Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 30 text:

'SELXYYN HOUSE SCI-IOOI. MAGAZINE FORM IB THE TOWER ROOM OI' A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE Chapter I The Plot is Hatched The affair began during the maths. period. A telephone call had summoned the form master of IB from his room and as the door closed behind him the boys laid down their pens with relieved sighs. Eaton broke the studious silence. I'm sick and tired of our class being called the goody good form of the school, he burst out. 'A Letls do something really bad for a change. Murmurs of acquiescence filtered through the room. K' What, for instance queried Arbuckle, his elfish face ever ripe for mischief. I can chew some gum in class time, offered Barraclough. If Sir catches me I'll say it's Aspergum for my sore throat. t'And I'll read my Biggles story behind my arithmetic, said Price, but I'll be awfully scared. Pooh! I know a much better idea, came from Scowen. t'At break let's all go down the fire escape. ' The potential sons of Satan looked at him admiringly. Hjeepersl What will we do if We're caught? said Dalglish catching his breath with a gasp. Nothing! IVhat could We do F Scowen returned with logic. Objected Raginsky, The Head might see us from across the hall. 'K We close the door when the master goes out, of course, stupid, said Scowen. The class looked at one another with uncertainty and pondered over the prospective plot. After a short pause Smith gravely announced, I don't think we ought to do it. We might be expelledf' At this terrible thought little Clarke turned pale and knocked his book to the floor with a great clatter. Several boys started, and Davidson sneezed violently. Scowen shrugged his shoulders. Well, someone else think of a better idea, then. Has anyone ever been up to the tower room 7' asked gl. D. Cshort for John Donaldl. That's out of bounds too, objected Herron. We'd have to get by the third Hoor prefectsf' Besides, the door is always locked. I wonder what is up theref' - But it isn't locked today, said Friesen eagerly. I know, because I saw the padlock had sprung open when I took the basketball list around this morning. Enthusiasm ruled. Everyone voted for the proposed plan. A 'fIVe'll meet together at break behind the rink fence to work out plans, said Eaton. You know how we beat IA at basketball when We planned everything out. If we plan this out well, it will work too. I32l

Page 29 text:

FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1948 -1949 FORM IA Form IA, the despair of some, has an engaging charm of its own nevertheless, and from a class of individualists at the beginning of the year, has developed a form spirit in advance of its age. It has something of everything in its make-up, but perhaps its most valuable quality is a sense of humour which prevents any lesson from degenerating into a dull routine. The chief ambition of the class is to defeat its rival IB at games or in French Tests, and, at the risk of starting something, let us predict that the day is not far distant when they will achieve victory over their older and heavier adversaries. That will be the day! Herewith a brief close-up of the members of the class. BAIN. One of our two blondes. A member of the Choir and a Cub, and active in good works. BRAINERD. Like the poor, he is still with us, in spite of repeated threats or promises to leave for Sudbury. Sings in the choir. Hobby, ink-bathing. CARSLEY. Not with us as often as we could wish. Shows signs of scholarship. CARRIQUE. Captain of Form Soccer, and bids fair to emulate the athletic prowess of his elder brother. Form policeman, but is not tlat-footed. COHEN. Drops in from time totime to see how we are gettingon and has earned the title of Inspector. CREERY. Greatly respected for his m ister mind. VVould all were such! HYDE. Hastens slowly and sheds a beneficent calm around him-a welcome attribute in these days of stress. KIMBLE. Is settling down again after his various escapades in snowy California. A singer of considerable merit. Never at a loss for a word. LEACH. t'The proper study of mankind is man . Geoffrey still has an insatiable curiosity. LEIVIOINE. A useful member of society with the charm of youth and an ever-ready smile, MATSON. Tl1e bebe of the class,.but well able to take care of himself. MCMASTER. Never lets the grass grow under his feet or the dust collect on his seat. Must order his pants in triplicate! MEIGHEN. Michael is our mighty midget. Captain of Form hockey and basketball, a sixer and form policeman. Also no mean scholar-a versatile character. NIOLSON. Is an old member of the class, Stephen exercises a benevolent influence on the other members of the class. POOLE. Our other blonde. Puddle!! is far from stagnant. No one will ever 'fput a fast one over on Anthony. WAIT. Another live wire , and a thorn in the side of the form policeman. Enjoys life to the full. WINTON. Also believes in Living dangerously . His motto: A little learning is a dangerous thing . In the choir. May their shadows never grow less. F .G. P, l31l

Page 31 text:

FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 10-18 - 1949 Think of how the rest ofthe school will look up to us, gloated Chauvin. lVe'll probably be caught , drawled Smith pessimisticully. Weasell weasel I warned Arbuckle. Here he comes! A scurry and a sculhing. Silence reigned, and pens scratched furiously as the master re-entered his classroom and gazed over the industriously-bent heads of his form. VVhat a good lot of boys they are, he thought. Chapter II An Unpleasant Surprise I wonder what those IB boys are up to? mused one of the prefects. He looked over to the other side of the rink fence, to where our heroes were clustered together in a clandestine circle. Oh, well, it probably isn't much. As the bell rang the IB boys tiled upstairs with secret looks and mysterious nods. After lunch there seemed to be many demands upon the duty master for permission to obtain a forgotten book upstairs, to use the office telephone, or to speak to some teacher in the common-room. The harrassed man did not seem to notice that most of these demands for special privileges came from our stalwarts of IB. Midday quiet settled over the old red building. From outdoors dimly drained into the school the distant cries of the boys on the playground. From the pantry drifted the subdued clinking of dishes being washed. Through the cracks in the closed door of the masters' common-room seeped smoke from the narcotic weed, toneless murmurs, and remote laughter. The pedagogues were refreshing themselves preparatory to the post-meridian battle of thrust- ing education down the unwilling throats of unthirsting students. And past this said portal llitted one by one silent Iigures, tiptoeing on their way to the empty third floor. A little later our evil-doers were cnngregated in thc empty sixth form. Here the portraits of past Selwyn alumni gazed dispassionately down upon the explorers. I almost got caught, several whispered. lVell, if we're all here, let's go, said Scowen. So into the hall, and over to the forbidden door. It squeaked piteously as it opened. The Inner Sanctum giggled someone nervously. Ahead of them twisted upward a long, narrow, winding staircase. You go first, said Arbuckle to Scowen. No, you go first, replied that gallant gentleman, pushing Eaton forward. You're the leader, he retorted, You go first. Let's all go Hrst. Not enough room. Something is going to go wrong before we are through, said Smith sagely. I just feel so. Eventually with a brave face and quaking knees Scowen led the way. They climbed. Halfway up the stairs made a turn and disclosed some little doors along the sides of the passageway. Chauvin opened one, and the boys peered into the recesses under the roof. Nothing but dirt and cobwebs. On they went. 1331