Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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THE VOYAGEUR 27 Random Comment NEW custom has been introduced this year in the holding of formal dinners at which addresses were given by distinguished speakers. Mrs. Shore, Mr. and Mrs. Widdrington, and Mr. Blackstock supplemented the pro- gramme by musical selections. We were pleased to entertain friends of the school on these occasions. The first of these events was in honor of Mr. Robson who spoke of his varied experiences on his world-wide travels. Canadian poetry gained our high esteem when Mr. Pratt told us in verse exciting adven- tures of Newfoundland's sealing fleet. In all, the formal dinners were ex- tremely successful, and happy memories will always remain in our minds. Illustrated lectures were given by Mr. Geldart on Y.M.C.A. work in Korea, Mr. Crocker on the importance of the Olympic games, and Mr. McKechnie on the pictorial story of evolution. Dramatic interest was fostered by the play of 'tJulius Caesar at the Royal Alexander, and A Midsummer Night's Dream presented by the Hart House Company at the Newmarket High School, which the Matriculation students attended. The whole school was present at the skating carnival given by the members of the Granite Club at the Newmarket Arena in aid of the Hospital Fund. To Lady Eaton, we are indebted for the visit of M. Confidat whose amus- ing antics entertained and acquainted us with a short cut to modern languages. A new insight into the meaning of art was gained when Mr. Lismer con- ducted some thirty of the students through the Grange Art Gallery, on the trip to Mr. Scott Malcolm's recital. VVe will also remember this occasion by our meal in the Great Hall at Hart House. The Fifth Form Biology class wishes to express its grateful thanks to the donor of the splendid specimen of the feline tribe. whose appearance and fragrance quite overcame the ardent devoteesof science in their dissection. The Matriculation t'victims of last June would like to express their ap- preciation of the fine way in which Brother Anselm, the Presiding Officer con- ducted the final examinations. . Much valuable advice and assistance was gained from the vocational talks, for which Mr. Statten arranged last spring.

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26 THE V-OYAGEUR Wider Horizons INCE we are living somewhat aloof in our own separate community, there is a tendency for us to ignore the great events that are taking place in the world outside us. Our own immediate interests assume so great proportions in our perspective that we forget we in the future will be called upon to face intelligently the stupendous problems that harass nations, cause international strife, and create irreparable grievances. Most of the mistakes that nations have made have arisen from the fact that the majority of their citizens have been too engrossed in their own petty affairs to give a thought to the wider interests of the state. Let us then prepare ourselves, now that we have the time and the opportunity to develop a broad, unprejudiced outlook, to assume the full responsibilities of the citizenship that is ours. One of the greatest condemnations that has been made of the modern age is that our social evolution has not kept pace, with our scientific development. Mediaeval selfishness has persisted, and has acquired powers of alarming pro- portions. Wealth is becoming more and more concentrated on the few who have the .peculiar ability to amass it and to exploit it, poverty oppresses the masses and denies to the pauper one of the basic rights of man, the right of moderated self-expression. Nations squander their resources on war, inflate their citizens with self-destructive patriotism, and defy the unfailing retri- bution reserved by nature for those who flaunt her eternal laws. Yet reform, slow to perform her titanic changes, is slowly moulding the fabric of the nations' wants, and seers in every country are awakening to the far-off visions of a land where men shall live as brothers, and happiness, like the gentle beams of the calm moon, shall bathe the people of the world in radiances of joy and understanding. -H. B. C. The Graduates OCKEY and basketball seasons are over. Rugby is only reminiscent. Now . comes warm weather. baseball, tennis, andi- the stiff silence of examin- ation time with wailings and meanings of the futility of crammings in these last, sultry hours. Examinations will come and go, but one thing that will not go is the memory of Pickering. It is all right for those, who are going to return to go away for the summeriwith gay farewells. But those that will no longer participate in Pick- ering's activities are not so gay in bidding their adieux. Those that probably will never see the Colonial pillars of our school again, have no small lot in leaving forever. Bright days are with us at last. We lie on the grass studying, play tennis and baseball in the bright, warm sun. We take part in the closing exercises, pack up and leave. You, who are returning, can leave without emotion. Oc- casions sueh as that of Davison, plunging through for a touchdown, of Peace stick-handling up the ice for a goal, of Mason scoring innumerable baskets, of our defeats also, of the revelry of our At-Home, these are yours for a while longer, but to us they are lost. We will only be able to hear the faint starting of P-I-C-K-ll and then everything will be lost in a dream. It will only be the locomotive yell in that, it will take us to distant thoughts. Inasmuch as we do not like to think of it, we must depart, only hoping that some day we may return to see the school, the campus, the surroundings where once we spent so many enjoyable days. -LB,

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28 THE VOYAGEUR HE congratulations of the students of Pickering are extended most heartily to our former Chemistry Master, Arthur Williamson. Art', has for the past year been pursuing his studies at Princeton with a view to obtaining his doctorate in Chemistry. Last season his work was of such a high calibre that he was awarded the Dunlop Fellowship. Besides its considerable monetary value, this fellowship is no mean honour and represents a high standard of scholastic attainment. We are all very proud of Art, and we know that this is only the beginning. There has been a great deal of criticism about the modern generation, and most of it is certainly justified. Young fellows nowadays seem to have lost that sense of balance which was such an outstanding characteristic of the last generation. Our fathers knew how to handle the old buck-board wagon even on Fair Days and during Old Home Week. To-day, youth is in a class of bungling incompetence by itself, and can't even manipulate a modern gas wagon on a county road without causing concern on every hand. The only solution is for some real old time preacher to give the youth a rousing exhor- tation. A suggested text is, Go ye out into the highways and the byways and compel them to come in. ' A recent visitor to the school was Mr. Poul Bai, Toronto Conservatory of Music. After dinner he provided a varied vocal programme which was heartily appreciated. His informality of manner and keen sense of humour delighted his youthful audience who are clamouring for a speedy return of this outstand- ing Toronto vocalist. Under the able coaching of Mr. Rourke and Blackie preparations are well under way for a track and field meet on Monday, June 3rd. The grounds should look their best and it is hoped that the weather-man will favour us so that the visitors will enjoy this spring at-home to the utmost. A team from the school will compete at the Barrie Inter-scholastic meet on June Sth. With such material as we have already in condition and with new stars coming into our horizon the school should make a good showing.