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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-09-16, Page 4History in pictures In the year before the closing or Canadian Forces Base Clinton, Mrs.clith.,Baker, secretary to many of the base commanders at the Clinton base over the years, compiled a comprehensive history of the 30 year of the existence of .the base. Included are many photos of the early development of the base s , We reprint some of them here in a continuing series. Personnel arrive at Clinton railway station in 1941 bringing the Royal Air Force staff for the new base. Standing on the ground is the first commanding officer of the base, Wing Commander Adrian Cocks. Seen at the station (below) are (left to right) "Poke" Pocock, RAF Admin., Dale Brennan, U.S. Army Liason and Al Diehl, Y.M.C.A. Search through Zen Among the many appealing aspects of the Zen philosophy, an abiding interest that stayed with me after a trip to the Far East, is the concept of the personal search for truth through poetic expression. Buddhism in every form, in fact, invites the non-literary person to distill his meditation into writing. In Japan, particularly, the results are both profound and charming. The visitor finds men and women, in all walks of life, who record their reflections in curious, fragmentary free verse, much as westerners record their pursuit of happiness in the form of the Kodak snapshot. I wasn't surprised to read the other day that there's a tea house in Osaka called The Scribbling Tea Room where the proprietor invites his patrons to inscribe their poems, thoughts or ideas on his papered walls. Since the Japanese delight in crystallizing impressions or conclusions in writing, particularly their response to the mystery and beauty of nature, the tea room has become a kind of clearing house for the Zen concept of searching inside oneself. This seems a strange and even comical idea to the objective westerner whose ear for poetry is tuned mainly to the singing commercial. Yet it's easy to agree with Dr. D. T. Suzuki, the Zen scholar, that we could learn much from it, that even a slight injection of Oriental inwardness in our own philosophical approach to life might be just what the doctor ordered. I suppose the Japanese verse is mangled in the translation, but the examples given by Dr. Suzuki and those to be found in Fosco Maraini's "Meeting With Japan", a book you should rush right out and buy, are mighty attractive. The brightest moon of the year! Round and round the pond, All night long! Thus, an example by Dr. Suzuki of one man's moment of marvelling. Or, an example from Maraini: A day when Fuji is unseen Veiled in misty winter shower-- That day, too, is a joy. What sort of poetry is this, the westerner may ask, conditioned to the cadenzas of shaving cream jingles. What profit is there in it for a man who broods through a summer's day and emerges from his garden with two brief lines: Behold! A camelia flower Spilt water when it fell! Or: A spring night; Sounding the flute, A man passed by. The profit, of course, can only be to the person who wrote it, who recorded a private and mystic moment of awareness or perception, a reference point along the way to 'his own understanding. The Zen philosophers hold that enlightenment is not reached by intellect, but by the subjective process of intuition. Nature, in the form of the garden, is important in it as a means of sublimating the ego in surroundings that appeal only to the senses. The result of this is that the poetic response becomes a reminder, a tiny book mark in the vast volumes of an individual's inner explorations. The curious thing is not that the Japanese have this means of expression, but that we in the Occidental world have nothing that approximates it, that the western non-literary man hardly ever consigns the fruits of his meditation, if any, to paper. There were never so many professional writers and so few who write for themselves alone. The journal and diary of yore, a repository of personal discoveries and awakenings, went out with the Eugenie hat. Even letters, once a means of communicating and sharing philosophical doubts and convictions, now consist almost entirely of stenographic reports of activities. Thus, in matters of the spirit, we seem to have a sort of inscrutability, a sense of embarrassment at any confession that we're concerned with anything more mystical ' or magical than next month's mortgage payment. The cluster of a thousand gourds that grow out of one mind, as some anonymous Japanese poet has put it, is not for us. And we're the poorer for it. Things to do if one year to live ANNIMIIIII IIIM....M1111111111111MIMMEMPAINIMMIMellk THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1865 1924 Established 1881 Clinton News-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 KEITH W. ROULSTON — Editor J. 