London South Collegiate Institute - Oracle Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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18 .L. s. c. 1. ORACLE LONDON IS BEST OF ALL . The more we travel, the more we appreciate our own ' homes when we return. No matter how great the cities, how imposing the buildings or how beautiful the streets we see, we are always thrilled at the thought of returning to our own old familiar scenes once more. London may not be as big as a great many cities, but that is what most Londoners like about it. When we visit Montreal we enjoy seeing all the old historical places and we also admire the view from the mountain. But when it comes to manoeuvering through the traffic and finding streets which are not labelled One Way Only, we do not enjoy ourselves so much. It is always a . n relief to get back to good old London where we are not Asmstam Educ' continually lost in traffic. Or take another of Canada's most interesting cities, Ottawa. The Parliament Buildings are the pride of all Canadians and are admired by people from all countries. Ottawa also has many lovely parks and avenues. Yet London is always a welcome sight to home-coming travellers. Where could a moreimpressive entrance to a city be found than the Richmond Street approach to London? There, we pass some of our most beautiful homes and a stranger entering from that direction wouldimmediately be favourablyimpressed. Then again, when we see other schools, we wonder how they would compare with South. We usually end by thinking that, although they may be good, they cer- tainly could not be better than South. It would be a hard task we boast, to find a school with a better spirit than the L.S.C.I. We also have wonderful grounds and plenty of space for all outdoor sports. ' Not many schools are fortunate enough to have that! London also has one of the most beautifully situated universities in Canada and all Londoners are very proud of it. London always compares favourably with other cities and of course, there was never a school like L. S. C. I. - I- -.4-ff . I ... ' - Kathleen Milligan, V B. -KATHLEEN MILLIGAN, V B. YOUTH IN THE MAKING In ancient times, the potter, with skilled fingers, fashioned the rough clay into articles of wondrous beauty and design. Canadian youth today might l:e compared to the raw material which is being moulded by the Master Craftsman into the men and women of to-morrow. There is, however, this important difference. While the clay was merely a passive, unresisting substance which was shaped at the will of the potter, the youth of today is not confined to such narrow limits. Instead, it can choose those forces and influences which it considers most to its advantage. This is particularly true of students in our secondary schools. In the first place they can select the course which they believe is best suited to their ability and purpose. Compare educational conditions of today with those of a genera-- tion ago. Then, higher education was considered essential only for boys. Today, there are as many girl students as there are boys. Formerly, children were not given such a free rein in choosing their life work as they are now. Parents usually made the decisions for them. Today there is a wide variety of courses, both technical and commercial, contrasting with the comparatively narrow field of a generation ago. Physical as well as mental education plays an important part in the ,development of the students to-day. The different school activities and organizations give the student an opportunity of developing any particular ability he may have. Thus the school provides many influences which help to mould the lives of Canadian youth. But there are many outside factors which play a part in this development. No other generation of young people has had such a wonderful opportunity to obtain first hand knowledge of the world and its people. Through the wonderful

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L. s. C. I. ORACLE, 17 Qx 'ITORFAI , N ii- NLF CUTLOOK For us students in a comfortable, well-equipped school, absorbed in its ceaseless round of activities, amid the hum of the halls and the cheers of en- thusiastic crowds at the sports, it seems impossible to imagine such distress as we are continually hearing discussed around us. We are inclined to think of the world as a small place occupied mainly by a building known as the L.S.C.I., through which we struggle slowly up the ascent to knowledge, receiving after half a hundred years or more of hard labour, a diploma declaring us fit for univer- sity, life, or what-have-you. In this friendly atmosphere, exchanging ideas, gaining new skills, any thought of hardship in the world around us is excluded. However, the conversation of our elders, constant articles in the press, and in- numerable little details in our school life remind us that there is a more serious side of life, with decreased wages and worse. Poverty and suffering are to be found in all parts of the world, and our country is no exception. In Western Canada, more than in our own part of the country, there is widespread distress. Two years ago, the farmers there had no crops, last year, when they had, they could find no market for them. However, the Government- that is, indirectly, the people of Canada-has taken distinct steps to alleviate their suffering. Strictly avoiding the dole, the Government has adopted a system of relief, not support, for the stricken farmers. This new natidnal consciousness of responsibility for our less fortunate neigh- bours is a very good reason fozr oonlfidewnce in our future. Many times in the past there have be-en'period's of difficulty in the West, but always we have said to our- selves, Well, that's unfortunate, and wefre very sorry, but if they can't manage their busiiiess well enpugh to earn a living from it, tlfatfs their misfortune. Per- haps we were not as bluntly cruel als that, but we used words to that effect. Ift, is no longer thus. We feel now that their distress is our distress, fellow Canadians, theynare to Benhelped to the limit of our ability in times of need. We a-re all one- one in faith, one in hope alnd one in charitfy. Canada, from ocean to ocean, has grown through suffering into a great brotherhood. Thirteen 'years ago end'ed wljat was perhaps the greatest physical trial in the histebry of our country and of the world: we are noiw facing a trial less picturesque and dlramatic, but no less severe. W. E. Ptenley in one of his poems, Invictus, has a nobly ringing passage which runs, Under the bludigeonings of Chance, my head is bloody, but unb'owed. Let us maintain that tradition which has for years been proclaimed. Then, just as d'awn comes witlh hope to the storm tossed mariner, so there is for us, if we search, a dawn of hope and con- fidence in the future. . -NORMAN FARROW, IV C.

