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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-02-17, Page 4THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1865 1924 Established 1 881 Clinton News-Record • A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulation (AEC) second clatS registration number — 0817 :SUBSCRIPTION RACES; (in advance) 'Canada, $13,00 per year; U.S.A..t $9,.50 KEITH W. A0111-8TON — Editor 1-1011001) AITKEN — General Manager Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County' Clinton, Ontario Population 3,476 771E IIOME OF RADAR IN CANADA 4--Clinton News-Record, Thursday, February 17, 1972 Any of us who work in the communications field know that the tragedies and cancers of the human race are the stuff of our trade. The law-abiding,, responsible citizen doesn't easily, make news. Let a married couple work out an enduring relationship, raise a promising family and we ignore them. But if either husband or wife should murder the other, and batter their babies, they'll make the papers. This wouldn't matter very much if we didn't help to create the very conditions we report and—by inference at least—decry. A psychotic sniper fires at random into a street in one city and the next thing you know another psychotic uses the technique he has learned from broadcast or newspaper, and repeats the horror elsewhere. A bank is robbed in "X" and the method described in detail, so a thief in "Y" uses what he has learned to make a haul there. It is all very well to deny this—and the media magnates do—but one has only to look around. The fourth annual Clinton Winter Carnival was perhaps the best one yet. Although there were areas where improvement is still needed, the carnival was probably the best organized week-long activity held in Clinton for some time. The committee in charge should be congratulated and so should the clubs and organizations who undertook to run specific parts of the carnival. Although there was an embarrassing hole in the middle, the carnival parade was the longest in memory for a winter parade. Perhaps if a band had been marching at the beginning of the parade the first few vehicles wouldn't have been in such a hurry to get from one end to the other of the parade route. However, we hear Carnival perhaps best yet emphasis It may be true to say the root of the trouble lies in the abnormal or anti- social personality, but the communication is the trigger that sends him off. If we want a society where we can live creatively and without fear, all of us who in any way influence public opinion must find ways to make the constructive aspects of life vital and interesting. This is no plea for a pollyanna-like suppression of the unpleasant, but for a shift in emphasis. Aberrations need to be revealed for what they are and not allowed to crowd from the canvas the many valuable forces that shape the Canadian scene. Perhaps crime stories should rate no more than three paragraphs. If we don't consciously work at this we might find we're part of a society so sick it can't recover. However unpalatable the thought, civilizations not only rise, they die, The media's job, and admittedly it's a tough one, should be to thwart the undertaker... the organizers of the parade are already planning to work out the bugs for next year. The committee should be especially thanked for ordering the great weather on Saturday, quite an improvement over the last couple of years when our cameraman nearly froze in below-zero weather. Some events should have been publicized more to ensure better participation and a conflict in time from early posters to the final program caused grief for some, but these are minor problems. It is easy to see what could have been improved. It is even easier however this year to see what a great job was done and everyone should let the organizers know just how much their efforts were appreciated. Prnamir Letters,.. to the Opportunities for youth The Opportunities for Youth program is now accepting applications for projects for the coming year and hopefully some local youngsters will take, advantage of the program this 'year to provide themselves with* jobs 'and benefit the community. For a while last year, the cries from the opposition parties about the misuse of funds in the Opportunities for Youth program were loud but toward the end of the summer the complaints became fewer and fewer and when the enlarged program was announced this winter, political observers in Ottawa observed that them wasn't a murmur of , dissent from the opposition. The reason is obvious. ' Despite some misuses, the program did much last summer to help provide jobs for youth and to get things done in the country which would not ordinarily have been done. The make-work projects of both the federal and provincial governments have benefited the country not only by creating jobs but by accomplishing tasks which needed to be done. The S.W.E.E.P. program of the •province which used students to help improve the environment last year got a lot of roadside garbage cleared up. The elm tree removal program has helped eliminate some of the millions of, dead and dying trees across the province. The Opportunities for Youth program is much larger and more diverse and so it is hard to show just what has been accomplished, especially since no programs were carried on locally. But the idea behind the program itself is of benefit in that it stimulates youth to go out and create their own jobs. Hopefully, this summer we will be able to see some of the benefits of the program right here in Clinton. roast. The flea will buzz unheeded, and the roast will be scoffed with gusto. That's life. Would it were as simple for everybody as it is for the chap who ran the following advertisement in the "personal" column of the city paper recently: PROFESSOR of surgery