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

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EYES AND EARS OF SOUTH We learn from a reliable source that Mr. Calvert is organizing a clam-racing club. To become a member it will be necessary to supply your own clams. It is stated that the course will be a given number of turns around a large fish bowl on Mr. Calvert's desk. Clams which attempt to take short cuts across the bowl will be disqualified. Racers will be per- mitted to encourage their clams in any Way they please. However, the infiiction of pain to the rear end of a clam, unlike sim- ilar treatment to other animals, causes an instantaneous and aggravating cessation of movement, which may continue for hours, during which time the animal rivals may cover several inches, thereby giving the poor creature a really discouraging handicap. An alarm clock has been offered to the officials for timing the specimen. The chief difficulty to be overcome in this great venture is that no one has yet offered to wind the clock during the race. The purchase of an eight-day clock, how- ever, may overcome this. :li Pk PF Mr. Armstrong recently promised dire penalties to anyone caught chewing gum in his classrooms. We would suggest that the honored Mr. Armstrong place a waste basket under each desk for the convenience of students. Mr. McNeil, on the contrary, has never been known to discourage the practive. It has been suggested that he holds shares in the Wrigley Company. A budding genius recently presented Mr. Ireland with a fiorence flask containing a blown-up balloon. Determined not to be outdone, this gentleman burst eleven balloons, one after the other, trying to push them into one fa fiorence flask while blown upj. His inventive genius finally came to the rescue, and he placed a tea- spoonful of baking powder and a little water in a balloon, corked it, and pushed it into the flask before it had time to blow up. Unfortunately the quantity of baking powder was more than sufficient and the cork flew out, wounding the august gentle- man in two places feye and feelingsj. SOUTH C. I. SENllOR AT HOMIELN It seems each year that the f'At Home is better, and last year the At Home held on Friday, February the fourth, was cer- tainly no exception. It was the best yet. The programme, which began at eight- thirty in the auditorium, was most enjoy- able. Among the numbers was a dance by Netta Morrison to start things, followed by a humorous skit put on by a few of the boys, Shot at Sundown. Bill Hartry favored us with a selection on his clarinet, and last but not least, a more serious play was presented, The Favour of Lady Leonefi starring Libby Pegg and very ably directed by Mrs. Carr-Harris. After this part of the programme we adjourned to the gym. which was decorated in metallic gold and midnight blue and transformed into a magnificent ballroom. As we entered we could scarcely remember it as the bare, bleak room where we play basketball, swing on rings and do stunts. In the gymnasium, all the girls received as favours a box of Hunt's chocolates. The St. Thomas Royal Collegians furnished grand music and we had numerous novelty dances. It was a great evening. All were dressed in their best, their faces beaming with joy, and before they left they silently, if not loudly, voted the At Home a huge success. We must not forget those behind the scenes who worked for weeks to put this over. Those in charge were: Mr. Arm- strong, convener, and his committee. Frank Kunz, Bus Wideman, Bill Hartry, Marny Pegg, Lucille Morrison, Keith Coates, Orian Orchard and Nora McEwing. -PEGGY ELLWOOD, IH D. fi Z . A . 6' ,nf ' . . X, w rs page thirty-five

