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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1956-12-20, Page 2This newspaper believes the right to express an opinion in public contributes to the progress of the nation and that it must be exercised freely to preserve and improve democratic government. Tht TtmH’Advocatfz December 20, 1955 Jottings By J.M.S, Yuletide Welfare Editorials can- The Change In Christmas Another Christmas has rolled around and the Christmas spirit today is the same as it has been for* many years and no doubt will be for many more years to , ".........*. ‘w that changes is the method of cele- gvanted with little realization of the tremendous steps that have been, taken is the matter of child­ ren’s toys. Electrical equipment and mechanical toys have com­ pletely revolutionized hardware stores and what youngster- can pass the attractive decorated windows filled with toys, with­ out stopping mother or dad and expressing a wish for some of them? » Poll Sets Pcpular Dolls have always been favor­ ites with the girls and while the make-up and styles have changed with the older folks,, youngsters in the old days en­ joyed just as big and just as at­ tractive dolls as they do today. However the sleeping doll, the talking doll and the walking doll are new innovations, I remember in Rome, Italy. a bus driver taking home a mech­ anical toy to his son on his birth­ day, a toy he could ill afford to buy. It was pointed out to us by our courier that no. matter what the sacrifice, the children must have their presents. The same spirit that prevails among us is the same the world over. In the words of Edgar Guest: Let us have a Christmas tree, Let its glowing candles be Warm and cheery, gay and bright, Let its gleam dispel the night Let our voices fill the air With carols, greetings every­ where-— In that good old-fashioned way Let us keep this Christmas day. come. The only thing brating it. Christmas trees, lighted dies, carol singing, and good old-fashioned greetings have pre­ vailed from generation to gen­ eration. Santa Claus has not grown old as we grow old but • our methods of living, transporta­ tion, labor-saving devices, mod­ ern home equipment, sanitation, heating, lighting, cooking have undergone vast changes in a comparatively short period of lime. It is just 50 years ago that hydro was introduced into On­ tario and the prediction of Sir Adam Beck that electricity would be available for lighting every home in the larger mun­ icipalities; which .seemed at that time almost incredible, has now surpassed the most optimistic speculations at that time. To think that electricity is avail­ able to the vast majority of the residents of this fair province, is one thing, but to realize the many advantages to which it.is now being put and to think of ■the many electrical devices there are-today for use in the home, now taken for granted but un­ dreamed of 25 years ago, should cause us to stop in wonderment. Remember. The Stave Factory? The old woodbox and in many cases the coal bin; are fast be­ ing replaced by oil. How many will remember the Sutherland and Innis stave factory that used to operate on Huron street and the listings that could be bought for a song to be used for start­ ing the morning fires? Where scald cream used to • . adorn many a farm cellar shelf foi’ the Christmas season, now ice cream is stored in a'modern farm freezer, that holds enough frozen foods to last for weeks. I wonder what the young peo­ ple, and older ones too, would think if lights went out at twelve as they did in Exeter before the advent of hydro. Entertainments' and parties were wound up so as to go home before lights out. Hydro has changed the night in­ to day. Another, thing that is taken for GUARANTEED TRUST CERTIFICATES *Heartwarming Christmas Spirit Prevails Throughout District It’s heartwarming to see district organisations spreading the Christmas spirit- with special welfare programs at this season of the year. Many of these activities were out­ lined in last week’s Times-Advocate. They include entertaining inmates in orphanages * and homes for the aged, providing Christmas cheer for unfor­ tunate families, donation gifts to mis­ sions and sponsoring children’s par­ ties. Special mention should be made of those who .have organized the fund for Bob Scott', the youth who was so seriously