Ruperts Land Girls School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Rupert's Land College Magazine chief there was more than a hundred years old. His face was a study. Pride, contempt, and, above all, secrecy, were shown in his wrinkled cheeks and bright restless eyes. The Indians had their faces painted, red and blue seeming the favourite colors for these decorations. They wore suits of hides, decor- ated with brightly-colored feathers and beads, and soft moccasins. After they had smoked the Peace-Pipe they sang Indian songs in their queer throbbling language, accompanied by the beating of a drum, and in the evening they held a pow-wow in the fort and danced their native dances. Who will preserve these songs from oblivion? Who will transcribe the strange intervals in their primitive musical forms? Who will gather their art treasures into a permanent home, that all this picturesque color and character may not be lost to those who come after? MURIEL CURRY, , Matric. I. ODE T0 MANITOBA By MRS. H. M. SPEECHLY, WINNIPEG Through misty seas, by treacherous lake and stream There sailed, one hundred years ago, a tiny fleet Of boats from Britain-mother of gallant sons Who love the deep. Borne by the northern breeze, They reached the land of their desire-their chief A man, with prophet's vision, who beheld Cities with spires and towers, like battlements In quivering mirage, raised above the plains. Weary of travel, pastures green they found Near river-bank, whereon to make their homes.- Foes here they met, whom valiantly they fought And overcame, they ploughed with pick and spade, Harrowed with garden-rake, they toiled, they prayed, They dreamed of times when these great lonely plains Should hum with life, should throb with industry, When men should think with pride and gratitude Of those, whose hardships founded Rupert's Land. Then fifty years passed by: far-seeing sons Of Britain, east and west, sent out a call To join and form one country-Canada. And thus the growing middle westernland, Henceforward Manitoba called- a name Which means The Mighty Spirit's Voice - Became the heart of what was soon to be Great Britain's most illustrious daughter state. 18

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Ruperrfs Land College Magazine Last year, however, in celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Hudson's Bay Company, some of these old-time scenes were revived. Indians in war-paint and feathers came down the Red River in fur-laden canoes, attend- ed by the York boats, to trade at Lower Fort Garry and to renew their promises of friendship with the Company. Proud, strong men, remnants of the race which once owned Canada, who can tell their thoughts as they passed landmarks made almost unfamiliar by the white men? 1 4 -, . 4 w Y ,- After drawing their canoes up on the shore, they carried their packs up to the fort on their backs. They seemed to dis- dain the crowds of people who were trying to get a glimpse of them. They left their packs in one of the buildings and went out to a large grassy space around a Hag-pole, from which was flying a Canadian and a Hudson's Bay Company flag. 'Other Indians who had driven up the road in Red River carts, drawn by oxen, met them there. ' Sitting in a ring on the grass they solemnly puffed at the long Peace-Pipe as it was passed around to them. One old 17

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Rupertis Land College Magazine Another stretch of years! A cry was heard! A nation in distress, nigh overwhelmed, Was calling out for help. An evil thing, Long nursed in Europe's breast, had burst its bounds, And threatened to engulf humanity! Quick in response to that soul-stirring call, Britain with her Dominions sprang to arms. Five hundred thousand brave Canadian sons- Cln Manitoba seventy thousand strong!!- Left all they loved, and heeding not the loss Of wealth or life, rose to the greatest heights Of chivalry and helped to stem that tide. These were plain citizens of Canada! Some have returned safe from the Gates of Death, , Others have passed within: yet were their woes And dire distress no useless sacrifice. From their 'triumphant anguish has been born A nation-Canada. The noblest things In life are ever won in agony. That will make glow the souls of multitudes, The deeds of these great men are sparks of fire And blaze new trails through forests of despair And discontent-broad trails to point the way Through gloom and dim uncertainty to Light, Through warring strife to Peace. Q 1 l-in NATIONAL FOLK-SONGS The origin of folk-music has been a subject of much dis- cussiong some say that the songs were composed by individ- uals and have been handed down by oral tradition. Others hold that they were the production of a community, that owing to their naturalness, simplicity and spontaneity, they cannot have originated from the popular music of bygone days, which lacks all the outstanding qualities of the folk-song. The music of a nation is based on folk-music, or the tunes that are handed down from generation to generation. The songs of a country illustrate the character of its people. All their simple pleasures, their history, politics and wars, their joys and sorrows are expressed in them. For example, the Irish songs are overflowing with humour and pathos-they show that nation's struggles for liberty and the deep emotions felt by the Celtic heart. The earlier British folk-music comprises The Robin Hood Ballads in England, and the Border Minstrelsy, revived by Sir W. Scott, which contained that well-known poem of the 19