Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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and copper mines of Noranda and Arntfield. From Rouyn we turned east across the Kenogeirs River, into the heart of the Pro- vince. The dense forests were broken in places by small clearings where log cabins and teams of oxen pulling out stumps of trees were occasionally seen. It almost seemed as if we had stepped back a hundred years and were watching our own ancestors find homes in the New Land. Soon we entered the great mineral belt and drove through the Cadillac mines and prospects. The O ' Brien gold mine ranks the highest in the district being fifteen hundred feet deep and having some of the highest grade ore known. A large wire fence sur- rounds the buildings and people can only enter through guarded gates by special permit. The miners here are forced to change their clothes and take shower-baths before they leave the premises in case what is known as high grading — or the stealing of gold — should be practised. From the Cadillacs the road led to the town of Malartic situated where three years before grew uncut timber. The whole country is now punctured with diamond drills. Working at the rate of eight feet per day these drills bore hundreds of feet into the earth and send up a rock ore which is assayed for gold. At present there are three mines around the town — the Canadian, Sladen and East Malartic gold mines. This group of mines was the one with which we became most familiar since we visited it several times, were shown through its numerous buildings and had the privilege of dining with the staff of the East Malartic in their official dining room. Twenty miles east of Malartic, across the great rolling Thompson River, is the town of Val D ' Or which we made the headquarters of our trip. The first building lot was sold on August 1st, 1934; now it is a large commercial town, with an ever increasing population, exceedingly cosmopolitan and extremely busy. Adjoining it is the lovely little town of Bourlamaque with its wide straight streets, grassy lawns and picturesque homes. The gold mine here ranks next to O ' Brien Cadillac in high grade ore. Surrounding Val D ' Or are several mines. The Sisco , located on a beautiful island in the midst of a lake, was one of the first in the region to be opened. When Mr. Sisco, a Pole, sold it to its present owners, he stipulated that no Pole should ever be refused work in the Mine and consequently the garden-island has become a Polish retreat. The Siscoe Mines, although appealing strongly to the imagination, are however eclipsed in size and importance by the Perron group, the last mines which we were able to visit before turning homewards. The Northland ' s great need of communication with the outside world is being met by a railway, which was completed last autumn, from Montreal, through the entire district to Rouyn and by a section of the Trans-Canada highway which is expected to be opened this Spring. There is an atmosphere in the Northland which pervades everything; an atmos- phere of freshness, of youth and of adventure; an exhilarating, captivating spirit that enthralls everyone. It was with keen regret and high hopes for a speedy return that I said Farewell! to this wonderful Canadian North of ' golden ' promise. Allana Reid, Matriculation I, Barclay House. [28]

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MARSH MARIGOLDS When Spring ' s green skirts have touched the earth That gloomy Winter trod, and hawthorn blossoms Linger on her hair, and violets spring in mirth Where she has stepped, then, ' neath the trees All barr ' d with sunlight, where moss both green and cool Clings to fallen logs, are floating on the swamp Like fairy craft on darkling pool. Marsh-marigolds drifting with the breeze, O ' erbrimming in the pool their mirrored selves Beneath the new-born green of trees. Heather Campbell, Matric. I, Ross House. IN THE NORTHLAND AMONG the many varied regions of Canada there is none more wonderful and yet more unknown than the great track of country between the Laurentians and the Arctic Circle. During the Summer of 1938 we spent sometime in this great stretch of land. Leaving North Bay the highway winds its way north through miles of dense hard- wood forests, by deep blue lakes, over hills and around break-neck, breath-taking curves. In several places the road is blasted through solid rock. White marble-like stone deepen- ing into blue and fading into purples, pinks and gold towered on each side of us like watchful giants guarding the unlimited treasures of the North. Fifteen years ago there was little beyond New Liscard except forests stretching to the Arctic Ocean. Then gold was discovered and great mining plants sprang up. Now there are two cities of more than fifteen thousand people, Timmins and Kirkland Lake — each throbbing with life, the Lake Shore plant in Kirkland Lake being the largest gold mine in Canada. Leaving New Liscard and Kirkland Lake we returned to the Province of Quebec. The road led north over countless hills to the joint towns of Rouyn and Noranda, situated in the centre of a country which shows great promise to settlers. The soil is rich when cleared and drained and tremendous wealth can be realized from the hard and soft woods which now cover the land. The immediate wealth however lies in the gold [27]

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SAILING The bow cuts through the foamy waves As billowy clouds roll by: The massive sails reflect the sun. The wind is blowing high — Through oceans rough, my vessel glides, With water splashing o ' er her sides. The sky is of an azure blue. The sails so fresh and clean; It makes me want to sail for ' aye Amidst the glorious sheen. We sail along through salty spray To distant countries far away. Mary Holden, Form Va, Riddell House. TOO LONG . When I can watch a sunset, And casually, ' Vivid ' ! say. When I can see a sunrise. And merely call it ' day ' , When I can see a star fall. And think ' Astronomy! ' I shall not want to live I shall not want to see. When I can think of mountains In terms of iron mines. When I can see a grape-vine And count the cost of wines. When I can see an oak-tree. And ask, ' How hard? How strong? ' Then I shall shout to Heaven, You ' ve let me live too long! Elsie Krug, Matric. I, Ross House. THE SUN-TAN CRAZE AFTER the summer holidays are over and we settle down to our winter duties, the subject of conversation for most people, is his or her newly acquired tan. It is the pride of his summer souvenirs, something to be remarked on and speculated about. Young and old all seem to have the desire, either openly or secretly, to become a beauti- ful golden-brown on their vacation. It seems a rather barbarous custom, to become brown in the sun and one that some [29]