University of Toronto - Torontonensis Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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Valeclictor ' BY WOOLF COHEN Years have passed since we dreamt of all that the University llllgllt mean to us. Now, at our leave-takiilgr, we may attempt to eoinpare our dreams with their realization. But only in the future shall wc he able, witl1 proper perspective, to realize and measure the moral and ta11,Q'il1le benefits of our seholastie life. XVe dreamt of whole-liearted intimates and g'ener0us l'llllllilf,il'lll in leetnre-room and playing-Held and debatingr-eliamher. Some of these friends-i11-reality leave now with ns. Others left hut dill not return. Their memory, however, shall remain to ns impcrish- ahlc. YVe dreamt, too, of high intellectual endeavour, and of pur- suing truth for its own sake. Our reward has been ample only in those rare and beautiful moments when we have felt the thrill of mastering some diftienlty. We dreamt. also, of heing saturated with the spirit. of free inquiry and of being guided throughrnit life by the lofty traditions and ideals of our University. Alma Mater! the predecessors of class '20 have evidenced too much worth for us to lack such guidance. Our dreams and our education would be futile, however, were they not directed toward the great works that face ns to-day, Soeiety, the nation, and the world, are l'1llllql'tlIIll'tl with i'f'II'llllIlilllll' prohlems anal l'lNll'll-llllllilllil' changes. lt is our privilege and duly to lalmour iu their solution ainl l'l'illljllSllllt'llf. No fllllllgflllflll Slllll1'Ill- eau eontenililate the il'l'lllt'IlIlllllS sacri- Hees, spiritual and material. uf the past live years, witliout examin- ing' anew the lllll'l'lltlflllllill honcl which hrougrlit them ahoiit. Nor can she or he fail to he impressetl with the diversity of laiigluage, religrion and culture ol' our eolnltry without' asking: some heart- searehingg t1ll!'SllllIlS on f'anadian nationality viewed as an internal prohlem. Finally, and not least iinportznit, the underlying: strife i11 the ceouoinie sphere, regrarrled as promise hy some and as menace hy others, hriiigrs inevitahly infinite reactions in the community whose welfare should he our first eoncern as Pflllllllfl' eitizens. Can the etlorts of this eitizenship, of which we are a part, issue i11 a more mcreiful and still loftier standard of lIliCl'll2ll,lUllill ethies? XVill there he il hroader and more tolerant outlook on national atTairs'Z Is there to prevail a finer and more delicate social sympathy?

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To the Members of the Graduatilgg Class : Vg 1 1-'HID y HOSE who leave the University of Toronto at the close of the current academic year will face a world which is laboriously and painfully adjusting itself to the terrible confusion into which it was thrown by the practically universal war. In the past. wars have been more or less local. The recent war left no e earth untouched. but undoubtedly there was a magnificent dis- vyyr n 1 .Y l ' J i f J 55.15 portion of th play of self-sacrifice much of which is imperishable in its results. We assumed too easily that a new spirit would be created by the war with permanent effects for good in the life of the world. We find, however, that evil also has been let loose. Parts of Europe are in a condition of indescribable suffering: hatred is ablaze. The nations seem to be each so aggressive on its own behalf that statesmen are warning the world that the situation cannot be remedied - unless they cease to live to themselves alone and work for the common good. What is true of reconstruction in the larger international field is true also in domestic affairs. Unfortunately at home men and women have forgotten ' that there was suffering in the past, and they ignore the present, going to shameless excesses. If wantonness continues to run riot, sections of the people will be goaded into fury. What can graduates of the University do for recon- struction? The primary essential is that they should adopt for themselves the principles laid down by the European statesmen for the nations, not to live solitary and apart but to devote themselves to the common good. Our social troubles will not be solved finally by legislation. Legislation must be directed and organized by wise, broad-minded and sympathetic men and women. What we most need for reconstruction is a widespread, intelligent and kindly interest in others. If this spirit can spread over the country the result will be as when a spring-wind sweeps over the dark ground of winter: the dull and soggy earth would be clad with verdure and flowers begin to smile. If the academic person is to be successful in reconstruction he cannot approach the world with his pet theories and nostrums. He must have learned first to observe the facts faithfully. Moreover, the world does not believe too much in academic people. It is suspicious of 'high-brows'-but it is never long suspicious of kindly wisdom. Now wisdom is acquired slowly. It is the fruit