Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA 25 THE NEW HALL Last summer on leaving school we realized that we were look- ing for the last time on our old Assembly Hall, stage and class- rooms; though strange to say we were not exactly sad at the prospect of the change. On our return we found an even greater improvement than we had expected. The class-rooms were entirely dififerent and the workmen were also putting the finishing touches to a new Hall, much larger than the old one, and to a magnificent new stage, in style inclining to the Elizabethan. On entering the Hall door, one is immediately impressed by this stage, its green curtain contrasting with the cream of the walls, and the curve of a Pros- cenium arch echoing the graceful sweep of the broad marble steps in front (unfortunately the latter are really wood) ; below the stage are large property rooms in which to change and to fortify our complexions against the efi ' ects of rose, amber or mauve over- head lights, which are aided by floods reflecting on to a horizon wall. On its completion His Excellency opened the Hall with a short speech, in which among other things he made us realize that in future our dramatic performances must be of a very high stand- ard to be worthy of our setting; and what seemed much more important to us, gave us a half-holiday in honour of the occasion. — B. Sifton! MUSIC NOTES This year the number of music pupils has increased so much that Miss Tipple has been unable to teach them all. Miss Gertrude Haire has taken over the instruction of the younger ones. When the hall was enlarged last summer a new music room and practice room were added. We now have five pianos on which we may practise. The new music room is much larger and brighter than the old one and the new room has added greatly to the plea- sure we get from our lessons. Last year the Senior Music Prize was won by Elizabeth Kenny. The Intermediate Prize was awarded to Jean Dunlop, while the Junior was presented to Joy Armstrong.

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24 SAMARA Kitty Gordon has been travelling in Europe and is expected here in June for the closing. Our latest news of Mrs. Shirley Woods (Catherine Guthrie) is that she has a little son born on the tenth of May. Congratula- tions, Catherine! Mrs. F. C. Chiswell (Nora MacCarthy) is living in London, England, but was in Canada on a visit to her parents last summer. Sue Houston and Dorothy Peck have been running a branch of Miss Scarthe ' s Giftshops of Toronto, here. It is called Cargoes. Julia MacBrien is in London studying Dramatic Art at the Royal Academy. Sybil Rhodes paid a visit to Ottawa at Christmas time, but she is back in Halifax now. Luella Irvin and Betty Toller were at MacDonald College until Christmas. Since then Luella began a business course in Ottawa, and Betty is studying dancing and doing library work in Toronto. Betty Smart, Jean Finnic and Isobel Wilson are taking private lessons in Ottawa. Olive Wilson is Secretary of the Twentieth Century Women ' s Liberal Club. She leaves to spend the summer abroad early in June, with her aunt. Just before going to press we learned with great regret of the death of Senator Bostock. We wish to extend our sincere sym- pathy to Ruth. --M.J.W. ELMWOOD E Is for energy which we all have got L Is for Latin Well! I ' d just as soon not, M For Matric which we must one day take W For weeping that comes in its wake. O Is for officers and captains we prize O Is for Orders from Prefects so wise. D Is for day girls we ' re all very good And all put together these lines spell ELMWOOD. — Jean Workman, IVb.

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26 SAMARA Mr. Puddicombe has very kindly presented two medals. One for the best music pupil in the school and one for the girl who has made the most progress. Last year musical evenings were instituted at which the boarders who learned music demonstrated each month to Mrs. Buck and the Staff, the improvement they were making. Janet Southam and Jean Dunlop, who is also being taught by Mr. Puddicombe this year, obtained encores at the two musicals we have had so far. A system has been started this year by which every girl gets a gold star for each lesson which is well prepared. A clear month of gold stars makes a red star for the house. This year we have been very fortunate — we were able to hear Edward Johnson, Jacques Thibaud, The English Singers, Rach- maninoff and Katherine Meisle. Miss Margaret Deneke ' s lec- ture on Shumann was extremely interesting. Katherine Goodson ' s and Gertrude Huntly ' s concerts were also enjoyed very much. — M.G. and C.W. DRAMATIC NOTES Elmwood has always taken a special interest in dramatics and has been noted for its activity along this line. Under the excellent guidance of Miss Margaret Challis and due to her untiring efforts, four plays have been completed throughout the school this year. The beginners are not included in this, because they do not give a perfo rmance in costume their first year. Two of the boarders most interesting evenings were two Musical and Dramatic entertainments. The first was presented before Mr. and Mrs. Buck and the Staff, while at the second we had as our guests Mrs. Harry Southam and Miss Edna Thackray. Every boarder contributed something to the evening and many performed twice. In contrast with the bright, quick play of The Merry Wives of Windsor which the Seniors did last year, they are this year doing the more tragic play of The Merchant of Venice . They are also putting on a comedy The Poetasters of Ispahan , which is very different from last year ' s tragedy of X = 0 .