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g Brussels Post
BRUSSELS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975
ONTARIO
Serving Brussels and the surrounding community.
Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
by McLean Bros.Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb - Advertising
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association.
Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $6.00 a year, Others
CCNA $8.00 a year, Single Copies 15 cents each.
Pi.IEL1
ATION
On booze
"Mix some thinking with your drinking -- that's
one of the themes of a new alcohol information
campaign that's been launched by Ontario's Health
Minister Frank Miller.
Posters, pamphlets, films and ads have been made
up to tell us about.the pressures to drink, the damage
alcohol can do and 'the costs that drinking add on to
all of us.
It's not an axe swinging temperance campaign,
it's a mild, low key information program and we are
all for it.
It is absolutely amazing how much alcohol has
become a major part of our lives in the past twenty
years or so. Booze is now served at bridge clubs,
bridal showers, service club dinners and in many
many homes as matter of course. We often drink
liquor at functions where 'coffee, tea or a
non-alcoholic punch would have been the norm a few
years ago.
The profit from the bar, not from the admission
tickets, is what most clubs who sponsor dances look
for in their fund raising budgets. Social drinking in
moderation is just fine, the Ontario government
campaign points out, but the fact that we are
drinking more liquor than ever before also has its
costs.
Many of the health problems that make our health
budget go up so alarmingly, are related to alcohol.
Alcohol is also involved in many of the car accidents
that cause financial loss and personal suffering.
Broken families, job loss 'and wasted lives can all
be attributed to alcohol in many instances. ,
Liquor is , here to stay. As the government
pamphlets point out, how 'often do we say "Come
over for a drink" instead of "Come over for a visit"?
Too often, probably.
We're not knocking booze. But we're saying.
that the increasing consumption of liquor in our
province is exacting a heavy price.
In Ontario today 300,000 people of all ages drink
enough alcohol every day to endanger their health.
Think about the hidden costs of alcohol at your
next party. Are they really worth that expensive and
temporary high?
Brussels kids
applauded
Last week. Huron County Council Chambers was
visited by 'a group of students from Brussels. The
fact that young people take time to visit county
council is not unusual; many students file in and out,
of the chimbers to hear the deliberations of Huron's
elected representatives.
What is unusual about the Brussels group is that
every boy who was present wore a shirt, tie and
jacket; all the young ladie8 wore dresses. It was a joy
to see these young people out of blue jeans, sweaters
and sneakers for their visit to the pourt house, Their
attire showed their respect for the Workings of
government in this county, and several county
councillors remarked approvingly on it.
In a day when denim is the most popular fabric
among the younger crowd, it is worthy of editorial
comment when an entire classroom of students
make8 its appearance in dressier garb. Such
examples of youthful decorUm are appreciated - and
noted - by others.
(Goderich Signal Star'
Amen
by Karl Schuessler
•
"You're a good looking cat, Pepper," I said
as I stroked her long black fur.
Now you would think that would please any
lady cat, wouldn't you?,
But• did it? Not at all. All she did was walk
away. Tail up in the air. Head held high.
Now what did I do wrong? What did I say
wrong? All my good • intentions - my well
meaning compliment -- meeting with scorn
and rebuke.
Some of iny compliments go over about the
same way with my two footed' friends.
When I tell a lady she looks especially good
today, she says, "Oh, you're putting me on."
Or "Didn't you like the way I looked
yesterday?" Or "Okay, what do you want now
Money?" And she grabs for her purse and
starts to hand me a quarter.
But I don't want quarters. I don't want
anything. I.'m sincerely trying to pay a
compliment. To say I notice you. I appreciate
you. It's just my way of expanding a
thank-you.
I could see that my compliments were
suspect. Like most compliments are. So I
determined to do a little homework. Some
compliment homework. And find out what
makes a compliment go.
To be sincere is one thing. But to sound
sincere is quite another. -
I practiced on Pepper. Because if I can do
alright with Lady Pepper, then it's a cinch I'll
do alright with the other ladies I know.
"Come here, Pepper, you gorgeous cat.
You're absolutely fabulous."
She yawned. Lay down. Closed •her eyes.
She didn't believe a word I said.
I sure didn't do anything right there, Okay.
So I did overstate my feelings. That's lesson
on number one. Cut down on the superlatives.
Nothing kills a compliment more than
gush.Said in a rush.
I slowed down. Took my time and said,
"Pepper, r think you're wonderful.."
She didn't move. Not even an eyelid.
Well at least she didn't yawn right in my
face. It's getting a little better.
But I could see. I really didn't tell her much
in that compliment. What I said could apply to
any cat. Every cat. That's a wash-out.
I need a firmer compliment. Something
more specific. Personal. Something that's
nc distitively Pepper.
"Pepper, that white mark on your left paw
really give you a streak of class."
Her eyes opened. She looked up at Me. She'
jumped straight into my lap. She purred and
snuggled up close. Rested her head on her
front pawS.With that left paw — that white
paW-, sticking way out for me to tiotice.
Right on, I'm learning: I'm getting the
knack, I'M getting a good thing going. DoIt't
stop now.
I rubbed her on top of her head. I petted her
paws.
"Pepper, darling, I think you're a good
mouser."
• She stopped purring.
Now what did I do wrong? That's not fair,
Pepper. You think I said that just ,to put an
idea into your head. To make you become
what I want you to be. Forcing you to come up
to my high expectations of cat.
And you think I like. you for what y ou do.
Not for what,you are. For you, yoUrself alone.
I'm- degrading you, Pepper, taking away
your sense of dignity and self-worth.
Pepper meowed. her ears went back. She's
mad alright. She's insulted. I've gone too far.
I should know. If there's anything Pepper
hates it's pressure. Squeeze play in
compliments.
She started to stretch. Ready to jump down.
I held her down. "I'm sorry, Pepper, I won't
do that again," I promised.
And besides I learned that a good
compliment shouldn't raise all sorts of
questions. Like what makes a good mouser?
What's my standard? compared to what?
How many mouse pouncers have I checked
on ? Maybe my opinion's way off. Am I an
expert? A good compliment shouldn't be
argu able. Debatable.
"Pepper," I said, "Give me another
chance. Let me give you one of my best ever
compliments. One that's specific. Not
overstated. or understated,No pressure. No
arguments, No questions. It says simply how I
feel about you. What you do to me.
"Pepper; you raise my spirits whenever you
climb into my lap."
It worked. I had let my hand go of her too.
And she didn't jump down. She stayed right
there in my lap. Of her own free will!
She started to lick my hand. Her sandpaper
tongue washed over my fingers. She was
saying "thank you".
And she was doing the right thing. No back
talk. No denials. Just thank-yOu. No more. No
less: That's all.•
I Wanted to say more to Pepper., I wanted to
Compliment her again. My emotions were
racing ahead of Me.
I hit thy tongtie.haat'S enough,. Stop. WhoU
ahead. I patted her head instead: And
kept my thoughts' to myself:,
What a eat! There's. no other cat like you,
Pepperiltbiete a Million dollar cat. There's no
.
One' like you in the Whole world.