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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1972-12-07, Page 4Apathy at high level Several other communities have ex- perienced vacancies after the first nomina- tion period in early November, but in many of them more than one candidate came forth to seek the position and an election was require& Not so in McGillivray. No one apparently wants the job despite the ease with which it could have been attained. It's doubtful that the situation would have arisen under the former nomination procedures, because those at the meetings usually saw what was happening and urged people among them to allow their names to stand. Under the new procedures set forth by the provincial government, the onus is on the candidate and many people are too Self, Conscious to initiate the action necessary on their own behalf. At any rate, McGillivray has a problem and the residents should take immediate steps to make certain a qualified candidate is persuaded to fill the vacancy when the nomination is opened again. A vital step The Province of Ontario has set vibrant precedents in its clamp-down on Universi- ty, College and Hospital spending. The Ministries involved have sent out firm directives that no building or additions can be allowed and that spending guidelines . no more than 5% will be funded. This is coming to grips with the facts of life . . economically. This is a meaningful example to municipal governments who must take their cue from the Province and slim down the budget. In the past attempts to issue across-the- board limits have met with disdain at the Sarnia Council level , and we fault Paul Blundy now, as we did the past six successive budget meetings for failing to look ahead! In any event if it is good enough for the Province it is now good enough for the municipalities and let us hope that the word is heeded. — Sarnia Gazette The star we follow News these days, whether reaching us through the daily paper or via the airwaves, seems to consist of one calamity after another — more deaths in Ireland, more repression in South Africa, more examples of injustice and man's inhumanity to man. When we reflect on all this woe, it is easy to despair of both individuals and society. But not at Christmas. As we prepare for this 'festival of the heart' another and happier aspect of mankind is revealed. Human beings can be unselfish and tender too, and the heartening message of this season is that we can trust these qualities. We are as capable of love as of hate, of idealism as of cynicism, and on them the world makes its slow but not always insubstantial gains. Despair always fetters; it is love that inspires. History is studded with the names of the ruthless from Caesar's legions to Hitler and Stalin, but their stars flashed briefly and then vanished. It is another star we follow with hope and yearning each December, and it takes us to a Bethlehem stable and a Babe whom man cannot forget. In his name and in his spirit the Cardinal Legers, the Dr. Robert McClures, the Jean Vaniers and the Dag Harnmerskjolds live, or have lived among us. At this season we dare believe the best and final word is with them: "Where charity stands watching And faith holds wide the door The dark night wakes, the glory breaks and Christmas comes once more . "- - Phillips Brooks May it so come to us all. — Contributed cials already?" ' ETTIONTON "Do you have anything for someone who's sick of all those Christmas comme Stephen Electors Thank you for your support, A strong local govern- ment communicates with and cc rr les out the desires of the people. I look forward to the opportunity of serving you, David McClure ,i1.1111.1...11111.111•10•MMINIMMINIeMIONIMINIMMINIIMIR.11 1111111111111/11.1, To the electors of Dashwood The support given me at the polls was very much appreciated. Special thanks to those who worked on my behalf. DOUG RIDDELL Thank you, Grand Bend I will not betray your confidence. Season's greetings to all. Murray Des Jardins 10. rite ekadematt ?ewe ' A WOMAN'S PLACE 4 is in a MAN'S STORE Buy 'HIS' Gift Where He Selects His Wardrobe Our only job, all day,every day, is pleasing men! We spend 12 months each year just selling men the things they want....That's why you can't go wrong when you make your selection here, where we guarantee STYLE and QUALITY in a man's gift. 4 to ;tA MAY WE SUGGEST FOR HIM • Ties • Shirts • Sweaters • Socks • Belts • Hats • Scarves • Suits • Co-Ordinates • Trousers s Wallets • Cuff Links • Tie Tacks SUPER SPECIAL Clearing Limited • • Quantity of Sweaters Values From '1195 to s22.00 NOW PRICED FROM $5 00 TO 9 95 qeorge vrie,se filen 55 MAIN St. The Store With the Stock ExETER ggva tgfdlar, or14,041PAi 4:***0'.ed tzltsrm trit4 IgN*ti Oki wki dtri6 rM S 0 Editor — Bill Batten Advertising Manager Assistant Editor -- Ross Haugh Women's Editor — Gwyn Whilsmith Phone 235-1131 SERVING CANADA'S BEST PARMLAND C.W.N.A„ 0,W,N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Puhlished Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0306 Paid in Advance Circulation, March 31, 1972, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATS: Canada $8,00 Per Year; USA ;10.00 All need it at least once A tale of cancelled plans pretty lonely out there in the middle of the floor when your partner, who has been shamed for life, gives you a look like a cold shower, and stalks away forever. "What? Don't you people ever go to a country dance and get hurled about?'; I badgered my students. Nope, So I had to tell them what it was like. When I was their age, we used to strike off many a Friday night. Usually for Wemyss, where they had the prettiest girls (Jo and Vera Dewitt, Ursula Brady), and the best music (Larne Consitt on the piano and Mr. Dewitt on the fiddle.) There was no question of taking girls. We