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

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Words are things, and a small drop of ink. Falling H e dew upon a thought, produces That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think,- OF all the objects for contemplation in this life of myriad interests, the most inherently fascinating is words — little dark, exciting words, as some poet has called them. Their value is measureless, their importance can never be accurately judged. They might be termed the keys to successful living, the talismans whereby we attain happiness, the Open Sesames to all the locked doors found in the corridors of life. Of course, we take them for granted. They seem so common, just like the dandelion — a really beautiful flower unappreciated because of its ubiquity. But consider how we depend on words! They form the foundation of friendship, they are essential in all careers, they serve to measure our edu- cational growth, and they constitute the links that join each generation to the preceding one and thus forge the whole chain we call Progress. It was through the exchange of ideas that the world emerged from the clouds of primitiveness into the sun of civilization. The transmission of these ideas from one fellow being to another may be effected through the spoken or written word. The former was the earliest means of communi- cation and by many is held as most important, evolving as it did from mere signs or grunts of prehistoric men to highly intelligent drawing-room or political conversations. The latter is an achievement of later generations and began with crude symbols on parchment from which developed our printed pages. All down through the ages can be traced the eager desire for contact, the desire to express ourselves to others and in so doing to form friendships. We accomplish this through the mysterious instrumentality of speech, so subtle, so evasive, so intangible, so astonishingly effective yet so difficult to control. It is hard to say whether one is more overcome when one thinks of what words will do or of what they will not do. They will touch hearts; they will make over lives; they will lead men to heaven or to hell; yet when we try to convey our deepest feelings with them, we stammer and halt and too often have to give up in complete despair. Did you ever stop to consider that words are the source of our power in teaching? Through them we project our personalities on our little pupils and colour the canvas of the little minds, helping to form their early im- pressions and their outlook on life. Truly we might twist the words of Scripture, By our speech shall we be known. Words are the criterion of character. You remember the two sisters in the fairy-tale, one ugly and wicked, the other beautiful and virtuous. Every time the former spoke, toads came tumbling frcm her mouth; but whenever words issued from Page Ten the mouth of the other, pearls fell in a glittering cascade. Of course the story is fantastic, but the allegory still holds in modern life. Unkind or untrue words can poison the whole stream of humanity, whereas kindly, sincere words fall like pearls and are scattered wide. How important to watch our speech since it reveals our character to the world ! Then there are the printed words, also agents of power beyond esti- mate. There have always been the great authors, and the long line of journalists, probably headed by Addison, who make our language, mould our habits, link our thoughts and from behind their screen of anonymity exercise an influence all the greater because it is undiscerned. The magic of written words is strange. These little symbols made up of fleeting sounds and insignificant impressions on the printed page can flood the human spirit with the richest ecstasy of hope and the deepest horror of despair. They can flit forth over the world with a glory of colour and a splendour of passion and again, ineptly used, can afflict us with the pall of boredom that nothing else can equal. Their power lies not only in plain, direct meanings, but in subtle, remote associations. They carry a dancing joy and glitter even in their mere rhythmic vibration, so that ordered, as the true artist knows how to order them, they make our souls vibrate and quiver with celestial energy — and again melt away with an enervation as enchanting as it is obscure. Of late in some of the newspapers and over the radio, a great contro- versy has waged over the choice of the ten most beautiful words in the language. People of every clime have ventured replies but it is all futile. Answers vary widely from mere lists of words to quotations and beautiful passages of scripture. Some materialist has even submitted these ten words which apparently ring like music in his ears: I am certainly going to raise your salary next month. There is only one obvious conclusion to draw. Words cannot be judged by their intrinsic beauty, but by their associations with what they represent. As we are taught in Grammar, words only represent things. What an impossible task to choose the ten most beautiful things in the world! It would naturally revert to individual opinion. Here in these pages following, you will find a mass of words — words that form a mirror of our year at Normal School, reflecting what we did and thought during the year — in fact, constituting the very spirit of our sojourn here. May they each prove a little pearl to slip on your string of Normal School associations. To the masters for their kindly help and criticism in compiling this book of ours, we proffer the simple but sincere words: We thank you. Margaret Thornton.

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[NORMAL SCHOOL LONDON ONTARIO I Tecumseh School: John T. Parkinson Hilda Rogers Ruth Blakeley Margaret McEachern Miss Davey Gladys Morris Continuation School: John D. Coombs Leah G. Jones Rural Schools: W. G. Rigney Mrs. Dodds Christina Baldwin Howard Gilbert CRITIC STAFF Worthy Road School: W. Wyatt Elsie McCallum Annie Hodges Myrtle Justin Emily A. Knott Eulaie Mackey Mrs. Pearl Smith Susanna McKone Thomas A. Willis A. P. Silcox Governor Simcoe School: Wm. Wallace Mabel Buckle Zella Fawkes Muriel Lancaster Lily Hoffman Isabel McLeish Vera M. Tisdale Martha Upshall J. C. Webster Miss Graham South Collegiate Institute: T. S. H. Graham, M.A. Herbert B. Dinsmore, B.A. Norval J. Ireland, B.A. W. T. Armstrong, B.A. William R. Urlin, B.A. Joseph F. Calvert, M.A. R. H. Allin, B.A. Bessie McCamus Rectory Street: J. C. Thompson Lena Claris Lena Dunn Ruth Dunstan Mae Croxon OUR VISITORS OUR year of studies at Normal School has, from time to time, been brightened by visitors who have brought us interesting and inspiring messages from various branches of activity in the outside world. Dr. Phair, Director of the Department of Medical Health, and Dr. Conboy, Director of Dental Hygiene, spent three days with us and in a series of interesting lectures conveyed much information which shall prove useful in our work next year. The Rev. Thomas addressed us for several mornings on the significance of Alcohol and Life. We were favored with two splendid illustrated lectures during the year — cne, an Astronomy lecture from Dr. Kingston, of Western University, and the other, a talk on the Delights of British Columbia, by Mr. Hum- phrey. Mr. Donahue, publicity man for Lawson and Jones, gave us a most novel address on miscellaneous topics such as the Art of Observation, Courtesy and Letter-Writing. Miss Hamilton proved a very charming speaker, giving us an insight into the work of the Junior Red Cross Society. Dr. Amos, in jocund fashion, related the story of the work carried on in auxiliary classes. Miss Carr, of the Federation of Women Teachers ' Associations of Ontario, and Mr. Hall, of the Secondary Teachers ' Associations proved delightful speakers, revealing the advantages of being linked up with such teachers ' organizations. Few of us shall forg et the occasion of Premier Henry ' s visit to the school. That was a gala afternoon when the whole school gathered in the Assembly with the members of the staff seated on the platform. The Premier spoke of the splendid resources of Ontario, of the new northern highways, and painted a bright picture of the future. Our own Canadian poet, Wilson Macdonald, also paid us a visit and charmed us with the recitation of some of his best known poetry. We shall long remember the sheer music of the Gregorian chant in I Love Old Things. To this group of speakers who so kindly gave their time and thoughts to us, we offer sincerest thanks. We are sure we have gleaned much useful knowledge. Page Etev,