Carmel
Bennett, Dorothy
May 29, 1929 THE COMMONWEAL 95 induced to turn from absorption in material pursuits to recollect their own national cultural heritages and demand representation in festivals. This suggested a work...
...More than twenty racial groups were represented, and each was able to produce its own characteristic handicrafts and historic songs and dances to share with other citizens of the adopted country...
...It was enlightening in this modern age and country to find people devoting their spare time to intricate needlework, wood carving, rug making and such crafts and experiencing the utmost satisfaction in such diver- sion...
...It had the desired effect of completing the awakening of the territory to a consciousness of the wealth of culture and beauty possessed by its new citizens...
...It is today keenly alive to the value of preserving this and weav- ing it into the fabric of the national life...
...Western Canada, newest of territories on the North American conti-nent, has never completely lost itself in materialism, which is the danger in countries being hewn out of the rough...
...When the next festival was planned for Regina, Saskatchewan, it was broadened out to include the representation of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, French Canada and the native Indians--all those peoples which are playing a part in the building up of a nation in western Canada...
...Farewell the high waves, And farewell the bright shore...
...But now I've come back Years and years after, And Carmel is gone As a child's swift laughter...
...I've seen skies as deep, And the beach is just sand, And all the fierce waves Come licking my hand...
...It was amazing to older Canadians to discover the cult of beauty, the craving for artistic expression, and the desire to sur-round their lives with loveliness in so many of these people they had regarded as mere hewers of wood and drawers of water...
...DOROTHY BEN~r~.a'r...
...And oh, the beach Was white as the moon...
...There was the keen- est of intei'est on the part of each group in the con-tributions of the others, and in the eagerness and pride exhibited by all nationalities in co6perating there seemed to be foreshadowed that complete and har-monious assimilation which is Canadianization in its highest and most desirable form...
...It was a revelation to discover that homespun woolens and linens are still being made on the farms and native materials utilized in the fabrication of lovely pottery and basketware...
...The fields were bright, Blue stars were flowers, And all day long Meadow-larks sang the hours...
...With a greater number of national constituents than any coun- try on earth, and with more varied spiritual qualities to work with, western Canada is moving before these become dimmed or are lost...
...When I was a little girl Going on seven, I thought Carmel was The gateway to heaven...
...There would seem to be every possibility of the development of a people possessing the advantages of expansion on the North American continent, yet living an inner life that reflects the best in the tradition of all Europe...
...It has now reached the realization that the foundation of cultural life is in the common people, in the wealth of artistic tradition new Canadians have brought with them from their homelands...
...The museum to preserve the crafts and lore of the various racial groups is taking shape at Winnipeg in the erection of a collection of cottages, each of a national type...
...Never on earth was there Such a white dune...
...At the same time the festival had the effect of stimulating the British peoples in western Canada to emulation, which resulted in the resurrecting of the old national dances of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and in the imparting of a fresh interest to the more familiar ancient songs of these countries...
...The second festival in the very heart of the newer, developing West, had the support of the Saskatchewan government, the Canadian Pacific Railway and public bodies of all kinds, and was attended by a really rep- resentative section of western Canada's population...
...The huge green sea waves That I stood under Reared white heads high And fell in thunder...
...I'll never see the gateway To heaven any more...
...The little donkeys' hooves, So quick and neat, Went trot-trot-trot Down the warm, dusty street...
...This suggested a work of yet wider scope which would bring together all the races of the Canadian West in a cultural ex-change...
...It was refreshing to learn that these simple people still appreciate the superior beauty and dignity of the old-time songs and dances, and turn naturally to them for recreation...
...May 29, 1929 THE COMMONWEAL 95 induced to turn from absorption in material pursuits to recollect their own national cultural heritages and demand representation in festivals...
...The beach and the fields Are fair as can be, But all the tall magic Has gone away for me...
...It revivified the cults and folk-songs brought to the coun- try by French Canadians from Quebec, and the varied crafts of the native Indians, both of which were in danger of passing into oblivion...
...Such festivals are now definitely established in the life of western Canada...
Vol. 10 • May 1929 • No. 4
