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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1972-09-21, Page 4The campaign for the 1972 federal elec- tion is now underway. It promises to be exciting and those who fail to join in the campaign for the party of their choice are missing an opportunity to share in that excitement and the personal satisfaction that comes from working for democracy. All three major parties are off and running and unfortunately, the Progressive Conservatives have already been given one obstacle by their national association presi- dent, Don Matthews of London. Mr. Matthews apparently devised a great scheme to immediately put pressure on the Liberals. He suggested Prime Minister Trudeau was at fault in Canada's recent loss to the Russians in hockey. He went so far as to term the results of the first half of the series a "national dis- grace," Most Canadians agree the hockey is the best they've ever seen and no dis- grace was involved, The London PC stalwart is apparently one of the few Canadians who know nothing about hockey and that Mr. Trudeau's only involvement with the series was to issue a plea on behalf of hockey fans from coast to coast to get Bobby Hull into the Team Canada lineup. His comments constituted a slight to the intelligence of Canadians, and it was encouraging to hear that Mr. Trudeau in- itially refused comment on the charges, Hopefully, no further absurdities will be forthcoming because there are obviously enough real issues at stake to be discussed by the campaigners, Mr, Matthews may be well advised to sit on the sidelines for awhile because his comments have no doubt hurt his personal chances for election and further statements of that nature could drag his party along with him. Should be benched . Modern slave auction It must be a sign or portent of some sort, the symbol of a trend of our times, these numerous Queen or Beauty Contests. No country fair, regional exhibition, local pageant, civic hiliday or festival is apparently complete without the selection of a Queen or a Miss This, That or Somewhere. In these contests teenage girls vie with each other in dressing up and displaying their charms, with a crown being placed on the head of one delighted Miss, two others consoled with "princess" rating, and the remaining contestants relegated to tearful disappointment. The thing culminates each year with the choice of a Miss Canada ( there's a rival Miss Dominion of Canada, also, it seems), who then competes for a Miss Universe title, To date entries have not appeared from planets other than earth. Somewhere along the line, usually quite early in the sequence, commercialism's ugly head can be clearly glimpsed by the discerning, rearing itself behind the pretty faces of the contestants. By the time the Miss Canada stage is reached, no doubt is left in the mind of the chosen young woman that for the coming year she is the property of the agency sponsoring the contest, an advertising property for the products it seeks to promote. In all this decorating, parading and exploiting of our young women, there is a disturbing resemblance to those ancient auction block scenes at which female slaves were dressed, groomed and decorated by traders in order to bring the highest prices from prospective buyers. Contributed Time to quit being crybabies Need Canadian counterpart? Cookbook The complete stepArV-Step cooking and serving guide with over 750 pages. Suggested retail value $8.50. You save $4.51 0 Your choice AtIgc) only )1141144A \TOP— The Random House College Dictionary One of the most comprehensive, authoritative desk dictionaries ever published with over 155,000 up-to-date entries. Suggested retail value $7.95. You save $3.96 • KICOMMOTWECREEMEZINSWIEOPPIMPARMOVIMMASONeakaiNgSAMME:RWEEM Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 lriptotelerZintes-iinsocate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Women's Editor — Gwyn Whilsmith Phone 235'1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, March 31, 1972, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; Canada $8.00 Per Year; USA $10.00 I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that Canadians are turning into a nation of crybabies. It hurts, because I love this country and -want ,to respect and admire my fellow- citizens. But the feeling has been growing for some time and neared full flower after the first hockey game against the Russians. What an edifying spectacle that was! There were our finest, giving up everything — except salaries, insurance, expenses and other fringe benefits — to defend our national honour against those dastardly Russians who'd had the nerve to think they