Elmwood School - Samara Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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SAMARA June 1965 SUCCESS IS NAUGHT: ENDEAVOUR ' S ALL ' - Browning

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Head Mistress Letter Dear Elmwood, Although some of the days may have seemed long in themselves, this year has gone like the v ind, hasn ' t it? Is it possible that you have completed another school year, perhaps even your 1 a s t at Elmwood? Could it really be twelve months ago that you came back from your summer holidays to see the new lockers and tennis courts, to meet so many new girls and to make so many new friends, When I turn back the pages of the diary which I have been trying (not always too successfully) to keep, I think about how much we have done and what a wonderful year it has been. Do you rememlser our week-end trip to Stratford - the sunrise as we sped along in the bus and the horses at Vickie ' s farm? There have been other highlights too: The Nutcracker Suite and My Fair Lady : Chopin at the Captial: our Christmas play and party: the bazaar for Sui Sang with all the jellied horrors of the horror-house: the Juniors ' Mardi Gras party and that bag of candies that would not burst: our visit to Cairine ' s sugar-bush: the Folk-Mass at St, George ' s and our guitars at prayers. As a background to all this there has been a constant pattern of hard work for you. Nowdays you hear much about how tough school-work is getting and what a high standard is required of students. Most of you listen and do your best; some of your best is very good indeed, for you know that pleasure and duty are two sides of one bright coin and we cannot have one side without the other. If we do con- centrate on the fun side only, sooner or later we shall regret the time that we have wasted. We often have to say No to pleasure, even when it is most attractive, if we are going to be women who have much to give rather than women who only want to get. So keep on working as hard as you can, but keep on laughing too, for the world needs all the sense of humour you can possibly give it. Here is a poem which I think you will enjoy. Remember that Balaam ' s ass stopped quite obstinately for an angel which his master, Balaam, just could not see: DONKEYS ' DELIGHT Ten mortal months I courted. Then I passed to a Master A girl with bright hair. Who is higher in repute, Unswerving in my service Trusting to find justice As the old lovers were. At the world ' s root Almost she had learned to call me With rigid fast and vigil Her dear love. But then Silence and shirt of hair. One moment changed the omens. She was cold again. For carelessly, unfairly. With one glance of his eyes A gay light-hearted Sailor Bore away the prize, Unbought, which I had sought with Many gifts and sighs. The narrow way to Paradise I walked with care. But carelessly, unfairly. At the eleventh hour there came, Reckless and feckless Without a single claim, A dare-devil, a ne ' er-do-well Who smelled of shag and gin; Before me (and far warmer Was his welcome) he went in. In stern disdain I turned to The muses ' service then, To seek how the unspeakable Could be fixed by a pen. Not to flinch though the ink that I must use, they said. Was my dearest blood, nearest My heart, the richest red. I obeyed them, I made them Many a costly lay Till carelessly, unfairly, A boy passed that way Who set ringing with his singing All the fields and lanes; They gave him their favour Lost were all my pains. I stood still in the chill Of the Great Morning Aghast. Then at last --Oh, I was late in learning- - I repented, I entered Into the excellent joke. The absurdity. My burden Rolled off as I broke Into laughter; and soon after I had found my own level; With Balaam ' s ass daily Out at grass I revel Now playing, now braying Over the meadows of light, Our soaring, creaking GLORIA, Our donkeys ' delight. C.S. Lewis Your affectionate friend and headmistress 3