HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1937-02-04, Page 7,feared and taped and waited! The
snow was so long going off perhaps
it had come to stay! It was 2 weeks
before we could travel on wheels
( or getting mired alternately in mud
and snowbanks. Wo dug the garden
row by now as they emerged from
the edges of the drifts, and waited!
Turned some of the stocks to save
them from mould and help them
dry out the quicker and still wait’
ed!
How many of us prayed and trust
ed through those dull weary days
only the Father knows. But we
know what rich fruit our small faith
bore and how abuntantly those des-
were answered. The
and warm ' Father was Wiser than we. The wet
Outside a young moon I snow went off so slowly and saved
LETTER BOX
CHRISTMAS IN PEACE RIVE
An interesting letter written
Dr. Margaret Strang-Savage to
ven Presbyterian Church:
by
Ca-
1937
I
Fine Weather For Tlireashing!
hollow roar. Beyond the big bridge
twinkle the lights of Peace River
Grossing and its hundred smokes go
straight .u'p in the frosty air.
I think of the homestead in the
whitened valley, 50 miles away,
Down the many trails I iciould hunt
them out and name them one
one. 'There are the
stables with the feed stacks in the
corrals around them and in the warm
darkness inside there is the content
ed sound iof horses munching hay.
Across the yard is the log house,
'with a new lumber porch built over
the door and white smoke going
by
Peace River, Alta,
Jan. 14,
Dear Caven Church and iS. S„-
This is a night to> spend indoors,
if possible. A • night to be thankful
for a sheltering roof, however | Prayers
humble, a blazing fire
blankets. _____ __
' and far away stars blink in a steely. us from a'n 'untimely flood. The cov-
sky, the hills are covered with new
snow, and the tliemometer is away .
below the 50 mark. |
I am sitting in a quiet room down
on the very bank of the lordly Peace
River. It is ice-bound now. Up
stream and down flare the gas-well
torches that have been burning day
and night for I don’t know how many
years. Tire stream of water ithat { inIto the fields and worked almost
flows from one of them, falls over day and night with the fear of an-
the rocky bank of the river with a , other disaster hanging
October laughed on to
with only an odd snow 1
few cold days to keep
November was still fine,
day the grain trucks roared on the
| highways, rushing the new wheat to
( the elevators. The price of wheat
. went up and up. It is still climbing,
squat log And baic'ki to the homesteads have
■ gone more dollars and Eaton parcels
and new hardware, than they could
count in all the previous years
Peace River Country.
No wonder the year’s- end
great burden rolled from the
ders of the homesteaders. But not
straight up from the stovepipe stick- | all of them. Here and there are the
ing through the roof. Behind the farms that didn’t grow wheat in
frosted window there is yellow lamp-| 1936. Or they hadn't enough land
light, the warmth of fire and the broken to sow a saleable quantity.
Or the outfit to sow and reap a har
vest was lacking. All over the
north you’ll find them and for such
as these the Dixonville mission still
had a reserve supply. Many of the
school districts bought the Christ
mas treats and gifts for all their
own children this season. But there
I were still groups off on the edges of
| the settlements and families here
Father’s new coat, lined with sheep- and ^there that we knewwere S01'pjT
skin and
all down
the door,
bare and
vanished,
at the open bedroom
are new flannelette blankets on the
bed.
And what is that? Not a—yes, it
is a radio! Soft music from some
ering blanket saved the gardens
from the frosty nights that follow
ed the storm. The grain did not
drop more than a grade 0£ two from
its severe weathering.
October came in, dry and fine
and windy. The threshers pulled out
over them,
its very end
flurry and a
us on edge.
, Night and
in the
saw a
shoul-
children’s laughter.
Conditions Improve
The room looks different, some
how, (from a year ago, and the years
before that. There are new shiny
rubbers under the .home-made wash
stand by the door, plain white cups,
with handles, peer out through the
curtains ion the wall cupboard.
bright with shining snaps
the front, hangs (behind
His old one, worn thread-
many patches deep .has
The lamplight glints in
door—there
pinched for necessities, to say moth-
I ing of Christmas toys and tinsel. We
even heard of struggling Sunday
1 schools away off in the pockets of
the foothills and in the bald prairies
' of Central Alberta.
