Sydney Academy - Record Yearbook (Sydney, Australia)

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MR. GEORGE HADDAD Ruth Newman One of Canada's most gifted pianists, Mr. George Haddad, arrived in this city in November and consented to perform for the students. This con- cert, held in St. Andrew 's Memorial Hall, consisted of selections requested the students. ' Mr. Haddad swept through the opening 'fMilitary Polonaise with much energy, following which he played the beautiful Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiringf' His Ritual Fire Dance was truly superb. Mr. Johnson con- sented to assist the pianist in a piano duet in which Mr. Johnson tinkled and Mr. Haddad played. Th-e students were delighted to find Mr. J olhnson such an adept musician. The concert closed with the 4'Warsaw Concerto as a magnificent finale. -e-o-ae ' HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED James Campbell, XIA As I sit here 'by the fireplace .reading the evening paper, I can 't help but reminisce on the things I have seen and the people I have known. Since I have turned seventy-five I have not been 'El.lbl6 to get around very much and so I have plenty of time to day-dream. How well I remember my first trip into town with my father from our old home. Sydney was the town and our old home was in J ohns-town. Thirty- five miles in those days was a tremendous distance. It w1ould take about three days for us to reach Sydney, sell our produce, and return home again. We left in the ea-rly evening, planning to travel all night and have the next day free in Sydney. The hors-es had a hard time pulling the rickety wag- on over the muddy, narrow roads. Sydney was only a small town. There were no steel plants for plants. of any kind then. People went over 'dhe unpav- ed streets in horse-drawn .carriages and even on horseback. Everyone worked hard, went to church, and was happy. To a wide-eyed country boy like me, everything looked strange and ex- citing, but I was glad to get back to the quiet farm the next day. I didn't make another trip to Sydney until thirty years later. I sold my beef, potatoes, dry codfish, and wool to another who was a sort of wholesaler. When I saw Sydney again I found that things were quite different. My older brother, Angus, had made quite a name' for himself in Sydney. I was very surprised to see him stop at the gate one day driving a horseless carriage. He was one of the first on the Island to get one, he told me. Natur- ally, he invited my wife and me to see his lovely home and the mio-dern conven- iences of the town. We got as far as East Bay over the rough gravel roads, and a farmer towed us the rest of tlhe Way. 14

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I had heard of the big steel plant in Sydney, but its size and complexity amazed me. Since it was built, Sydney had grown rapidly. Many of the streets were paved. I was beginning to feel jealous of my brother on account of his beautiful home and the wonderful things in it. I went back to the farm to stay for many more years. Most of my fam- ily grew up and went away to live. Bill, my second son, stayed 'li-ome with Jessie and me to run the farm. We 're expecting Annie home from California for Christmas. She 'll fly no doubt. Mike comes down from Toronto with his family every Summer, and Murdoch comes in from Sydney every weekend. Sometimes he takes me to town for a day, but his reckless driving frightens me. Give me the slow but sure wagon of my father 's or even my brother's horseless buggy. I guess times have changed too much for me. -sg-g-i3,... THE GAME Barbara Styles, XIB Timmy hated the school. He hated everything about the city-ihis new home, the kids-but especially the schofol. Back in Arizona he had grown up with the gang with which he went to school, and they didnft think he was a curiosity because they were used to him. But here! He could feel the eyes of the kids on either side of him looking queerly his way, wondering 'how he managed to get his 'overly long legs under his desk, secretly laughing at the way his wrists dangled from his coat.. The desks were made for a normal fif- teen year old boy-not one six feet six inclhes tall. Timothy Matthews. The teacher's voice exploded in the room and yanked him from his thoughts. Since our geography lesson is centred about the West., she continued, perhaps you can give us a first hand description of Arizona. The oountry - his country - Arizona! Sure, he'd tell them. He 'd paint a picture for the kids in the class that would make- their heads swim. He 'd tell them of the sun setting behind the hills drawing the land with its golden splendor, making purple shadows behind the trees and then creeping up to t.he house. On the other hand, why should he describe all the beautiful things about Arizona? They wouldn't believe him anyway. Tim never got the chance. He attempted to move from his cramped position behind the desk. His legs got stuck. He tugged, then squirmed a bit and there was a loud sound of cloth ripping. The entire class broke out in un- muffled laughter, laughter dire-cted at him. His face flushed with embarrass- ment, then deeper with anger. Finally he got to his feet. Arizona is-, he stopped. No! He wouldn't tell them. They 'd laugh at his country as they did at him. Arizona is dry, the people are mostly farmers and cowhands, and work at raising cattle and crops, he said, then sat down. 15