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

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VOX FLUMINIS 27 .'llllllllllllllllllilllllllll: I ... .--.- . l ....... ..... I I 1 llllllllllllllllllllllllllll 1 1 I I I llllllllllllllllllllllllllllli T0 CHOPIN'S RAINDROP PRELUDE HE raindrops fell incessantly that night, The winds grieved round the ancient monastery, The air was dank with death and mystery, And gave his agony no brief respite. He writhed in pain to hear the funeral rite Of friars singing a last obsequy, The music in his pent-up soul broke free And music flowed with e'er increasing might. Oh noble chant that was of madness born Who knows the art that comes from out despair! We know not what great heights we can attain! When we have reached the depths and are forlorn And weary with our way so full of care We may have all that is in life to gain PAT MURRAY, '38 Garrv Hall PEGGY MURRAY 38 Douglas Hall AND THE JURY SAID GUILTY And the jury said guilty. Sure he was guilty-guilty as hell-and ' yet-well, judge for yourself. FF 3 T couldn't happen, not to him-it couldn't, it was a horrible dream. Mary-their new little house--the radio -other chaps had lost their jobs, but to happen to him-it couldn't! He was getting on of course-that was it-he was a weary forty-nine-that new young chap J ones-no wonder the firm had kept him on-more push-more zip. Damn it, could he help it if he was forty-nine and had had to work too long and too hard? If only Jones had never come-he was happy till then- it was all his f--. No-mustn't blame Jones-nice enough young chap-had had him to dinner-Mary liked him too -nice enough young fellow. This heat -that was it-the heat-he couldn't think-it choked you, that's what it did -burned you-dried you up-these sul- try August days in New York--they oppressed you, drove you crazy, Oh III SI! God! No work-how'd he tell Mary- be cheerful, that was it. Oh Mary, laid off-temporarily Cthat was ith temporarily, soon be able to find some- thing else-no need to worry. No need to worry--God! This heat-it burned with a sickening singeing to your very core - heat - worry - Mary. Mary - there was a wife-she'd understand. What was he going to- tell her? Oh yes- Mary dear, laid OH, temporarily -no need to worry, but getting on you know, haha, getting on-these young chaps, more push, more zip, I guess, but don't worry. No job, unemployed, tramp the streets. Forty-nine Sir, but fit as a fiddle. Heat, that sun, August, no job, Mary. Home at last Mary dear. Oh he was sick at heart, but she'd com- fort him, she'd understand. Up the steps -would'nt be long now-- Mary Csharp- lyb Mary. And then he saw! It couldn't

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26 VOX FLUMINIS dresses by the Duke of Gloucester and Stanley Baldwin. It was immensely thrilling to be in the centre of this World Wide Youth Movement. The next day was another resem- bling that of the Coronation. Early in the morning we departed for Bucking- ham Palace where we watched the King and Queen begin the State Drive. I can't truly say that we saw the King' and Queen, for five- limousines left the palace and we didn't know in which their majesties were sitting. After this we went to Westminster Abbey for another Youth Service, con- ducted by the Archbishop of Canter- bury. We sat in the seats formerly oc- cupied by the peeresses at the Corona- tion. In the transept opposite was a lovely stained glass window. The sun shone through it in a myriad of colors onto St. E'dward's Chair. This chair, which always looks so hard in pictures had a golden cushion on it that appeared very luxurious and comfortable. Suddenly the rumor was spread around that we were to see Queen Mary. After the ceremony we were led by a police escort to Marlborough House. It was great fun having the police hold up traffic for us. While we were waiting in the court- yard the Queen returned from a drive. She stepped out of the car onto a thick blue rug before us. She was dressed in a silvery gray gown and cloak, em- broidered with silver beads. Major and Mrs. Ney spoke to her and then we were instructed to file by and curtsy. Most of us were out of practice so you can imagine how we felt. Then we were privileged to wander about the beautiful gardens and admire the flowers, also see the famous dog grave-yard begun by Queen Alexandra and containing several of her dogs. It was with great reluctance that we fin- ally had to leave this lovely place. Before long we had to leave the ex- citing and romantic city of London. The next three intriguing weeks of our trip were spent in the Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. Of course I at- tended school too, but only in the morn- ings and I didn't'have to do any prep. The girls were all very friendly and eager to learn about Canada. While I was there I found very little difference in the school work except for their su- periority in languages. The English teacher, however, told me that she thought we were farther advanced in grammar. Towards the end of our trip, another very important 'day arrived, the day on which Marjorie Gardiner and I at- tended a Royal Garden Party at Buck- ingham Palace. We went to London from Eastbourne and we spent the morning and afternoon shopping. At four o'clock we departed for the palace. The driver of our taxi would not drive us right in as there was too large a crowd, so he let us out in front of the gates. We were too scared to go in! We stood arguing for some time and finally a policeman held a path through the crowd and we walked in very nerv- ously. We felt very silly in our plain skirts and blazers among all the frills and flounces. Soon we found we were two of the ten thousand people in the garden. We were wandering about when suddenly a path was cleared in the crowd for the Queen. We naturally pushed to the front row. The Queen passed less than a foot from us. We heard her speak to several people and her voice sounded soft and sweet. Following her came the two little princesses, dressed in em- broidered organdy frocks with sun- bonnets to match. They are very tiny, much smaller than you'd imagine, but they are very pretty and doll-like. We stood for about half an hour against a rope, stretched around the table of food and watched the Royal Party eat. Then they returned to the Palace and the band played God Save the King. Many people spoke to us because of our uniforms. We were really glad then that we had worn them. We left shortly afterwards and caught our train back to Eastbourne. It had been a won- derful day. CContinued on page 48D

