North Bay Teachers College - Polaris Yearbook (North Bay, Ontario Canada)

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North Bay Teachers' College ein n In n nu u u nn an nu un an nn In nu u n nu in -in--u u nu n n u nu u u u u u n e no n u u on gl. AN UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER She hecante a legend of the north. this exiled Russian princess. .X more hizarre person would he har-l to find. She was extremely thoughtful, kind and generous. She was friend and helper to all. Many times did she hring to her hoarding-house people less fortunate than herself. Lountless were the meals she served with no thanks except the grateful smile of those she fed. One person hec'une a frequent si ht at her 9 A hoarding-house. l'le had heen roughly thrown from the train some months hefore, She had taken him under her wing and fed and sheltered hiiu. lt was also a popular hehef that she had gruhstaked him. XX'hen fate smiled more kiitdly upon him, he was one of the few who rememhered her kindness and generosity. .Xs the gold mines were discovered one hy one, the collection of shacks hecaine a settlement and. even' tually, a town. She gave up her hoarding-house hut she did not go into ohscurity. livery man. woman, and child knew her. She never uuite mastered the lfnglish language and hecatise of this she didn't make friends so easily, as the town grew. l said she was hizarre and her appearance proved it. She was small in stature. hut wiry. lfrom my earliest recollection of her she had a deeply wrinkled face. ller eyes were a piercing hlue. 'l'hey shifted hack and forth. Nothing escaped her notice. She wore numerous skirts of varying lengths. materials. and colors,-layer upon layer of them. Ou her feet she wore hoots, many slZt's too large. She shuffled along, never lifting the too-large hoots completely off the sidewalk. ller approach was always heralded hy a meuagerie of whining, harking, growling dogs. Un inspection. and it didn't need to he too close, it was plain to see she had a distaste for soap and water. This was prohahly the main reason for the townspeople forhidding their children to hecome too friendly with her: and for the scurrying which took place to lock doors and draw hlinds when she was in the neighf hourhood. Her approach produced different effects on groups of children. l'lere she coiues. l.el's follow her. f'l.et's tease the dogs. lJon't let her reach you with that stick! Others ran away frightened. XYe lived on the outskirts of town and my mother never quite had the heart to turn her away after her long walk. So annually, and sometimes more often. we had a Visit from her and her dogs. Xk'ltel'et'er she went. they went. My mother read tea-cups, strictly for amusement, hut this old lady sincerely helieved everv woi'd. You tell me what to do with my stocks, she would ask. 'l'ell me ahout my son. 'l'hese were her favourite questions. She was confident that mother Could solve her prohletns hy her reading. Sotttelittles she would try to tell tis of her life. XYe learned that her son was a doctor in the l'nited States. lle was ashamed of her appearance and was afraid she would ruin him socially so he didn't hother with her. ller hushaud had died shortly after their escape from Russia. Because of her hrokeii lznghsh we missed much taht she told us, htit I always felt her life story would make interesting and exciting reading. XYe always re- served a Cllp for her hut that wasn't so easy to do with chairs and such. .Xfter she left we spent a husx half-hour airing out the kitchen and all parts of the house where her dogs had roamed. lfor all the hoiling that that cup took, it was amazing it lasted so long! She was a constant source of mystery to the people. Her home was a shack. She shared her living quarters with her dogs and some cluckeus. .Xt different times it was reported that she kept a cow. 