Pelham Continuation School - Pelham Pnyx (Fenwick, Ontario Canada)

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THE PELHAM PNYX 25 the stage and the director introduced him with the words: 'lLadies and Gentle- men, I give you Mr. Paul Bender. With a slight flickering of the crystal I was carried away to a newspaper oihce and before my eyes I read the column headed: ADVICE To THE LovELoRN Dear Miss Heartbrokenz- You say your boyfriend has left you for another, Try to forget. Turn your thoughts to work. Yours very faithfully, Elsie Van. Dear Bob: By all means ask her to marry you. If she loves you as much as you say I'm sure she will accept. Yours very faithfully, Elsie Van. I was then taken to a pretty beauty salon and an equally pretty young miss was saying, Now, madam, would you like a curl swirled on top of your head with the hair high at the back or a softer effect with several smaller curls around the face. These words were spoken by Miss Julia Dilts as she brushed and combed and patted and puffed each curl into place. The lady to whom she was speaking was none other than Mrs. John Middleston, form- erly Miss Margaret Strawn, wife of the richest man in town and a prominent socialite. The next picture revealed to me was one of great solemnity. The beams of glorious sunlight shone through the crystal windows of a great cathedral. The audience seemed scarcely to breathe as they listened to the concluding words of their pastor. The closing hymn was announced and the final anthem filled the church. The members slowly tiled past their minister, the Rev. W. E. Colcock, and each in turn received a few comforting words. A cosy little tea room with tiny tables and dotted Swiss curtains was in- deed an inviting picture. The crystal confessed the secret that it was owned and operated by Miss June Whan. The following scene was however, not quite so happy, for a voice was pitifully moaning, Ch nurse, nurse, get the doctor! Quick! Oh my head! Now, sir, you will be all right, just take this medicine. These words were spoken by none other than Miss Victoria Ned, who, clad in a white uniform, held the hand and stroked the fevered brow of many a patient. A scene of great speed and excitement followed this and a familiar voice saying, Yes sir, we will be glad to take a contract for a million dollars worth of your latest tires. The man speaking was Mr. Donald Metler, head manager of the firm Metler and Company, Limited, manufacturers of the famous won- der Puncture Proof Tires. Once again I saw a great stage before me and a thrilling soprano voice singing Hendeilsteinie Mesintalto in Bb. Amidst shouts of joy and great applauding Miss Eva Secord was showered with flowers for the greatest per- formance she had ever given. A flickering and then, Now ladies and gentleman, you are about to see the greatest act ever to be performed, John Wiley, known to everyone as johnny the Mightyfis going to rope the most dangerous bull in all Texas and he is going to do it with one hand tied. He's getting ready and there he goes! ! ! We sure wish him lots of luck. This scene is one of great learning so we are carried away to a school room. Teacher is saying: Children, we are going to learn a pretty new poem, now all listen carefully while I repeat it. Yes, Johnny, what is the matter? Please, Miss Guinn, I know a poem too. A faint sigh seemed to tell us that joy was quite at a loss as to what to do with problem children.

