Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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and one which may disturb the good feeling existing between Canada and the United States. If Canada does this the United States will most certainly develop the Albany-Hudson waterway, because she must have an outlet to the sea. New York may then become Montreal ' s rival. This danger would also face her if she decided against the plan altogether or if she postponed it for any long period. Another factor in the case is the tremendous power that can be developed. Shall Canada develop this power? If she does, will there be a market for it? It is most likely that as soon as it is developed a market will be found for it as in the Queenston-Chippawa power development of the Ontario Hydro ' Electric. Another suggestion has been made that Canada should export her surplus power until such time as she has a market for it. The objection to this is that it would be hard to get it back when it was wanted. But apart from material considerations which would decide this question there is also the matter of sentiment. Canada has been in the habit of pointing with pride to the more than a century of peace which has existed between her and her neighbour to the south and the carrying out of this project in common would forge another link in the chain which binds them together. Greta Larminie, Form Upper VI. On Wild Birds Flying South A trailing streak, that twists amid the frown Of dark November ' s clouds, sends back a call That echoes through the leaves, which, like a pall Descending from the sky, come sifting down: Not long ago the trees in gold and brown And all the russet colours of the fall Reposed against the blue, till the first squall Of winter stretched their multi-coloured gown And left them useless, bare, with twisted arms. And now they stand, while past them slips the line Of wild birds, drifting to the South, to find The missing Summer, and the Sun that warms — Though they have passed, in fluttering file so fine, I still hear their farewell upon the wind. Margaret Hill, Form Upper V. Imagine My Embarrassment! By E. M. BARASS A candy sweet was given me. The other day when out at tea; I heard a snicker at my side, And then I very nearly died. Td given candy up for Lent — Imagine my embarrassment ! f 19 I

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The St. Lawrence Question NE of the greatest problems facing Canada tO ' day is the St. Lawrence Question. And so it V — ' seems that it will not be out of place to discuss briefly the principal points in that connection. The western part of both Canada and the United States is growing steadily. This means that the wheat trade, the trade of the west, is also increasing. What shall Canada do to help her western people? The St. Lawrence River, with its extensions the Great Lakes, is a most important factor in the transportation system of North America. Grain is shipped to it from as far west as the Rockies. The grain comes by train to Fort William or Port Arthur, where it is stored in elevators, cleaned and put on large lake boats specially made for the purpose. It has to change again at Detroit, but when the Welland Canal is complete this change will take place at Prescott, where it is put on smaller boats and brought to Montreal. Here it is again stored in elevators, and from there shipped to all parts of the world. All this adds greatly to the cost of the grain. Competition is arising in other countries, so Canada must do something to lessen the cost of her grain. The only way to do this seems to be to deepen the St. Lawrence. The plan now is to enlarge some of the canals and also to deepen the River from Prescott to Montreal, a distance of about a hundred and twenty miles, to allow ocean going vessels to go as far as Fort William. Some people say this will affect the lake trade, but this is doubtful. The lake boats are specially built for the lakes and the lakes have a navigation of their own. Another factor in the case is that navigation is open about ten days later and opens earlier on the lakes th an on the St. Lawrence. Thus it is probable that the lake boats will bring the grain straight to Montreal, where it will be put on ocean ' going vessels. But grain is not the only thing which passes through the lakes. The other goods are more expensive to ship and therefore the gain will be much greater. There have been many treaties with the United States during the last hundred years which give them the right to the free use of all the canals and waterway systems on the St. Lawrence. The United States will of course have to bear their share of the expense of deepening the river if ( ' anatlii agrtvs. On tin- othcv liaiul ( anada may decide to do it all herself, a very costly proceeding

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When running for the car one day, My instruments, they lost their way; Then two young men, they made a dash. But, woe is me, their heads did crash! They both walked off with loud lament — ■ Imagine my embarrassment! When reading psalms at prayers one day We all our verses three did say ; Miss Cumming ' s turn came next to read, I went on reading, paying no heed. Poor me, for I quite well had meant — Imagine my embarrassment ! When singing doh, rah, mi, fa, soh. Our voices up and up did go. And at the top came one loud squeak Which really was quite far from weak ; But I ! Quite off the note I went — Imagine my embarrassment ! Barbara Tooke, Form Lower V. Rumour ON THE 13th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1927, I was convicted of the crime of Ignorance, and was taken with escort to the castle of Intelligence, on the hill of Endeavour. There, in surprise, I found many in such trouble as myself. Some rebellious, some happy, and some simply indifferent. Here I remained for many weary weeks, working at tasks set by the warders. I was seated at a hard wooden bench, with a board in front. Our main occupation was what is called Picking oakum. We were really trying to achieve great knowledge in every direction: such as being able to know at sight a millimetre from a centipede, how to perceive sulphuretted hydrogen from a quadratic equation. How to make the square root of 9281461 into recurring decimals (see text book, page 228). To know that the answer of Avez-vous Tencre et les bonbons, pour faire des potages? is Nescio, num occidebatis dominum. After many hours of grammatical endeavour, we assemble in a large and gloomy room filled with instruments of torture for those who require grace and beauty. We stand in rows, and go through many contortions, trying to make ourselves look like wooden dolls instead of human beings. Here we get rewards for good deportment and activeness, which adorn the breasts of the successful. When I came to the castle, I was in company with a friend from the outside world who gave me much advice, in forms of warnings, threatenings, and prophecy. Of these I took no notice. But one day I was given something, which I received with joy : a bird, a love, a darling Little Rumour, who told me I was to join my comrades in the outside world, one month earlier than I thought. It chirped and comforted me daily, and made me so happy I became reckless, and when asked, Who was Julius Caesar? I answered eagerly, The first governor of this castle! Much to my sorrow this was not the answer required, and I was given a detention for my pains. But sorrow was not long with me, as I still held my rumour to my heart, and he whispered to me Freedom. Now though I seem small, and am thought of a retiring nature, underneath I am as brave as a lion and as hungry as a wolf. When we heard that the governor of the castle had arrived, all the others fell on their knees, but boldly I stood up and, in a voice of thunder, I asked when we were to go again into the outside world. The answer came The 14th, my expectations rose, full height, but tlu- next moment my hopes fell with a crash: the next word was June, not May! When I regained my consciousness, my bird, my love, my Little Rumour, was no more. Amy Archibald, Form IIIb.