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Clinton News-Record, 1974-04-25, Page 4It Was quite obvious oy the attendance at last week's Clinton Centennial meeting that not many people in town are interested in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Town of Clinton. Despite the seeming lack of interest however, the Clinton Centennial Com- mittee has gone ahead anyway and outlined an exciting plan that will make the Centennial celebrations remembered for many years to come. The big week is planned from July 26 to August 4th next year and will include a myriad of events, guaranteed to stimulate everyone. From ' air force weekend to the beard growing contest, to the back to school day, there is something there for each one of us, But none of the events can be carried out. "nless more • people indicate their willingness to help in some small way even if it's only licking stamps to put on envelopes to let forrher Clintonians know of the celebrations. As well as helping with the actual celebrations, Clintonians should be looking at their private property with the idea of Cleaning up junk, sprucing up lots and painting up some houses, A recent out-of-town visitor to Clinton came into this office and said he was convinced that Clinton was the junk capital of Huron County, there was so much junk and abandoned cars strewn over town. Every citizen in town could embark on their own Centennial project to either spruce up their property or maybe help a neighbour spruce up theirs. Let's leave our visitors with a good impression next year. Solution The recent postal strike brings to mind a little story that was printed in another paper. "One bright editor has come with the idea on how to solve the problem of the rampant inflation that is sweeping the country. "Turn the inflation problem over to the post office. They won't stop it, but they'll sure as hell. slow it down," 'Editorial Comment Catania' needs .help. The worst kind of inflation The Jack Scott Column IN EP There is talk on Capitol Hill in Washington these days that by next year the defense budget of the United States will rise from the present level of $79 billion to about $93 billion. This is in- flation of the worst possible kind. It is true that all nations have the right to defend themselves. But as the U.S. defense budget con- tinues to skyrocket toward the $100 billion mark (at the present rate it will reach that figure by 1976) surely it shows that something is wrong with a nation's priorities. The United States is only one of too many nations that wastes millions -.L. or in the case of superpowers billions on ar- maments that will never:be used. Perhaps this'problein of nations racing to arm themselves was one of the major factors in persuading the oil-rich states of the Middle East to increase the price of petroleum. Countless millions of extra dollars ear- ned by the countries of the Middle East now will go toward arms purchases. The death-dealing aircraft, tanks, cannon, rockets and guns being turned out in such vast quantities by the armaments factories of North America, the Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe will now be bought in increasing quantities by Middle Eastern Governments. Big military spending has always been one of mankind's follies. Down the ages, greedy and arrogant leaders have wasted the manhood and the wealth of nations by waging war. The very great difference in the present day is, however, ,that an increasingly n:ligtiteped, publics ,around The," 'world iejeats the 'concept of war' as a civilized means of settling international disputes. Why then the continuing clamor, the in- sistence among the generals that the greedy war machines must be fed more and more? (the United Church) Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley They think Bill's a rich tourist ITHE CLINTON NEW ERA Established 1865 Mstreer. &dada Weakly ei.. umber, Canadian Community Ninvonsoof doom:lotion Amalgamated 1924 THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1881 Clinton News4Zecord miry Thiel-day at Clinton,. Ontario Editor JIM'S E. Fitxgaald Goodwill Managpor, J. Howard Althea Sapopel Clara Mail WHIM* no. MT H08 .14 sow 01 NON iK CAO.:A0A'" 4--,,P.LI.NTON NEWS-RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1974 • Any day now it will be cheaper to fly to Europe and back than it is to spend a couple of days in the city. Air fares are coming down as rapidly as city prices are taking off. This was borne home to me, as they say, during a recent brief visit to the Big Smoke, And I don't mean New York. Just an ordinary Canadian city in the true north, strong but far from free. Our relatives always kindly invite us to stay with them, but we visit the bright lights so seldom that we throw caution to the wind, let ourselves go deliberately decadent, and plunge for the hotel room and all the extras. It used to be grand feeling: checking in at the hotel just like rich people; tossing the bell hop half a dollar as though you did it every day; walking into the luxurious room and turning up the heat and to hell with the, fuel bill; picking up the phone to call room service; and loftily asking the