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

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The Classic June, 1911 of books, and having made it, learn to love them. VVe should not look upon them as mere recreation for an idle moment but as friends to help. Many a dark hour do tl1ey cheer and help to tide over times of homesickness by their power to absorb attention. XVe should remember, too, that books are the souls and minds of authors poured into words, and in reading a book we are reading the author's character, and cannot but be innuenced by it even as we would be if we came into personal contact with him. XYhile there are many books of fiction that should be shunned, still there is a high class of fiction upon which our intellectual de- velopment largely depends. XYe should select the books we want to read though some of the undeveloped faculties of our mind regard them as dry. Thought it will certainly require, but Carlyle says Not by the levity of floating but by the stubborn force of swimming shalt thou make thy way. Histories of other times with the insight they give into modes and manners that have necessarily changed with the ceaseless march et time will help us greatly to form correct habits of judgment: bio- glaphies of other lives spent in different surroundings to our own help to broaden our view of life and remove narrowing prejudices. XYhile environment cannot make character, character can make environment: so let us see that as we value good character we sur- round ourselves with only what will elevate and educate. A NATURE STUDY TRIP T0 THE LITTLE LAKES. NE-FIFTEEN p. m. on Saturday, Oct. 15th, found about forty members of Forms 1 and 2 assembled at the corner of Queen and Ontario streets. XYhen Mr. Emery arrived he advised us to start at once so we wouldn't need to walk fast. This remark was followed by much laughter. XYe set out at a brisk pace and in excellent spirits. The day was an ideal one and walking was a pleasure with such a sky over- head and such woods in the distance. Soon after passing the eastern limits of the city we began to scramble on top of fences and into ditches in search of leaves and seeds. By the way, the burdock must be related to the human family: it is so affectionate. About two miles from our starting point we left the road, climbed a fence and after a short walk arrived at a patch of woods- And such woods! XVell might Canada be proud of the woods in October. A teacher might almost teach patriotism from Nature Study without history. Just at this point we met with a thrilling adventure in the shape of the capture of a terrified snake. Said snake is now in the science room. After much scrambling through crimson ravines and up russet slcpes, we arrived at the smallest of the Little Lakes and the only 2l

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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

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The Classic June, 1911 one we visited. WVe obtained some information on peat, some pitcher plants and a pair of wet feet each. CThe next class had better wear rubbers.J Then we climbed another fence and went on and o11 through lovely woods. Space and talent are too meagre for a de- scription of these solitudes. Xilhen we had all the leaves we could carry, we got our pictures taken. YVelI, we came home foot-sore, weary, dusty, dirty and happy. XVe afforded some amusement to the electric power linemen along the road, so we made some one else happy. And some of us brought back a vision of autumn woods and skies that will last a long tifne. There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir, We must rise and follow her. YVhen from every hill of flame She calls and calls each Vagabond by name. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE LITERARY SOCIETY. 1. This society shall be known as the Stratford Normal School Literary Society. 2. The object of this society shall be the general improvement oi its members, especially in literary and social matters. 3. The officers of the society shall consist of: C13 Honorary president, C22 president, C33 vice-president, C43 secretary, C5j treasurer, C63 an executive committee, C'7lJ an editing committee. 4. There shall be three terms, ending at Christmas, Easter and Midsummer. ' 5. Duties of President-Clj To call the assembly to order, C21 to preside over each meeting, C33 to enforce the constitution, C4j to explain and decide points of order, C51 to announce all business, state all motions, put all questions to vote and to give results, C61 to re- ceive communications and to- give his signature when necessary, C75 to vote only in case of a tie, C85 to look after the appointment of special committees, C93 in general he is the representative of the so- ciety declaring its will and obeying its commands, C102 to introduce the speakers appointed on program for each meeting. 6. Duties of Vice-President-C15 To perform the duties of presi- dent in his absence or when called upon by him. 7. Duties of Secretary-C15 To keep a correct record of all meet- ings, C21 to write all orders and conduct all necessary correspondence, C33 to read the minutes of each previous meeting. 8. Duties of Treasurer-C11 To keep a correct account of all money belonging to the society and to expend on the order of the president only such money as the society may direct, C21 to report in full all moneys received and expended as often as the society de- mands, C31 to collect fees. 9. Duties of Executive Committee-Clj To prepare a program for each meeting, make a list of the same and place a copy in hands of the president, C21 to see that the room is properly arranged for 25