Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

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vox COLLEGII 17 a medhim height lady appeared dress- ed in silver and lace, with numerous strings of pearls and a pearl bandeau on her hair. What attracted nie more than anything was her very pleasant smile. She told us in a very few words that she would appear in several numbers : (1) As Chai ' lie Chaplin ' s wife with her travelling companion as Charlie; (2) Spring Dance; (3) Stunts on a Motor- cycle; (4) Comic vocal selections and readings. After she had said this my heart beat loudly and I recognized her as Jean Moad, a Senior of ' 23. As she went through her numbers amid the terrible autbursts of applause, I decided that I must see her after. This I accomplished and I saw that there was no great change in her face. She told me that when she was in Boston she married a man who was on the stage. A year fol- lowing he deserted her and she was forced to earn a living in some way. It was at this time that she decided to use her talent as a comedian and enter- tainer. We all wish Jean the best of luck in her new career such as she had at 0. L.C. .Edna Bassett You know there was one little thing 1 had always planned to do before I donned mid-way up the bridge of my nose, the proverbial steel-rims, folded my hands, and devoted my spare time to rem ' niscing, and Just-So storying to the grandchildren ; and that was to pay a short visit to my old Alma Mater — Ontario Ladies ' College — now tenn- ed. euphoniously, Trafalgar Hall. Well, one day last winter, 1950, I treated myself to the long-anticipated visit. Although everything was pain- fully modern, even to the new inlaid hardwood floor in Main Hall, and all the other numerous, dreanied-of im- provements, still I could not overthrow a feeling of depression, as I was escort- ed about the building, which recalled to my mind so many happy associa- tions with the girls of my youth. Suddenly I beheld, swooping down up- on me from the infirmary stair a bux- om individual, in the uniform of a nurse. Some girls who were loitering about gracefully vanished at her ap- proach, but not before 1 had overheard tliem in terrified tones pass word along that Nurse Bassett was on the war- path. Suddenly the significance of the name Bassett occurred to me. Once I had known a Bassett — in fact there had been one, Edna, in the old gradu- ating class of ' 23, whom I had often heard express a strong desire to enter the nursing profession. Mentally, I compared remembrance with perception. Red hair? Yes, there it was, but tightly drawn back and streaked with grey. Deep brown eyes? The same, only these had a steely glint, reminding one strongly of the immortal Maggie Jiggs. Tlie other features of the face corres- ponded absolutely with the expression of the eyes — if not more so ! Talkative hands? Sure enough, there they were, propelling themselves rapid- ly, horizontally, vertically, obliquely, while a well-exercised tongue was hurl- ing invectives after the departing girls. In one rotating hand was grasped se- curely, a huge gargle bottle, similar to many I had steered clear of in the old days, while in the other hand was held a thermometer. From one pocket dang- led a loose end of adhesive. In a much shorter time than it takes me to tell it, I was surprised to find my memory to compare with perception. Onr surprise was mutual, to judge by the change of expression in her face, and we hilariously greeted each other as in the old days : 0 you Apple shrieked Edna and, My Darling old Kill- Joy shouted I at the same moment. 0, you Apple worked a trans-

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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

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18 VOX (M)LLE(Ul rormation. Such dissipation of EugHsh had never been indulged in by Edna since her youth, and do you know the Maggie look quite vanished, and the dear soul warmed up ; and what a time we had recalling experiences. She really became almost amiable. Hers had been a hard lot. It seemed that she, at the close of her graduation year had quite set her heart, with mat- rimonial intent, on a certain unrespon- sive individual of whom I have the faintest recollections. Finally, in des- pair at his indifference, she bethought her of her old ambition of becoming a nurse, and straightway began her train- ing. I was about to accuse her with utter lack of persistence in her matrimonial intentions when a din arose in the hall, indicative of excited girls. Immediate- ly the stern expression returned to Edna ' s face, and out she flew in a rage — an exaggerated replica of the Ed- die of ' 23 (I recalled that she had never been able to endure noise), I mn-er saw h?r again. While I was impatiently awaiting her return to the room the taxi arrived, but as I passed down the hall I made enquiry of one of the girls who informed me in awe- stricken tones that th nurse had shut herself in her own room, as was lier custom frequently, — especially on Sun- day afternoons. She said that if I were to look up to a certain room from the outside of the building I should se? the nur.se, chin in hand, gazing stonily, vacantly, into space. Once, in explanation of this strange behaviour, the nurse had mumbled, in- coherently, that she did not enjoy watching the squirrels and Bunnies frisking about the lawn; and signifi- cantly tapping her head with forefin- ger, the girl hurried along. Then it was I knew that Nurse Bas- sett was re-living her past, and that the disappointment could never be healed. I waved farewell from the taxi as I de- parted, but there was no response. Evi- dently she was entirely imconscious of her present surroundings. Sadly I returned home, soliloquizing ' Tis true; ' tis true, ' tis pity and pity ' tis, ' tis true. Marion Richardson Even before my husband and I had reached Africa we heard of the fam- ous Flappity, woidd champion pan- cake flipper and it w as with great an- ticipation that we looked forward to encountering this noted person, who, besides her great art in flipping pan- cakes was a great beauty and a con- firmed favourite with the men, many of whom threw their fortunes at her feet. It w as rumoured that her age was un- certain and it really was wonderful how she retained her youthful beauty. It was said she flipped as many as 47 pan-cakes a minute without so much as damaging one — was not this really an art worthy of great note? So it was with great anticipation that we looked forward to meeting this renowned per- son in our journey through Africa, and thereby vei ' ify the .statements we have heard. ( 11 reaching Africa we found that the papers were full of her wonderful achievements and her name was on ev- ery tongue. Ilowever, it was for sever- al days that v e were able to get so much as a glimpse of her on account of the perpetual crowd that invaded the region of her famous pancake estate. But when we d ' d see her — when we act- ually saw the pancakes emerging skill- fully from the flipper at an unbelieve- able sp3ed, rush into the air and return from the ordeal unscathed, we knew that all the praise we had heard of her was ju.stified. Finally she lifted her drooping eyes from her all-absorbing work and looked over the throng be- fore her. She instantly singled out my husband from the crowd and allowed her eyes to rest on him affectionately. I did not blame her altogether, he was a handsome man. Of course he ignored