Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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vox C 0 L L E G I I nolds, of O.L.C. ! But thank goodness she gave that little smile for I would certainly not have known her if she hadn ' t. I decided not to tell her my name. How changed she was. a tall, thin, severe-lokiug woman ; why. the pupils must be frightened to death of her! 1 really thouglit it was my duty to reassure them that the severeness was only on the surface. But then people can change. She took me into a sewing class, and complained about how slow they were and fold me that at this tinu of the year the class she was in at O.L.C. had finished their trouseau before tliis. AVe then passed on to the different parts of the school, eacli more wonderful than the first. But look wlio was at the head of it en- joying her freedom. Such was the end of a perfect day. Wilma Gale I was sitting in the front row of the Royal Alick. Xevv York, anxiously waiting for the curtain to rise as that niglit one of Canada ' s prima donnas, Mademoiselle Breezino was paying lier first visit to New York after- studying tlie voice in Italy. Being a Canadian myself I was all the more anxious that she should create a sensation. When the curtain finally arose very loud applause burst forth, and the beau- tiful iNla demoiselle Breezino appeared. She was a woman of very large build, handsome, and absolutely fearless of her audience. I judged her to be about thirty-five years old. but in a minute everything was forgotten, as she burst into a powerful flow of melodious warb- lings, and T sat spellbound listening to each trill and magic note. But it was not until the artist appeared again in an old-fashioned costume that 1 came to myself with amazement, for there before my very eyes I recognized my old school mate, Wilma Gale, and the vision of her the night of the Senior stunt fla.shed across my mind. Indeed it was the same Wilma excepting she had become so very much stouter. T was filled with excitement, and im- mediately I sent for one of the ushers. He was a tall fellow with bright eyes, and he was most ol liging and said as he was a very good friend of Made- moiselle Breezino, he could surely per- suade her to see me for a few moments after the recital. She did not recognize me at first, but when I said Do you remember dear old O.L.C. days a glad smile of recognition lighted her face. However, I did not have opportunity to hear much of her story in those few minutes but gained a few facts concern- ing the change in lier career. During our conversation 1 learned that a few years after leaving ( .L.C. she had mar- ried a minister, but owing to poor health lie died and left Wilma a pen- niless widow. It was necessary that Wilma do something, so as singing was one of her ambitions she turnsd to it. She must have received some training in voice culture while rattling the dish- es at O.L.C. for as far as I know Wilma did not have the slightest inclination towards vocal in those days. But she had gradually climbed the ladder and had now reached the height of her am- bition. I mentioned the fact that she was so stout. Well, she said, it does s?em strange because for the last few months I have not eaten scarcely any- thing but shredded wheat. I noticed the twinkle in her eye and I said Do you remember when in our college days we girls used to tease you about work- ing in a shredded wheat factory? But many admirers were waiting to speak to Mademoiselle Breezino so I had to say good-bye. But she told me that she was tired after the heavy season and was going to spend the summer in the Canadian West, and she promised that she would make me a visit and so I am looking forward to her visit with a great deal of aii1 icipation. Lois Laffoley I had been rushed all morning and there was now no time left for lunch for 1 was due to report a case at two

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vox COLLEGII 13 that you may succeed where we have failed. You are greatly honored to be the Seniors of the Golden Jubilee year Avhen your graduation will recall the the dearest memories to those who have gone before, and who will return at that time. Now we pass our traditions and responsibilities on to you. May your Senior year be as sweet as ours has been. The thought that our school days are over, that next year we will not return, that others will work and play in our beloved halls, is alwaj s with us in these closing days. Every hour comes the re- alization that we are doing something for the last time, But mingled wtih the regret there is a feeling of pride and of passionate determination to follow al- ways our ideals. It is this which takes the sadness out of our farewell, for we feel that we are taking with us the greatest and most precious part of our school life — the ideals of loyalty and service and noble womanhood which we have learned to love while here. Class Prophecies Anna Shaver In 1933 I was visiting in New York and one evening decided to go to the Follies. I had heard a great deal about a new star — Anita Shaveena, and was anxious to see her, as she was a Canadian. On looking Qver the pro- gram I saw under Miss Shaveena ' s name this note — Graduate of Ontario Ladies ' Coll., Whitby, Can., 1923. Could this be one of the girls who was in our 1923 graduating class? It must be ! When Miss Shaveena ap- peared I was more bewildered than ever. She was very tall and slim, with jet black hair and snapping black eyes. After the performance I obtained per- mission for a short interview with the star. On my way back-stage I noticed what appeared to be a mob around the stage