HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1975-12-11, Page 17. ! . Y • . � r ,^. . � • . ' ,' : � � , �, � � 1,
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$EAFORTH, ONTARIO, TW.URSQAY,. JDECEMBE'R 11, 1875 SECOND SECTION PARES 1A *^ AA
D ',nl . .M c ..I ^ • .G iris get words at Achi-MV,
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About 8$ members of the 4 H Seaforth and Vicki O'RourkO of Dooren, Jean Murray and Donna Miss•Jarn Pengitley: Cl njo ,
t` R.R.4. Seaforth received Henderson, all of 12;R.$, ' .Hurom County Hoxzt is#
Homemakin Clubs in the
� .;.. Seaforth area took part in the Provincial honors for completing Seaforth; IaniCe Ross, Sandrawas is charge of 'alae.pgt`ntn3
i r Achievement Day Sturday at the twelve projects. Menhe re, Joanne Van Doornik, • assisted by tVirs,Agties '1(Cjpt .
` Seaforth District Hi h School. Nine girls received county an nn Swart, all of .R.R.4, Woodstock, Home Fetinotnist*
g honors far completing six projects S' a o "h; Lori Hu ill, R.R.2; The spring j
y The project on which the girls P g P j $ P $ p.ro eel is to ire A
have been working during the Ingrid Hoste; Theresa Van Seaforth. Vouch of Stitchery, ;
a 3 ` past .several weeks was •bet's •
13 - Bake Bread. Skits and exhibits #
were held 'during the day -long
session to demonstrate what the
arIs had e
fi
r
McKillop 3. ng
i
sf/ 1
rned � .
�: • ..�: ... ��%t ,..,,. �� ....R ,... ,/ "Bread Baking
r buddies" Skit - Main ingrediets
LEFTess
LEADERSHIP HOPEFUL --- Montreal lawyer rlan Mulroney, seen by some to be of Bread. Seaforth -2; Doiigh ' ' �
r . a +;
a front runner in the race for the Progressive Co ervative Party leadership was In Doughs" • •Exhibit - Rolls of any ` 'f
the riding last week to talk to local CAnservatives. Mr. Mulroney, centre, talks to shape - Commentator - Vicki
O'Rourke.
Seaforth mayor Betty Cardno and Brussels area farmer Murray Cardiff, who are
both delegates to the leadershi convention, planned for Ottawa in February. McKillop 5, "Rising Flouret-
g p y tes". Skit - Score! McKillop- 1,
Staff Photo r� r �'>� rr•, ,if ��
( �. '�Bready Bunch"; Exhibit •Ways
with Bread , Commentator'- Mary.
Siemon. Egmondville, 'Last But
Second -PC contender' meets - delegates CanadiantFoodktPattBnaSein the
aforth
1, "Dazzling Dough Cirls". f.
Brian. Mulroney, 36 year old because Brian Mulroney is in the Mr. Mulroney, who has never he's not interested in learning,
labour lawyer from ,Montreal race and running•fast. run for election provincially or Mr. Mulroney said. mmenAnne ey, , Exhibit Our Daily Bread.5 t,
Commentator ARibr �; y< {,
announced that he is running for He visited most Canadian cities federally, has worked for the PC "It's not glamorous enough for „ ? ,•.,
y party since he was at univetlsity in him, , . " he said`and Mr. Catdiff Seaforth 3, Rising
Progressive Conservative leader, before his campaign official' g .. .
Bob Stanfield's job in November. began, Now he says he's going to Novak Scotia in the late 1950's: agreed, Doughettes", Skit Bread
Around the World. McKillop 4WIN COUNTY HONOURS -- Several years of,, hard work at 4-H projects (the latest
But he's been campaigning„ he the rural areas. He was executive assistant to Mr. Cardiff said he'd like to see , _Dough Doe's" Exhibit ways was Let's Bake Bread) was capped off on Saturday when nine Seaforth area girls
says, since September. Thursday he was in Seaforth to ,Alvin Hamilton for a year when the government out of the egg ; . .
y g "ith Bread. Commentators, Doris of their count honours at the Achievement Day. Front, left are In rid Hoste,.