'l'his. of course, was never proven. Xo health or sanitary inspector could get near enough to voice a complaint. She was a law unto herself! Her many visits to the local hanks were the hases for discussions 'uid veeu hets . ller source of income and her amount ot capital provided conversation in the hest of home 1 5. Her loyalty to the throne was unerlualled. Never was there a parade in the community that she didn't leadl livery step of the way she carried a heavy, gold-framed portrait of the King and Queen. She sent manv tokens to the little lrincesses, all of wlnch were graciously acknowledged. ller patriotism carried her a little heyond normal hounds when she employed lahout'ers to construct an an'-raid shelter. Un either side of the shelter she had hung pictures of the King and Queen. lt was a sad day for her when the shelter caved in. News of her illness left mingled feelings in its wake. ller doctor sou from New York flew to her heside hringing with lmn a special mu'se. lle installed her in a suite of rooms in the hest hotel. amid many protestations. lu open rehellion, at her first opportunity, sick as slte was, she marched home to her old -hack in her nightdressl She spent her last days happily, where she had spent the greater part tif her life. 'l'here were no family mourners, hut people, reinemheriug her kindness, caiue from far and near. Nlany were the floi'al trihutes. l hope that somehow she knew ahotit the procession and the trihutcs and found room in her heart to forgive those who had shunned her. She is truly a legend of the north! +ONA CASEN Signo Comes To Northern Ontario 'CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38t llello Siguanl - .Xt the sound of such a tender voice. Signa turned toward the sleigh, and tl.ere --.it the Iltltsl heautiful woman slte had ever seen! ,lust like the fairy princess her Nana had told her ahout: ,lttsf as sltt' had always pictured her own motherl .X longing smile flitslferl over Sigua's face and in qi nionieut slit' was snuggled under the friendly comforting rohes listening to the creak of the runners on the hard snow. .uid the hright ,iiugle of Queeuiels new hells as they rang out across the frosty stillness. .Xs the frist strains ttf a northern lullahy caressed her ears, slit' felt sure that the conductor had made a wise choice and her htart leapt with excitement as sltc whispered 'l'hauk you to her new mother. I-rout tht- station. glie friendly eouduetor watched the sleigh race into the starry night. .ind its he wand. he felt coufulent that a loving and exciting future lay ahead for little Signa of Xorway. -Mrowicwrstwc f-ffxwkists F-XGL ii'

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NortI1 Bay Teacliers' College 4 i- X TR I tt l n ll nu lu I lu nu ll nu un gl ,sl l ks..-.? +T- fit 55 ,lx ui -S, S - 'TT-1.4 S 1 ln., 2 -gg .ik - 4 44 Y 1 . XY' i i . I wt tnfl gaze xi tx all Lfllltlllkfl hx it hiielx ot th In h:,.- - S --n W- wr H E 4 f Y SIGNA COMES TO NORTHERN ONTARIO 'I large, eurionf, hlue eyes peepecl cautiously over the winclow' Ietlge of the jolting passenger ear fl with rapture at the still, sparkling. northern evening whieh stretched lllVltlllg'ly hefore theni. Siena . 's vawtnew anfl the Curious thoughts of her new honie that she tllllllit hear the warning' e powerful engine or teel the train jerk to a wtantlstill. une along little Mis, Siggna. Your new hlillllil antl I'apa will he waiting for you. Conte along' now. 