HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1970-11-26, Page 10•
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Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley •
From. Aly Window
In recent weeks, this column has again
been appearing in one of the first news-
papers ever to run It . , . and much to my
delight, I've been getting comments from
those readers which indicate they're
still glad to read about the life and loves
of old Shirley.
Funny thing about the folks who read \4"---
this column. They prefer to hear about
my family - and all the everyday hap-
penings in the Keller home.
I don't want to bore any of you' but
for lack of any other subject, I'd lik4 you
to know my theory about babysitters. You
see, babysitters have formed a large
part of my life since I went to work
about seven years ago. My children have
lived with babysitters during that time
and I feel I'm somewhat qualified to pass
judgement on the girls and women who
make babysitting a part-time career.
Let me say at the outset that a good
babysitter is as precious to me as a
reliable doctor or a gentle dentist. Baby-
sitters are not just ordinary people. Who
would entrust the life of her children to
the care of just anybody?
I happen to know some women who are
somewhat embarrassed by the fact that
they babysit for a few extra dollars.
Believe me, if a woman is a good baby-
sitter, she needn't feel the job she does
is mediocre. In fact, she is providing
a service which is vital to the working
mother - or the woman who needs to get
away from the children for a day or so
to preserve her sanity.
Not that the babysitter and I are on
unfriendly terms. Heavens, no, It is just
that the babysitter and I seemed to disagree
about which way to raise children, she
being just as determined as I that there
was only one way to bring up toddlers, and
our differences left the child confused and
unhappy.
For instance, I'm a firm believer that
while a child should have order and
discipline in his life, he should be able to
decide for himself pretty much how he
would like to spend his days. If my
children prefer TV to the outdoor life, I
have no objections. If boys would rather
play with dolls than with trucks and trains,
so what? I remember being a child and
loving to build rafts and float down the
muddy river more than having tea parties.
This one babysitter took the opposite
view. A boy should behave like a boy, a
girl should behave like a girl and a child,
any child, will respond to one certain kind
of training.
Which brings me to the conclusion that
the one attribute for which I look in my
baby sitters (and I suppose it is the same
with all mothers whether they realize it or
not) is the ability to see the child's inner
self under all the veneer of bad habits
and misbehaviour, and to let that take
priority as long as it doesn't interfere too
much with the babysitter's daily schedule.
And in my opinion, a babysitter who will
allow a child to be himself is a babysitter
who loves children - and that's all
important to me as a working mother.
So hats off to all the wonderful,
wonderful babysitters in th e country.
Accept if you will, my word that you are
invaluable people who contribute in every
special way to the economy of this land.
Neva fee` you are a less-than-anyone-
elss.„%preedt. A good balaysitter is truly a
prOfe'ss115al who deserves the com-
mendation of the masses.
In the Years Agone
#ht Anrou expositor
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NOVEMBER 29, 1895.
John McGavin of Walton went to
Seaforth to attend the Collegiate Institute.
Mrs. Sage of Walton is making
preparations for extensive improvements
to her hotel and stables. She has the
brick and stone on the premises ready to
renew the hotel.
Miss Maggie A. Smillie of Hensall,
has been re-engaged to teach in S.S.No.
6 at an increase of $40.00.
Thompson Murdock's horse, Joseph,
has hauled the Zurich stage for the past
five and one half years making two road
trips each day. Joe has travelled in all
42,050 miles.
Geo. Eilber has on exhibition in
Crediton, probably the largest snake ever
captured in these parts. It measured eight
feet, one inch in length. This monster
was killed by Mr. Eilber at Elimville.
On Monday night a very heavy wind-
storm passed over this part of the country.
One of the brick walls of Cooper's plan-
ing mill, Kippen, was blown down; several
chimneys fell and one of the chimneys on
the House of Refuge was damaged.
There died at his home in Wingham,,
J. D. Sills, a former resident of this
town, and brother of Geo. Sills.
Wm. Jamieson of the Huron Road left
On Saturday for the Old Country. He
went in charge of a cargo, of fine steers
shipped by R. Winter.
Scott Bros. of Seaforth, have
received an order from the Presbyterian
Church in Brandon, Manitoba, for a fine
church organ.
The Hibbert Agricultural Society held
a grand concert in the Staffa Hall. Wm.
McLeod, the comic singer and dancer of
Seaforth and Miss Tracksall, soprano
soloist of Seaforth were the artists.
