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

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20 B L UK AN D W H I ' I ' E 19 4 9 CASTLES IN THE AIR “For 1 dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, “Saw a vision of the world, and all the wonder that would he; “Saw the heavens filled . . .” My eyes and thoughts, despite my earnest efforts, wandered from the droned memory- work. Through my window, a new Spring beck¬ oned me out to bask in her warm sunlight and breathe her perfumed air, using all her magic arts to cast a lazy spell on my mind. My errant thoughts drifted away, carrying me far forward into the future. . . Tall, crystal towers spiralled up into an azure blue sky; now and then a golden airship with a thin tail of flame flashed past to a distant goal. Around me strange, beautiful, silent people moved effortlessly on smooth pavements which sped along through the streets, and small tear¬ drop aircars floated over the roads. 1 allowed myself to follow the throng and saw many wonders in my wanderings. Great theatres were filled with spectators watching music upon a screen, music of colours, blending and changing constantly. In engine rooms, mighty dynamos created unimaginable power by breaking matter into energy. Underground factories were worked by metal robots controlled by one man at a switch-board and rollers turned the moving side¬ walks on which the civilization travelled. Lux¬ urious homes were situated high in the crystal buildings. Furnishings were of strange light materials unknown and undreamed of in the present and lighting as bright as the sun ran through tubes around the rooms. With the ease of a dreamer, 1 stole into one of the golden airships, and rose to dizzying heights above the city. In all directions, the populated area was spread, blocks of slender buildings interspersed with cultivated acres of parks and farms. Beyond the city was forest, unused land of which the people of the city civilization had no need, and beyond that was another city like the first. Far stranger than these marvels were the people who ruled this scientific and beautiful world. Relieved of the need for physical work by their robots, they were free to develop their minds fully for research into every realm of knowledge. 1 saw rooms full of these people, large-headed, strong-bodied, working n prob¬ lems so abstruse that I could not begin to fathom them. Alas, however, everything beautiful must come to an end. My dream castles were shattered and 1 was brought rudely back to reality, the present and my work by the shouts of a child outside the window. Spring still smiled in from without, but I went back to my poem with a bit more interest in what Tennyson meant by: “Saw a vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be.” JIM SNFDDFN. 13A. FIRST PRIZE ART — JERRY BROWN 13C

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B L U E A N D W HITE 1949 19 FIRST PRIZE TO SUMMER Summer sunshine lying thick Upon the sleeping grass . . . Zephyrs wafting butterflies. As languidly they pass . . . Flowers wilting in the heat And drooping toward the shade . . . Soon their leaves begin to curl. And brilliant blossoms fade. Air a-cpiiver with the song Of humming-bird or lark . . . Busy insects wending home Before the day grows dark . . . Stillness . . . and the summer sounds Which soothe the tired ear . . . Drowsy heat . . . and sleepy sun A slumber-time of year! BONN I RICHARDSON. 1.SA. SECOND PRIZE FROM ME TO YOU Up all night! night after night! Studying, stuffing, with all ray might! Physics now. Chemistry later. To all the subjects, do 1 cater. With tireless zeal and doing my best, 1 attack my studies and seldom rest: Dark and drear is History, And Algebra proves a mystery. Books piled high upon my desk. Ready to start with plenty of zest: I glare defiantly at temptation. In order to go into deep meditation. But as weak-willed saplings bend and sway. So my will wavered . . . sad to say; ‘‘There’s a good show on at the Centre to-night!” “No! No!” say I, “I must study with might.” But alas! alack! the tempter won; 1 simply couldn ' t resist the fun. Studies forgotten, I hurried away, My buddy and I at the show to stay. But woe! ah me! on the morrow morn. When exams loomed dark and the glamour was gone, 1 suddenly knew that to study was better Than face unprepared, exams in a flutter. So comrades fair, and comrades strong. Let my advice now pass along. If happy you’d be when exams are nigh. Yield not to your buddy . . .’t will pay by and by. ANNE MATHIESON 91). L—=-zl THIRD PRIZE ON BEING JILTED My heart has been embittered ’gainst A creature men call female; P’ver since my sweetheart dear Declared our love was stale. No more for me that maiden fair. Wh ose thoughts were to beguile; No more for me that pretty face. That thrilled me with its smile. My life will never be the same. Gay laughs cannot conceal The aching pain within my soul; For wounds of the heart don’t heal. Beware, you helpless, defenceless male. Before it comes to this. Don’t let them ever fool you, With one, deceiving kiss. Tread with care the paths of life, Or soon my fate you’ll share; And trip on one of the pitfalls. Caught in a woman’s snare. Never, never, no, nevermore! A slave will they make of me. Most cherished of all earthly things. For men, is to be free. And if we chance to meet some day; if thin and wan I be, Remember well, and never forget. A girl did this to me. ALBERT MATE 13A. HONOURABLE MENTION FAIRIES At night when l am tired. 1 go to sleep and dream, 1 dream about the fairies; They are so nice it seems. I dream they live in acorns And are as pretty as can be. Their dresses are all made of silk. And they sing and dance with glee. 1 like to dream they’re dancing: They dance so prettily; Their dainty dresses swinging As they sing so merrily. But when the fairies tire, Sparkling like a coloured jewel They climb back in their acorns. . . . And I get up for school. VICTORIA BECK IOC.. HONOURABLE MENTION POEM (?) 1 was asked to write a poem! That’s as funny as can be. ’Cause anyone that knows me knows 1 can’t write poetry. Now first I’ll say 1 like this school: It’s the finest of them all! The teachers and pupils are the best; So’s our principal Mr. Ball. And now that L have finished This wonderful piece of prose; You’ll take just one quick glance at it. And into the basket it goes. HELENE SCOTT 11C.

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GIRLS’ CHOIR that Walkerville will have a larger and even better orchestra. GIRLS’ CHOIR The 1948-49 season for the Girls’ Choir was a great success. At the Commencement in Decem¬ ber they presented the stirring “Prayer For To¬ day (Largo)” by Handel, and “My Heart is a Garden by Kurtz. To add to the spirit of Christ¬ mas, a lovely arrangement of “Silent Night” was sung. Under the capable direction of Miss Saunders, the choir was fortunate in being able to enter the Windsor Music Festival for Secondary Schools, on March 11. They sang the lilting Scotch folk¬ song. “Flowers O’ the Forest” by Jean Elliot: Beautiful Dreamer” by Stephen Foster: and gay “Blue Tail Fly,” an American folk song. CONCERT ORCHESTRA Under the direction of Mr. Brown, the concert orchestra has become one of the most active organizations in the school. A new idea was in¬ corporated in having the orchestra play a number as the pupils took their seats for our assemblies. It also opened every assembly by playing O Canada, Blue and White, and closed with the National Anthem. The members of the orchestra distinguished themselves with their selections at the special Armistice Day assembly and at Parents’ Night. At the Secondary School Music Festival on March 11, Marche Militaire by Schubert, Old South, and Tschaikowski’s Waltz of the Flowers, were performed exceptionally well. Plans are being made to provide for teaching various instruments during school periods, so