Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School - Collegiate Yearbook (Sarnia, Ontario Canada)

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104 THE CGLLEGIATE vision and companion, with calm and peaceful countenances, hair now turned white, feeble steps, but still tottering on to the entrance of the Great Unknown. . He who has single-handed and XVith foes invisible on every side, And unsuspected of the multitude The f-orce of fate itself had dared, defied, And conquered silently. Ah! that soul knows, In what white heat the blood of alone. triumph flows. lc:ascsssszsztszsasanzsssattto- A VISIT TO SHAKESPEAREZS THEATRE By Kfllfll Andrews, 4A Coll. -0 I 8 8 8 0 3 8 0 3 I 3 3 I I 8 8 8 8 I 8 I I O 8 I I H HE Thames was covered with a veritable swarm of boats when we came down to it. A few majest- ic sail boats were passing up the river with the tide. Their gigantic masts bore alof-t a huge expanse of the w'hitest canvas that gliistened in the noon-day sun, fill-ing, then flap- ping idly in the gentle breeze. Be- neath these leviathans of the sea a multitude of small craft swarmed like bees from side to side. A dingy little sloop was gliding up 'the river passing the qu-ay on which we stood. Beyond it, in mid-river, a giant sail- boat lay at anchor and through its rigging could be se-en a great wood- en theatre, the Gl'obe,', with a flag fluttering gayly from its roof to tell all London of the play to be held there tfh-alt afternoon. VVe had been watching this scene for some time when a boatman came our way, and, not to miss our chance we cal-led out 'Wllesitward Ho! as loud as possible. lN'e were soon in the skiff skimming across the ripples of the Thames, and , in good ftime, we had touched the opposite shore. XV'here shall we go, good fellows, since we are here? said Roger Adamson in his usual business-like nranner. Roger Adamson was a tall fellow. His long thin face ended in a pointed beard accentulating his tallness. A moustache was carefully brought to a point sticking straight out on each side of his head so that they did not look unlike a cat's whiskers. In- deed he used them in much t-he 'same way g for w'hen in deep thought which he of-ten was, he would finger them as if to find a hole large enough to crawl through to the soluition of his problem. As to his clothing-it was muc'h the same as what the rest of us were wearing. He had on a pair of high- ly coloured Vene-tian breeches of which the material hardly did justice to the colour and pattern. His red hose formed a great contrast wit-h his green doublet which also had some red. His broad-rimmed purple hat, fitting snugly on 'his head of straight black hair, had a great green feather hanging over it as if it were some protecting hand just about to rest upon his head. 'Tis but two o'clock now. We have yet an hour, responded Jack Hawkins, a short youth who took great pains in keeping his dresis tidy, Thy love will not be there. Love! Fie on thee! But thou kniowesit we must go somewhere, for, if we remain there 'twill gain no good. This is no place f-or thy gains and losses, declared Harry Yonker, a long lanky l-ad who looked more like a living skeleton than a human be- ing, We have come to see a play, not to hear a sermon. Then, he replied in a tone that left nio doubt as to tihe result of Harry's speech, which dost thou

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THE COLLEGIATE. l03 because he cannot understand why he should be disappointed. His young life, therefore consists of eat- ing, playing and sleeping-when finally he is prevailed upon to go to bed. Then we have the school boy with shining morning face,'. This, I believe to be the most important stfage, in life, for this is the time when the boy's life is being shaped, and ideals are set before him at which to aim. Here the boy en- counters mfany small temptations, which if he is to possess a golden character, he must overcome in his boyhood, or else when th-e greater ones assail him he will prove a cringing coward and cheat. At s-chool, the boy with the many op- portunities for sport, learns the meaning of cleanliness in actions and deeds. Although these are very important traits in one's character we must not overlook the boy's aim in life. From his studies he is able to see to which line of work he can best adopt himself. Then with an honest purpose, invincible determin- ation, he is fully equipped to strike out bravely al-ong Life's pathway to his goal. The next is the adolescent stage.- As the eager youth begins to stride along the rugged path laid before him, he finds himself face to face with many obstacle-s in the form of unfortunate derelicts, unable to journey along, beoause of the pitfalls and stony places. These are the people who heeded not the teachings of' their youth, who wasted their living, and never bothered about planning their lives or having as a motto: Look up and aim high . These degraded creatures, full of bit-ter thoughts, bliaming everybody and everything for their downfall. seek to tempt and drisioourage the youth. Here, however, supreme trust in One greater and the worth while lessons of youth come before him, and with a sigh of pity he pas-ses on. As he goes along to the fourth milestone human nature plays her part and he feels a sense of loneliness, a yearning for his old school acquaintances. Once again his teachings of youth serve him in good stead and the surrounding evils have no infiuence on his life. At this stage our traveller feeling rather discouraged begins to wonder what life has in store for him. It is now that he realizes the truth of the ordinances, that man shall not live alone, and so he becomes the ar- dent lover. His affinity with words of encouragement and sympathy gives him felicity in an eager out- look on life. This new association proves to be one of pure delight, changing his harassed life into brightness and illuminating the in- ner sanctuary of his soul. The new element in his life bringing the good to the surface and quenclhing the baser passions. Thus Life weaves its web. Now we find him striding happily along tlhe path, stepping from stone to stone, with words of comfort, paying no attention to the follies of others, gazing -straight ahead to- wards the greater glistening goal. He realizes the hey-day of life at its fulness. Nature shows to him the spring, the buds on the trees, the fiowers, the newly freed streams or the opening up of life. Summer is to him symbolical of the fulness of life when the fiowers and trees reap the benefit of the rain and sunshine. Yes, this too may be called the suic- cessful stage for our traveller, for now he reaps the benefit of his toil as Nature in due time enjoys hers. At the sixth stage we find him middle-aged, and not so fieet of foot, finding peace in relaxation. When alone and quiet, thouglhts of God's goodness and his own prosperity, recall within him a thankful spirit. As he looks around on his harvest, he realizes the need of benevolence to those less fortunate than himself. Thus the strong bear the infirmities of the weak. After the day comes the setting sun, and the peaceful quiet of even- tide. Alt this seventh stage, we find our traveller with his faithful ad-

