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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-02-11, Page 6Sugar and Spice by Bill Smiley End of an Era For young folks and city folks, it won't mean a thing. But for small town and rural folks, especially the older ones, the end of Eaton's catalogue is the end of an era. During a couple of generations, the catalogue was the key, to a storehouse of treasure that Aladdin would have envied. Fifty years ago, especially for farm people in isolated locations, it was as important as their television se t is today. After a day of drudgery, a leaf through the pages was a form of escape for the farm wife. Even though there was no money for more than the essentials, she could dream over the illustrations of furniture, clothing, sets of dishes, curtains. At that time, it was literally one of the very few means of communication with the • big world outside. Even if you never received a letter from one year's end to another, you could be sure of receiving mail. You carefully chose what you wanted from the catalogue, made sure you got the right number, sent off your order, and sooner or later there would be a parcel in the mail. E aton's was as relilable as the Bank of England used to be. • Besides its exotic, allure, the bulky catalogue had a dozen utilitarian values. People didn't just chuck out last year's catalogue, as they would in these careless, spendthrift days. Old copies were used as doorstops, in the backhouse, and as insulation. I have personally used them, at a tender age, as shinpads for hockey, stuffed inside long woolen socks. Many a boy, in those days when the only parts of a woman exposed were her hands and her face, learned all about women, or had his first sexual experience, • if you prefer, by sneaking a look at the corset ads when his mother wasn't watching. Many an older person of the gentler sex today spent happy hours as a little girl cutting things out of the catalogue with scissors and pasting them in a scrapbook, or making paper dolls. Other uses were: half a dozen pages to start the morning fire in a house where paper was scarce because there was no daily newspaper; 20 or 30 pages cut in the shape of an insole and tucket into the boot or shoe with a hole in the sole. But let's not get sentimental and weepy about it. Eaton's catalogue is a hangover from i ie days of the outdoor Johnny, and certainly few mourn the demise, of the latter. I'm sorry for the many peo le across the country who will lose jobs because the catalogue has become defunct. And many a housewife will feel a real sense of loss fora while. But it won't be missed all that much.The catalogue had outlived its usefulness except as. a strictly functional means of shopping. It was no longer a cherished household article. It had become about as glamorous as the telephonedirectory. I know quite a few people who will be cheered by the news. These are the smalltown and rural merchants who had to compete against the giant department store. They simply couldn't, and many were bitter about it. A merchant who had a stake in his community, paid taxes, and served his fellow citizens had some right to feel a little sour when he had to go up• against a faceless, impersonal titan which could operate from ahole in the wall called an order office, contributed virtually nothing to the community, and could undercut his prices every time because it could buy in volume. And I know another group that will tie happy with the bad news that they will never again have an Eaton's catalogue in the house. Men like the, and they number in the thousands. For 25 years I have been taking parcels back to the Eaton's order office. My wife never takes them back, and she rarely keeps anything she has ordered. It's. a casual: "Drop this off at Eaton's on your way to work." And I've had to stand shamefaced in the order office, among a bunch of women, and mutter something about the three brassieres being too small, or the panties being too large, or, the stocking not being sheer enough. • And then there's the monthly bill. My wife has been carrying on a running battle with Eaton's billing department for years. Every month there's a mistake in it, the old girl gets furious, and I have to listen to the tirade, which can go on for an hour. She has written letters which were bri lliant,,cutting essays in satire. She has written furious, blunt letters. She has written letters to