Clinton News-Record, 1973-06-14, Page 4• 4—CLINTON NEWS-RECORD, THURSDAY, JUNE t4, 197;3
Editorial comment
111111111111b,
11111111111.
let s get Centennial moving
"Poor chap, wiped out overnight—freezer defrosted."
we get
letters
THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD
Established 1865 1924 Established 1881
Clinton News-Record
A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Assotiation,
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau
of Circulation (ABC)
Published every Thursday et
the heart of Huron County'
'SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance)
'Canaria, $8.00 per year; U.S.A., $9.50
Population 3,475
THE HOME
OF RADAR
IN CANADA
JAMES E, ITZGERALD—Editor
J. HOWARD AITKEN — General Manager 4 -
second class mail
registration number — 0817 • Clinton, Ontario
eyebrow.
When the war came
along, he was of an age at
which there was no need for
him to join up, no question
of being drafted. He joined
the air force and spent four
years of unheroic, uncom-
plaining service• about two
thousand miles from his
family. He could have stayed
home and made money as
most of his contemporaries
did.
He never said much, at
times of family crises, though
he was dragged into our large
family. But he was always
there, always steady, always
the peacemaker.
He hated rows, and scab-
picking, and soul-searching,
and when people got into that
stuff, he'd change the subject
or quietly leave.
Like my own father, he
very rarely got angry, but
when he did, attention was
paid.
He believed in the old
adage, as did my mother,
that, "If you can't say any-
thing good about a person,
don't say anything.'
,
And I
never heard anyone say a bad
word about him.
He's a good Christian, a
good Catholic, but a down-
to-earth one, not one of those
pious bores.
He was no world-beater,
and he didn't want to be. He
was no intellectual, but he
had a wit as Irish as his good
looks,
He was always a kind,
and, at the risk of seeming
maudlin, I would say a sweet
man.
I hope he reads this and
knows how much his young
brother-in-law thought of
him when he was an impres-
sionable kid, and ever since.
And 1 hope the day is not
too far off when he's out of
that hospital bed and we can
crack a jug together,
adult. When he was twice
age, he talked as though we
were equals.
He knew I was pretty cal-
low when I was sixteen, but
he never let on. We were two
men of the world together,
and I've appreciated it ever
since.
He'd take me fishing
when I was a kid. There was
no nonsense about him being
in charge. We were just a
couple of fishermen.
One fishing jaunt I still
remember with particular
pleasure. We were out in the
middle of the lake when a
summer storm caught us.
No, or few, motors in those
days. You rowed. We were
as wet as though we'd
jumped overboard.
We got to shore, with the
rain still pounding down, We
found a cottage unoccupied
and managed to get in. We
put up the stovepipes, got a
fire going and foraged. There
was a half can of tea leaves.
So there we sat by a roaring
fire, drinking hot tea and feel-
ing like Ulysses just home
from the Trojan war,
It was not a miserable
experience or a disaster. It
was a joke, an adventure. Art
sat there, smoking his pipe
and regaling me with earthy
stories, and I sat there,
happy as a clam, feeling a
real man, able to cope with
anything.
He'd take me off to the
cottage, when he was court-
ing my sister, and I was about
fifteen. What a nuisance I
must have been, but you'd
never know it, from him.
When I was courting, I
dragged home the critter who
is now my old battleaxe, and
her kid sister, who had tailed
along, He drove the three of
us to the same cottage, and
he and my big sister accepted
us and fed us without a ques-
tion or a hint or a raised
Although the Clinton Centennial
Celebration in 1975 seems a long way
off, now is the time to get down to work,
plan and begin the projects.
We already have a Centennial Com-
mittee set up, but despite all their hard
work, the people in the town of Clinton
just don't seem interested.
With the exception of the Kinsmen
who are sponsoring a childrens band
and the Clinton Tqwn Council who are
sponsoring a Centennial Pace Series,
there seems to be little interest in our
100 birthday, •
Besides the necessity of planning the
celebrations early to line up celebrities
and advertising, many of the projects
need a great deal of time to be com-
pleted.
