Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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YOX COLLEGIi. never dreamed ; to the queen of every sea and of nations of every zone. But not until the following year was the coronation with maguificent pagent celebrated. Westminster Abbey can remember in its long history of state ceremonial and splendor no more brilliant spectacle than was presented within its walls on that glorious June day. Procession after procession passed into the grand old edifice, each adding to the richness of color and glittering display of costly gems. As the hour drew near for the Queen ' s arrival all was eager- ness and expectancy, but as the marvellous cortege of royalty filed up the aisle the great assembiage was inspired with a deep solemnity. Not the spirit of a holiday display pervaded the gathering, but rather the reverence of a religious ceretnbny, and no one more than the maiden Queen realized and felt its sanctity. What a picture of youthful purity she presented, robed in the royal prrple— so beautifully fragile, yet so. dignified, while the graceful poise of the queenly head and the sweet seriousness of the fair face expressed unspeakable emotion. Following the acclamations was the administering of sacra- ment, the blessing of the ruby coronation ring, the homage rendered her majesty after she was en- troned ; then cannon thundered, trumpets sounded, the band, amid the plaudits of the vast throng, struck up, God Save the Queen, and so was Eng- land ' s greatest sovereign wedded to her kingdom. On the loth of February, 1840, Albert ot Saxe- Cobourg became the husband and Prince Consort of England ' s Queen. The marriage ceremony was celebrated in Chapel Royal, St. James ' Palace. The day, which in the morning appeared dark and mis- erable, discarded its melancholy aspect as the wed- ding bells pealed joyously and the sun burst forth in glorious splendor, causing all nature to echo the heart-joy of the Happy, Happy Pair. With reverence one speaks of the Queen ' s happy days, when her duties were shared by the tenderest of hus- bands, wisest of friends. Her life was filled with flowers and sweet music, but soon the flowers faded, the sweet music died away leaving but a beautiful memory of perfect bliss to her who was left to dis- charge, unaided, the functions of her exalted station through long years of widowhood. The death of William IV. brought to the glorious empire of England many changes. Hitherto the sovereign with the aristocracy of the land monopo- lized the law-making, chosing and throwing aside ministers at their pleasure, while the voice of the people had died away to a whisper. The accession of Victoria marked the beginning of popular states- manship, awakening English loyalty in all its inten- sity. It also meant severing the connection between the kingdoms of England and Hanover, which had existed since the reign of George I., and the estab- lishment of which had cost the English people life and money quite disproportionate to the benefits derived from it. With the rule of the young Queen was inaugurated a reign of purity and a removal of a court loathed by her subjects. The story of the influence of Queen Victoria is the history of the British Empire. By gathering around her a galaxy of men of genius and power, whose fore- most thought was the promotion of the people ' s in- terest, England has made greater advances in the paths of progress and enlightenment than charac- terize any preceeding century since our glorious country became a nation. Her influence transcends that of all other rnonarchs. Peace was ever her motto, and in all affairs of state, as in all her actions, was manifested that deep wisdom mellowed by Christian love. She shared with the humblest peasants the joys and heartaches of motherhood ; nor did this noDle woman deem it unworthy her posi- sition to smooth their furrowed brow and mingle with their tears her own of deepest sympathy, while to the children she was not Queen of England but a dear friend interested in their little triumphs and grievances. When sorrow ' s wings enveloped her, robbing her of her dearest on earth, with what forti- tude, patriotism and silent fidelity were the burdens of her kingdom borne and the duties discharged, laying aside private grief that the ever-increasing cares of government might not be neglected. This noble woman, nobly planned, will ever remain a monument to self-sacrifice, which is the secret of all nobleness and pure influence. For sixty-four years Queen Victoria ruled over a vaster empire than has been, and in the closing of the nineteenth century she left her earthly throne to be crowned in heaven. Her mortal remains have been laid reverently and tearfully in the mausoleum, leaving us memory and regret. The vase is broken but its perfume shall sweeten and ennoble the lives of men through countless ages to come. Superior as mother, beautiful as wife. Amidst the throng of Britain ' s isle she stood. In modest raiment faultless as her life, The type of England ' s worthiest womanhood. She rests in God ' s peace, but her memory stirs The air of earth as with an angel ' s wings, And warms and moves the hearts of men like hers, The sainted daughter of our Saxon kings. Eleanor McWatters.

