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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1945-01-18, Page 7CHAPTER 2 LE.S PT i S * CAR N EY /AND THR TJM«S»ADVt>CAIfi. EXETER ONTARIO EHURSDAY MORNlftU JANUARY 18. 1945 9?> I was about to Mr. Green when tears issued from ibje service, ‘'Mon needed give myself UP to a call for volun- the Navy’s dirig- to force my verge of an- “ILester Dowd, Assistant than air, as a the was the he lighter than feather and lighter grim ring of the not there. it seemed all the in Next to of elves morning the last someone was bound to ask. was in lighter than air,” I dreamily, years of Aviation you aboard, Dowd.” hand. \ sir.” My voice was I *felt as though I for lighter than air,” the poster read, I told Jumbo Russel about .opportunity, "What are you going into?” puzjzeled. "Lighter than air,” I said. He began to laugh, softly at first and then in uncontrollable fits. "Lighter than air," he gasped. "Oh, lighter than air!” He rolled his voice over the phrase. "Wait until Jimmy hears you’ve joined, lighter than air,” On the way to the seventh flooi’ of the old Post Office Building, the words repeated themselves over and over in my mind, "Lighter air, bright than air.” Certainly Tank Corps the Marines and dewy meadows in sun. .’■"What did you do war?” "I Should have to reply. I winced. But beggars cannot be choosers. I met the requirements and passed the exam. Afterward I watched an officer write on my jacket, "V-5, lighter than air.” "Isn’t that V-5 the Naval Avia­ tion designation?” I asked. "Same exam exactly,” he smiled. "Want to switch?” "Why, sure,” I said "but I haven’t had two college math,” Naval takes only the cream of the cream. "That doesn’t matter to us,” and he took an eraser and rubbed out "lighter than air.” "Now you’re, a naval air cadet. We’ll call you in about two months. Glad to have He offered his "Thank you, a little weak, had just come out of ether. "Glad to be aboard, sir,” I said, prepar­ ing to leave. From the very begin­ ning my preference was for Naval Avaition, a sentiment that cannot logically be explained. The Anacostia Naval Base is de­ lightfully situated between the Po­ tomac Rivei* and a mental hospital (the Capitol is to the west), and in my day we graduated some men both to right and left. It is an area that seethes with discontent. No­ body in the hospital was quite sat­ isfied, and it is perfectly true that one night two members shook their bounds and tried to join the V-5 by scaling the fence. Latei’ one of our inmates snapped under the strain of an aviator’s routine, and he traded over to the hospital. Each institution had one membex* jump into the river. And then, as if to prove that Nature is not the dull uncomplaining thing you might think, the Potomac overflowed. This bickering back and forth went on most of the summer as everyone tried to find his propel' niche. The entrance gate had the same come-hither appeal as the jaws of Death. I passed- through early in the morning and was soon aware that the management was living up to its reputation. * "YouTl be sorry,” chanted guard. A handful of fellow birdmen ed into a station wagon and were off to see our skipper. The at­ mosphere in the back-seat had that strained intimacy of a crowded elevator, Finally,, a burly boy broke the Ice by grunting, "Joe Foster, V.M.I. halfback. Champtons in ’39.” "Oh, yeali?” murmured the test in friendly, recognition. Carpenter, Viriginia Wes- guard. All-State last two volunteered another. sure. Oh, yeah,” chorused the pil- we "Tim leyan, years,” “Oh, the others as they moved slowly into the warm, sunny light of fa­ miliarity. I decided they either all belonged to some national under­ ground society, or that a radio pro­ gram had welded them into a hitherto inarticulate bondage, for now .they were all chattering in tho code. Time was just about hand and I was on the nouncing myself, Mill Creek Hunt Club, M*F,H. with one bad fall at Rolling Rock,” when the machine-stopped i in front Of a bleak administration building. We