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28 VOX FLUMINIS be! His Mary, his wife in Jones' arms. Jones who had stolen his job, now stolen his wife-here he was jobless- wifeless-while Jones stood smug with Mary-his Mary-in his arms. He'd show Jones-he'd show him! Kill him! Kill him! It was over. 41 :If Sk wk And the jury said guilty. Sure he was guilty-guilty as hell-and yet . . . PEGGY CAMPBELL, Grade XII, Douglas Hall. THE MOUSE 0nce there was a little house, In it lived a little mouse. He scampered all the livelong day, Then at night he ran away. He was back again at seven And he worked until eleven, And he stored his food away To have enough for another day. JOAN Ross, Grade V, D-ouglas Hall. , MICHAELO Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build them up with wofrn-out tools. ICHAELO ANGELO, struggling artist and sculptor, lived in a hot, dusty tenement in the Bohemian section of the city. I had often visited his rooms while making my by-monthly rounds. To-day I was to resume my duties again after a really delightful summer vacation by which I had es- caped the still, hovering mugginess of New York in July. September was a heavenly month-friendly sun-light filtering through the thick foliage, fresh, exhilarating breezes, opaque skies, and warm, dreamy noon hours. I was returning from lunch to re- port for afternoon duty at the clinic. Life seemed glorious, heavenly, and worth living. My heart was light as I stopped to buy some daisies from an old decrepit woman on the corner. My Hrst call was at the Angelo's, that large, happy family of Italians. As I climbed the rickety stairs that led to their rooms I remembered that Michaelo had been working on a beautiful marble statue which he had intended to be his masterpiece. He hoped that it would be accepted for the Exhibition sponsored by the American Art Society which was to be held here in New York during the latter part of October. I sincerely hoped it would be accepted. The Angelo's certainly needed money, but if Michaelo's work was accepted the honor of it would gratify him more than anything so material as money. -KIPLING. I was still wondering whether or not the statue had been finished yet when I tapped lightly on the dilapi- dated door. No one responded so I turned the handle cautiously and walked in. Everything was bare and quiet. Strange, I thought. All was unbearably still and deserted. N o mu- sical childish voices issued forth from the corner of the room where the younger Angelos played. After a quick survey of the room I conceded that the children must have gone to the park. Just then I heard a slight noise from the next room. I peeped into the room -there was Michaelo seated on an old chair, his head between his hands. He looked up calmly as if he had quite expected someone. I sensed trouble immediately and asked quietly what the trouble was. In his broken, simple English he told me that his statue had been finished and packed safely, but when the men who were carrying it down the stairs slipped and fell, the statue had been smashed to bits. There had been a terrific crash! That was all! Nothing could be done about it. I knew that Michaelo cared terribly but his 'outward appearance was one of calmness and serenity. The dis- appointment that was stofred inside of him showed itself in his sad melan- choly eyes. The words of Kipling's poem If came to me then.