Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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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

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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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16 VOX COLLEGII saw that she was passing an old dusty looking fawn hat around. As she near- ed me I thought that 1 would ask her if by any chance she was E. Boake of O.L.C. The moment came, she was in front of me. I began Are you but before I could say more she shrug- ged her shoulders, and waved her hand impatiently saying all the whole Get awa ' , get awa ' . Ah ! Now I knew ! 1 had no need to ask further for it was Eileen Boake ! But then, people do change. Evelyn Carss I was going north for my holidays in the summer of 1933, on the way we liad a two-hour stop at Orillia. For a moment I was rather dismayed, but it suddenly dawned upon me that I had had a class-mate whose home was in Orillia. I hurried to a nearby drug store and inquired her present address which I easily obtained. After a few minutes ' walk I came upon a large house where a number of children frolicked on the lawn. A lady met me at the door and I was greatly surprised at the change that had taken place in my friend who led the way to a spacious drawing room where we sat down to talk over the events of the last ten years. Eve told me that soon after leaving O.L.C. she had been married and settled down to make a comfortable home. This she enjoyed, as she always had been fond of cooking and housework. She stated with pride that she had seven children. While we were talking my eye roam- ed round the room. Everything was in perfect order and had been polished until it shone brightly, not a speck of dust was to be seen anywhere. My mind turned back to O.L.C. again. I saw Eve ' s room all spick and span. Her favourite pastime as we all remember had been dusting. Then my eye rested on the lady herself. She was consider- ably stouter than she had been at 0. L.C., and I knew she weighed at least 200 pounds. I in iuired if she still was athletic. hut poor Eve was horrified and 1 won- dered what T had said to cause such indignation on her part. Slie explained that she didn ' t consider it proper for married women to go galavanting oft to clubs and Athletic Associations. Of course, said Eve, it is alright for the young people who have nothing to do but when yoi; have a home and sev- en children and a ]uisl)and to look after there slnuilc] lie no time wasted on sports. I heard a noise in the hall and in a minute little eight-year-old Jack, with his twin sister. Alma, came in, saying that father was coming home early for supper. I looked at my watch and realized that ' my train left in fifteen minutes. I said good-bye to Eve and hurried stati onward. Jean Moad As I was on a tour through the States in the summer of 1935 I stopped off at New York for a few days. One even- ing while exploring the city I noticed the crowds were all going in one direc- tion, and were apparently in a great hurry. My curiosity got the best of me and I fell into the line and followed. As we were passing one of the busi- est corners I saw a huge poster in large black and red lettering. There was no hesitation so I concluded they had all seen it before. On passing, my eyes caug-ht the words — World-famous comedian — Don ' t miss it — at the Pal- ace at eight o ' clock. So this was what was causing al the excitement. My cxiriosity arose more than ever now and I followed more eagerly. After we reached the Palace I was led in to the back seat of the gallery and was handed a programme. It read — The world-famous comedian was a lady of Toronto and after studying a year at the Ontario Ladies ' College, at Whitby, she had studied in Boston for a short time. The shock was almost too great but at this moment the curtain went up and