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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1943-11-04, Page 7ura THE EXETER TIMES-ADVOCATE, THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 4th, 1943 THERE IS TODA &tf JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE “Well, I have someone in mind.” appeared to clip off each word uttered aud to let it drop into phone like „a metal bead, “No, hasn’t a car—at least so far as Call me back morning and handset across husband, and the who She she the she I know. But clerical training. Makes a nice impression. Yes. at this time tomorrow I’ll let you know,” She replaced the glanced speculatively breakfast table at her Was watching the coffee percolator, Toni boasted that she planned her day while breakfasting and certain­ ly the table represented a fusion of interests with nutrition coming out a pooi* second. The telephone, sev­ eral leather - bound engagement books, two calendars and a number of memorandum pads with attached pencils fenced in Toni’s place. Bert Fitts, a grizzled, placid gen­ tleman of perhaps fifty-five or sixty who had no figure to lose, deftly spread thick apricot preserve on a fresh slice of toast and genially in­ quired. “Well, what's cooking?” “This is a terrific week for me,” his wife informed him. Her husband pointed to the per­ colator. “Throw out that cold slop and have a hot cup.” “No more. That reminds me I must call up Bess about the nutri­ tion classes. And I’m down for two speeches on ’Preparedness” this week and I’ve pledged a day to the British workrooms.” The placid man pouring coffee did not raise his voice as he said casually. “Women like you have co­ lossal nerve to advocate this coun­ try’s entrance into the war.” “Well, I’d like to know what you mean by that! Women are citizens, aren't they? We have a right to an opinion, haven’t we? Look at the time and money and effort we give to alleviate the suffering caused by this war. I’d like to know why we shouldn’t advocate anything we happen to believe in!” She lifted the handset as the telephone rang and a high-pitchd voice began to chatter rapidly over the wire. “I don’t precisely advocate our entrance into the war,” she said now, pushing the phone back, think we ought to every way and if she needs men, why then—” Her husband was “It’s the women who have to hold a nation’s ideals,”’ Toni cited. “You admit that, don’t you?” “I don’t know what you’re up­ holding and I doubt whether you do,” he told her, replacing the cov­ er on the jam jar. “Women whose mon will be in service—like that girl on the top floor—have some right to argue, perhaps, though I’m not at all sure. After all, it’s the men of military age yho should do the talking—they’ll be staking their lives, Amelia.” His wife frowned. She had been christened Amelia. She began to gather up her books and pencils. “I must get upstairs to call on that Mrs. Thane. She may be glad to •do a little work for us—Mrs. Wa­ ters told me she holds some kind of clerical position.” Footsteps counded in the kitchen, the door clicked, “Morning, Miz Fitts,” Belle, the cleaning woman, ■called cheerfully. Toni Fitts encountered old Mrs. Peppercorn in the hall that eve­ ning as she prepared to mount the stairs to the third floor. Stair climbing afforded an excellent op­ portunity to slim the calves aud thighs, the beauty parlor instructor had informed her, so that when Mrs. Peppercorn had reached the second lauding on her way to the street, the old lady was a little alarmed to see a tall, thin woman balancing herself oh one leg with her other knee pressed against her chest. “Oh—good evening?’ resumed her normal on my way up to neighbors. I don’t whether the Mrs. Peppercorn?’’ old lady shook hei’ head. She good deal of very white under her brown die, Jeered gt the efficient Toni, “Well, I hope Mrs. Thane is home —I tried to phone, but they have no telephone.” Topi had been hon­ estly startled by her discovery ear­ lier that evening. “I do wish you’d come down to the workrooms, Mrs. Peppercorn, and see what wonder­ ful things are being turned out, You couldn't resist sewing for us, I'm sure.” The old lady absently stroked the dog’s curly head, “I'm not resist­ ing, my dear.” “Well—” Toni tentatively raised a rather bony knee. “I must run along. I left my husband tending the phone and it:s never long be­ fore a message follows me, no mat­ ter where I go. Good night, Mrs. Peppercorn—Doggie's feeling fine, I see.” She climbed the stairs correctly and arrived, very soldierly and erect, at the door of 3-A. She smiled and extended her hand cor­ dially as Andrew Thane opened the door. “Mr. Thane, of course. I’m Mrs. Bertram Fitts—youi' neighbor in 2-B. I’d love to come in a few minutes and see your wife, if she is at home.” She was at home, the dark young man was assuring her, holding the door hospitably wide. A step, the