belonged on the same ice. And there was a huge and happy crowd of hockey fans, almost slavering over the an- ticipated slaughter. And there were the poor old Russians, walking into the lion's den, some of them so pint-sized compared to our hulking menaces that they looked as though they were fairly large Peewee players. Whack! went the puck into the net and the roof nearly went off the Forum. Whack! again, and across the nation people winked at each other and settled back to speculate on whether the Russians could score a goal before our heroes got into two figures. But then something began to happen that turned strong men across the country a pale gray. Those dumb Russians didn't know enough to quit and go home and forget the whole thing as a bad dream. They just kept skating and passing and shooting, and every so often, one ,of their shots would go into the Canadian net. The happy crowd in the Forum grew glummer and glummer. Team Canada, the greatest, and most expensive collection of hockey talent ever gathered under one roof, looked more and more like the Hayfork Centre Midgets. But just wait until the third period. After all, these guys are pro's. They'll get organized and come back to win the game with a bang. Unfortunately, the game en- ded, not with a ba.ig, but a whimper. Toward the end, the visitors were toying with the Canadians as a toreador plays a bull. And toward the end, our boys began to resemble bulls, rushing wildly at anything that moved, only to find it wasn't there. Not content with looking like the Ladies' Aid on skates, some Canadian players showed anything but professionalism and began swinging sticks, throwing elbows, and such. Crybaby stuff. What about the fans? Did they give the Russians a standing ovation, or even a hearty round of applause for toppling the giants? Not they. They filed sullenly out of the arena, muttering, grasping for excuses,dazed. They hadn't had their blood. The toreador had not been tossed by the bull, and the bull had not even been neatly dispatched, just sort of stunned. Crybabies. In the next morning's papers, it was rather fun to watch the ex- perts and the sports writers tearing at their own entrails like wounded hyenas, a species which sports writers resemble in some respects, Crybabies. To be fair, the players and coaches were honest. They'd been well and thoroughly whipped, and admitted it. Since then, of course, things have changed and our businessmen on skates are showing why they are so well paid. But the fact is that if it had been a one-game shot, the Russians would be truly world champs. And if it had been a two- game series, total goals to count, the Russians would be winners, 8- 7. Somehow, the whole thing was a little saddening. I know a number of people who felt that their personal honour had been smirched. There were aggravated ulcers, endless alibis, and probably some heart attacks across this fair land. Over a game! I chose this single incident to illustrate this sinking feeling I have that many Canadians have their values all turned around. We whine endlessly about the Americans taking over Canada, and do nothing about it. Except warn stridently that something must be done about it. And then run to Washington, hat in hand,, when the Yanks suggest any fern) of tariff that might cost us dollars. Crybabies. We virtually ignore our writers, actors, artists, musicians, until they have made it big somewhere else. Then we can't understand why they don't come home and work in their own vineyard, at labourers' wages. Same with our athletes. We sneer at their Olympic efforts "Yeah, we finished twenty-third again." Smarmy sportscasters find all kinds of excuses for the athletes, Admirable, most of the latter are much more honest. The best of them bluntly say they did the best they could, but it wasn't good enough. Oh, we're great at spending billions on building: highways, dams, high-rises; and on welfare, Quick, name the world's most famous bridges! Chances are, most people would come up with London Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. All three have gained a form of notoriety which is slightly surprising when you consider the fact a bridge is really nothing more than a bunch of steel and concrete spanning a water system. The Brooklyn Bridge is most famous for the number of owners which it has had over the years, Of course, it has never really changed ownership, but it has been the brunt of jokesters who periodically attempt to sell it to some unsuspecting soul, The joke has been used so of- ten, it actually leads one to conjecture as to whether someone has in reality been talked out of some hard cash for the structure. The London Bridge, of