'HOWARD AITKEN — General Manager Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County Clinton, Ontario Population 3,475 THE HOME OF RADAR IN CANADA As the result of a committee formed at the last meeting of the Huron County Board of Education it would appear that a serious look will be taken into the question of High School Students enrolled at Central Huron Secondary School smoking and eating in the outdoor areas close to the school's campus. The problem, which has been a genuine one for some time, involves not only the .s.udents, board and administration at the Kcal school r but also those property twners in the vicinity of the campus. ;A litical litter problem has grown out of a t lack of facilities at the Secondary School through students, careleisly enough, tossing lunch wrappings and cigarette butts on the lawns and sidewalks near the school. Few would condone the actions of these students, such thoughless litteringis indeed a crime, but how many of us toss off a cigarette butt on the street every day and never think twice of it. It is a common practice and one that has only grown to a serious proportion/ in this case through the congestion of students in a limited area. No doubt one of the major arguments The western world is showing an increasing disregard for the romantic and religious aspects of marriage. Even in Quebec, a civil marriage, sans church ceremony, has become acceptable. In Russia, they've learned from experience to value the glamorous and traditional aspects of marriage which in the early days of the USSR was little more than engagement in a personal contract. Rus:.,:a's Bridal Palaces — once the palatial homes of Russian nobility — represent that country's rather successful substitute for the once traditional church wedding. A decree of .1944 made obligatory that marriages, to be valid, had to be registered. This measure was deliberately taken to stabilize and strengthen the moral foundations of Soviet marriage and the family. In Moscow, a city of three and a half Million people, three such Bridal Palaces celebrate .from 30-40 marriages each day. Russian brides are much like excited brides anywhere in the world. They are extremely lovely with their white veils, that could be raised against taking the action, now being considered by the board, is simply that perhaps the students should not be smoking in the first place. This however is a matter for the parents to control and if the practice is condoned by those parents, and the individual in question is over 16 years of age, the school has little say in the matter. At present the . board, in conjunction with the school administration is examining the possibility of setting up a smoking and picnic area on the school property to improve the schools image in the eyes of its neighbours/through more effectivly controlling this litter problem. To this we can only say well done. However it is indicated through the board's discussion that the area now being discussed might well be established outdoors. Some rather strong argument may be forthcoming from the students once the weather turns cooler. As for the smoking area, if a student wishes to smoke bad enough he will brave the snow and go outside to partake of his cigarette but what of those who carry their lunches to school. Let it be hoped there is room enough for them indoors or the problem will have been poorlysolved. glamorous wedding gowns, hovering bridesmaids — and of course, the nervous grooms. Probably such bridal couples aren't thinking too much of the social significance of the ceremony they're participating in. But Russian authorities are contributing everything possible to make it a memorable occasion in a magnificent setting. The marriage is performed by an timpressive woman dignitary. She addresses the couple, emphasizing to them the seriousness of the step they are taking, and its importance to the State, in that their union involves the possible future responsibilities of family life. The bride and groom exchange rings and formally sign the marriage register. Presently, the bridal pair accept their marriage certificate and adjourn to a nearby equally impressive salon, where their guests extend congratulations and toast them in wine. Obviously the USSR is fully aware of the importance of providing marriage with• romantic and emotional associations. 'Letters to the Editor Dear Sir; Could you please get me the answer to a question concerning our dump? Yesterday in mid afternoon a fire started in the ga.'aage, At once the Clinton fire brigade was called to put it out and spent considerable time pouring water on it at our expense, Now the question is, how come the fire brigade is not called when the Levis Company burns their junk not more than five feet from our dump several times a month' all summer. It often burns three or four days at a time. Now the question is, home come the fire brigade is not call when the Lavis Company burns their junk not more than five feet from our dump several times a month all summer, It often burns three or four days at a time. Will it be O.K. for me or some of my neighbours to call the fire brigade and let Lavis pay them or is Lavis Construction untouchable? Just Wondering Dear Editor: I am not certain whether candidates in Provincial elections are permitted the privilege of voicing opinions in the community forum of Letters to the Editor, but a few recent events pertaining to this election have prompted some serious