Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 27 text:

A CONVERSATION Really! said Science Book indignantly, by all the laws of gravitation and otherwise, that book should not have landed on me — realK ' it is too outrageous! It gives to me — how you say? ah! ze hysterics! interposed Monsieur La Patrie. I was hit too, really, it was the most outrageous bump in His- tory, put in History Book. Who was it who hit us? I am afraid it was I, said the Lady of the Lake. Ah! in that case . . . . began History Book graciously — but here Kirkland and Scott cut in irritably; Fiddlesticks! stuff and nonsense! though I suppose it was not her fault — those Humans again, I suppose! Ah! forgive those foolish mortals , began Poetry Book. Shan ' t! cried Kirkland and Scott. Pax! pax! cried Elementa Latina. What on earth does he mean? queried Science Book. Peace, replied the Dictionary. Peace yourself then! shouted back Kirkland and Scott. Cease to fight, you imbeciles! said Poetry Book. What? cried Kirkland and Scott. Quid, echoed Elementa Latina. What would have happened next I do not know had not Monsieur La Patrie cut in with; Silence — how you say? Be quiet? the Hu- man — she approaches! At these words the turmoil ceased, at least for a few minutes, until the Human had gone away. B.d ' A.— Upper H. THE SIXTH FORM DEBATES Last Fall all the Sixth Form had a debating club. We debated every Tuesday; we debated fast and furious. It was very enjoyable listening to another speak, but when we ourselves arose to win over the opposition it was strange how fondly we thought of the little cubby-hole under Miss Bryan ' s desk. We wished it was bigger. Then with splendid heroism we would plunge into the middle of our carefully prepared arguments; the middle, never the beginning. We get on swimmingly for a few minutes and have visions of the first Canadian woman in Parliament, Sunday Illustrated, etc., when — disconcerting sr)und — a chuckle is heard. We look at our feet, nothing wrong there, and-de , we look at our hands, nothing wrong there, and-de we look at our fellow pupils. They are cer- tainly amus ' d. What have we said? And-de we look at Miss P)r ' an, and-de she is counting them!

Page 26 text:

FIRE-DRILL IN THE HOUSE Deep silence reigns. Not a whisper — not a single stealthy footstep is heard throughout the house — nothing but quietness, still as the tomb. Each form lies, stretched on the bed — waiting — expectant — but wordless. Dressing-gowns are draped on the backs of chairs; slippers are placed in two exact geometrical planes by the bedside. Dainty boudoir caps lie beside them, while eiderdowns are rolled in con- venient, but uncomfortable bundles on the feet of each sleeper. Not a stir — not a word. Suddenly — hark! — the strained atmosphere is broken by a harsh clanging sound. But once it sounds; comes a hush; then pande- monium bursts forth. Flying forms leap from their couches, shoes are donned, usually on the wrong feet, so that much valuable time is lost — gowns follow, hanging on one arm and trailing behind, and lastly, with much accuracy and precision, comes the dainty cap. At last, all is ready. Each eager figure rushes to the corridor. Stop! w hat was that! Ah, yes! And all dive back once more to retrieve the forgotten eiderdown. Two orderly lines hurry down- stairs, each person impeded by the dangling gowns, and the ends of the eiderdowns, hung toga-like about the shoulders of those in front. The open air is reached. The fresh breeze of evening revives twenty-eight drooping souls — and twenty-eight weary sighs strike the tingling stars. In tense voices the rolls are called — none missing- — no casualties; all is well; all are safe. The figures having so bravely rescued them- selves, trudge ofi to each deserted cot. Fire-drill is over. M.H.S.— VL NIGHT I SEE thee coming, silent Night, Across the darkening sky, Silvery moonbeams for thy light. As twilight ' s shadows die. Thy dusky tresses poppy wreathed Entwined upon thy brow. The sleepy scent which twilight breathed, But who fast sleepeth now. The little flowers which thou madest sleep. Each one with golden dream. And drowsy world in slumber deep While thou, Night! reign supreme. F.W.— V. 24

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The room swims. Only one thing can we see clearly, our own desk. We make the distance between us as short as possible amidst a storm of applause. Then we hear our opponent explain that all we have said is utterly false. We got, at the same time, some important results. We decided that women should have a university education, and should take up politics, that solitude is more conducive to moral and mental development than society, that life in a city is more beneficial than life in a small community, that a set curriculum is better for pupils than a choice of subjects. The most important decisions, however, were that a constant attendance at the movies is detrimental to the development of the individual, and that powder is detrimental to the complexion. The arguments were heated, but they were child ' s play compared to the battles which ensued in the Sixth Form cloak-room after- wards. Nobody wore her best hat on Tuesday. Now, when we are aged, and can, like Old Father William — finish the goose, both the bones and beak , we shall say, I argued in the Sixth Form debates, and the muscular strength that it gave to my jaw has lasted the rest of my life. R.S.— VL $ THE NIGHT BEFORE EXAMS ' TwAS the week of exams, and all through the school, There was not a word spoken nor broken a rule. Our pencils were sharpened and near by were laid. With ruler and compass to come to our aid. Both girls and the teachers had settled their mind. And all were prepared for a steady week ' s grind. All evening we studied till terribly late. Trying to find in our memories a name or a date, And then, quite tired out, to bed we would go, And dreams would arise that would cause us much woe, For Caesar and Shakespeare seemed quite to change place, And amo — to love — took the ablative case, And all the French verbs seemed joined into one. And the rays of the moon had more heat than the sun. Poor Chaucer was priest, and Joseph, the poet. And Spenser went blind, though the world didn ' t know it, The sides of triangles were less than the base, And parallel lines were enclosing a space. Charles I. fought at Hastings, and won it what ' s more. And ' Amiens ended the Seven Years ' War. And so it went on all, all through the night, And when we awoke we were shaking with fright But all were relieved, though real it did seem, To find after all it was only a dream. M.B.J.— V. 26