injured in a recent traffic accident, and those who contributed gifts to the Summers family which lost all its possessions (in a fire near Clande- boye. These and other activities show clearly that Christmas is not just the Flood Threat Construction of dams in the up- 'per reaches of the Ausable River watershed is the only solution to stop the growing severity of flooding con­ ditions in the Parkhill areas, says the Parkhill Gazette in a recent' editorial. The Gazette also proposes a re­ routing of water in the Cameron- Gillies drain which bursts its banks :every year. The Gazette editorial is reprinted below: “Many harsh things were said about the Cameron-Gillies drain which was repaired a few years ago. The drain starts on the high ground to ■the east and south of Parkhill. The rapid fall Of the water down the slope -is channelled into the small railway culvert. The drain here makes two right-angled turns and a bottleneck is ..created. “The chief obstacle in the way of X solution is that the whole Parkhill .Creek system which starts about 15 miles north in Hay Township, has al­ ways been a flood threat. Every year this creek bursts its banks and spills commercialized holiday many com­ plaints are made about. Yet, more of this type of service work can and should be done, not only by organizations but also by individ­ uals, to make it a merrier yuletide throughout the community and the world. Celebration of Christmas is a sel­ fish thing if it means nothing more than giving presents to those from whom presents are expected in return. Christmas would mean much more—and would be celebrated in its truer sense—if every family made at least one gift for which they expect no more return than the happiness of giving. There are many places to which this gift might go. Prominent among them is the recently-organized fund for oppressed Hungarians. Committees have been established in all major ’centres for the receipt of donations. Contributions may be left at The Times-Advocate, from where they will be forwarded to the proper authorities. - Then there’s the Christmas Seal campaign for TB prevention; the blind campaign and the sick children’s hospital in Toronto. Locally, there’s the ?fund for Bob Scott, the appeal for clothing and food for t|ie Summers family, the families on relief or in strained cir­ cumstances throughout the district. A visit to a shut-in is one of the least expensive but most appreciated “gifts”. E DISPENSED BY BILL SMILEY Is there anything in this world quite as silly as the annual Christmas card binge in which otherwise intelligent, sensible „ people indulge? I-doubt it. * # I’m afraid it’s another mani­ festation of twentieth century softheadedness for which we have the ladiesi bless and praise them, to thank. You can say what you like about men, and it will probably be true, but I doubt very much whether they would ever get into the Christ­ mas card jungle if left to them­ selves. They simply wouldn’t bother sending cards to anybody, and everybody would be a lot happier.** $ * Every year around our place, we hold Christmas Card Night. Aftei' the kids are in. bed, '\ve get down to it at the kitchen table: I enjoy this, because it gives me a chance’ to exercise that ham-handed, elephant foot- * ed wit in which the male animal delights at such times. * short term—5 years pay 4^% interest, payable half yearly Unconditionally guaranteed as to principal and interest authorized investment for tryst funds IN 5 YEARS $500 ACCUMULATES TO $624.60 It’s been a long time since this community opened its homes to enter-9 tain airmen from England and other Commonwealth- countries who were training at district stations under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan- during world war two. People drove as far as Port Al­ bert to pick up their guests and bring them home to a family dinner. It was over low-lying ground in its lower an enriching experience: the airmen reaches and many times it has flowed enjoyed visiting with Canadian famil- over Highway 81. - •- - °................................... Gillies drain joins this creek about three miles west of Parkhill. “A diversion scheme could easily re route the excess water east of Park­ hill to poin the Parkhill (Mud) Creek system just west of Highway No. 81. This would require about a half mile of diversion plus a mile of channel improvement before