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

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The Staff Performs SOME day we shall be old enough to reminisce and be found sitting with our slippered feet on the hearth, and our knitting lying in withered fingers. Then someone will whisper, Poor old Aunt Maggie looks lonesome. Run and bring her that scrap-book she made when at Normal. It will amuse her. Grandniece will obediently run and return to lay a musty book on our knee. We shall turn the leaves, our mind endeavouring to place in logical places such momentos as a faded paper the verse on which we seem to recollect having quavered as a memory gem from some platform of long ago; sheets with names of old-fashioned lessons thereon such as, Teach Clausal Analysis to Grade VIII. But, ah, what is this? Our hands turn over the yellowed sheet. We see names scrawled on the back: C. E. Wheeler — Mrs. E. H. McKone — Mary E. Pickles — a whole column of them. And it all comes back to us. The L. N. S. auditorium on the evening of February 9; a mock parliament staged by the masters, instructors and their wives; assisted by guards, pages and the sergeant-at-arms; a performance described by Dr. Mark as being the first of its kind ever put on by the staff ; Mr. Pickles surpassing himself on his favourite topic, That Women Should be Banished From the Teaching Profession, or something along that line; Mr. McKone acting natural and getting applauded for it; Mr. McEachern telling more about Adam and Eve than ever we had found in Genesis; Mr. Wheeler, benign and bewhiskered, climaxing all as a back-country gentleman. We shall always remember the tea served by the cast in the gymnasium after the programme. The display of artistic cookies and the culinary achievements of Miss Emery and others were a delight. The coffee was passed with such whole-hearted smiles that we knew they who were serving us had enjoyed being Ministers of Spuds and Bugs and of Pot Luck Lunches or members from Heart Hole, Dusty Corners, and Dictionary Docks. It was then that we had them autograph our programme. We all like to linger our feelings of pleasure said Mr. Clarke in Science of Education. Therefore, shall we sit with our memories far, far away until some- one whispers: Aunt Maggie, you had better come to bed. It is nearly half-past eight ! The Coronation Banquet THURSDAY evening, May 6, was the occasion on which we, as a school, paid tribute to our new and beloved King — George VI. The library presented a resplendent picture as the old familiar study tables were transformed into things of beauty by the coronation decorations which were repeated and glorified a thousand times in the glittering accompaniments. Then Dinner — dinner fit for a king and daintily served by our maids in waiting. Toasts to the King, to the Royal Family, to the Empire and to the Flag, were proposed in an eloquent manner by our fellow-students and heartily pledged by all in the native unadulterated wine of the land. We were favoured with the ideal after-dinner speaker in Mr. John M. Gunn who delighted everyone with his happy philosophy as he enlarged on The Weather. The happy occasion was concluded with a dance in the gymnasium. Toast-master: Austin Charlton. Toast List: Dorothy Greer; Ralph Gracey; Helen Cares; John Gloin; Eva Bicum; George Switzer. Music: Under the direction of Mr. Wheeler. Solos: Grace Graham; Audrey Furse. JAS. C. MARK. Form I. Country Loveliness IT was early evening when I chanced to walk to our kitchen window and there I beheld as beautiful a scene as anyone might wish to see. Away to the west the sun was sinking and sending forth its radiance to colour the sky and promise a fair day. Tall ever ' green trees stood like soldiers guarding the western gold field. Outlined against the horizon was the little wood-lot and I noticed, for the first time, how much it had been thinned by the cutting of the winter wood. My thoughts were brought back when I saw the team of horses plodding wearily down the lane, for they had been ploughing all day. Not far behind the team trotted Bonnie, the dog. Deep affection for the horses and for her master would not permit her to come to the house for an early supper. Directly below me I could see the creek flowing along singing that at last spring was here. Bending over the creek was the graceful old elm, and under it the little dock to which we tied our boat. In another month The Willow would be splashing up and down there- by providing us with fun. I turned again to the west. The sun had gone, leaving only a glorious blood-red reflection; and out of the blue sky rose the first evening star. I looked up the lane; the horses had reached the barn and were be- ing unhitched. Mercy! the men would be in for supper and I had been feasting on the beauties of Nature and had neglected my task of preparing supper. At any rate, the view had been wonderful and had given me a very satisfying feeling that this is a beautiful earth; so why should I worry about supper, for is not life more than meat and the body more than raiment! AMY TURNBULL. Form IV.

