Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School - Echoes Yearbook (Peterborough, Ontario Canada)

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f f ?.-9:1 , fl-LPLQQ1,-, f ' 'L wif 0 THE EC if . E5 communicate with her by means of a writing enclosed in a small cocoanut shell which was attached to a tiny sail, and Koong-Shu replied in these words, scratched on an ivory tablet: Do not wise husbandmen gather the fruits they fear will be stolen? and sent them in a boat to her lover. Chang, by means of a disguise, entered the mandarin's garden, and succeeded in carrying off Koong-Shu. The three figures on the bridge represent Koong-Shu with a distaff, Chang carrying a box of jewels, and the mandarin following with a whip. The lovers escaped, and lived happily ever after in Chang's house on a distant island until, after many years, the outraged wealthy suitor found them out and burnt their home, when, from ashes of the bamboo grove, their twin spirits rose, Phoenix- like, in the form of two doves. The original English rendering of the willow pattern was designed and en- graved by Thomas Blinton for Thomas Turner of Caughley in 17805 and specimens are generally marked with a crescent in blue under glaze filled in, the letter C in various forms, and the letter S sometimes associated with a small cross or cross swords. In addition to the story or first pattern there are other willow pattern designs, all Oriental and all equally interesting, some have one man, some two men on the bridge, and all of them have a willow in a prominent position. These patterns, copied from porcelain which was so largely imported from China at that time, were engraved between 1780 and 1790 by Minton and his assistants. One of the first of the designs was the pagoda or second period pattern, made for Josiah Spode. A conventional border used with this design is the butterfly', border. It seems to have been made by Hrst drawing a butterfly as Nature made it, and then, by the use of petals and fish-roe motifs conventionalized. Between the butterfly and separating it, is the sceptre made up of curved lines, which are filled in with trellis pattern. The lattice pattern, on the rise of the plate, is also somewhat different from the Caughley design. The third willow pattern period dates from 1800-1830. during which time most English factories, and several Continental ones, made use of it in various forms, and during this time it was not unusual to find specimens marked with the Staffordshire knot, this device being also used on the top of covers in place of, or round, the knob. Following the prevailing fashion. Wedgwood used the willow pattern. Pieces marked VVedgwood and bearing this decoration, are to be met with. The pattern is a faithful copy of the Caughley pattern, except in two particulars-namely, the fret of the fence and the number of apples on the tree, Wedgwood's plate having thirty-four and the dishes more. There are other renderings of the willow pattern, such as Davenport, Clews, and Swansea. All of them are more or less alike, but with slight differences in detail, which materially add to the collectoris interest. The Swansea willow', pattern was transfer-printed in dark and light blue. also in black and brown. In addition to the larger pieces generally met with, many small and dainty specimens were made, such as leaf dishes, soup and sauce ladles, and also pretty little pickle dishes, all of them are still to be picked up at a moderate price. Isabel Skitclz, H. A. III. -39-

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THE 5594335 Slxting O'er snow clad Helds up hill and down VVe wend our way, forsake the town, Glad to be free as the winds that blow, Glad to feel the touch of snow. And we gaze at the beauty of all around, As it sparkles and Hutters to the ground. To cover the earth with its mantle so white- Small wonder our hearts are so filled with delight. For the beauty gives looks and feelings that dart Like rays of sunshine into our heart. Nature's enchantment it is that thrills, That crowds out our cares, our woes and our ills. If you would Care for this kind of at thrill And be not afraid of a bump or a spill, Don your warm garments and try out the breeze, You'll enjoy to the full a jaunt on your skis. I lllargaret Illorgan, Form III H. pt. Ghz willow 'fflattern HE collectors and admirers of earthenware and porcelain, dceorated with the willow pattern, have ber-ome very numerous. Who has not heard the fascinating little poem: Two Pigeons flying high. Chinese vessels sailing by. Weeping willow hanging o'f-r Bridge with three men--if not four: Chinese temple, see it stand. Looking over all the land. Apple tree with apples on, A pretty face to end my song. There are several versions of the rhyme, but this is the form in which it was taught to many people. The little poem isn't the only story connected with the willow pattern: tradi- tion ascribes the scenes depicted to incidents in the love story of a beautiful C'hint-sc maiden. Koong-Shu was the daughter of a wealthy mandarin, and loved Cllang, her father's Secretary. The mandarin, who wished his daughter to marry a wealthy suitor, forbade the marriage, and shut his daughter up in an apartment on the terrace of the house which is seen in the pattern to the left of the temple. From her prison Koong-Shu uwatched the willow-tree blossom, and wrote pot-ms in which she ex- pressed her ardent longings to he free ere the peach lmloomed. Cflutng inznmgf-tl lu .31-

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THE I HGH. ES Yvooks OOKS are of great value to us. not only as a pastime but also as a means of increasing our knowledge of world customs and policies. It is therefore, advisable that we should read not only as many of the best books as possible. but also those that appeal to us. One of the most outstanding books of the last year is hI1'. J. B. Priestley's English Journey. hlr. Priestley, a popular novelist a11d comic writer, has written a compelling account of, What one man saw. and heard, and felt. and thought. during a journey through England. in the Autunm of 1933. His journey. by bus, train and tram carries him through the big industrial centres of the Blidlands, to the north-eastern coal mines and shipbuilding yards. He describes with vivid reality the idle factories and mills. declining trades, rusting ships and waste lands. The views of' landscapes. cathedrals, great houses and parks are all that remain of England's past to delight him. He finds the newer England has lost its character and is far too standardized. English Journey is entirely devoid of fiction, but nevertheless should prove an interesting book to the general reader. European Journeyf, a book. similar to English Journeyu and written by Sir Philip Gibbs. is an interesting and revealing account of the author's tour of France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. He finds that the general com- plaint of the people of these countries is the burden of heavy taxation and war debts. Sir Philip Gibbs travels through countries where dictators rule and youth is restless. If you read In the Steps of the Meister by H. V. Blorton, you will find that there is still one country in the world which has not undergone the radical changes that so many of the other countries of the world have undergone. This book. which is a moving and colourful description of Palestine. outlines the author's tour of that country. Mr. 1Iorton shows the reader that. spiritually. the Palestine of today is the same as the Palestine of nineteen centuries ago. He views the past continuously. as the characters of history loom up before him. This book although well-written does not contain enough action to appeal to the majority of readers. Beverley Nichols. the author of Cry Havoc. has written a very entertaining book entitled A Village in a Valley. This book is the story of the village of All- ways. and its more interesting inhabitants, llr. Nichols describes real people in a real place. The descriptions are delightful and should be appreciated by those who enjoy their gardens. In order to conclude this review in a lighter mood, I wish to call attention to Brinkley BIanor by DIL P. G. VVodehouse. In all probability this book is better known by the English title, 'tRight-ho. Jeeves. llr. VVodehouse with his re- markable faculty for knowing not only what people say, but what they would like to say, again brings the incomparable Jeeves to the foreground. Jeeves and Bertie Wooster are at their best. The excellent humor makes this book one of the out- standing Jeeves sagas. C'on.9fa1zce Gibbons, Sp. Com. -33-