Among projects to be considered is a
new swimming pool for the town.
Although the pool can be temporarily
fixed this year to allow swimming, spen-
ding $50,000 to renovate the pool seems
.senseless when it might have to be done
again in a few more years.
Why not, as a Centennial project,
build an olympic sized pool that wouldn't
cost too much more than the $50,000
,required to fix up the old pool.
Although the Centennial Committee is
No dividing line
Today many churches encourage
member interest in areas of social con-
cern as well as in spiritual matters. But
some individuals still draw a sharp
dividing line between the two. Some
believe the work of the church and that
of groups working for social justice are
separate and apart.
Recently, a social action group
working for legislative changes to raise
living standards for the elderly, ap-
proached a congregational senior
citizens' group, with a request to send a
speaker to publicize their program. They
were told that Club rules prohibited
"anything controversial". Another
organization seeking support of a
church women's 'group for a plan to-bet-
ter economic conditions for consumers,
was told "this wouldn't be a church mat-.
ter".
Surely this isolationist policy towards
activist groups which use peaceful,
democratic methOds to achieve social
goals, calls for some soul-searching?
A tribute to Art
I have three brothers-in-law.
One is a railroader, one is a
lawyer, and the third is pretty
ill right now.
I've always felt lucky
about them. Each of the
three is a fine fellow, and
we've got along with never
an unpleasant word or
experience between us.
That's more than lots of
brothers-in-law can say. Left
alone, they'd probably be
fine, but when the women
involved start getting their
knives into each other, often
a coldness develops among
the poor devils of husbands.
My railroader brother-
in-law went to high school
with me, and we played foot-
ball together on a couple of
the best teams that ever came
out of Perth Collegiate
Institute and Lanark County.
My lawyer brother-in-law
worked with me on a chain
gang one summer, when we
were students, and it was the
best dodge-work chain gang
that ever worked for the
Kodak company. We left no
stone unturned in our con-
stant vigilance to appear to
be working when the fore-
man came around.
Both these chaps are
around my own age, a bit tat-
tered around the edges from
raising families and paying
off mortgages, but otherwise
in good shape.
My third brother-in-law is
a bit longer in the tooth, and
I always looked on him as
somewhere between a sec-
ond father and second big
brother,
Not that he acted either
pmt, Ile treated me exactly
as most boys would like their
fathers to treat them'. And he
never, ever acted the bul-
lying, know-d-all role of the
big brother. He treated me
as a human being.
He never implied that I
was a kid and he was art
Just give in
As a man who hates to give
up a position, tenable or un-
tenable, I hate to admit that I
long ago gave reluctant
recognition to Father's Day.
How do you say in your
language? If you can't beat
'em, join 'em? Well, that's the
story.
There are two things that
brought this about. First, let
me just scribble it into the
record that I am almost violen-
tly opposed to all "Days" and
to the death-grip that commer-
cialism has fastened on each
' and every one of our festive
and sacred dates.
My disenchantment reached
a new low during Easter when
I was prevailed upon to cart my
ladies to what was described as
"the • Easter • Parade," which
sounded pleasantly... old-
fashioned and caused me to
picture the good burghers of the
town strolling in their finery
through the spring sunshine af-
ter church.
Instead, it turned out to be a
fashion show by professional
models, some of them imported
for the occasion, and featuring
the wares of a certain milliner.
The whole thing was made
10 YEARS AGO
JUNE 19, 1963
Struck by lightning early
Monday morning, a large barn
on the farm of Carman Moon,
R R 1 'Londesboro, was com-
pletely destroyed in a little over
half an hour. Also lost in the
blaze were 85 pigs and one
horse.
About 85 members of four
area modern square dance
clubs had their first taste of a
real old-fashioned barn dance,
Saturday, as guests of Mr. and
Mrs. Jack Van Egmond, R R 1,
Clinton.