and head of surgical research of a North American university, Widower, age 60, financially very comfortable, brilliant, good looking, in excellent health, active in sports, with broad interest in the humanities, arts and music, wishes to meet an elegant lady of Jewish faith, age 40 to 50, good looking, intelligent, and independently wealthy. Object— matrimony. The rest of the ad dealt with the mechanics. The ladies were to send photograph and all details. If they shaped up, a meeting would be arranged selectively by telephone, If they didn't, they would get their junk back. Well, I can't help but admire the man for laying it on the line, even though he is obviously an arrogant boor. He'll get so many letters he'll never have time to get married. Nor could I help composing in my mind a Similar advert extolling my own virtues for Leap Year ladies. It ran to only 12 words, As a party game, try making up your own marriage advertisement. You might be surprised at how much you have to offer to that vale of tears and laughter. Marriage is a solemn institution, If you are a solemn prig. brings home I'm rather interested in the subject of marriage these days, for various reasons. Not for myself. Oh, no. Once bitten... But I was asked to write a ceremony for a mock wedding to take place at a bridal shower recently. f used some stock gags. "Marriage is a solemn institution, and is only to be entered into if you wish to spend the rest of your life in an institution," And "Do you take this woman to be your awful wedded wife?" And the conclusion, from a "bishop" who has his services confused, "And may God have mercy upon your souls." Stuff like that. Thought that was the end of it. Then my daughter arrived home for a weekend, with her current fiance. It seems the young man had asked her to marry him. The weekend was pretty obviously a confrontation thing, where the parents and the boy friend are exposed to one another, with the potential bride sitting by, darting wildly nervous glances at both parties. Let's listen in for a moment as panicky thoughts scoot through her mind, (Oh, why did Don have to say that'? Mom'll think he's stubborn and stupid just because he didn't agree with her, Oh, ire, he made another grammar errorl Sure enough, Dad pounced on that. Oh, please Mom, don't go into that three.hour story about how you and Dad lived on $60 a Month When you were married. Oh, lordy, why is Dad asking him all those questions about how much a sculptor makes, how many sculptures he's sold, and how he's her intended going to pay back his student loans, as well as mine because by George he isn't going to support us? Oh, dear, I wish I'd never mentioned it.) Actually, it wasn't like that at all, In fact, I took the whole thing very lightly, as who wouldn't whose daughter has been engaged three times within a year. The only thing that floored me was that Kim said this fellow wanted to ask my permission to marry her. This seemed so old-worldly in this day and age that I immediately became suspicious, as, (1_1h-huh. Wants my permission, eh? Let's see. Permission means approval. Approval means it's going to cost Me a lot of money, ohe way or another. And so on,) However, as I said, I took it all rather off-handedly until I went downstairs Sunday morning, and found my Wife and daughter arguing about the wedding: how many guests, who they were to be, what she'd wear, where the reception Would be, and all that jazz. "What wedding?" I roared into the maelstrom. At least it stopped them long enough so that they could re-grOup forces and attack Ine. I discovered that I was an old fuel, a fusspot, an obstacle in the Course of true love, a cynic, a Materialist, and a few other thing's such as a miser, a hypocrite ("You and Mom didn't have a nickel When you got married"), and a misanthrope. cheerfully agreed to all charges, which took the steam mit of their attack. Sent the kids off with a flea in their eat, and half our Sunday Coming, going Nothing is as stimulating as the study of human behaviour and perhaps no locale offers such rewards for the study as' a huh of transportation, Give me a seat in a bus depot or a railway station or an airline terminal and that's my lollipop. Better even than bird-watching. There was a young wife who cried yesterday at the airport, Oh, say, it was a satisfying sight! I was sitting in a corner of the sandwich shop, stretching a pot of coffee between planes and observing like mad, and I watched this particular farewell. The metallic, dispassionate voice over the public address system announced the immediate departure for Toronto. The young couple embraced, clutching rather pathetically at each other, and the lady cried. The Lady Cried! What a great title for a love song! It was entrancing, There should be more farewells like this. All around them other couples were parting awkwardly, shackled in reserve, that well-known Canadian reticence. and this tremulous twosome made a shining sight. The man turned and walked down the ramp and out into the rain, across the apron to the big, silver-winged cigar. He walked with pride. Nothing sets a man up quite so much as a woman's tears, The young wife stood there, very straight, very nice legs, dabbing at her eyes, until the great plane snarled into the air. A splendid sight! Most of us are ill-equipped for 75 YEARS AGO FEB. 19, 1897 connection one can talk to New York. Our townspeople may now rest assured that our bellringer has the exact time; for each day at five minutes to twelve he may be seen at Cooper's Book Store awaiting the tick of the telegraph instrument which announces the exact time in the Dominion Observatory in Toronto. Formerly the time of the regulators was nearly always different, but now that the C,P.R. have made such a splendid arrangement that Messrs, Crews, Rumball and Grigg's time are all