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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-08-18, Page 2BRUSSELS ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1976 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 $8.00 a year, Single Copies 15 cents each. *CNA ESTABLISHED 972 Brussels Post New words "Coo-ool, savage, the six-year-olds scream at some far-out revelation that has just blown their tiny minds. Right on! the teenagers respond in a kind of warm camaraderie that makes their groupiness so all inclusive, yet so terribly exclusive too. Have a good day. Now there's one that started. off, we suspect, from the treacly inanities of some moring disc jockey and seems to have spread with stunning insincerity to every situation that occurs before noon. Everyone from store clerks to cab drivers to newsstand vendors to elevator operators to distracted traffic cops spread this good word. And then there's far-out which seems to thrust aside such trite phrases as marvellous or wonderful or even fantastic. And what person under 40 ever finds anything that's terrific anymore? n any age, the phrases and words that people use, especially in their relationships with others often reveal a good deal about the society they live in. Speech, someone said, is the window to the world. And some grumblers are already saying that the window is pretty grubby what with all the impurities and improprieties that curse -- or grace? -- our language today. Certainly to examine the cliches of our day and then compre them with those of another era would be a quick lesson in social psychology and so what (now there's an oldie) if the purists say we're going to hell in split infinitives. New Words to fit a changing world may be the best way to communicate the uncertainties and insecurities of an age when so many wonder what lies in store for them. The key phrases of a decade or a culture -- what's passing, and what's coming -- reveal something about it climate and its character (Contributed) To the editor Congratulates M. Watts Dear Madam: The Young Olympian Program of Canada had the largest and most successful showing (per capita) across Canada. We were both pleased and fortunate to have Miss Maxine Watts, as one of our family. Her work in the Brussels' area far exceeded our expectations. The fine contributions from local teachers' groups, schools and individuals are a living testimonial to the gratitude bestowed upon her for her competent efforts. Her three week attendance at Olympic Youth Camp which brought 74 nations together to exchange life styles, cultures, understanding and a healthy spirit of communication was indeed stimulating. Again she proved to be true ambassador of a Canadian Community. She will appear With me on Channel 12, Kitchener for taping on Tuesday, August 31 to relate her memorable experiences. The showings fot the public will be at • a later date to be announced. We are proud to be associated with M axind Watts. Yours sincerely, John 13, McCarroll Regional Director Y.O.C., Administrator C.A.O.C. Last rose of summer Amen by Karl Schuessier Keep your name,. Harry Harry Gerofsky should know what he's doing. He's been in the clothing store business for fifty years. So why should he come to me for advice? Why should he consult me before he goes ahead and makes all sorts of renovations to his store front windows in Mitchell? Now, I don't mind a man fixing up his place -- and I must say taht new bold aqua store front piece is dazzling. But it's what he did to his store sign on top that bothers me. For years I've been used to the black letters that said "Gerofsky Brothers' But now there's a new name: Gerrard's. What's going on here? What's Harry doing giving up that name Gerofsky and trading it in for some watered down version like Gerrard. "Harry," I said, "I've come to do some bone-picking with you." "Okay", he said, "Start picking." told him how guys like us have to stick together. Here we are saddled with syllables of tongue twisting sounds--names that throw people into muttering confusion. They're the kind of last names you have to repeat two and three 'times, before anybody gets them straight. Why, automatically I starting spelling out mine, instead of pronouncing it. But they're names we should be proud of, Harry. Distinctive names. With a long hiitory behind them. They say something about us. Tell where we're from. What religion we might be. They say right off we're not strictly English. Harry assured me he likes his name. He's not changing it. Gerrard's is only a store name. It's a matter of simplifying the bUsiness. When a family has five clothing Stores in southwestern Ontario, it's easier to do business, advertising, handbills, sales slips, invoices'r boxes and paper bags =- everything-- all under the same liable. "but what's wrong with Gerofsky?" I said, "I like that name". "Reniember," Harry said, "I'M hot giving it Up. -It's still mine." "But Gerrard doesn't say a thing,," I said, "Only, of course that you've dribbled and dwindled your name down into bland English. "A name's important, Harry. You don't give it up lightly. In the Bible names carry weight. They're net just tags or labels. With the Hebrews, a person is really never a person until he's named.And that name has power. Eff ect. It not only describes you. It is you. You are 'the name." "e`w knew. you know that too," he smiled. I had to tell him something else he already "Another thing, Harry, whenever a big change took place in a man's life, God changed his name. Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel. Saul became Paul. A name change means a new man, a changed man.", "Well, said Harry, "I'm the same man. With the same name. No change." I shook my head. "I don't care, Harry. I still like Gerofsky. I'm still calling your place Gerofsky's." He nodded. "Oh, Harry," I said, "I need a tie." "They're upstairs," he .said, "Twenty percent off this week." "But Im buying it from Gerofsky's not Gerrait's." . "Okay," he said, "But I didn't get a chance to tell you something. When my father came over on the boat from Russia, he landed at St. Helen's in Toronto, He couldn't spell his name in English to the booking agent of the Canada Steathship Linea. So the agent in a friendly sort 'of way suggested he take on his name, GerofskY, "You mean to tell me Gerofsky isn't y our family name after all?" "No, it's Margnsutsch." "You mean rin buying • my t Margusutsch?" "I suppose you could .say that." I paid for the tie, Today Getrard's. Yesterday Gerofsky's. And before that Margusutsch's. "Harryi " I said, "Call your store by any name you want to still buying Gerofsky's, ust wim Mr. o littl able ovin can ,as ui "If 1 s gc all ft Mr. cuss provin armei uggei slightl bring ioney; rime ssess paved onces (ler oard S per .ettler iemb The settler mad Emplc ncrea percet anus uninei The aPPro' nflati trust Sev rom" gree :net memo The of prenii perce vith will t Thi ick 1 ehtitl ck 1 1.431' 40 ( tedi 'by oat cohil histit :red olt chip A vid e front'