Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute - Breezes Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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D. M. C. I. BREEZES 15 will he become a lasting star? Ever} ' age had its radicals, but the ques¬ tion is, do they ever reach any permanent goal of achievement? Do they impress themselves on the minds of the people? As a rule—no— yet, to compensate for each of these extremists there can be found thousands of loving, hard-working men and women who are struggling valiantly and quietly to perpetuate the maxim “Nil nisi bonum.” After all, what exactly do people mean when they say the world is getting worse? Do they mean that the morals are degenerating? Daily, youth is giving up its so-called pleasures in obedience to the dictates of experience. Love of home and parents is the strongest tie on earth, and how many young people are really severing this bond of affection so that they may go their own “sweet way?” There may be subter¬ fuges and evasions, yet the fundamentals, if deeply rooted, will remain sound. You may argue that “in days of yore” people went to church reg¬ ularly every Sunday. Do not the majority still attend? Are not the numbers of new demnominations springing up indications of a broad¬ minded, deep-thinking, and religious race? Even if you do not attend every Sabbath, can you not, to a certain extent, worship God in the great out-of-doors? It is the spirit that counts, and Nature is God’s masterpiece given to his people for their enjoyment. In this last century—and indeed it could be applied to all periods in history-—there has been great dissatisfaction concerning new customs and inventions. It is curious to see how easily the world can be swayed by popular opinion. As one innovation after another is introduced each one is invariably repudiated, yet, after a time, it becomes regarded as indispensable. The automobile, for instance, is an example of this cur¬ ious fact. Who, at first, would ride in a “horseless carriage?” Now, nine-tenths of the world have “cars” and the other tenth is contem¬ plating the purchase of a “Lizzie”—the starting post of all autoists. Soon the ever-increasing popularity of the aeroplane will cause a fresh outburst of apprehension. Then magically, ’planes will be included in the everyday routine of affairs. “Thus the whirligig of time brings in his changes,” and “Meet is it changes should control Our being lest we rest in ease, We all are changed (by still degrees, All but the basis of the soul.” Will anyone ever be quite satisfied with conditions as they are? There will always be those who disagree, and therefore the world will never be perfect. Then, too, cannot people see the vast improvements in foreign lands —China, Japan, India, and others? Could a world which is getting worse produce scholars and statesmen who are startling the world with their knowledge of international affairs? These oriental countries are by no means perfect, but notice how far they have progressed within the last century. Because there are reports of rebellion and civil war in certain districts, people say that China and India are “undesirable.” They judge the whole by a unit. Does the book “Mother India”—so severely criticized by some—advance or delay improvements in India?

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14 D. M. C. I. BREEZES evening, to bring Shakespeare before us as a man, and to eradicate the impression that he was a genius whose works were to be placed in a prominent place in a library, and left to gather dust. He succeeded wonderfully, partly by the obvious method of relating something of the great dramatist’s humble youth, but, we think, chiefly by the more novel device of telling us the circumstances connected with the writing of his first play, “Love’s Labour Lost.” Mr. Irvine seemed to favour “Othello” above Shakespeare’s other works, and he gave some good reasons for doing so. Happily for the Grade XI. students present, considerable time was spent on “Hamlet.” His opinion that Hamlet is not a philosopher may be of interest to some of the inmates of the D.M.C.I. Several other of the more outstanding plays, including comedy, history, and tragedy, were discussed. Mr. Irvine frequently recited long speeches, besides giving many minor quotations, from the plays reviewed. This was done with great effect, for he was able to bring into play the acting ability which he spent a considerable period of his life in acquiring. We must confess that during the recitation of Mark Anthony’s famous speech over Caesar’s body, we were momentarily transported to ancient Rome, and were genuinely startled on coming back to real life. We confidently believe that some hundreds of Winnipeg citizens and students learned more of Shakespeare during that evening than they knew before, and if Mr. Irvine ever comes back to our city with the purpose of lecturing, we think that he may count on seeing most of his last audience again. —H. Johnson. IS THE WORLD GETTING WORSE? NO! W ' hy should it be? As far as I can see neither the younger generation nor the older generation is showing any sign of physical or mental decay. Life is continuing its serene, inevitable course with perhaps only a little more excitement than before. One small portion of the world that is evil cannot corrupt the whole universe, and such things as petting parties should not be considered indications of per¬ manent degradation. Why, older people, themselves, admit that they can remember when “Underneath the Mellow Moon,” “two w.ere com¬ pany.” Was not this the beginning of what has just gone a little far¬ ther today? Of course! Life is primarily just the same now as it was then, and whatever changes there are will in time, together with other past history, fade into the background, and fresh worries will appear to vex the minds of pessimists. The faults of the world, as most people view them, seem to be con¬ centrated in the large cities. Crime, as reported in the newspapers, is no doubt appalling and the lurid details certainly lose nothing in the telling, but, should you judge a whole city from its worst aspect? Let us consider, for a moment, Chicago—that much maligned American city. Can you judge the standards of its population by the misdeeds of a few individuals? Will “Big Bill Thompson” be just a comet or

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16 D. M. C. I. BREEZES Does ox’ does not the modern dress of Chinese women show a healthful reaction towards antique and heathen customs? All phases of the subject must be taken into consideration. Every country has its good and its bad, yet there always has been and there probably always will be a greater proportion of the good than of the bad. But why do some people judge only from the evil they see? They do not seem to notice the good at all, and therefore they denounce every¬ thing as wicked. Why do they not see the millions of good, honest, painstaking people? Why do they not also judge from them? Why? —Frances Fox. A FEW HISTORICAL GLIMPSES you write something about Russia?” the editor of the School paper asked. I promised. Now, what is most important about any land? Is it not the people? However, before wi’iting about Russians I must explain that I do not wish to deny my own “kith and kin” and leave the impression that I am writing of my own nation. It is not so. Russia, as we know, has many different national groups. One of these is the Mennonites, a German-Dutch group, to which I belong. If the honoured staff of our “Breezes” allows, I should like to say something about our own people. Our Mennonite forefathers were called by Katherine the Great, in order to cultivate the wild steppes near the Crimean peninsula. Grass, man-high, covered the land, and wild Tartar tribes used to hover in these natural hiding-places. Many a merchant, compelled to pass this region on his way to the southei’n ports of the Black Sea, never saw his northern home again. Our ancestors knew the hardships and persecutions, in many lands, such as Holland, Switzerland, Poland, and Germany, for whenever they were not allowed to live according to their own faith and conviction, they looked foi’ward to a home in a new land. Katherine the Great’s call was accepted by a large group. Facing difficulties, but rejoicing in religious freedom and certain civil rights, they began their task. Although compelled to wander, the Mennonites have always loved the soil. Their hands moved the ploughshare, but their hearts and minds were never satisfied with material things, so long as they themselves were true to the highest spiritual ideals which had called their commun¬ ity into existence. May they long remain so ! Their work in Russia xvas crowned with success. Prosperous colon¬ ies grew up on the Molotchnaja (Milky River), on the banks of the Dnieper, and on several other rivers. Prosperity and education began to spread rapidly. Then came the last war, and the Revolution that followed. All Russia suffered, and our people not the least. Their sit¬ uation became complicated. National, social, moral and religious con¬ flicts were the order of the day. Everywhere was opposition; nothing was considered sacred. Their position became so critical, that if it were at all possible, they left the land “to seek a kinder shore.” Inspired by love and solidarity, their brethren, the Canadian Men-