Isaac Bolton has completed the car-
pentry work on the residence of J. J.
Irvine, at Leadbury.
A very happy event took place at the
residence of Mrs. Bolton of Winthrop,
when her daughter Annie was united in
marriage to Robert A. Campliell, also of
McKillop.
Chas. Greb, of Zurich, proprietor of the
Huron Hotel has shot and bought about
140 black squirrels, out of the skins of
which he will make himself an overcoat.
The'oncert in Cardno's Hall under
the auspices of the Christian Endeavor
Society of the Presbyterian Church was a
moat decided success. Thos taking part
were, Miss Ewing, 'Grace McFaul and
Mrs, J. C. Greig. Harold Jarvis, the
celebrated tenor of Detroit delighted his
audience with his singing.
NOVEMBER 26, 1920.
The new Standard Bank at Dublin is
nearing completion. It is of red brick,
elegantly constructed by the contractor.
Mr. Looby, the genial creamery man
at Dublin, is turning out large
quantities of butter daily.
John Bennewies M.P.P. of Brodhagen,
has decided to locate in Dublin and is
getting material to erect a dwelling next
spring.
The fuel question at Dublin is becoming
a serious matter, wood and coal, both being
scarce.
About 30 guests gathered at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. McGregor to join
in celebrating the golden wedding of Mr.
and Mrs. Duncan McGregor of Tucker-
smith. Master Morley Cooper presented
Mrs. McGregor with an eight day clock,
while Winston Workman and Alex Mc-
Gregor presented Mr. McGregor with a
gold headed cane. Sproat Patterson read
the address.
Wm. Elcoat, of Tuckersmith, who re-
cently sold hi s farm has moved to his
new home in Seaforth.
Rev. Mr. McFarlane, of Hayfield, met
with a nasty accident while on his way
to Hillsgregn when his car skidded into
the ditch owing to the icy condition of
the roads.
About 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon
Geo. Bunsch met with a serious accid-
ent at the Canada Flax Mills. His hand
was drawn into a machine and the first
finger had to be amputated.
On Sunday, while returning from First
Presbyterian Church Mrs. J. C. Laidlaw
had the misfortune to fall and fracture
her leg near the ankle.
Dr. Field, public school Inspector,
paid an Official visit to the Seaforth
Public School this week.
Miss Helen French of town , who has
been seriously ill in Toronto, has suf-
ficiently recovered to be able to return
to her home here.
W. A. Crich of town has purchaged the
residence of Mrs. Mulcahy; it will be
occupied by his baker, Chas. • Adams.
Fred Eckart of Manley has purchased
a Merlin tractor and plough which will
rustle along the work.
Dr. Colin Fletcher of Thames Road
is retiring after 40 years of ministry,
this being his first and only charge. The
presentation of a purse containing $1500
was made to him.
At the annual meeting cif the John
It4orrow Screw and Nut Company noted
the retirement of J. Anderson Coulter, who
is an old Seaforth boy. Mr. Coulter is a
nephew of Miss Hargan of this town.
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NOVEMBER 30, 1945.
Appointment of Miss Margaret Wilson
to the new executive office of business
manager of ParkWood Hospital, London,
was confirmed. Miss Wilson had been
superintendent of Scott Memorial Hospital
for 16 years.
Frank Kling, who recently purchased
the large business block of Mr. John Mac-
Tavish, opposite the post office, is having
the interior completely modernized. In
addition to the %tore improvements he is
building three heated apartments
The Department of Education has
notified the Seaforth High School that
Donald Stephenson, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Leo. Stephenson, ranked first in Huron
County for the Carter Scholarship which
is valued at $100.00.
A large group of neighbors and friends
assembled at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. Manley, of McKillop, to honor Stephen
Manley and MisS Olive Petrie, who were
recently married, Stephen Murray read
an address and a pair of wool blankets and
chenille spread were given to Mr. and
Mrs. Manley.
Miss Isabel Betties of Winthrop gave an
interesting talk on her trip to England and
her experiences as a nursing sister at a
meeting of the Red Cross held in Cavan
Church.
Percy Harris, of Hensel', who is the
owner of 1000 turkeys is taking no chances.
Every night he sleeps in the colony house
with a shot gun handy.
Nursing Sister Hazel Usher, of Bruce-
field, has returned home from Overseas
and is visiting her parents Mr. and Mrs.