Exeter Gift Received
(Along in December we began the
annual rummage through left-overs.
deep-voiced organ in a far-off city,, The Exeter box came with its many
- -- - - ■ ——*~ :.......u----------- and
, brave cord. And many others. We
| sorted and boxed and packed, striv-
in *toi reach as many as possible of
those little folks who were facing a
( toyless and joyless Christmas. One
group of youngsters in a school
house six 'hundred miles away, had
| the time iof their lives over a box of
■N'O', he’s had 'to take himself J assorted gifts that arrived very op-
j morning of their
the
can
fills in a melodious back-ground to,'Parcels in white tissue paper
the children’s merry talk. [Father
reads the weekly paper. Mother
knits in the lamplight. The strained
air, the far-down haggaydness, of
past years is gone. The wolf of
hunger and want does not sit as close
to the doorstep this ifrosty night as
on some others they remember too j-----
well. iw, he;S ha.ti Lu tcike himoulf . —■-•— “““ —
off outside the garden fence at least. ; portunely the
For there is a whole sack of flour ( Christmas concert,
in the .cupboard and money to buy
another. And the children have a
change of underwear and sox this
winter!
'I turn away from the homely
room with happy tears. 1193 6 was a
good year. Only those who knew1 the
struggle and the heartache of
other nineteen thirties before it,
possibly know how good!
The winter was hard enough
it broke in April. The spring-flood
wasn’t a flood. Men were early on
the land and the river flats did not
have to wait till mid-J.une (for the
seeder. There were timely .rains to
bring on the grain and gardens. Not
once did a summer frost lay its
b'ligh't over the low fields. Actually,
corn and tomatoes grew and flour
ished where they 'had never dared,
before. The wild fruits bore lav
ishly, the bush was full of cranber
ries, raspberries, gooseberries
currants, black and red.
Wet Weather for Haying
whiich you-r
I’d send it
grand lump
much, much
but
I could not begin to collect all
the warmth’ and good icheer and gra
titude, the .happy fruit
gifts bore. If p could
all down to you in one
and the lump would be
larger than the box you packed so
solidly. There are still some percels
left and they are going off this week
to another distant settlement. Thank
you for labelling. It saved us a lot
of work and time. And thank you too
for the gifts.
There have been some changes at
the Dixonville Mission. A mission-
1 ary came in this fall to take full
! charge of all the church work
and open up new (preaching stations
It was he who told us, off those far-
off and isolated Sunday Schools in
Southern and Central Alberta where
the scholars had never known Xmas
boxes like those the Dixonville chil
dren have enjoyed. There is a
nurse assistant in the doctor’s office
and a new house being built for he,r
on the church grounds.
and
Flor once, haying time in August
was not one long race with rain
storms. The grain and gardens
flourished amazingly and the frosty
full moon of August came and pass
ed without disaster w'hile the grain
was “in the milk,” Early Septem
ber saw the wheat cutting done and
some of the oats. The gardens over
flowing with plump vegetables. And
still the frosts held off.
■But we live here always in the
shadow Of the Anitic night, and even
in this good year we could not get
by without a bad scare. The night
of September 11 saw a cold rain
beating down out of the Northeast.
Somewhere in the small hours the
rain turned to snow and the wind
shifted to the northwest. For 36
hours a driving snowstorm broke all
records in Peace River history. When
it was over the world had a strange
look and a stranger feeling. Leaves
still on the trees and bushes. Snow
two feet deep in the sheltered bush
and piled in huge drifts over the
fields and roadways. Stooks almost
buried in the fields.
All at once We faced disaster.
From the promise of plenty to hun
grier want than ever. Were we to
lose a while year’s bounty? How we
A little prosperity and more mon--
ey in the country are mot proving * to be unmixed blessings. They seld-
1 om do breed only good and no evil.
I How the busy detail of every day
threatens to shut God out, 'busier
than ever now when folks have a
few dollars to depend on and seem
to need Him less. How even Sunday
can hardly be kept apart! How the
merry concerts and community
dances of other years have taken on
a different and crasser air! Against
the evils that are creeping swiftly in
on the heells of a few dollars, this
mission has a new and sterner fight
than ever to wage. May it be given
us to go up to the battle, clear-eyed
and courageous in a strength not our
own.
My thoughts are often with Caven
Church and Sunday School. God give
you a New Year full of things that
truly satisfy the heart and bring joy
and peace with them.
Yours sincerely,
Margaret Strang-iSavage
At least, all those skates, sleighs,
and skis that .wef& received for
Christmas are still almost as good
as new.
THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE
EDITORIAL
The Eligible Maidens report that business is good,
* *******
Suitably sanded side streets secure safety for sedate citizens.
********
Another month gone. January behaved pretty well.
********
Our wideawake merchants are all set for their mid-winter sales.
********
We have it proven over again that the wicked stand in slippery
places.
*«******
Johnny’s
rusting on the
skates,
wall.
like his grandfather’s rusty sword, hang
********
O happy is the boy who hears.