couldn't afford it. But there was always the hope that you'd get to take one home. However, they always seemed to have several huge brothers or cousins lurking about. It was about $1.00 for the evening. Fifty cents for the dance, eight-five cents for a mickey of gin, split four ways, and the rest for gas for somebody's old man's car. "Have you never got into a square dance and been literally swept off your feet?" I questioned my girl students. Nope. But some of them looked as though they rather liked the idea. And I thought of those burly ...'it.AkaMilSZNORMAVEXISI • Amalgamated 1924 Experts tell us one of the problems with society is the fact parents have lost touch with their children.Familiesdon't do things as a unit any more, with each member having his own pursuit and meeting only briefly around the dining room table a couple of times a day. We've found the perfect solu- tion. It's called hockey. The game has taken over the Batten household this year and changed our lives completely. Our two eldest sons are playing on their first "all-star" team with an energetic, fun-loving group of lads known as the Ex-, eter Waxers. For the uninitiated the kids are eight and under, One of their younger brothers plays in the Saturday morning houseleague. , The season started out not too badly. We leave home Saturday morning at 10:30 or so to get the youngest onto the ice and we get home for dinner around 1:15 after the other two have finished their workouts. Wednesday night at 6:00, mother bundles the two Waxers and her other two chargers into the car for an hour's practice. No drastic changes in the household from that schedule. However, the Waxers are now playing games. Our first rude awakening as to how our lives were to be changed came a cou- ple of weeks ago. We had planned a night away with some friends. A call came in a couple 'of days prior to depar- ture time that the kids were to play hockey in Goderich. Cancel plans for a trip away with friends. Last weekend the better half was exhibiting at London's Art Mart and we had decided to go down Friday evening to take in part of the show as any husband would. The kids then had a hockey game scheduled, with Goderich returning to Exeter. Cancel plans for a trip to Art Mart. The non-hockey players thought they would like to go to London to see the Santa Claus parade. The other two wanted to stay home for hockey practice. - Cancel plans for seeing London's Santa Claus parade. Come Christmas time, the editor is taking off a couple of extra days. A good time to visit farm boys, getting into the spirit of things and whirling the girls around until the latter were ac.: tually flying. Occasionally, swea- ty hands spelled disaster, and one of the girls would go flying off into the lunch the ladies were organizing. The lunch was part of the admission fee of Sec And I thought of occasions when I had got into a doh-se-doh with a particularly enthusiastic and buxom farm wench, and, because I couldn't foot it like the farm boys, been swung around in circles with both feet three in- ches off the floor. A couple ofbeltsof raw gin, and a couple Of dances like that, and you were ready and Willing to go out into the snow and gaze, palely and greenly at the moon for a half hour or so, Inside the hall, with a wood stove almost red hot, and a hun- dred or so bodies steaming, it was always about 130 degrees. And this was in the days before ultra-dry deodorants. But I don't remember anybody smelling anything except hot and per- furney. Eventually, there'd be a fight, or lunch would be served, then it was into the Model A and shiver home through the winter night. No heater. But, oh, what a night we'd had, and oh, What stories we regaled our leSs venturesome school- Mates With, when we fore- gathered at the pool room on Saturday afternoon. Poor modern kids. Do they have any fun? friends. The kids have a hockey tournament. Cancel plans to visit friends. Before the season is over we may be ready to string up that chap who penned those famous words: "Don't send your boy to the arena — take him". Obvious- ly he didn't have four sons. ** There's been a considerable change in the business world in the area over the past month or so, with a number of businesses expanding or coming into the area for the first time. Unfortunately, we've also lost three businesses, but still managed to come out on the plus side. Over the weekend area residents were invited to the open house for the new home of Exeter Flowers, which is cer- tainly an attractive building on Exeter's Main St.; the Royal Bank also held an open house for their modern new facilities and Eaton's opened their recently renovated order e. Shirley Smith, who operates a store at Grand Bend, officially opened her Country Spire Gift Studio in the former Ray's United Church and a week ago Hotson's marked the opening of their hardware store near Grand Bend. Not to be outdone, Simpson's 50 Years Ago The second annual High School Commencement exercises were held in the Opera House Friday enening of last week. Prof. H.R. Kingston, of the Western University Ektension Department gave an illustrated lecture on "The Wonderful Heavens", The scholarship for proficiency was awarded to Harry Seldon and the gold medal for• general proficiency to A. Bruce Medd. Southcott Bros. have pur- chased from Miss L. Johns the Johns block on Main Street at present occupied by them and by the Post Office. Marks Bros appeared in the Exeter Opera House on Wed- nesday and Thursday evenings and drew fairly large houses. The oyster supper which was held in Town Hall at Crediton on Friday last was a spendid suc- cess. A special meeting of the Exeter UFO was held in Senior's Hall Thursday evening with addresses being given by W. Black, MP and A. Hicks, MPP. 25 Years Ago Mr. Eric Mcllroy, proprietor of Lakeview