The spacious hayloft in the
newly built barn was gaily
decorated with huge posters
and silhouettes carrying out the
western motif. Part of last
year's hay and straw crop
provided an additional authen-
tic motif and the guests used
bales of hay as seats for the oc-
casion.
15 YEARS AGO
JUNE 12, 1958
For the third, consecutive
year, Clinton Branch of the
Canadian Legion will be host
for the Legion Provincial Com-
mand's, table tennis tour-
nament. The tourney is being
held this Saturday, June 14 in
Clinton Legion Memorial Hall,
Kirk Street.
Four Clinton' Legionaires
have been practising for the
tournament, Last year Clinton
placed second and third in the
doubles and Mac Cameron was
third in singles play. Other
Clinton players are Cameron
Proctor, Hector Kingswell and
Douglas -Andrews, MO "Bud"
Hayter, sports officer at RCAF
Station Clinton will act as
Chief referee of the tourney.
Amid showers of confetti,
Mr. arid Mrs, Milton Wiltse
were surprised and honoured
on the occasion of their 45th
wedding anniversary, Wed-
nesday evening, June 4.
Harris Oakes, elder son of
even more sickening by the fact
that my wife subsequently pur-
chased one of the fool things,
amortizing it over 12 full mon-
ths.
It isn't Easter, alone, by any
means. Christmas and Valen-
tine's Day and St. Patrick's
Day and the rest have all got
fouled up with the idea of
ringing the bells on the
shopkeepers' cash registers, a
conception they've done 'little
to discourage.
I began to realize I was
fighting a losing battle on a cer-
tain Mother's Day.
My mater happened to be a
mortal enemy of any form of
hypocrisy and I must say I was
pleased when she commanded
me to ignore the occasion.
"Just_ bc.ause, bunch of,
merchants' get together and'
decide that this is the day you
have to buy your mother
something to prove you love
her is no reason at all why in-
telligent people should fall for
it," she said.
"Good girl, mother," I said.
"Why," she said, "any
mother would much rather
have a little surprise on some'
other day instead of this
Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Oakes, and
a medical student of the
University of Toronto has spent
the past two weeks in England
at the start of a three months
stay overseas. He will- tour
Switzerland, Austria, a part of
Germany and Italy and then on
to Spain. Then he plans a tour
of rural England, Ireland and
Scotland before coming back to
Canada to resume his studies
in the fall.
25 YEARS AGO
JUNE 10, 1948
Progressive Conservative
Candidate for Huron, Thomas
Pryde, Exeter was re-elected by
109 over Frank Fingland, K.C.
Liberal, in Monday's election,
Mr. and Mrs. W. Moffatt
Aiken announce the
engagement of their .only
daughter, Florence Teresa, to
Donald Edgar Wade Symons,
son of Mr. E. J. Symons, Port
Hope and the late Mrs.
Symons. The marriage will
take place June 30 in Ontario
St. United Church, Clinton,
Clinton Public School Board,
at ,its June meeting appointed
Miss Edith Erb, who has been
teaching at' Niagara-on-the-
lake, as teacher of Grades 1
and 2, succeeding. Mrs. G. H.
Jefferson. Her salary will be
$1,650 per year.
The Public School staff is
now complete 1948-49, with
Principal G.H, Jefferson and
eight other teachers,
40 YEARS AGO
JUNE 15,- 1933
In its issue of May 31st. the
FamilyHerald and Weekly Star
carried a full page story,
illustrated with several views,
of the home and garden of Mr.
and Mrs. Chas. Sta; of Fair-
view, Sask, Mr. Stong is a
brother of Mr, Levi Stong, Clin-
ton's popular chief of police,
and the interesting part of it is
that'these brothers had lost
track of each other for years,
each having wandered about
somewhat, and this article,
drawn to Chief Stong's atten-
tion by a neighbour, proved the
means of locating a brother
whom he had not seen in thirty
years,
We commend to other
business people the artistic en-
terprise of Messrs, Bartliff and
Crich, (plus that of Miss
Dorothy Bartliff, who is mainly
responsible), in planting clim-
bing roses along the south wall
of their store. The roses are this
week in bloom and make a fine
showing. They are certainly a
welcome sight for weary eyes as
one comes and goes about one's
daily tasks.
