HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1969-05-08, Page 22 Clinton .News,Record, Thursday, May 8, 1969
Editorial comment
Messer fans write CBC
Perhaps it should not be a concern of
this newspaper that the on Messer
television show is not to be renewed by
the CBC for next season. It may be a
mistake fqr a weekly, publication to draw
attention to the curtailrrient of a national.
program filmed hundreds of miles away in
a Province half way across the country
from us.
Yet we see in this another sign that the
familiar ties with the "good old days" in
Canada are being severed to make room
for newer, not necessarily better things,
As one letter writer from Bothwell
penned recently, "I suppose they will be
putting on trashy movies, they are so
cheap."
Although the Don Messer show was
never our personal favorite, we appreciate
that many Canadians, coast to coast,
enjoyed Messer's oldtime fiddling and the
country -style renditions offered by the
regular performers featured with him.
Many guest 'stars' billed with Messer
seemed to be the kind of everyday folk
who played, sang and danced mostly for
their own entertainment. Each show was
brim full of homey fun such as might have
been had in the parlor when dad was a
boy.
The charm of the Messer show will be
difficult to replace. It captivated its
audience because it was truly Canadian,
way down east toe -tapping fun.
If the CBC wants so badly to maintain
an ever-increasing percentage of Canadian
shows in order to meld Canadian heritage
and modern Canadian life into a
distinctive Canadian culture, Messer's
fiddle and Chamberlain's songs must be
retained.
We would hate to think that a
distinctive Canadian culture would be
allowed to evolve from the morose, often
insulting dramatic efforts we view during'
many CBC prime hours.
And we Would be just as disturbed -if
the only brand of Canadian music
permitted to flourish on CBE television
was the work of entertainers with nothing
much more to offer than the capacity to
mimic their English or American friends.
it may well be that the greatest
percentage of television viewers are
persons under the age of 25 years who
just don't 'dig' Messer melodies. Since the
largest percentage of television is geared
to appeal to this age group now, with
more to come shortly, it doesn't seem
inappropriate to suggest the CBC schedule
something — preferably something like
Messer -- as a treat for their aging
customers.
As we said before, this problem
shouldn't really be a concern of this
newspaper. Actually it is your concern,
and we heartily urge all those Messer fans
in our area to get their feelings down on
paper and mailed to the CBC as soon as
possible. It can't do any harm.
— Exeter Times -Advocate
Mothering Sunday
Today's Mother's day celebrations
reflect a custom which goes back to the
17th century.
Now almost universal in scope, this
tribute to mother started in Europe as
"Mothering Sunday" to honor mother
and the home, according to the research
department of Coutts Hallmark Cards.
On the fourth Sunday of Lent, boys
and girls were expected to travel to their
homes, if absent, and to assume all
household chores for the day.
if they were unable to make it to their
homes, they resorted to carefully written
letters, the forerunner of today's greeting
cards.
On the North American continent, the
custom really became established because
of the interest and determination of a
West Virginia spinster, Anna Jarvis, who
conceived the idea of establishing the
second Sunday in May as a memorial to
her own mother and mothers everywhere.
Her mother had died in Philadelphia in
1905, an event which had a deep impact
on the sensitive girl.
She started her campaign by
persuading the city fathers of Philadelphia
to hold a city-wide Mother's Day
observance. In 1912, at her urging, West
Virginia made Mother's Day a state-wide
holiday and Pennsylvania followed suit
the next year.
In her crusade to make this a national
event, she corresponded with editors,
businessmen, ministers, industrial leaders,
politicians, governors, mayors, clubs and
service organizations.
In the United States her efforts were
crowned with success when President
Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution
from Congress establishing Mother's Day
as a national holiday and citing mothers as
"the greatest source of the country's
strength and inspiration."
Once the custom became established in
the United States, it was adopted very
quickly in Canada and gradually spread to
all parts of the nation...
Ann Jarvis, the '-ady'who is generally
recognized as th'i—founder of Mother's
Day as we know it, died in a Philadelphia
rest home in 1948, penniless and lonely,
at the age of 84.
Almost her entire life had been
devoted to a single cause — to give honor
to mothers everywhere — and she saw her
efforts crowned with unusual success. The
theme of Mother's Day today is much as
she wanted it to be but the observance is
far beyond what she could have
anticipated — a warm, affectionate tribute
to mothers which has become a universal
event of deep significance to everyone.
Wise use of forests
It is generally conceded that our
forests are a great asset. We extol their
virtues as providers of wood, jobs, wealth,
water and wildlife. We praise their merits
as recreation areas, soil protectors, oxygen
suppliers and scenic wonderlands. Beyond
these generalities, however, the forest is
rapidly becoming a centre of controversy.