Old Lady, "Wonder what the poor people are doing today?" But that semi-annual plunge is no longer into a warm bath of unaccustomed luxury and service. It's more like a dive off the town dock just after the ice has gone out of the bay, Not refreshing; just numbing. Things have changed. Now there's a car jockey to park your car. He can open the door with one hand and hold out the other like a professional beggar in Calcutta. Next is the doorman. If you have one small beg, he's right there, taking it from you with one hand, and holding out the other. if you have four heavy bags, he's busy whistling up a cab for a blonde. You totter across the capacious lobby, and the bellhop relieves you of your bog, just before you collapse in front of the desk, There's one thing that hasn't changed: the roont clerk, He's as snotty as he was 20 years ago in every city and every country. You'd think he owned the place as he looks down his nose at your overcoat with the frayed cuffs and your big rub- ber boots which you wore from the country. And beware the poor in- nocent who doesn't have a reservation. He is the dessert for the meal of this particular type of hyena. Some day, when I am old enough and crotchety enough, and I haven't had any kicks for a long time, and I've driven a hundred miles, and a room clerk smirks at me, "Sorry, we haven't a thing," I'm going to pull a gun and shoot him right between his cold, mean little eyes. And I think a good lawyer, with an understanding jury, would get me off scot free. Next in the gauntlet is the bellboy.• He doesn't lug your bags and sweat any more. He slings them onto a cart. Don't hand him, with a flourish, the old-time half-dollar. He's liable to hand it back, with a bigger flourish, and snarl, "Here, Mac, I think you need it more than I do," And he's probably right. He's no "boy." He's 38 years old and he owns three duplexes. Well, anyway, you've made it to the room. But don't check the room rates on the back of the door or you won't flop, you'll swoon. Holy Old Nellyt You must be in the wrong room, or they've given you the Trudeau suite. Shake your head, look around the room, make Sure that lady isn't Margaret. Same old room you swear you paid $18.00 for last time, Same woman, and the price tag is $30.00. This is not the time to say, "Oh, well. In for a penny, in for a pound" you know what hip, pened to you pound, Your dollar is suffering the same shrinking sensations. Dazedly, you call room AO, vice, order some ice and if you're smart, you'll tell them you don't want it transported by air from the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, (U.S.S.R.) even though it will take as long and cost as much. Don't order any glasses. They'll cost you more than a new pair at your favourite op- tometrist's. Drink out of your hands, as you did when you were a boy. If your wife has a yen for something sweet when you get back from the theatre or whatever, don't call room ser- vice and order Frnch pastry and coffee. Two sad little pieces of stale Christmas cake or something and a jug of coffee will set , you back four bucks, plus tip. Take a chocolate bar with you instead. Don't go to the theatre in the first place. We took our daughter and her husband to a show. Four tickets, $48. New York wouldn't have the nerve. Don't eat out. Dinner for four, at a "moderate" restaurant, with one cocktail, can run from $25 to $50. Plus the inevitable you-know-what. The only result is a nagging feeling which may be either gastritis, or your pioneer an- cestors' ghosts haunting you in the stomach. Final disillusion. I always spring for a Shoe-shine, 'It •seems a reasonable luxury, as it's one of the two or three titres a year my brogues get a brush. Went for it this time. Halfway through, I realized the poor devil shining my shoes was retarded, I decided to help, in my small way. I had my quarter ready, but changed if for a fifty- cent piece. Gave it to him, feeling sort of warm inside. He pointed to a sign behind my head. It read, "Shoethines, 0e," It was then I realited which of us was retarded, as I fished for another two bite. The little vixen If you are going to go ahead with this mad idea and become a father you should know right from the beginning that children are diabolically clever. Never trust a man with shifty eyes or any child under the age of ten, especially girls. That's my advice to you. Behind those baby-blue orbs, nine times out of ten, a little girl is a seething mass of plots and schemes, a Mata Hari with pigtails. I should like, for my lecture today, to deal with just one aspect of this juvenile intrigue under the general title, "How to Get a Little Girl to Bed," or Wanna Drink of Water A father may easily become. trapped in a nightly routine of' getting a small girl dated with the sandman. "I want Daddy to put me to bed," a daughter may announce. Chances are the fool father will be elated at this selection and, indeed, it may be several days before he'll realize that he's been picked merely because he is easier to handle than a mother. Like any kind of contest, put- 25 YEARS AGO April 26; 1949 W.H. Robinson manager of hank of Montreal arid chair- Man of Clinton