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LONDON NORMAL SCHOOL Girls ' Athletics Our Reporter ' s Diary Wed. Dec. 9: Climbed ye olde wooden stairs after four this P. M. to the gym. The girls were having a basketball work ' out. Their wine tunics (they made them themselves) look pretty neat. There seems to be some good material among them. In the election of officers, Wilma Ross was given the position of captain. Tues. Dec. 15: Saw the girls ' first basketball game to-night. They played against the local Central Collegiate Girls at the Collegiate. There was a whole gallery-full of loyal Normal supporters, who hung precariously over the railing, intent on cheering their team on to victory. It was of no avail. The Central girls are tall and have a slick team. Old L. N. S. was defeated 52-18. Fri. Jan. 15: We are happy to see the girls are improving. They are working together much better. It showed up to- night in the game with Watford H. S., played at Sir Adam Beck Collegiate. They were victorious 27-12. During the latter half of the game, they really co- operated. There is hope that they will live down the first defeat. Thurs. Feb. 18: Ambled over to the Central Collegiate gym to- night t o see the L. N. S. girls take Brescia Hall for a ride. It was a smart game. Mae Nixon made some tricky shots, and the whole team was really on. The final score was 51-24. Tues. Mar. 9: The girls realized an old ambition to-night. They came to the Technical School, saw the Western Inter- mediates and (gasp, gasp) they conquered them. The score was 28-21. Our little forward, Mary Miller, played an outstanding game. Katie Griffiths was right on her toes as guard. It was as the Southern girl might say, super-colossal, and a grand finis for the basket- ball season. Too bad the old line-up will never work together again. Oh, well, it was fun. There they are: Mae Nixon c.f. Madeline Fox f . Mary Miller f. Wilma Ross g. Catherine Griffiths . . . g. Elinor Price g. Alternates: Mary Carter, Violet Lazor, Marian Crewe, Tena Muxlow. ELINOR PRICE. Form IV. Boys ' Athletics THE opening of the L. N. S. for 1936-37 term found the students in much the same position as those of former years. We were all strangers in a foreign land, as it were. Consequently the organization of athletics was rather slow. Softball was the order of the day for some time, but the weather soon dampened our spirits as well as the lawn. Soon, however, basketball became prominent and the L. N. S. Gym was the scene of frequent practices. Because of the limited number of male students, only a few boys turned out to practice. But it was this group who worked hard and stayed with the team throughout the year. Gordon Grogan was chosen captain and likewise filled the position of centre, James Mark and Tom Speidel capably performed the duties of forwards, and Eric McLean and John Gloin of guards. Cliff Hey wood, John Wakeling and Lloyd Flannigan were called upon for substitutes and worked hard when needed. The first game was a success for the boys in two ways : They defeated Watford H. S. Boys and were entertained at a Theatre Party by the Athletic Society. Hence- forth the games were few and far between, but at the time of writing, a return game with Watford is being arranged, as well as a number of exhibition games. G. L. GROGAN. Form I. Mr. Clarke ' s Blackboard THERE is nothing exciting about this blackboard; it is neither remarkably old nor remarkably new; it is not beautiful; it is just — plain. But of all the blackboards in the school this is the blackest. It remains fearfully still. Bad news is always on its terrifying surface — the oncoming of a test. We conclude that it is the dear friend of Sulla, for, as Sulla terrified so many this blackboard keeps the Normal Students on the alert at all times. Yet, it is a merciful tyrant because, while it proclaims examina- tions, it gives us warning beforehand. We gaze nervous- ly towards it each morning with that in mind, and with Goldsmith say: Fu I well the boding tremblers learned to trace The days disasters in his morning face MAE F. NIXON. Form IV. Page Sixteen

