HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1937-02-04, Page 6THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 1937 THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE
.. Pioneer Women in Canada • •
An interesting paper read by Miss L, M. Jeckell at
the Exeter Women’s Institute
Ixx the past twenty-five years the Madeline de- Vercheres, undex* 16
Women’s Institute have been a very’years of age, who defended and held
important faetox* in- the building of' the fort in the absence of her fathex*
this country. Banded together* with- and mother* with two soldiers, one
out reference to -any race, creed or 1 old man, her two young brothers,
party, the Institute women have pro- jwhexx attacked by a wax* party of Iro-
Fcr eight days this heroine
the bj force of will instilled courage and
hope into her little band. It reads
to ' more like a story of romance but it
I
and achieved those ideas ‘ quois.
are for the uplifting of
and the -community,
branch -of tlieix* work H
I wish to refer especially to-'«~nies down through the pages of
day and that is what they have done history as a stirring example -of
to aro-use axx interest, a pride, and a courage in- the hour of danger and
knowledge, in the. .pioneers o-f our . often was the means of bringing
land and to preserve that knowledge ' strength and courage to those early
tor future generations. The Institute . ’French settlers. Our government
have had a part in preparing and/has recognized this girl’s bravery
preserving the history of ;
lives and their ways of living in-
many of the counties of Ontario-.1 worthy of mention, and she typifies
They have been a factor in the care those woxnen who, in later days, have
of -forgotten cemeteries, in some devoted their lives to relieving bodi-
brar.-ches or districts the women ly pain and suffering. It may sur-
themselves have -helped in making prise you to know that as early as
beautiful the resting .places of pion-‘1642 Canada had a nurse and a hos-
eer families. In some places they j pital established-
helped historical societies to pre- ‘ *
serve the pioneer relics so fast dis-1 Mance -came to Montreal
appearing. In future years perhaps with Maisonneuve soldiers an-d col-
more than at the present the true' onists. Picture a scene in Paris in
value of all this -work may be real-, Notre Dame as men and women of
ized.
With this brief reference to this1 communion and to witness Jeanne
particular branch of our work I Mance consecrate her life to service
have given some intimation of the in a new land. Can we even imag-
reason fox* the program today in- j ine hei* discouragement, hardships
eluding an address on the Pioneer and dangers in the new country and
Women of Canadian- History, On yet in- 1644 the building of a hospit-
past occasions when we have had our ' al was started (called Hotel Dieu)
grandmother’s meeting we have had It is a brave story how this woman
addresses on to.pics of a more local, overcame difficulties, stimuated in
nature, but oux* tpoic today is a very-
broad one. We have from t-he year
of the first settlement of Canada in
1603 to the present day 193 6 (for
there are women to day doing piom
eer work and today the history of
Canada is in the making and
may pick from the provinces on- the
Atlantic all the way across our- Do
minion to the Pacific.
With such- a breadth of subject I
have picked a few outstanding wo
men. There are many more I would
like to s-peak of but time will not
permit. I xnay not speak of those
that to you seem most important
but I have tried to pick; those who
have been especially related to some
service, to some profession, go that
■we might realize that we -have had
pioneer women devoted to- home
making, to nursing, to music, to mis
sionary work, to brave deeds of pa
triotism and to- many other types of
service.
moted
which
home
One
whl;h
• Our
.g and has recognized this girl’s
pioneer ( and erected a memorial to her.
There is another French woman
200 hundred years
before Florence Nightingale. Jeanne
arriving
France gathei'ed there for Mass and
terest in France and aid too-, but she
succeeded and we find her coping
with Indian- invasion, famine, pesti
lence and in the midst of all this her
hospital filled to capacity. Montreal
has still the hospital of her found-
we | ing Hotel Dieu—another -site, a larg
er building—and Montreal still hon
ours Jeanne Mance as they bring
floral tributes to place on the beau
tiful statute (the figure of Jeanne
Mance leaning over the form of a
sick habitant) erected at the en
trance to the hospital.