'I nt he frii4Iitene4I. 1 qefl up into the eonrluetork frienflly faee anil winiletl. Ile would look after her, R - he wonlfl 5l lIt Itltrl tt thatiher new parentx woulfl he kinrl. HacIn't he helyeil her get nettlerl when she first got on the train? II whit he NIIUXYUII her In the flllllllg-CHI' ancl given her an extra stoop of ice ereani on her apple pie? Qu ielqlx Nhe tuekefl her flaxen Ill'ZilfIS unfler her It innet, fawtenecl her eoat, anrl gatherecl up her neat little it-Iset anfl tht- Iiuge lflihle Nana hail given her hefore she left Norway. ' - inleling hlue night. Sigua felt strange anfl afraicl. XYhat woulcl her new parents thinlf Hut in tht tw Ifu thev tonnfl out Nlie eouI1In't wpealt their language? Nana hacl taught her to way thank you hut that was III Muna Ienew. I't-rliailt they wouhl Nenrl her hack. 4 then what would Hhe tlo? learn eanie to her eyes. anrl one rolletl ii ht to the very tip ul her noxe. She waw very inneh worriecl. I.ooI4. Xliwyf 'lihere he Isl 'I'Iu-re he ix f vour new papal Siena felt the exeitenient of her new frienrl anrl tnrnecl her eyes in t 1- 'Iirev ' in up io-t fI n I IIi.t Nh ,Wil T IRWIN 'I I III 'A . P 1 I tion he wax pointing. I'p the 5IlUX'VlltllllIfl platforni mtrorle a giant of a nian. Ilis fur jacket was tiehtl, aronnfl hix glowing' Iaee. anrl great pults oI white vapor trailetl hehintl hini Ironi heneath his nixtaelie. IIiN xniile warniefl the air arountl theni, anfl Siena reahyerl that this was to he her new -N rf-nu-inlu-refI what Nana hail taught her ahont lfanaflians, anrl IIIIIIICKIIQIICIY put out her right hanrl he xtranuer. Inxtearl of Shaking hanrlw with her, he whiwlxecl her into the air, haslcet and all, anfl l qi furry rolu' t'ru7IIy arounfl her. Sigua felt warni anfl happy in the arnis of her new Iapa as she oofIIij.e to her flear Irienfl the eonfluetor, hut what she wantefl niore than anything' else in the worlwl .tx uoofIIn.e In hini in his own language. - tiff, ifonnflefl the eorner of the stiiliull, a frienrlly whinny greeted theni. 'I'here stoorl a horse ancl -' iiileit' 1-ith hell'-' 'Ihe niare arehefl her neela anrl Iookefl haek at the new-eonler with nuiuiaitive I I. ,. . i. wht- -II 'ltIl1'1I her Soft velvet now towarfls the tiny figure, hut Signa junipecl haelc in alarni. eh iota 5, I.-r ruff. I'ali:i egtplainerl how Iiarnilew Queenie was, anrl although Signa eoulrln't unrlerstanrl ' ti' If It -More aufl if-ntnrefl a he-itant pat on the powerlul t'l'L'21Illl'l'IS foreleg. CE E 'CONTINUED ON PAGE 39' nu nu nn--ui ml ml ml ml llll llu lu ml lm ull ml VIII llll llll llll llu ml Ill ll0!0

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North Bay Teachers' College +I lu ll ll ll ll ll ll -ll ll ll ll ll ll ll II ll ln nl ll--ll ll ll Ill lu ll Il ll ll ll Il Il lu ll ll ll ln ll ll ll!! ON TO CANADA ! Many years ago. a tribe of Indians, the Potawatami, lived contentedly in what is now Minnesota and XYisconsin. They were a happy people and desired nothing more than to live in peace. Suddenly, a group of American men approached them. VVhen the interpreter stated the mission, the chief spoke, My brothers. the Americans demand that we leave our land, and go south to the Mississippi where they have land for us. The people responded as before, XYe do not want to go. NYe are happy here. One brave spoke. I will not go. for I've heard that the great river floods over, and it is too warm down there. Another ad- ded. There are snakes with legs that eat people: the flies are as big as birds. A general hum of voices was heard through the crowd, Our people cannot live there. XYe are staying right here. To this, the officers replied, If you will not come, then our soldiers will take you. XVe shall leave at sunrise in two days. After they had departed, one elderly man said, I am running away. Have you ever heard that our Indian friends in Canada have a large island, all their own? I am sure they will welcome us Cnc by UNC the others answered. I, too, will run away. Two days later a huge party was well on the way through the forest. It would be a tremendous jour- ney to Detroit. where they would cross the border and travel north to the great Manitoulin. Those who owned huge canoes, were already miles down Lake Superior. They sang songs and were happy. for the island would soon be reached. Towards evening, instead of the expected calm, the water became extremely rough. .