square hall, then another the large, pleasant living room a tiny figure turned from the and crossed the rug to greet guest. “My wife, Mrs. Fitts.” Thane spoke as if he were ing the Fairy Queen. “You sew?” Toni Fitts curiously about the room. She had a book that showed how to cut, and make slip covers, Can­ dace said. “I haven’t a machine and that handicaps me to some ex­ tent. I get the covers cut out ana! basted, then I fit them and make alterations if necessary and then I take them to a friend’s house where there is a machine. The basting is tricky, but I’m learning it.” Tony listened half-absently. wasn’t the kind of room that pealed to her ,she decided, but tastes were modernistic. “We love the apartment,” Can­ dace Thane said, smilling above the flowered cretonne that filled her lap. Candace said earnestly, “I’m making slip covers for the faded upholstery—we had it cleaned. We painted the bookshelves and Andy is going to do a lot more as he has - time. He’s really a genius with paint brushes.’’ The rug, she pointed out, was a : Brussels carpet square, sprinkled thickly with tiny wreaths of pink i and blue roses. “It was Andy’s grandmother’s carpet. We found it 1 in his attic. of those . heads, to sit < fireplace.” “Yes. I’ve . straightened. very pleasant • tions and in a . as well tell you, Mrs. Thane, that I’m hoping to enlist you in a cause that’s taking my time and atten- ; tion to tue exclusion of everything else. I refer to the struggle being waged for democracy.” Toni Fitts took a gulp from her glass, set it down with such involuntary empha- : sis that it threatened to crack the ■ crystal coast f*r. “We need clerical help at the workroom boxes fou “We need ! also. Just 1 your time, 1 a tremendous life. ■ parading? < I’m to lead the women ■ who are grouping for national de­ In time we’ll have uniforms thirty know into into and fire her “I help Britain in our / silent. up- re- we cap have together?' The older woman shrugged thin shoulders, “You took an awful chance, getting married before your husband was called. There’s ‘been a lot of criticism of men who mar­ ried after the Act was passed and then claimed exemption,1 claiming c looked “I’m not Andrew Thane the fire, Toni sighed, an hour, And 4? exemption,” soberly at I’ve wasted a little later.” Candace a dollar will be of any wool fund, I’ll be glad that. You have a dol- veined hands Young present- glanced “Well, I dashed up here without my knitting, so I’ve accom­ plished just nothing. I don’t sup­ pose you’d agree to knit, Mrs. Thane? We supply wool at cost to those who are able to pay for it.” “Perhaps smiled. “If help to the to give you lar, haven’t you, Andy His curiously old, brought out his new, saddle-stitched wallet and his stubby, blunt-tipped fingers extracted a-clean dollar bill. “You ought to get your wife one of our pins, Mr. Thane.” Toni took the dollar with a brief “Thanks.” The pins sold for as little as two dollars and a half, she continued, and were the sort of thing that in time became heirlooms. Someone wished to speak to Mrs. Andrew Thane on the outside phone, Sarah Daffodil announced on thie house phone a few evenings later. “I offered to take the message, but it’s very personal.” Sarah said cheerfully, when Candace Thane came down. “There on my desk— I’ll be in the kitchen, if you need me.” The telephone ed less than five ses-colored lights dace’s wide, deep her head in at the kitchen door. “Thank dil. It woman “My . has a nerves.” Toni Fitts stance. see your suppose Thanes ... ?>> DO THIS FOR Ws J Interne; “You’re so marvelous, so wonderful, so beautiful —” Nurse: “So what?*’ SEAFORTH MANAGER her you be in the picture (To Be Continued) say—hard photographers to take the dinner table and He the and his wife says golf, she’ll of court costs, went from Toron- October 2 last at the company to he on of with notice of dis- First Doctor: “My that if I don’t give up leave me.” Second Doctor: “I luck!” First Doctor: “Yes, I’ll miss her CHRISTMAS CHEER TO missing; IKE hundreds of other little girls and boys, when she says ’’Goodnight, Daddy”, she says it to a photograph. These little ones have never known the thrill of a real, live, hold-you-close-in-his-arms daddy; Their daddies are over there fighting so that you can live in comfort and safety. When you think of these kiddies, ask yourself if you are investing all you can to Speed the Victory which will bring home the daddies they ard These children want and need the love and affection, the comfort and pleasure that only daddies can give. It is in your power to help make their dredms come true. Make the Victory Bonds you buy a magic wand that will help bring these ’’cardboard daddies” back to eager young arms. business and coming home at night to each other, means everything. There will be plenty of time for me to do war work. Until Andy goes, we plan to keep our