Wife of Governor John Simcoe
Pioneer Women in the Home
mater-
of the
again
turned
brave
found
book
the
Ag I searched for reference
ial, ifor this paper, and read
lives of many noted women-,
and again my- thoughts were
to the countless number of
women, whose names are not
in any -history or- reference
They came to this country in
early days—often leaving homes of
comfort and culture, to spend -weeks
crossing the ocean in a sailing ves
sel and coming into a new strange
land, there to make a new home,
suffered p-rivation, hardship, loneli
ness and often tragic loss -of loved
« ones. Undaunted they carried the
burden and with- eyes to the future
they planned for their children- that
they might have better- homes, the
school, the church, and those things
which uplift the life above the com
mon material things Perhaps one
of those women was your mother or
grandmother or great grandmother.
I could not pass on to those who
have received fame and honour with
out first paying a tribute to- that
countless host of pioneer women. I
never think of them but those -closing
verses in the last chapter of Pro
verbs come to me—they so fittingly
describe the faithful home-maker un
selfishly giving her life for the lov
ed ones and it is written there: "Her
children shall rise up and -call
blessed.”
her
A Brave Girl
notThe history of our country is
entirely a history of British people,
for a hundred years it was a French
colony and in that time many French
women gave service to this country.
History tell us that Samuel de Chaxn-
plain-’g wife helped -persuade settlers
to come to the new country and
looked after their welfare in their
new homes. We all like to read of
a brave deed and many of you will
still remember the bright spot
in a dull history lesson- as you read
of the brave young French girl,
boro. Her book called "Roughing
it in the Bush’’ has been read fax* and
wide and perhaps no writer has giv
en a clearer -picture of the life of
the early settler. With humour she
tells of difficulties, of dangers, the
kindly neighbor, the travelling
preacher, the school, the storms of
winter, the lack of food and all the
joys and disappointments she had
in making a home.
Music and song has also been a
part in this life of pio^ner women
and every Canadian should thrill
•with pride when they read of Can
ada, Queen of Song, Madame Albani.
The story takes us to Chambly, a
little town in Quebec, at the back of
a little store a little girl Emma, is
playing the -piano. A musician and
singer happens to hear her and en
quires, the result the little, rosy-
cheeked, happy daughter is brought
in and sings fox* him. The stranger
is so enthralled that Emma sang
to his audience- that night and into
the hearts of the people. That was
Madame Albani’s first -public ap
pearance. By hard work the little
French girl, whom everybody loved,
cultivated that glorious voice and
studied iix Paris and then in Italy,
and then she launched out cn
great concert tour that was to
her a prima donna at eighteen.
The writer of hex* biography
us "When in Malta, she sang, on re
quest, to the homesick British sold
iers and sailors, ‘Home Sweet Home’
She sang her best, thinking of the
little French-Canadian town, hills
of Montreal, and the roar of the St.
Lawrence Rapids. Those- exiles
with tears in their faces rose up in
appleause and she sang it again and
again. -From that night "Home
Sweet Home” was Albani’s song.
She sang it around the world in cot
tage and -palace. She
everywhere and reigned a
Song fox* forty years. She
unspoiled and
never dimmed
adian home,
toria she was
her funeral, an ordeal fox# one who
had loved the Queen, but she -obeyed
and standing by the c-o-ffin in dimly
lit Windsor Chapel, she sang glor
iously and triumphantly the great
assurance, "I know that my Redeem
er Liveth.” 'Can you picture her
home-coming to Montreal and the
royal reception she received. An in
teresting stoiry is told in connection
with this. Madame Albani had invit
ed her old friends from the home
town of Cham'bly to come and hear
her- in Montreal and asked that seats
be reserved for them. The nig'ht ar
rived and so did the old friends -only
| to be told that every seat was taken'.
| Not to be outdone one of them went
_ ______ _____ L -t-old her.
