Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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The Loyalists The Pride of the Maritimes HROUGH the long centuries — across the pages of history — heroic men have suffered innumer ' able hardships, or have died horrible deaths, for the sake of a cause which many deemed con ' temptible. It has been the unhappy lot of many of these men to be scorned and despised, even after their death, because of the cause they upheld, and not even their heroism has softened the criticism. Such, mayhap, was the case with that devoted band — the United Empire Loyalists. They are more often remembered as ' ' traitors to the cause of liberty than as noble patriots. In the days of ' 76, when the American colonies rose against their unjust English rulers, there were yet some men who clung to their mother country. We believe now that even minorities have certain rights, but in those days tolerance was not known. Accordingly, when at last the cause of the people triumphed, the Loyalists, as they were called in contempt, were most shame- fully treated. Riotous mobs, acting under unscrupulous leaders, attacked the Loyalist homes, confiscated their goods, subjected them to gross personal insults, and drove them from their homes. It was considered right in those times for the victor to despoil the vanquished. At last the Loyalists could no longer bear this harsh treatment, and almost eighty thousand of them came to settle in loyal Canada. They established homes in different parts of the Dominion — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and even on the Pacific shore. They founded many towns and cities, some of which endure to this day. The governments of the provinces gave them grants of land, materials for building, and all the other help that they could. The Canadians reali2;ed what their neighbours had not — the tremendous value to the country of these settlers. Just where the mighty St. John river meets the Bay of Fundy they founded a colony, now bearing the name St. John, and still known as the City of the Loyalists. At first the settlement was called Parrtown, but as it grew into a city its name was changed to St. John. To this day, May 1 8th is a public holiday in that city, and is known as Loyalists ' Day. Another colony that the Loyalists established, which has an even more romantic history, is that of Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The Loyalist City has endured to this day, and has a future — SheL burne has only a past. The Loyalists came there ten thousand strong, and built a city. The Governor himself came to christen it, and for a few years Shelburne flourished. But soon it passed away like a gipsy encampment. The surrounding country was not sufficiently cultivated to supply the needs of the people; the harbour was ice-bound in winter, and the situation was bleak. To-day Shelburne is a sleepy little town, chiefly interested in shipping and fishing — the days of its glory have faded. [14]

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I THE LATE MISS MITCHELL By PROFESSOR CARRIE DERICK A Member of the Trafalgar Staff iSgo iSg CT HE history of the first twenty ' five years of Trafalgar Institute centres around two noteworthy women who upheld the highest standards of conduct and attainment. Those who had the privilege of associating either as colleagues or pupils with the one-time Principal, Miss Fairley, and her chief assistant, Miss Mitchell, remember both with love and admiration and think of them together as the founders of the noblest traditions of Trafalgar. Constance Mitchell, a daughter of James Mitchell and Emily Fairbairn, was born in Montreal on September 19, 1858. She, with her lovely sister Emily, was educated first at Bute House, a school which stood opposite the McGill gates on Sherbrooke Street. Later she studied in Dresden, Ger- many, at a well-known school conducted by able Edinburgh women, the Misses Geddes. After her return from Europe, Miss Mitchell became one of a group of women bound together in lifelong friendship by cultivated tastes and broad sympathies. With extraordinary unanimity these old friends speak with tenderness and devotion of that beauty of character which makes even the memory of Constance Mitchell a living force. For a short time Miss Mitchell taught in the school of the Misses Gairdner, but when Trafalgar opened in 1887, she received an appointment to its staff a few months before that of Miss Fairley. There, as a teacher in residence for nine years and a non-residential teacher from 1896 until 191 3, she was a potent influence in the lives of successive generations of girls. Especially in her English classes, even the dullest of her pupils developed some love of books, the more intellectual gained in power of discrimination and all learned to respect higher ideals. Widely read and keenly appreciative of the best in music and art, Miss Mitchell was able to illuminate her lessons by a wealth of illustration and comparison. With simplicity and sincerity she combined a rare sense of humor, which probably was her most effective weapon in maintaining kindly discipline. Though she saw life sanely and as a whole, her spontaneous gaiety brightened the most depressing moments. Her mere entrance into the teachers ' common room at the end of a day dis- pelled dullness and lifted life to a higher level once more. It was not, however, in gayer moods that her power was most felt. She had an understanding nature and gave sympathy wherever needed as generously as she gave herself to each demand made upon her. After her retirement from teaching, she and her sister travelled in Europe and were there on the outbreak of war in 1914. They returned and had a happy home together until the death of Miss Emily Mitchell, in January 1920, ended their sympathetic companionship. But life alone con- tinued to be enriched not only by the memory of past happiness but by present love won through the generous expression of an exquisite character, and strengthened by the faith of a tolerant but deeply religious nature. On September 22, 1925, in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Constance Mitchell, the well-beloved, died after a life of unfailing devotion not only to those who to she owed immediate duty but to all in need. [13]

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The settlement of the Loyalists had a marked influence on the different provinces. The Loyalists were no mere disbanded soldiers who were beaten and were going off to a new country in the hope of finding an Eldorado. Had they been of this stamp, they would have given up their opinions and gone in with the colonies. They were, in reality, men of the finest character. Respect for the law, high standards of honour, and nobility of bearing were their special traits. Certainly some were of lowly origin, but the time of suffering through which they had passed had left its purifying mark upon them. Among them were not a few men of birth and education, who at once took a leading part in public affairs. In short, from the Loyalists have sprung some of our finest citizens. Had America been wise she would have kept these men; but she did not recognise their value, and Canada reaped the benefit. Among our people to-day it is a proud boast to say that one is descended from the Loyalists. Their name will be honoured as long as men regard heroism, truth, and loyalty! O. Mary Hill, Form Upper V. Canada as seen in the American Movies Canada ' s a land of perpetual snow. Where ne ' er a blade of grass will grow. Upon whom the sun doth scowl. And at night the wolves do howl. Where you oft do meet a gri ly bear. And a beaded savage may grab your hair, Lift his hatchet, and only cease When up do ride the Mounted Police. Where women always wear riding suits. With leather shirts and big high boots. Where everyone lives in a wooden shack. With a checkered cloth, and guns on the rack. Where moose wander round about the street, And trappers limp home with fro2;en feet. Where miners fight over bags of gold, Where the snow falls thick and the wind is cold. Where the ' ' rustler steals from the orphaned maid But, thanks to the hero the debt is paid. And the culprit hanged on the nearest tree, While the hero asks, Do you love me? Ruth Bishop, Form Lower VL [ 15]