C. Haugh.
J. Clifford Bell, of St. Marys, has been
unanimously elected to councillor - at-
large to St. Marys Council, in which town
he carries on a large coal business.
Paul McMaster, had the misfortune
while sliding on the ice to falband fracture
his arm.
Hugh Dunlop had the misfortune to
fall on the slippery streets recently and
fracture his leg.
A home welcome and presentation was
made in Hayfield by the finance committee
of the Red Cross to the forty-four young
men and young ladies who signed up for
war service. Solos by Miss Lucy Wood
and Mrs. Brown Higgins were well re-
ceived. The presentation of billfolds
and a $5.00 bill was presented
Mrs. ueo. Johnston, well known
resident of the Parr Line in the Hensall
district passed away suddenly in her
54th year. She was the daughter of the
late Mr. and Mrs. ThOs. Coleman of
Tlickersmith.
Young people df today, as we all
know, don't want to do anything the way
their elders did it. This includes getting
married.
Most still stick to the traditional
service, but many modern wedding cere-
monies are completely different from the
time-honored and time-worn ceremony
that most of us endured.
Nowadays, instead of hearing the organ
triumphantly booming Comes the
Bride," you may be startled, but shouldn't
• be surprised, to hear someone belting out
"Hey, Jude?" - with guitar accompani-
ment.
Instead of the comforting, traditional
and often anachronistic passages in the
orthodox ceremony, you may hear an erotic
poem by Leonard Cohen.
Any day now, you'll see the men lined
up to kiss the groom on both cheeks and
shake hands with the bride.
In many ways, I agree with the trend.
I had the devil's own time with my wife
before our nuptial vows were finally
nuptialized.
She wanted the "obey" deleted from
the phrase, "love, honor and obey," and
fought me right up to the altar, where
she muttered it only to avoid a scene.
And, of course, she has never obeyed me
since.
Another bit that got her back up was,
"With my body I thee honor,", spoken
by* the groom only. She took it the
wrong way, and thought it a perfect
example of male vanity.
"In sickness and in health" is another
howler that could be jettiSoned, WhenI'm
practically dying with the 'flu, she has
less sympathy than she would have for
a rattlesnake making its death rattle.
And if there's anything I can't stand,
it's having a sick wife malingering around
the place and not getting the meals.
The last bit of farce at our wedding was
when the preacher, being, a little coy,
looked at me and asked, "Would you care
to salute the bride?" It was an Anglican
ceremony and I was a bit at sea anyway.
In addition, I was just out of the air force,
where "salute" meant just that.
I gawked at him as he repeated the
question. "Well," I thought, "if this is
the way these Anglicans do it, O.K.,"
made a smart left turn and was about
to whip up a snappy ‘salute, when my bride,
who knew the damn fool was telling me
to kiss her, solved the situation by grab-
bing me around the neck and kissing me.
It was a beautiful kiss, I got a mouthful
of her veil and that's about all.
But with my personal experience, and
in view of the divorce rate today, I'd go
further than the modern kids do. Not only
would I bring the service up to date, I'd
insist'on an air-tight contract to be signed
by both parties before they swore to
anything.
There's not nearly enough space here
to set out the contract in full, but I'll give
you a skeleton, and you can fill In the
flesh.
ITEM. If either party suffers from
cold feet, he or she will refer to a hot
water bottle, rather than shock treatment
to the party of the second part.
ITEM. It will clearly be understood
who is to put out the garbage, who will
get up to close the window, who will get
up to shut up the baby, who will get the
car on opening day of the trout season.
ITEM. Neither partner shall spend
more than ten minutes during each 24
hours' telling the other partner what a
hell of a day he/she had at work/home.
ITEM. She will not say, more than
once a week, "You never say you love
me anymore." And he will refrain from
replying, "Certainly I love you; now will
you quit bugging me about it?"
ITEM. Neither party will promise the
kids something ridiculous, then confront
the partner with a fait accompli.
ITEM. The male partner may invite
anyone for a drink or dinner regardless
of hair curlers, ',the house is a mess,"
"there's not •a thing in the house to eat,"
or "you might have a little consideration
for me."
ITEM. Males will refrain from shout-
ing violently, "Why is there never any
peace around here?" Females will not hit,
except in the clinches. (I have scars.)
Carry on chaps. I've just begun.
There's money, jealousy, sulking, teas-
ing, nagging, back-seat driving, decorat-
ing. There have been far too many
books written about sex and marriage.
Let's get down to the realities.
a