Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine TENNIS ALTHOUGH tennis was not played as much this year as usual, owing to the poor weather in the summer term, the tournaments in June showed that play was well up to standard. In the final of the senior tournament Brad- ford beat Bell by two sets to none. The best game which produced some really good tennis was the semi-final in which Bradford beat Mainguy. The junior tournament was won by Torland 2 who beat Hyde 2 in the final by two sets to one. SQUASH AND BADMINTON Both games have been played quite consistently this year, and there are plenty of promising players especially among the juniors. In the Mid Island Badminton Championships Bradford and Homer-Dixon won the men ' s handi- cap doubles. In the handicap mixed doubles, three of our four entrants, play- ing with partners from Strathcona Lodge School reached the semi-final round. Dawson and Covernton both reached the semi-finals in the boys ' singles. At squash, ladder competitions for seniors and juniors have helped to en- courage the game. At present Dawson is at the top of the senior ladder and Hayward of the junior. FENCING Much keenness has been shown, especially among the juniors, and although the standard is not yet very high there are several boys who show promise. In a competition held in June, Bradford was successful, winning by four hits to two from Lake 1. Pownall 1 and Bird also fenced well. ROWING After a lapse of several terms, it has again become possible to use the shells on rowing afternoons. Each house has two crews, while Groves ' even aspire to a third. And it is possible to say that great headway has been made, particularly in view of the fact that the majority of those taking part are new to the art. The composition and order of these crews are by no means settled as yet, since it takes some time to discover the most promising oarsmen and the posi- tion in the boat which best suits them. The basis of the crew is the individual. For this reason it has been quite sufficient for this term to give every one a grounding in oar, slide and boat-control. These three things are the ABC of rowing and are essential to the forming of a decent crew. Beyond them the most important element is human control and that consideration will inevitably bring changes. If the present rate of progress is maintained, the school can look forward to some good racing in the summer. 23

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine CONCERT IMPRESSIONS As I wandered along corridors and in and out of common rooms on the evening of November 11th, I heard strange excited murmurings from the junior section of the school. Wondering what it was all about I at last elicited the desired information from a strangely coherent young person, who was able to tell me that there was to be a rag concert at seven thirty. As it was almost that time I drifted along with the crowd in the direction of the big school. I was able to procure a comfortable chair in which having settled myself to my own satisfaction I began to look around. The first thing at which I looked was the stage where what hit me in the eye — to use the expression of our eminent stinks master — was a large and revised edition of the school coat of arms on a grey background. After a quarter of an hour ' s wait punctuated by sundry grunts and squeals from behind an upright piano, the curtain rises to disclose divers objects draped in large sheets and weird headgear, who ask several questions of people who are evidently in the audience but promptly answer them themselves completely to their own satisfaction. The curtain falls and almost at once rises on the same group, but now surrounding a personage strongly resembling a Roman Catholic cardinal, but who turns out to be Old King Cole. He calls for his three masters who appear shouting dire threats of satisfecit; then for his three matrons, young maidens lightsome as the dawn ; and finally for his three prefects. After this there comes a master in full regalia to teach a group of imbecile boys but before he can well begin his form has dwindled to nothing. From the schoolroom we are transported to the dentist ' s chair where we see a young lady has just had an anaesthetic administered. Whereupon all the lights go out, or ought to, but the producer can be heard muttering imprecations because one remains on. In the eerie light of scene two we see the would-be-murderer stalking the girl who eventually lets out a howl which would not disgrace a hyena and as the lights go up to end the tension we see the dentist standing triumphant with the extracted tooth. In the fourth item the stage is filled by a succession of figures in various uncomplimentary positions, being the first fifteen as their coach sees them. The word Palaeontology on the programme leaves me in some doubt as to the next act, nor do the stage properties, one tree and one rock, throw any light on the problem. Eventually we see one tramp gorging himself, whilst another drinks from the first tramp ' s bottle labelled goat ' s milk (contents doubt- ful) unperceived. The scene closes with a general free-for-all, and a con- venient pair of wheels enables the corpse to be disposed of. After the interval some earnest young musicians performed two pieces written for a percussion band quite creditably. There followed a skit on the Croquet Party from Alice in Wonderland by some rather lighthearted young players. The scene changes and we are faced by some seeming gangsters who begin to plan what appears to be a large robbery but is actually their next rugger game. Unfortunately, before this point could be elucidated, the curtain descended prematurely. Victoria ' s Cadborosaurus had to be dragged in some- how and proceedings were brought to a close by two hearty, if rather raucous cowboy songs. — C. T. C. 22

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine AT SUNRISE Awaking at sunrise I watched from my spruce bed the rosy tipped moun- tains towering above the drifting mist on the lake. Hearing a soft splashing in the water I rose and walked quietly down to the lake to discover the cause of the disturbance. The drifting mist lifted slightly and a short way to the right was the dim form of a creature in the water. Creeping noiselessly along the shore in the shadow of the tall spruce I drew nearer and came upon a fine bull moose, stand- ing up to his shoulders in the water, eating quite undisturbed the water lilies which grew in abundance in the shallow water. The breeze suddenly drifted the mist away and at the same instant the moose became aware of my presence. After gazing at me for a few seconds he slowly turned and waded ashore, where he stood broadside on to me, dripping in the light of the rising sun and showing his fine head. Then he quietly trotted away along the shore, disappearing into the returning mist. — Camper. LATIN GRAMMAR Now every week and every day The master starts in his usual way; In fact every day and every week When he opens his mouth and starts to speak, I know that he will ask me for The Present Passive of Moneor! And so on through the tedious verb Till my rising wrath I can scarcely curb, And I know one day in direst dudgeon I shall dash his brains out, the great curmudgeon. Each day as well through the nightmare term, My footing in the form infirm, Threatenings of Satisfecit dread Like Damocles ' sword hang o ' er my head. Detentions come, detentions go: My progress in the form is slow. Someday the Christmas Term will end And home once more the School will send These boys, who will in spirits gay Set off to enjoy high holiday, Only to be confronted by Reports whose contents make them cry In utter anguish. And so now, Well meaning master, listen. This I trow, Into our heads you ' ll never hammer The many laws of Latin Grammar. — R. M. D. 24