Then followed a scene between Ma
dame Albani and the manager. He
refused to admit them so Albani re
fused to sing. A compromise was
reached, the habitants and old
friends had seats oxx the stage, they
heard their beloved Albani. Drum
monds poem on “When- Albani
Sings” -puts this scene in the follow
ing:
"Evedyiboddy seem glad wen dey see
her come
Walken right down de platform
On way dey mak noise on de hans,
den-, why,
It’s jus lak de beeg fonder storm.”
We too must respond to. the call of
duty and service, keep the 'torch
burning brightly as we- too- pass it oh
to future generations.| Just as wonderful is the story of
. the life of missionary woxnen wlxo
went -out to- our great West, of Mrs.
I Stringer, wife o-f Bisho;) (Stringer,
| who was the first woman to live
among the Eskimo aw-ay north at
the mouth iof the Mackenzie. There
she raised her owxx childrexx taught
the Eskimo and carried on ixei*
household duties. Think of receiv
ing mail just twice a year, the long
wintex* seasoxx with no sun, and yet
this brave woman wrote, "I
God that I was privileged to
some part in this work.”
There are so many xnore I
like to nxentioxx but 'time will not
permit.
thank
take
would
County Council
ENGINEER’S REPORT
that
find
tell
conquered
Queen of
remained
absence
her Can-
time and
her love for
Loved by Queen Vic-
requested to sing at
Another woman of the early days
I would like to speak “of briefly. In
' the early growth of this country the
choosing of men in -high office, those
who would have a vision of the fu
ture was -of vital importance. The
first Governor John Simcoe **« Up-1I ^Madame “llbani "and
per Canada (now Ontario) was such
a type and can be ranged os one -of
-of the makers of Canada but much
is due to the perfect homemaker in
his wife. Mrs. Simcoe’g father had
fought and died with Wolfe at Que
bec. Romance is associated with the
marriage with the soldier- John Sim
coe and in the spirit o-f adventure
she was willing to give up the com
forts of an English home and after
an ocean trip of 46 days land in a
new country. Her diary (edited
later,, of her 5 years in -Canada is
one -of the most valuable reference
books on early Canada; as also her
paintings and sketches -of Canadian
scenes. The story of their journey
to Newark (.Niagara) by bateau and
schooner across the lake theix* so
journ in a crude log house, then -re
moval to York (Toronto) living iix
tents till a house was built is all told
in a happy way. The Indian name
(in English Chief-whose-door-is-
always-open) for their log castle at
York tells the story of Mrs. -Simcoe’s
kindness. Her eagerness to become
familiar with pioneer life, the home
ly remedies, the- household hints, the
simple food endeared hex* to all
who can estimate the part she
in the growth of Uppei* Canada.
Susanna Moodie
No paper oxi pioneer woxnen would
be -complete if mention was not made-
of Laura Secord. Her story- is uni
que in our Canadian life. Even if
historians do not recognize it, it has
entered into the folk lore of Ontario
and refuses to be removed. It is the
story of a brave and patriotic wo
man during the danger -of Indian
attacks, of a toilsome journey on
foot for twenty miles to warn the
soldiers of an attack by the enemy.
It was -only hex* indomitable will and
dauntless courage that enabled her
to keep on t-he way. A monument
Was erected to her memory at
Queenston.
-Susanna Moodie has contributed
worthily to- the history of the pioneer
life in Canada. Coming from the
homeland in 1832 she and her hus
band settled in the forest at Peter-
and
had
Missionary Women
'Before I close this paper, tribute
must be paid to that band of 'Cana
dian women who have answered the
■call given by our Master to go and
serve others. Some have gone forth
to lands across the sea, some have
gone to the far away places of our
own broad Dominion. I will just
speak -of two who- went forth to
pioneer in other lands. Dr. Margaret
McKellar, who- as a young girl lived
in a log .cabin on a farm in Bruce
County, enduring hardships in her
young life we find her resolving at
the age of 18 to devote her- life to-
the Missionary cause. To do so she
had to begin to go to High School,
but even if money was scarce she
reached hex* goal and received her
medical degree and was designated
to service in India. For- years_ she
gave herself to the work there and
received honor from the Governor o<
India fo her devotion to duty.
