Western Canada High School - Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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BOOK Page sixty-nine Ifetmt’s rhnnl (Chatter During the fall term of this year, a group of socially minded students organized a school banquet and theatre party. Both were great successes. At the banquet the students who had won scholarships or honorable mention were presented with letters of congratulation from the faculty. Different students and members of the faculty made short addresses, and a number of musical selections were rendered. A snake dance to the theatre was enjoyed by many (motorists and street-car conductors not included). The Wescani Club decided to publish a weekly bulletin to inform the students concerning the activities in the school. The bulletin was a great success (much to the distress of Mr. Harding) and each new instalment was eagerly awaited. The first three instalments were published on time but the fourth was about three days late and the fifth arrived nearly a week late. We don’t believe the sixth ever arrived. While we realize that there was a great deal of work entailed we would like to have seen the bulletin continue as a weekly publication. • The election of the Year Book president this year could be termed, in the modern vernacular, a “wow”. It has been estimated that about one square city block of paper, of various grades and qualities, and five gallons of vari-colored paints, were used in making election posters. The halls looked like a studio for some fantastic show-card and poster painter. Many of the signs and posters showed real artistic ability, while many others showed more quantity than quality. In all, however, the election was a very sporting event and a great deal of enjoyment and humor arose out of it. This year the Year Book committee had the photographer come to the school and take the pictures. This system had its advantages and disadvantages. The main fault to be found was that too many students wasted time and purposely missed classes. On the other hand, more interest was shown in this branch of the work and the photography was completed in less time than here¬ tofore. The original proofs caused a great deal of amusement in the school, and it was suggested that a “rogues gallery” be formed from some of them. A short time after the Intermediates won their championship, Mr. J. G. Walford treated the team to a banquet at the York Hotel and a show at the Capitol. During the banquet Cec McKinnon was presented with a sma ll token of appreciation from the team for his work and effort on their behalf. The team is very grateful to Mr. Walford for his interest in the team. Through the courtesy of Mr. Reg. Smith, who very kindly offered the use of his home, an enjoyable party was given by members of the senior rugby team. The guests danced for awhile and then went on a scavenger hunt. It is still a mystery to the writer how nobody got an order to appear in police court, because a good many laws were badly bent and in some cases broken during this hunt. After supper some danced, some played cards, some invented a new form of bridge for any number of players, and some even cleared and washed the dishes, so every one enjoyed themselves. IN CANADA People are not put to death by elocution. Newspapers are useful for reporting calamities, such as births, deaths, marriages, etc. A word to the wise is not appreciated. The police get those who help themselves.

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Page sixty-eight YEAR iEntrhrlmnrft Serbstein Penitentiary, Slovania, August 14th, 1934. Chief of Police, Gambettili, Slovania. Dear Sir: I am now an old man and I feel it my duty to inform you of an infamous crime, committed many years ago in my youth. I do not wish you to think that it was my crime, but it was one of my knowledge. King Alfonso of this country, having passed away, the rule of the state of Slovania now fell into the hands of King Gustav, the Amiable Soldier. As you perhaps have heard, although you yourself would probably be but a child, he did not in any way resemble the strong-willed father whom he succeeded: his hand was of putty, not of iron. His people loved his frank truthfulness and amicability, but few realized his weakness. At the time of his accession the country was peaceful, although there was, of course, the ever-present under¬ current of revolt among the Socialists. And so, a few weeks after the coronation, a company of Socialists met in the gloomy cellar of a second-class hotel in the capital city. The leader of the gang was speaking, urging his men to revolt. “Who wants a king?” he scorned in his smooth-tongued contemptuous way, and there was a murmur of assent from the dim figures standing in the shadow of the walls. I was one of those men. “It’s equality we want!” he continued forcibly. “You were born equal to this Gustav. I was born equal to this Gustav. Why should we be subordinated to the will of another man?” So it went for half an hour and then the plot was unfolded. “You, Slenski, will be on the south side of the Citadel Gambetti with two others. You, Ballio, will be on the north side. I will stand in the Crowd about twenty-five metres farther on, and on the north side.” Slenski remonstrated, “I do not want to spend the rest of my days in prison or have my neck snapped by the cruel devices of the state.” “Ha! Coward!” said the leader reproachfully. “You do not stand for your beliefs. You are afraid to die for the cause!” Slenski was silenced. The king’s gleaming carriage rolled smoothly along the street between the crowds of people that lined either side; his fine greys stepped high. They approached the Citadel Gambetti. The king sat, smiling upon the shouting throngs, his hat lifted. Twenty-five metres from the Citadel a hand rose for the first time, waving a wine-colored kerchief, green-striped, and beside it was seen at the same time, a hand with a dark green cap. Quick shots snapped forth; the king fell back, his minister beside him. There was a terrible panic. Some in the crowd ran to halt the alarmed horses that plunged through the mob, terror-stricken, injuring many; some ran to find safety; some screamed; some moaned; some wept; and all milled about senselessly. When the extent of the tragedy came to light, it was found that besides the kine and his minister, one Svend I ange, known to many as a good citizen, had received a fatal shot as he ran, apparently toward the king. There was a huge, beautiful funeral and thousands paid tribute to the victims of the crime. No arrests could be made; no one could be suspected of the murder. It was all, seemingly, an unsolvable mystery. And now, because I am an old man, paying the penalty for my misdeeds, never to be free again, and because my friends and companions have passed on before me, I tell you of this atrocity. Slenski is dead, and Ballio—they died peacefully—and so are their associates. The power behind the deed, thfe leader of the Socialist company, was Svend Lange. Yours truly, DABEL GONA. —DOROTHY McCAIG (Class 3).

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Page seventy YEAR Mrs. Bagnall—“And so, Elizabeth stood by and let Mary be beheaded, but she never got over it and neither did.” . . . She waits a moment expecting to hear James. Bill Campbell—“Neither did Mary.” Mr. Stanley is wondering if he can comply with this request— Dear Mr. Stanley: Please excuse Jim from school at the end of this term. He has been at your school for five years, and must now go elsewhere. Yours truly, J. H. DOE.