Walkerville Collegiate Institute - Blue and White Yearbook (Windsor, Ontario Canada)

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BLUE AND WHITE It’s Tougher Than Tennis Autumn winds and snow-filled, leaden skies used to forecast the finals until spring of activities for many amateur athletes. A few exerted their muscles on the bowling alleys, others took up basketball and indoor swimming; but for the tennis-loving company who could not adjust themselves to the minute pellet and fly-swatter-sized paddle of table tennis, the coming of winter pre¬ sented an enigma. A growing number of these are now finding winter diversion in the game of badminton. They are finding that it of¬ fers all the thrills and exercise of ten¬ nis. And it is not an unwelcome change from the outdoor court game. Many a tennis match has stolen the headlines since the days when the game was an object of derision. No longer do men of muscle condescendingly appraise the sport, nor urchins salute the tennis player with a falsetto cry of “Love game”. The Tildens, Vineses and Bud¬ ges have changed all that. But mention of badminton, which has been called “tennis’ third cousin on a collateral branch”, but might better be called its half brother, still causes a raised eyebrow among the unacquainted sports fans. “A kid’s game” they call it sometimes. Followers of badminton are neither indignant nor dismayed by skep¬ tics. Rather than harbor resentment, they craftily maneuver scoffers into a tussle on the indoor courts. Almost with¬ out exception, their victims wobble out within half an hour. The reason ? A few games of badminton are as strenuous as a five-set tennis final. It’s no game for “sissies”. The implements of the game belie its viciousness. The little bat, like a tennis- racket, is light and fragile. It looks more like the tool of a lady’s parlor pastime. The feathered shuttlecocks, “birds” to the badminton fan, are little different from those bandied about by the young¬ sters of yore. A string net stretched across the center of a bit of level footing indoors— or outdoors, for that matter—is all you need to play the game. All, that is, ex¬ cept a pair of especially good lungs, nimble feet and strong wrists. Sports histories are pleasantly vague on the subject of badminton’s origin. English chroniclers of the game say that about seventy years ago, a desper¬ ate house party, stormbound at Bad¬ minton (a Gloucestershire country est¬ ate) conceived the game by stretching a rope across the main hall and com¬ mandeering the “kiddies’ ” battledores and shuttlecocks. The next record of the game comes from an obscure British Army Post in India. Karachi, the first club to organ¬ ize in Queen Victora’s overseas empire, established certain rules which lasted more than thirty years. As the chamber which served as their court had center doors, there was less width at the net line than at the ends of the room. The court, consequently, took the shape of an attenuated hour-glass. This feature was retained in future layouts. Before the outbreak of hostilities in Europe last fall, there were •about 1,000 clubs in England and some 600 more in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. An import¬ ant event since 1899 has been an All- England Championship, and during re¬ cent years there have been as many as seventy open tournaments annually, ex¬ clusive of inter-country matches. Canadians, of course, have long swung the racket, and cross the border frequ¬ ently into the east and far west to match skill with American fledglings. As yet there is no national organization, nor as many open tournaments as in England. But more may be expected, for the game is spreading into remote territory. Besides the simplicity of the game, the inexpensive equipment, the physical benefits to be derived from it, badmin¬ ton has still another virtue. You can make your own rules without impairing the character of the game. Badminton is one of the best all-around family games. But don’t let any scoffer make “puss-in-the-corner” remarks about the sport. Hand him a racket and give him a workout. MURRAY REED. Page Twenty-five Windsor Public Library