of experience, yet experience often does not bring it. But surely the university training has given suggestions as to the age-long methods by which wisdom comes. One function of education is to produce the understanding mind, and wisdom follows on understanding. Those who hold an academic degree should have learned something of the necessity of weighing the facts before coming to a judgment, realising that there are two sides to a question, and should have some understanding of the obligation that rests upon members of society who have been benefited at the public expense to fulfil their duty in part by giving self-sacrificing service for the good of the community. If these principles and convictions take hold upon our graduates, they will soon become beneficent agents in Human Reconstruction. 6 Prvsizlrvz Feb wh mm My best wishes go with the graduating years for their highest and most enduring success. 2'

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Torontonensis, l 920 After me rmnctlz a Ilailrlcr. 1l'elll1iu1 I, too, have L'auiea. The t.wenty-second volume of TonoN'roNnNsis issues forth to take its place beside the records of the years that havc passed, to stand for the members of the graduating: class as a starting point for the aellievenu-nts of the years to be, as a reminder of the siiccesses ot' the years that have been. XVithiu its pages in picture, hiograpliy and story is the history of t'lass '20, llnderlying: that history, interwoven in its structure, showing in hold relief at one point. hidden by many words at anotlu-r, there appears somewhat of that spirit. that actuated the members of QTO. Too soon thc individual graduates will part from their Alma Mater by many and varied routes: too soon the fleeting! years will serve to dull the memories that each shall hold most dear. But. for all there will remain one link that must. serve as the bond between the Yesterday and the To-morrow-this, the twenty-second volume of 'l'onoN'roNi-zssis, the history of Plass '20. The theme of the present volnmc is fully expressed and yet concisely summarized in the word Reconstruction which occupies such prominent position in the frontispieec. It, is dcvelopcd and emphasized by the contributors to this edition of the year hook and many excellent lessons arc pointed. lt is wholly unnecessary to dwell upon the need for the earnest consideration by University men and women of so vital ll problem. The great task which presents itself to all is the outworkinp' of character and ability along such lines as will enable the individual to lnake the best possible contribution to the work of rebuilding the social structure. The best. is none too good, and tliougrli this may sound trite. it is, nevertheless, true. The tasks undertaken, the labour expended, the works accomplished, must form a positive contribution to the foundation of a stable order. Our energies must be so bent, our achievements must he so labelled, that those who follow may gather inspiration from our example and strength to persevere, secure in the knowledge that wc, their predecessors, did not fail and that indeed, we, too. have known. -KIPLING The successful publication of TORONTONENSIS, 1920, was made possible by the united effort and untiring energy of a splendid board of workers. In any work where the name of one person is more or less publicly associated with the production, there is a very natural tendency in the minds of the majority to give more than a just meed of praise to that individual. The Editor deems it particularly desirable, therefore, that the labours of the members of the TURUNTONIENSIS Board should be appreciated by the ,craduates of '20, and wishes to take this opportunity of expressing' his thanks to them for their loyal support and faithful service in making the year book so worthy a volume. A special word of praise is due to Miss Vera Crossley of St. Hilda's College and Mr. M. II. Mitchell of Applied Science for their combined efforts in producing the cover design. tThe final drawing was prepared by Mr. Mitchell.J The delay in printing and issue of Tonowroxnxsis, 1920, was occasioned by circumstances over which those actually connected with publication had no control. The present. shortafge of paper is a matter of general knowledge. The fact that ToRoN'roNENsIs is printed upon a paper of special quality added to the difdculties of those concerned. But, true to accepted standard, even thou,-zh at increased expense and loss of time, the volume appears this year marked by the same fine quality in material and workmanship, On behalf of the TORONTONENSIS Board, the Editor submits to the graduates this twenty-second volume of Toizonroxizxsis, crav- ing the usual indulgence for those minor ,errors which, however great the care be to avoid them, seem bound to occur. The labour expended has been great, but the pleasure in achievement shared by all members of the Board has been ample compensation. It is hoped that the members of 2T0 will gain a pleasure, similar in kind, in the perusal and contemplation of these pages. EDITOR.