were led into a room and addressed by the officer in charge of cadets, a salty tai’ with ten years’ service on the. good ship Procter and Gamble and two months at Quonset. "Glad to haye you men aboard,” lie started in a cold, clammy, in­ stitutional tone. Before I could wipe the brine put of my eye, he went on transforming things into a nautical world of decks, ladders., topsides, and bulkheads. "Men, we’re in the Navy now,” he announced, as if the audience were blindfolded and being led through the palace. "We’re in a war, We're going to forget all that bunkaroo we learned in college”— he grinned to show how easy the process had been for him. Tilting his head back and placing both hands in his side pockets, he looked far over everybody’s head at some­ thing that inferentially lay well beyond normal vision and in mys­ tical cadences said: "Men, it’s a grand old flag.” Tim Carpenter^ Virginia Wesley­ an, All-State the last two years, Shifted nervously. "Jeez,” he muttered. "Remember, men, we’re all in this thing together,” the Comman­ der finished, and swept into his office. "Jeez,” Carpentex* again mutter­ ed. I suppose this was the same sort •of welcome the incoming class of Aged and Retired Railroad Engin­ eers received. I wished to God I yas back on old 97. A seaman supected of having un­ usual qualities of leadership was attached to our group and given a chance to prove himself. He com-. manded us to silence, lined us up and marched us off to sick bay, trotting along beside like a Seeing Eye dog. He regarded the new men in the fine traditional way and kept up a fire of chattex’ as we went. "Cream of da nation’s yout,” huh!—it cointainly soured— Goin’, to ‘ be da Navy's air ahm—so da Navy’s got .a fractured ahm.” This rich flow of Americana ceased only when we reached the infix’mary. . "'O.K., Doc, pickle ’em”—he turned us over fox- inoculations and the routine physical check-up. The head of the medical department supervised these operations from behind a well-thumbed copy of "Superman.” The skilled surgery itself was delegated to subordinates who managed the dart work well enough, but it was plain there was no 'Cushing in the lot. “Ready,” I heard the attendant say to the candidate in front of me. He gave the bulging vein a sport­ ing chance before lunging on the target. When, he took the offensive again, it was my turn. He rearmed and came at me. "Couldn't you slip up quietly from the side?” I suggested. These repeated frontal attacks were wear­ ing me down. On my way to the eye, ear, nose, and throat booth, I was intercepted by a kindly-looking, portly medico who asked if I was Dowd. "Yes, sir.” "What’s this about a niece?” He pointed to my record. During the early days of induc­ tion I had filled in a blank that searched into the activities of the summer vacations. In order to im­ press the selection board with the fact that I didn’t fritter my days away in a sailboat like some people I knew, I volunteered the fateful information that the holidays af­ forded me' a chance to teacli basket weaving at Hull House and tutor an imaginary "backward niece” in. Spanish. "Any insanity in the family, son?” he asked gently. "No, sir,” I explained. "She Wasn’t exactly queer, you see. She just grew too fast for her age— awfully big through the hips—and her mind hadn’t caught up to her waist," I put it delicately for both parties. ■a backward The Cough That Sticks The Cough That Hangs On This is the kind of n coughit is hard to get rid of, the kind that bothers you during the day and keeps you awake at night. 