55 YEARS YEARS AGO
JUNE 13, 1918
The improvements to the
Library Park are being carried
on„ This week a new walk is
being put across from the
driveway to the library door.
Most of the shrubs and trees
planted are growing and the
park is fast becoming a real
beauty spot.
Miss Cleta Ford, of the staff
of the London Conservatory of
Music is having a recital of her
pupils in London this evening.
A considerable number of
tuned in on this," my wife said.
"Don't you know that Sunday
is Father's Day?"
"But, look," I said, "you
know how I feel about those
things. Just because a bunch of
merchants get together and
decide that...."
"Ixnay on that uffstay," my
wife said.
"But any father would much
rather have a little surprise on
some "
"Now you've done it," my
wife said.
I glanced across at Jill and
Jenny. Their lower lips had
begun to come out, the un-
mistakeable sign of Big
Trouble, They were looking at
me stony-eyed, accusingly, as
they might look at a depart-
ment store Santa Claus whose
beard • had slipped.
I smiled wanly back at them.
"I wonder if anybody's going
to remember a very special day
not too far away," I said to no
one in particular. The insin-
cerity shone from me like a
beacon, but they returned to
their breakfast, appeased. So
we lose our principles, one by
one, just to keep a little peace.
Clintonians who were expecting
to put out new rose bushes this
spring, which they had ordered
through local agencies, have
been disappointed. Submarines
got in their work and a couple
of thousand bushes went into
the brine. They were shipped
from Ireland.
After July 1, the post offices
at Benmiller and Port Albert
will be closed.
75 YEARS AGO
JUNE 10, 1898
Mr. W. A. Vodden has pur-
chased a new Cretin separator
and is operating the same; this
makes the second machine of
this kind in this neigh-
bourhood, (Hullett) the other
being the property of Mr.
George Snell.
At Town Council on Monday
night it was moved by Deputy-
Reeve Jones; seconded by
Councillor Doherty, that the
Mayor call a meeting of citizens
for the purpose of considering
the advisability of introducing
a system of waterworks. Mr.
Doherty said the Mayor could
call the meeting at his leisure,
but a discussion of the matter
would do no harm. Mr. Plum-
mer thought the meeting would
be useless, as the town was not
in a position to undertake
waterworks.
Dear Editor:
It would appear that the
Town of Clinton and it's coun-
cillors are so busy these days
haggling over such childish
matters as keys to the town of-
nee, the licensing of our
chilcire4 bicycles, the police
department busy on a house to
house campaign checking for
unlicensed dogs, that they have
overlooked the importatit
problem of our childrens'
everyday safety — mainly.
A School-Crossing Guard!, at
the busy highway crossing on
Hwy. No, 8 and Percival Street,
just inside the town perimeter.
This is indeed a deplorable
situation and should not be
allowed to continue.
I wonder if any of our council
members are aware of the fact
that as of Wednesday, May 29,
1973, there were. 63 pre-school
children registered for kin-
dergarten for the new school
year with more expected. A
good percentage of these
children are under five years of
age and they are not yet old
enough to cope with highway
traffic.
I, being the father of one of
these children, am greatly con-
cerned over this matter, and I
think it is high time the Town
of Clinton became concerned.
If this deplorable condition is
to continue I personally will
organize a parents' protest and
boycott of the primary classes
at the school until such time as
we are heard.•
Let's hear from the rest of
you parent s.
TM. Terry Maguire
Clinton.
Dear Editor:
Greetings from Southern
California, I seek the names
and addresses of Canadian per-
sons now resident of this state.
Do you know of any?