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8 VOX COLLEGIL Webster, the graduate of the year in domestic science, who was becomingly gowned in pink organ- die ; Dr. and Mrs. Hare; His Honor Judge Mc- Crimmon and Mrs. McCrimmon, His Honor Judge Mclntyre and Mrs. Mclntyre, Mr. and Mrs. Dryden, Miss Burkholder, Mr. Rice and Mr. Thompson. Great praise is due Miss Madison, who superin- tended the preparation, and to whose tack and judg- ment was due in a large measure the success of the function. Xocale- Mrs. Wiggs gives us many bright little snatches of wit from the cabbage patch. Livin ' is like quiltin ' — -you orter keep the peace an ' do ' way with the scraps. ' I ' m jes worn out, that ' s all. It ' ll be with me like it was with Uncle Ned ' s ole ox, I reckon ; he kep ' a-goin and a-goin ' till he died a-standin ' up, and even then they had to push him over. After the lights.— Ada W on U. Francis, seeing Miss Wright coming : Oh ! This isn ' t Ryerson, is it ? Miss W .: No ; are you walking in your sleep ? Ada— Well I don ' t think so, Miss Wright. Time— Friday evening. May 30th. Place — Concert hall. Scene— Banquet. As Macbeth dashes the glass to the floor a cry is heard from the rear of the room somewhere in the vicinity of Miss Partridge : Oh 1 is that a college tumbler. A (waking up Saturday morning)— I won- der what time it is ? It must be nearly noon and listen to all those girls sleeping yet. Mrs. H : Well, Miss P , how did you enjoy the evening ? Didn ' t the girls act splendidly ? Miss P : I was never at a theatre before, and I never want to go again, M. : They are giving the girls who are trying their instrumental exams, beefsteak for breakfast. Emily : They are ! Well, I suppose they ' ll give the girls who try their vocal, bird seed. Girls who are given to sneezing should not go to pillow fights. Bert. : Funny thing, but my hair hasn ' t grown a bit shorter this last year. The Life and Influence of Queen Victoria. The year 1317 was a memorable one in the his- tory of England. The prosperity of the country and the destiny of a grand old monarchy were enveloped in forbidding gloom, for the death of the much-be- loved Princess Charlotte left no direct heir to the throne. Suddenly, however, the Duke of Kent, third son of George HI., determined to marry, and in July. 1 8 18, Virtoria, daughter of Duke Franz of Saxe-Cobourg, became his wife, the future mother of the future Queen of England. George III. reigned ten years, and his successor, Duke of Clar- ence as William IV., only seven. At the decease of the latter no one stood between the throne of Great Britain and Victoria, only child of the Duke of Kent, who had lived but a few months to enjoy his paren- tal happiness. Strangely, quiet and simple was the childhood of the little princess so early destined to greatness. From the time she learned to lisp the sacred name of mother that noble woman taught her to entertain for humanity a kind and respectful, regard ; im- planted in her white soul love of the good and beau- tiful ; instilled in her young mind the desire to be a noble woman. No doubt to this absolute simplicity and the sound judgment of a loving mother, com- bined with her own strength of character, was due the dignity, purity and lofty integrity which charac- terized our sovereign throughout her public and private life. The fact that she would some day be queen of England was carefully guarded from the iittle maiden ' s knowledge until her twelfth year. Then her governess gently told her of her nearness to the throne of Great Britain. When she grasped the full purport of the words, innocent wonder filled the deep, blue eyes as she exclaimed with simple earnestness, I will be good, and her long, un- stained record shows how faithfully was the promise kept. In 1837 the event transpired which changed a girl into a woman, a princess into a qu een. William IV. had but breathed his last when messengers were hastening to Kensington Palace to bear to his suc- cessor the summons to the throne, and at eleven o ' chick on the sam.e day the young, queen met her first council, when the prelates and the chief men of the realm, kneeling, pledged their troth and took sacred oath of allegiance to one who ruled over the land that the great Macedonian could not con- quer and over a continent of which even Columbus

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10 vox COLLEGII. (From the Chronicle and Gazette, ' Whitby.) ONTARIO LADIES ' COLLEGE. The Closing for the Summer Holidajs a Great Success. THIRTY YEARS OF HISTORY. The Past Year one of the Most Successful in Its History — A Pull Account of the Proceedings The Winners of Medals, Di- plomas and Prizes. , The past week has witnessed the su- mmer closiag lestivites of this great ColU ' .g »-, and never in its thii ty years oi ' exi tencMi were they more successful or more thoroughly, enjoyed, botht by our townsijeople and outside educat- ionists and friends who journeyed to Whitby, showing the ever-widening influence of the Ontario. Ladies ' Col- lege. The proceedings began last Fri- day evening, and continued up to Mon- day evening, when the graduates ' lun- cheon, admirably managed, closed the series of entertainments, all of .which were carried through with grace and dignity, emblematic of the Ontario Laiii vs ' Co livg; amidst an atmosphere oJ genial culture. King Edward s an- tici{j.aLed coronation was therefore fit- ingly remembered by the very great SUCC3SS of the College ' s closing before the sad news flashed over the wires I hat the coronation had to be postpon- ed on account ot the serious illness of thi King, wh when he was the Prince of Wales visited Whitby in 1861 and was royally entertaiueck at Trafalgar Castle— now the magnificent ' home of the College.