free time for each other," She had not intended to stay so long, Candace apologized, or to say so much. Andy would have finished his homework and they had planneu to take in the second run at the movies. “I hope you won’t think we’re a couple of softies who like to feel sorry for ourselves.” Miss Velda was young and blonde and soothing. She said that every­ one was nervous these days and that Mrs. Fitts ought to take a lit­ tle run down to Atlantic City, As she talked she shook out snowy towels, draped them about the gaunt, tense woman in the leather­ padder chair. “Why don’t you take a short vacation over Easter?” the girl urged, deftly backing the chair and its occupant up to the basin. “First thing you know, you’ll be having a breakdown.” She couldn’t go away for Easter, Toni m'urmured, closing her eyep as the 'warm water began to cas­ cade over her hair. Perhaps she had undertaken too mucn, but sne had promised to have four British seamen for dinner that Sunday. “The committee asked us to open our homes and make the men feel as if we were their own families. I’m asking my niece and three of her friends so the sailors will have some companionship. It meant a lot of work, Toni added, because the newspapers had taken a great interest in the plan and they were sending up pictures of the guests. “My, will too?” Miss Velda’s firm long fingers vigorously massaged her client's scalp. GUILTY IN ASSAULT CASE William R, Beldon, 75-year-old managing director of Seaforth Salt Industries Ltd., was convicted of assaulting W. Earl Elliott, secretary­ treasurer of the company, during an altercation immediately following the service by Elliott upon Beldon notice of his dismissal and in which a rock and an axe produced in court figured. Beldon pleaded extreme provoca­ tion and after listening to his dra­ matic story from the witness stand Magistrate Makins expressed sym­ pathy and extended suspended sen­ tence on payment Elliott said to to Seaforth the direction serve Beldon missal, The aged gentleman, he said, went into a rage, threw a rocv ut him, striking him on the shoulder blade, the wound necessitating medi­ cal treatment. Later he said Beldon came at him swinging an axe. Elliott said he beat a retreat, Three em­ ployees corroborated this evidence in part. Beldon said he had sold his in­ terests in the salt concern to a To­ ronto joint stock company for 10,000 shares of common stock, par value one dollar, with the understanding that he was to hold the position of managing director. He had just brought the plant into production when notice of disimissal came, charged that the interests of shareholders were being abused their money dissipated despite constant protestations. He admitted he had lost his head when notified of the director's action in dismissing him. However, Beldon has secured an action in the civil court preventing, temporarily at least, the directors from interfering with his manage­ ment. Other phases of the com­ pany’s activities also are before the civil courts. OUR BOYS OVERSEAS Heeding the stern ultimatum, mothers, wives, sisters and sweet­ hearts of our hoys in service over­ seas have spent a busy month endeavouring to pack Just a Httlfe bit of home into the Yuletide boxes. We want our boys to have the best Christmas that is possible under present circumstances. One hoy at the front said he longed for just a pure drink of water—the kind that he used to get back home. The sim­ ple homes that many of our boys will come back to after this war will seem like a paradise to them after all their experiences abroad. It won't be the same world that they left. To sleep in the old home bed will be a luxury to them. All values will take on new color and will be newly appraised. The home cooked meal will seem like an eternal thanksgiving. So let us send a little of the home to them now and cheer their hearts while we may. It will long be remembered by them. They are fighting our battles and all we can do will not be done in vain. A large plate glass window and part of the wall of Mitchell’s gro­ cery store, in Goderich, were crash­ ed in when an automobile driven by Mrs, George Stevenson, Bayfield, failed to make the turn. The driver and her husband escaped with a shaking up but a passenger, William Tom, Bayfield, required medical at­ tention before proceeding home. Mrs. Stevenson told police the accelerator was stuck. Chief Ross investigated. conversation last- minutes. Molas- gleamed in Can­ waves as she put It ap- her you so much, Mrs. Daffo- wasn’t so very personal—a I’d never met.” grandmother’s sewing chair soothing effect on the ' Sarah seated herself on the lovely carved sofa and waited. Candace’s steady fingers lighted both cigarettes. “I’m not upset, only annoyed. That call was from the British workrooms. They ex­ pected me down there this evening, to straighten out their files. A Mrs. Graham phoned and she insisted I am pledged to work two evenings a week.” “So?” “The simple truth is that I’ve re­ fused asked Myrtle night Wife (reading from an insurance pamphlet): “A large percentage of accidents occur in the kitchen.” Husband: “Yes, and what’s worse, we men have to eat them and pre­ tend we enjoy them.’’ I wish we had china dogs with on either side a pair curly of the Toniseen them.” “Such things are all under normal condi- normal world. I may where we’re packing Britain,” she went on. donations, but helpers two evenings a week of Mrs. Thane, will .give us And how about “I’m new you are Fitts, but no Sarah, so different I know. It’s know home, The had a . massed Though both hat and the black coat ■she wore were perfectly neat, the one was too large and the other too long to be mistaken for the season’s models. “They’re nice, quiet folks,” Mrs, Peppercorn vol­ unteered. “It's hard to tell when they’re in or when they’re out?” Under her arm a bundle of silky White stirred and the , bright, mis­ chievous eyes of “Doggie,” her poo- hair hat, fense. but we don’t want to spend dollars on a uniform, until we wliat our duties will be.” Quiet people baffled Toni Who believed it everyone’s duty to keep conversation flowing as freely as salt. “Surely you can come to us for one evening a week, Mrs. Thane?” Toni suggested. She was sorry, Candace Thane said clearly, “We need our eve­ nings, Andy and. I. Neither of us makes an engagement that ties us up in advance, My husband stud­ ies three nights a week, here at home, need to del*?’ There ionod about the setup. Toni decid­ ed, Aloud she said, “We’re all making sacrifices. It might help you to do more for others, If you budgeted our time, Now, for in­ stance, If you had a telephone—-” They Candace ant face the vvay well, wo place a high value on the hours The rest of the time we get our rooms in good or* was something old-fash- couldn’t afford a phone, demurred, turning a radi- toward her husband. “And we feel abeut onr time— everything is so uncertain, from the first. Mrs. Fitts me, then someone named Ryder wrote me and to- tliis director-in-charge calls. No one understands. Andy says it isn’t necessary that they do. Do yott think it is necessary, Mrs. Daf­ fodil?” Sarah put hei’ roughened hand over the smooth little palm up­ turned on the girl’s lap. “Do I think explanations necessary? Not unless you need to convince your­ selves.” “You have always understood, haven’t you.” The quiet, clear voice did not quicken or falter, 'yet heartache and unshed tears lay for a moment unconcealed behind the tranquil brown eyes. “There so many like us,” Candace “We are young now, is young very long.” That’s it, thought wondered what it is about them and now their terrible awareness—no other generation but took outh for grant­ ed. We assumed it lasted forever. They don’t. A fragment of verse published in the world war she remembered, still haunted her, re­ turned to her mind now: “They give their youth, God bless them, as lightly as a rose.” But this gen­ eration of children, Sarah reflected heavily, has learned somehow what no youngster should know—how briefly we are young. Aloud she murmured, “You're just beginning to live, my dear.” “We looked at it from all an­ gles,” Candace Thane Said, we decided that no matter might happen we’d have : weeks or months or perhaps Of normal, happy marriage, waited until after the war* “We’re not at war?’ The girl said with a grave cer­ tainty that chilled the Oldei* woman “We shall be. if we waited, be the same, home disabled; come heme at all. aud there’d be all the memories of our Ioriliiiess and unhappy separa­ tion. Now already wo have had something that nothing can take away; we’ve been happy while we’re young.” “Andy and I don’t go about son- timentally sighing that life is beau­ tiful—-but we don’t take it for grant­ ed, either. Every day we have to­ gether is wonderful, just going to “And What a few a year If we • But we figured that nothing could ever Andy might come or he might not We’d be older Page T Coughing WHEN A COLD stuffs up the nose, causes mouth breathing, throat tickle arid night coughing, use this time-tested Vicks treatment that goes to work instantly ... 2 ways at once! At bedtime rub good old Vicks VapoRub on throat, chest and back. Then watch its PENETRATING­ STIMULATING action bring relief from distress. It PENETRATES to upper breath­ ing passages with soothing medicinal vapors. It STIMULATES chest and back surfaces like a warming, comforting poultice. ,. and it keeps on working for hours, even while you sleep —to ease coughing spasms, relieve muscu­ lar soreness and tightness—and bring grand comfort! Try it to­ -night .., Vicks VapoRub, Do You Suffer From Headaches? It is hard to struggle along with a head that aches and pains all the time. 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