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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1971-09-16, Page 4Often on wrong side It would be interesting if someone would figure out the number of insurance claims paid out on behalf of the Town of Exeter — or for any municipality, for that matter — over the past few years, Each year a number of claims are received from ratepayers for damage to their property or themselves, and practically without fail the insurance• company fires back a letter that the corporation has no responsibility in the matter. While council members often dispute the verdict of the insurance claim, they seldom take steps to pursue the matter. One of the reasons for that situation is the fact councillors often see themselves in the wrong position regarding insurance claims. They put themselves on the defense, when in fact they should be on the offense, working on behalf of the ratepayer whom they represent. In that regard, Exeter council should be commended for action last week when they decided to pursue the matter of cars being sprayed with prime during the dust preventative program on the streets. Too often, a negative reply from an insurance company would have prompted council members to drop the subject, but in this case they felt the claims should be paid. That's the type of attitude which should be displayed in more claims. Because the taxpayers pay the premiums for the protection, councils should fight for settlements when claims by those same taxpayers arise and appear justified. An ounce of prevention The number of area theft cases in the past month or so is rather disturbing, particularly in an area where for years people have not been forced into taking precautions required in some urban areas. Residents in rural areas are normally more trustworthy of their fellow man, and there are still many who leave their homes unlocked, keys in their cars, valuables out in the open, etc. At a time when more and more transients are on the roads, this is a practice that most people should change for their own protection. The rash of thefts also indicates that citizens should be more conscious of what is going on about them. The movements of strangers along a country road or a village street should be given some su - ;Mance. Contact the police if you suspect something amiss in your neighborhood, and hope that your neighbor will do the same in your absence. It is often found that an unusual number of thefts can be almost eliminated if the police can capture one or two persons. A number of thefts does not indicate a number of thieves, but often only one or two who are aided by the carelessness of their victims or a lack of concern by their victims' neighbors. IF I had only one year! Don't worry. Not me.I hope to live at least two, or even three years more. But I sometimes wonder what I would do if I were told that I had exactly one year to live. And I'd like you to think about what you would do. This is not a new theme, but it's always an interesting one when it comes up in fiction or philosophy or just a plain gab-fest. Let's suppose. Suppose you had been to a doctor and have learned that you have a fatal illness (make up your own) and' will die in approximately one year. You won't be sick or in pain until your last hour and you'll go out quickly. How would you spend that year? What you would do would certainly reveal very clearly what sort of person you really are behind that facade that most of us wear daily. There would be the initial shock, of course. Humans have some weird idea that they are immortal, until they finally are stricken by some deadly illness. But after the shock wore off? Then we'd see a separation of the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats. Some people would become constant whiners. "why does God have to do this to me? I've contributed to charity." And so on. Some of these would become so bitter they would turn against God, their friends and relatives. A pretty sour way to go, Some would be so depressed they would crack up mentally and become vegetables. Others would adopt fatalistic epicureanism (if there's such a thing). Their attitude would be. "If I'm gonna go, I'm gonna enjoy it. They would escape into alcohol, drugs, sex; not necessarily in that order. Some people would become instant Christians or whatever. They would be filled with a terrible fear of the after-life, and would spend their twelve months on their knees, in church, and desperately doing "good works" in an effort to make up for all the bad works they had done in the rest of their lives. Now, not one of us, gentle reader ,would fall into any of those classifications. Question is, where would we fall? First decision I would make would be not to waste one second of that year. If every second in a year were used fully, the one year could be more rewarding than all the previous ones put together. Next, I would make a superb effort to love my neighbour as myself. This is a tough one. In the first place, it's extremely "I'd like to see the ten thou- sand pairs of shoes you advertised were on sale!" "Have you one that only tells your fortune?" difficult to love oneself. Most of us seem to, but many of us secretly despise ourselves. In the second place, some of us have appalling neighbours (we don't). But I'd have a good whack at it, not as a "hedge" to make sure of getting through those pearly gates, but because I believe in