Clinton News-Record, 1973-09-27, Page 44-4X•INTON NEWS-IREPORD, THURSDAY, sErnothER 27, 1973
Editorial comment
There off, and wining!
ClintonThe Kinsmen seem to have the
weather man convinced that never on
Sunday in Clinton means no rain. The
Clinton Kinsmen, who run the Clinton
Kinsmen Raceway, made it through
another racing season, and not a drop
fell on the place during the 13 racing
programs,
The good weather partially accounts,
then, for the excellent showing the Kin"'
amen made this year at the Raceway.
They succeeded in luring over 21,000
people to Clinton during the summer
and those patrons parted with $752,000
at the mutuel windows, Both figures are
up considerably from last year, when
there was one extra program.
The Kinsmen are to be congratulated
for putting on such a fine show. Not only
have they shown that a small town is as
capable of supporting a race track, but
for every dollar bet, a small piece comes
back to the Kinsmen who invest it in the
town.
As well,' thousands of dollars are
distributed for wages, food etc., which
again finds its way back into the com-
munity and adds immensely to the
economy.
With its three-quarters of a million
dollar business in 13 days, the Clinton
Kinsmen Raceway should be viewed as
a seasonal but very valuable industry.
Over the past season, too, there were•
some excellent races contested by many
top Ontario horses. A new track record
was set as were attendance and betting
records. It was a very good year.
Graduates and success
Plaudits have to go out' to all the
graduates and award winners who were
honored last Friday night at the annual
commencement exercises at Central
Huron Secondary School.
Most of the award and scholarship
winners show a basic sense of hard
work that is still a necessary part of our
society. The award winners demon-
strated that a willingness to get ahead is
still an important ingredient in a suc-
cessful life.
Although awards and scholarships
don't always guarantee a successful
future or happiness, they can go a long
way in setting a trend that will remain for
the winner's entire life.
And for those who have graduated
from secondary school and are going on
to higher institutes of learning or into
the work force, graduation means the
end of a way of life.
From a hick to a somebody
Because we are all consumers, none
of us are too ecstatic about the present
high cost of living. However the high
price of meat and other food stuffs has
had one good spin-off, It has made a lot
of people take another look at the far-
mer,
The man who used to be a nobody, or
worse still the butt of jokes, has sud-
denly become a somebody. Like the 97-
pound weakling who picked himself-up
out of the sand, he is now a forqe to be
reckoned with,
For the first time in decades, the far-
mer has the opportunity to get an honest
return for his work. As a result he has
assumed status in the community,
Words like hick, rube, plow-jockey and
sod-buster are fast disappearing. All of
a sudden we have city-slickers
dedicating songs to the farmer. We
have sociologists telling us that the far-
mer, because he can readily see and ap-
preciate the fruits of his labor, because
he is involved in a job from beginning to
end, has an enviable occupation. Now
instead of laughing at their country
cousins, we have city children who
boast about the fact that they spent a
week or so on a farm during the summer.
And instead of heading for the beach,
many city folk are looking for farm
vacations.
Yes, times have changed; and as meat
and bread are rationed, or disappear
from, our grocery shelves, the farmer's
place in our .society will climb ever
higher. And why not? After all, the
fishermen of Iceland are among that
country's best paid workers. In russia a
truck-driver in the north receives a
salary equal to the doctor in the city. For
too long we have been judging people
by the cut of their clothes or the color of
their fingernails. It's high time we lear-
ned that straw hats and overalls are as
respectable as a business suit and brief
case and the tractor as impressive a
piece of machinery as the limousine,
(From the Listowel Banner)
Sugar arid Spice/By Bill Smiley
One last bit of England
The Jack Scott Column I- NI MI al INI
"I'm beginning to wonder just what does go on at that hunting lodge!