The 10 week of cross country `meet Heron Middlesex'dele ates he was Minister of Agriculture in and milk business. He disagrees g Y y
touring (he's on his third coast to- to the leadership convention in John Diefenbaker'sgovernoient, with the present quota system McClure, Sharon Th ompson. can Murray and Lori Hugi and rear are SandKa
Menheere,. Joanne Van Doornik,
coast tri now) before he became Ottawa in February. Seaforth's He says that ez erience ave him and says "M farm is a business. McKillop 2, "Yeasty, Risers",
p y P g y Janice Rose and Theresa V r. Dooren. Absent when -the pho#o was takt'n were
an official candidate were to test mayor BettyCardno and Brussels some understanding of farmin if something isn't profitable, ! et Exhibit Judging Breads.
y g g P g Commentator -Rose Ann Nolan. Donna Henderson and Lynn Swart, who were away playing withthe SDHS Gii-Is
his strength with Conservatives. arca farmer Murray Cardiff were Prime Minister Trudeau is not' out of it," Mary Beth Downey of Nolan. Trumpet Band. (Photo by Oke)
Reactions apparently were good there to meet him. only not interested in agriculture, (Continued on 7•A)R:R-
If
0
rist as t
w
By W. G. Strong
If an early snow had fallen, the tree had to' Sema Clam
be compressed `as tighity as possible in order The official programme'was over and -then
to get it through the. door at the rear of the carne the unrehearsed highlight of the
classroom and allowed .enough time for the evening, thearrival of Santa, Claus amid the
snow to melt and trickle across the floor to the ° stamping of feed and the tinkle, of sleigh -bells,
nearest crack or evaporate 16Wrely. It was not sound effects but the real thing.
worth all the effort, however, to see it The gifts which had been piling up under
standing therein its honoured place tall, adark the tree all afternoon and evening were
-and straight, perfectly syintnetrical. Soon -the distributed along with string bags of candy,
room began- to smell of that wild and,oily nuts 'and -fruit assembled all week by the fond `
essence of cedar, spruce or pine. parents and especially produced for Santa's
Decorating the Tree was a delightful sharing.
experience enjoy ed by all participants who The teacher, that brave soul who. single -
brought objects from home to display on aIle handed `had produced, directed and staged
branches. •There were angels made from another successful Christmas concert for the
cotton fluff with tinsel wings, odds and ends of good folk of the school section, quietly
coloured paper from Eakon's or •Simpson's surveyed the remnants of her creation a nd
catalogue twisted into bell-shaped ornaments, smiled serenely to the fond parents who
paper horns, red paper bells that opened like praised her efforts . Although she' realized
an accordion, pink and white popcorn balls hers was a captive audience, she was certain
and garlands of cranberries or rad haws fresh that this was probably her most successful
from someone's cellar.production,
A large, white star. cut from cardboard Clover Hay
balanced proudly on, the topmost spike, Often the neighbours would travel to the
Crayon drawings of Christmas scenes which schoolhouse and return by sleigh with a foot of
might pass as abstract art today were poked in golden oat straw or sweet-smelling clover hay
among• the branches' near the trunk. Only in the bottom or high box. Wrapped in
occasionally were candles in evidence using sweaters, scar vee, tououes, woolllen mitts, h
clip -on bases on the extreme end of the eavy overcoats or jackets they drew the horse
ranches. Fire '''blankets about them. Buffalo robes
� precautions wet`e 'observed
zealously. Trustee$ and parents did not relish were a specialty.
the thought of a conflagration, although some The driver dressed in coon -skin coat and fur
of the pupils, at times, nourished ''such cap held the reins in ,one mittened hand and
hopes. urged the animals into a trot to make the bells
double their jingling.The narrow country road
Concert Night often ran through a landscape of little hills and
Concert night arrived and the schoolhouse shallow, valley s, t
4 bulged with proud parents, uncles, aunts,
many as the stage would accommodate so that cousins, friends and interested farm hands.