-X message. 'Camp here for the night! rang out through the train of canoes. Then the panic-stricken voyagers realized they were hopelessly caught in the midst of a violent storm. There was no place for shelter, for high step rocks dipped directly into the foaming waters. Cries of agony sounded through the night as hundreds of men. women and children perished in the greatest disaster of their history. XYeeks later, a young man. the sole survivor, came upon a settlement, around Miehilimackinac. XYhere are the others? he asked, as he recognized a friend. They went on. the latter answered, They want to find the Manitoulin. but some of us stayed here because these people are friendly. The young brave replied, I want to find this island, too.', A Months of hard journeying followed. At each village he came upon, he inquired about his friends. .Nt last. Detroit was reached and here the lonely traveller found more of his fellow tribesmen. happily settled. XYhy don't you stay here with us? one asked. The land is rich and our fellow Indians are wealthy here. No, replied the first, I want to find the island which was given to the Ojibwaysf' Following his instructions he soon came upon another reservation at Cape Croker. You are almost there, the chief informed him. Your friends passed by many moons ago. It was only a matter of days. before he came upon the last fragment of the party, on a reservation on the east end of the Manitoulin Island. You are welcome here. the chief said, for we need more people for the land. Your friends are happy here. They have their own homes already. X great welcome was then prepared for the only survivor of the attempted canoe voyage. Their descendants today, are found on the same reservation on the Manitoulin Island. f '-YVONNE TRLJDEAU WHAT I LONG TO HEAR THE STREET Xuf flu' l'lf.YlI 11111f flu' f1't't111' -ll'i .'l HU' -Vfmliflllf flllfl 11111'rnqt1 5lr1'1'f ' - - lx'1111 Ill'j'l.llfl .Yfl't'l1lIIS of lllflflllmtl s111rzt', .llltl 1'iz'11lt'f5 flurf 1'1111 fn 11u't'f if .h.f7lll'A'lt' in flu' .r1111sef ylufzv. 'flu' .fft11'l1'11.r1.r refflz flu'i1' 'Z'lI1-CTS .v1'1u1 ffl r'l'1fit'1ls Ill fl rlfj' .vf1'1't'f, lfuf flu' full f1'1'4'.r Iltl7'lt't'IlI.Ilfl o':'1'1'l11'111l .l111l flu' .ruff .v111ul 11111fe1' feel. -YH' ffl? HH ef flll' fl1f'f'H!l .Ind all flu' t'411'fl1 is 'Zt'tIl'Ill ft'I.lll .hlf7l'l.ll.fl. ll lIt'l'l' flu' .vl1i11111.11 zt'1111ln'zt'.v 11lt'11111, Tlu'11 U'I't'l'lIl.Afll1f flu' .rfrvvf fl'lllISfUI'llIL'd lin! ll lgllllflklllllll fl'lljl in l1i.v 1'r'4'11 .Wfllfl Info tl szmrulmzfzzd nurse' of tellifv, .llul ll 1111r1'11111l'i1111 l11.5v sfri'f1111. Tlu' fU .l' l 'f'lI1' l ' 'Ulf mf' -YMV5 ' .lful .Yf'l't'tI!1' fllflllljlllllllf flu' sf111'111y 111'g1l1f. - 'l'lu' fold 'Vind frost' flu' Yfl't'tllIlY of ict' f1lll'lf.'f 'f.' I l ll.'l ,, ' T ' .' , '. H in ilu l. fm U 'll I x f'f . llu' zelziluv luxlz .rfzuuf flu' .VlIll'llII-US 2e111.1f, , . 'lilu' 'ivllnlt' .vfV1'a'f lay 1.11 llfclflllv i'lL'C Nl 'll' TVN , H' mf l'T 'f 1 l - .ls ll'i11ft'1' l'll1ft'lIl'tl flu' s11'11y1g1li1u1 S'f'1'1'11y1. X111 flu' flux! f1111l flu' cry l-'nl :.'l11f1' l11lls1111.vf.r Illlll flu' lflllfl .Yljlll -ROBERTA POLLOCK -BETTY ANN PAYNE F!-CE 40