the accounts manager, the public relations vice-president, the president of the whole caboodle. She has wept with rage and frustration when they have been ignored, and the voiceless, faceless computer spews out another monthly bill, goofed up again. • Farewell, Eaton's catalogue. You -were a great thing in your day. But I, for one, say good riddance. INCOME TAX PREPARED Farmers — Businessmen — Individuals — At Reasonable Rates — Ronnenberg Insurance Agency Open in Brussels — Tuesday and Friday Only — Ph. 887.6663 Monkton Office Open Monday to Saturday Noon Phone 347-2241"— Any Time. Phone Early for Appointment and Avoid the Rush 1 LB. SPANISH PEANUTS FOR ONLY 9c (1-Lb. Per Family) When You Present This Ad Personally At Coyle's Factory Outlet 260 Tillson Ave., at Coyle Lane, Tillsonburg Fresh Roasted Cashews, Peanuts and Mixed Nuts VALENTINE„St. PATRICK AND EASTER CAKE DECORATIONS AND CANDY BRAUN YOGURT MAKERS - HALF PRICE WHILE THEY LAST. STORE HOURS: Mon. to Sat. 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Thurs. and Fri. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Children must' be accompanied by an adult Con. Goderl seven weeks delay( weath a lisp' by show( plant wires, car h' falling electr genet displ1 inter( again On nervo Stu de. spree montl tion 1 these that speec After class the semi. teach spec( chos( final, 10th befoi • THIS OFFER EXPIRES APRIL 8, 1976 Mary's S ale . the month through the month of February. JUST A PEW EXAMPLES OF THE SAVINGS. 60" POLYESTER DOUBLE KNITS AS 45" POLYESTERS AND COTTONS AS LOW 5° YD. CLEARING OF VELVETS (PLAIN & QUILTED) tiry's SMUT Centre - VICTORIA ST., CLINTON. 40106 LOW AS $ 1 .9 YO: $2 00 YD. P E .R $5.98 & $6.9$ YD. PER OPP ,CORDUROYS (PRINTED & PLAIN) NOW 10% OFF n5 Lions meet After a delicious roast beef dinner served by the Anglican Church Women Lion Tamer Cecil Moore enthusiastically led the Club in a sing song. As many of the Lions are enjoying a holiday in the south only 26 members answered the roll call. Lion Bill Beacom introduced the speaker, Zone Chairman, Lion Allan McLean from Ripley. Mr. McLean reported that the overall membership of Lions Clubs is up and many clubs are forming Leo Clubs. He also announced that District A-9 is being divided into smaller districts. lie encouraged more members to, hold the office of Zone Chairman, District Deputy Governor, etc. Lion 'Jim Prior thanked the speaker. Anyone wanting to order pins to commemorat e the Lions Convention in. Hawaii are to give their order to Jim Prior. Lion Wayne Lowe reported on the Polar Daize to be held February ' 19, - 23rd. Tickets for $500. draw are available from any member of the Lions Club. Ethel George and Debbie Griebe spent the weekend at the home of their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff. Bray. Miss Jean Stephenson has returned home after spending a week's vacation in florida. ARCHIE McDONALD Archie McDonald, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ian McDonald of Brussels, received his Masters Degree in History at Guelph University on Friday, February 6th. Mr. and Mrs. M cDonald attended the graduation ceremonies. Short Shots (Continued from' Page 1) this summer. * * * * * * With the enormous accumulation of snow we h a've the result of a prolonged mild spell could mean many flooded basements and, other problems. No one will be sorry to see the snow go but let it disappear gradually and spare us the flooding from a quick thaw. Preserve us from another blast of winter in April such as we had last year. Cran brook Correspondent Mrs. Mac Engel The church, service was cancelled on Sunday morning due to the stormy weather. Mrs. Eldon Wick and baby son came home from the P almerston Hospital on Tuesday. Recent visitors with Mr. and Mrs. Howard Mitchell were Mr. and Mrs, Adolph Petty and family and Mr, arid Mrs. Russ Playford and girls, all of Thorold. Mrs. Lylle Gordon had the misfortune to fall on Friday fracturing a bone in her right arm. Winstron McEachern, Catribridge (Galt) visited with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wes McEachern, on the weekend. Mrs. Earl Grisdale and infant son arrived home on. Saturday from Listowel H ospital. Miss. Sharon Engel spent the weekend with Miss Lorraine Dinsmore, Fordwich. 6 THE BRUSSELS POST, PE CROSSROADS RESTAURANT WALTON Open Daily Except Monday *Light Lunches *Daily Specials *Banquets DELICIOUS ROAST BEEF SERVED EVERY SUNDAY RUARY 11, 1976