Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute - Acta Nostra Yearbook (Guelph, Ontario Canada)

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dances. parties, hikes, camps and picnics should provide the necessary social ac- tivity. IVhatever associations the student makes should be governed by tolerance and careful judgment, with a realization that it is unwise to be indiscriminate, and selfish to be exclusive. It is perhaps unwise for the person attending the collegiate to associate him- self too strongly with a particular politic- al movement or party. In fact. he should eschew any political activity. but should follow keenly the affairs of the whole world and especially those of his own country. Travel is dependent mainly on the student's means and opportunities. How- ever, if he can possibly manage, he should take at least one trip abroad. France, Britain. Greece, and Italy are obvious choices, by reason of their long Wan.-. -. ..-ACTA NOSTRA 49 history, and the time-honoured buildings and monuments which adorn their fam- ous cities. The experience and education gained on such a Ultll' will be enhanced if the student lives among the people, and takes an interest in their customs, language and their trends of thoughts. Some people may think it impossible lor any one student to carry out success- fully the extracurricular programme out- lined above and still do well at his school work. lt must, however, be re- membered that a student's success after graduation depends as much on his all- round ability as on his academic attain- ments, and where better can such all- round ability be developed than at school? Since textbooks cannot provide the scope for such development, then extracurricular activities must furnish the solution. People F or Canadefs Future Prize Junior Essay Naomi Joliffe IXE These people, the Hungarians we have offered to help, what will they be like? They have suffered: will this make them bitter towards all people, endan- ger the progress of our homeland? I'Ve have read of those fighting 11Ot to save themselves but their country from a terrible tyranny-the twelve-year-olds, adults of tomorrow, giving their lives to save others, people defying an army much stronger than they and facing their enemy boldly, resolved to have freedom in living. The revolt against the Communist regime was impulsive. After the free- dom-seekers seemed to have won their cause through mass bravery, and the Russian masters were quieted, Hungary had only five days of freedom before Russian tanks rolled into Budapest, slaughtering people in the streets as they would diseased cattle. The courage of the youngsters was significant. One young boy threw a hand grenade to destroy a tank. As the grenade left his hand, the boy was shot down. The tank exploded. Another twelve-year-old, a girl, in a crowd of panic-stricken freedom fighters, when faced with Russian bombardment, rushed at a tank waving a tiny Hun- garian flag ancl crying, How dare you shoot at mel The gunner turned and fled. Anyone with the courage and loyalty of the Hungarians, strong and resistant, would surely put us to shame. I remember a story of a lad, whose bed-ridden mother pleaded with him to leave her and escape with the children across the border to freedom. The peril- ous journey was made. XVith few assets their destination was reached. The boy said tearful good-byes to sisters and bro-

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50 ACTA NOSTRA,-.,W adam- thers. XVeeping unashamedly, he left them to reioin the crusade. None olithe lugitives knew then that an inlant sister, overdosed with sleep- ing pills to decrease the danger of cross- ing the border, was dying in a nearby ward. I remember a news report of a mother praising our schooling and reporting on the inadequateness ol the Communist regime to quench a child's curiosity. The little they were taught. aside lrom Com- munism. gave the urge for more know- ledge they would never get. The people knew nothing of the out- side world. as this was kept carefully from them. They knew only what the party wished. i From this l comprehend they will learn willingly when opportunity is placed before them, a virtue lor every New Canadian. Their loyalty cannot be doubted. Nllould they rise in masses if they had DOI the desire lor freedom in their country? I believe they are a needed group of immigrants. A growing, young land such as Canada has room for those who can help to build a free and independent nation. Un The Art of Artlessness By Roller! Golfeen XIIIB lt was Leo Tolstoi who stated, Art is lint a handicralit, it is the transmission ol' leeling the artist has experienced. llow truly ring his words! Pure art can- not be reduced to the mechanics ol a mere handictalt. We might well ask what pure art is. ls not pure art that spontaneous response by those possessing finer natures-true artists-to the daily circumstances and basic truths of the lile which encompasses them? This response by sensitive minds will embody what Keats has called a thing ol' beauty. lt will be devoid of studied art and as unaware ol' its own spell as are the cool, clear pools ignorant ol' the peace they propagate. For beauty is so transient a thing , caught only at rare intervals and lasting bttt lor a lew llickering seconds. Do not mistake me. It is indeed a joy forever, lor its memory will mark our minds and make its impress on our souls. Yllhat a blessing lor those ol' us who catmot claim possession ol the liner natures to be able to drink with those more fortunate own- ers ol such natures some portion ol' the draugltt ol noble joy that comes from tasting ol the richer mead. XVhat unworthy pecuniary recompense could we otlier Shakespeare lor his price- less legacy? His time-tested truths reach out to us lrom words and lines clothed in the purity ol unaffected simplicity. The source is pure and its waters flow lorth in sparkling naturalness. Such is the incomprehensible power ol' the un- allectedl Regardless ol the medium ol transtnis- sion ol' art, be it canvas, parchment scrolls, or the sweet strings of some tuned instrument, simplicity is the es- sence ol' beauty. The great truths of nature, perceived by souls more sensitive than ours, can best be transferred to souls in kindred clay on the vehicles ol naturalness, and will most firmly make their mark il their poignant message travels as does the straight strong shaft ol' an arrow, unimpeded with added artilicial nonsense. Thus the greatness which great art embodies is its naturalness. Its message is read and understood because it is written in the terms of the reader and with the dialect ol' him who would understand. lt portrays true beauty-the essence ol' which is naturalness, that we may see and read, and reading, under- stand.