Westdale Secondary School - Le Raconteur Yearbook (Hamilton, Ontario Canada)

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ml' Z COLLEGIATE TEACHERS FIRST ROW-F. Gillan, J. Fee, J. Guenther, B. Simpson, K. Ettlnger, P. Hone, H. McAndrew. SECOND ROW-H. Inman, I. Abbott, D. Dowsley, R. Huggins, W. Buchanan, F. Fitzpatrlck, H. Talcott, P. Warnlck. THIRD ROW-L. Rinn, C. Ballantyne. E. McKnight, G. Allan, W. Gartrell, J. Bell, D. Styles. if- 1 I ,wt 8 v..vY,.,x . V A 1-has . 'MB ia. COMMERCIAL TEACHERS FIRST ROW-W. Smith, G. Chapman, F. G. Millar, B. Lillle, E. Linton. SECOND ROW-J. Wood, J. Shaw, N. Dlxon, J. Boyes, L. Waddell.

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,1 LE IIACUNTEUB Through Mail By Dave Hughes HRDUGH the skies, over the snow-blanketed ground outside Fort Providence, roared the sleek monoplane of Canadian Airways, piloted by young Dick Ilrownly. The plane banked in a wide arc, and with motor ticking over gently, came down out of the air and settled her wide skis on the sur- face of the hard-packed runway. Opening the door of the plane, the young pilot hopped out, dragging two mail sacks behind him. He was met by an officer of the R.C.M.P. and an old man with white beard and wearing a heavy mackinac. Hello, Brownly, I see you have the mail here on time. Old Man Pete here was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten to bring it or if you had re- sorted to a dog team and were late, just as so many of these dog team mail carriers are, said the Mountie with a wink and a nod of his head toward Qld Man Pete. You know denged well, said Old Man Pete in reply to the remark of the officer, that I ain't never been late with my dog team here, and never will be. But if the gov'ment ever decides to put these consarned airyplanes on my route people up Fort NVrigley 'll be a-wonderin' if people in the rest of the world heve stopped writin' letters. Don't let it bother you, Pete, replied Dick, casting a loving gaze on the neat little plane he loved so well. It looks as though you'll be picking the mail up from me here at Fort Providence for a few more years yet. But perhaps Canadian Air- ways may be given the contract yet to carry mail to Fort Wrigley. Not if I have anythin' to do with it, they won't,,' replied the disgruntled oldster. Picking up the mail sacks and loading them on the sleigh, he prepared for the trip to Fort Wrigley. Looks like we are in for a storm, said Dick, as he was watching Old Man Pete load his sleigh. Don't you think you'd better wait until the storm blows over? ' Old Man Pete pulled his cap over his ears, snorted, and said: No blinkin' snow storm 'll stop me-no siree. XVith me on the job the mail 'll allas go through. But what chance has the mail to go through when a denged airyplane man allas has to wait fer weather? With a concluding snort, Old Man Pete turned to his dogs and, with a word to his lead dog, sleigh, dogs and man were soon lost in the snowy haze. ln Fort Providence, a few hours later, by radio, came the crackling voice of the operator from Canadian Airways' headquarters warning all planes to stay grounded, as one of the Northwest's worst blizzards was blowing up and was expected to strike soon. That will keep me here for a few days, said the young pilot to the factor of the trading post at Fort Providence, and, moving closer to the glowing warmth of the stove, he added: I suppose my old rival will be well on his way to Fort XVrigley by now. Night was approaching as Qld Man Pete reached his destination, a deserted log cabin on the margin of an ice-covered lake, that he always used for shelter after concluding the first lap of his journey. Picking up his axe, he went outside the cabin to get some wood for his fire. Approaching a half- dead tree, he began to chop, and as he was swinging his axe for the last time, the tree shook. and. with a sharp report of rending wood, the tree came crash- ing down. The oldster. not prepared for this un- expected occurrence, and not as agile as he had been in his younger days, felt the heavy timber's crushing weight on his left leg. Stunned, Old Klan Pete lay in the snow for a few minutes collecting his scattered thoughts. Two things he was sure of -his leg was badly broken, and that if he did not receive aid soon, he would die of exposure. lfe must reach the warmth and shelter of the log cabin if he ever hoped to protect his pain-racked body from the biting blizzard of the Northwest. The spirit that had so often carried Old Man Pete through the dangers and hardships of his many years as a mail carrier in the Northwest welled up in him now, and with teeth clenched, he began pulling himself to the goal that meant life. At length he managed to drag his pain-seared leg across the threshold of the cabin, realizing that unconsciousness would drive from his brain any spark of an idea whereby he might convey to his friends at Fort Providence that he needed help, and that speedily. .-X cold muzzle touched the old man's pain-whit- ened face, and turning his head slowly he saw the questioning eyes of his lead dog, his faithful com- panion ever since its puppyhood at Fort Providence. Old Man Pete loved his team of dogs. They had made it possible for him to maintain his unblem- ished record of efficiency as a mail carrier of the CContinued on Page 603 15

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1 f r Tx ,, ' ' 1 .F ' . , ,. .- ..-,...a....-.........+ 'ev , V J.. TECH TEACHERS FIRST ROW-J. Baxter, S. G. McCandIish, B. Slmpson, D. W. Bates, G. Walker, A. McColl. SECOND ROW-R. Young, C. Calderone, I. Hamllton, C. Lawlor, J. Shaw, C. Hunter, H. Cawthorpe, R. Hartwell, H. Alexander. THIRD ROW--A. Bannerman, J. G. Mlller, R. Walker, P. Turner, R. Rodger. FOURTH ROW--H. Brouwers, P. Gilbank, C. Partrldge, H. C. Hawes, R. Trayes. Westdalefs New First Year Course By B. L. Simpson Some uneasiness regarding the general course to be inaugurated in Wfestdale next fall seems to exist. This, is due chiefly to misunderstanding. The main reason for the change is to see if some remedy can- not be found which will help students and parents to make a more suitable selection of the courses offered in the VVestdale Secondary School. So many mistakes have been made in the past that we feel confident scores of students have not received as much benefit as they would have in a more suitable course. The new plan will be of much help in two ways. The big gap between primary and secondary school education will be greatly lessened. The students, after spending one year in the school, will be able to make a more intelligent choice of the course they should follow in the future. During the first year it is intended to make the course as general as possible, but on the distinct understanding that no one will be retarded, no mat- ter which course he may choose at the end of the year. The new subjects will be a little Algebra. Business Practice, General Science, perhaps a choice between French and Art, some Shop XYork for the boys and Household Science and Sewing for the girls, Health Education, and perhaps Music. It is not only in NYestdale that this is being done, because we are shaping our new course along the lines of one to be announced shortly by the Provin- cial Department of Education. Their new course will apply to all schools of the province. For the second year a student may choose to continue the general course or he may prefer the Commercial course, the Collegiate course or the Technical course. ln order to make this choice as beneficial as possible, it is our intention to discuss this choice with each student toward the end of the first year. 17 l lg