Last rites
we got
l et
In Order that
Newt-Flecord readers might
express their opinions oh any
topic of public interest,
Letters To The Editor are
always welcome tot
publication,
But the writers of Such
letters, as well at ell teaders,
art -reminded that the
opiniorte expressed in letters
published are not neceesttrily
the opinions held by The
NeWs-,-Recotd.
From, our early files . . • • . . .
1,1N1ON NEW ERA
;sin/if:shed 1855
•CNA
Wleatb•r, Canadian
Coramuhily alivirOpicre*
AtookiclatIOn
HU& OF HURON -COUNTY
ofgarrioied
1924
AD‘AN COMAI
WS OA PI IS CO°91""
Published every Thursday
at Clinton, anted°
Editor Jame, E. Fitzgerald
denetai Manager,
J. Howard Aitken
Second Class Mall
registration no. 0617
THE litiRON NEWS-RECORD
Estiaxlished 1881
)116inbse, Ontario Ws*ty
Aoioelatkin
+CNA
Astoto•
One last column about im-
pressions of England, and if
you're already sick ,of them,
turn to the classified ads.
Cost. A holiday in England
used to be relatively inexpen-
sive, what with lower wages
and food costs. Not no more.
Costs have soared all Over
Europe And Britain is no excep-
tion,-
Yon can still have a cheap
holiday there, if you want to
squeeze every pence, just as you
tan in Canada, But thee no
fun, on holidays.
In the lovely old towel of
Chester, we paid about $15 for
a room without bath, But
e.eakfast was included. Good
seats in London theatres cost
from $8 to $10.Meals in a posh
restaurant are about the same
prices as in Canada -
prepoaterouS,Best place to eat
is in the pubs, where, at
reasonable cost, you can get a
hunk of french bread and good
cheese, or a plate of bangers
(sausage), a slice of veal and
ham'pie, or a hot steak and kid-
ney pie.
Ice, If you are accustomed to
ice in your drinks in hot
weather, either forget it, or be
prepared to fight for it,
Order a dry martini and sit
back waiting for something ice-
told tied uplifting. What you'll
get is a glass of lukewarm ver-
tnouth, a concoction designated
to Send you screaming into the
arms of the local W.C,T.U.
We arrived in Edinbutgh,
hot, tired end dusty- aftet a
seven-hour train Tide.
Struggled with luggage, cab
and got to our hotel room, after
riding'up in the littlest elevator
in the world (No more than
leer persons or 600 pounds.) I
was intrigued by the thought, of
what would happen if four 200-
pounders got on.
Anyway, when the porter
arrived with our bags, we were
stretched out, dying for a cold
drink. I asked him to bring
some ice."Ice? Oh, yes, ice.
Yeseir." 'Pen minutes later he
returned, toting a huge silver
tray, bedecked with a sparkling
white napkin. The piece de
resistance rested in the centre
of the tray—a wine goblet with
foot tiny ice cubes in it. We
roared. He was bewildered.
We'd ordered ice, hadn't we?
He'd brought ice.
Courtesy. tenadians and
Americans are friendly souls,
on the whole, but our manners
are not always exactly polished.
We were struck by the courtesy
and friendliness of the Brits.
At bus stops, for example,
there is no elbow-punching of
old ladies, no sly kicks on the
ankles, no every-man-for-
himself attitude. There is a
politeness, which, though pain-
ed at times, is very evident.
There's an old tradition,
fostered by movies and novels,
that the English are extremely
reticent, to the point of stuf-
fieess, on trains. They're sup-
posed to retire behind their
papers, indicating tech others'
presence by no more than the
occasional grunt or dirty look.
Why, it's just the opposite.
They'll go on and on and on,
eeplaieing things being kindly
and helpful wail, sometimes
when you're exhausted and
don't feel like gabbing,- you
wish the old, grumpy stereotype
were true.
Only once, did I have a slight
unpleasantness, and it was 'tny
fault. We were catching a train,
and were late. rSweating wider
the luggage and with our
carriage what looked like a
quarter of a mile away, I
looked wildly around for a poi-
ter.
