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

Page 27 text:

LITERARY H total of thirty-five dollars was awarded for the best essays, stories, and poems published in this year's Le Raconteur. The winners were, for the essays: lst prize, Lois Marting 2nd, Eva Lustigg 3rd, Dick Marshall: for the stories: lst, Louise Onischuky 2nd, Hank Skoczylas, 3rd, Harry Barr. The poetry was all of the same calibre so no dif- ferentiations were made. The winners were: Francis Maine, Rodger Iones, Helen Howard, Geraldine AM Holubishin, and lack Barr. H Special Prize was designated for the winner of the Mystery Contest, and it was captured by Muriel Blackborrow for her entry, Eighty-five to Five . Hvrum Pollock was given honourable mention for his essay, Deten- tions , and Pete Moore for his essay on Pl First Shave . Thanks for writing, W. L.T., Literary Editor. ngiihkgu Q EBEC WILL REMEMBER What could be more alluring to a person than an invitation to escape from this atomic and frus- trated age and travel back two centuries to visit the quiet, sparsely-settled village of Quebec, the new settlement? Our hostess is youngfgreen we would call her nowadays. She has just newly taken over this job of mothering a colony, and the threat of war, in l759, looms like an ever-lengthen ing shadow on the horizon. But as we gaze at the massive walls surrounding the settlement, security soon supplants fear. There is safety in those strong walls-or so it is thought. How different was the battle of the Plains of Hbraham from those we hear of in the twentieth century. There was no time for tears-not even time for much thought, for due to the cunning Wolfe and his English army, the fortress city was taken completely by surprise. How different would have been the result if Montcalm, in his small headquarters had learned sooner of the plan. Then Wolfe would have met a wise and gentle- manly Marquis de Montcalrn-two great forces, LOIS MHRTIN. equally balanced, meeting to determine which was the better. Por what reason did two men die-eone in the hour of victory, the other in defeat? God wanted to teach us something, but, being slow to learn, some of us havent yet grasped it. W'e still fight, in our own time, for glory and territory. We havent learned our lesson. Today Quebec stands ready to welcome visitors and relatives. Our older and wiser hostess greets us graciously and proudly. Quaint Quebec-how typical! Historic Quebecedefinitely. But most of all, Quebec the prudent. Her aging walls constant- ly remind her that security is not gained by over- confidence. They whisper and echo the sorrows of that bloody battle. She was afraid. But little by little she has crept out of her shell and has spread beyond the walls. Pearfully she has settled down along the great St. Lawrence at the foot of Cape Diamond, the hill that Wolfe scaled to his victory. Upper Town has the Plains of Plbraham, and Lower Town has the Cape-they'll never forget. 23

Page 29 text:

GREAT FAMILY EXPECTATIO S From the minute my mother saw me she knew I was a genius: but she was confronted with the task of proving it to the world. I remember her frequently saying to her lady visitors! One day my little girl will lead the women to the summits of equality with men . Yes, I was her joy and pride. Hs an infant, I slowly drove the neighbours insane with my nightly howling and screeching, or as mother called it, the exercising of my vocal chords. When I reached the comparatively ad- vanced age of four, every week father would take me down to the Conservatory for my music lesson. My teacher, an elderly spinster, often accused me of not practising my lesson sufficiently-an accusa- tion which of course wasn't true as I was a genius and didn't need as much practice as an average child. She also threatened me that if I didn't prac- tice ,enough a frog would grow in my throat and nip my singing career in the bud. However, to the great distress of both the teacher and myself I con- Linued my lessons for three years of torture. During this time, I staged a few performances in front of small audiences. Mother was so proud of me. She knew I would be a great opera singer some day, but first, I must distinguish myself in minor roles. Following this policy, mother persuaded the .eacher to allow me to sing a solo at the annual recital for which I practised hours on end. I left for zfte concert hall full of confidence. I heard my number being announced. Gracefully I stepped out on the stage and all was silent. Everyone was waiting. I was stricken with fear. I began to sing but the melody would not flow. I made another stammering effort at the beginning lines, but alas, my vocal chords would not obey. Terrified, I screamed, Mother, the frog has grown in my throat, and blindly ran off the stage. I received much sympathy and many words of encourage- ment, but all was in vain. My music career had ended. Poor mother, although she was humiliated at the recital, she was not discouraged. She decided music was not my field at all-of course not! I should be an actress and maybe some day even produce great plays of my own. The following month, mother enrolled me as a member of the Local Iunior Drama Club. I attended classes regu- larly and tried very hard, spending hours of pre- cious time practising. Nevertheless, my teacher had no hope for me. She insisted I was much too clumsy for an actress. In spite of this warning, LOUISE ONISCHUK mother remained stubborn: and as a result, I kept on studying drama for two years. I no longer pos- sessed my fear of the stage and as a consequence, my teacher offered me a minor role in a very im- portant play which was being produced. Hs part of my contribution to the play, I was to pick up grace- fully a handkerchief which the heroine had drop- ped. Opening night! The instructress warned me that I must be careful and perform perfectly. I assured her that she could rely on me. I was standing at the back of the stage, when suddenly- FLOP! Having tripped over my own feet, I fell flat on my face. I didn't dare get up. Finally in the midst of all the confusion I had caused, they carried me off the stage. With such elegance did my drama career terminate. Mother was disgusted with me, but I was proud of myself. Ht last I could live a normal life. For three years I enjoyed freedom. But as I anticipated, it couldn't last forever. One day mother came home very enthused, having enrolled me in the swimming class. Q thousand dollar award was being offered to anyone under sixteen who could swim the English Channel. Wouldn't it be won- derful if I could win this money? Back to the old grind of taking lessons. One year after being taught swimming, I was racing across the pool when I sank. Down! Down! Down I went! The instructress dived in and brought me to the surface unconscious. On regaining consciousness, I real- ized I did not have the strength to be a long-dis- tance swimmer. Hnother disappointment for mother. The following fall, I entered high school. My first four years passed in an ordinary fashion. I was average in most of my subjects and found no difficulty in being recommended. However, in the fifth year, things changed-but fast! To mother's astonishment and pride, I was chosen to be cheer leader. Thanks to this accomplishment, I netted myself a very handsome beau-quite an achieve- ment at our school. Hlso, my marks improved to quite an extent and to the great amazement of young and old, I graduated USUMMH CUM Li3lUDE . I had at least fulfilled PHRT of my family expectations. Two years after graduating from high school, I married my very handsome beau . Ht present we have a beautiful home and two children, a boy and a girl. Plnd guess what-the girl, who is four years old, is taking vocal lessons from my old singing teacher. GREPIT FHMILY EXPECTH- TIONS ! ! ..,g5?... 24