Riverbend School for Girls - Vox Fluminis Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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VOX FLUMINIS 23 Margaret Graban, Pat and Peggy Mur- ray, Roberta Jean McQueen, Winnifred Ruth McIntyre, Louie Leistikow, and Kathleen Richardson know how much their contributions were appreciated. About twenty-iive senior girls have worked well and faithfully in the lib- rary at different times during the year and their assistance has been most wel- come. M.G.S. HOUSE NOTES HIS fall, with a larger enrolment in the school, it was decided that a new house should be formed. From each grade a certain number of girls drew by ballot for membership in this new house. At the first meetings held by the four houses an election of oflicers took place. In the new house not only were officers elected but a name was chosen by the new members, Nelson Nelson was chosen because it was a fort in Manitoba, just as were the other houses. Dark-blue and light-blue be- came the colors, reminding us of the old school colors. Douglas, Garry, Nelson, and York were unable to hold their annual house picnics last fall, because of the weather conditions. At Christmas time the houses sent out the usual hampers to needy families, and all were gratefully received. During the winter term house com- petition became very keen. The com- ing term, with its many outstanding events such as inter-house basketball play-offs, swimming meet, sports' day, and the lilac tea, is being eagerly awaited. R.J.M., C.B., M.H., M.B. . 1 SCHOOL CALENDAR 3rd Term-1936-37 Apr. '5-Maurine Stuart's recital. Apr. 7-School re-opened. Apr. 24-Miss Carter's tea for Marjorie . Gardiner and Marjorie Mc- Kinnell. Apr. 28-The Marjories left for the Coronation. Apr. 30-Junior Plays. May 7-Roller skating party. May 12-The Coronation. May 14-Old Girls' Day. May 19--Swimming Meet June 1--Lilac Tea. June 9-Kindergarten Closing. Grade X luncheon for the graduates. June 10-Dance for graduates. June 11-Closing and Prize giving. 1st Term-1937-38 Sept. 9--School re-opened. Oct. 30-Halloweien parties. Nov. 19-Basketball game with Rupers- land. Dec. 3-Basketball game with St. Mary's. Dec. 17--Grades 7, 8 and 9 play. Dec. 21-Christmas holidays. 2nd Term-1937-38 Jan. 7-School re-opened. Jan. 15-Old Girls' Luncheon. Feb. 18-Miss Johannsen's lecture Feb. 19-Alumnae Tea. Feb. 22-Grade 10 play. Mar. 4-Basketball game with St. Mary's. Mar. ll-French Party. Mar. 17-Basketball game with the Old Girls. Mar. 22-The Gymn display. Apr. 6-Coronation movies. Apr. 12-Junior Plays. Apr. 13-Easter Holidays. - THE OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE CORONATION TOUR PRIL 28, 1937, the day I had long y looked forward to, had arrived. The hours passed quickly and soon we were at the station where we found a large crowd had gathered to bid Bon Voyage to the Winnipeg girls leaving to join the Overseas Educational League Coronation Tour. The schools were well represented and the train pulled out amid hearty songs and cheers from classmates and friends. The great ad- venture had begun! Our train arrived late at its destina-

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22 ' VOX FLUMINIS the supreme monstrous dragon com- posed of Betty Best, Doris Moscarella, Shelagh Lear, and Helen McLean. The first of these was responsible for the beastis words of wisdom which re- placed the customary fire and smoke, while the latter provided a comical exit for the dragon. To Ann Colyer, who as the Chorus Man, exhibited her skill as an actress-we bow in deep admiration. Others in the cast were: Phyllis Hun- ter, Joan Harris, June Lear, Winnifred R. Mclntyre, Ruth Wilkinson, Marion Booth, Joan Sanderson, Elynor Crapper, Betty Jo McCarten, Janet Edgar, Carol Dahl, Margaret Winstanley, Joan Fran- cis, Audrey Tritt, Mona Shirley Paget, Marni Brooks, Florence McCurdy, Vir- ginia R. George, Elizabeth Gilchrist, Maureen Knights, Lorna Aikins, Esther Stronach, Doris Pelkey, Mary Carpen- ter, and Mary E. Edgar. C.H. THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH T happened, yes it did happen-on the evening of February 22nd, when the Cricket chirped softly into my ear the story of his life on the Hearth. He narrated it to me in his cheery way, as he did to so many other people in the crowded hall of Riverbend. The first person to appear in the Cricketis life was the faithful Story- teller, who acted as a true Dickens' character throughout his lengthy part. Dot and John Perrybingle, Tillie, the Baby, and Boxer, together, made up the happy scene typical of the quaint home life of which the Cricket grew so fond. Tackleton, the gruff toy merchant, up- set this happiness for a'while by his false accusations and disagreeable na- ture. Caleb and his poor blind daughter, Bertha, two pathetic characters, strug- gled through life as cheerfully as their wretched home and poor means per- mitted. Imperious Mrs. Fielding added a touch of humor, and her comely daughter, May, became the charming wife of Edward, now no longer the mysterious old gentleman. There were times fthe Cricket told meh when he didn't know what would have happened if thoughtful hands hadn't put the cribbage board or ger- anium plant where they were expected. He told me how much everybody en- joyed the extra bung-hole at the other end of the beer-keg. Then during the dinner when somebody forgot her cue, there was a pause. Suddenly