correct and the regulators are closely watched each day. 55 YEARS AGO FEB. 15, 1917 Will Hall is expected home this week and plans to leave for England, where he has joined the aviation corps. Will Hall is expected*home this week and plans to leave for England, where he has joined the aviation corps. Last week Gilbert Moir, Goderich Township, made his renewal to the paper, stating that it was 41 years since he first started to take the paper, The toll of the war grows as word of new victims reach home each day, Word was received of yet another Clinton boy being wounded, The injuries of Pt, Norman Miller, son of Mr, and Mrs, James A. Miller, were reported last week. 40 YEARS AGO 1-1U1i$DAY, PE'S, 10, 102 Mr. Clark, of William Clark and Son, bridge contractors, these emotional experiences. This is demonstrated by the curious pattetn of the greeting or reunion. I will try to describe this and then to analyze it. The passengers who expect to be met at the airport emerge from the aircraft door with a look of expectation. Then, sighting the friend or relative, their faces break into an electric, radiant expression of gratitude. If you pan your vision swiftly across to the crowd of waiting people you will see the expression met and acknowledged. I say —swiftly" because it is a fleeting, transient contact. Both parties instantly lower their eyes. The man or woman who has arrived concentrates gravely on getting down the steps. The greeting party may busy himself with lighting a cigarette-. As the gap between them closes they contrive somehow to avoid each other's gaze until the last possible moment. Why is this? I think possibly it may be that people feel that it is an invasion of privacy to gaze too openly at another's bared emotions—the reason, perhaps, that people at funerals elevate their eyes from the mourners. It is purely Anglo-Saxon, of course. At LeBourget or the airport in Rome you will see the Gallic or Latin contrast. The tears flow like rivers. Men and women hurl themselves with glad cries upon each other. A departure is an excuse for flaring passions. It is all much more satisfactory for both participant and observer, Owen Sound, was in town this week looking over the new bridge over the river. The hockey game between Clinton and Exeter ended in a tie game of 1-1 after 30 minutes overtime play. Bert Gliddon, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Gliddon of town, with the Clinton contingent to work on the Northern Development Scheme, happened with an accident last 'week in which he suffered a broken jaw. 25 YEARS AGO THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 1947 Ontario's worst mid-winter storm in many years resulted hi a tie up of communications throughout the province on an unprecedented scale from Friday until yesterday. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent at the home of Mr. and Mrs, Bert Gliddon, Tuesday, when they entertained in honour of the former's mother, Mrs. S, Gliddon, who on that day Watching alone is an interesting way to pass an hour or two. It is even better to play the role of eavesdropper. And here the remarkable thing is the inconsequentials which bind people together. Here, for example, is a man who, I gather, has just returned from a two-months' business tour in Europe. We have watched him disembark. We have seen him kiss his good, stout wife and his two little boys and now they are all sitting a bench away waiting for the baggage to be unloaded. What deathless words of love and devotion pass here? Well, the wife has just told 'We had to get the new clutch for the car, after all, dear." One of the little boys has said, twice, "I've been in bed every night at 8,30". , If you guessed that the man might yearn for more memorable words you would naturally be altogether wrong. This is precisely what he wants. This is home. He looks happy. The news of the burned-out clutch has plunged him right back into domesticity where he's longed to be. Once more he belongs. I watched several such reunions and, through the terminal building windows, saw these small family groups walking to the cars in the parking lot and here, too, there was 'a familiar vignette. In each case the man made a little show of getting in behind the wheel, a sort of subtle, the-master-is-home gesture, full of meaning, pleasurable to behold, celebrated her 82nd birthday. A Lion's Club was organized in Hayfield on Feb, 4. George Castle is president. 15 YEARS AGO THURS. FEB, 14, 195'7 St. Valentines Day is also birthday time for at least three Clinton citizens...William Plumsteel, Arthur Groves and Thomas Leppington, all mark that _day for their own...Are there any others? Mrs, Jphn E. Robinson, R,R. 1, Zurich, has been named Head of the English Department at Clinton Collegiate Institute, Mrs, Robinson, who is the former Margaret Colquhoun, Huron Street, is now in charge of the work of three other teachers besides her own. This is the first time that the staff of the Clinton Collegiate has had a Head teacher in any department, The plan is being adopted on a trial basis until the end of Jane. • Letter to the Editor The Editor: When the winners of' the prize floats were announced at the Winter Carnival on Saturday, no one was more surprised than the Kindergarten children themselves. They were not aware of the fact that there was a prize to be won, When they heard about older children in the school going for racing try-outs, they asked why there wasn't something for little people to do. I simply told them if they wanted to become involved in a project for the carnival and were willing to do the work, I would help them. This is the way the big snowman was started. Once we had the idea, we set to work with chicken wire, newspaper and paste, As soon as the first children arrived at school, they started the mucky business of paste