Stratford Central Secondary School - Collegian Yearbook (Stratford, Ontario Canada)

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COLLEGIAN, 1930 A DAY IN SCOTLAND After an all-night journey, rush- ing along at the break-neck speed on which the English railways seem to thrive, we arrived just before dawn at the little station of Craigen- doron, near Dumbarton, on the Clyde. Here we embarked on a small steamer for the trip to Rothesay. The thick white, Scottish mist lay like a blanket over the water, swirl- ing and rising above us in little spi- rals, as we swept down the river. The very silence of the cold black water was oppressive, as we stood on the deck waiting for the dawn. lust when we least expected it, the sun burst with dazzling brilliance over the rim of the surrounding hills to dispel the mist which obscured everything from sight. And in the warmth of the hrst light of day, what a magnificent view met our eyes! On both sides of the inlet rose great masses of dark-brown hills, outlined against a pale-blue sky, cast- ing their sombre shadows on the still waters of the Clyde. Straight ahead, in the distance, were more ranges of low-lying hills, hazy and indistinct in the half-light and partly obscured by the fast disappearing mist. A typical Scottish sunrise, one never to be forgotten as a thing of beauty! As the sun rose higher and higher in the heavens, we steadily pushed onward into the ever-widening mouth of the Clyde. Small towns and villages could be vaguely seen on the edge of the shore, outlined against the ever-present background of hills. About half-way to Rothesay on the right shore, we saw the home of Sir Harry Lauder, hidden away among the trees but easily discern- able through Held-glasses. After weaving our way for some time through the numerous fishing vessels, yachts and steamers riding at anchor in the mouth of the Clyde, We soon came in sight of Rothesay and slow- ly steamed up to the dock. Rothe- say is a delightful little summer re- sort which was and still is to some extent, a fishing port. ln the numer- ous basins about the docks we saw many of the sturdy little fishing smacks with their crews overhauling their gear. Rothesay, itself, spreads out along the coast on the eastern slope of a small range of low-lying hills which form the back-bone of the lsle of Bute. The main street runs along the water front and its entire length is interspersed with shops. displaying souvenirs of Rothesay chiefly Rock Candy put up in small boxes covered with vari-coloured Scotch plaid paper. After exploring the numerous narrow streets branch- ing off the main thoroughfare, which seemed to run hither and thither without any apparent sense of direc- tion, we got on board our little steamer again for the return journey. The one thing l remember most dis- tinctly about Rothesay was the coal- peddlers. These worthy gentlemen perched on heavy two-wheeled carts full of little bags of coal, kept go- ing up and down the streets at a steady pace, without guiding their horses, shouting at the tops of their voices all the while without any ap- parent effort: Coal! Any coal wanted today? The return journey to Craigen- doron was accomplished in about two hours' time and when we arrived there we were met by a fleet of cha- rabancs, which after absorbing all the excursionists, set off along the Clyde, through Dumbarton and up the Clare Loch. It was about eleven o'clock in the morning with not a cloud in the sky, and as we swept through the arch of trees covering the highway, we could catch glimp- ses of silvery waters of Loch Gare peeping through the leaves. How- ever we soon left the highway along the Loch and branched off to the right into the hill district. Here, the trees did not crowd the highway and -23.-