entrance. There were literally hundreds of men, and each one carried an immense bouquet of flowers. I was admitted to Miss Shaveena ' s room, and told her I thought we must have gradu- ated in the same class at Whitby. The moment that I mentioned O.L.C. her eyes became as round as saucers and she fired such a volley of questions at me that I was left positively breathless. Now I knew who it was. Anna Shaver. No one else could ask so many ciues- tions in such a short space of time. Anna told me that for a while she was in the Barney Googlesteimlun Com- pany playing the same role always,, that of the severe old maid aunt. She had been extremely successful at this bnt had given it up for the Follies. She also told me that the crowd outside the stage door was waiting for her, and that one evening she went to dinner with the man who could provide her with the most beautiful flowers. The next evening with whoever had the handsomest limousine. We talked a little longer and then I left, wishing Anna all success in her work. But what I could never understand was the flowers, — limousines and men, for Anna used to be such a man-hater,, you know. Marjorie Reynolds On March 24th, 1943, having decided to go on a trip, I though it would not be a bad idea to go and visit this very fashionable boys ' school, that I had heard so much about. I wanted to go and see for myself jut what boarding schools had come to. The head super- intendent came to me and asked me in a very brisk way as a business woman of the world would, what I desired. I told her I wanted to see through this wonderful school. The wonderful must have won her over, for she became very nice and talkative to me. She even decided to tell me her name. Goodness f such a shock, why it was Marjorie Rey-

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vox COLLEGII 15 at the opposite end of the city. I ar- rived just in time and found the court- room almost empty, there being only .a few in the front S3ats, and a dozen or more women in the balcony. The case as reported in the press was that of theft of a ear. The defense •called as their first witness the prisoner, who was charged with the offense, and, vhen brought in l y the constable I saw a tall, thin, plainly dressed woman, with head held high but who had the look of one who had little to eat and Tiad slept poorly for some time. With long strides she entered the witness box, and cross-examination followed. When she replied, on be ' ng asked what she had done previous to coming to Chicago, that she had atte-nded Ontario X adies ' College at Whitby for two years before coming to this city to do secretarial work in the fall of 1923, I looked closely, and discovered to my great surprise my old friend Lois Laf- foley. Was this where I was to find th? pres ' dent of our old Honour Club? I could not have conceived it and found it hard to write. She was given a se- vere cross-examination and when ask- ed if she stole the car and the Hudson seal coat, quantities of wool, shoes and gloves which were found in it. she an- swered not guilty to each and did not know how they had all come to be on her property. When the detectives were being examined they told how the car had been missed from the Packard Garage and how they had seen a lady driving at a terrific speed around the corner near there that night as they were covering their beat, but she had succeeded in getting well away without Iteiiig caught. The ear with all the ar- ticles from Marshall Field ' s stowed in it was later found in the defendant ' s garage. Her husband, a short, fat man, with long hair — a musician I took him to l,ie — said that he had had for some years to watch his wife closely as she liad been ill and not entirely respons- ible and had had to pay for things or Teturn them to stores from which she had pilfered. The doctor was called and gave evidence to the effect that he had given her a mental exam ' nation and found her suffering slightly from kleptomania and that it must have all been brought en when she had had much responsibility and great worries arid troubles. How I thought of that last year back at O.L.C. and what ef- fect it had had on poor Lois. The case closed with a sentence of ' not guilty ' and Lois just hooted and said when leaving the court room ' thank the Pope. ' I learned from her husband later that she had gone to an inst ' tution and was improving and all thought she would shortly be her old self. E. Boake I had decided to go down town this morning with an old college fi ' iend. How I detested shopping in such a large place. It was years since I had been in Toronto. But then it was pleas- ant to !see the old familiar sights. We started for the heart of the city and a block before the place where we had intended to get out of the car our at- tention was drawn by a curious look- ing affair on the corner of one of the busiest thoroughfares. In these days of great invention nothing could be more pleasing than to see something new. Long before arriving there we discov- ered that the object of our interest was no less than a hurdy-gurdy. How scpieaky it was. And the organ grinder — what was there in this woman ' s atti- tude that made me look at her so hard. Where had I seen those eyes before? Why, my friend was staring at her, too. Goodness ! what a noise ! Would she never stop? Surely it wasn ' t possible that the woman couldn ' t tune it? There throught the horrible din I heard the voice of my friend. She was saying that this woman could never be E. Boake. Why, didn ' t I remember how well she played at O.L.C? Then I be- gan to doubt a little. The music stop- ped. When I again looked at her I