More people with more demands for more
uses are making it difficult, and at times
impossible, for the limited forest area to
satisfy the demands upon it. Even the
practice of "multiple use" in which more
than one use of forest land at a time is
encouraged( is unable to meet all the
pressures on some areas.
Wise use of forest resources has been
urged for a long time upon the,
shareholders of 89 per cent of Ontario's
forest land — the public. When few
realized the potential growth of forest -use
demands, virtually any use was deemed to
be wise use, so long as it took into account
the need to keep the forest growing trees.
In the past decade, however, the
burgeoning, mobile, fun, sun, and solitude
seeking segments of the population have
invaded the forests on an ever-increasing
scale. At the same time demands have
soared for forest products and the wealth
of payrolls and taxes they provide.
As citizens of Ontario/ we have many
rights and privileges. We have
responsibilities, too. Forest fires, litter,
wasteful cutting practices, and lack of
forest regeneration should concern us all.
So should the fact that "my use" of the
forest may not be "wise use" of it. We
must be concerned with the demands
upon the forest and of the ability of the
forest to satisfy these. Many more people
need to know much more about the kinds
of forests we have, how they got there,
the effects and importance of various uses
upon them and how they can best be
made to yield their many benefits.
To encourage us in that direction May
4 - 10 has been designated National Forest
Week. The Ontario Forestry Association
urges us to look to bur forests, to
appreciate and understand them, and to
plan and act for their wise use. As the
Association points out, it is in our best
Interests to do So.
THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS -RECORD
Established 1865 1924 Established 1881
Cftnton Mews -Record
A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association,
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau
of Circulation (ABC)
second class mail
registration number 0817
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance)
Canada; $6.00 per year; U.S.A., $7.50
ERIC` A. MCGUINNESS -- Editor
J. HOWARb AITKEN — General Manager
Published every Thursday at
the heart of Huron County
Clinton, Ontario
Popuiation 3,475
Mg HOW
OF RADAR
IN CANADA
BOAT ON A LEASH
by W. Jene Miller
The empty pew
Photo by Ron Price
- GODERICH
The stories out of history
about the days before
child -labor laws were passed are
pretty gruesome:
Children killed and maimed
in industry, lives cut short by
gruelling hours, and the massive
ignorance of whole hordes of
people given no education for
the day of industrialized
civilization were fodder for
legislative mills. Churchmen and
concerned public servants
stumped the nations of England,
America, Canada, Germany,
France, Italy, and other
"modern" societies. Presses
thundered and pulpits roared
indignation.
And, things began to happen.
Controls were enforced.
Children were freed from literal
slavery. Schools were built. Lives
were lengthened. Minds were
trained. Humane concerns found
expression in law.
Eventually, the societies
involved began to turn their
concerns to the adults who were
being ground in the gears of
industrial progress. Hours were
limited. Wages were established.
Manufacturers were protected
by governmental demands from
having to compete against cheap
labor practices by their
competitors. Unions and
management began to respect
the physical limitations of
human labor.
All of which is to bring up
another, more urgent demand in
the day of education. Just as
many blighted lives are being
produced by excessive
educational demands as were
ever ruined by industry.
Teachers, coaches and
supervisors are victims of the
e—§gW9§, on, :AO 's,, students.
But, the students, themselves,
are the most tragic victims.
School activities are established
and f or demanded by school
boards. Teachers must put on
plays, must direct outside
activities, attend meetings, and
baby-sit to such extents that
they cannot prepare, counsel
and grade in behalf of the
students' welfare. Coacnes must
concentrate on winning teams or
lose their jobs.
No one asks how much the
faculty is doing for the
slow -learner. No one gives a
coach credit for getting a
book -worm out into the exercise
field. No one cares what happens
to the over -driven child when his
days on the school athletic field
are over.
Perhaps no proof of our need
for a 40 -hour week for students
is more vivid than the fact that
suicide is the number two killer
of teens!
by Bill Smiley
Sugar and spice
It's not that I particularly
enjoy fighting for lost causes. I
lost the flag fight, and look at
the rag we got. I :snow I can't
beat non -disposable bottles,
soaring tastes, and my wife,
But somebody, some voice in
the wilderness of the twen-
tieth century must keep the
banners flying, the flame burn-
ing.
That's why I think the CBC
should not have cancelled that
hardy annual, the Don Messer
Show, regardless of those purv-
eyors to the puerility of the
public, the "ratings."
Personally, I wouldn't watch
the Don Messer Show with a
ten -foot telescope. Its mixture
of emasculated barn -dance and
ineffable bathos are not my
bag.
But I know a great many
middle-aged and older people
who look forward to it weekly
and enjoy it, thoroughly. Their
toes tap to the sprightly fid-
dling and their eyes grow wet
over the sentimental songs of
yesteryear. And what's wrong
with that?