and paper, and we all worked at him every day fOr one week: When he began to look something like a snowman, we decided he should be on a float and entered in the parade. But what else did we need to go with him? It was then we decided that our float would have to be big, simple and in keeping with the carnival theme. Forty, five-year-old children and one adult could have done the float by themselves, but they had no trouble getting assistance from outsiders. Everyone contacted instantly agreed to help us, when they heard what we were undertaking. First, we contacted Bill Holland and asked for the use of his red farm wagon. Once we had a wagon, we needed a tractor to pull it. A phone call, to Lobb Farm Equipment solved this problem and they sent the biggest one they had on the lot, When we were assured of transportation, we asked Mr. Craig from C.H.S.S. for short pieces of wood for our pennants, and our plans were complete, Don Kay sent up some real house paint and then our snowman was complete, ready for his lampshade hat and scarf, loaned by the pupils. We were proud of that snowman, because we made him. One oldster from Grade two kept referring to him as "your lumpy old snowman", but to us he was perfect. This was an out-of-school learning experience that the children will never forget, and any work involved on the part of the teacher was amply repaid by the expressions of happiness and sheer delight on the faces of the children when they were actually On their way in the parade, Although the children are small in stature, they are big in their thanks to all of the people formerly mentioned and to any others who helped us in any way. Our sincere thanks to all. Yours truly, D. Williams and Pupils. Editor The Editor; I trust that you will allow me a little space in your eagerly awaited weekly ' Clinton newspaper, to express the concern of three persons from Hanover, who visited your town recently 'to participate in part of the Winter Carnival festivities. The three of us have had the pleasure of visiting Clinton and participating in some of your activities on various occasions, and to say the least, they were all very delightful. That is, up until last Wednesday night, In an "Oldtimers" hockey game, the three of us played for Clinton against Fanshawe College (plus) and were soundly trounced 114. Now Bert Glidden as manager, did a tremendous job but our coach, namely Doug Andrews, really had a bad game. A year ago, Mr. Andrews was fantastic as we (Clinton side) won 12-5. But this year, because of loosely taped hockey sticks and the inability of our coach to get a "second" wind and a second pair of skating legs for us, we were soundly beaten! We would like to suggest that Mr. Andrews try and line up a game with the Alma College Girls team next year. Let Mr. Glidden coach and have Mr. Andrews as the shy trainer! Seriously though, very little credit ever goes out to public personnel. At this time we want to express our sincere "thank-you" to the Town of Clinton for allowing us to participate, and especially thank Mr. Doug Andrews and staff for a job very well done. The Town of Clinton should feel very pleased to have such capable personnel working for them. They are worth their weight in gold to you, so hang onto them, Again, Mr. Editor, thank you for allowing us this space in your newspaper. Signed "The Happy Trio" The Editor, On Jan. 31, 19'72, the Huron- Perth Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association closed the books of the 1971 Christmas Seal Campaign. Thirty-four thousand, four hundred and twenty-six dollars and forty seven cents was the amount recorded as received 'Which else included' Mertiorial Gifts and Bequests. Our Association is very grateful for the support of the Community in all areas; response to Christmas Seal letter, press, radio and the many volunteers involved in both program and campaign, The primary aim of the Christmas Seal Organization is to prevent disease and its second objective is the early detection of disease with the introduction of the patient into an adequate health care program. In recent years it has been shown that chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the second most common cause of disability with respect to socio- economic loss. We are carrying out screening programmes in many localities throughout the two-county area and urge your readers to take advantage of the service when we are in your locality. Screening programmes have both educational and practical value for the community as well as for the person involved. Community screening for chronic respiratory disease has shown an incidence of six to 10 per cent of the population 18 years of age or older. If the screening is carried out with men over the age of 40 who have smoked 20 cigarettes a day or more for 20 years or longer then the incidence jumps to about 25 per cent. We are remiss if we do not mention the splendid service given our campaign by all the postmasters and staff, Their co- operation is essential to the success of our campaign and this was forthcoming with cheerfulness and humour. Mrs. Beryl Davidson, Program Co-Ordinator, Huron-Perth TBRD Association, 121 Wellington St., Stratford, Ontario. Dear People: On Sunday, February 13, in the Clinton Arena, the Midgets played in front of a large crowd, The only thing wrong with the large crowd was that almost all of them were from Seaforth, There was only a few from Clinton and most of them were parents of the Midgets. The boys are getting into good hockey now for W.O.A.A., they just put Seaforth out on Sunday by default, They go up to Durham on Wednesday. The only teams left are the Juniors and the Midgets, with a good crowd behind them they're bound to play good hockey. So all I ask is please may we have Some good fan support. Thank you, Concerned. Shift in Kim required