City Park Collegiate Institute - Park Bench Yearbook (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada)

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46 THE PARK BENCH SCCMXL Back to School. Boy, that was a thought when we started last fall, wasn't it? But when we thought of the social life it wasn't so bad. lt didn't take long for the S.R.C. to get crackin ' either. After a week of hectic torture the Senior Masters let go their holds on the Freshie victims and showed the First Formers how to give out with the hot stuff. tlt says here.D The Freshies however, found they weren't absolutely free from care because the annual function wouln't be complete without Freshie Court to punish all the bad 'uns for should we say democratsl. Title of Rebel Number One went to our most prominent and welcomed freshie, Mr. MacKinnon tspelled with an A. The McKinnons were horse thieves.l So ended the night, and initiation for the First Formers who went home to sweet dreams of revenge three years hence. The juniors must have liked their first frolic because they rushed right back through mid-November weather for more ibut prontoll when the First and Second Year Dance was announced. The kids all came stag but it didn't take long for the gals and guys to get acquainted after the novelty dances came round. That old one- year veteran Murray Cuddles Caswell lead the kids a super time, and the new recorder worked itself into a sweat trying to keep sending out the sweet and hotf'. While the hep cats took the pause that refreshes , City Park's newly organized Swing Orchestra demonstrated what could be done with a lot of hot air and brass. Thinking that young 'uns were getting ahead of them, the seniors took over a gaily decorated auditorium a few weeks later. Blue and white streamers hung from the windows and lights, and similarly decked baskets displayed proudly the newly won rugby and soccer cups when the third and fourth year gang gathered. The pulsing rhythm of the luke Box stopped only while the couples ran a neck and neck race for Topsy- and doughnuts. lncidentally did you hear that certain young man say, Now l've seen everything, when he saw rival Cin jivel Cliff Anton trucking on by. tDid he mean it, or was it professional jealousy?D The whole student body gathered for the last dance of the first term. All the Brain Children dragged themselves away from the printed page and let loose under lack Shaver's not too careful guidance. Intermission came all too vite but it was appreciated when chocolate milk and delicious doughnuts were served. The kids listened to the sweet music of our second Glen Miller orchestra. Then we were dreamily waltzing or cannily jiving to the Iuke Box, filled with the dapperest selection of top band records, until wearily, but very happily we gathered our coats to depart. The first and second years again went into the lead, starting off the social events of the new term with their second party. Unluckily for the slaving conveners, tlrige kids didn't turn out very well for the jive session, but those who did had a good time anyhow and Wolf Caswell dragged himself away from the femmes long enough to keep things moving. The Alumni found a change in the arrangements for their big night. This year, due to the conspicuous absence of those strange four wheeled conveyances, the Big Bugs decided that there would be no glad rags worn at the dance, so the grads came strictly informal. Mrs. MacKinnon, Miss Wilson, and Miss Andreasen kindly lent their patronage to the gala affair. Dave Pugsley's orchestra was beating it out from the maroon and gold shell-like enclosure which matched the streamers on the windows and lights, Yes, the Alumni certainly had an enjoyable return visit to the old school . For their second dance of the year the third and fourth year boys took compas- sion on the girls, gave them a break, and made it a Sadie Hawkins' dance, The girls readily took advantage of their superiority and any of the slower ones found