4 Why hot. get tt bottle of Dr.; Wood's Norway Plnb Syrup anti SCe hoW quickly it will help to relieve you Or this coughing condition? "it’s nothing' to be ashamed son”—he pressed my arm under- standingly—-"only if there’s a nut in the family we gotta know.” "She wasn't a nut! She passed •the exam!” I cried, hoping hex' achievement would take the strain off each of us, The doctor went into a hudjlo With one of the others, convinced it was a borderline .case at best. I was cursing myself for not hav­ ing followed the best policy and checked back 'to see if there wasn't an odd one or two among the rela­ tions, when he approached, unseen, from the rear. "Say ‘thirty-two’, he snapped- My togue felt like a bathtowel, but I did the best J could with a tough assignment. "All right,” he saitL begrudingly, still not convinced that; the stock was of good stuff. I moved off re* lieved, but certain that I had been marked down for close observation and well aware that any waving of handkerchiefs of dancing in the hallways would make things pretty hard on Lester Dowd. For three hours the examiners went up and down my body as -if it were the Atlantic City board­ walk. I made a hid for recognition in the dentist’t chair. For some biochemical reason I had never had a cavity, and this scientific four- leaf clover sent the department into a tizzy. Each intern had to climb in and see for himself. "This doesn’t happen every day,” one of them told me when he re­ appeared. "Some chief of contained “You must have gotten a lot of calcium at home.” "Mother calls me Chalky,” I told him. mouth!” observed the staff, a little more self- than the youngex* man. "gives time” away as if it radium, and’ when you get a ■chunk you are to make the of it. I hauled out the in­ dealing with the bed- Stated in icy precise terms manifesto declared, * * After being pronounced fit and expendable, we were .given time to make up the bunks and prepare for inspection. The Navy, it devel­ oped, were little most structions ■ding. the manifesto declared, ".Sheets will be drawn taut, tucked in, and folded back six inches from head ■7’ Meester Lestair, you weel . ’ ?” a little through the cosmos, surface it would seem normal mentality could tuck, and measure off from head of bunk. But McGillivray Council •McGillivray Council met in the Town Hall, January Sth, pursuant to statutes and the following mem­ bers subscribed to, their declaration of qualifications; Freeman Hodgins reeve; David Morley, deputy-reeve; A. D. Steeper, W. John Thompson and Harvey Ovens, Councillors. The minutes of the December meet­ ing were read and signed. Her Steeper and Morley; that By-law No, 1 of 1945 appointing municipal officers as follows: Oliver Amos, Clerk; W. S, Patterson, Treasurer; Alex C. Smith, Auditor; John W, Morgan, Assessor; John J, Boland, Morgan,Albert Clarence Rogers, Viewers: Fenton, Truant Officer; Weed Inspector; < Janitor; Fence Trevethick, ' Fred Hughes, S. M. Emery and Bullock; Board of Health, Emery, Hiram Thompson, and Clerk and Dr. R. J. Hamilton, M. H.O.; Sheep Valuators: W. E. Lee, Wm, Northgrave, George Lee, N. Wasnidgp, W, J. Dixon and Fred Steeper. After the third reading, the By-law was passed. Per Thomp­ son and accounts supplies World, 8.00; Relief fox* January 10.00. Per Steeper and Morley: that the Coun­ cil employ Earl Neil as assistant .grader operatoi’ at 45c per hour. Carried. The Council then adjourn­ ed to meet on Saturday, February 3, at one o’clock in the Town Hall. —Oliver Amos, Clerk. Scott Rd, John S. M. Reeve Ovens: that the following be paid; S. A. Steeper, fox* hall $2.00'; Municipal subscriptions an/1 paper Hibbert Council of bunk.' "Yah, keep your rum neat, yah? voice On that draw six inches unmentioned and unnoticed lay an adder in the bedclothes, the deadly Navy Corner. This maneuver re­ quired that you unsnarl the corner, make a series of Gray Lady passes, at the linen, and finish with neat, trim results. The himself enmeshed springs or \with looked like a ball was not according later in the day cried the any taut, The first meeting of the Hibbert Township Council was held on Mon­ day Jan. 8th pursuant to statute with all members present who sub­ scribed to the necessary Declara­ tion of Offices and assumed their responsibilites. By-law No, 1 con­ firming the appointment of Mun­ icipal Offices and fixing their sal­ aries was given its third and final reading and passed. The following officials were appointed, Thos. b Wren, Clerk; Roy Burchill, Treas­ urer and Tax Collector; Geo. Coyne