the voice of Caleb boomed out, Have some more beer, John! This unexpected gener- osity compelled John to help himself. All ran smoothly after that. When the last chapter was happily finished and as the curtain slowly fell, I overheard the Cricket chirping softly to himself. Chirp the first- for the actors, Chirp the second- for all those who fitted out my home and made my friends look so real. Chirp the third-- for the one who directed us. Thus saith the Cricket. C.B. THE LIBRARY WANT to read this. Doesn't it look good? Oh, there are so many books here I want to read-so many new ones that I've heard about and wanted to read, and now here is the chance. That is what is being said in our library very frequently these days. The many new and interesting books are a great stimulus to the library business. The crisp new pages and the crackling stiff covers are so inviting, you find yourself practically compelled to take a book off the shelf. You begin to look at it and it attracts you to such an extent that you decide you simply cannot rest until you have read it to the last page. We are grateful to the kind friends who have been so generous to the lib- rary this year. May we especially thank Mrs. Douglas MacKay, Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Murray, Miss Palk, and Mrs. N. E. South for their beautiful gifts. Among our own Riverbenders Miss Gregory, Betty Newcombe, Margaret Powell,

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24 VOX FLUMINIS tion, Montreal, and there was barely time to greet our friends before we were hurried aboard the Duchess of Athol. Marjorie McKinnell and I found ourselves in a cabin with two girls from Ontario Ladies College, Whitby. The following days passed quickly, some- times pleasantly and due to sea-sick- ness, sometimes not so pleasantly. There were movies, concerts, deck games and group meetings to fill our days. Our first sight of land was Greenoch, Scotland. The following morning we docked at Liverpool and as you can well imagine there was great excite- ment. We boarded the train for Lon- don immediately and from the station there we were taken to a house in Tor- rington Square. The first evening in London we at- tended an illustrated Coronation lec- ture at the County Hall. After seeing pictures of the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, we were welcomed to England by Major Ney. Sunday afternoon we attended a beauti- ful service in St. Paul's Cathedral. Monday morning began our busy time in London. First, we visited Whip- snade Zoo. Our other visit that day was made to the General Post Office. The following day, May 12, was the highlight of our trip, but I will leave it to Marjorie McKinnell to tell you about it. One afternoon we visited St. Nicholas Church, Compton, one of the oldest in England, part of it having been built in Saxon times. Another afternoon we visited the British Broadcasting Studios. Two very important services were the Youth Rally at Royal Albert Hall where H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester and Prime Minister Baldwin spoke to us, and the Service of Youth at West- minster Abbey, where the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke to us. On one other occasion we had an op- portunity of visiting the Abbey. This time thirty of us were entertained at tea by Mrs. Bulloch, the Abbey organ- ist's wife. While we were there we were allowed to visit the Abbey Mu- seum. Another day was spent visiting the historical Hampton Court Palace, Wolsey, and then Kew Gardens. The hydrangea were in full bloom making the grounds a beautiful sight to behold. Next we saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace from within the gates. Another day we were given the unusual privilege of seeing Big Ben at close quarters. One week-end we spent in the historical town of Canterbury and visited the cathedral for two or three hours. On the 28th day of May we set off to spend the to the different schools next three weeks of our visit overseas. being able to I was very fortunate in go to Cheltenham Ladies' College which is considered one of the finest,English boarding schools. Of the nine hundred girls in the school, six hundred were boarders. They were divided into houses which were in the vicinity of the main school building, each house containing thirty or forty girls. Every morning with the exception of Sunday morning, the entire school attended classes and with exception of two afternoons a week, they were allowed to study in their own houses. The classes I found very similar to our own here and I was soon doing home- work. Every Saturday afternoon each house went, usually, on a picnic to the Cotswold Hills. One morning we were taken to Strat- ford-on-Avon where we visited Anne Hathaway's Cottage and saw Cym- beline played in the new Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Another afternoon we visited the remains of an old Roman Villa at Chedworth. Another time we visited Tewkesbury and another time, Tintern Abbey. From Cheltenham on the 17th of June we went to London where we joined the whole group and set off for Eastbourne, one of England's beautiful sea-side resorts. At Eastbourne we spent a week of sea-bathing, hiking on the downs, horseback riding and at- tending band concerts on the pier. In the afternoons we- were entertained by the different schools there. It was dur- ing this week that we went to London