Casino, at Grand Bend is suffering from burns received when he carried a burning stove from an aparetment near his winter home in the Pinery. Over 3,000 envelopes were sent to the district families at the first of the week by the Exeter Branch of the Canadian Legion to raise funds to be sent to Care for the hungry families of Britain. Mr. and Mrs. John Perkins celebrated their diamond wed- ding anniversary on Sunday. William H. Golding, Liberal Member for Huron-Perth will serve again as deputy-chairman of committees of the whole House, 'is Years Ago Graham Mason, air force veteran, is the new president of Exeter Legion, He succeeds Harry Holtzman,. Receiving the most honors at Huron County 441 achievement have expanded and modernized their Exeter order office. Over the past year, several other businesses have es- tablished in the area or moved to new premises. Some that .come to mind are Glady Mae's Bouti- que, Exeter Ford Equipment, Jerry MacLean & Son Automotive, Save-U Gas Bar, Polka Dot Fabrics, Cook's Divi- sion of Gerbro at Centralia, etc. The activity in this area does indicate that people are making sizeable investments in its future. While some existing businesses may not welcome openly the new competition, each new business attracts more and more people -into the area and certainly helps the business corn-. munity as a whole. Don't forget to be in Exeter this Saturday to see the Santa Claus parade. * * * This is one year the writer and his last-minute shopping counter- parts will be able to say they didn't leave everthing until the day before Christmas. With Christmas on a Monday, we'll have to get out on Saturday, a whole two days prior to the big day. night in Wingham Friday were Patsy Marshall, RR 1, Kirkton and Gerald Wallis, RR 1, Granton. Both were presented with a watch and a trophy. Gerald scored the highest marks in the county and Patsy was tops in the dairy clubs. Town council Monday night postponed decision on a recommendation from the police committee to purchase radar equipment at a cost of about $1,500. Winners of the store decoration contest were announced this week. They were the Burkley Restaurant, Russell Electric and Jack Smith Jeweller, Winter weather will prevent the completion of the Morrison dam this year, although the road will be opened. William Hess, son of Mr. and Mrs, Albert G. Hess, Zurich, has recieved his embalmer's licence from the Ontario Embalming School, Toronto and is now with a funeral Home in Woodstock. 10 Years Ago Exeter streets were jammed with spectators Tuesday to herald the arrival of Santa Claus and the two other Christmas floats which formed the Exeter Businessnien's Association parade, along with the Legion Pipe Band, Principal 14.L, Sturgis reported to the SHE/HS board that there is some agitation among schools in the Huron-Perth conference to withdraw their athletic teams from the Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association. Exeter's first two-year council has a new deputy-reeve and councillor as a result of Monday's election. Councillor Bill Musser defeated incumbent Claude Farrow as deputy-reeve and new council member is Norman Ferguson, a driver at RCAF Station Centralia, Sandy Trigram, five-year-old son of Mr.'and Mrs. Ray Ingram, liensall, fell while playing in the 'barn at his home and fractured his leg. It seems-to me that kids don't have much fun anyniore. Today I was reading a short story with a group of eighteen-year-olds. It was about a shy, fluttery spinster out on her first public date with a widower who was courting her. They went to a dance, She tripped and fell and her man came tumbling down on top of her. It was funny, but pathetic, and the kids, who are sensitive to humiliation, exuded sympathy, especially the girls. We talked for a bit about the things that make people shy or awkward or self-conscious: acne, obesity, a colostomy. Fine. A good discus- sion. But then I asked if any of them had had the same experience - falling flat on the dance floor. Horrors, no! Of course, the way they dance nowadays, it's almost impossible to measure your length on the hardwood. Most of them dance by themselves, and it's pretty hard to topple unless you're blind, stoned. On slow pieces, those rare occasions, they are clutched so tightly that it would take a bulldozer to knock them down. Most of the time, in fact, they don't even dance, just listen to the clangour and thump. And it's pretty hard to fall down on a dance floor when you're not dan- cing. I mean, it's the sort of thing Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 you haVe to work at. Anyway, I just sat back, looked them over, and shook my head. "You kids haven't lived. Nobody has really lived who hasn't gone sprawling on a dance floor, preferably bringing down his or her partner in the process." There's nothing like it to pare the ego down to size. And it helps if you do it before a large and appreciative audience. I can recall at least two oc- casions on which it happened to me. Once was at the Cascades, of fond memory. The second was at the Legion Hall in Tobermory. And I have living witnesses. My wife doesn't know about the se- cond one, so keep it quiet. But I can well recall the sensa- tion. One moment you are gliding about, leaping and pirouetting, a veritable Rudolph Nureyev in Swan Lake. The next your pas des deux somehow turns into a pas des trois, you discover that your partner is not Margot Fonteyn, and you're flat on your back, head spinning from the thump on the floor, and a broad who a moment ago was light as thistledowp isprawled across you like Strangler Lewis winning the deciding fall, There's only one thing to do. Leap to your feet, laughing hollowly and so quickly that the spectators might think it was all part of the performance. They never do, of course. And it's