Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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28 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE Memoirs Of A Tribune Looking back on my experiences as commander of the Tenth Legion in the armies of Caesar, I, Tribune Decimus Horatius, now in purgatory for my sins recall the splendour and power that was Rome. Rome! mistress of the lands around the Mediter- ranean, where vassals heard with fear and awe the heavy tramp of her invincible legions. ln the past few years Caesar's armies had marched up and down Gaul in- flicting severe and costly defeats against all barbarian tribes who had the audacity to defy Rome. In all of Gaius Julius Caesar's battles the Tenth had fulfilled its duty quickly and efficiently, so well in fact that it had been praised and honoured, having been made the senior legion of the army in Gaul. In the 689th year of Rome or 55 B.C. as the historians of the present day and age would say, Caesar was preparing to invade the Britons who had been aiding the Gauls in their hopeless struggle against Rome. Caesar had massed eight legions 018,000 legionairies plus auxiliariesl who would be transported across the narrow sea to the fog-girt isle of Britain. On the eve of our departure l was summoned with the rest of the commanders to Caesar's tent. Here I found Caesar leaning over some rough campaign maps of Britain. The Tenth being the senior legion had the somewhat dubious honour of being the first to land. Early the next day when the bugles sounded all the legions massed outside the camp and were taken on board the ships which were to transport us to Britain. On landing we were met with a hail of stones, iavelins and fire arrows. To combat this rather unpleasant nuisance, I had my men form a testudo by locking their shields over their heads and to the sides and the front. In this way we marched up onto the beach from the transports: Like a wedge the legion drove through the disorganised ranks of the Britons leaving a trail of disaster and havoc wherever it went. The other legions performed in much the same way with great success on all fronts. However on the third day having driven the Britons a fair distance inland we came to a field where their ranks separated and their heavy war chariots rushed down upon us with the scythes on their hubs whirling. In a long line they hit our ranks and succeeded in disorganizing and immobilizing 20,000 men. It was soon obvious to Caesar that we were no match for this type of warfare and with the remainder of his men now numbering 28,000 strong he again boarded his transports and returned to Gaul. I had sustained serious injuries in that chariot charge, having lost the use of my legs and having been severely wounded in the lung. I died en route to Gaul and was committed to the ocean depths to join Neptune in the cool bottom of the narrow sea. Bourne, T. Switzerland, A Most Beautiful Country The most beautiful country in the world is Switzerland. I have been there and think that it is a wonderfully scenic country. Every place you turn to there is material for paintings or just snapshots. Whether it is a snow crested mountain, a large lake, or a colourful town, there is a festival of lovely things to see and admire. Take, for example, the town of Lucerne. Encircled by mountains with a lake in front of it and little footbridges going over the river that cuts through Lucerne, it is located in the heart of Switzerland. In the distance, one can see the mountains standing tall and strong with snow surrounding the tops of them. ln the town of Lucerne itself, one can see the gaily decorated stores and people. Another picturesque and beautiful town is Interlaken. As the name suggests, it is between two lakes. There is scenery and beauty for any taste. One may have the choice of two lakes, the mountains in the distance, or the peaceful little town. However, if one wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the town, there

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR I963-1964 27 himself bidding heatedly for it, in competition with an old and tired looking priest who was very much upset. The priest shook his head helplessly and seemingly in sorrow when Dr. Pratt bid 30 mill. Mark. The doctor slipped the ring onto his finger and started towards home which was only a few blocks away. Unusual things began to happen immediately. First a pair of bandits who were being chased by the police, catapulted into his arms, and strangely unafraid Dr. Pratt seized and disarmed them and turned them over to the authorities, who commended him for his courageous action. Then, when he arrived at his home he read in the newspapers of the arrival in Berlin of the head of a famous American research institute. Dr. Pratt, formerly so lacking initiative, called the great specialist, and talked his way into a job at five times the salary he had ever envisioned in even his wildest dreams. Next, he persuaded his grouchy land- lord and real miser with whom he had never been on good terms, to completely redecorate his apartment and to send painters up the very next day. The