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

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32 D.M.C.l. BREEZES ony of a long ride. The “saddle” is a leather “oojah,” due south of the “handlebars,” and is rather handy for sitting on when tired. A small vanity bag is fastened to the “saddle.” The “mudguards” are usually found cling¬ ing to either wheel; on the hinder one will (or should) be found a small piece of red glass—this is a bad imi¬ tation of the will o’ the wisp. The “pedals” are small pieces of rubber attached to the larger of the smaller wheels. To move this vehicle, the novice should drop into the saddle from some elevated place, seize the “handle¬ bars,” place the feet on the “pedals,” and try to run. It will be found that the running action turns the wheel which turns the other wheel, which, in turn, turns the other wheel. Having thus started, it should not be difficult to continue—if the road is downhill. Cyclists should keep to the right- hand side of the road, as it is more convenient and the air is apt to be clearer. To have the fastest vehicle on the road extend the left arm hori¬ zontally and all other vehicles will stop, or, at least, should. If the novice sets out after 4 p.m. it would be ad¬ visable to carry a flashlight, to recog¬ nize a policeman. If all these rules are strictly ad¬ hered to, the cyclist may be safe for a few minutes. (Sgd.) PEDLAR. EDWARD GILLIES Ed Gillies, Room 6, who may justly be styled Chief Staff Artist of “Breez¬ es” 1930-31, is deserving of liberal praise for his many excellent posters, blackboard sketches and other artistic contributions which have gone far to promote the success of our year book and other school activities. We wish him continued pleasure and profit in his art. LET ’S GO! Recreation, in the form of physical exercise or of play, is an essential means of restoring poise and tone. It is here that the brain worker has an advantage over the so-called man¬ ual laborer, for he can turn with re¬ lief to physical activity, whereas the manual laborer cannot turn as read¬ ily to mental activity. The reason for this is that many kinds of man¬ ual labor are wrongly called so be¬ cause they require a considerable amount of alertness, decision and dex¬ terity involving more brain activity than some kinds of clerical work, which are largely routine. Also, phys¬ ical weariness affects the nervous sys¬ tem and makes the brain incapable of strenuous mental effort. At the close of a day’s work physical ex¬ haustion has usually reached such a degree that little advantage can be taken of educational opportunities. Therefore we have the tendency of workers to resort, in the leisure hours, to amusements that entertain a pas¬ sive mind, rather than those which demand one’s attention. The “picture shows” owe their great popularity over that of the drama and the con¬ cert not merely to cheaper prices and “lowbrow tastes,” but to the tired bodies and the strained nerves of the audience. Mental fatigue, arising from mo¬ notony and a lack of interest in life is accountable for the resort to forms of excitement like betting and gam¬ bling, or to narcotics as tobacco and alcohol. Alcohol presents a means of escape from irksome conditions of life. It is notable that drinking and gambling are resorted to by those who are either too tired or too bored to be able to occupy their leisure in more beneficial forms of enjoyment. However, let’s have freedom in ex¬ citement—even at the expense of sys¬ tem or uniformity. Why should we