it. Good old love. My first action would be to divert myself of all material possessions, except a toothbrush and a few clothes. Would even get rid of a razor The proceeds? I wouldn't give them to the poor. The hell with them. They can go on welfare, and it would be only a drop in the bucket anyway. And I wouldn't leave them to my family, either, They could go out to work for a change. I'd quit my job, take the whole $500 of my estate in one-dollar bills, and burn then, one by one, to the screams of anguish from on-lookers. That would be cutting the umbilical cord of the system and I'd be free for the first time in many years. Then don the knapsack, pick up the begging bowl (a wooden salad bowl) and take off. I'd see every inch of Canada I could see. And I would savour every sight, sound, taste, touch and smell (even whiskey-breath and onions) I could come in contact with in this most won- derful of worlds. Might die in a ditch, but what's the difference? How about you? Put down carefully and briefly what you think you would do with a year to live. Send it yo your local editor. I'd like to reprint some of your ideas. Hey, I might even get a divorce, remarry, and make some other woman's life miserable for a year. Just an afterthought, liefiffiSsama.mistalumasimammentta. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor—Bill Batten—Advertising Manager Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning w,,„0 at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1970, 4,675 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8,00 .:44V,,o.2.4,=,1.4,1Z4;rx.sTantanSi 1' TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN ciaffintoTekeram 8Yndicate Eric is a handsome lad of French and Irish descent, with dark eyes, brown hair, and dark skin, A husky, healthy boy, he enjoys vigorous outdoor activities, especially swimming and baseball. At 10 years, Eric has many friends and is popular with his schoolmates. Perhaps because he is a quiet lad, not very assertive, he prefers to play with children younger than himself, Even with them he is not bossy, playing a friendly big-brother role. Eric is a pleasant boy to have around, because he is co-operative and creates no discipline problems either in school or in his foster home. He is not a great scholar, but he tries hard. Eric's amiable disposition will make him a happy addition to a warm relaxed family. He needs a home where he will receive a great deal of affection, where the father will share his interest in sports and where there is no pressure for academic achievement. To inquire about adopting Eric, please write to Today's Child, Department of Social and Family Services, Parliament Buildings, Toronto 182. For general adoption information, ask your Children's Aid Society. MEN'S WEAR No.,..11114.n.1 ( Utt;FX PHONE 235-2320 MAIN ST. EXETER the •fillhatIVAt collection , is a step up in quality, but not in price. 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For Full Details contact Beaver, phone the Beaver Home Consultant or mail the coupon below. r A BEAVER 50 YEARS AGO Among the many outstanding features of the Exeter Fair last week was the egg demonstration put on by the Government, assisted by C.F. Hooper. Other noteworthy exhibits were those of M.C. Gardiner, with a most beautifully arranged line of furniture; W.W, Taman, gents' suiting and furnishings and 0. Southcott, store goods. Mr. Allen W. Sceli has again taken a position at the Huron Garage. Messrs E.J. Wethey, H, Spa ck- man, W.C. Rivers and G.E. Anderson won the Friday evening bowling tourney. Sometime during one night last week thieves got into the store of W.W. Taman and stole a quantity of men's furnishings. They got through the cellar window and went out the back door. of Gram's Trophy, donated by The Times Advocate to the champion cook of the district at the Fall Fair. Bob Scott, 18, of Exeter, sur- vived one of the worst wrecks in this district's history Monday when his car literally wrapped itself around a tree on No. 4 high- way south of Brucefield. Bus transportation for rural students costing approximately $30,000 for the school year, was approved at a meeting of SHDHS last week, Charles L. Jinks, 78, a resident of Hensall for over 50 years and rural mail courier on R.R. 1, Hensall for 34 years, is retiring because of 'ill health. Dianne Rannie, Hensall won first for her safety poster at the Hensall School Fair, Friday. Over 800 entries were exhibited by children from six schools. 10 YEARS AGO Another remember when After our comments on suspenders in last week's issue, we tried desperately to come up with a topic that would remove any suggestion that the writer was an old-timer. However, an activity we en- joyed over Labor Day, that deserves some comment, hardly fills the bill. Fact is, the facial foliage may have to go one of these days just to exhibit our youthful countenance - if there is any left since the last time we saw beneath the stubble back in December of '66. That's 1966 by the way. At any rate, we got at the controls of an ice cream maker on the holiday and turned out a couple of delicious batches of ice cream. For the edification of some of our younger readers, producing ice cream was once almost strictly confined to the household. While the ingredients have always been with us, the storage required was not available before the advent of home freezers and refrigerators. By the time grandpa drove the buggy