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THE. COLLEGIATE. I05 desire to see, the one at the Globe or the one at the Curtain? There wvas a flag raised at that famous theatre too, XVho knows whether it is Shakes- peare at the Globe or not? asked Harry. He is, I answered, It is some new play he has just written. 'The Venetian Merchant' I think is the name. I Then to the Globe. burst forth the others. Soon we were bef-ore that large, wooden build-ing. Its octagonal shape distinguished it for a play- h-ouse, and over its bare door, 'hung the sign of the Globe. There we paid a penny each and got admit- tanoe to the pit. Thi-s cone-shaped section before the stage had neither seats nor a floor and was m-uddy from a recent rain. Above it and to the front was the stage, with rus'hes on the floor and a blue curtain at the back of it. The play was to be la comedy. At the sides and back were the galler- ries where the wealthier pe-ople sat, the only part roofed in except the stage. But the mufddy condition of the pit did not hinder the play-goers. Though it was only half-past two, the pit was rapidly filling with a noisome crowdg coarse jests went around the pit. Brawling apprenti- ces jostled us about or we stumbled over someone wh-o tired -of standing, had sat down on the plain, h-ome- made stool he had brought with him. Others were standing in groups and discussing the dress of the various nobles as they entered. See, here is the noble count of Wes1tfield, Roger was saying, Look at his velvet ho-se. Methinks they must have cost no petty sum. His Venetian breeche-s must have cost nigh four score pounds. That cloak of his must be slilk. VVhat a sum he must have paid out for it. And his hat, methinkrs, comes from Germ-any. Yes, ,I said scarcely noticing him, and here is our Lord Haldi- mand. His silken trunk-hose must have come from France. Wfould they not look go-od on me, jack? And see his red velvet jacket with its gold braid. If I but had the sum I would have it myself. And with that good r'apier he carries I would champion the queen. You art better off as thou art, if I judge ariigh't, Roger replied, thoughtfully. Here cometh the good Sir Kennebec. His arm he carries yet in a sling from last month's tournament and yon scar on his fface he obtained in the lists. '6lVho is yovn-der noble? queried -lack, His outfit, methinks- Keep thy tongue quiet. They begin. ordered Roger. The crowd grew quiet while the title of the play was announced. The Merchant of Venice. T'hen the play began. A light blue flag was hung to show that it was a day scene and a board, with Venice printed on it in big black letters announced the place. Yon Antonio is not such a bad person, said R-oger, in fact he is an excellent one. He will lose nothing by rash decisions. He is of your own kind, retorted Harry. Unless he presently grows happy he will spoil the wihole play with his sorrow. Gratiano could match twenty of thy Anltoniosf' VVhat of Basfs'anio? I put in. He seems a likeable person. I wfager he is m-ore tlhan a match for thy Gratiano, and Antonio, too. The scene was over a-nd a new board was put up with Belmont printed on it, but the blue flag re- mained. But soon the scene chang- ed to Venice again. A jew. ejaculated I-ack on Shy- lock's appearance. Come, jew out with thy money. Yes, taunted Harry Be not like the rest of thy tribe, dog. or we shfall force thee off the stage. If thou playefst the part better I shall tahink thy beard real. I shouted. In spite of t'he taunts and jeers the play proceeded. The second act was soon begun. Launcelot, in his fool's costume entered amid