no mother would -complain about her. Martha People of assorted sizes stuffed themselves'
or Johnny being left out. into the narrow seats; others sat on the desks
A regimented entrance and exit fcorhKttie the better to see; many lined up against the �s4F
improvised stage of rough planks raised on outer galls while a few gazed from the
blocks and two-by-fours was needed because cloakroom doorway. All eyes were focused on
of the large number of children involved.If one' the stage. Kerosene lamps and lanterns at the
person made a mis-step chaos reigned. % rear of the room were turped down: The bustle >:
Make -shift curtains of bedsheets fastened behind the drawn curtains subsided and the '
<«, 3
with
.pins to a length of stove -wire some six chairman, usually the trustee with a gift of the
feet above the floor and fastened to gab, proceeded to welcome everyone'• and; ,=s .... atE .
.,.
eye -screws in the window , frame were extend Season's Greetings to all on behalf of `Ir •.:. , t;N'
assembled. the Board, the teacher and the pupils, A few ?�
On the front blackboard, in large capital ribald jokes were introduced on occasion. t li►''' . .
letters executed with coloured chalk, were The opening number was always a i1M hl! •"
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS. Along the top and traditional carol and the audience was asked �«
bottom of the same blackboard and on the side to join in the • singing. Then followed the,
boards, it there were any, were stencilled programme proper. The younger brothers and
desings of mistletoe, holly and poinsettia in sisters seated or 'standing on mother's knee
red and $reen.The stencils and sticks of chalk waved frantically at the participants to catch
were saved from year to year and kept stored their eye and frequently led to much giggling.
in the teacher's cupboard. From the open doors at the 'rear of the°''
Christmas Tree classroom, spectators made ludicrous £ a
The Christmas tree was the focal point in gestures with hands and faces to distract the
'one-Mrner of the stage. There was somethifi
g g artists.
magnificent about bringing a part of the Throughout the evening some children .;,. <'.•,.••
outside scenery inside and making it a part of forgot their lines and had to be prompted by
the festivities. The tree had to be located in the teacher in a stage whisper that could be
jhe bush at an early date, one that would do heard in the anteroom. The make -shift a
justice to the occasion; tall enough to reach curtains often became stuck half -way across ?k,
almost to the ceiling and whose lower limbs the stage 'and the work -crew had to come;<;r
were -just extensive enough to fill the desired forwardto untangle the mess much to the
area. The tree was cut: few days prior to the embarrassment of the boys but to the glee of
concert'and pulled or carxied to the rear of the the spectators.Each number of the lengthy
schoolhouse to be set in place on the afternoon programme was greeted with loud clapping of
of the preceding schoolday so that the n eedles hands or whistles from the rbde element in
would not shower down. ' �,a�'f
11 tI..•.
attA»ria»rP ,
V
110
An annual event in our childhood that has
since no equal was the Christmas concert held
in the one -room country schoolhouse ' in the
farming community.
For many weeks prior to Christmas there
was great activity. Each Friday afternoon with
classes suspended by the teacher in favour of
rehearsals, there was joyful confusion. There
were dialogues for the senior pupils and
everyone, big or small, had to prepare a
recitation, If someone was particularly adept
at public speaking, he or she (usually she) was
asigned a monologue, an extended recitiation.
Each person was supposed to have his or her
part memorized by earl y December.
Rehearsals began amid much giggling and
laughter but by mid-December all were ready
for the "dress" rehearsal • since the show
usually went on about December 20, just prior
to the Christmas holidays. I can still recall the
boys bowing awkwardly from the waist and
the girls practising their traditional curtsy -
bow.
Odd Costumes
Those actors taking part in the dialogue or
skit dressed in odd costumes improvised from
an older sister's wardrobe or a brother's
hand-me-downs. The prove^rbial black -face
characters- used much bunt' cork or lamp-
black instead of grease paint. All went
through their lines inserting some local colour
to the merriment of the older children.
The skits, recitations, and dialogues were
interspersed with choral group selections to
the accompaniment of,a borrowed organ or
wheeze -box as it wag often designated. These
offerings always included all the pupils or as
Here and there oh the hillside stood:
primeval groves 'of towering trees Wisps of
blue smoke from farmhouse chimneys curled
lazily upwards int6 the frosty air as the sled
creaked and crunched over the brittle snow.