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D.M.C. I. BREEZES 31 “Are you the guy what ’phoned from the drug-store for a cop?” he demanded of George. “Yes. I wanted you to help me hold a pickpocket, but he’s gone.” Seeing the look of blank amaze¬ ment upon the face of the officer, he hastened to pour out his tale. As the story drew to a close, the look of amazement on the face of the police¬ man gave place to one of scorn. “Why, ya ham, that guy wasn’t no detective. No more’n you are. Just a minute, and I’ll ’phone the station and see if there is anyone there by that name.” In a few minutes he returned. “Nope. No one there by that name at all. Tough luck,” he said, grinning. PETS Having heard of the abominable way in which pets of various kinds are being treated in these barbarous days, we have decided to give a few hints to the rising generation. Origi¬ nal minds will have chosen the rarer kinds, and it is with these that we propose to deal. To begin with, white mice, being subject to fierce attacks of hypochon¬ dria, if cooped up, should be allowed to wander freely through the house, and sit at the table with the rest of the family. Guinea-pigs, however, should be kept secluded in boxes for one, tea for two being strictly prohibited. Also tails should be cultivated so that after their weekly wash they may be hung out to dry. Tortoises, being subject to adipos¬ ity, are very sensitive about their appearance. Therefore, hurdles should be erected on the front lawn for their benefit. Monkeys should be provided with ukuleles, treated as members of the family and venerated as noble an¬ cestors. As goats are exceedingly delicate, Dr. Chase’s Nerve Food should be ad¬ ministered. If kept in the attic, the continual ascending and descending of the stairs will keep them athletic. If hives for beekeeping are too ex¬ pensive, perforated buckets will serve admirably. The mellifluous insects may be enticed, by holding a roasted sausage over the buckets, whilst plaintively whistling “Where the Bee Sucks”—their national anthem. Birds should be kept chained in kennels and fed on lentils and cold rice pudding. To capture these ani¬ mals, either shoot them (in which case they probably will never sing again), or lasso them. Tadpoles should never be washed, as it is injurious to the complexion, but should be allowed to graze on the lawn for at least half the day. To prevent them becoming frogs, stew them—they make excellent soup. PETTY. CYCLING To cycle is to proceed upon a bi¬ cycle, and a bicycle is a machine hav¬ ing two wheels, the hinder of which is propelled by turning the legs about a third wheel so that another smaller wheel connected to the small wheel by a chain turns around the large back wheel. Possibly! We will, how¬ ever, amend this statement by say¬ ing that a bicycle is (as the name does not imply) a machine with four wheels. However, the novice should have a clear idea of the names given to the various spare parts. To begin with, the “handlebars,” a piece of twisted metal, are situated in a convenient position to be grasped occasionally, to prevent the rider from falling off. The “bell,” attached to the “handle¬ bars,” has a trigger which, when pulled, causes a shrill sound to be emitted—this will break the monot-

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D. M.C. I. BREEZES 33 be told how to spend our leisure time ? As a people we, like our triends to the south, are largely faddists in rec¬ reation. At first it is the professional, then the amateur, then the ridiculous, goofy golf, table tennis, now yo-yo. Anything for diversion and immedi¬ ate excitement. No blame to us. We need it. Recreation must be pursued somehow and somewhere, so if we cannot drink, cannot smoke, cannot read or play professional, let’s play yo-yo. It is of no use any longer asking whether one leisure or recrea¬ tion is revenue bearing. We don’t want such leisure. We play as ama¬ teurs—for the good of the sport, and our recreation is a diversion of spon¬ taneous expression of natural procliv¬ ities, or animal complexes. Hence, bludgeon the first man who speaks any longer of planning one’s leisure hours, and massacre all who would standardize recreation. It is our own sweet time to do as seemeth us well. E. H., R. 58. THE ADVENT OF MORNING The morning stars are fading fast As o’er the hills, a gleam, at last Of bright sunshine beams forth To brighten Mother Earth. The Watchman high up in his tower Has called the last long nightly hour; The nightingale in rest and ease Slumbers among the trees. The cheery lark has ta’en his flight, And o’er the world the soft, bright light Steals softly, warming all things through And drying up the dew, Until at last all things do rise; Above the dawn, high in the skies The sun in glory doth appear, Glorious, golden, clear. W. S., 58. AN APPEAL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS Fellow Canadians! Thirteen years have elapsed since mankind witnessed the most dreadful catastrophe in the history of civilization, and almost thirteen years since the formation of that most powerful peace-making ma¬ chine, the “League of Nations.” The most blood-life struggle that tried all nations had ended and resulted in the establishment of an International Peace League. Was that disaster es¬ sential to the European nations of 1914? That disaster where ten mil-