Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1955-1956 27 Kerry Martin showed a display relating to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This was much enioyed. lt was colourtul and interesting. Kerry even had two figures of the Police in their uniform. These were added to by Aylesworth MacNaughton who provided one mounted and one unmounted. Books were shown relating to their activities. Altogether it was a satisfactory exhibit. During these special collections we enioyed several smaller groups of coins, stamps, and geological specimens, David Brown had a well-labelled and arranged group of the latter. Jon Scott added to his exhibit an interesting mollusc. Philip Webster, Andrew Burgen, Peter McConnell and David Laing all brought in samples of rock, only some of which could be identified, but all occasioned much enquiry and study. Coins were provided by Victor Vickers, who also showed Italian 8. Belgian bills - and Lawrence Moquette, who lent coins from Belgium 81 Spain. Stamps were exhibited by David Laing from Europe, South America, and Asia. Robert Diez showed stamps from Roumania and Monaco, Jamie Morgan from Czeckoslovakia, Switzerland 81 Austria. Michael Rawlings arrived with a Jew's harp, the first we have ever had in the library, so it was found very interesting, as were also his coins from France, the United States, Mexico, and the Straits Settlements. He had a coin said to be Etruscan, which was the most curious of all. ln his exhibit was a dollar bill of the United States, series of 1896. While all our exhibitions were in progress, lan Robson appeared with a large and fierce-looking alligator Cperhaps two feet Iongj. So alive did it look that we had to put it on a high shelf, and there it was surveyed from a distance. It did not stay long, but while in the library it created a sensation. An outstanding event during this term was the generous loan, made by Michael Berrill, of the medieval castle which he constructed himself. lt was full of Crusaders, ready to hold the castle, or to leave for wars in the Holy Land. lt was eagerly studied by all members of the library and they appreciated the privilege of seeing it. Many thanks are extended to Michael. Just as the Easter holidays approached, Gordon Peters brought in a collection of interesting stamps from lndia, New Zealand, France fwith one from Lourdes! and Canada. The latter showed the stamp issued to commemorate the departure ofthe Canadian hockey team for the Olympics. Brian Shemilt lent a group of beautiful shells from Florida, a glimpse of the sea after all our earth-bound displays. An exhibition of very valuable stamps was arranged by Maxi Ferro. lt comprised some examples of the earliest issues made during the middle of the last century, when stamps were Hrst used for postage. The most valuable in Maxi's collection was one of 1843 from Brazil. Others were shown from the German States, Denmark, Cyprus, Eastern Silesia and lndia - all of great interest, as well as examples from Canada, China 8. the United States. John Chamard contributed to this display a valuable series commemorating the Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. Christopher Coristine lent two very good stamps to this exhibit. They were from the Bahamas and Uruguay. Generous offers of assistance in the work of the Library have been accepted from Maxi Ferro, Peter Terroux, Kerry Martin, and Michael Barry.

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26 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE Robert Bruce generously lent a threefmasted schooner. lt was three feet long to the end of the bowsprit, and so perfect in detail that the only safe place to exhibit it was on top ot a high shelf where it could not be handled, but it was greatly enjoyed in the distance. Many other interesting models of ships were shown in the cases. Robert Bruce also provided a Chinese iunk - lending a fine touch of colour to the exhibit - and a Viking ship, complete with warriors and sail. There was another Viking ship lent by Andrew McNaughton, so that period was well covered. In fact, in this display the period of history from the tenth century to the present time was illustrated with boats and crafts, though it must be admitted that the eighteenth century had no model in the exhibition. John Beament's gift of a large model of the Santa Maria belonged to the medieval times. The l7th. century was represented by Lawrence Hibbert's beautiful copy of the Mayflower , The l9th. century was covered by the Flying Cloud of John Harding, and the large three-masted schooner lent by Robert Bruce. The 20th. century was not only represented by ships of war, but also by Billy Evans' nice model of a fishing smack from Gaspe. There were, too, a good example of a passenger ship of this century shown by lan Taylor, and an interesting copy of the Royal Yacht 'Britannia', lent by James Caird. William Dupont exhibited a very fine wooden launch which he had made. It was carefully inspected and much admired. Ships were also shown in bottles. These were lent by Billy Ballantyne, David Brown, and Michael Guite. They were intriguing. The most puzzling was Guite's, as his bottle