The only one I could see was
helping an elderly, crippled
lady out of tt wheelchair, to get
on the train. I dropped my
bags, gave the porter a hand at
helping her up, then slung my
luggage into the wheelchair
and went beetling down the
platform ptishing it.
We arrived, and I started to
Unload my luggage from the
wheelchair, to put it on the
train, A rather stern railway-of-
fitial looked at my wife, who'd
been galloping along behind
me, looked back down the plat-
form and spoke "No, no,
That'll have to go in the
baggage van,"
I didn't know why, es it
hadn't happened before, bu'
with two minutes to go I didn't
-re. We put the bags in the
van, and he started to fold the
wheelchair and put it in. I -said
, "oh no. That belongs here,"
He turned purple,
He had been looking over my
shoulder for the invalid,
probably expecting an old soul
on a stretcher. It was the
wheelchair that had to go into
the baggage van, not the bags.
He had been completely baf-
fled by this example of
Canadian enterprise, was em-
barrassed by his error, and
therefore grew a bit black in
the countenance. l apologized,
with -a very sincere look, and
offered to run the cheit back
down the platform, but he grit-
ted something about the train
leaving and another phrase or
two I didn't quite catch, but
which definitely contained the
word 'bloody.'
I am just back, from an
assignment in Mexico and I
have been thinking of that day
when we lay in the bone-
penetrating sun on Acapulco's
morning beach and Manuel
told me the story,
He was a young architect,
holidaying from Mexico City.
We'd met in the bar the night
before, taken an instant liking
to each other, and I'd invited
him to join me in a swim.
An old grey man in rags
came down the sand trying to
sell a blow-fish. The fish is only
about six inches long, but it in-
flates itself, when in danger, to
the size of a child's balloon.
This it had apparently done
before succumbing. The old
man had it tied to the end of a
stick. You could look into its
bass-like mouth and see it all
hollow inside,
I did not happen to be in the
market for a blow-fish, but I
cranked my movie camera and
took some footage of the old
man and his prize and gave
him some pesos, and he passed
on down the sand,
"Seeing you taking the pic-
tures reminds me of a story."
Manuel said. And this is the
10 YEARS AGO
Oct. 3, 1963
Mr. and Mrs. John
Mulholland, Huron Street,
celebrated their 61st. wedding
anniversary on October 1. They
have lived in Clinton most of
their lives and are enjoying
good health, Mrs. Mulholland
is 81 and her husband is 82,
A "Know Canada" poster
display which was started last
year by Miss Elaine Heseion, of
Hayfield was large enough to
take over the entire 'Hayfield
fall fair building as posters
were received from Across
Canada. Miss Ileseion bed to
limit the number to invitation
only and the calibre was excep-
tional. Mrs. Sherlock Keyes
wee one of the exhibitors with a
poster of Varna.
Mrs. Margaret Clark,
Auburn, marked her -91st. bir-
thday and also her ballot last
Wednesday. She was the °idea
voter in the community. After
voting she had a birthday party
at the home of her nephew, Mr.
and Mrs. William Dodd,
Malcolm, "Mac" Stewart son
of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Stewart,
R.R. 6 Seaforth has been selec-
ted to represent Ontario at the
National 4-H Club Conference
at Toronto. Malcolm and seven
ether 4-H members will
represent Ontario. Thia is con-
sidered to be the highest award
possible in Canada,
Six members of the Pepper
dim hove a total age of 390
years which must be close to
setting some sort of longevity
record, They are all residents of
the area tend include Roy, 68;
Fred, 78; Mrs, Fronk Layton,
66; John, 82; Mrs. Howard
Ditch, 80; attd Albert, 76.
25 YEARS AGO
Sept. 36, 1946
It rained heavily in this
district lest night and it looked
story he told me.
A wealthy American tourist,
he said, was driving from
Acapulco to Mexico City and
was passing through the hot lit-
tle valley town of iguala when
he saw a funeral procession
emerge from the church.