course, is steeped in history and has been dragged off to some desert area in Texas as a tourist attraction, Now, the Golden Gate Bridge iS another story. It's main claim to fame is the fact it is the most alluring suicide spot in the United States. The graceful span, which has inspired songwriters and poets since it opened in 1937, has drawn at least 456 persons to their deaths. The 230-foot plunge over the burnt-orange railings lasts about three to five seconds. Only six people have leaped and survived. A University of California clinical psychologist and suicide expert was recently asked why jumping off the bridge was such a popular way to end it all. He replied that is was "an available, quick and sure means of death which requires no preparation or expense", He went on to explain the publicity angle may be the most com- pelling factor. Most people who kill themselves are never reported on, but if you jump off the bridge, you make the news. It therefore becomes a great attraction for those whose life has been friendless and obscure. It's a glamorous way to go! In 'recent years, the suicide rate on the bridge has been in- creasing and the average is now more than one per week, despite the fact television cameras mounted on towers keep a con- stant surveillance of the bridge. These cameras are watched by bridge personnel 24 hours a day, and in addition there are roving patrols which spot possible suicides and stop and question people loitering on the bridge. + The other two bridges have also had their fair share of suicides and as you will note, none of them are in Canada. This leads to the possibility of some enterprising ghoul establishing such a facility in this area. A 320-fobt bridge would not be required, because most of the area streams would provide the advantage of suffocating the victim if he should manage to survive the plunge.. Crowds are always attracted to see suicide attempts, so there could be some additional revenue gained from this source, There would be a need for ac- medicare, second-rate education, But when it comes to spending something on the development of the human being, in this case a strong ,national team of athletes, we pinch the purse until it hurts. This is written more in sorrow than in anger. Let's wipe away the tears and stand up in the true north, strong and free. Come on, canadians. Let's not be crybabies. commodation of spectators at motels and of course a restaurant or two to look after their culinary needs. TV cameras could be employed to provide "instant replays" for those who may be otherwise occupied when a leap was made and victims could get a preview of how they are going to appear as they plummet towards their end, People may think the suggestion rather morbid, but many segments of our society take financial advantage of peoples' desire to do away with themselves. The cigarette industry spends millions to help those enslaved with the habit to continue and end their lives and the booze makers do the same and their victims end up being pried out of wrecked cars. Few people appear to care about the fact that they con- tribute to the pollution which can shorten their lives and young people are continually ex- perimenting with drugs which eat their brains and leave them vegetables. So what's wrong with capitalizing on the fact there are those who want to do away with themselves in one foul stroke? One of our readers dropped into the office this week with a news clipping from Exeter's namesake in England. Seems the police in 50 Years Ago The Exeter Fair was held Mon- day and Tuesday of this week. A large crowd was present, There was a good showing of horses; the cattle were a little light; and there was an excellent showing of poultry. The indoor exhibit was one of the best in years. The horse races attracted many spec- tators. The gate receipts amounted to over $600. The Exeter Junior Ball team will go into the finals with Owen Sound for the honors in the Junior NorthWellington Baseball League. Mr. F. A. Chapman manager of the Canadian Bank of Commerce in town has been transferred to the Leamington branch. Mr. R. Complin has been transferred from Toronto to the Exeter branch. While threshing on Thursday last, Mr. Hal Browp of Usborne, in trying to adjust a belt on the separator which runs the elevator, got his hand caught which resulted in the loss of one or more fingers from his left hand. 25 Years Ago Mr, Robert Sanders of town was awarded 15 firsts and one second out of 17 entries in vegetables at the Exeter Fair last Thursday. Norman Long, Kippen, mail courrier, fell while unloading beans and fractured a bone in his ankle. Exeter Fall Fair on Thursday surpassed any similar event held in town. Favored with excellent weather, the crowd was es- timated at 6,000. Mr. Jack Mallett, London paraded in an Exeter Band un- iform and played one of the kettle-drums at the Exeter Fair. Students who have resumed their studies at the University of Western Ontario are Don Tra. quair, Norman Hannigan, Peter Fraser, Misses Helen Snell and Gwenneth Jones. 