London Normal School - Spectrum Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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School Activities FORM I. Six months ago we were a group of thirty-nine students with but one common bond, our linguistic abilities. Within a short time, however, this heterogeneous crowd had been moulded into a harmonious group, under the enthusiastic leadership of Miss Adelaide MacKenzie. It was then we began to contribute as a unit to the co-operative work of the Normal School. Being the first division, we were called upon to give the initial form contribution to the programs of the Literary Society; a historical pageant. Songs and dances in keeping with the quaint costumes of the different periods added interest. Again, as members of Form I., it was our privilege to entertain at the first inter-form function. The members of the Staff and the Normalites of Form VII. were our invited guests. In the early part of the evening games were played. Later a banquet was enjoyed. The toasts proposed and the replies given augured well for the success of these meetings in promoting the spirit of good fellowship in the Normal. We played a part, too, in the sports of the school. Miss Ruby Emerson was elected leader in these activities for the girls of the Normal School. The basketball team, of which Miss Emerson is the captain, has selected some of its players from our form. To begin the New Year joyfully, a merry party, consisting of the students of our form, went to the Grand Theatre on January sixth. The play, Charlie ' s Aunt, was one of wit and humor. Miss Grace Scott was elected form representative for the second term. Miss Frances Martin suc- ceeded Miss Mary Fletcher as form editor for the school paper. Miss Carol Evans attended the At Home of our sister school at Stratford. For the London Normal At Home, Miss Agnes Webster was a convener for the decorations committee. In February we made two interesting visits, one to London Technical School, the other to the McCormick Biscuit Factory. On March eleventh, Miss Adelaide MacKenzie and Miss Lena Cline successfully supported the negative side of a debate, Resolved that China is justified in her treatment of Foreign Powers. On March 18th Form I. were again called upon to provide the program for the Literary Society. The meeting lent itself well to a Saint Patrick ' s program. A suitable atmosphere for the Irish music provided was created through the artistic decorations of the stage. The five delegates appointed to attend the opening session of the Court in the interests of the History Class were: Miss Grace Scott, Miss Lena Cline, Miss Doris Carter, Miss Adelaide MacKenzie, Miss Agnes Webster. Four soft-ball teams have been organized from our Form. These will take part in the sports of the School until the 1926-27 Normal year is over. FORM II. On Friday, November twenty-six, Form II. had charge of the program of the Literary Society. The introductory part, directed by Miss Ula MacKenzie, was taken by the girls, who, in suitable costumes, dramatized various old-time and popular songs while they were sung from behind the scenes. This ended with an original composition, a greeting to the students, sung by the entire group. Following this, Mr. Duffin and Mr. Boyce pre- sented a humorous skit, after which the boys pre- sented a shadow play entitled Cannibals and Missionary Meat. This clever presentation, directed by Mr. Finlay Stewart, displayed much originality and was also insrtuctive by way of show- ing the students what may be done in the line of moving pictures with a strong light and a sheet as the only equipment. On Monday evening, March seven, the Form II. students entertained the members of the Staff and the students of Form VI. at a delightful party in the gymnasium, which was tastefully decorated with crimson and gold streamers. The decorating was supervised by Mr. Elmer Lick. Guests were welcomed by Miss Lacuta Munday, Mr. Duffin and Mr. Pullen. In charge of the enter- tainment was Miss Agnes McNeill. The early part of the evening was spent in enjoyable games, followed by dancing. At nine o ' clock the guests were invited to the luncheon room, where safely shaded lights and candles made a pleasing spectacle. The refresh- ment committee, supervised by Miss Ula Mac- Kenzie, served the guests at small tables, which displayed the school colors in gold paper and red candles. At eleven o ' clock ended one of the most successful social events of the year. The meeting of the Literary Society of April the first took the form of a Mock Trial, in charge of the students of Form II. The charge against the prisoner, Mr. Gordon Duffin, was that of mudering the King ' s English and, as the students had recently visited the courthouse while the spring assizes were in session, it was possible to give a very real