reflection. At a time when there are many crucial problems in Ontario: problems in taxation, Problems in local government, problems in social-welfare, problems in agriculture, etc.; it is particularly puzzling to watch certain statements emerge from spokesmen for the two major political parties in Ontario. In our immediate area, I would refer you to the statements by R. E. McKinley made in Goderich which were intended to generate fear, of the NDP, in particular a fear of the party leader Stephen Lewis. In Huron-Bruce, I note with some amazement that Ross Whicher was able to combine the words Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Lewis into one sentence. If these two examples are any indication of what lies ahead, it should be an exciting ball game! May I make two predictions? First, this election will ring with overtones even worse than the last Provincial election in British Columbia. And second, the irrational scare tactics will attempt to cloud the real issues. This is 1971; I sincerely believe that the citizens of Huron are as informed and as intelligent as any in Ontario. Reason is certain to prevail. Respectfully, Paul Carroll, NDP Huron, Marriage important 4 Clinton News-Record, Thursday, September 16, 1971 Editorial comment A smoking area? Don't worry. Not me. I hope to live for at least two, or even three years more. But I sometimes wonder what I would do if I were told that I had exactly one year to live, And I'd like you to think about what you would do. This is not a new theme, but it's always an interesting one when it comes up in fiction or philosophy or just a plain gab-fest. Let's suppose. Suppose you have been to the doctor and have learned that you have a fatal illness (make up your own) 'and will die in approximately one year. You won't be sick or in pain until the last hour and you'll go out quickly. How would you spend that year? What you would do would certainly reveal very clearly what sort of person you really are behind that facade that most of us wear daily. There would be the initial shock, of course. Humans have some weird idea that they are immortal, until they finally are stricken by some deadly illness, But after the shock wore off? Then we'd see a separation of the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats. Some people would become constant whiners. "Why does God have to do this to me? I've contributed to charity." And so on, Some of these would -4,..znne so bitter they would turn atlAinst God, their friends t; ;opt- os, A pretty sour way Some would be so depressed they would crack up mentally and become vegetables. Others would ado pt a fatalistic epicureanism (if there's such a thing). Their attitude would be, "If I'm gonna go, I'm gonna enjoy it." They would escape into alcohol, drugs, sex; not necessarily in that order, Some people would become instant Christians or whatever. They would be filled with a terrible fear of the after-life, and would spend their 12 months on their knees, in church, and desperately doing "good works" in an effort to make up for all the bad works they had done in the rest of their lives. Now, not one of us, gentle reader, would fall into any of those classifications. Question is, where would we fall? First decision I would make would be not to waste one second of that year. If every second in the year were used fully, the one year could be more rewarding than all the previous ones put together. Next, I would make a superb effort to love my neighbour as myself, This is a tough one, In the first place, it's extremely difficult to love oneself, Most of us seem to, but many of us secretly despise ourselves. In the second place, some of us have appalling neighbours (we don't). But I'd have a good whack At it, not as a "hedge" to make sure of getting through those pearly gates, but because I believe in it. Good old love. My first action would be to divest myself of all material possessions, except a toothbrush and a few clothes. Would even get rid of my razor. The proceeds? I wouldn't give them to the poor. The hell with them. They can go on welfare, and it would be only a drop in the bucket anyway. And I wouldn't leave them to my family, either. They could go to work for a change, I'd quit my job, take the whole $500 of my ,estate in one-dollar bills, and burn them, one at a time, to the screams of anguish from on-lookers. That would be cutting the umbilical cord of the system and I'd be free for the first time in many years, Then don the knapsack, pick up the begging bowl (a wooden salad bowl) and take off. I'd see every inch of Canada I could see. And I would savour every sight, sound, taste, touch and smell (even whiskey-breath and onions) I could come in contact with in this most wonderful of worlds. Might die in a ditch, but what's the difference? How about you? Put down carefully sand briefly what you think you would do with a year to live, Send it to your local editor. I'd like to reprint some of your ideas, Hey, I might even get a divorce, .remarry, and make some other woman't life miserable for a year, Just an afterthought. 