Barbara Ann Scott a real charmer
From The Gazette, March 8, 1947
For a young woman who has half the world at her nimble feet, Barbara Ann Scott is a friendly and unassuming as a high schoolgirl at her first party.
At Montreal West station yesterday, early morning commuters watched wideeyed while Miss Scott and her mother stepped down from the New York train, tripped smartly across the tracks to the westbound platform and surrendered graciously to a battalion of autograph hungry youngsters.
Girls in the crowd edged closer for a peek at Miss Scott’s pert straw bonnet, checkered suit and soft beaver coat, while the boys concentrated on the golden hair wide blue eyes and a pair of trim ankles that had proved too agile for 21 of the world’s top women skaters.
Miss Scott’s brand new hat was a present from the Canadian Consul in New York but her smile came straight from her heart.
While Barbara was busy with autographs her mother kept watch for the Ottawa train and held a box of mauve orchids (from the Depression Hockey Club of Montreal), a raccoon coat, and her daughter’s fur-lined boots. With Mrs. Scott were Donald B. Cruikshank, Canadian figure skating judge, and Mrs. Cruikshank who returned with the Scotts from Stockholm. Mrs. Cruikshank held tightly a bottle of aged champagne that she had escorted from Paris. It had been pre- sented to Miss Scott’s trainer.
As the Ottawa train rumbled to a stop in the station, Miss Scott handed back the last of the autographs, grabbed her hat box and orchids and boarded the train with her mother and friends.
When the bags were stowed away in the baggage car someone suggested breakfast.
“That’s a good idea,” said Miss Scott.
“We’ve been away just two months,” said Mrs. Scott. “In Europe the food is much plainer.” In the diner, her daughter ordered porridge with cream.
“We haven’t had cream for so long,” sighed Mrs. Scott.
Breakfast for the Scotts was somewhat interrupted. Apart from newspapermen, an already crowded car and several bustling waiters, two photographers made sure their lights would be in the right position. Someone mentioned a performance by Miss Scott for crippled children.
“I want to help,” the new champion said. “I know I’m so lucky to have my legs.”
As the train picked up speed Miss Scott glanced out the window at the snow-clad countryside and tasted her porridge.
“I’m happy to be home again,” she said. “All I missed was Canada.”
Mrs. Scott said that Barbara received her first pair of skates when she was three years old. It was Christmas time and Barbara had asked for skates and a rocking horse. She soon forgot about the rocking horse, Mrs. Scott recalled.
“Barbara will start training again tomorrow,” Mrs. Scott said. “While training for the world championship she averaged eight hours a day. To get perfection you have to work and work hard.”
Montrealers will be able to see Miss Scott when she skates with Minto Follies at the Forum here in April, Mr. Cruickshank announced. He is vice-president of Ottawa’s Minto’s Skating Club and second vice-president of the Canadian Figure Skating Association.
By this time Miss Scott’s porridge was cold and in the aisle the dining car steward was wringing his hands in despair, but the waiters were no nearer her table with the bacon and eggs so Miss Scott kept on smiling and answering questions.
“Yes, I enjoyed crossing the Atlantic in the Queen Elizabeth but I would rather have returned home by plane.” she said. “I’ve logged time flying solo, you know. Soon I’m going to try for my private licence.”