It is the custom in rural
Mexico for the casket to be
carried by the mourners to the
cemetery, however distant it
may be. Often there are small
bands which may play "Happy
Days Are Here Again" or "Roll
Out The Barrel" in a funeral
style. The bandsmen, knowing
only the music, unaware of the
incongruous lyrics, play these
songs as dirges and the effect,
Manuel said, is curiously
moving.
This was the funeral of a
small boy, the only son of a
widow, and the small casket, as
is the case with all children
who die, was lacquered white,
In a landscape of baked green
and tan and bright with flowers
the casket was a startling, blin-
ding white.
The wealthy American
tourist was a camera fiend.
You see them all over, often
heavily paunched business men
so intent on framing a scene in
es if there is more to come.
This was the first time since the
first week in August that there
has been anything resembling a
rainfall. However, much more
is needed at once so the crops
will be in fair shape.
Edward Morrison, Clinton,
has some particularly long
potato stalks in his fields. He
brought in two today one of
which measured 63112 inches
from root to tip of leaves, and
the other 61 inches. Under the
long stalks, there is a good crop
of potatoes too.
Donald Petrie, Elder, has
been winning high honours
with his paintings. While living
in Clinton, Donald was well-
known to local artists as one of
the most promising lads in this
field. Recently he exhibited five
paintings at Exeter Pell Fair
and came away with five first
prizes. He has been a pupil of
Miss Lucille Grant, Clinton.
Stewart Middleton R.R. 3,
Clinton took six first prizes in
various apple classes x hamper
of Spy, hamper of Macintosh,
etc. The first prize hamper of
Macintosh. Reds was donated
for the draw after the tveriing
concert and dance and was Won
by Keith Westlake, Zurich,
A colorful ceremony com-
memorating the Battle of
Britain was held in Clinton
when' 500 personnel ftom the
RCAF Clinton took pert in a
church parade. Music was
provided by Flight 19 Stratford
Air Cadet Band. Services were
held in Wesley-Willis United
Church. Flt.-Lt. T. Dale Jones
and Rev, Andrew Lane conduc-
ted the service.
66 YEARS AGO
Oct. 4, 1923
Mr. and IVIre. Maheffy of
Ribbert 'celebrated their golden
anniversary on September 16.
Four daughters and one son,
three brothers and one:sister of
- • -
a view-finder that they must
surely miss the deeper mood
and atmosphere of Mexico that
moves more contemplative
visitors,
He leaped from his car and
began to take pictures of the
procession. The fantastic
colors--the burnt-orange earth,
the blue sky, the black co-
stumes of the mourners, the
blocky, solid hues of the
flowers, the shining little casket
above everything--must have
impressed him so that he did
not realize his thoughtlessness.
The widow pulled her black
reboza closer about her
sorrowing face and walked
steadily on, The tourist would
take his pictures, then run on
ahead, hold his light-meter
high, adjust his camera and en-
compass the scene once more as
the procession approached.
Then on again, sweating under
the naked sun, lost in the
technique of his hobby.
Near the cemetery, a priest
approached him. Very gravely,
very politely, he told the tourist
of the distress that this, he
could see, was causing to the
funeral party. The tourist
flushed as the awareness came
the aged bridegroom attended.
Mr. James Maheffy of Clinton
was one of the brothers present.
Miss Jean McCallum, four
year old daughter of Mrs.
McCallum of Clinton, is today
able to run and play thanks to
the work of a local doctor, Dr.
Nimmo was called in after
some doctors pronounced her
incurable. Within a year Dr.
Nimmo managed to cure her in
face of the hopeless diagnosis.
Rev. J.A. Agnew has been in-
vited to remain a sixth year as
pastor of Ontario Street
Church, Clinton.
Clinton C.I. basketball and
baseball teams defeated the
Seeforth teams last Friday.