10 YEARS AGO The Clinton News—Record Thursday, Sept. 14, 1961. Douglas Wells, while holidaying near Pike Bay, Bruce Peninsula with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William W. Wells, Rattenbury Street, found a message bottle in the bay thrown from an American boat touring the Great Lakes. Douglas wrote to the address in the bottle and struck up a correspondence acquaintance with a couple from Del Ray Beach, Florida. Council agreed with the resolution circulated from Peel County suggesting that a national sweepstakes be set up, with proceeds for hospital building throughout the country.* (There was no discussion, One councillor noted that they had discussed it in full in committee. The press is barred from committee meetings.) 15 YEARS AGO The Clinton News—Record Thursday, Sept. 13,1956. In all innocence a false alarm was set off last week and brought firemen racing from all over town and householders to the street to see where the fire was, Apparently a gentleman just wandered into the town hall and tried to make a phone call. He read the instructions posted over the fire hall telephone and did as they said. Result was unexpected for him, but certainly tested out the alarm system quite satisfactorily. The theatre party at Brownie's Drive-In last night was well attended. Those who attended were treated to a showing of "Gunga Din"„ and gall proceeds from the event will be turned over to the Clinton Community Swimming Pool Fund. 25 YEARS AGO The Clinton News—Record Thursday, Sept. 19, 1946. With cold weather coming, a good many people are laying in a fuel supply to keep their homes warm and comfortable for the winter months ahead. According to the experts, a harsh winter is expected. How time flies! It was just one year ago, Tuesday, September 17, that the present management took over the operation of the Clinton News—Record from Mr. G. E. Hall, We wish to thank most heartily all our friends who have co-operated so loyally in that period; it is our fond wish that "The Home Paper With The News" will serve this community for many years to come. 40 YEARS AGO The Clinton News—Record Thursday, Sept. 17, 1931. Fair time is here; with London, GOderich and Exeter Fairs this week it was hard to decide which Fair to attend. A sudden thunderstorm saved the Village of Grand Bend from destruction on Sunday night when it brought under control a fierce fire, which, cutting a swath a mile wide, had swept within two miles of the summer resort, About 2,000 acres of marshland, located south of the village and east of the Blue Water Highway, were burned Over. At the end of June the pupils of Clinton Public School had a total of $1,169.65 in the penny bank compared with $1,001.80 last year. Fifty-one percent of the children are depositors. 55 YEARS AGO The Clinton New Era Thursday, Sept. 14, 1916. Last week the postal letter boxes around the town were brightened up by the painter's brush. Next Saturday evening at 7 o'clock the bar-rooms and liquor stores of Ontario will close. The first dry day under the new Temperance Act will be Monday of next week. Owing to Thursday being Clinton's day at London Fair, and our staff wanting to take the day in, we got to press Wednesday evening and many items of interest, both local and district, have been held over until next week, Mr. James Steep presented the New Era editor with a basket of potatoes on Saturday. These potatoes were grown from Alberta seed potatoes that Mr. Steep has been experimenting with. He has the editor's best thanks. 75 YEARS AGO The Huron News—Record Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1896. The new grandolithic walk in front of the town hall has given excellent satisfaction up to the present time. If it comes through the Vail and Winter alright, the test will be satisfactory. The Collegiate opening on Friday afternoon and evening should be well patronized by our citizens. The games will take place on the grounds in the afternoon and the evening entertainment in the town hall. In the orchard of Samuel Furze, Goderich Township, may be found Winter apple trees with blossoms, buds and full-grown fruit, Almost ripe apples and blossoms are found on the same bough. Op in ions In order that News—Record readers might express their opinions on any topic of public interest, Letters To The Editor are always welcome for publication. But the writers of such letters, as well as all readers, are reminded that the opinions expressed in letters published are not necessarily the opinions held by The News—Record. What's new at Huronview? Several tables of cards and other games were played on Wednesday afternoon. If you would care to join your relatives and friends of Huronview in a game of euchre, five hundred bridge, cribbage, crokinole and othe; games on Wednesday aternoons, you would be most welcome, 'Elmer Farrish of Gorrie assisted by his daughter Mrs. Leader showed slides and gare a commentary of his to Africk at the Family Night program on Thursday in the auditorium, Jack Boyd of Gorrie played several numbers on his violin accompanied by Mrs, Boyd on the piano. Francis Inglis of Huronview expressed thanks on behalf of the residents. A bus load of residents attende;the Threshers' reunion in Blyth on Saturday afternoon,