Stratford Normal School - Classic Yearbook (Stratford, Ontario Canada)

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The Classic June, 1911 tifully satisfied, and wherein conversation is carried on, occasionally to a hilarious degreeg the attractive sitting-room, which is open to us at all times, and to our entertainment of other students of the College fwho are not lady teachersl, by music, vocal and instru- mental: the baseball, tennis and promenades occupy the time which is not spent in study. All these present occupation for the most fastidious taste. A homelike feeling was created for us by the hospitality of the Macdonald girls, who entertained us most enjoyably, shortly after our arrival he1'e. XVhatever homesick feelings we may have had were quickly dis- pelled by the welcome appearance of Dr. Silcox last Saturday, who by his kind remembrance of us and genial manner, made a bright picture for mernory's book- Though we are enjoying life here, so thoroughly, we often think of you all and we sincerely wish you the bestof success in upholding the record of the S. N. S., as we do when we make the echoes ring hv Stratford Normal hoop la goo Purple and gold, to roh rum boo, Schola oyez cis go bah, Stratford Normal, rah, rah, rah. Myrtle Edmiston Ella Abraham Ada Xeelands Katie Hurlburt Eva Armstrong Katie Tuttle Bertha Inglis Mabel Bailie Mabel XVhiteman Reta McCombe Lizzie Binnie Gretta XVilson Annie McGirr Beatrice Delahunt THE AT HOME FROM THE TEACHERS' STANDPOINT. HE primary object of an At Home is the satisfying and the developing of the social instinct, and the successful carrying out is emulation or rivalry of former affairs. Hence the Decoration Com- mittee looks for some unique scheme of decoration. This year the committee chose to specialize on Chinese Lanterns, and these were successful in giving that side of the At Home a character different from any hitherto held in Stratford Normal. The decorations in the halls and throughout the building were more elaborate than on former occasions. Chinese lanterns suggest the legendary ease and luxurious- ness of eastern palaces. It is doubtful if such grandeur actually exists there, but we think it does, and a man thinks, so is'he. The Program Committee centered its attention upon the unusual feature of outside talent, and the singing of Mr. XY. A. McCutcheon made the program excellent, while every number on it rendered by the students was also of the highest order. It was essentially a musical program, the recitations by Mr. Emery adding a very spicy variation in the first half. All who took part are to be congratulated upon the success of this part of the At Homef' The Refreshment Committee discovered its new feature in frozen 22

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The Classic at the great benefits to be derived from the opportunity that is here given every some healthy and energetic exercise, and students of Stratford Normal School have June, 1911 all sports, let us grasp at one of us to take part in in conclusion say that the struck the right chord and have sounded the proper pitch when they have organized football, skating, hockey and basketball teams, so that the ladies as well as the men can find that recreation and enjoyment which supply re- newed vigor to the depressed and over--taxed brain. GREETINGS FROM GUELPH. ERE we are, sixteen of the jolliest, best behaved and most studious of the ninety-nine students at the O. A. C., sitting o11 the campus, listening to the warbles of bronze grackle, rose- breasted grosbeak and chipping sparrow, while the common Eastern Swallow Tail and Morning Cloak go Hitting by. But amid all these attractions, someway, somehow, our i1l1011glltS'T9i31lI'1'l to the aquarium and the insect boxes of the S. N. S. XYhen our muscles ache and our fingers twitch from too intimate association with the plane, saw and chisel. a longing is created for those simple tools, the ruler, scissors, liquid glue pot and cardboard. Yes, we are in a delightful spot, with all the characteristics of a. summer resort, including sufficient wholesome work to make life interesting. A prominent educationist said recently that it is a combination of city conveniences and country privileges. Our instruction is given in the various buildings in connection with the Agricultural College and in Macdonald Institute. The classes in Industrial Arts, consisting of the three departments, Art, Mechanical Drawing and XVoodwork, are held in machinery hall. You ask about the Art. Oh, yes, we have color charts in abund- ance, with great display and delicacy of colors. As you sit within the walls of the S. X. S. you may have visions of May fiowers, birds and green trees, and wish that you might roam among them. Such visions of ours have become a realization, as with butterfly nets, bug bottles and insect boxes, we march at the familiar tremendous rate, across the freshly sowed oat fields to the north woods and here receive Nature Study instruc- tion. Buttertiies, caterpillars and other insects a1'e becoming objects of admiration, as we gaze at their beautiful markings, magnified by the lantern. Our garden plots are places of wonder and interest as we watch the co-operation of soil and seed in the development of plant life. A new interest has been created for us in Bee Cul- ture, by two lectures given by Dr. Phillips of iYashington, who has portrayed it as a simple means of bettering one's financial standing in old age. Consequently, we have renewed hope. Now you are beginning to think how hard we have to work and how monotonous life must be. Not so: there is another side. The spacious dining-room wherein our abnormal appetites are so boun- 21

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P The Classic June, 1911 water-ice in the half orange, which gave the required element of in- terest to the prosaic activity of eating. The serving of refreshments early in the evening was also a desirable innovation, as many de- sired to leave early, and the refreshment feature is too interesting to be missed by anybody. The guests seemed to enjoy themselves very thoroughly up to the very close and would doubtless have remained longer had the supply of sandwiches not failed or had the orchestra not played God Save the King. The formal introduction of the guests was a new feature which will he continued on future occasions of the same kind. The most pleasing feature to the staff in successive At Homes is the increasing number of old hoys and girls who attend these func- tions. In the near future it will devolve upon the staff to give an At Home of its very own to which will he invited only the students a.nd the ex-students of the Institution, and perhaps their husbands, wives and children. In the meantime, we hope that no ex-student within reach of Stratford was omitted from the list of invited ones. In future we should, perhaps, announce in the daily press that ex- students are always welcome whether they receive an invitation or not. The students of this class may consider themselves invited for next year. The only way in which future At Homesli can excel the one just held will be in quantity, not in quality, and no one will begrudge excellence of that nature, especially in sandwiches and water-ice in the half orange. THE INFLUENCE OF BOOKS UPON CHARACTER. MAX is no more truly known by the company he keeps than by the books he reads: his library is perhaps even a surer index into his character than his associates. He may for the sake of repu- tation do his utmost to keep good company even though his tastes and desires do not demand it: but he is very unlikely to read in private books that are not suitable to his tastes. The hooks we read have a wonderful power in moulding our char- acter for good or evil. XYe cannot read a hook at all carefully and not assimilate a great many thoughts that have not previously oc- curred to us, and the iniiuence upon our minds is for good or evil, just in so far as the nature of the book is elevating or degrading. While reading we are usually unconscious of any infiuence upon our minds, but after we have mastered the book the thought will work out in our daily lives. YYe cannot say how much the sense of honor, the courage, the energy and the broader outlook upon life are due to the inspiration of our reading, while on the other hand we cannot tell how much the dwarfed mind, the gloomy outlook on life and the lowered morals are due to the reading of a had book. For these reasons the choice of our reading material is a matter of primary importance. VVe should be very careful about our choice 23