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

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine in conversation. They then burst into topical rhyme with many pauses where memory failed them. More unkind digs were administered in Dust and Ashes, after which we were introduced to a bearded, modern minor prophet with a notebook in his hand, in case he should forget his lines, and a less bearded, modern minimus prophet. These two worthies proceeded to make a long series of wisecracks of a miscellaneous character on the school in general. To conclude, a chorus, seated somewhere on the stage in darkness, sang three Plantation Songs, and after God Save the King we were at liberty to start comparing this Rag Concert with those of the past. HART HOUSE QUARTETTE HAVING in mind the store of musical memories left to us following the first visit of the Hart House String Quartette last Autumn, it was with feelings of anticipation and gratitude that we took our places in the Big School, already well filled with representatives from Strathcona Lodge and Queen Margaret ' s Schools, on Saturday evening, November 17th; anticipation of another feast of classical music interpreted through the minds and hearts of such noted artists. Before the two major works of the programme, a short biographical sketch of the two masters, Haydn and Schumann, whose compositions were featured, was read to us by Mr. Harry Adaskin, second violin in the ensemble, and served as a fitting background for the music which followed. The opening movement of the Haydn Quartet (G Major, Opus 3, No. 3) was charming, while the serenade (in which the first violin voices and reiterates an enchanting little theme, while the other instruments pluck the accompani- ment) was played with the most delightful tenderness. The minuet had vitality and freshness, while the concluding movement was a real presto vividly coloured. The particular favourite was the adagio movement of the Schumann quartet (A Minor, Opus 41, No. 1), delightful in its beautiful tranquillity. Reminiscent of the pipes were the small figures of the bright little melody of the presto which brought this work to its close. Following a brief intermission we heard a group of English, Scotch and Irish folk tunes which, though played with artistic mastery, failed to com- plete the element of satisfaction hitherto felt in the full richness of the pre- ceding works of the older masters. AN APOCRYPHAL ODYSSEY (With apologies to Homer and his translators) SO FEASTED they in the halls of King Alcinous. Now when they had put from them the desire of meat and drink, then did King Alcinous, Lord of the Phseacians, speak unto Odysseus and say, Odysseus, in no wise do we deem thee to be a knave or a cheat, even as the dark earth rears many such broadcast, fashioning lies whence none can even

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine After showing some pictures of Victoria in the earlier days, explaining taxi- dermy and telling us of wild animals in this province, he then put on the screen various natural history museums throughout the world and ended with some account of the old totem poles. On February 14th, the matriculation forms went over to Strathcona, where R. G. Humphreys, Esq., read an enlightening, if rather abstruse, paper on Communism, which led to a general discussion of the question among those present. On November 14th, Sir Percy Sykes gave an illustrated lecture on Persia. After reviewing briefly the early history of Persia under Cyrus and Darius he proceeded to describe the chief geographical features of the country, its cli- mate and its people. He referred to various expeditions he himself had made both for survey work and in connection with his military service. The slides were very good and especially those which he showed in speaking of the famous ruins of Persepolis in bringing his lecture to a conclusion. CONCERT IMPRESSIONS AT 7:30 o ' clock on Saturday, November 10th, we took our seats for the B annual Rag Concert. We beheld the by now familiar stage setting of divers flags with that of the United States of America above them all (as of course it should be). After not quite (?) as long a wait as usual the tiny herald emerged to remark that the first selection was the result of a telegram just received from Ontario concerning the offspring of a certain M. Dionne. The howlings of the quintuplets subsided, only to give place to a still worse caterwauling when their nurses decided to lull them to sleep. After a brief pause during which the herald again spoke — this time so far honouring us as to call us ladies and gentlemen — the curtain rose on the pitch darkness of Night Life at School, featuring — hardly the correct term under the circumstances — Miss Blank and others in their nocturnal revellings. The herald did his now famous cuckoo clock stunt to proclaim that the next episode was one to be seen often in hotel life though not so often in a school, The Bathroom Door. We were then introduced to a quartette of Chinese contortionists, who endeavoured to respond to the ordinary P. T. commands. They achieved a most saintly appearance and produced some quite unusual effects, being one of the most amusing turns on the programme. Two beautiful ladies then entered from opposite sides. Mrs. Pocahontas, who had, to our sorrow, a strange habit of disappearing into the upper regions at intervals, was, as she herself said, in an emaciated condition, while Mrs. Amoeba was rather a plentiful lady. After a long conversation on the merits of a certain doctor both ladies underwent a complete metamorphosis. After the interval the curtain rose on a tableau which even Jones ii could scarcely fail to recognise as the renowned mural. Alice Through the Looking Glass disclosed Tweedledum and Tweedle- dee. When we had feasted our eyes on them long enough, Alice, whose hair reminded us very much of Lady Godiva ' s a few years ago, engaged the brothers 10

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Shawnigan Lake School Magazine see his way therein. But come now declare me this and plainly tell it all; whither wast thou borne wandering, and to what shores of men didst thou come; tell me of the people and of their fair-lying cities, of those who are hard and wild and unjust, and of those likewise who art hospitable and of a god- fearing mind. And Odysseus of many counsels answered him saying: King Alcinous, most notable of all the people, verily it is a lengthy thing thou hast asked me to do, for many are the men whose towns I saw and whose minds I learnt. Nevertheless my heart inclineth me to grant thy request. But of what shall I tell thee? Methinks thou wouldst most like to hear the tale of my visit to the noble Shawniganians, a people akin to the gods, who dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth amid deep-flowing Oceanus. Yea, a goodly isle do they inhabit, rich in the fruits of the earth, a land of tall trees and rugged rocks. Thither did a fair breeze carry me in my wanderings. Now when we had brought our ship to shore, I chose me out five goodly companions, the best I had in my company, and with them I set forth to dis- cover what manner of place it was. And all of a sudden we came to a clearing in the woods, hard by a lake, and there we espied the abode of the hospitable Shawniganians. Fair to look upon were their dwellings, big, and built of timber. And they were all clustered about an outer court and a garden which was built nearby with stones, deep bedded, and with tall pines all around and maples with their high crown of leaves. Then pondered I in my heart whether I should return to my ship then and there and arm my companions. But this was the counsel that showed best in my sight. Hardby there was a gate that led through the garden, rich in blooms, to the inner court. And at the entrance thereof was a man working, of broad stature and rugged countenance. And from his mouth there hung a pipe, small and black, from which there issued a grey-blue smoke — the strangest thing that ever I have seen, as if the man were afire. And lo! a hound raised up his head and pricked up his ears, even where he lay, Geryon, the hound of Palintonos, hardy of heart — for such I learnt was the man ' s name — which had saved his master ' s life in times past and had done many another wonderful feat, but could not do them now. So it seemed to me the best thing to accost this man and to tell him how I had come from the land of the Trojans, tamers of horses, and was sailing on my way to Ithaca. Then answered he me and said, ' Hail, friend, methinks thou art a stranger in these parts. I, too, fought before the walls of Troy and was a captain of the far famed allies. ' (And I knew his speech was sooth, for, verily, he did work like a Trojan.) ' But now a hard lot is mine, luckless man that I am. For I spend my time driving forth from this garden, which I fashioned with my own hands, yonder kine with shambling gait which ever stray within these gates and mar my handiwork — out on it! But come, tell me what thou desirest and if it lies within me to grand thy request, surely will I do it. ' So spake he, and I enquired of him where I might find the people that dwelt in that place. And he answered and said unto me, ' Come, follow me and I will show thee. ' So he led the way and I went with him. And he guided me up a steep 12