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Silver Linings For the sake of our Scots All these jokes are found here. We laughed when they happened; They 11 be grinning next year I ANEW music store has been opened at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Wortley Road. The vendor, Miss Margaret Williams, wished to state that her first day ' s business was overwhelming. The following bought music: I ' m on a See-Saw — Mr. Pickles. You Can ' t Pull the Wool Over My Eyes — Dr. Mark. There ' s Always A Happy Ending — Mr. Clarke. Did I Remember — Recitations in Assembly. I ' m Grateful to You — Miss Gahan. I ' m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket — Dr. Hofferd. I Don ' t Want to Make History — Mr. McEachern. Painting the Clouds With Sunshine — Miss Emery. Bend Down Sister — Miss Rider. These Foolish Things — Mr. McKone. My Little Buckaroo — Tom Mark. When My Dream Boat Comes Home — $500.00 per year. I Can ' t Escape From You — Lesson Plans. What ' s the Name of That Song? — Mr. Wheeler. Lovely Lady — Miss Davidson. Walking My Baby Back Home — Gordon Houghton. Mary Had A Little Lamb — Jim Mark. Mr. Clarke: Conjugate the verb care. Jerry l elson: I Cares, you Cares, he Cares. Mr. McKone: Watch your true-false test papers carefully while I run through them for you. Mr. Gracey had just posed for his Year Book picture. Photographer: Do you want a proof of this? Mr. Gracey: Oh, never mind; I ' ll take your word for it. Dr. Mar : (Marking form slips) Are there any absentees here? Form IV girls were discussing licenses and how often they were due. Wilma Ross piped up: How often do you have to get your marriage license renewed? Miss Munroe ' s favourite example of Nominative in Apposition: Lome, my friend, come here. Tom: What ' s the odour in the library? Cecille: That ' s the dead silence we keep there. Dr. Hofferd: A young chicken under a year old is called a pullet. What is a two-year-old called? Miss Herbison: Tough! Oh, some people go Westward the Rockies to view, And others go Eastward just to see something new: There are some who go Southward to better their health, And others go J orthward in vain search for wealth. But J prthward or Southward or Eastward or West We observe that Kay rather goes Howard the best ' . It was the morning after that tea biscuit tea to which the young men treated us. Mr. Clarke was teaching Composition, You will notice among small children a tendency to end up accounts of pleasant events with: ' We went home tired and happy. ' Now, if you were to write up last night ' s little event with what would it be better to end than that? Miss MacPherson: We went home tired and heavy. Dr. Hofferd: Why does cream rise to the top, Miss Crewe? Miss Crewe: So that we can get it. Miss Davidson: Of what use are vitamins? Hey wood: Why, some prevent beri beri; some pre- vent scurry scurry. Dr. Hofferd: How may injurious bacteria be dis- tributed, Mr. Nelson? Mr. J e son: You can distribute bacteria by being too close friends. Miss Banner: In osmosis the fluid moves from the less consecrated to the more consecrated side. Ruth: Did Jack give the bride away at the wedding? Gordon: No, he let the groom find out for himself. Cecille B.: Have you a book called — Man, the Master of Women? Salesgirl: The fiction department is on the other side, Miss. Judge: Do you wish to marry again, if you obtain a divorce? Liza: Ah should say not. Ah wants to be with- drawn from circulation. Mrs. Barnhart: That ' s nothing. Why, I ' ve been walking since I was eight months old. Gordon Grogan: Really? You must be awfully tired. BONERS In the spring the salmon ascends fresh water streams to spoon. The flower has five parts, sepals, pedals, antlers, pistil and trigger. How do frogs pass the winter? They get together in groups and hop south.