reaching the main stream. A second diversion scheme ■ Would be to divert some of the water to the Spring Creek system -south of town which seems to be more than adequate for the amount of water that flows through it. “Diversion at first glance seems to provide a ready solution but there are three drawbacks. First, necessary .permission of property owners might be difficult to secure. Second, the consent of various councils and boards would be necessary; and thirdly, these creeks could be easily overflowing their banks from tributaries upstream. “It becomOs increasingly evident that the area is over-drained. As each new drain is authorized and construct­ ed it taxes the two main Ausable River outlets more and more. These in turn are progressively getting less efficient due to the large amount of • sediment dropped jn their lower reaches by each succeeding flood. “The answer seems to be ways 6f Containing the waters in the areas * where damage would be less, or a large dredging operation to increase the capacity to handle the huge amount of water. This second solution has a big disadvantage, It is not permanent because of the continued silting. The- containing of water has been advocated many times before. Engineers have proposed the McInnis and Parkhill Dam. Until these dams, and possibly other smaller ones, are constructed^ the flood threat will be with us always?’ MERRY MENAGERIE • ies and- the Canadians broadened their horizons by listening to descriptions and tales of far away countries. Today, citizens have an equal op­ portunity to play host to young men who are visiting this area from Euro­ pean countries. We are referring to the NATO trainees at RCAF Station Centralia. These trainees, who come from France, Belgium, England, Italy, and other European nations, will be spend­ ing this Christmas thousands of miles from home. The RCAF will make their Christmas as pleasant as possible, of course, but no doubt many of them would enjoy a family dinner in a Canadian home. 1 “We’re goners if they don’t get home soon and take that water pistol from Junior!” Intelligent Canadians — be they Liberals or Conservatives — will hope that John Diefenbaker can revitalize the Progressive Conservative party in order to restore the two-party system to this country. During the past two decades, ^he opposition to the government has been detrimentally weak —• it has not been able to provide the stimulation neces­ sary to give the nation its most ef­ ficient government. The- enthusiasm displayed at the PC leadership convention showed, without,<a doubt, that the (forty has the energy and ambition to regain its former position. The question is, does it have the leadership? John Diefenbaker, we believe, is a man who can improve the party’s position. We doubt, however, if at his age he can develop it to the point where - he will become the prime minister of this country. The party will have to foster other candidates for that position. Go By 25 YEARS AGO Miss Marjorie Medd, who is (Sfje (Lxeter ®imesi=^bi)ocate Timet Established 1873 Amalgamated 1924 Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Morning at Stratford/ Ontario An Independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Town of Exeter and District Authorized a* Second Class Meh, Post Office Department, Ottawa MEMBER: Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association/ Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation. AWARDS: 1956—A. V, Nolan trophy, ganaral excellent:* for newspaper* published in Ontario town* between 1,500 and 4,500 population; E. T. Stephenson Trophy for best front pago among Ontario weakly newspapers (also won Ih 1954). 1953—All- Canada hWiited Federation national safety award; Ontario Safety League award. t Plid-in-Ad vance Circulafioh a$ of September 30, 1955—2,734 I SUBSCRIPTION RX'TEf (In Advaneel-Canads $3.00 Per Year; U.S.A. $4.00* | 50 YEARS AGO Mr. Alvin Brintnell returned ___ ___u___ ___,, __ home from Goderich Saturday attending Macdonald Hall, night, having completed his ' Guelph, is home for the holidays, term’s work at Model School. llzzzzzhzz zz th" A meeting of those interested - ^he day in Kirkton. in a knitting factory was held in ™ni,nincf 1,11 nKmrt- the Town Hall on Tuesday night, but action was deferred until the new year. Mr. W. D. Sanders, who has been putting in a system of water works in hi? barn on Con. 2 Stephen is this week installing a gasoline engine for the, pur­ pose of chopping etc, Misses Amy Johns, Jessie Dow; and Anna Martin are expected home from Toronto today., Some of the students arriving home for the holidays are El­ more Senior, Roy Farmer, Herb Gregory, Ed Eacrett, Miss Win­ nie Carling, Herb Pickard and Miss Martha Carling. 