Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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3n fl emortam I THE LATE SIR WILLIAM PETERSON, M.A., LL.D., K.C.M.G. BY Rev. George Duncan, M.A., D.D., President This year brings another loss to Trafalgar in the death of one of its distinguished ex-presidents, Sir William Peterson. As principal of McGill University, Sir William was for twenty-four years a governor of Trafalgar, and after the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Barclay became its president. In the words of the Rev. Principal Fraser at the memorial service in the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul: Principal Peterson was primarily a scholar and adminis- trator. He magnified the office of the teacher, and deplored the apathy of the public towards those entrusted with the training of the future manhood and womanhood of the nation. He never ceased to protest against the narrow idea that education consists mainly in the acquiring of knowledge and is to be measured by success in examinations: and he constantly held up to teachers of youth the need of caring for such things as good manners, courtesy, consideration for others, respect for seniors, friendly politeness to all. Character to Sir William was the end of all education. Those who know of his work at Trafalgar, remember his intimate and kindly interest in the members of the teaching staff, and his sympathetic personal management of the scholars in their various studies. His acquaintance in detail with the curriculum and life of the school, and the high ideal of education which he upheld before all, contributed greatly to the success and prestige of Trafalgar. Its affiliation to McGill he strove to make a real and vital thing. One can never forget his enthusiastic support of music and art in their elevating and enriching influence upon the young women of tf)-day. Lonely with a scholar ' s shyness. Principal Peterson was never more in his atmosphere than in touch with the school life of Tra- falgar. Loyal to all that makes for true education and true citizen- ship, his loyalty must inspire all who share his deep attachment to Trafalgar, where his scholarship, administration and personality must j)ro ' e an abiding influence. 15

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Sir William Peterson, K.C.M.G. Trustee 1895-1919 14

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IMPRESSIONS OF BARRIE ' S PLAYS The stage is the best medium of interpreting the ideas of the author. It reaches a larger audience and does so in a more im- pressive way then any other means. As a rule comedy is much more appreciated than more serious drama, but comedy must be tempered with something worth while to make it at all lasting. On the other hand, drama without humour to lighten it is un- balanced. It takes a master playwright to combine the two so that his comedies have an underlying meaning, and his dramas are full of that whimsical humour which makes Barrie so famous. Barrie has an eye for the ridiculous and sees the absurd in every situation. He cannot leave a solemn state of affairs alone, but slips in a little comedy to remind us of the brighter side of life. Apart from his sense of humour however Barrie has a great faculty for stirring one ' s imagination. He has a very vivid imagin- ation himself, which only needs his ability as a playwright to give 16