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COLLEGIAN, I930 Trombone-M. Sauer. Tuba-I... Scobbie. Drums-D. Mcliiadgen. The band too has its place in the school life. At the inspection, dur- ing the latter part of last term, the band, then organized only six months, showed what had been ac- complished, when it played for dif- ferent drills performed by the girls. It has also proved an asset in sport circles, playing for the annual field- day procession and also at rugby and hockey games. lVlr. Bishop has been asked to have the band and orchestra give a programme in the new band stand as the opening for the season. He has also been approached in re- gard to a radio evening being given by the two organizations and the talent in the school. ln all probabil- ity these two requests will be granted. Members of the Band are: Flute-H. Kennedy. Clarinets-B. Monteith, F. Joles, F. Langan and R. Sprung. Cornets-I... Battersby, K, Feibig, A. Mclntosh, P. Smith, A. Smith, K. Gregory, T. Dunkley. Horns-H. Galloway, I... Hanna. Saxophones - G. Wright, G. Johnston, K. Lennox and A. Jones. Baritone-W. Cookson. Trombonesillfl. Sauer, W. Lan- gan, W. Eastwood, and L. Baker. Basses-L. Scobbie, R. Cole. Sousaphones--D. Robertson. Bass-G. Kropf. Side Drum-D. Nlclradgen. A TROUBLE REMOVER l need a trouble remover For my case is very sad, Cause when l try to slep at night My troubles drive me mad. l have tried so many tonics l have taken a box of pills, But nothing seems to cure me Of all nay pains and ills. I went to see a doctor To get some good advice He said to take a menthol bath And eat a bag of rice. l tried the doctor's orders Many and many a time And when l woke next morning l was feeling right in rhyme I went to see the doctor To tell him how l felt, But when he handed me my bill Then l began to melt. l pulled a gun in anger And told him he would die, You bet he was terribly frightenezl And started to reach for the sky. 'Twas then the trouble started l made a mistake that once: A policeman came in running. l'll be out in a coupla months! fa safe' , .Q rw 'J-4, i, 'kxWff Fr fl ' .iygfzl . JL 1 NIGHT Still nightg and stars above me gleaming down Reflected shadows from the peaceful lake No fish disturbs its surface with a frown No deer disturbs the silence of the brake. Dark trees outlined against a star-flecked sky, No rustling leaves betray their presence there The breezes blow the clouds no more on high All Nature greets the Fairest of the Fair. -JAW- .-2 7...

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COLLEQGIAN, l930 we were able to see range after range of long brown hills, some of which were partially covered with trees, making a dark spot in the oth- erwise brown landscape. The road wound in and out and around the hills revealing at every turn newer and more beautiful sights than be- fore. After a short journey through this land of romance, we turned off the main highway, and after dis- embarking from our charos, we walked up a tree-covered pathway to the little town of Luss. This is a peaceful little hamlet on the shores of Loch Lomond. We quickly tra- versed the street fthere only is one street in Luss which leads down to the lakel wth its vine-covered cot- tages and going down a small in- cline, went out on a small landing stage built out into the water. Be- fore us lay the calm and peaceful expanse of Loch Lomond! My first sight of this famous lake was indeed an impressive one. All was still a- round us and not a ripple disturbed the clear surface of the water. To right and left stretched its silvery waters, disappearing round a bend to the left, and converging into a group of tree-clad islets to the right. Before us on the other side of the Loch rose the ever-present masses of brown hills, which were reflected on the perfect mirror of the lake. To the left in the distance rose the stately heights of Ben Lomond, reaching up to the sky, a landmark standing out among the brown tipped crests of its fellows. Looking down the lake to the right again. the low-lying islets lent a feeling of peace and security from the outside world. l-lere was nature, calm and unruffled, far from the hurry and bustle of modern life. Every one of the party felt this spirit within him and when one of them broke the in- tense silence and began the open- ing bars of that famous song: On The Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond, with one accord the whole party joined in and soon the echoes were sending back to us our own quiet strains. The singing grad- ually rose in volume until it sounded like an anthem, as tho' everyone were giving forth a prayer to God to thank Him for this perfect work. At that moment l felt a surge within myself which l have seldom if ever felt. Then as the song ended and we were reluctantly turning away to resume our journey, the reverent silence was rudely shattered by a truly plebeian sound. On looking round to see, we were astonished to see a sea-flea! Nothing else but a sea-flea speeding over the silent surface of the Loch at break-neck speed towards the opposite shore The spell was broken and after one lingering glance behind us, we slow- ly trailed up the path towards our waiting charas and soon were on our way once more. From Luss we followed the road, which led us along the peb- bled shores, past Ben Lomond until the lake petered out into a shallow little bay with trees stretching down to the edge of the water. We turned southward then and came upon the little village of Arrochar at the head of Loch Long. After a few minutes rest here we continued our journey down Loch Long until we came to the stopping place for teag the Shandon Hotel, This was a huge building of stone, which we were given to understand had formerly been the estate of some Scottish Laird. The place was magnificent and its velvet-grassed greens over- looked the still waters of Loch Long. At the time we were there, The Royal Yacht Club of Glasgow was holding its alnnual races and the Loch was dotted with numerous craft, from luxurious cruisers down to the frailest of sea-fleas. The sun was just setting over the opposite hills and the small boats flitting a- bout below us in the twilight were the only moving things to be seen. When finally, the sun had sunk from sight into the hills, we turned back -29-