Timmins High and Vocational School - Porcupine Quill Yearbook (Timmins, Ontario Canada)

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79 i4' The PORCUPINE QUILL How I Learned to Ski Go down, Armand, you'll not fall, I betcha! Why, I did it just now! I looked dubiously at the hill, which I was then on the very top of, at my skiis, and finally at myself. I thought I was very young yet to die, but only to show I was no coward, I would do it! Yes, I would ski down that big hill! With a brave sweep of my arms, I let myself go. At first the going was slow, but soon the speed increased until I could no longer see because of my eyes being full of water. Here, I let the skiis guide my coLu'se fl don't think I could have guided them myself had I triedl. About halfway down the hill, my left ski started to leave the ground. Then the first thing I knew, I was not touching the ground at all, but was off it completely! But I did not remain long in the air. With a crash and a jar, I landed on my back and rolled over to the bottom of the hill. I was so tangled up in my skiis, that I could not extri- cate myself. My companions ran down the hill, untied my skiis, and lifted me up. Pain- fully, oh, very painfully, I rubbed my sore joints. All of a sudden, the whole crowd started laughing, and to this day I do not know why. But they laughed, and laughed, and laughed! Angrily taking my skiis I ascended the hill, fastened them to my feet, and pushed my- self off again. This time, I went farther down the hill but with the same results. Hurt and determined, I again went up, and again achieved the same results. This went on and on until at last, I did it! Oh, how happy I was! I made that hill numberless times on that day, and did not fall once! 1 tried other hills and skiied down- them triumphantly. I was the happiest :boy in Timmins that day, for I knew how to ski! ARMAND LACHAPELLE , .ig I' J . , -. ' W. f 1..-

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78 The PORCUPINE QUILL sleds pulled by dogs-fine husky-looking dogs. of no special breed or variety but with a loyal, trustworthy look. The jingle of sleigh bells is often heard on the main street and a team of horses drawing cutters full of people covered with fur robes, is not an infrequent sight. One of the oddities of the town is the little green houses that are placed over the hyd- rants to prevent them from freezing, during very cold weather. They are not unlike dog- houses, and are the source of much laughter and inquiry from visitors. Another curiosity is the overhead tent, that is placed on the telegraph wires while cables are being put up. Many of the houses are bare and unpainted, with porches open below, showing the four posts on which they are built. This gives appearance. The as you approach them a rather unstable houses improve, however, what is commonly known as the Hill g here they have a more settled comfortable look. The absence of trees around the houses and throughout the town is very noticeable to strangers, but residents of Timmins do not seem to miss them. The miners' houses are another of the town peculiarities. They are small, bex-like affairs, each being exactly the same size and shape as its equally box-like neighbour. Evening in Timmins is the nicest time. The west becomes Va glory of crimson, orange and emerald. The lovely tints are never the same for an instant, and their changing beauty is reflected on the white snow. The picture made by the low, blue mountains with the fblack sentinel-like Er trees outlined against them, in the distance, and the teams of plodding horses, pulling logs to the mill, in the foreground is one never to be forgotten by a beauty lover. -Gradually the rosy glow in the west fades, and night draws her dark curtains about the winter world. The stars come out, one by one-twmkly, friendly stars that seem to be near enough to reach. Just outside the town a blaze of lights that themselves look like a myriad of sparkling stars, but that are, in reality, the lights of the famous Hollinger Gold Mine, flash a cheery 'fgood-night. There are many other interesting sights in Timmins, but I should like you to have a few surprises when you come to visit us. SI-IEILA LANG Hollinger Mine by Night Courtesy of Mr. J. S. Kitchen

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80 The PQRCUPINE QUILL l- Up here, motorists who do not trust the snow-ploughs, have devised a contraption to be independent of them. In place of the front wheels of a car, are skiis, and in place of the back ones are caterpillar wheels. This snow-car makes plenty of noise, but serves its purpose well. At night all you can see of the mill is a myriad of twinkling lights in the darkness. Looking down to the river valley, you can trace the course of the streets by the street lamps. The scene looks very beautiful and unreal. Above all these lights shine the bright and friendly stars. IDA WILLIAMS Q11 An amateur skier named Pete, Found it hard to stand up on his feet, When his skiis 'gan to slide, He lost part of his hide, And had to go home in a sheet. REG. ARMBRUST :lf se it You will be awakened at seven o'clock the first morning by the Hollinger whistle. We do not need alarm clocks to waken us to get to school in time, that is the whistle's job. In Timmins, the landscape, like the sky, is very lovely. In the distance, Mountjoy stands covered with snow and surrounded by a dark fringe of trees. In the evening, the smoke coming out of the chimneys makes ghostly images outlined against the dark sky. LILY FELDMAN I wish you could come up to visit Timmins in winter. You would be struck by the dif- ference from your own city. The snow is more plentiful and much cleaner. The roofs are covered with snow and sparkle in the sunshine. The sky is whiter and clearer. The sun shines all day long. At night the moon shines brightly and the whiteness of the ground illumines the sky. We can even see the cold here. When it is far below zero, a whitish fog wraps the town. Many French signs are seen in Timmins. There is one on the town hall and one on the fire hall, and there are some on the stores. On the road leading out of town is a sign which says Au revoirj' and Bienvenu, as well as Farewell and Welcome MADELINE SAUVE Scene Hz SPRING and SUMMER OPERATIONS When Spring is Here Spring! and a million cars out. Spring! and their motors hum. And-that is a wise saying- Spring when you see them comel' Spring is here! The most wonderful seaszn in the whole year! Everything is coming back-flowers, leaves, mosses, birds. Every- thing and everybody is coming back. When you see robin redbreast in your back yard, you know that spring is here. And if you are a lucky and observant person, you may see his nest. Out' in the woods, down by the stream, little pussy willows, looking like soft gray kittens, swing over the water on their long slender stems. You can almost see the pus- sies smiling at you. The earth in the woods smells fragrant and clean. A velvet carpet of green covers the country, while, underneath the pine trees, there is a carpet- of pine needles, six inches thick and so soft and springy that it feels like a feather bed. Just to take deep breaths of pure air, mingled with the scent of pine and cedar trees, makes you glad to be alive. Here We find marsh marigolds: their name tells you where they grow, and what colour they are. Perhaps, right beside them, you may find mountain laurel, a beautiful pink or rose star-shaped flower, characteristic of the north. Tiny dainty violets, mauve and white, grow everywhere, so that you have to watch where you walk, for fear of stepping on some of them. On rocky ground, wild roses grow in pro- fusion, scenting the countryside with their fragrance. Around and about frogs sing, and toads hop among 'the bushes. A shy rabbit scuttles across the path. As yet, there are no