Havergal College - Magazine Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Havergal College Magazine FROM CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA AFTER THE WAR We left beautiful Cape Town, with its interesting mountain, its shining bay, its wonderful masses of flowers, on a clear spring- evening, to go up-country, where but a few months before had been the terrible fighting. We had engaged a compartment in the train, and each of us had the necessary permits to travel through the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal. As we knew it would be risky to rely on the station-served meals, we had a large hamper containing food for the journey. There was no bed-linen in the sleeping berths, so we slept par- tially clothed, and used blankets for greater warmth. The electric lights were in use for the evening of departure, but after that oil-lamps took their places, and very poor light they gave. One was fixed in the ceiling of our compartment, and oc- casionally it was almost extinguished and we poor creatures ate our evening meal in semi-darkness. The night passed quickly, and the morning sun showed us the characteristics of the country through which we were journeying — brown veldt, brown kopjes, and farm-houses dotted here and there in the midst of large tracts of land, on which stately ostriches could be frequently discerned. We remarked many refuge camps where numbers of women and children had been stationed during the war-time, for the sake of safety and comfort. The barb-wire fences had bully-beef tins fastened to them, so that if one of the enemy accidentally touched the wire the tins would rattle, and so the watchers were alarmed. Then again, blockhouses were a feature of the country — pen li- ed on the kopjes within easy distance of one another, communica- tion was kept, and a good view of the surrounding country was obtained. These blockhouses had been built during the time of the guerilla warfare, and were occupied by a non-commissioned officer with a few men. Many severe fights took place at the block- houses. White mounds were dotted over the veldt, each marking a place where a hero lay sleeping. Monuments were raised at a later date, and the graves are cared for, whilst on Decoration Day flow- ers and wreaths are laid on them by kind hands. The resting place of brave General Wauchope was pointed out to us, and we thought of his hard-fought battle at Magersfontein. We greatly appreciated having our hamper with us, as the meals to be had at the stations were far from palatable. A friend who accompanied us on our journey had taken no food with her, preferring to eat her meals at the stopping-places. It was either a wild rush or a dawdle at each place, and she frequently waited for dinner until eleven o ' clock at night. Of course we took pity on 37

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Havergal College Magazine The fourth and last period represents the calm after the storm. Here we have an Arcadia, in which walk Miranda, Perdita and Imogen. This is the atmosphere of idylls and dreams, the bright fancies of youth are there, and though the frolic and sparkle of the earlier heroines are absent, yet the happy smile is left ; and in place of the violence and turmoil of the women of the second and third periods, Shakespeare gives us a picture of peace and serenity as befits the close of day, the end of life, when ships glide out of tumul- tuous surges into ports and happy havens. Khan um. THE LIBRARY Since the last number of the magazine was printed, great changes have come to pass, but none more welcome than the one affecting our library. No longer does the bookcase stand in a dark corner of the corridor, but has all for its own the large room on the ground floor known formerly as the K. G. Although new books have from time to time been added, several of the new shelves necessarily are still empty. Two of our old girls, Gwen Inman and Edna Henderson, no doubt moved by that dumb appeal, have pre- sented us with a volume in memory of their stay in the college. This seems a very practical way of showing that appreciation of the school life that :ill our outgoing boarders feel, and I heartily thank Gwen and Edna for the thought. Already the idea has been well received, and many books have been promised by girls who are leaving. I should also like to thank the two girls, Maisie Longbottom and Dorothy Allonby, whose cheerful help in indexing and distributing the books has been of the greatest value possible throughout the year. The Librarian. SUMMER IS COMING The winter will soon be over, The sun will commence to shine. The lawn will be white with clover, ' Twill soon be summer time. Beautiful spring is coming, And the flowers fyegin to bloom ; The bees will start their humming, And summer will be here soon. Green are the leaves coming out, They are budding far and near; Pansies turning their heads about, Saying, Summer will soon be here. M. S. Aikins, Form IV. Upper. 36

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Havergal College Magazine her and gave her sardines, etc. ; she regretted not having taken a hamper herself, when she saw how comfortable we were. We pro- cured goats ' milk at various points, it being the only kind avail- able ; however, it proved very acceptable to us. Bloemfontein was one of the principal stations we passed, and Johannesburg the Golden was another. Our journey of three days and nights came to an end at last ; not that it had tired us : on the contrary, it had been most interest- ing — but we were anxious to reach Pretoria. Flora M. Steele, Form V. Upper. THE PLAINT OF THE PIANO. At last I was to be sold, lor somebody was saying, Yes, I will take this one. Please send it to Havergal College. I was indeed delighted to hear this, for it seemed to me that I had been standing in that store for months, and I was tired of having nothing to do. The next day I was hoisted up on a large wagon, and care- fully wrapped in sacks. After a great deal of bumping and noise, the wagon stopped in front of a large stone building, and I was carried — not very carefully, it seemed to me — up three flights of stairs, and at last put down in a small room with a glass door. Nobody came near me for a long time, and then in walked a tall, grown-up looking girl, with a large music-case under her arm. Her playing was nice and soft, and it made me feel happy again, as I thought that perhaps I would now have an easy life if the girls were all like her. But my hopes were soon dispelled, for a bell rang and in stamped a short, fat little girl, who sat down and banged as if she were pounding stone. Really! I thought, I cannot stand this much longer; and, fortunately for me, the bell rang again. Then in came another girl, with large, sad-looking eyes, and said, This is my piano. Well, I know, replied the other, and very glad I am to give it to you. The girl sat down and played a few scales, and then, putting herself down on me, sobbed as if her heart would break. I certainly did feel sorry for the poor girl, but then, you know 7 , it was not very comfortable to have her tears trickling down through my notes, and besides, I was beginning to feel rather wet. Soon a mistress came in and took her away. I was left alone till the next bell rang again, and I must conless that I was not looking forward with very ' much pleasure to the girl who was to come. In a few minutes I heard a voice saying, Well, you ' ll really have to take a bad mark, as you knew it was against the rules. 38