Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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13 fierce pride. But these countries also have humiliations to endure, stains on past history, which time has not effaced and which live on from generation to generation. There is, however, one country which, in the pages of History, has nothing to its name but glory and honour. Whait country is it? Why, Bermuda of course! Was it once said that a perfect people could not exist? This is as far from the truth as the Cross is from the Crescent. There is indeed a country with a perfect people. Where is it? Why, Bermuda of course! True to her policy of splendid isolation , and having no colonies nor outside responsibilities, she can concentrato all her energies on benevolent conS ' truction at home and on good-will abroad. Let us first look at the island itself. Completely self-supporting, with the richest soil in the world, it produces the finest crops that the modern world has ever seen. Richer in oil ithan Maricaibo, richer in gold than South Africa, Bermuda is, without doubt, the most prosperous state in the world- Like the island which he imhabits, the Bermudian is perfect. Fl om his cultured voice to his magnificent physique, he represents the ideal of perfect manhood. He has the high prestige of his country to main tain and will not allow himself to forget this for a single instant. The capital of this island-paradise is Hamilton, famous throughout the world for its architecture, which surpasses even that of old Vienna, with a gaiety greater than that of Paris and with a fascination stronger than that of London. The University of Hamilton is second to none in the arts of Literature, Music and History. Hamilton is indeed the last connection which we have with the glories of the eighteenth century. Last, but by no means least, we should recall the history of Ber- muda, a history unequalled by any other country in the world to-day. Even after being awarded her independence for her splendid part in the Seven Years War (by securing Canada for the British Empire), she still maintained her intimate ties with the mother country and still flies the British flag to-day. Of course, the honours gained by the Ber- mudian Legion at Waterloo and The Bermudian Hussars {Light Bri- gade) at Balaklava need no mention here; the story is too well-known Thus, with every date in Bermudian history one of glory and hon- our, with a country of incredible mineral wealth, a fabulous capital and a perfect people, Sir Thomas Moore ' s book Utopia has come to life. And so, what is the importance of being a Bermudian? Why, being a Bermudian of course! W. HANLON.

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12 SMiOoth as ever, began to sigh and whisper threateningB against the shore, as long, low swells heaved over the reefs. Throughout these threatening days I rose early to mark the changes that occurred. Then at last tame the real change which I had so long expected. The monster was awakening. All through the night the threatenings of the sea grew louder and louder until they became a dull roar. Now, in the cool of the morning, I could distinctly feel the light- est of breezes. It was no ordinary breeze. It was weak but steady, as though it came from some distant, giant source. As the light in- creased, I could plainly see wisps of low cloud darting across the sky. Occasionally, through a break, I would catch a glimpse of the inass of clouds above, now beginning to thicken under cover of those below. But the sea, the terrible sea, was only now beginning to awaken from its disturbed dreams. It had long been apparent that some terri- ble event was about to take place and the threats had been almost too much for the shorebirds to bear. Together we had waited and won- dered how long we should be tormented and how threatening it would become before all fury was let loose. Now we were almost willing to brave the real thing. Some, who had remained earthbound the pre- vious day, were now flying recklessly over the sea, unable to wait for the storm to break. In fact, it was not until the height of the hurri- cane that I was able to grasp its real violence. Then I suddenly be- came aware that my position was unsafe. True panic gripped me as I realized that the green-eyed monster had all this time been stirring and awakening and was now upon me with its jaws agape. As fast as I moved, the waves seemed to gain upon me, and when at last, shak- ing with fear, I sat down to rest in a safe spot, from which I could see my former vievirpoint awash in a sandy, foaming inferno, I was able to understand the full meaning of those threatening days. The next day was probably as perfect a day as I can Hemenitber. Everything living rejoiced, while the debris and the dead littered t he beaches. D. WINGATE. The Importance of Being a Bermudian Almost every country has some period of glory to which it can look back with pride. Agincourt, Waterloo, Gallipoli, Dunkirk! What patriotic sentiment do these names stir in the hearts of Englishmen? What do the names of Mieitz, Sedan and Tannenberg mean to the Ger- man, or those of Austerlitz and Verdun to the Frenchman? These are the names which cause them to look at their naitional emblems with

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14 The Ideal Heroine of Fiction The Ideal Heroine should be about five feet four inches tail, have brown hair and blue eyes, a tanned complexion (make-up will serve the purpose) and a thoroughly pneumatic figure. Besides this, she must have a fortune of two or three million dollars, a nouse m town and a house in the country, not to mention a yacht or two. Each house must be well supplied with servants, who will, of course, include an English butler called James, who has been in the family for simply generations . The country house will have its quota of tennis courts and swimming pools and the garages will be supplied with five or six of the very latest cars. Our heroine will go to the finest schools, be invited to all the ultra, ultra parties and spend her summers in Europe. Her parents will have arranged for her to marry Somebody-the-third — Heir to a for- tune in Oil Wells , when a complication appears in the form of some handsome youn bruite who is a floor sweeper iii her father ' s factory. They Vv ' ili probaoly meet when she is strolling down the street and falls and Durns her ankle; or perhaps he is walking home (broom under arm) and she just happens to drive past and asks him if he would like a iiit m her ten thousand dollar European sports car. He will be very sarcastic and make comments about her having too much money, but nevertheless she will ' ' fall for him completely. He will want to have nothing to do with her, as he already has a girl friend, who is a typist at the factory where he works. Our heroine does not despair, however, and suddenly he realizes that his old girl friend should not be allowed to come between him and true love, not to mention three million dollars. They agree to marry but her parents refuse their consent. Then the two lovers have a quarrel because he has his pride and vdll not let her keep her two Cadillacs when they are married. So he goes back to the old girl friend and our heroine to her Oil heir , but they are both unhappy. Eventually he becomes ill and is taken to hospital where she rushes to his side. She promises to support him for the rest of his life if he gets better; he agrees at last and so they live happily ever after (at least until she wants a divorce in Reno). A. C. BURNS.