And so also has Dr. Carolyn Mac
Donald served nobly—'known as the
Wlh'ite Angel iof Tokio she received
the respect and the love of t'he Ja
panese people. We can< claim her
as a Huronite, born in Wingham, hex*
early life was marked by her- bril
liant success in school and college.
. She was chosen to go bo Japan in
relation to Y. W. C. A. work, a ipion-
eei* movement in Japan,
among the factory girls,
welcome extended to all
home called "The House
liness” was extended aftei*
years and Carolyn MacDonald
came known by prison officials. Her
translation of the life story -of a
hardened criminal, whose life was
transformed through her influence,
and published undei* the name “A
Gentleman in Prison” shows us why
she became known as "The White
Angel of Tokio.”. Many very high
tributes were paid to hex* by Japam
ese governments before and
her death.
In every life we read about,
find the 'keynotes is service and
spouse to the call of duty,
pioneer women of Canada in
race pass on to us the burning torch,
Her work
and the
ifrom her
of Fjriend-
a few
be-
Mr. Patterson submitted the fol
lowing
System
cil:
report on the County Road
at the Huron County Cou’n-
County Road Report
During the year* there was ex
pended a total of $102,715.50 which
was made up as follows: Road 22,
East and West Wawanosh, 1 mile,
$4,3718 ,40; Road 4, Stephen, retain
ing wall and stream diversion, $1,-
552.27; snow fence, $l,915.'8i6; signs
8400.30; tree planting, $31; legal
fees re pit purchase, $10.45; rebates
to Town of Goderich, $1,956.05;
rebates to Village of Hensail, $221.-
15; Bluevale sidewalk replacement,
$116.85; total, $10,582.83.
^lahinery, new: $11,138.70; re
pairs, $7,916.98; total, $19,055.68.
Superintendance, $4,322.75; main
tenance: brushing and weeds, $4,-
057.73; ditching, $111.46; grading,
$1,857.46; dragging, $9,472.35; cul
verts, $717.97; bridges, $3,906.16;
resurfacing, $11,967.99; oiling, $2,-
08 6,68; snow roads, $12,36i9.84; cal
cium chloride, $10,047.92; drains,
$3,125.34; guard fences, $443.13;
signs, $27.74;. salt, $60.61; total,
$’60,842.38; county bridges, $543.74.
Total for subsidy, $95,347.35;
traffic officer and motorcycle, $2,-
060.42; insurance premium, $424.38
lights, $50; work and material for
municipalities, $3,698.78; county
boundaries, $777.79; damage claims,
$356.75; total, $102,715.50.
"Our rebate accounts with the
towns and villages show as follows:
Goderich
Seaforth,
Brussels,
ty) 7 8c.;
$267.57;
"As -pointed out in December the
amount provided for highways was,
in 1936, insufficient to take care of
all the necessary maintenance, and
at the same time there is- much woi*k
needed for drainage, widening of
narrow roads, bituminous surfacing
and reconstructioxx of small bridges,
while we have many old steel bridges
that were designed fox* a live load of
8 tons that frequently have to carry
loads of 25 tons.
"When I became engineer for
Huron in 1919, the practice was to
haul gravel in wagons, dump it in- a
pile in the centre of the road and
leave it until next year. -Since- thexi
many changes have^ taken place in
road building and maintenance prac
tice, and this county has assumed
leadership in making improvements
in many departments, which should
be a source -of satisfaction to the
county.
(balance due) $59.37:
$522.45; .Blyth, ,$16.68.;
$67.25; Clinton (due coun-
Wing-ham $80.07; Exeter,
Hensail, $6.00.
due to
by the
the I)C'
enabled
"Much -of the improvement in
township road methods is
the object lesson provided
county.
"Close co-operation with
partment of Highways has
us to take advantage of all grants
available, and in 1934 $32,000 of ex
tra work was done without extra
cost to the county.