presentation of court procedure. Mr. Eldon Bicum acted as judge and Mr. Finlay Stewart and Mr. Elmer Lick were attorneys for the Crown and defense, respectively. Several witnesses appeared for each side, and the evidence produced was both interesting and humorous. Before the close of the meating the jury returned with the verdict of guilty, and the sentence was imposed by the judge. FORM III. The Social Career of Form III. was swift and short — beginning and ending with an afternoon tea on May 10, 1927. Swift, because our only social function was decided upon, planned and carried out in twenty-eight hours, to be exact. Short, because it was the only social affair in which the form, as a whole, indulged. Misses Marjorie Corless and Bul ' ih Small received the guests from Form V., while Miss Hay and Miss Gahan poured tea from a table centred with a large bouquet of red and yellow tulips. The color scheme, which was carried out again in the deco- ration of the lights and table, conveyed at once an effect of both spring and school spirit. Form III. also contributed its bit toward the Literary Society meetings of Friday afternoons. When we were first called upon to provide the program, we tried to display the dramatic ability hi various members of the form. This found a favorable outlet in a one-act comedy by Booth Tarkington, called Station Y. Y. Y. Y. Mem- bers of the cast included Misses Mae Linnell, Josephine Smith, Letitia Cuyler, Ruby Atchison, Dorothy Dulmage, Arah Johnston, Florence McFachern, Alma McGregor. Others who assisted with necessary but unseen work were Misses Grace Kains, Jean Mclntyre, Marjorie Corless, and Nettie Alderman. Our second offering to the Literary programs took the form of a Patriotic Pageant. Every member of the form, available, was used to represent the growth of Canada from the time of the Redskins and Jacques Cartier; through the settlement of various pioneers; through Confederation and the subsequent union of the whole Dominion down to Canada of the present day. This representation of a noble history was fitly concluded by a song, For Canada and the King. Now the school year is drawing rapidly to a close and our social functions are a thing of the distant past. We, the happy members of a form, outwardly carefree but inwardly conscientious, hope that our efforts have given pleasure to some of our school-fellows of 1926-7. 24

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Standing — Margaret Watterworth, Stuart Beattie, Kenneth Warren, Roy Macklem, Albert Heaton, James Daley, Wilbert McKean, Hugh Cunningham, Alice Sutton. Sitting — Helen Thomson, Mabel Toles, Winnifred Wood, Inez Vernon, Elsie Wearne, Elsie Walker Tane Tavlor (Clella Wiltsie, William McCallum). 23

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FORM [V. The program of the first meeting of the Literary Society in 1927 was presented by the girls of Form IV. A pantomine, The Love Affair of Manual Del Papulo, and The Summer (iirl Minstrels, were the main features of the afternoon. When the curtain was drawn, the Minstrels, dressed in summer costumes, entered carrying their suitcases, camp stools and parasols. They all sang In the Good Old Summer Time as they seated themselves about the stage. Miss Jean Raird as Miss Centre of Attraction entered and introduced the Summer (iirl Minstrels. Miss Margaret Drake as Miss Fluffy and Miss Irene Dickson were the first end men of the afternoon. They displayed their wit and humor in the many local hits on the students and members of the staff. The second end men. Mrs. Votes for Women, Miss Sadie Anderson, and Miss Swat the Fly, Miss Helen Corless, were then introduced. Miss Anderson posed as a ventriloquist, and the audience was awestricken by her powers. Miss Corless acted in a languid way throughout the play, and this added greatly to the humor of her speeches. The musical part of the program consisted of popular songs and ballads given by the entire company, which included the comb and kazoo orchestra. The minstrels closed their parasols and camp stools and circled the stage while they sang Good-bye Normalites. The soul-stirring tragedy-drama The Love Affair of Manual Del Papulo, was then pre- sented. Miss Helen Bertrand introduced the characters in the order of their appearance. The first charac- ter was Manual Del Papulo, the villain. Miss Winnifred Barron displayed remarkable masculine acting as she played the part of this black-bearded, double-dyed villain. The next winsome maiden, Zingarella, was presented. Miss Rosella Dodge played this part in her own quiet but pleasing manner. Then our heroine, Maggie, sweet and innocent ' entered. Miss Rose Marie Bezaire represented this character in a demure but irresistable way. Our dashing young hero, Patrick, was then introduced. The lively manner of Miss Helen Corless. as she dashed