Glebe Collegiate Institute - Lux Glebana Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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UX GLEBANA XQ,',m- wo CARS were gaily skimming along the highway, and to their joyous occupants there came the realiza- tion that at last they were to see some of the beauties of provinces other than their own, and that the prospect of reaching and lingering in the charm and tang of Nova Scotia was to be theirs. By way of explanation, the cars belonged to my father and his brother, who were taking their respective families to their old home town for the holidays. Eagerly the passengers caught the frequent glimpses of the sparkling St. Lawrence as the road led up the cliffs to Quebec, and curiously they discussed the gay splashes of colour in the forms of hooked-rugs on sale at most of the French homes. The proud old citadel of Quebec lived up to and surpassed its fine repu- tation, whether viewed while crossing the river, or while strolling through the steep crooked streets of Lower Town, or the fine modern ones of Upper Town. Seeing the Plains of Abraham and Wolfe's monument made the party recall the history which had excited the city long ago. Later, on the opposite side of the river, the travellers passed through many neat and pretty French villages. As it was Sunday, all the church-yards were filled with buggies and horses, and in one instance, where the service had just concluded, a man was on the steps reading the news to his assembled listeners. Probably just an old French custom. The dreariness of the Father Point district vanished at the sight of a tug bearing mail and pilot going out to meet an ocean liner, and of the -QEPALERE FLAMMAM OUR VAGABOND TOUR if M. and E. BUCKLEY SA-C pilot and mail being received on deck. Looking back from a point some miles fur- ther on, we had revealed to us by a far- away sparkle of sunlight on gleaming white paint, that the ship was once more on her way in charge of the pilot. After turning inland near Mont-joli,a short drive brought us to the lovely wooded steeps of the Mata- pedia Valley, which stretched along for many miles. New Brunswick offered a forty-mile short-cut between Chatham and Newcastle through virgin forest. This was broken only by the rude dwellings of newly settled Scan- dinavians. . Stopping for lunch by the shores of North- umberland Straits was a happy interlude. With appetites whetted by the tang of the sea, bacon, cooked over an open fire, disappeared in large quantities. Here the beauty was startling. The vivid clear blue of the sea, the red sands of the banks and shore, and the bright green of the long grass was enlivened by the white flashes of sea gulls. Nearby was an Indian encampment, and the Indian children were peeking shyly around the corner of the huts at the gay luncheon party. At Moncton the famous bore refused to perform although the time was due for the phenomenon to occur according to those standing around. just at the border of Nova Scotia, a huge road sign, in the form of a splendid relief map, clearly showed the principal routes and many cities and towns. At Amherst, Mounties and silk- hatted ofiicials were much in evidence. Un- decided what to do, our party joined a long line of cars, only to discover later that we were in the official procession conducting Lord Bess- borough back from a formal visit. Travelling in Nova Scotia is at once a thrilling and dusty affair: between clouds of dust the corners pounce at unsuspecting tourists leaving them to wonder if the road will ever straighten out again. Guysborough, a quaint little town 448-lt

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UX GLEBANAGH9- 1 MARJORIE TOWNSEND 4-F we ascended to the one hundredth floor, a quarter of a mile at a speed of twenty miles per hour or about 42 feet every second. It was bad enough going up-but a pleasure compared with coming down. A smaller elevator took us on to the look-out. The View following was breath-taking. Near-by buildings were dwarf- ed by the height of the Empire State and pedes- trians were mere ants in the streets below, we could see far out to sea and spot numerous ships twenty, thirty and even forty miles out on their way across the Atlantic. It was our good for- tune to see also from this point of vantage the huge French liner N ormfmdie riding at anchor in the harbour after her maiden voyage across the ocean. Radio City was another place of interest for us. We visited its beautiful music hall, a novel piece of construction in which, elaborate ideas of splendour have been coupled with utility. Below the theatre is a modern magnificent lounge, furnished beautifully for the use of the patrons. But of more interest, because of the radio broadcasts that we are continuously being told Horiginate in the N.B.C. Studios in New Y ork was a visit to these very Studios. Our guide showed us many interesting things about a broadcasting station, explained how the vari- ous sounds were imitated on the programs and to our delight allowed us to listen to a broadcast and an audition. A trip to New York would not be complete without a shopping expedition. To make it a typical day of this sort we left our car behind and determined to look and act as far as possible like real New Yorkers. We experimented with tubes , those funny underground railways which hurl one through dark unknown areas at breakneck speed, pretending of course that We were hurrying to Macy's, New Y ork's largest departmental store, to cash in on some nine o'clock specials, but in reality without the fog- giest notion of where we were going. And it was slight comfort to emerge from the subway to find ourselves away over in Brooklyn, miles from our assumed destination. The return journey was made on the overhead trolley for