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24 THE PELHAM PNYX HAPPENINGS IN THE NIGHT By Elsie Smith, GRADE XII WHEN Mr. and Mrs. Webster left after having put the children to bed, I settled down for an enjoyable evening of listening to the radio and of reading. While I was thus absorbed-one ear cocked for noises upstairs-I heard a strange scraping, then a tapping sound-or at least so I thought. Turning down the radio, I sat still for about three minutes, the strangeness of the house and the dark settling in around me. I shivered, and deciding it was my imagination, turned up the radio. Having delved into my book again, I was lost to my sur- roundings when suddenly a terrific crash resounded and broken glass tinkled. That, I exclaimed, is the last straw! It sounded as though it came from the cellar. I stood looking at the cellar door, undecided and shaking at the knees. A cellar at its best isn't inviting -a strange cellar in the dark is terrifying. Flinging the door open suddenly, I called out in a quavering voice: Who-who's d-down t-th-there? No answer! Gaining a trifle more courage, I descended about three steps when something started making a funny screeching noise. I flew back up the stairs and sat down on the nearest chair,-shaking and in a cold sweat. What- ever it was could just stay down there! After awhile my curiosity got the better of me. Switching on all the cellar lights and taking a flash-light in my hand, I crept down-step by step. Tread- ing lightly, I stealthily poked my flash-light into all the nooks and crannies. Then, to my horrowfsomething in the far corner moved. It came towards me slowly and relentlessly. It was a walking cardboard box! I was rivetted to the floor. Suddenly it stopped moving forwards, and went around in circles until I became fairly dizzy watching it. Then it stopped, and a yipping whine issued from its depths. I lifted the box and there sat Tod, the pup, looking woebegone but relieved! UPPER SCHOOL FROLICS OF 1945 By Marion Mitchell, GRADE XIII EXACTLY one month ago to-day the telephone rang on a drowsy afternoon in late August and a low voice asked if I would like to attend the reunion of P. C. S. Upper School Class of the year '4o. His name Gordon Beamer, place, his home, 182.3 East York Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, and date, Sept. 2.8. This was Sept. 18, 1945, and I ,comfortably seated in a train watching field after field dizzily swoop by. Suddenly I became a gypsy, seated before a crystal and one by one the fortunes of fellow students were revealed. Turning my crystal ball a swanky New York Costume Shoppe took form and a saleslady saying, This little model is simply superb, just what you were thinking of, an iceberg blue satin gown and ermine wrap, a design straight from Paris. The petite girl turned this way and that. Even with her hair now quite long, no one could mistake her to be any other than Marion John- son, and now with a few light floating steps she had disappeared. Another turn of the ball and the curtainin a San Francisco theatre rose once again for the actors and actresses to answer its call. The play was a tre- mendous success. The leading man came' forward to take his final bow amidst shouts and thundering applause. The spotlight followed him to the front of

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26 THE PELHAM PNYX Music came faintly to my ears and, Si Senorita, Si, melodiously filled the silent night air as Paul Tokar, strummed his guitar and sang to the fair lady silhouetted in the moonlight. Room 313 of the National Broadcasting Company sounded the signal for the commencing of the program for Tiny Tots, With a familiar voice and an also familiar nursery rhyme, 'Old Mother I-Iubbardf the children were called to fifteen minutes of entertainment. The songstress was Miss Gwen Mitchell and the program sponsored by Welcome Breakfast Food. A room entirely different from the former was of pure white, Your diet, Mrs. Ceterlsburg, will consist of one glass of milk, 7.50 caloriesg one slice of rye bread, ISO calories, and some plain fruit. This expert advice was given by Miss Margaret Tuck, head dietician of the West Street Hospital. A spacious newspaper oFfice, in fact the head ofiice of the World Times, edited by Gordon Beamer, was indeed an entirely different place. Glancing through the columns my eyes rested on one in particular, the one headed En- gagements, and I read: Mr. and Mrs. William Julian wish to announce the engagement of their only daughter, Glenna, to Sir Cedric Alexander Rinehart. The wedding will take place at the Rinehart castle in Scotland in late June. With a few dots, dashes and the customary time signal, Mr. Edgar Ker, announced, The time is now exactly II :go p.m., courtesy of Wincox Watch Time. Your station, CWXZ, and now we are signing off for our daily broad- cast is completed. I woke up with a start and discovered I was still seated in the very same seat, in the very same train, the only exception being the porter shouting: Next stop, Ottawa! Next stop, Ottawa! I had arrived. K at 2 a ! Q 1-:- un- -,::.- ' ',,...1-a- I-25,4 J-- - 2 egtvrepg 1 r-.-T g , f qfi' j?jlflGle.aEI nenemeerd