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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-12-19, Page 4Soon to be a grandfather? TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN THE TORONTO S51jA SYNDICATE Anglo-Saxon in descent, Ted, 7 years old, is healthy, slimly built, active and wiry. He has , brown eyes, blonde hair and medium fair complexion. He is a happy-go-lucky boy with a tendency' to try to forget unpleasant experiences. Like most children his age, Ted loves the outdoors. He has been camping and can hardly wait to go again. He likes swimming and riding his bike. During crisp fall daysthe spent a lot of time at football and he plays hockey in the driveway, since he doesn't Skate yet. Ted is in Grade 1, not working up to his potential at the ;moment. He appears to need extra attention in the classroom. He has a good imagination, gets on well with his classmates and has many friends. Happy, outgoing Ted needs warm, involved parents in a home where the atmosphere is at once stimulating and relaxed. It will be best if he can be the youngest in the family. To inquire about adopting Ted, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Services, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M4P 2H2. For general adoption information, please contact your local Children's Aid Society. LOVES THE OUTDOORS tipper Canada revisited Christmas Cheer among the .earliest pioneers in Upper Canada (Ontario) varied greatly, for what we think of as Christmas. fare ow4s very scant. In the earliest period before the War of 1812, salt pork, potatoes and Indian corn were the only supplies available, To obtain flour, the settler's grain had to be carried — often on his back — to a distant mill for grinding. Children were fed porridge made from Indian corn, boiled sometimes for a whole day to produce a soft mush. Oc- casionally the settlers were able to shoot partridge, pigeon or game, but powder and shot were scarce, and fish, while plentiful, took time to catch. With little or no fencing, chickens and livestock could not be kept because of the all - enclosing forest, into which they were likely to stray and be lost. As for the quality of pioneer cooking, Dr, William Dunlop, the "Backwoodsman", who wrote one of the earliest accounts of life in Canada, quotes the old saw: "God sends meat and 'the devil cooks". Not sur- prising, since without cold storage facilities, butter, milk and cheese soon became rancid. As the years passed and conditions im- proved, holiday fare became more plen- tiful. Ann Langton, in her journal (publish- ed as "A Gentlewoman in Upper Canada") describes a Christmas party in 1838, just a year after the Rebellion, Ann tells of "pop- ping three plum puddings into the pot" for a holiday dinner, which included "soup, boil- ed pork (the national dish), roast goose, chicken pie and vegetables, with a second course of plum pudding; apple tart and a trifle." Winters were really cold in those early days. The winter of 1833, the mercury froze in the thermometer, which touched 40 below zero. But travel on Upper Canada's primitive roads was better when they were snow-packed. And Christmas visiting was popular, the snugly dressed guests arriving in sleighs or even in wagon boxes mounted on runners. . . . and fi plaque for ny saying 'Office of the Prime Minister."" Bethlehem In the West's first settlement at Red River (now Winnipeg), the Scots, whom Lord Selkirk brought there in 1812, celebrated the Christmas feast as a close- knit community. It was here that "Hurl",played by teams between goals on the ice, using sticks and a ball, not a puck, is supposed to have marked the origin of hockey in Canada, In the even- ing everyone danced to the bagpipes. Not until 1820 was the Christmas season celebrated as a religious festival in the two mission churches (French-Catholic and English-Protestant). But Red River folk saw bad times in the Christmas of 1821, when each person in the settlement was rationed to one pint of wheat a day, boiled into a thin soup. By 1831, Joseph James Hargrave was able to describe a happier Christmas, for When the west was young now Red River was a well-established Hud- son's Bay Company post. For months before the holiday, loaded dog teams were bringing an abundande of supplies into the trading stores of Fort Garry - even the car- cass of a bear. Christmas dinner was served in the Fort's great hall. On the long table were smoking roasts of beef, unborn buffalo calf (boiled whole), a gourmet delicacy, besides every kind of vegetable. T he dinner ended with "fur trade" pud- ding, as near to the traditional English plum pudding as could be achieved con- sidering the shortage of currants and raisins. Sometimes dried Saskatoon berries were substituted. "Let us drink to absent friends," was the only toast of these folk so far removed from the people and places they loved., Ghoss of Christmas past When there are no kids around, Christmas loses a lot of its ex- citement, At least that's the way it seems around our house this year. We've always had a family Christmas, most often at the farm of the grandparents. Those were great old traditional festivities. We drove to the farm; left the car at the highway and staggered through the snow up the lane to the house, loaded with gifts. The kids, wrapped to the noses, were fairly hysterical by the time we entered the big, warm farm kitchen, There we were