Sunalta Junior High School - Vista Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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variety of color and are made remarkably well by hand. These ponchos resemble a large blanket and have a slit in the middle to put the head through. Instead of pack-horses and donkeys, they use llamas and burros in Peru and other South American countries. Along the flat coastal plains are a series of tiny railroads and stations. The common natives live in small huts made of mud and corn stalks. Hammocks are used for sleeping purposes. The natives eat great quantities of starchy vegetables. Their bread is made from uka, which is a root. It is cooked and then beaten to a powder. Fishing and hunting are indulged in, in most parts. Licenses are not necessary, except for guns, so one can hunt or fish at any time of the year. side of the Andes are large tropical jungles. These are filled with many disease-spreading pests. There are great mineral deposits there, too. Gold, oil, salt, silver and mercury are among the valuable minerals found. Many tropical fruits are grown on the large plantations and a lot of them are shipped to North American ports. Among the fruits are bananas, oranges, lemons, limes, paltas, mangos and coconuts. Candies and apples are highly priced because of the scarcity. An apple costs between ten and fifteen cents. To end this bit of information we advise you to take a trip to South America some time and see the beauties and wonders of the place which we cannot fully describe here. THE FARM I like to see the little pigs go dashing to and fro, I like to see contented cattle lift their heads and low, I like to see the blackbirds perch on roof and barn, I like to see these things down on the farm—■ And yet there’s home! I like to see the happy robins build their nests in glee, I like to see the chipmunk go scampering! up a tree; I like to see the little roosters stand upon their toes, And flap their wings and try so hard to crow— And yet there’s home! I like to see the farmer ploughing in the field, I like to see the hired man, the heavy pitch-fork wield. I like to see the windmill so very very tall, I like to hear the old horse stamp impatiently in the stall— And yet there’s home! I like to see the old hen with chicks gathered round, I like to see them eat as they scratch the ground, It’s fun to see the cow after she’s led you through the mud, Stand on the side of the puddle and calmly chew her cud. And yet there’s home! —Peggy Elder, 8C. 58

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Halfway down the lane he turned into a path which led to a blue lake. Running down the path he came to a boat hidden under the reeds. He jumped in and without pausing a second, cast off from shore. In the middle of the lake he let down his line and leaned back in the boat sighing happily. But his happiness was short lived. Soon dark clouds overcast the blue sky, and the rumbling of thunder and streaks of lightning was upon him. Soon the boat was rocking and the waves were lapping over it. Clinging to Tippy, Tom began to sob, “We’ll both be killed, I know we will,” he sobbed. The waves began to die down but then rain started in torrents. For hours it seemed, Tom sat in the rocking boat. He was cold and wet. Tippy began to bark. Tom looked at the shore. “There’s a light,” he cried. “Maybe some one is here to save us!” “Tom, Tom,” a voice cried. “Where are you?” In a minute Tom found his voice and answered, “Out here in a boat.” In less than five minutes Tom was in the arms of his father and on his way home with Tippy following wearily. “I wished I knew how someone besides me knew of that spot. Dad. It was certainly lucky, for otherwise I’d never have been found.” —Elaine Walker, 9D. SOUTH AMERICAN FACTS These facts have been compiled by Ernie Radcliffe and Jim White of 8C. Both boys lived in South America for 11 or 12 years. Jim White was born in Talara, Peru, and lived there until just two years ago. His father was with the International Petroleum Company. He speaks Spanish and is learning French. Jim hopes he will not have to live here the rest of his life but would like to return to his native haunts. He says the country is slightly up on that of ours for less clothing needs to be worn and things are freer, such as hunting, fishing. Everything is right at one’s back door. He came out through the Panama Canal and thence to Jamaica, from where he proceeded to New York, and on to Calgary. Ernie lived in Barranca, Columbia. It is down the Magdelena River from Bogota, the capitaj. He flew out as far as Panama from where he took the same route via steamer as Jim. He also speaks Spanish and likes South America too well to ever leave there for good. He says the flowers, birds, trees, are all much nicer than ours. The cost of living is very high. Prior to his coming to C anada, he had always gone to England for his vacation. One of the mysterious wonders of South American countries is that of the shrunken heads, unknown to the white man. The na¬ tives of Ecuador and Colombia are noted for these mysterious doings. A poncho is one of the most valuable pieces of clothing to the natives. It is worn in the mountains for warmth. They have a wide 57

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A NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR THE R.A.F. Arriving at Halifax, May 5th, 1941, the R.A.F. caught the train two hours later. After seven days of beautiful scenery and rolling prairies, the troops landed in Calgary where they are now stationed at No. 31, E.F.T.S. Here they will train for pilots. For the past two years the boys had been without lights of any description, so were more than fascinated by so many bright lights in the streets and homes of our city. The whistle of a train is so much like the air-raid sirens in England, that for the first few days the young men were in Calgary, they looked frantically about for an air-raid shelter at the sound of any whistle. They were so used to helping in an air-raid that at the sound of a bang behind them, two of the young men began to run up the street calling Where’s that air-raid shelter? Get in that air-raid shelter!” People turning to look at them with amusement and amaze¬ ment made them stop and look sheepishly behind them, only to find that a group of small boys had playfully thrown a firecracker at them. As the planes fly over Calgary the boys recall the time they spent in England, since the planes remind them of “the lads returning from a bombing expedition.” The men used to count the planes as they went out and count them as they returned to see how many had arrived home safely. They nave a very high opinion of Canada and are amazed at its vastness, but would sooner be back in England to look after fam¬ ilies, wives and friends. The people of Calgary have been very hospitabel to the boys in the R.A.F. by inviting them to their homes, arranging parties for them, and also by taking the young fellows on pleasure trips to Banff and other such places. From what we gather the girls are very respectable young ladies, but wear far too much of the cosmetics and as one young fellow states, “leave a dreadful trade-mark with which to return to barracks.” Although many delightful times are spent in the city, the boys are disappointed in not having theatres open on Sunday. The confectioneries of Calgary now have to get a larger supply of the old English brand of cigarettes, “Players Medium”, so as to keep the boys well and happy. English Expressions: Cake - and - Ham Tram, Street Car. Paddy, in a temper. Shilling Dinner, like a fool. Get clacking, get busy. Fillie-tarts, girls. Flicks, theatres. Howta, how are you. Semi, the same. Interview taken and written by: Betty Breedon and Jennie Hughes, 9D. 59