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BLUE AND WHITE the secret to his boss, Jenkins found himself in Cairo at the head of the only expedition he had never wanted to lead. He was fully licensed to enter and bring forth to the leading museums of the world all treasures he might find. But to Jenkins the task was sorely distress¬ ing . . . not because he believed in the mysterious death which was doomed to befall those who neglected to hold sacred the tomb of the great king, but because he was loathe to tear down the sincere friendliness which he had built up for himself in the tribes of E gypt. It took a week across the pathless des¬ ert to reach the pyramid by camel. Ano¬ ther week was spent in making an aper¬ ture through the massive stone found¬ ation. All the while guards were posted as a precaution against an attack which Jenkins greatly feared would be made by the natives. On the eighth day after the beginning of work the party broke through into the musty dimness of the tomb. They were admitted into a veritable labyrinth of chambers which crossed each other in every imaginable manner throughout the whole eleven acres of ground which the pyramid occupied. The treasure which now lay exposed was enough to swell even Jenkins ' loathing heart with the pride of achievement. From the stone walls hung bowls of lib¬ ation and golden chandeliers which, through all the years, had remained un¬ tarnished. Heaps of papyrus with their history-making records were alt about the tomb and wherever the eye chanced to rest there w-ere vases, tall and short, with their strange hieroglyphics. Sever¬ al of the chambers were filled with hard, dry wheat, and at frequent intervals were the dried remains of all manner of animals which had long since perished at the ends of golden chains. In addition to this there was a profusion of arrows, spears, swords, primitive cannons, and gilded chariots to say nothing of the im- plements of agriculture and the luxur¬ ies of the palace which lay through the pyramid. For three w p eeks the entire expedition was actively engaged in cataloguing and packing the wealth of the old Egyptian king. It was only after a prolonged search that Jenkins and his chief assist¬ ant, Murphy, chanced to stumble on the subterranean vault in which the mummy was entombed. As Jenkins’ hand touched the case to open it, his blood suddenly froze in his veins, for at this moment the black, ominous shadow of a cat floated across his hand. At the same instant a shrill, piercing din rev¬ erberated throughout the depths of the pyramid. Jenkins and Murphy rushed out of the vault and the sight that met their eyes filled them with a chill horror. Every last member of the expedition was lying face downward with a glistening knife standing upright in his back. And on every side they chose to look they were entirely hemmed in by a slowly, steal¬ thily advancing circle of implacable Eg¬ yptian tribesmen. Once more the shadow of the cat float¬ ed past their eyes. There was a gentle whirr; Murphy fell lifeless on the ground, his back pierced by the same sort of knife that had killed the others. Again the shadow of the cat floated through the air; again there was a gen¬ tle whirr. At the same instant that the Egyptian tribesmen closed in upon him, Jenkins felt the cold blade of a knife cutting into his back. His eyes fluttered open; a flood of re¬ lief spread over his face as he withdrew a hidden pin from a newly-purchased pair of pyjamas. JACK O. YOUNG, 13B. A WISH May fortune follow your path, A happy lifetime through, O ' er sunny ways, through merry da s, Where pleasant dreams come true; And love go with you wheresoe’er Its trail may onward press, For where love is, there, too, is peace And joy and happiness. JACK GLENDON, 11F. Page Twenty-four

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BLUE AND WHITE MY GARDEN I have a little garden, That grows by a shady glen. And all the birds do love it, The robin, rook and wren. And in my pretty garden Grow flowers of many a hue, The pink, the rose, and the tulip, Glistening with the morning dew. And in my tiny garden, Run many streamlets gay, That pass the rose and tulip, Who seem to want to play. Through many hours of pleasure I idly wander there, To enjoy the merry streamlets And the crimson rose so fair, RUTH DUNN, 9E LOVE AFFAIR I think I’m good! I think I’m grand! I go to the shows and hold my hand; I put my arm around my waist— If I get fresh I slap my face. With myself I make a date To meet myself at half-past eight; If I’m not there, I ' ll always wait— I’m wild about myself. The Skater Over the ice like a bird on the wing, She glides with the song that her skates seem to sing; She twirls and she turns, with a lithe, graceful motion. And sails on her way, like a skiff on the ocean. The swift silver blades whistle shrilly and clear— Oh, winter’s the very best time of the year!” The skater’s sweet musical laughter vibrates As this Queen of the Ice charms the world on her skates. DOROTHY WOODS, 9E. % Philosophy:— Lives there a student with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, “Homework be darned. I’m going to bed.” Page Twenty-six Visits with the Army, Navy and Air Force I think the three most interesting days we spent this summer, while tour¬ ing France, England, and Scotland, were those with England’s Fighting Forces. Through the kind invitation of the War Ministry we visted Aldershot, the home of the 2nd Hampshire Regiment, Hend¬ on Airport, and that important naval base, Portsmouth. A short train ride brought us to Ald¬ ershot, where we were met by Major John Dill. We then divided into groups to visit the different sections of the bar¬ racks. After the inspection tour we trooped off to the parade grounds to watch the training of a group of recent conscripts. The gymnasium was the next stop. Here we witnessed the physical training drill of the recruits. After lunch we witnessed the annual present¬ ation of the Silver Spoon. This spoon must have been about a yard long and it was presented yearly to the poorest shot in the Regiment. Its present owner had had the somewhat doubtful honour of winning it three times straight. In the afternoon we were taken to Outridd¬ en Firs, which was just another hill, where the whole Regiment was drawn up in preparation for the war games that were to take place for the benefit of some Officers of the Indian Army. We were first turned loose for about half an hour to inspect the various units. Then the Regiment staged a mock counter-at¬ tack on a group.of woods about a mile away. From our vantage point on a nearby hill we were able to see clearly how effectively the British Army work¬ ed. The day with the Air Force was every bit as interesting. Even a drenching London rain did not prevent us from thoroughly enjoying ourselves. There were six Canadian Flying Officers stat¬ ioned there and they took us in hand for the day. The morning was spent in examining the latest types of fighting planes, including the speedy Hawker Hurricane and the Blenheim Bomber. It’s a miracle they didn’t have to send