15 YEARS AGO There will be no election in Exeter this year, all of the old. officials being retained in of­ fice. Postmaster Pfaff estimates about a ten per cent increase in Christmas mailings. The turnip waxing plant of S. Winer and Co. has had a record output of waxed- turnips with 36.000 bushels. Misses Ann-Morgan and Grace Decider of Usborne, who are at­ tending London Normal, and Miss Margaret Allison, Thames Road, who is attending Wester­ velt Business College, are home for Christmas holidays.-. The pupils of the Exeter Pub­ lie School have invested $306,75 in JVar Savings Certificates And stamps during the term from July 1. In a competition for- window display of cioetrio lamps, spon­ sored by the Ontario Hydro De­ partment, Miss Dorothy Davis won second prize and was A With ponderous glee the list. “Who in the all that’s* baffling,’’ I Lulu Butterworth, and we sending her a card?. I never heard of her in my. life.” My wife removes a stamp from her tongue and uses it on me. “It just so happens,” she says, in measured tones, “that Lulu But­ terworth is that dumb blonde with the big bust that you thought was so terrific in your philoso­ phy lectures twelve years ago and she sends us a card every year with her apartment ad­ dress and phone number in'Tor­ onto, and I*d like to .know why.” $ » “Oh,” I say. # * *■ There is a brief._____ ___ this. She has twelve cards, all the same, left over from last ' year, and she’s poring over the list, trying to figure out from all the tick marks, X’s and hen scratches who it was she sent the cards to last year, with the red Santa Claus on them. It would be-just simply dread ful if someone got the same card two years in a row. Awful. A gross breach of etiquette, “Why in the holy old heck,” I venture’ again, with a little less assurance, "do we * send cards to the Blankses?, We don’t like them, we’ve never be.en in their house, and half the time she doesn’t even speak to me on the street.” With icy logic, she replies: “Because she’s a mem­ ber of the Chapter and we were on the Ways and Means Com- mittee* together two years ago __t up * I survey name of ask, “is why are My • THE STERLING TRUSTS C O R P o Head Office; 372 Bay St., Toronto RATION Branch Office 1-3 Dunlop St., Barrie silence after 6 '-- ahd tHey sent year."❖ 4* I say. * * a card last ♦ * EXETER e X • THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF EXETER HAS' EMPOWERED ME TO PROCLAIM Wednesday, December 26 •A E ^Horseshoe pitching is the order Ml Mm From morning till night about 20 of our citzens can be-found in the church shed playing the game. The Canadian National Rail- ‘ way will run a special train from London to Wingham on Christmas eve. Family night was a feature of the special Christmas Sunday evening service at Main St. Church. Two families With seven children each: Messrs H. Jen­ nings and H. J. Kestle, Were present. ■ lessrs. Hugh Creech and Harry Jennings of the University of Western Ontario, Kenneth Stan- bury Of Osgoode Hall, Toronto, are home for the Christmas holidays. 10 YEARS AGO A Severe windstorm swept this district Thursday evening and did considerable damage. A stor­ age building at the Huron Lum­ ber' Company was completely demolished. The officers and directors of the Exeter Agricultural Society held a banquet at the Central Hotel Friday evening. Mr. J. Stewart, Ailsa Craig, was the speaker. A daylight attempt to rob the jewellery store of Mr. Fred Cole was foiled on Monday by Mrs. Colo. The first open meeting of the newly formed Chamber of Com­ merce, was held in the Legion rooms Monday. Four groupings have been set up: agriculture under Preston Dearing; industry under B. W. Tuckey; commerce under . Ulric Snell and civics under t>r. Doyle. I R. N. Creech has resigned aS chairman of the Hoard of Educa­ tion which he has served, many yoars^ , Silene’e, while I lick the glue •”on envelopes and she writes ad­ dresses on them. I think gloom­ ily of the millions of dollars spent on Christmas cards and the’ stamps to