His daddy’s warning voice,
And who a shining buc'klsaw makes
His early-morning choice.
********
ANXIOUS
We saw a fat man hurrying to his office the other morning.
The sidewa'lk was very slippery and he was fifteen minutes late. As
he slid about solicitous onlookers told him to proceed cautiously.
As they told him what to do we held our breath lest he should tell
them where to go.
Our Eligible maidens are real public benefactors. Those nice,
resilient cushions with the proper appliances for secure adjustment,
were reasonably priced and just the thing. We can trust this en
terprising organization. The proceeds from the sale of these fancy
and useful articles were devoted to redecorating the Old Bachelors’
Home.
* * « ♦ „ • * * ♦
GLAD
We feel relieved that the Dominion parliamentarians look as
kance upon those meet, greet, eat, gatherings, called conferences
where highly paid folk talk about everything but what is of impor
tance and go back home again having accomplished nothing. The
good, iold fashioned way of hoeing one’s own row is the road that
leads to progress.
********
BEYOND ALL TELLING
|That flood disaster in the United States devasted an area as
long as from Toronto to Brandion and as wide as from Toronto to
Gravenhurst. By devastated we mean just what we say. Of course
the waters will assuage, but they will leave behind them many a
stagnant pool and miles of drains disrupted to no end. Only farm
ers appreciate what this means. 'Cellars will be left full of filthy
water. Foundations of farm buildings will be shaken. Houses will
be well-nigh ruined. But why enumerate? The disaster’s away be
yond all telling. But we may trust the resourcefulness and the
courage and the invention, of, to say nothing .of the humour of our
American cousins.
»*♦♦**♦»
WORTH THINKING ABOUT
When the United States government called for men for carry
ing on the Great War, a good many surprises came to the youth
and parents of the Republic. Thousands of youths, when examined
critically, were found unfit for strenuous service of any sort. To a
greater extent than we care to acknowledge, this physical unfitness
prevailed in Canada. Parents who knew the significance of this
state of affairs did some tall thinking with the result that in a
great many instances the defect has been somewhat corrected.
Youth who wish to carry on have been paying a good deal of at
tention to their great asset, their (physical condition. Investment
in health of mind and body gives returns of 100 per cent.
********
LET’S KEEP AWAKE
•Correspondents from Britain tell us that Britain gravely pre
pares for war. For a decade or so she lead the way to disarma
ment, in the hope that other nations would do the same thing. To
her surprise her course was regarded a,s evidence of decadence. As
she disarmed other major powers plotted .her ruin. Reluctantly she
acknowledged the true state of affairs and set about preparing her
self for invasion by air, land and sea. The cost of this course, she
knows, is terrible, the alternate she sees to be unthinkable. Mean
while her enemies find that the cost of so arming themselves has
brought them to the verge of financial bankruptcy. Germany and
Italy realize that they must save their financial faces somehow.
War on Britain seems to them their one way of so doing. . Grave
fears are in the way that these two countries are ready to make a
tiger spring on Britain, with all the combined forces these heavily
armed nations can muster are being concentrated for the moment
that seems most advantageous fox’ the assault. Britain is aware of
the danger of the tiger spring to be made at the first moment ad-
vangeous to hei’ enemies. But what is 'Canada doing? Is she asleep?
What has she to' offer to prevent a contingency so .critical? (Britain
would be attacked tomorrow if her enemies dared. Conditions are
what they are, why deceive ourselves?
********
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
An enormous body of men in the United States have laid down
their tools and have refused the work at the wages offered them.
Though the strike has continued for some considerable time, we
heal* of no financial hardship suffered by the strikers. Yet a year
ago there was a great call for work and wages. The men who
were not working were represented as .hard up. .Yet now, though
these men are not working there is ho story of hard luck. Where
does the money come from that supports these men and their fam
ilies? Had they a neat (sum laid by for the rainy day of the present
strike? If they possessed such a sum theii’ wages must have been
good. They had enough for the day and some to spare. Does the
money come from some “outside” source? if it does so come, wbo
is the meddler? Who is the President of the United States, anyway?
Who are those people who say who shall not work? Who. are those
peiople who dictate what wages an employer shall pay? If men are
free to sell their labour, why should not other men be free to buy
that labour? By what right are men allowed to stay on. another
man’s property refusing to labour themselves and forcibly denying
to other men the Tight to carry on the work they refuse to iget on
with? :
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 1937
TEA■■ Sb mw
GREENWAY
(Too late for last week)
Mr, C. 'Curts was in London last
week on business.
Mr. Gordon Woodburn had a ser
ious atacki of appendicitis last week.