about the stage, made one wish to be the imprisoned maiden whom he later bravely rescues. The girls acted the story while Miss Bertrand read the drama which took the form of a pantomine. The girls of the form taking part were: Manuel Del Papulo, Winnifred Barron; Zingarella, Rosella Dodge; Maggie, Rose Marie Benzaire; Patrick, Helen Corless; Time, Carmen Campion and Jean Col well; Hours, Jessie Allan; Sun, Elva Axford; Darkness, L. Pearl Campbell; Curtain, Hazel Dodge and Sadie Anderson. On the afternoon of February 21, 1927, Form IV. entertained Form II. at an afternoon tea. The members of the staff and their wives were also in attendance. The room was prettily decorated with yellow and mauve. The same color scheme was carried out in the arrangement of the table. Mrs. Clarke and Mrs. McKone presided over the serving table and poured tea. A social hour was spent after tea had been served. The members of Form IV. gave a short program consisting of readings, solos and duets. The success of the afternoon was greatly due to the capable supervision of Miss Hay. Officers of Form IV., 1926-27: Form Representa- tives, Miss S. Anderson and Miss Eva Adams; School Activities Secretary. Miss Hazel Dodge; Sports Editor for Year Book, Miss Helen Bertrand; Pianist, Miss Margaret Drake. FORM Y. We are the girls of Form Y. Throughout our eventful year at London Normal we have spent many enjoyable moments in work and play. May we relate our activities so that in after years we shall read herein and relive the very joyous occasions of our Normal term. The first meeting of the form was called to elect a representative for the Literary Society. Miss Duckworth was elected to this office, which she capably filled during the term. Questions of interests to the form were discussed semi-monthly by the students, and through the co-operation of every member much help was derived. Two basketball teams were selected and entered in the inter-form finals. The players were out- classed by a small margin in a fast game, but the form was represented on the Normal team in the defence line. The first activity in which Form V. appeared before the Normal audience was the presentation of The R-A-I-N-B-O-W Kimona Society. The main characters in this play were cleverly presented by Misses Harding, Huffman, Keats and Law. Miss Harding, the maid, in her humorous acting delighted the audience. The minor parts were taken by Misses Forbes, Graham, Higgs, Hyland and Loucks. Much of the success was due to the leadership and direction of Misses Harris, James and Johnson. Miss Duckworth, who has taken a prominent part in a number of Wossa debates and oratorical contests, represented the Normal School as leader of the affirmative in a debate with Western Uni- versity. The subject was Resolved that Musso- lini ' s dictatorship is detrimental to the best interests of Italy. Marked ability and a wide knowledge of the subject was shown by the only debator of the fair sex. In the literary programs this group of thirty young ladies has been quite active. Miss Keats read an inspiring number. Miss Forbes, in her piano solos, created a longing for the old melodies. Sister Cordula, Misses Duckworth, Finlay, Harris and Holmes delivered instructive oral compositions to the aspiring students. The joke section of the 1926 school paper was managed by Miss Hyland, and the sporting news in the Blue Jay was capably edited by Miss James. Miss Law repre- sented the form on the new Literary Society Executive for 1927. A number of hiking expeditions in the early dawning of the delightful spring days has made us more familiar with the great field of nature, and has thus broadened our educational sphere. Although we have not had an opportunity to entertain our friends of other forms at a social tea, we hope to prove on some not far distant date that civilized man cannot live without cooks. Lauretta Hyland. FORM VI. Form VI. provided the program of the Literary Society on Friday, February the eighteenth. The curtains were drawn to disclose the huge, red- backed Family Album that the Form had brought to entertain the audeince. Kathleen Marr and Isabel McLachlan provided appropriate music for each picture, as the leaves were turned. On the first page, Canada was personified by- Marie Prior, crowned with maple leaves and carrying a sheaf of wheat, while a chorus behind the scenes sang The Maple Leaf Forever. On page two, as The Sailor ' s Hornpipe sounded, we found The Navy represented by Madelon Parking in a jaunty sailor outfit. Then the music changed to Oh Where, Oh Where is My Little Dog Gone? and the cute little Dutchman we discovered on the next page was Dorothy Miller. Blanche Robbins made a charming Mother Machree, while Kathleen McGarvin sang the song of that name. The Irish Washerwoman was Eileen Penhale, and the Scotch lassie, Jessie Murray. 25