mail them. Would-, • ■ n’t it. be much finer, if every- ■ •one just donated the cost of their cards to a central fund? The total cost would probably mean two weeks in Florida this winter' for every old-age pensioner in Canada. I’m not completely an old crank about the Christmas card business. It has many things in its favour. For one, it tells me once a ycai' that my two broth­ ers are still alive. They have wives who send us Christmas cards. If they weren’t married, I’d never hear from them, , wouldn’t know where or whether they lived, or how many kids they had. * # # # (And I must admit it’s kind of nice to hear from old friends. Evgry yeai’ I get a card from Clancy Mulligan, a bow-legged little diggei* from Woolla-Worri, Australia. An old air force side­ kick, all he wanted to do was go back to Austrylyer and raise & $ * II pigs and he wished this *- %&”*” war would finish so he get at it. His cards each year reads something like: “My oath, Smiler, these $&$&’*”*”** pigs are sending me fair &$&$*” wild. I wish I was back in the b”15"** air force.” I always get a nostalgic smile out of Clancy’s card. Of course there’s another type of old friend you get cards from. Couple of years ago, I brought home a batch of cards from the post office. I never read them, just throw them on the table for my wife to check through and make surO we get a card from every- . body we sent one to. —Please Turn To Page 3 The Reader Comments Letters to the editor published herfeunddr represent views of in­ dividual persons, We Invite read, ers to make use of this column. 1956Clinton, December 15, To The Editor: On bohalf of Mr. Bolton, mysdlf, who represent the _ tario Department of Agriculture in this county, I would at this time like to thank you for the excellent coverage and publicity given to farm meetings and agricultural activities in 1956. Trusting that we may continue to enjoy this wonderful co-opera­ tion and wishing you and the menibers of your staff a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, G, W, Montgomery, Agricultural Fepresentative, For Huron County. and On* 4 Public Holiday \ AND I HEREBY URGE ALL CITIZEN^ K TO OBSERVE IT AS SUCH. • May I also -remind you to r ■SX, 4 Drive Safely Over The Holidays R. E. POOLEY, Mayor • 4 S /'<iiiii>iiiiiillliii)iiftiliiiillitiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiii)iiiiiuiiil.......Hiilililiniiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiin.iliiiii^ Business Directory VIC DINNIN Savings Investments and Annuity Certificates INVESTORS SYNDICATE of Canada, Limited INVESTORS MUTUAL of Canada' Ltd. Balanced Mutual Fund Shares PHONE 168 ZURICH BELL & LAUGHTON BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS &, NOTARIES PUBLIC ELMER D. BELL, Q.C. . C. V. LAUGHTON, L.L.B. Zurich Office Wednesday Afternoon Parkhill Thursday Afternoons EXETER PHONE 4 ALVIN WALPER PROVINCIAL LICENCED AUCTIONEER For your sale, large or. small, courteous and efficient service at all times. "Service that Satisfies" PHONE 57-r-2 DASHWOOD USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office: Exeter, President Martin Feeney R.R. Vice-President E. 01 ay toil Colquhoun Ontario 2 Dublin . ___1 R.R. 1 Science Rill Directors R.R. 1 Centralia Cromarty 1 KirktOn 8 Mitcliell Harry Coates : Wni, A. Hamilton Milton McCurdy R.R. Alex J. Rhode ft.R, Agents Thos. G< Ballantyne Clay ten Harris R.it. Stanley Hocking . _ Solicitor W. G, Cochrane Seciefary-Treasurer Arthur Fraser Exeter . O. 1 Woodham 1 Mitchell Mitchell Exeter W. G. COCHRANE, B.A. BARRISTER & SOLICITOR NOTARY PUBLIC Hensail Office Friday Afternoon EXETER PHONE 14 DR. H. H. COWEN DENTAL SURGEON L.D.S., D.'D.S. Main Street Exeter Closed Wednesday'Afternoon .PHONE 36 ARTHUR FRASER . INCOME TAX REPORTS BOOKKEEPING-SERVICE , ETC. Ann St., Exeter Phone 504 > G. A. WEBB, D.C.* ‘Doctor of Chiropractic 438 MAIN STREET, EXETER X*Ray and Laboratory Facilities Open Each Weekday Except Wednesday Tues. & Thurs. Evenings 7-9 For Appointment - Phone 606 .................... ............. * N. L. MARTIN OPTOMETRIST Main Stre€V Exeter Open Every Weekday Except.. Wdenesday For Appointment Phone 3554a JOHN WARD CHIROPRACTIC DRUGLESS ^THERAPIST Rear of 429 Main St., Exeter Phoiie 348 Closed on Wednesdays DR. J. W. CORBETT L.D.S., D.D.S. *1 DENTAL surgeon n 814 Main Street Sdufh Phoria 2>3 Exatei* Closed Wednesday Afternoons