and Scholastic Attainments. Eustace and Farrer. Sports Prizes Tennis Championship of College (Singles). Won by Campbell. High Jump (Junior). Won by Sills. 4 feet. High Jump (Intermediate). Won by Morrow. 4 feet 11 inches. 2nd, de Pencier. High Jump (Senior). Won by Taylor. 5 feet 3 4 inches. 2nd, Morrow. Crab Canoe Race. Won by Ruttan. Swimming Race (Junior). Won by Mowers. 2nd, Sills. Swimming Race (Intermediate). Won by Fanning. 2nd, Simpson. Swimming Race (Senior). Won by Fanning. 2nd, Haskamp. Life Saving Competition. Won by Johnson (82 100). 2nd, Haskamp (90 100). Diving Competition. Won by Doherty. 2nd, Bryden. Canoe Race (Doubles). Won by Johnson and Coleman ii. 2nd, Eustace and Coleman. Page Twenty-five