Through half-closed eyelids the children saw
the darkened farm buildings, the lights here
and there glowing through frosted kitchen
panes like mimic moons. Their arrival home
was welcomed by Rover, the • family's
perpetual outdoor -indoor companion. The .
stars danced as they did centuries ago when a
Babe was born in Bethlehem town.'
"God makes such nights, all white and still,
Far as you can look and listen. "
Moonshine and snow on field and hill,
All silence and all glisten. (Lowell)
Christmas is a season for reflection. Many
of the hearts that throbbed • so gaily . at
Christmas time have ceased to beat; many of
the lboks that shone so brightly have ceased to
glow; hands we loved to grasp h ave grown
cold, eyes we sought have hidden their lustre.
The old .home, the old rooms, the old
.Schoolhouse, the merry voices and smilitig
faces, the jests and laughter 'connected with
those happy meetings crowd upon the mind at
each re-occu a of the season as if the last
assembly had be n but yesterday, Happy,
happy Christmas t at can turd us back to the
old schoolhouse, the old fireside and the •
quaint home.
"A stranger's foot has crossed
The sill long since; the door is closed,
Old words, old ways are lost."
ILI* (Pratt)
M.
1
V
110
An annual event in our childhood that has
since no equal was the Christmas concert held
in the one -room country schoolhouse ' in the
farming community.
For many weeks prior to Christmas there
was great activity. Each Friday afternoon with
classes suspended by the teacher in favour of
rehearsals, there was joyful confusion. There
were dialogues for the senior pupils and
everyone, big or small, had to prepare a
recitation, If someone was particularly adept
at public speaking, he or she (usually she) was
asigned a monologue, an extended recitiation.
Each person was supposed to have his or her
part memorized by earl y December.
Rehearsals began amid much giggling and
laughter but by mid-December all were ready
for the "dress" rehearsal • since the show
usually went on about December 20, just prior
to the Christmas holidays. I can still recall the
boys bowing awkwardly from the waist and
the girls practising their traditional curtsy -
bow.
Odd Costumes
Those actors taking part in the dialogue or
skit dressed in odd costumes improvised from
an older sister's wardrobe or a brother's
hand-me-downs. The prove^rbial black -face
characters- used much bunt' cork or lamp-
black instead of grease paint. All went
through their lines inserting some local colour
to the merriment of the older children.
The skits, recitations, and dialogues were
interspersed with choral group selections to
the accompaniment of,a borrowed organ or
wheeze -box as it wag often designated. These
offerings always included all the pupils or as
Here and there oh the hillside stood:
primeval groves 'of towering trees Wisps of
blue smoke from farmhouse chimneys curled
lazily upwards int6 the frosty air as the sled
creaked and crunched over the brittle snow.
Through half-closed eyelids the children saw
the darkened farm buildings, the lights here
and there glowing through frosted kitchen
panes like mimic moons. Their arrival home
was welcomed by Rover, the • family's
perpetual outdoor -indoor companion. The .
stars danced as they did centuries ago when a
Babe was born in Bethlehem town.'
"God makes such nights, all white and still,
Far as you can look and listen. "
Moonshine and snow on field and hill,
All silence and all glisten. (Lowell)
Christmas is a season for reflection. Many
of the hearts that throbbed • so gaily . at
Christmas time have ceased to beat; many of
the lboks that shone so brightly have ceased to
glow; hands we loved to grasp h ave grown
cold, eyes we sought have hidden their lustre.
The old .home, the old rooms, the old
.Schoolhouse, the merry voices and smilitig
faces, the jests and laughter 'connected with
those happy meetings crowd upon the mind at
each re-occu a of the season as if the last
assembly had be n but yesterday, Happy,
happy Christmas t at can turd us back to the
old schoolhouse, the old fireside and the •
quaint home.
"A stranger's foot has crossed
The sill long since; the door is closed,
Old words, old ways are lost."
ILI* (Pratt)