assailed by the enveloping scents of roasting turkey and pine needles, a wonderful combination. Then came the opening of presents, with everybody protesting, "Oh, you shouldn't have ." Except the kids. They would rip off the wrappings, scarcely glance at the contents and start looking under the tree for another package with their name on it. A lot of love and thought went into the gifts, and sometimes there were tears of pleasure. The women talked a blue streak and caromed off each other as they charged around the kitchen. The men sat around drooling. And the children were the centre of attention, funny and delightful, and they loved it. Then came the great orgy at the table, with everyone from the littlest to Grandad tucking into the turkey and trimmings until their eyes were bulging. This was sort of the climax of the holidays, and like every Times Established 1873 Phone 235,1331 climax, it had its anti-climax: great stacks of dishes to be washed; distended bellies; exhausted kids. In its way, it was a pretty pagan celebration. But by evening, everything was cleared up, digestions would begin operating again, and there'd be carols and quiet talk and a general feeling of warmth and love and security. This was the culmination of several weeks of Christmas pageants and Christmas parties at the Legion Hall for the kids, and writing cards to old friends, and scrambling around for gifts, and putting up the thrice-blasted tree and pretending there weren't going to be a lot of presents this year. They were good times, and I miss them, but I don't know whether I could stand the pace any more. I was working about twelve hours a day, and there seemed to be a festivity or something every night. There were a couple of Christmases that are funny in retrospect, though at the time there was a marked lack of Christian spirit. One was the time we bought the television set for the grand- parents. It was in the early days of TV, and we all chipped in to buy the set. None of us could afford one for ourselves. There was tremendous secrecy. It was to be the surprise of the century, My brother-in-law and I dragged the great brute of a box up the lane on a toboggan and wrestled it into the farmhouse. It was to be opened under the tree. Kim was about three, and full of that wild excitement that in- Advocate Established 1881 vests kids at Christmas. We had barely deposited the big box in the house when she piped, "Hope you like the tee-bee, Granny." Some secret. Some surprise. And there was the Christmas we held at our place. The grand- parents and the aunts and other assorted bodies were invited. My wife had spent two hours the night before scrubbing and waxing the kitchen floor. I had spent three hours preparing the turkey. We were going to show them that we could entertain in style. All was in readiness. The Old Battleaxe told me to take the turk out of the oven. I did, skidded on the wax, and roasting pan, turkey and all went flying through the air. Wall-to-wall grease. Turkey basted in floor-wax. It was one of the less-memorable moments in a happy marriage. And I remember Christmases a long time ago, in the Depression, when a child's one and only present might be a suit of long underwear, or a handknit sweater. Depressing, was the Depression. Of recent years, our kids have come straggling in from university, sometimes with a friend, for Christmas. And we've had music and good food, and fun. Last year we were alone. If I remember correctly, we dined on frozen meat pies. I had bought the usual two trees. I got the little one up. The big spruce was Amalgamated 1924 Having been associated with the newspaper business for the past 20 years or so (started in the days of child labor) it is only natural that we have come to expect the unexpected on oc- casions. Combining human and mechanical errors, there is probably no business in which so many errors are made - or at least noticed by others. It's just impossible to produce a newspaper under the normal deadline pressures without making a few errors. Now that we have explained some of our production problems, readers may. get some insight into how the editor's column could end up under Bill Smiley's shining countenance last week, and vice versa. Meanwhile,' we're still an- swering questions as to the health and welfare of our 27-year-old son, Hugh, and mother-to-be daughter, Kim. Gads zooks, the gals in the backshop have turned the editbr_ into an expectant grandfatheiv overnight! However, despite his lamen.t tations, we're not certain if Bill Smiley would want the situation reversed and would like to "start over" with our four offspring. The switcheroo not only provided for some humorous moments, it does point up the fact that no matter how much we complain about our problems, there are many people with whom we wouldn't want to change positions. + + A letter writer last week ex- plained about her great disap- pointment in not having the Santa Claus parade pass by the hospital as usual so she could see it. Her point is well taken and certainly may prompt the committee and local police department to review the route f9r next year. This year's route was changed due to traffic problems ex- perienced in the past. By having the parade go east at Huron, it does not interfere with the detour route for north and southbound traffic on William St. This has been a severe problem in the past as the parade has crossed the