home from the corner store, all he would have of the store-bought variety was a container of mushy cream. So, a big event. in most area families was when mother an- nounced that ice cream would be made for Sunday dinner. It had to be produced on a day when everyone had some extra time on his hands, because the crank on the ice cream maker had to be turned up to half an hour before the product was ready for the table. The recipes for ice cream varied, of course, but the one we helped whip up on the weekend consisted of five eggs, a half pint of whipping cream, five teaspoons of vanilla and the gallon container was filled with milk. This container is set in the middle of a large wooden bucket, which is then filled with ice and liberally sprinkled with salt, to help the ice melt and produce the cooling compound . Then the work begins. A handle turns a "dasher" in the centre of the gallon container and you - along with as many people as you can muster - continue the turning until it reaches a muscle-binding tension that suggests the ice cream has reached eating stages. The expert on hand to help us then took out some of the ice cream and ordered some more turning to give the balance a more creamy texture. + + + Sunday afternoon, we had about seven kids on hand to help with the turning, and when the top came off there were about 16 fingers into the ice cream for the first taste, One of the most enjoyable aspect8 about home-made ice cream, from their standpoint in particular, is the fact it doesn't preserve its creamy consistency and rich flavor if stored, so it is best to eat it all, Relating our experience to some of the "senior" members of the staff, each had some fond recollections of making ice cream, although the women's editor had to Spoil some of the enjoyment by noting that it contained many more calories than 'the commercial variety, Another related how disap- pointed One could become on finding that the salt poured over t. the ice had somehow managed to get into the ice cream cylinder. Some people use salt on most of the foods set before them, but ice cream is one exception, Another warning regarding the salt added to the ice must be heeded. Some people, on their first experience merely toss the melted substance onto the lawn, finding to their chagrin the next day, that the salt has started to eat away a fair section of their lawn. Ice cream makers are still available on the market today, although we know of few people who have one. There is even an electric variety which takes most of the work out of the task, although much of the fun comes from cranking. It also increases your appetite. We found it a great experience for the kids, and even for the old man, despite the thoughts of some people, is from an era a little removed from the day when making home-made ice cream was the order of the day. + + + You may or may not be in- terested in the weekly hap- penings of the Lucan Legion as recorded each week by Sid Daley 25 YEARS AGO Over 10,000 ration books were issued in the Exeter district. Mr, R.N, Creech, who was in charge of the distribution here, was assisted by a number of volunteer workers, A half penny bank token of the Bank of Upper Canada was found by Mrs. M. McAvoy in her gar- den. Date on the coin was 1857. A double funeral for Charles Stephenson, Hensall farmer, and his grandson, who were killed by the collapse Of a barn wall Tuesday, was held Thursday at the farm home, Parr Line. Arthur Willert, who has been a patient in Victoria Hospital for the past three weeks, underwent a serious operation on his arm, Saturday, 15 YEARS AGO Mrs. Abner Passmore, R.R. 1, Woodham, mother of three children, became the first winner in this newspaper. However, we find it's always worthwhile to at least glance at the concluding thought penned by the amiable OPP Sergeant each week. Last week, for instance, he came up with this little gem: Chicken and people are alike in that the more you give them the less they scratch for themselves. Any further comment on that is obviously not required. By the way, now that fall •ac- tivities have started for all area clubs and organizations, we do urge you to get someone to report your activities to this newspaper. We're not interested in knowing who read the minutes,, but if you're group isn't doing something which our readers would find of interest, we suggest you take a good look at the value of your organization. Every group has something of interest to report and we ap- preciate getting them. You may not be able to find anyone as capable as Sid Daley, but even if someone supplies us with the facts, we'll put it into a readable account for you. Ken Cudmore,London,formerly of Exeter, was winner of the $25,000 Shrine home give away at the Western Fair this week. Kongskilde Maskinfabrik, of Soroe, Denmark, has purchased the former North Land Hatchery Ltd. building on No. 83 highway W.G, Cochrane, chairman of Exeter Industrial Development Corporation, announced this week, Norma Westgate, the new public health nurse for this district, spoke of her experiences as a missionary with Eskimos at Pangnirtung, Baffin Land, at the Women's Federation of James Street United Church. As part of its 50th anniversary Celebration, Sunday, the Ladies Aid of Zion Lutheran Church, Dashwood, contributed a $1,500 carpet for the auditorium, Mr. & Mrs, James Hyde, Andrew street, have sold their residence to Miss Lauretta Slegner of the SIISIIS Staff,