had a long and narrow neck. The 'Ships' inspired a desire to show other modes of transportation, and Michael Hearne made a very good example of a covered wagon with its out- riders, ready to cross the continent. Gordon Peters showed the development of the motor car with good models dating from 1900 to 1953. This created so much interest that it was quickly followed by models of modern cars lent by Robert Bruce, John Harding, and David McMaster. The ships and cars led naturally to our fastest form of travel, the aeroplane. The first contribution was Murdoch Laing's 'Jap Zero' It was very well made by himself. This was followed by Peter Terroux' D C 7, Mainliner, and a B Jet Atomic -Bomber. The latter occasioned a great deal of interest, as well as his B 25 Mitchell Bomber, carrying six rockets. James Caird showed a B 26 'lnvader'. David Brown wos very generous in lending a large model of a B 29. This had several flights down the length of the large library. lt had the grim interest of being a model of the plane which dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima. Michael Shaughnessy exhibited an excellent model of a B 25 called the 'Dragon'. Christopher Roulson added a model ofa Sabre Jet, C D 605. Jonathan Birks lent a 'Panther Grumman', F 9, F 8. This was a very unusual plane. On February 22nd., the birthday of Baden-Powell, an exhibition was arranged in his honour, by Mr. Tees, who procured a loan of a special exhibit from Scout Headquarters. This had reference to the Jamboree which took place recently in Australia, and to which a delegation was sent from Canada. Intense interest was shown in the 73 badges displayed, which might be won by a good scout. We were all grateful to Mr. Tees for this unusual exhibit. Michael Gwinnell had painted a very good picture ofa Wolf Cub on his way to a Scout meeting, and this was used in the background. Peter Terroux lent and arranged a British Scout camp, helped by Kerry Martin. lt was most successful, and very appropriate as it followed the Australian exhibit. Trees and grass gave a sense of reality to the scene, as British scouts carried on their work in the camp. They were seen chopping down trees and lighting a fire. There was a 'casualty' being carried away on a stretcher. It was, in fact, very interesting and realistic.

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28 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE Maxi was a great help in the transportation of the books, and in their arrangement in the new quarters. His ideas are always interesting. Peter Terroux is a very good organizer, and is of great assistance. Michael Barry is quick and practical, and has prepared many books for circulation. Kerry Martin has a genius for the display of exhibits. With all this assistance the library received a new impetus. During the past year there have been many kind gifts. Mrs. E. A. Stanger donated a large collection of useful books which were gratefully received. Dr. N. J. Berrill presented a copy of his latest work Man's Emerging Mind , which is a valuable addition to the library. Mrs. Berrill gave a copy of her last book Wonders of the Wild . This became very popular, and was much appreciated. Collections of books were kindly donated by the followingz- Sir Douglas Copland, Miss Mabel Molson, Teddy Coumantaros, Francisco Cardona, Aleco Kairis, Andrew McNaughton, Charles Chaffey and Pandy Embiricos. Other useful books were given by Jonathan Birks, Peter Russel, Robert Diez, John Harding, Brian Shemilt, Mrs. Tester, and Stephen Paquet. The National Geographic Magazine, a gift of the Vth. Form. has been greatly enjoyed throughout the year. Gordon Peters continued to give the Junior Nature magazine which is much appreciated. Both these magazines are circulated. The 'Nature' section of the library received two gifts. One was a snake-skin from Christopher Hoffman, and the other an almost perfect crab from Ralph Malone. Mr. Tees sent us the first-day issue of the 1955 Scout stamp from the International Jamboree at Niagara. This was an interesting addition to the Scout Exhibit. The number of books added to the library from May 3, 1955 to March 24, 1956, is 263. A large collection of new books, lately acquired but not yet ready for circulation, is not included in this number. Amongst the outstanding books already numbered in the acquisitions of this year are the followingn- The Animal Kingdom in three large volumes, edited by Fred. Drimmer, two volumes of the Oxford Junor Encyclopedia, the History of England , by G. M. Trevelyan, and the Struggle for Mastery in Europe , by A. J. P. Taylor. The circulation of books from April 1, 1955 to March 27, 1956 was 4,628 - an increase of 963 over the total of last year: Books on 'Science' in circulation during the year numbered 316, in 'History' 206, in 'Geography' 174, in 'Nature' 226, in 'Biography' 150. The remainder of those circulated dealt with 'Younger Books', 'Things-to-do', 'Sports' and 'Fiction'. Books accessioned to date number 3915. The library members feel specially proud of Martin Campbell who, at the age of nine years, won the first prize in the Montreal Children's Library Book Contest of this year.