detour route twice. This year, it never crossed it at all and things worked out much better. However, as usual, someone's gain is another's loss. leaned in a corner, and I threw it out on Boxing Day. This year, we'll be alone again. But things are going to be dif- ferent. Son Hugh won't be home. He's off in deepest Quebec, But he's already had his present. Daughter Kim won't be home, because I don't particularly want my grandchild born on a bus. So. We're thinking of closing up the joint and going to the city, My wife can supervise the layette. I can write cheques. We'll stay in a hotel, where somebody else had to grapple with the tree. And, if things turn out just right, we might get the finest Christmas present we've ever received. A bouncing baby grandchild. This is our final column of the year and as such is a time for a brief glimpse back over the past 12 months. They were of some historical significance this year as Exeter marked its centennial. Celebrations were not quite as extensive as during 1967, but on the whole, the "party" was a success. If we had any complaint it would be the fact that nothing of a permanent nature remains to attest to the pride we had on being 100 years old. As usual, the year has had its good and bad situations for those in our readership area, There have been tragedies and suf- fering for some. Others have known moments of exceeding joy. But as we look back over the past 12 months the thought surfaces that few people on this entire earth are as fortunate as the majority in this particular district. It's a fact that too often escapes many and they tend . to see only , the bad 'things' that occasionally cross their paths. Before heading into 1974, it would serve us all well to reflect upon the many benefits we enjoy, even at a time when this rich nation of ours experiences some troublesome situations regarding energy. 50 Years Ago Mr. John Hunkin held his an- nual live bird shooting match on Friday afternoon last. Two events were run off, the first on the jack rabbit system and the second for the birds alone. The members of St. Marys Church, Brinsley held a bee on Monday afternoon of last week and made great improvements by gravelling the roadway to the shed. Morrison Foster, Granton a student of the local high school sustained painful injuries at. the school during a practice football game, Foster was in .a scrim- mage for the ball when he was kicked on the leg with such force that two bones in the right leg were broken. Major J. W. Heaman was in Clinton last Wednesday attending a banquet in celebration of the organization of the 161st battalion which took place December 6, 1915. Among those who are prominently mentioned as Warden of Huron County next year are the reeves of two townships adjoining Exeter, William H. Coates of Usborne and Alex J. Neeb Stephen. " 25 Years Ago An all-day show marked the opening of Valentine Becker's new International Harvester building at Dashwood on Tuesday. Over 600 public school children were entertained at Leavitt's Theatre Saturday morning and afternoon, Ontario's first turnip club for Junior Farmers held its Achievement Day meeting in Exeter on Monday night. Applications for water service in Hensall were slow in coming in although the water should be ready for use next week. The auditorium of the Trivitt Memorial Church is being re- decorated and it is expected that the re-opening will take place January 23. The unusually mild weather for this season of the year has not been conducive to the best of health. The coming year may turn out to be a time of conserving the energies of the land and ex- pending more of the human energies at our disposal. Hopefully, we may realize'that a man is more valuable than a machine and that honest labor will still show an honest return. Our prediction for the coming year is that we'll all have to tighten our belts, but in the long run we'll benefit - at least physically. Also watch for a tightening of our welfare system! Before writing "30" for the year, we take this opportunity to thank all those who have con- tributed in any way to helping us get out a newspaper each week. The list is much too long to extend a personal thanks, but please be assured it is much appreciated. For all our readers, we wish a happy and healthy festive season and hope that your name will appear in this newspaper next year associated only with pleasantries. 15 Years Ago Mrs. James Earl, who moved to Exeter from Usborne about two months ago, received a pleasant welcome from town merchants Saturday when she won the $100 draw in the Christmas jackpot. George E. Rether won Exeter Council's sixth seat last week when a recount gave him 463 to 460 for incumbent Claude Farrow. Judge Frank Fingland presided at the three-hour count which broke the deadlock. Rether is vice-president of Exeter Kinsmen Club. Lorne Dundas and Jim Prout were in an unusual predicament Saturday when a gun-toting hitchhiker held a gun at their heads for three hours. A. Jack Harness, a native of Exeter identified himself as the hit- chhiker when he gave himself up to an Ottawa reporter Monday. Students at Whalen, under the direction of Mrs. Charles Gowan, teacher, entertained the com- munity with a variety Christmas concert Friday night. 