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I.. S. C. I. ORACLE 19 medium of radio we hear distinguished men of different creecls and nationalities. By means of motion pictures we can see and hear people on the other side of the globe. Surely with such an opportunity to understand and appreciate our fellow men, there is no excuse for narrow-mindedness or racial prejudice. In this way, the radio and motion pictures are two important factors in our enlightenment. Of course, all that is heard over the radio, and all that is shown on the screen, is not an asset in character moulding. In the same way, all the people with whom we come into Contact in our daily activities, do not exert a desirable influence on us. Therefore, the youth of today must choose those influences which will be most beneficial to him. If he choose well, the product of his work will be even more wonderful than that of the ancient potter. -HUGH THOMPSON. GREETINGS Once more the ORACLE has spoken! Once more out of the chaos of paste clippings and type has arisen the finished product-a magazine of which we may all be proud. We, the editor and staff of last year's humble publication, send greet- ings and congratulations to the editor and staff of the new ORACLE, and wish them all the luck in the world. We know what the production of such a publica- tion entails and we are more and more impressed with the high calibre of this year's staff when we peruse its contents. I think a word of thanks to all those connected with last year's ORACLE would not be out of place here. We certainly received no end of encouragement and assistance from every section of the school, and I feel sure that the editor and staff of this magazine must have been glad to know that whatever they did, they had the whole South Collegiate behind them. There were a few noteworthy things about last year's magazine which we love to recall. One was the contribution box. It was certainly a perpetual source of amazement, and its opening each night became an event. For, when the lid came off, our eyes rested on a most indescribable array of objects. Chewing gum, peanut shells, rubber bands, erasers, pencil stubs, and coppers-I must say the ORACLE staff were amply reimbursed financially for their pains. If we had saved some of last year's kind donations, we might have weathered the depression better. However, the past is past, and on the threshold of the future we see a long line of ORACLES, moulded by capable hands, governed by worthy pilots, each one surpassing the other, and striving for that perfection which, though it may never be achieved, is the goal to which we set our course. Best of luck, and long live the ORACLE! W. A. N. L Editor-in-Chief, 1930. Tl-ns ISSUE By NORMAN FARROW The approach of Christmas brings this year, as usual, the bane of our lives, examinations. We hope, however, that the advent of this year's ORACLE will lessen the agony somewhat. We have several new features which we hope you will like. First, of course, some mention must be made of the cover. There was so much favorable comment on last year's design that it has been retained, but the embossing, we think, adds in richness and beauty. This year, we have for the first time attempted a Latin Page, try translating it--it is really not nearly as dead as some think. Our Exchange Department is this year a distinct departure from anything we have done before. The individual photographs of the teaching staff, the fifth form, and the rugby squads, taken by Mr. Ireland, add, in our opinion, a personal touch often lacking. But above all, we are proud of our song, the first to be presented by the Oracle. We, the editorial staff, have tried to keep the whole magazine up to the standard set by previous 'staffsg it is for you to judge the degree of our success or failure. . - 1