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THE PARK BENCH 45 As the choir was very large at the first of this year, the back rows were naturally inclined to be restless tbeing girls had something to do with it, no doubtl. But Mr. Bedford again coped successfully with the chatter. And with hard work we presented the operetta The Dragon of Wu Foo. tsee operettal. As usual, the Choir Dance went cff with a bang. The girls seemed to enjoy making the boys worry once in a while. At first it was decided to include only City Park boys but evidently due to a dirth of manpower here, we had to recruit outsiders at the last minute. The long dresses of many oi the girls made a pretty picture on the dance floor. A Wurlitzer was obtained for music and the whole thing was very enjoyable. Since the choir dance the choir has shrunk considerably. It is more manageable now as most of the interested and better singers kept on, but it could do with some more. We are working hard to hold onto our laurels in the coming Festival. We have had a fine executive this year, consisting of the following: President- lean Matheson, Vice-Pres.-Lois Rayner: Secretary-Mary Davidson, Fourth Year Representative-lean Cameron: Third Year Representative-Shirley lbbersong Second Year Representative-Dorothy Smith, First Year Representative-Roberta Cole. WILLADEAN LESLIE. o DQ ricrm kj This year's operetta, THE DRAGON OF WU FOO , was under the able direction of Mr. Bedford. It played to an appreciative capacity crowd for two nights. Backed by soldiers, sailors, keepers and colorfully arrayed citizens of the City of Wu Foo, the principals chased themselves gaily in a charming old-fashioned plot. The staunch Chan tHazel Meyersl pursued his true love, Kooie Yan tShii'ley McConnelll and finally won her, despite her domineering father, twillcxdean Lesliel and despite any help received from Poo Chow tBeverly Hoqarthl the meddling old aunt. Canadian sailors playing Dragon, a magic amulet, and a worried Keeper of the Dragon, blend into the plot somewhat complicating things. Delightful music and well meant puns rounded out this entertainment, producing a welcome change from the toil of the school day. Henderson- Did you hear about my brother stepping in front of a train last night? Bell- No, what happened? Henderson- Nothing. The train was standing still. lohnny had a little book, Its leaves were white as snow. He Wrote the answers into it, So he'd be sure to know. He carried it to class with him, To help with the exam: But the teacher stood beside him And it wasn't worth a-ithing.

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THE PARK BENCH 47 very few males left after the first rush. The sky was the limit-even corsages fit might be mentioned that the most fashionable type was carrotsl were much in evidence pinned becomingly to the gentlemen's coat lapels. The labors of the Decorating Com4 mittee were certainly not in vain, and the Wurlitzer, bribed on, gave out with the beat for the young Astaires. The Casanovas gave the ruling sex that old come hither look and were nobly rewarded. That old wit A. Potts played hard to get, and com- plementarily cracked, Lead me to the slaughter, daughter , but was soon put in his place ibut fastl by Don't be funny, sonny. The Choir Dance followed close on the heels of the Third and Fourth Year Dance. The boys had to take the coy and attractive part. Dress was optional, but most of the girls tock advantage of the chance and put on their glamour gowns-and hey, fel- lows, did you ever realize before what a difference an upswept hairdo and a shim- mering gown can make. The Wurlitzer, a little temperamental at first, finally found its bearings and really got in the groove. The new attractions of the year were the popular Matinee Dances sponsored to raise funds for Red Cross and other worthy causes. They were probably the most in- formal dances of the whole year but the students expressed a favorable opinion of them in the Park Bench Poll. This social year has been the most successful in City Park's history and the students would like to express their thanks to Mr. Knight, the S.R.C., and all the others who made the dances so enjoyable. Here's hoping the following year's are just as successful. ' - BERNICE PORTEOUS. ff Tl-IE LIBRARY The City Park library, under the efficient supervision of Mr. Gryte, has com- pleted a very satisfying year, in which a number of improvements were instituted for your convenience. Among these were new shelves for the books, a new system of pamphlet files-which, incidentally, deserve more attention from the students than they receive,-a new system of stamping books, and a great many new books. Some of these new books deserve mention here: for mystery story lovers The Moonstone by Collins, and Shanghai Passage by Pease, deserve looking into: The Falcon of Eric the Red by Coblenz and The Clutch of the Corsican by Bill are good historical novels: Air Cadets should welcome the addition of Your Wings by Iordanoff, and Arctic Pilot by Gilbert, With Lawrence in Arabia is an exciting story, by Lowell Thomas, which proves the old adage that truth can be stranger than fiction. These are only a few of the good books added to the library this year. One encouraging feature of the year was the increasing use of the library by first and second year students, due, no doubt, to the new library classes. This should lead to much greater library knowledge among the students. The student librarian assistants have so generously given of their time, capably handled the administrative library routine, helped to make the library routine, and helped to make the library an integral part of the school. These students have this year constituted the Library Board:Bruce Clarke-chairmanp lean Rowlesy Margaret Thompson: lanet Culham.