I am a Canadian, retired
from the R,C.A.F. It is my in-
tention to publish and
distribute a 'weekly newspaper,
based on Canadian news. Sub-
scriptions will probably be free,
or at a cost not exceeding the
required postage. There are
several hundred thousand per-
sons of Canadian origin in the
greater Los Angeles area. Most
of us are generally unaware of
what is happening in Canada.
I prepared a sample issue of
my newspaper; then conducted
an interest survey with one
hundred Canadians I could
locate. Eighty percent of the
sampled readers are in favou
of the paper's continuance
Most feet there is inadequat
Canada coverage by th
American press. CBC Neig
bourly News and the Canadia
Community Newspape
Association have encourag
and helped me. The L
Angeles office of the Canadi
Consulate General has c
operated as much as it ca
Permission to reprint has be
obtained froM a large numb
of Canadian daily and week
newspapers. I have arrang
for part time correspondents
Canada.
Advertisers are not i
terested unless I can build up
circulation of several thousa
copies per issue. My one
problem is to locate Catifor
Canadian readers. Is there a
way you will help me? There
no way for me to ident
Canadians by name, occupati
or appearance, They do not li
in ethnic areas nor grou
Hence, I know the whereabo
of only a few potential reade
Can you lead me to na
and addresses of Califor
Canadian friends, relatives
acquaintances? I will incl
those persons on my f
mailing list at the start
regular publication.
Yours tr
Walter E. Anders
914 S. Central A
Apt.
Glendale, Calif. 912
trying to make the celebrations a year
long event, they need a tremendous
amount of volunteer help and co-
operation, They have suggested that the
1975 be kicked off with a gala New
Years dance, continue with the Winter
Carnival, the Spring Fair, and be topped
off with a Old Home Week in August.
To do all these things and many more,
projects that are yet unplanned, they
need help and enthusiasm.
We should make this a citizens Cen-
tennial. Clintonians could do something
as simple as planting a tree, as
suggested by the Horticultural Society
or it could be a major project such as a
homeowner improving their house by
painting or remodelling it.
Another major project that a group
could undertake is the cleanup of all the
derelict automobiles in•some sections of
town. Some visitors through Clinton
recently have commented that the town
is beginning to resemble a junk yard
because of the accumulation of aban-
doned cars.
These are but a few suggestions,
there are many, many more that in-
dividuals, groups or clubs could under-
take. Let's make 1975 the year to remem-
ber in Clinton and get moving now.
For these activist groups carry on
"church work" in society. The aims,
ideals and values of groups dedicated to
improvement of the human condition are
much the same as the church. Both have
moral purpose, a humanitarian ap-
proach, compassion for the suffering
arid deprived. In action, both demon-
strate the "love thy neighbor" approach
to life. Are these qualities not the
essence of religion? And if so, should
this not establish a common bond bet-
ween these groups?
Social action groups cannot achieve
their goals without wide support and the
church should be a natural area to
promotelhe f-programs, for here good
people gather, peoPle with a receptive
ear and an active conscience.
Cooperation and collaboration, rather
than division and separation between
social action groups and the church
could create a mighty force for good and
hasten the day of a more just society.
business of ordering flowers or
buying candy simply because
some advertising men have an-
nounced that it's a duty."
"Splendid thinking, mother,"
I said.
So, on the day after Mother's
Day, having dutifully refrained
from insulting her intelligence
with a gift, my mother
telephoned and gave me a com-
plete inventory of the presents
received by at least a dozen of
her women friends from their
obviously less analytical sons.
"They kept asking me what
you bought," my mother said,
with an odd little tremor in her
voice, and from somewhere, far
off, I detected the soft laughter
of the entire membership of the
Retail Merchants' Association.
„ Whether they knew it or not,
they'had acquired a new slave.
Which brings us right up to '
that particular breakfast when
my two youngest daughters
were engaged in a whispered
conspiratory conversation in
which, by dilegent eavesdrop-
ping, I was able to catch the
words "tie", "golf ball" and
"ball-point pen."
"What's up?" I enquired.
"Your're not supposed to be