"The men employed on the road
system are generally' of a very high
type, and much credit must he
given to them for carrying out the
work intelligently and efficiently.
Credit must be given to the various
road committees and members of
the Council who have helped
the work.”
BRINSLEY ANNUAL MEETING
The annual congregational meet
ing of the Brinsley United Church
was held in the basement -of the
church on Friday evening last -on
January 22nd. The ladies served a
supper which took the form of a
banquet. It being the fifteenth an
niversary of the church a birthday
cake was made and
Mrs. Wes. Morley and
Mrs. Rev. j>ohnston,
passed around at the
meal. After a short toast list
various reports -of the church were
given which showed all branches of
the church to be in a good condition.
Rev. Mr. Johnston acted as toast
master and -chairman.
decorated by
was cut
which
end of
by
was
the
the
with
DEATH OF MRS. .TOIIANNA
FLAHERTY
MOISTEN ENVELOPE
NOT POSTAGE SWAMP
Mrs. Johanna Flaherty, wife of
Pence C. Flaherty, a -retired London
postman, died in -St. Joseph’s Hospit
al following an illness of several
months. She was in -her 69th year.
A native of Mount Carmel, Ont.,
Mrs. Flaherty settled in London
during her girlhood. Surviving are
her husband, and one son Joseph,
two daughter and a 'brother ioif Tor
onto also survives.
Postal authorities are trying to
educate ipeople to moisten the envel
ope, not the stamp when putting
stamps in letters, They say if you
moiten- the stamp you may take the
mucilage off.
Officials haven’t much use
people who like to be original
place the stamps in an unusual spot
on the letter. They like the stamps
placed on the upper right corner.
for
and
THE HERALD SAYS
Think what this won
derf ill offer will mean
in enjoyment through
out the whole year for
yourself and your fam
ily. Magazines of your own choice, and
this newspaper, packed with stories, time
ly articles, helpful, departments and color
ful illustrations. Now is your chance.
GROUP 9
SEIECT ONE MAGAZINE
GROUP2
SEIECT ONE MAGAZINE
The Slight Cold of Today
May Be Serious Tomorrow
cold.’’ is a serious matter and the proper thing to do is to get rid of it as quickly as
possible; if you don’t it may1 result in congestion
inflammation and irritation in the head and bronchial
Wood’s Norway Pino Syrup jg particularly
natured C°idsMd t,roubles of a bronchial
X^ized X P ’ h6rbS r0°tS °f
if %ia b9ttlo af f'jb*. Wood V’ and geo how quickly
ittbStute th6 deSired reliCf‘ 1)011,1 accepfc a
after
We
a re-
These
life’s
Build Reinforced. Span
"This county has a -reinforced
concrete arch bridge that at one
time was the longest in the province
we have built a reinforced concrete
beam span- that is the longest in the
country; we were the first to build
small structures with this reinforced
concrete walls, while the cross-ac
tion- for ,roads now used by the De
partment of Highways was in use by
the County of Huron several years
earlier. In order to have the most
suitable type of road for the requir
ed location we have built nearly all
classes of pavement, sheet -asphalt
on various bases, including gravel;
concrete pavement, penetration tar
macadam, double surface treated
gravel, and macadam road mixed bit
uminous concrete, and premixed bit
uminous concrete. Several examples
of our low cost bituminous roads
have not been excelled elsewhere,
considering original cost and type of
construction. ■ In- the field of stabi
lization, this county has done more
work than any other organization
in this country, with both salt and
calcium
"This
country
scraper
first to
ations comlpletely. We were pioneers
ixx having all road metal crushed to
a one-inch ring specification and bo
do this it was necessary to remodel
our crushing plants, which was
done in a mannei’ copied by others.
Since that time another portable
plant has been created from axi old
one, which type will operate at a
lower cost than any other known.
We also had built a pressure distri
butor at a low cost, which has saved
us ks much- as $2,200 ih spraying
costs in one year,
chloride.
county was the first in this
to use an underbody truck
f-or maintenance, and -the
motorize all blading oper-
I
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