10 Years Ago Scout Jim Johnson of the First RCAF Centralia Scout Troop has been selected as one of five from the Blue Water Region to attend the fifth National ,Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania next summer. Jim is a troop leader at 15 years of age. Rev. Ross MacDonald, minister of Carmel Presbyterian Church, Hensall and Knox Presbyterian Church, Bayfield, for the past two years has ac- cepted a call to a three-point charge in Elgin county, com- posed of churches in Kintyre, New Glasgow and Rodney. Hurondale school held its last Christmas concert last week. The long tradition of concerts at the one-room school will stop as it is expected that Usborne town- ship's new central school will be ready for next year. Donald Cann, 10, of Exeter will be an unique member of Older Boys' Parliament when it con- venes at Waterloo Lutheran College Boxing Day. He is the first representative to win his seat by election. Bethlehem ! What scenes are etched in our minds at the sound of that place. I approached the city last year, apprehensively, half-fearing all the lovely Christmas visions I had ever associated with it would be pricked and burst into disillusionment. As we travelled the six miles from Jerusalem, over a black topped, smooth road, the scenery looked Biblical enough many low hills ridged with grey limestone between which a small green valley nestled, The history that has been enacted here! Close to the road stood a pillar and small building erected on the spot where Jacob buried his beautiful and beloved wife, Rachel, after she had died in child-birth. In this very area, through Jacob's son Judah, the line of David was founded from which God promised to bring His Annointed One. We stopped to view a piece of lush land known as Boaz Field. Here Ruth and Naomi gleaned their bit of grain as they followed after Boaz workers, Here Ruth later married Boaz and looked across the valley to the hills of Moab, her native land. It was here that the long, weary trip from Nazareth drew to an end for Joseph and Mary who had trudged the long route on foot, Having visited Nazareth two or three days before, I was very conscious ofwhat an arduous foot journey it had been, for the distance was far greater than I imagined. I gazed out the bus window and dreamed of all these things. And then, the signpost said 'Bethlehem'. My heart quickened as we caught the first glimpse of the white and grey concrete and stone buildings. The shepherds were still there grazing their flocks on the rocky slopes leading to the tiny city. As I looked at them, still wearing the long robes and headpieces of centuries past, I wondered if, by chance, any of their lineages went hack to those simple shepherds of the first Christmas eve, and if the heavenly choir appeared over the very fields we were speeding by. Reality soon took over. Modern Bethlehem is far from a queenly city, in fact, she's a pretty shabby lady. Israel took the town from Jordan in the 1967 war and it has not been restored because of the uncertainty of the occupation. Roof-top hot water tanks, TV aerials and washlines scar the skyline. Dowdy shops, selling 'cheap and gaudy souvenirs line the winding alleys. A feeling of poverty pervades the place. The over 15,000 yearly pilgrims making a visit to Christ's bie thplace soon find there's to room at the inn' for them either as Bethlehem has only 100 hotel beds. The sick, as well as the visitors, must go to Jerusalem for accommodation. Besides having no hospital, Bethlehem has no ambulance or fire brigade. What it does have, though, is the birthsite of Christ, The houses of Bethlehem are built on a slope of a limestone ridge. In Jesus' time it was common for them to have a cave- like stable hollowed out in the rock below the house, and it is very likely that is was in such a cave-stable Jesus was born. To enter the lovely Church of the Nativity which is built over the cave purported to be the birthplace you leave a busy parking lot and pass through a thick wall by a door so low you must stoop to enter, On the other side of the wall is the church and deep beneath the alter is the stable-cave. Our guide told us that most historians feel it is authentic because as far back as the Roman Empire, Hadrian deliberately attempted to desecrate this 'Christian holy place' by building a shrine to the heathen god Adonia above it. The small cavern is lit by 53 silver lamps, and is hung with rich red tapestry. On the floor is a large jewelled star around which is the Latin inscription: 'Here Jesus Christ was born to Virgin Mary'. Somehow it seems very symbolic and rather beautiful that we left the dirty, noisy street of life by stooping to enter into the place where Jesus was, born. As 'we left the city I realized that some of the fantasies I'd held about Bethlehem had been dispelled. It's not the exotic romantic, beautiful place I imagined. But what it is, is really much more important . , . a real place, where a real event qcpurre4 amongst real• people. . It's where God chose to decend to earth in love and simplicity for the sake of all mankind. And that's what makes Bethlehem the queen of all cities. toreferZimesaiworate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., D.W.N.A,, CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor -- Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Regist'r'ation Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulat;on, March 31, 1972; 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9,00 Per Year; USA $11,00 AtIMPASSIAgow:.0P '1iliMgragaMETZEMOLL;,...,... •f.