Assessor; Thos. Molyneaux, Truant Officer; Andrew McLachlan and Ernest Templeman, Live Stock Val­ uators; Mr. Wm. G. McGeorge, of Chatham Drainage Engineer, Jas. Scott Sr., Sanitary Inspector; Mr. James Morley, Township Solicitor'; Monteith and Monteith Auditors and Dr. Stapleton Medical Officer of Health. Mr. Frank Allen and Mr. Lloyd Colquhoun were instructed to receive tenders , fox' ten cords of hard wood fourteen inches long. Tenders to be received on or before Jan 22nd. 1945. The following ac­ counts were paid: Beacon Herald, $2.88; Treasurer of Logan Waugh- Robinson Drain $$55.00; Wilfred Woods, Treasurer Fullarton, Hib­ bert and Logan Agriculture Society $5’0'.0i0. Thos. D. Wren, Clerk. CENTRA! A A FRYER GETS novice found eithei’ in the something that of yarn. If all to Edith Cavell, the inspecting officer walked by, noticed the trav­ esty, screamed like a jungle crea­ ture, and for some savage reason tore the entire thing up. At first, I thought I was simply the victim of hallowed custom and accepted the Ixazing with a broad grin to my fellows. But day after day my bunk looked as if demons had held a cotillion in it, while the others went unscathed. I went down to the officer to .get to the bottom of things. Eithei’ it, was tra­ dition or it was sabotage. He looked through impressive- looking files and said seriously, "Dowd, the Navy Corned seems to have you buffaloed.” "Yes, sir.” "Buffaloed” wasn’t the word. , "What's the matter, Dowd?” He wanted to understand the inner man. "Anything worrying you?” "No, sir/’ "Some get it with no all,” he mused. "Others time.” Before falling to the the rest of the morons, I "Sir, if Someone would the Navy Corner instead of dis­ mantling the bunk daily, perhaps this chamber mystery would clear Up.” "Not at all, not at, all’’—he dis­ missed the suggestion airily1. "You stlijk to it, Dowd. You’ll get it, boy. School of Hard Knocks, that's what It is, School of Hard Knocks/’ I'd. had enough of that dull over­ rated learned bunkie, embarrassedly that he nurse in Clarksburg. (to bo continued) - curriculum, the easy way Red Run, who It acts promptly and effectively,ugoing to the foundation of the trouble, loosening the ’phlegm, soothing tho irritated air passages, and stimulating the bronchial organs. “TAr. Wood's0 has been on the market/for the past 48 yeara, I’rice 35c a bottle; the Jai-ge family size, about 3 times as much, GOb, at all drug counters. ' The T. Milburn Co.« TannteiL Toronto. Ont, GOOD DISCUSSION at STAFF A FORUM EFFICIENCY MEDAL Fit. Sgt. D. G. Sturgess, of No. 9 Service Flying Training School, Centralia, has been presented with the Canadian Efficiency Medal for 2 0 years’ service in the Canadian armed forces. Fit. Sgt. Sturgess joined the R. C.A.F. in January, 1940, and re­ ceived his training in St Thomas at the T.T.S. He was then posted to Rockcliffe and later Dartmouth, N.S. He proceded overseas in June, 1042, and returned to Canada in August, 1944. He has been at No. 9 S. F.T.S., since that time. A formei* resident of Montreal, Fit. Sgt. Stur­ gess also served overseas in the war. ’ ■ met 'Mon­ ths home Dow. De­ last E. R. SHADDICK CHAIRMAN HENSALL LIBRARY BOARD We Have Lumber school. The group was in favor of rural high “schols^, with a curriculum especially designed to fit young­ people for rural life. Opinion was divided oitj the question as to whether these should -be establish­ ed in the rural areas fox* rural youth only, or in the largex* towns with optional courses for those wishing to study rural problems. The discussion was followed by a short recreational period under the leadership of Mr. -and Mrs. Arthur Kemp, A traveling library has been procured from the De­ partment of Education and was on hand for the first time. The next meeting will be at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Worden, with Mr. Wilbur Millei* in charge of rec­ reation. The Staffa farm forum day evening, Jan. 8th, at ■of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford spite snow-blocked roads and cold weather the attendance