landlord even promised to pay for everything. '!Suddenly I feel that I have everybody in my power , murmured the doctor somewhat surprised. During the next few days more strange things kept happening to make lite more easy for the doctor. On the third day there came a knock at the front door, and Dr. Pratt discovered that his visitor was the selfsame priest who had bid against him for the old ring. '!Doctor began the priest, I have got a small business matter I would like to talk over with you. May I please come in? Dr. Pratt showed him into the living room and beckoned him to sit down and explain what all this commotion was about. You see , the old priest said, I have simply got to have that ring and destroy it, therefore I am here to offer you any price for it-at the auction I couldn't meet your bid of 30 mill. Mark, but now I am prepared to give you a lOO mill. for it! I don't quite follow , said Dr. Pratt, 'I mean, why do you insist on destroying that ring? 'ilt's a long story , replied the priest looking gravely out of the window into the November afternoon. i'This ring is a terrible force of evil. It must be destroyed before it does further iniury to the human race. Dating back it originally belonged to Judas Iscariot, then somehow Emperor Nero got his hands on it, and centuries later Genghis Khan and Napoleon I became owners of it. The last man to wear it was the Kaiser. It gives everybody who possesses it the ability to make people do his bidding. t'Now I understand why all these things have happened to me , said the doctor a little stunned after having been told the incredible history of the Devil's Ring . You will find it on the dresser in my bedroom. Take it and get rid of it . Seconds later the priest rushed out of the bedroom white as a sheet in the face and stammered: It is gone. It has been stolen! They searched high and low for it, but it was nowhere to be found. Finally Dr. Pratt summoned the foreman of the workers who had been in the flat that day and explained that the ring had disappeared. Ach , he exclaimed, lt eez dat schweinhund den ich troo of den job dis morning! Er war worfless from dem day er started too work fur mich! l'It is a matter of life and death that I get the ring back at once , cried Dr. Pratt. What was your workman's name and address? ulch niemals got seine Adresse , said the foreman, but ich remember dass er hat einen queer sort of Namen. I don't tink er war Deutsch. Ach ia, hier es ist, mein Herr-Adolf Schicklgruber! tAdoIf Hitlerl. The ring was never recovered. P. V. Scheel

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 196381964 29 is a whole countryside in which he can find beauty and serenity all in one. Here one can find a panorama of gurgling irvers, rustling trees, and high mountains unfold before him. If one can find nothing of beauty in a country such as this, one is either blind or very ignorant. Switzerland is surely one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Wilson, W., Form 5 The Coral Sea The sun was shining brightly, and a light breeze rustled through the palms on the shore of Mangrove Bay, Bermuda. The time was 10:00 A.M. and the heat of the tropics had not yet reached its midday height. I had just launched the small sailboat which was to take me to the barrier reef where I was going to spend the day fishing. As the cool breeze sent me skimming across the turquoise waters of the bay, the sun sparkled on the pink and white rooftops at the waterside. When I had cleared the bay and progressed into the heavy swell of the ocean, the sight that I beheld was of extraordinary beauty. Between the swells the sun turned the vast expanse of lonely ocean into a shimmering sea of silver and aquamarine, and when I turned to look at the island in the distance, it resembled the hump of some giant denizen of the ocean. Once anchored over the reef I gazed down on the bizarre seascape peculiar to that part of the world. The striped tiger-fish and the trigger fish darted to and fro amongst many different types of coral, creating freak shadows on the white sand below. After a full day of fishing in different spots along the reef, I headed back to shore. And iust as the last rays of the setting sun shone down through the palms, I beached my craft on the pink sand, and walked up the path home. J. K. Carsley, Form IVa CROSSING STREETS A rather aged biddy Waddled down the street. She seemed a little rickety And awkward on her feet. And when she reached the corner She looked both left and right, But made that one and sad mistake: She did not see the light. The trucks and cars were lined up Like hounds before the hunt. The lady did not care a hoot, But set off with a grunt. She passed the point of no return When green lights shone no more, And every driver in his car Pushed pedals to the floor. She cast a look of terror At the honking drivers who Created such an awful noise, She knew not what to do. And so she simply stood there And planted firm her feet, Until a Boy Scout happened by, All clean and trim and neat. He saw her in her peril, And to her rescue went, And they their steps together Toward the sidewalk bent.