C of 0. and Mayor Robert Y, Hattin on behalf of town council, ate Spearheading a clear-up cam, paign for Clinton. Ernest G. Clarke, grandson of Mr. and Mrs, E.H. Epps a $1,000 fellowship from the University of Chicago. Hugh R. Hawkins, W.E. Per- due and A.R. Rumball atten- ded the Canadian section of the American Waterworks Association in Quebec City earlier this week. Leslie M. Frost was elected leader of the Ontario P.C. party yesterday. • Seeding has been held up during the week because of the "catchy" weather. Mr. Bennett, Clinton agricultura,l represen- tative said that most farmers are fairly well through, with their seeding. Warm showers during the past week have helped winter wheat and newly seeded hay meadows. Mr. and Mrs. William Hdhner, Stanley Township celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary yesterday. Miss Helen Cook, teller in the Clinton branch of the Bank of Montreal has returned from an extensive holiday trip by bus to the Pacific Coast. It did not rain once during the time she was there, although this is unusual considering the time of year. 50 YEARS AGO April 23, 1924 Mr. W.C. Muir, who is the new general manager of Canadian National Express, is an old Clinton boy and learned the business with John Cuninghame back in the eighties. Mr, and Mrs, Al. Cooper motored to Toronto to attend graduation exercises at, the university, Their only son was being graduated in the year's class. Fred Elliott and his mother Mrs. W.J, Elliott, were in Owen Sound on Monday at a banquet honouring the junior chem• pionship hockey team of which Fred was a member. Mr. and Mrs. A.S. Holloway "Daddy, I'm too cold.") The father then adds a. blanket or subtracts one, depending on the season, and at this' point is entitled to become stern. This is accom- plished by lowering the tone and turning up the volume. It is hard to be really stern, of course, because. when a little girl gets into bed she generally looks like something you'd like to eat. Still, he is stern. He does not want to hear another PEEP out of her, not another PEEP! He leaves the room with an air of finality. Soon he hears' another ,peep, „ This one mAy• be„.an.Ytk141.g, becaus'e the child''fias'begiin'to use its crafty little brain. One night it may be this: "Daddy, my hair's cold." (Solved by putting a stocking over her head,) Yet another night there may be "a big fly in my room." (Solved by pretending to kill a fly.) All this time the child, of course, is carefully gauging the father's patience. When it seems strained to the point where nothing else' will work and Miss Jessie Dodds have moved back to Clinton from Peterborough and are being warmly welcomed by their friends. . Willis Cooper has been awar- ded the Toronto Architectural Guild Scholarship. W.M. Aiken has purchased the double brick house on Rat- tenbury St. E. from Jacob Taylor. Mrs. G.M. Farquhar, who has spent the winter with her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Clegg, Morris Township, has taken up her residence in the cottage on Rattenbury St. W. which she purchased from' Mr. Williams, 75 YEARS AGO April 27, 1899 The W.D. Fair Co. had their store lighted by acetylene for the first time on Saturday night. The light was brilliant, was favorably commented upon by the citizens and satisfied the Company. Dr, D.D. Ross has purchased the child plays her ace in the hole, the, classic remark, the clincher: "Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom." I know at least one father who pondered this problem at length and thought he had it licked. When he had carried the child up to her bed he asked her if whe was too hot or too cold. It was too hot, so he took off a blanket., He gave her two pieces of apple, kissed her twice, put two teddy bears on •her pillow. He pretended to 'kill a fly. He put a stocking on '.her head for cold hair. He gave her ,a long drink of water, Hei ",'Went,4i4 tlie:'living and began to read a `:book, a terrible smile of triumph on his face. Five minutes passed. Not a sound from her room, He began to worry. Had he hurt her feelings? Was she feeling alone in' the dark? Was everything all right? He rushed into her room and switched on the light and she smiled up at him, wide awake, and he knew only too well that she had figured it this way. Oh, what fiends they are! the practice of Dr. Tweddle of Seaforth and takes possession May 1st. Mr. R. Fitzsimmons has retired from the butchering business in which he has been engaged almost continuously in Clinton for the past twenty- eight years. Mr. J. Ades Fowler, architect of Goderich was in town on Tuesday on business in connec- tion with the residences which Dr. Agnew and Mr. W. Doherty are building, for both of which Mr. Fowler drew the plans. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jamieson of Hullett Township celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week, 'News-Record readers Me en- couraged to express their opinions in letters to the editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Newn4lecord. Peeudonyms may be used by letter writers, but no letter will be published unless It can be verified by phone. Sincerely, Mason Bailey RR 3 Blyth, Ont. No thanks Dear Editor: It has come to our attention that the Bayfield Village Coun- cil has received a letter from the Manager of TV Station CKNX - in which he states that the interview conducted' here in Bayfield on April 3rd (regar- ding the Hayfield River Flats), was unbiased. He has offered the Village a chance to make a statement "at any time" on another CKNX interview. To which the Coun- cil states "No thank you! Once bitten twice shy." If the Manager considers the April 3rd interview unbiased it would be foolhardy for the Village to knowingly put them- selves into the same position (continued on page 5) • _ 10 YEARS AGO April 23, 1964 Hay, pasture, winter wheat and barley are commencing growth as a result of warmer weather and frequent showers. Seedling forages are, progressing as well. Because of the wet weather, seeding of spring grains has slowed. Approximately one-half of the crops has been planted to date. F/L and Mrs. R.A. Simons, Randy. and Danielle, Down- sview, were at "Shangri La" their home in the village on Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Ken Ferguson with her son and family, Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Ferguson, Dirk, Debbie and Paul, arrived home from. Saskatchewan last Wednesday. Barrett Taylor held the win- , ning ticket bearing the exact time the Toronto Maple Leafs' won the Stanley Cup over Detroit Red Wings in the Clin- ton Kinsmen Club annual draw. Miss Francine Greidanus' who teaches school in Kit- chener was with her parents over the weekend. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Gibson, Stettler Alberta, spent the past week with Mr, Gibson's sister in Clinton. Mr. and Mrs, John E. Cun- ningham and family Syracuse, New York, visited last weekend with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cunningham of Clin- ton. ting a little girl to bed has cer- tain well-defined rules, dif- ferent in each home, but fun- damentally the same. The preliminaries may consist of placing the tot in her bed, tucking her in, as the saying goes, giving her a small piece of apple or chocolate as bribery, kissing her, placing her favorite teddy bear on the pillow, saying goodnight, and softly leaving the room. There then ensues from two to three minutes of silence. On her side of the door a small, but active, mind is plotting how to keep awake a few minutes longer. On the father's side of the door there is .an expectant hush, TherOt cot** • "Daddy, '1 warma ..drink o 'Water." This takes but a minute because, of course, the wise father will already have a glass of water in his hand. He ad- ministers the water and retires. In a moment, as he knew it would, the voice comes 'again, a small and rather lost voice shrewdly designed to pluck at the heartstrings. • ," "Daddy, I'm too hot," it says. (Or, for Winter Rules, From our early files e . . . . • • Shortages Dear Editor, For some time now I have been trying to refrain from these comments, However im- pulse has overcome my better judgement, and I submit the following. What's all this talk about food shortages? Everywhere, I read about food shortages, or expected food shortages, Anybody who goes shopping must realize that the food stores are well stocked with a good selection of anything they wish to purchase. You can take your choice of fruits, vegetables, meats, pastries, cereals or anything else. It's all there waiting for customers. Has anyone tried to buy a home freezer lately? Or a single bed mattress, or matched set of washer' and dryer, or the new car of your choice? Or worse still parts to repair the one you have? Farm machinery, tile, brick, plumbing fixtures and could go on and on are on back order nearly every time you need any. Has the food store operator ever told you to cora* back in two weeks, that he may have some then? It seems to me that food is one of the few things that is not, in short sup- ply. We often hear that the people of India and starving. I have a close friend living in India at the present time, who tells me that Many people in India ARE hungry and starving. But the people in India who have MONEY can buy anything they want in the line of food, and there are 200 million cows roaming around eating everything in sight till they die of old age or unattended sickness. It seems to me that society can be conned into a state of mind that blinds, simply by well directed publicity. When people whose main physical problems are a result of over eating or drinking, can be led tat believe there,,is a food ,shor- ,tage, we:must admit.there must lbe,sonzie expert`PublicitY pedple around. Then there's this business. about good land going out of food production. I agree that there should be better management. of land uses. But whose responsibility is it to maintain a resource for some future generation? If Canada's population continues to in- crease at- the rate of only 1.7 percent every ten years and far- mers' efficiency increases as it has in the past 10 years, we'll be looking for export markets for a long time yet. And isn't land that is oc- cupied by highways, airfields, cities etc. serving people better than land that lies under thorn trees?