was good, 26 being present. Most of the mem­ bers made the journey in a sleign load, accommodation being provide ed by iLorne Hodge. Because of the slower method of tranfeporation the gathering did not convene until well after the regular CBL broad­ cast, so the one from Windsor was resorted to. After listening to the discussion the company broke up into three smaller groups for discussion of the questions, report of each group was later sented to the forum as a whole discussed. The topic was Young People fox- Rural Living, the first in "Education for Rural Living. It was felt that the "little red schoolhouse” had done a good job in the past, but that, because of rural depopulation and smaller families, the day has come when the local school must give way to some form of consolidated school/ It was agreed that a central school in a larger area could give better service in the way of bettei’ trained and better paid staff, better equip­ ped plant, and so on, but that there are also disadvantages to such a system—the difficulty of transport­ ing children in winter, and the long periods spent away from home while attending such schools, being among these. It was pointed but that within recent years, the curri- culum for both public and high schools in the province lias been revamped, with the made to have the more self-reliant in, knowledge. It was the addition of some more practic­ al courses to the curriculum, such as wood working, elementary me­ chanics as applied to farm inery, domestic science, etc., be greatly beneficial to rural Some felt, though, that courses cannot be effectively in the present day one-room . under the educational system now In vogue, travelling be givori the The pre- and "Fitting the general series, j i also good NOW ON HAND ANY SIZE IRON POSTS AND BARB WIRE Place your order for shingles right, away—we can supply them.’ A. J. CLATWORTHY We Deliver Phone 12 Grantor You don’t need a little bird to tell you that a Classified Ad bringa direct results! Died in Mitehell attempt being child become his search for suggested that trouble at take more by specially trained teachers. These can best in the larger cetipralizod rear with requested, show me and finally from my explained knew a First Father; "W’-g - •” son ait undertaker? I thought you I said he W0.8 a doctor?0 .Second Father: "No, I Said he followed the medical profession/’ dur- At the first meeting of the 1945 Hensail Public Library Board, Reeve E. R. Shaddick was appoint­ ed chairman for 19 45. The librarian, Mrs. R. J. Camer­ on, and secretary-treasurer, James A. Paterson, were re-appointed. Mrs. W. 0. Goodwin, Mrs, E, Norm­ inton and Rev, R. A. Brook were appointed book purchasing com­ mittee. The librarian’s report for December showed 400 circulation and for the year approximately 5,000 books. The treasurer reported a cash balance at January 1 of $1’44.36 with $240 spent in new books ing the year. MRS. FRED M. SMITH DIES IN LUCAN The death occurred- on January 10, at the home of her sister, Miss Ida Porte, Lucan, of Mrs. E. Emma Smith of Toronto. She was a daugh­ ter of the late Wm, Porte, the first postmaster of Lucan where she wa3 bofn on January 12, 1862. Most of her married life was spent id Tor­ onto. Her husband died in 1929. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Helen Wakinl; two sisters, Mrs. John Windson and Miss Ida Porte, all of Lucan. The funeral took place Fri­ day with interment in St. James Gemetery. Rev. L. Harrison officia­ ting. Mrs. Annie R. Rehill Mountedr, Widow Of Rev. H. V. Mounted:?, died Jan. 9 th. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Rehill, of Janotville, Ont, Her husband ser­ ved as minister in the former Meth* Odist Church iu the Bay of QUihte Conference, and he predeceased her in 1915. She had resided in Mitch­ ell for the past II years, coming here with her son, the late & V, Mduftteer, former editor of The Mitchell Advocate, She is survived by one son, Douglas,Mounteer, pub­ lisher of the Hagorsvillo Press. much* would youth, these taught school