Mr. R. Belling and Elmer Shep
herd attended the funeral of their
uncle Mr. Zeigler in Detroit on Sun
day.
Miss Taylor and Miss M. Jennis-
on, 'of Grand Bend called on Mrs. L.
Brophey and Miss Mae Wilson on
Saturday.
The newly organized degree team
of L. 0. L. No. 219, went to Edge
wood lodge last week and conducted
several initiations with L. Hutchin
son in charge.
Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Woodburn vis
ited Dr, and Mrs. Norris, of Wyom
ing last week.
Mr. Robt. Steepei’ had an opera
tion for appendicitis in London last
week and is making satisfactory pro
gress.
iSeverall from here attended the
evening service at Grand Bend on
Sunday. The Dashwood and Grand
Bend ministers and choirs had a
very pleasing exchange for the even
ing.
Mrs. W. Young spent last week
with hei’ brothei’ Mr. Wm. Horner.
Miss Lois Brown is spending a
few weeks .in London.
The weatherman whispered to
Jack Frost early Saturday evening
and together they made life exciting
for some o fthe local boys and their
cars. Anti-freeze doesn’t always
work it seems.
Election of officers for the United
Church Sunday School resulted as
follows: Sr. .Supts., S. W. Web.b, El
ton Curts; Jr. Supts., Mrs. Elton
Curts and Lois Brown; .Secretaries,
Wil'lis Steeper, Nathalie Huntchin-
| son; Treasurer, Manuel Curts; Sr.
Organists, Evelyn Curts, Olive Eng
lish; Jr. Organists, Ula Ulens, Iola
’Whiting; Choristers, Dorothy Bell
ing, W. Hicks; Auditors, Lloyd Bro
phey, Roy Whiting; Depart, iSupts.,
Missions, Miss Leask; Cradle Roll,
Mrs. Ulens, Mrs. R, Hutchinson;
Home Dept., Mrs. A. Brophey; Tem
perance, Mr. Belling; Teachers, Be
ginners, Miss Young, Mrs. M. Pol
lock; Primary A, Norma Steeper,
Mrs. Goodhand; Primary B, Mrs. L.
Brophey, Thelma Sheppard; Junior
Girls, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Whiting;
Intermediates, Boys, Manuel Curts,
Erma Goodhand; Sr. Boys, Mrs. Mc
Gregor, Lawrence Curts; Sr. Girls,
Mrs. Fred Steeper, Mrs. Russell Pol
lock; Unity Class, Mae Wilson, Mrs.
A. Webb; Adanac, Mr. Ulens, Mr.
D. Sheppard; Harmony Class; Mrs.
McIntosh, Mrs. Frank Steeper;
Adult Class, Mrs. Sherritt, iMrs. W.
Young.
A QUIET, WELL CONDUCTED,
CONVENIENT, MODERN 100
ROOM HOTEL—85 WITH BATH
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PREMIUM LIST for 1937
Exeter Horticultural Society
MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO TWO CHOICES
Choice 1—'New Korean Hybrid Chrysanthemum Plant
Apollo (salmon) or Ceres (yellow) or Mercury
(salmon red) or Diana (.pink) or Mars (deep red)
or Daphne (lilac rose.)
Choice 2|—(Hybrid Rose—Charles P. Kilham (red) or
Radiance (rose pink) or
Rev. Page Roberts (’bronze) or I
Margaret MciGfedy (carmine)
Choice 3—1 Climbing Rose—American Beauty (rose pink) or
Breeze Hill (flesh, tinted apricot.)
Choice 4—(Year’s Subscription to Canadian Horticulture and
Home Magazine.
Choice 5—12 Gladiolus Bulbs—(Halley (salmon pink)
A. W. Hunt (flame orange red)
Prince of Orange (orange)
Bengal Tiger (red, striped)
Chioiice 6—'2 Delphinium Roots
Kelway (light blue)
Choice 7—2 Dahlias (decorative)
Jane Cowl (old gold)
Jersey Beauty (deep pink)
His Majesty (bright scarlet)
Mrs. I. de Vei’ Werner (orchid lavender)
MEMBERS
May order Nursery Stock through the Society at Wholesale Prices.
MEMBERSHIP FEE $1.00
MARK TWO CHOICEiS.
.SIGN HERE
ADDRESS ...................................................................... .................
HAND IN OR MAIL BY MARCH 1st
GEORGE S. HOWARD,
President
ERNEST C. HARVEY
Secretary-Treasurer
that COLD!
r
&
You can’t afford to
fool around with a
cold. At the ilt»t
sign of a cold take
GROVE’S BROMO
QUININE and drive
If right out of your
system quickly and
effectively. 63&