Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

Page 14 text:

12 SAMARA is with great pleasure that we print the following letter instead of the usual editorial — g.b. My dear Elmwoodians, This brief letter is in response to a request from your representatives on the Magazine Committee that I should write a foreword to the Magazine. The request was so charmingly put that I just could not find it in my heart to refuse although all sorts of excellent excuses came to my mind! If what I want to say gets somewhat mixed up with examinations, Matriculation Forms and the many other end-of-the-year matters, do not be surprised! Actually I have had rather a guilty feeling myself for a long time that I ought to do something for the Magazine besides exhorting others to write for it. First, I want to thank you all for the happy year you have given me — because it has been a very happy one — and I should like to think each one of you can say the same. Here are some of the things that have made it specially happy for me: — All the friendly smiles I receive during the day; the special ones at Morning Assembly; those that greet me at the door, or escort me down the path. My lessons in the Senior Form room: My visits to the Preparatory — and to everyone in between! The times when you rise to the occasion in the true Elmwood way. The stripes and decorations you wear which tell the story of your Service. The look in the eyes of so many girls which makes me know that Elmwood is safe in their hands, and — The letters I receive from many of you who no longer wear the green tunic, but keep the Elmwood spirit. Thank you again for it all! Writing this as I do during these Jubilee days, I cannot be unmindful of that wave of loyalty and affection, which is sweeping through the Empire and being carried literally to the utmost corners of the earth. As I think of that wonderful procession and those cheering thousands all the way from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul ' s, the picture that stands out most clearly before my eyes is the Royal figure passing by. The figure of one who has for twenty-five years devoted himself to ' Kingly Service , doing bravely and unfalteringly a King ' s work and by his side the Queen, both regarding their lives as belonging wholly to their people and bearing about with them wherever they go the infection of a good courage . What a tradition of Service! I would ask you to remember that it is given to you to make traditions as well as to uphold them, and to do this you must keep the vision splendid ever before your eyes, so that when the opportunity comes you too may be ready to offer to your generation the service of your lives, and carry on that great tradition — save he serve no man may rule — which is perhaps the most enduring quality of the British character. My love to you all! Affectionately yours.

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SAMARA 11 THEIR MAJESTIES ' SILVER JUBILEE ON Monday, the sixth of May, we celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of King George ' s accession to the throne. Twenty-five years ago our monarchs were crowned king and queen of The British Empire in Westminster Abbey. Now, twenty-five years later, King George and Queen Mary hold the undying affection and loyalty of their people. On Parliament Hill, Ottawa, there was an impressive ceremony marked with as much enthusiasm, joy and devotion as in any other part of The Empire. The great crowds, the colour of military uniforms, the gay flags, the booming guns and patriotic music has all disappeared ; but the spirit of love and faith which animated the celebration remains as strong as ever. The King, speaking by wireless to all people flying the British flag, thrilled his listeners with a heart-felt message. His speech ended with the words of Queen Victoria, used after the Diamond Jubilee thirty-eight years ago, which, he said, could not express his own deep feelings more truly or simply From my heart I thank my beloved people; may God bless them . Canada ' s contribution to the Jubilee is in the form of a fund, inaugurated by their Excellencies to fight the deadly disease of cancer in the Dominion. We wish this movement all the success that such a worthy cause truly deserves.

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SAMARA 13 Retool iSoteg CHIS is Jubilee year. Elmwood, through Samara, voices its loyal homage to Their Majesties King George and Queen Mary on the completion of twenty-five years of their reign. The concluding lines of A Prayer for the King ' s Majesty written by John Masefield, the Poet Laureate, most fittingly express the desire of all our hearts : — God, vouchsafe him many years, With all the world as Britain ' s friend; And Britain bright among her peers With wisdom that can never end. ' ' Long live the King! We should like to thank Her Excellency the Countess of Bessborough for her kindness in coming to give away the prizes at the School Closing last June. We are also most grateful to her, in view of her busy life, that she should have spared time this year to attend the performance of March 11th by the senior dramatics class. Her Excellency has shown a keen interest in Elmwood since first coming to Ottawa; for the past two years Lady Moyra has attended classes here, and she has frequently entertained groups of the girls; may we here thank them for all their kindness, and assure them of our regret at their leaving Canada, and our vivid remem- brance, in years to come, of their happy connection with Elmwood. Before commenting on this year ' s events, we should like to mention that an extremely enjoyable School Dance was held at Elmwood last June, at which our guests numbered about 80. All the arrangements were carried out most efficiently by a committee of the girls, with Mrs. Buck as Advisor-in-Chief. We give hearty welcome to all those who have joined the staff this year: Miss Elliott, Miss Belford, Miss Bartram; Miss Mac- Callan, who returned to Elmwood as Nurse-Matron; new visiting teachers, Mrs. Letts, Miss Cottee, and Miss Bradford; and Mr. H. Puddicombe, who, since Miss Tipple is now devoting herself to us as House-Mistress, instead of directing our musical studies, has become our revered professor of music. Miss MacBrien, our highly gifted dramatics mistress, is to be married in June to Pat Murphy. We wish her every happiness, and we are delighted to know that she will still be available to train our efforts in the histrionic art. Some months ago we were given a most delightful addition to the school reference library. This was twelve volumes on the Smithsonian Scientific Series, presented by Lady Kemp, in the name of Cynthia and Virginia Copping. They make an imposing array, and are a mine of interesting information. We shall value highly this generous gift from Lady Kemp and her daughters.