we felt we might be more at home among the fl QQPALERE FLAMMAM Urrmznwoon a UNDERXVOOD The Sky Line of New York skyscrapers which we, by this time, looked on as old friends and fair guides to the heart of the city. Climbing out of the tram at Forty- Second Street and Fifth Avenue, an intersection which looked rather important, and getting down a long stair-case to the street, we pre- sently found plenty of stores to visit though we were rather late for the morning specials. We at last actually did locate Macy's quite by acci- dent and did our buying. It is a store much like Eaton's or Simpson's, ten storeys high and occupying an entire city block. Almost any article I think one can mention could be pur- chased there. The shops of New York seemed endless in number and a great many of them were very exclusive in the goods they carried. Only one more can I take space to mention- -Tiffanys-probably the most elaborate jew- ellry store in the world, where prices of indi- vidual articles range anywhere from a dollar or so to over one hundred thousand dollars. Our sojourn in New York was rudely inter- rupted by a warm spell. Hence we decided to spend a few days at the sea-shore, besides, sight- seeing was strenuous and a day or two of relaxation would be welcome. From the many beaches which line the shores of Long Island we selected jones' Beach, an attractive spot and the quietest one in the vicinity. The beach at Coney Island is more popular but so crowded that a person must literally walk over people to get to the water and even at that you can't always be sure in which direction the water is, for the mass of humanity in the way. A motly crowd patronizes this beach and there was too much excitement in the air for our party of tired sightseers. At jones' Beach we bathed in the ocean for the first time. While the waves were too high to permit swimming, we enjoyed lConlinued on Page 97 47l

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UX GLEBANACEQQ- settled in beauty at the head of Chedabucto Bay, and our destination, finally appeared around one of these corners. This town combines the atmosphere of the country town with that of the sea-side town, and boasts as one of its homes the summer residence of a former Lieutenant- Governor of the province. To travel- stiffened limbs, a stay of two weeks beside the smiling bay seemed very welcome. The prospect of sailing and fishing made cars suddenly distasteful. An old fisherman's two master, with tanned sails, was ours for the length of our stay, and many happy hours were spent on board. Sailing gayly down the lovely land-locked harbour, we would foam through the tide rips at the narrow entrance. Keeping the black buoy to starboard and the red to port, we would safely con our staunch craft past the old fort and lighthouse, and with eased sheets enjoy the more boisterous sailing in Chedabucto Bay. A big tramp steamer, the Keret of Bergen, was loading lumber from booms in the bay, and the boat used to sail very close to the ship and then tack suddenly, probably causing the sailors to wonder what the city folk would do next. The exhilarating motion, and the fresh salt air would send us back with glowing cheeks and ravenous appetites. An extremely interesting excursion was made one day to Canso, a fishing town about thirty miles distant on the Straits of Canso in the south-east tip of Nova Scotia. A Hsh Cannery there holds much of instruction as well as interest. Rows and rows of fish were hanging in the smoking room. Great quantities of fish are brought in every day, and the speed with which they are cleaned is remarkable. The finnan haddie which later reaches the Ottawa stores is seen in a new light after this visit. The chief point of interest, however, was the cable- station where messages are sent and received from abroad. Some of the latter, according to the ones the operator read to us, must have been written by people in holiday mood. Outside the town is a direction Ending station by which the location of all sea-going ships is verified QShades of Trigonometryj. One could spend hours at the harbour. A few tramps and freighters were among the many fishing ships, for the most part two-and-three masters . -QEPALERE FLAMMAM Tied to one of the wharves was a lifeboat from a ship, which earlier we had seen burning a few miles out, and which had to be abandoned. Also riding at anchor, was a ship with its Hag at half-mast, as one of her crew had been washed overboard. The road back from Canso had many quaint and sometimes barren looking fishing villages. The Heet was home for the day, and nets were spread on the beaches to dry. In one of these villages there are stories of false lights which used to lure the ships to the rocks, and of the wrecks later plundered. Near Port Felix, a rather bleak little hamlet, we thought we saw an iceberg far out on the Atlantic. No wonder the water was cold for swimming! There are many barrens around this Part liter- ally covered with blueberries. When the negroes go blueberry picking, they sometimes take their mattresses with them and stay all night. Most of the darkies are very friendly and beam and wave when you pass. As we were staying in Guysborough a few weeks, and as the hotel was mainly for over- night guests, we rented an old Baptist parson- age. This was a comfortable house, one hundred and sixty years old. The ministers' wives used to keep school there for small children. One rather interesting morning was spent on Long Beach, an unique formation of sand forming a natural break-water at the mouth of the harbour. The sea-gulls were very amusing to watch and hear. Their screeching became even Wilder when we came near their nests, hollowed among the stones. They swooped down at us and would have willingly peeked our heads. 44910