It may be corny, but it's
Canadian, right out of the Ma-
ritimes. And however bad its
ratings are, it couldn't be
worse than some of that crud
the CBC buys from the States,
and forces on us, willy-nilly.
Most of its fans like it be-
cause it's clean and comforta-
ble. The show, to them, is like
an old friend With whom they,
tan relax, safe in the know];
edge that for half an hour,.
once a week, they won't be
subjected to the perversion,
violence and viciousness that
characterize a good deal of the
other garbage on the box.
Can you imagine Charlie
Chamberlain kicking someone
in the groin, or Don Messer
chopping somebody across the
throat with a karate blow, or
Marg Osborne wriggling
through a double-entendre
(dirty) song? Well, maybe. But
not on the show.
Every year, the CBC comes
up with a few brand new
shows. And every year, with
the inevitability of death and
taxes, they flop. Can you name
one (there may be one, but can
you name it?) that Iasts two
seasons, But ,I doubt it. This
includes the high-priced, won-
der -boy, sunday night sensa-
tional, controversial shows,
like Seven Days. They're a six -
months' flash and then every-
one goes back to the Beverly
Hillbillies or some other cul-
tral impartation.
In contrast, the Messer show
has been running for a decade.
It still stands at a healthy
22nd out of 59 series sur-
veyed on the latest Nielsen rat-
ings. That means a lot of peo-
ple watch it.
It would be interesting to
know just how the ratings are
done. The show app^.ars on a
Friday night, at 8.30. Most
people under 40 are either
getting ready to go out, have
gone, or are having people in,
at that hour on that day.
A sampling in Toronto,
where viewers can get several
stations, might show that two
and a half people were watch-
ing Don Messer. But a sam-
pling from the hundreds of
Canadian towns with only one
station available might show
that 50 percent were mesmer-
ized by Messer.
That incestuous litle empire
known as the CBC does some
very good things. And it also
does a good many fourth -rate
things.
The hockey fan gets his
hockey, and I don't begrudge it
to him. But 10-0 for Boston.
This is NHL hockey?
The avant-garde drama
hounds get their drama on Fes-
tival. Some of it is excellent;
some lousy.
The intellectual gets his talk
programs. Again, a few are
first rate; many would shame a
high-school panel discussion.
And we all get the CBC
news, a stale re -hash of news
stories from the dailies, and
wire service stories with a few
film clips of the same stale
commentators saying the same
stale things in -that same stale
fashion.
To each his own, and I
would defend with equal pas-
sion the right of each of these
categories to watch his own
thing.
Why not, then, let the folk
who watch Don Messer — and
they are legion — continue to
do so for a measly half-hour
week?
From our early files
75 years ago
The Clinton New Era
May 11,1894
Mr. Hovey of St, Thomas is
visiting his son here.
Suitt that sold for $25 las(;
year ate being advertised by
Jackson Brothers for. $18 this
year.
Mr. W. Doherty 15 about to
civet an expensive 'stable near his
residence, and has given the
contract to S.S. Cooper; it Will
be One of the best in town.
Mr. Thos Walker of Clinton is
budding the stone wall for Mr.
Henry Cudlnore's batik barn in
Tucketsmith.
55 years ago
May 7, 1914
Mr. B. J. Gibbings left last
week for Winnipeg where he
joins the C.P.ft. staff again.
Mrs. Laidlaw Of Detroit spent
Monday at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. George Roberton.
Mr. John Watt arrived back in
Clinton this Week to take care of
the bowling green. fie has spent
the winter up at Manitoulin
Island.
The complete returns of the
population of Huron County
show a net decrease of 4,355 in
the past six years. In townships
the decrease is 3,561 and in
towns And villages 794. The total
population of the entire county
is 50,596,
40 years ago
The Clinton NeWs-Record
' May 9, 1929
The foundation of the new
Stevenson -Harris knitting mill,
Albert Street, is laid and the
building begins to take shape.
Mr. Clifford Tyndall, son of
Mr. Loren Tyndall of Hullett
and a Clinton Collegiate
graduate, who passed his final
examination as a chartered
accountant in January, has just
been appointed to a position in
the income tax offices in
Toronto,
Miss Ethel Jowett of New
Dundee spent the weekend with
her parents at Bayfield.
. .............................
........>.....
OPTOMETRY
J. E. LONQSTAFF
OPTOMETRIST
Mcmdays and Wednesdays
20 ISAAC STREET
For Appointment Phone
482-7010
SEAFORTH OFFICE 527-1240
R. W. BELL
OPTOMETRIST
The Square, GODERICH
524.7661
RONALD L. McDONALD
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
39 St. David St. Goderich
524-6253
1NSURANCE
K. W. COLQUHOUN
INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE
Phones: Office 482-9747
Res. 482,7804
HAL HARTLEY
Phone 482-6693
LAWSON AND WISE
INSURANCE - REAL ESTATE.