15 Years Ago Laying of pre-steel concrete slabs for the bridge deck on the Devonshire and Cornwall are facing similar problems to those here as they have been in- vestigating a rash of thefts. Over there, the target has been surf boards. The police printed up and distributed 10,000 leaflets war- ning surfers of the danger of leaving their boards on car-top racks. However, they used some unusual approaches and we reprint the article as it was distributed. "Some yuk with a perch for boo hoards has dippled plenty on this scene. If you're not for making out with the weepies on the loss awareness of your boo board, nix out on the fade with it stashed on the moke or cooling on the saltgrit . "Make it with the twirl in some uptight spot. Quit scuffing your creepers man, Do it like now. Spread by the fuzz of Devon and CornWall -h'elplisock it to the mean 'cats." Translated this means: "Some unpleasant person who wants surfboards has stolen a number in this vicinity. If you do not wish to regret the loss of your own board, do not leave it on your car or lying on the beach. "Lock it up safely. Do not delay. Do it at once. — Circulated by Devon and Cornwall police to combat these thieves." Morrison Dam in Usborne township was started Wednesday by Pearce Construction. Gwen Spencer, Hensall was elected president of the SHDHS student council in a school-wide vote. Vice president is Bill Marshall; secretary Robin Smith; and treasurer, Rosemary Dobson. Stormy lake has hindered the Dean Construction Co., Belle River, from continuing its dredging operations in Grand Bend harbour this week. The firm has a contract from the federal government to haul 8,500 cubic yards of silt from the mouth. Mrs. A. E. Whiting, RR 3, Parkhill, edged out Mrs. Luther Reynolds by 10 firsts and four seconds to 10 firsts and three seconds to take top honors in the flower competition at Exeter Fair. 10 Years Ago Ann Funk was just one of the winners at the Hensall school fair Tuesday, Her winning picture was taken from an illustration in her school reader. The fair was held Tuesday night following a parade through' Hensall main street led by Clinton Legion Pipe Band. Hon. Charles S. MacNaughton, Exeter, minister without port- folio in the Ontario government welcomed the British Minister of Transport Ernest Marples, and Mrs. Marples to the Ontario government stand at Britain's Food Fair, Town council Monday night showed some hesitancy about supporting a swimming pool campaign for the community. They decided to try to purchase land for the pool, but were not, eager to take responsibility for maintenance or to make a grant toward the cost of construction. Mr, and Mrs, Glen Belling, Toronto, spent the weekend with his parents, Mr, and Mrs. Robert Belling before moving to Ottawa where he has been appointed assistant manager of the main branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia. SAVE Do It Yourself Dryclea,ning Large 8 lb. load Only $3.50 SNOWSUITS, COATS, DRAPES, KNITS, ETC. Grand Bend Laundramat on Highway 21 South of Grand Bend (next to the Catholic Church) RVROR5RVROR5RVRO IT'S A LITTLE RED PILL! Can you tell what a medicine is by just looking at it? It's pretty difficult considering that there are dozens of shapes, a full spectrum of colors and hundreds of markings for pills and capsules. The possible combinations are endless. Knowing about medicines is the most im- portant part of being a pharmacist. We take this responsibility and challenge seriously and care- fully study about each new drug as it is released to us for public use. But, when someone stops in and says, "You know. It was a little red pill," it is not an easy matter to know exactly what medicine it is. ffi Bob Middleton, PhmB Stan HorrelI,PhmB Y g IDDLETON Drugs. 27,•. • PHONE 235-1570 EXETER RnRgR'VRC.Rg.aRR, • An invitation to take Cr*Zr.OP e nt[81 1 VM and save dollars on one of these books. For warmth you can rely on, sign up today for CO-OP Fuel Oil Service — and cash in twice 1. The assurance of worry-free, winter-long home heating comfort and 2. A Special Bonus Cookbook or Dictionary offer that is a real thrifty buy! This offer is available to all new and existing CO-OP Home Heat customers, Exeter District (or-op ,235-2081 Beside the C.N.R. Station c...t.:!rrotal Home Heat Service Warmth you can rely on ! 4 • Bb