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

Page 19 text:

J J. I Kupvrfa Zami! Girlz' Svrhnnl Uhr '5 iiaglvv Ame li. minniprg - illiauitnlm C- VOLUME 15 JUNE, 1947

Page 21 text:

THE EAGLE illlima Iliartlrtfia Erttrr MY DEAR GIRLS, I suppose these has never been a time when there has been a greater feeling of uncertainty in the world than there is to-day. During the years of war, which covered such a large pro- portion of your lives, there was much less of this feelingg we all knew what we had to do, we had to keep going, striving, working, sacrificing until the war was over, It is since those wonder- ful V-E and V-J days that we have lived as it were on the brink of an abyss, not knowing what to expect nor where the next step may take us. We always said during the war that settling down to peace would be even more difficult than winning the victory, though most of us, I think, secretly hoped it might not be so. Now we know how difficult it is proving to be, and you girls have indeed tremendous problems to face as you go out from school into the life of adults. Just recently there has come to you over the air such a ringing challenge, such a clarion call as should stir you all to a determination to obey the call and take up the challenge, to go forward dauntless and with high courage into the future. I hope you all heard or read Princess Elizabeth's birthday talk. If you did not, get hold of a copy somehow. Its simple sincerity and deep feeling cannot fail to move you, and the greatest note is that of unselfishness and a sense of duty. I can- not do better, I feel, this year than to let my message to you be Princess Elizabeth's message. I will therefore finish this letter by quoting some of her words: Will you, the youth of the British family of nations, let me speak on my birth- day as your representative? Now that we are coming to manhood and womanhood. it is surely a great joy to all of us to think we shall be able to take some of the burden off the shoulders of our elders who have fought and worked and suffered to protect our childhood. We must not be daunted by the anxieties and hardships that the war has left for every nation of our commonwealth. We know that these things are the price we cheerfully undertook to pay for the high honour of standing alone seven years ago in defense of the liberty of the world .... There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto - 'I servef Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the throne when they made their knightly dedication as they came to manhood. I can- not do quite as they did, but through the inventions of science I can do what was not possible for any of them. I can make my solemn act of dedication with a whole empire listening. I should like to make that dedication now. It is very simple. I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. but I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do. I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it. I know you will all help. Yours affectionately, ELSIE M. BARTLETT.