Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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8 everything appeared in miniature, the little houses, the long ribbons of the highways with little cars crawling over them. There is nothing to compare with air travel, with its speed and smoothness and cos family atmosphere. After landing, we were driven by the friends who had met us at the airport, into the large, smoky and chilly city of Toronto. I was fascinated by the network of street cars and the bustling activity of the place. Everybody seemed to be hurrying. In time I was to become familiar with Toronto, and grow to like the place. In a few days time I had my first experience of an express train ride, from Toronto to Guelph, a distance of about sixty miles. Guelph is a beautiful little city, noted for its agriculture and the beautiful Ontario State Penitentiary building. The atmosphere is similar to that of New Jersey. It is a strange experience accustoming oneself to a new city. Time and time again I walked round blocks always coming out in unexpected places, yet always able to find my way home again. It was not long before I applied for my driver ' s licence and my sister and I spent many pleasant afternoons exploring Guelph until we became familiar with it. Then we started to take trips to other cities and to explore them. It certainly is an experience which we do not have in Bermuda, driving on a long, straight, smooth highway at fifty miles an hour, with the car clicking along beneath you. Whilst I was at Guelph, which, as you perhaps know, is situated many miles from the water, I had a rather amusing experience. The residents of Guelph do not know what it is like to swim on warm sandy beache s. I accompanied a friend of mine to a very popular Summer Resort about a hundred miles from Guelph. We stayed with his family, in a small log cabin close to the beach, which was on the shores of The Great Lake. The water, which he considered to be perfect, was bitterly cold, fresh and the ' surf came in in little ripples. Everyday my friend insisted upon going swim- ming, no matter what the weather. Many times we went in pouring rain and icy wind to the beach, collected all our courage, and plunged into the icy water for a few minutes, emerging blue, and chilled to the bone. To him this was just perfect. What beach could be better? he wanted to know. When we returned to Guelph, my family decided to drive to the Niagara Falls, which were about five hundred miles away to the South-west. It was a lovely drive along the Queen Elizabeth High- way, and, upon arriving, we stayed for a few days at a friend ' s house. The city of Niagara lies right at the base of the falls, and to the residents, the Falls are not spectacular but commonplace. To us, they were wonderful. Tons of water cascaded with a dull roar over tall cliffs, spray rose like mist, high into the air . . . it was new to me but not to the family. That evening we saw the Falls illuminated with coloured lights. The mist was transformed into multifarious

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7 An Interesting Trip to Canada Last summer, my father, a Presbyterian Minister, decided to take a vacation, the first for many years. We were to meet my two sisters so that there might be a family reunion. Accordingly my father wrote to an old friend of his, a Doctor Glenn, and asked him if he knew of any Canadian Presbyterian Minister who would be willing to exchange pulpits, and at the same time enjoy a vacation. After the usual letter writing, an exchange with a minister living in the small but beautiful city of Guelph, was arranged. Any one who has travelled knows the feeling of excitement and expectancy which always precedes the start of a vacation. Going down to the airport we felt just as if we were going to see someone else off ; indeed it was not until we were seated in the aircraft that we realised what was about to take place, and settled back to enjoy ourselves to the utmost. The journey was perfect. Bermuda, from the air, looked like a model Garden of Eden, with white surf foaming over the deep brown of the reefs and the white expanse of the beach shining in the evening sun. As twilight fell over the ruffled sea, the setting sun cast a long pathway of light. It was night-time when finally the ' plane nosed its way down into the fairyland of lights which is New York. Despite the fact that we had slept part of the time on the ' plane, it was with wide open eyes that we emerged into the bustling activity of the La Guardia field. After a speedy passage through the Customs, due to dad being a minister, we emerged in New York to be greeted by our friends with whom we were to spend the night. The first thing that attracted my attention was the colossal scale upon which every- thing was constructed. Then of course there was the speed. Passing through New York we were soon speeding along at fifty miles an hour towards New Jersey, by which time everybody, including myself, was half asleep. I shall never forget the strange sensation of excitement and happiness that came over me when I awoke the next morning. Lying on a camp cot, I watched the various activities of the neigh- bourhood. In New Jersey, the food was delicious, the people friendly, and the rolling countryside quaint and beautiful. The nouses were built back from the road, all in a line and with no dividing fences. Beautiful trees lined every road in the suburbs. In the city, the first thing that I noticed was that you could stand in the street and see the road stretching for miles, with stores on each side and tall buildings everywhere. New Jersey was certainly a wonderful place. The flight up to Toronto was a little more interesting than that from Bermuda, as we were flying over land all the way. As before,

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9 and klaidescopic colours. The following day, we took a little boat, The Maid of the Mist, and wearing oilskins, we steamed almost under the foot of the falls. It gave one a feeling of infinite smallness to see the solid wall of water falling from terrifying heights. The visit to Niagara was a fitting climax to a wonderful vaca- tion. I had never seen so much in my whole life as I saw in those two months. However, as is always the case, we began to tire of Guelph and to look forward to our return to Bermuda. It was almost as if we were taking another vacation, this time from Guelph to Bermuda. With mixed feelings we watched Guelph recede, then Toronto ... La Guardia and we were homeward bound at the end of a most interesting trip. V. M. FORD. The Debating Society There has been a full programme of stimulating debates during the past season, but the highlight was the Mock Trial, held on March 1st. Here was heard the astounding case of Whiner (D. E. W. Lines) v. Wuffles (K. T. C. Davis) before Mr. Justice Wisecrack (A. G. Marsh). The facts of the case were these: The defendant, Wuffles, was the proud owner of a donkey, Esmeralda, against which two allega- tions were made, first that it had kicked and injured the plaintiff, Whiner, and second that its inordinate braying constituted a nuisance to Whiner, his family, and every other resident within a quarter mile radius. Whiner sought damages for the injury, and an injunc- tion to restrain the braying. Counsel for the plaintiff was Sir Patrick Backchat (Mr. W. G. Maundrill), and the defendant was represented by Sir Hartley Cross- talk (Mr. M. R. Stevens). Witnesses for the plaintiff visibly wilted under the grilling cross-examination of Sir Hartley, while witnesses for the defendant found Sir Patrick ' s suave manner no less deadly. The witnesses produced were: — For the plaintiff: Mr. Dagwood Bumpstead (D. V. Ridgway), an Actor. Dr. Rigamortis (G. W. Young), Medical Practitioner. Mons. Fromage (L. R. Patterson), a Clown. For the Defendant: Dr. A. S. S. Bray (C. B. Corbin), Veterinary Surgeon. Dr. Corp Punt (H. C. Adderley), Schoolmaster. Stanislaus Vitskoski (R. W. Horsey), Psychologist (referred to as a Trick Cyclist by the cross-examining counsel).