Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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There was a grinding noise from below, and, taking a firm grip on the bottom of the blackboard. Miss Murray leaned forward cautiously to peer into the gap in the floor. She saw her desk poised precariously on top of one of the second form desks, and noticed with relief that the ink had not spilt. There was another crunching noise, and one of the marble slabs on the stairway upended itself slowly and rolled majestically down the stairs. In the art room, a large display sheet covered with Christmas tree ornaments floated off the wall and wrapped itself around Pam, while the desks started hopping and banging in a most frightening manner. Judy, muttering an excuse to Miss Capel, hurried out to consult Miss Box. This hadn ' t been mentioned to her in today ' s curriculum. Back in the laboratory. Miss Murray decided that it was impossible to teach against such a racket. She put down her chalk and stalked out to find Wilson and tell him about her desk. The sixth form Biology class was delighted, and immediately started to play noughts and crosses. As Miss Murray come out of the lab., she saw a tall, fair-haired girl covered with Christmas tree ornaments disappearing down the stairs. Miss Murray looked at her blankly for a moment, then bounded after her, still bent on finding Wilson and reporting the predicament of her desk. On the ground floor, a strange sight met Miss Murray ' s eyes. There was a large gap in one side of the fifth form classroom. A bull-dozer of cor- responding size was standing in the middle of the room, and on its nose sat Ann Kampouris and her desk. Ann was busy writing history notes, while Mrs. Galambos and the rest of the class looked at her with unfeigned interest. There was another crash, and the whole side of the building crumbled. People were at once running pell-mell all over the place, and Miss Murray sighted a diligent member of Gumming House poking about in the debris for souvenirs such as House pins and crests. Oh good heavens! What is going on? gasped Miss Murray, and she hurried off again in search of Wilson. Something must be done about her desk. Vicky Cumyn, Arts VI, Fairley House. THE TARTAN TARTAN IS a woven material of wool, with different coloured stripes which vary in width. The arrangement of the colours is the same in length and width, and when woven appears to be a number of squares crossed by stripes which intersect each other. By varying the width and number of stripes and changing the colours, different patterns are made. Tartan patterns are called setts . In earlier days the skill of the weaver and the availability of plants likely to supply dyes were the main factors in determining the sett of a tartan. The colours used would be restricted to the plant dyes found within the various districts. Thus it is likely that the people of the different districts were recognized by the colours in their tartans. [19]

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ROMAN RUINS Ancient ruins by dim twilight, Columns of crumbling stone, An era of splendour created their height To stand in beauty alone! Now but gravestones, last of the might Of once predominant Rome. The jewel of Italy; the grandest state, Ruled both far and near, Commanding the world, until, too late. She saw fame disappear Through profligate emperors, so her fate Was ruin; the end was clear. Now all that remains of that Empire high Which finally had to succumb Are these pillars, melting into the sky. Which say, and yet are dumb: That as they last, one ever shall see Sceptrum ad infinitum. Linda McDougall, Form Vb, Fairley House. THE DROUGHT THE EFFECTS of the drought were visible everywhere on the farm. Coarse, wilted hay drooped in the distant field, lifeless in the heat of the noon-day sun. A swallow winged its way through the cloudless, summer sky, over the parched orchard, whose dusty trees extended their branches towards the heavens, vainly seeking cool, refreshing rain. A dog lay panting in the shade of an apple tree, its body stretched on the dry mat of tangled grass. An apple, ripened before maturity, fell to the ground, and the dog sat up with a start, only to collapse again onto the grass, tired with the effort. In the cool of the barn, farmer and son lay back against the wagon-wheel, indifferent to t he protruding hub, aware only of the perspiration trickling down their backs, and the afternoon of work that stretched before them, endless in its proximity. Through the open door they viewed a tall, gaunt pine, casting its long, black shadow over the field, a vivid personification of the Drought. MoRVEN McIlquham, Form Vb, Ross House. DEMOLITION! MISS MURRAY stared in amazement at the large hole in the floor through which her desk had disappeared. She stepped back gingerly, thinking, Now if this is some trick of Peta ' s and Judy ' s . . But no, there they were sitting quietly at their desks, and looking just as astonished as she. [18]

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Tartans are described according to their purpose. Clan tartans are patterns for general use by the clanspeople. When a clan tartan of recent origin is described as Ancient Clan Tartan it is misleading, for the word ancient is merely an indication that the tartan has been woven in lighter shades. Dress tartans were originally worn by the ladies of the Clan who wanted lighter coloured patterns. The majority of them had a white background and were variations of the Clan pattern. Nowadays they are confined to dress occasions. At one time there was a mourning tartan, worn for that purpose, which was generally black and white. Many are now worn as dress tartans. Hunting tartans are worn for sport and outdoor activities. Brown and green are usually the predominant colours. The colours are arranged so that the tartan blended with the surroundings when hidden in the heather. Chief tartans are the personal tartans of the chiefs and should be worn only by the chief and his immediate family. District tartans are probably the oldest of our tartans and from them Clan tartans may have developed. Although many old patterns have been saved, these show only the beauty of the old vegetable dyes and the hand spun weaving of the eighteenth century. Hardly any of them are now recognizable as Clan tartans. The greatest number of our tartans are less than one hundred years old; a fairly large number may be dated to the opening years of the nineteenth century, while a very few are of more ancient date. Marion MacRae, Form Va, Ross House. THE VICTOR ONE DAY I took a ride out on the plains with my horse. All of a sudden far off in the distance I heard the shrill cry of a stallion. I lifted my head and looked up, and there on the cliff were a piebald stallion and a dark bay stallion fighting. They were up on their hind legs and pawing at each other with their hooves, while their large white teeth bit into the other ' s flesh. I watched, horrified, and then it was over. The piebald was dead. The dark bay stood up on the cliff uttering his challenge. His black mane and tail stood out in the sunshine and his bay coat shone. His nostrils seemed to quiver with joy as he looked at his dead opponent. Far down in the green valley, mares and their foals grazed quietly as if they were unaware of their new king. And then as I raised my eyes to look at the stallion again, he reared and galloped off into the distance. Nancy Wood, Form HIb, Ross House. FAT MEN HAVE YOU ever wondered what is so fascinating about fat men? or why they are considered so jolly? They either keep us terribly interested, or revolt us. More often they hold our interest. If someone is speaking of a person we do not know and happens to say that this person is thin, we are unimpressed. [20]