Tomorrow is Clinton's turn to
host and maybe Seaforth will
turn the tables and defeat Clin-
ton.
75 YEARS AGO
Oct. '7, 1896
Mrs. Chris Johnston was
rather pleasantly surprised
to him of his lack of con-
sideration, He apologized stum-
blingly and went back to his big
car and drove away,
Some months later a heavy
package arrived for the priest.
It was a home-movie projector,
a table-top screen, and a single
roll of film.
It was, of course, the film
devoted to the funeral, With it
was a letter from the tourist.
The whole affair had burdened
his conscience Perhaps he
might atone in this way by
giving the widow this per-
manent record of her son's last
rites.
And so one day, Manuel con-
tinued, the widow and her
friends sat in the, darkness and
wept at the beauty of. the film
and the recent memories it
revived, and then, when it was
over, the priest handed her the
film for her to keep and to see
whenever she wished.
The widow took the package
and then she and her friends
walked the long, hot road to
the cemetery, and there she
knelt by the grave of her son
and dug a hole in the hot,
orange earth and buried the
small can of film and covered it
over.
when Mr, W,G. Thompson's
delivery van drove up to the
door with a handsome piano
rase organ, a present from her
mother, Mrs. T. Sowerby. In
the evening, all the members of
the family gathered at Mr.
Johnston's to listen to the
organ and have a small party.
80° in the shade was pretty
high for the 30th of September.
If this keeps up all the people
who usually go south for the
winter will be coming to this
area.
Hayfield show, next Friday
will wind up the fall fair circuit
for this year in this vicinity,
Dungannon is one the 11th and
12th and really ends the big
pumpkin season.
Dr. Turnbell is not leaving
town. Instead he has acquired
a new partner, Dr. Graham,
who will be in town in a short
time. Dr. Turnhall will still at-
tend to his own patients, but it
will have the benefit of the ex-
perience of his partner and will
be able to give more individual
care.
Sanity
Dear Editor:
The editorial, "The folly of
weapons" (September 6, 1973)
Was a great word of sanity in a
world which already has
weapons enough to kill
everything on earth 10 times
over!
Thanks for your witness.
W. Jene Miller
Oklahoma. City, Oklahoma
P.S. Bill Smiley's reference to
Chester's Roman Wall brought
fond memories of my service
in the Army in Chester.
Thanks
Dear Editor;
On behalf of the Clinton
Juvenile baseball team, I
would like to take this oppor-
tunity to thank our two coaches
Brian Kennedy and Steve
MacDonald for the many hours
of their time spent practicing
and coaching us to the O.B.A.
title. Also, thanks to Doug Ken-
nedy for everything he did to
assist the team.
Thanks again.
Yours very truly,
Don MacDonald,
Clinton.
Generous
Dear Editor:
Early in 1973, Goderich and
District Association for the
Mentally Retarded forwarded a
letter of appeal to various
organizations in the Clinton
and Goderich areas for funds
to enable students at the Queen
Elizabeth School and trainees
at the Adult Training Centre to
attend camp.
The response was generous.
Five adults and 12 children
attended Guelph Kiwanis
Camp Bellwood and engaged in
swimming, bicycling, dancing,
social evenings and other ac-
tivities.
At the September meeting of
the Goderich and District
Association for the, Mentally
Retarded, it was unanimously
agreed to say a public "thank
you" to those organizations
that contributed to a happy
holiday for the mentally retar-
ded in our area.
Sincerely,
Shirley Maines-Secretary,
G.A.M.R.
History
Dear Editor:
I would appreciate if you
would ask the post office to put
a tracer on my paper, I have
asked at this end and of course
they blame that end.
It is typical of anything run
by the Government, too many
chiefs and not enough Indians,
For example this is Thursday
Sept. 20 and I have not
received the paper that you put
in the post office last Wed-
nesday Sept. 12.
I like history but not ancient
history. Thanking you, I am
Yours truly,
John E. Moore,
Scarborough