INVESTn,ENTS
Clinton
Office: 482-9644
H. C. Lawson, Res.: 482-9787
J. T. Wise, Res.: 482-7265
ALUMINUM PRODUCTS
For Air -Master Aluminum
Doors and Windows
and
Rockwell Power Tools
JERVIS SALES
R. L. Jervis — 68 Albert St.
Clinton — 482-9390
25 years ago -
May 4, 1944,
Fit. Sgt. G. W. "Yeats and Mrs;
?eats left on Monday for
Kingston where they will reside.
Rev. E. Silver and family
left for their new home in
Southampton on Tuesday.
Mistes Helen Cameron of
Denver, Col. and Mildred
Cameron of London left on
Tuesday after having spent the
weekend with their sister, Miss
E. Cariteron l3a' fie
15 years ago
May 6, 1954
Mrs. R. H, F. Gairdner
returned to Bayfield on Tuesday
after hal. ,g spent three weeks in
River Forest and Evanston, Ill.,
visiting her sisters.
Easter visitors at the home of
Harry A. Thompson, Sprucedale
Farm, were Mt. and Mrs. T.
Peard, St. Thomas; Mr. and Mrs.
A. Thompson and family,
Dunnville Rev. J. R. Thompson
and son John, Willowdale.
Pie a turntb a e 3
:1:i•:•'••*".:,,.... - .. . . •
n'..;...
.....:..,.,..,
SERV1r
Attend Your Church
This Sunday
NOTE: All Services on Daylight
Saving Time
ONTARIO STREET UNITED CHURCH
vsv "THE FRIENDLY CHURCH"
i
I. 4- Pastor: REV. GRANT MILLS, B.A.
H INOrganist: MISS LOIS GRASBY, A.R.C.T. ,
* t* SUNDAY, MAY 11th
A9:45 a.m. —Sunday School.
11:00 a.m. — MOTHER'S DAY SERVICE.
— BAPTISM SERVICE —
EVERYONE WELCOME
r
Wesley -Willis --- Holmesville United Churches
REV, A.J. MOWATT, C.D., B.A., B,D., D.D., Minister
MR. LORNE DOTTERER, Organist and Choir Director
;ira;i
SUNDAY, MAY 11th r,rlt
Sunday School, 9:45 a.m.
11:00 a.m. — Morning Worship.
• HOLIVIESVI LLE
Worship Service — 1:00 p.m.
Sunday School — 2:00 p.m.
CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
SUNDAY, MAY 11th
10:00 a.m. --Morning Service — Engiith.
2:30 p.m. — Afternoon Service.
Every Sunday, 12:30 noon, dial 680 CH LO, St. Thomas
listen to "Back to God Hour"
�
-- EVERYONE WELCOME --
ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SUNDAY, MAY llth
The Rev. R. U. MacLean, B.A., Minister
Mrs. B. Boyes, Organist and Choir Director
9:45 a.m. — Sunday School.
10:45 a.m. — Morning Worship.
Madeleine Lane Auxiliary work meeting at the
Church, May 13, 7:00 n.m.
PENTECOSTAL CHURCH .
Victoria Street
W. 'Werner, Pastor
SUNDAY, MAY llth
• 9:45. a.m. - Sunday School.
1i:00 a.m. — Worship Service,
7:30 p.m. --- Evening Service.
MAPLE STREET GOSPEL HALL
SUNDAY, MAY 11th
9:45 a.m. — Worship Service.
1,1:00 a.m. — Sunday School.
8:00 p.m.— Evening Service.
Speaker: JOHN M. MARTIN, Hawkesville
Subject: A SERVANT'S VIEWPOINT OF JESUS.
8:00 p.m. — Tuesday Prayer Meeting; Bible Study
Subject: AN ANCIENT PREDICTION OF MODERN TIMES
Speaker: JOHN M. MARTIN,
25 years ago -
May 4, 1944,
Fit. Sgt. G. W. "Yeats and Mrs;
?eats left on Monday for
Kingston where they will reside.
Rev. E. Silver and family
left for their new home in
Southampton on Tuesday.
Mistes Helen Cameron of
Denver, Col. and Mildred
Cameron of London left on
Tuesday after having spent the
weekend with their sister, Miss
E. Cariteron l3a' fie
15 years ago
May 6, 1954
Mrs. R. H, F. Gairdner
returned to Bayfield on Tuesday
after hal. ,g spent three weeks in
River Forest and Evanston, Ill.,
visiting her sisters.
Easter visitors at the home of
Harry A. Thompson, Sprucedale
Farm, were Mt. and Mrs. T.
Peard, St. Thomas; Mr. and Mrs.
A. Thompson and family,
Dunnville Rev. J. R. Thompson
and son John, Willowdale.
Pie a turntb a e 3