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Editors, DORIS BLACKALL, VA. and TOM FAUST, VB. SCHOOL NIEIWS JJ JND don't we love it, the social part of our school life, as well as the inside dope. When I say gg j v j dope, I mean good jokes that only a few know about each other. This year. THE ORACLE has featured school news and short stories. As a matter of fact. there is no limit to school news. It includes anything and everything, so don't be surprised or puzzled at anything you may find in the following pages. Whatever it is. it's original and has been done by the students. As you read through the pages, no doubt you will perceive, in many cases, that school spirit and loyalty have been especially stressed. This is not for reading matter nor bluff, but it comes natural to everyone, as well as those who contribute articles. An under-current of pride, and perhaps affection, has come to the surface here and there, and we in the school know it is sincere and would like to shout it to the world. In school news we have tried to give you a summary of our social life and school fun and the talent of a few of our students. Even a small place has been reserved for gossip and scandal of a few who will be mostly affected by it. In this section, any- one is allowed to express their opinion on school matters and such, to a certain degree. We, the editors, have enjoyed our work, and truly hope you will be interested and receive some of the spirit put into it. -DORIS BLACKALL, V A. I... S. C. fl. ORATORY Once more South students excelled themselves in the realm of public speak- ing. Each year the students of the various forms are given an opportunity to demon- strate their ability in Oratory, and this year the competition was exceptionally keen. These contests offer a very benefi- cial training to the students, and in this way help in producing respectable and worthwhile citizens. After preliminaries had been held, two contestants were chosen from each :lec- tion. In the Junior Girls' contest Frances Winters spoke on The Marvellous Story of Hydro, and Jessie Williams chose as her subject. Pioneer Life in London. Both these girls were in first year and are to be congratulated on their splendid achievement. In the Senior Girls' contest, Ruth Dona- hue had as her subject What Shall I Read ? while Dorothy Cameron gave an interesting account of The National Playground. In the Junior Girls' division Frances Winters was awarded the Wortley Road Mothers' Club medal, and Ruth Donahue was presented with Dr. A. E. Santo's medal in the Senior Girls' division. In the Junior Boys' contest Roy Deven- page thirty-four ish presented the subject, What Is Suc- cess? while Gordon Jeffery discussed the question, What Shall I Read? In the Senior Boys' contest, Osborne Littleford had as his subject, Our Debt to Ancient Greece, while John Kidd chose as his, The Preservation of Our Forests. The Tecumseh School Mothers' Club presented their medal to Gordon Jeffery, and in the Senior Boys' contest, John Kidd was presented with Wendell Holmes' medal. It has been the custom of the school that the winners in the contest of the pre- vious year may challenge winners of the following year's contest, and this year two of last year's winners made use of this privilege. Jean Axford, Senior Girl win- ner of 1932, having as her subject, Galileo, challenged Ruth Donahue, who was successful in retaining her title. Wilfred Dicks, winner in Junior Boys' contest last year, who had as his subject, The Heavens Filled with Commerce, was successful again this year. All these speakers spoke in an admir- able manner and deserve the whole- hearted support and congratulations of the school. -EVELINA THOMPSON, V A. THE ORACLE

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CRANE QNoun, Verb or Adjective'?J .- ff5sT OLO. in Betchasquaniland, a ,iff revolution was in progress. ttf The village population was PM 'tj'ii'g-gg there in its entirety, which, since Olo is not in a thickly populated district. did not reach alarming propor- tions. The crowd, in fact, consisted of three important-looking gentlemen, very much gone to seed. three equally anti- quated women, and twenty-odd urchins. According to the standard adopted in most European countries, the group pos- sessed about enough clothes among them to exchange with the rag-and-bone man for a pink-and-yellow balloon. As far as I am concerned, the balloon would be preferable, but then, of course, I am prejudiced. At this point I might say that the whole population was tinted a beautiful, rich, burnt sienna. Why they assumed this colour 1 am not prepared to say, they may have been born with it, or it may have accumulated. Ask a Pullman porter next time you patronize the railway. But, to return to the revolution: To be strictly correct, it was not a revolution at all, but a spasmodlc succession of revo- ILIUOHS. 252 54 Felix Baer, the wild-cat hunter, Was trekking through the country in his faith- ful steed, to wit, a 1919 Ford. For some obscure reason, this conveyance had de- cided to balk right in the centre of the main street of the village, and Was block- ing the right-of-way and spoiling the view. Since Mr. Baer's chariot was not blessed with any such up-to-date appen- dage as a self-starter, it was painfully necessary to cause its enlivenment by hand. Furthermore, since the crank had long since been worn out by previous ceremonies of this kind, he had resorted to the not-uncommon practice of hoisting the posterior end of the vehicle onto some convenient prop, thereby raising one hind wheel to an elevated position above terra iirma, and causing this useful accessory to revolve more or less vigorously, under the influence of muscular effort. page thirty-six f X After three or four dozen particularly vicious turns, a loud Pop emanated from the interior of the machine under treatment, and a quantity of black smoke proceeded from all its visible ventages, whereupon the villagers retreated hur- riedly fand with impunityl to a safe distance. Ford shuddered and was still. This appeared to be an encouraging sign, however, for Mr. Baer redoubled his efforts. They were soon rewarded. The ZX fi-R ff .X '. ffl . .I .. . , f- N ff ' T NX revolutions acquired an undignitied haste, the body shook and jittered and roared. The radiator cap fell off in the excitement. Mr. Baer carefully adjusted the steering mechanism, and retrieved the radiator cap. Then, assuming an air of concen- trated preparedness, by means of a vicious pedal effort. he removed the prop from beneath the rear axle. A shower of sand enveloped the intrepid explorer, but this must have been expected, for he uttered no extreme ejaculations of surprise or anger. The populace again retreated. Since Felix' steed was not capable of a velocity much in excess of nine miles an hour, he soon overtook it, and managed to reach the accepted position at the cor- rect end of the control mechanism. Felix Baer was off on his quest for new worlds to conquer. Peace reigned again in Olo village. -OLIVER INGAMELLS, IIB. THE ORACLE