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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-01-07, Page 6einojphilsace ietygr To the Editor. We would like to say a sincere thank you to every person and organization who willingly supported oar fall appeal, • bought Christmas cards, and colouring books.. Our wish for the 1980s is that your donations will . be used to discover . a cure for hepatitis. a health hazard to many hemophiliacs. The re- -eipts ' are being mailed out =rom> the London office, so if ou don't receive one, please -ctntact'us May you all have a healthy nd prosperous 1981. Yours sincerely, Frank and Lateen Alton; Co-ordinatots ofthe South Western Ontario Hemophilia Program. . JOCELYA7 SNEER - Poblisber SHARON J. DIErZ - Editor A'J11.T/OWY.1N. JOHNSTONE = Advertising and. Gederai Maeagir PAT LIVINGSTOIN.-.Otfioe Winger MERLE Eaton. - Typesetter JOAN HELM. -- Composition • BUsitaess *ad Editorial:offiae Telephone 528.2822 Malting-Addtess P:o. loz-aoaAucicnos NOGr2H0- Stseand Class. Mail Registraion Number -0807 e • good life Canada is 'still a pretty good place ,oto live despite the problems we face in 1981. Inflation, a sluggish economy. high interest rates and the constitutional debate will go with us into the new year. Consumers findmore and more of their pay cheques going to pay for necessities as food prices rise and everyone feeli the effects of 18 per cent interest rates, a stagnant economy forcing layoffs and the 82 cent dollar. But unlike many 'countries in the world, Canadians enjoy a great degree of freedom. a variety offoods for our., table\ and a bounteous supply and a peacefulstate despite the 'regional bickering. Around the world, thousands die every day for lack of food on their table, in countries such as Ireland and Israel, stepping outside into the street carries the threat ( of being shot down by terrorists. In Italy thousands are still digging out from one of the worst earthquakes ever; they are homeless, hunger and grief-stricken. Iran is at war with Iraq. The Soviets still occupy. Afghanistan. The Polish people, line lip for longer than eight hours at a time for a string Of sausage to.bring homc some meat for the table. The right to free independent trade unions is a right only recently achieved. Polish farmers are lobbying for their own union so that the man who -owns his land can have the right to the advanced technology of modern farming now only .available to ,the governinent state farms. The very real threat of a, Soviet intervention with guns and tanks hangs over the new found freedoms like a dreaded monster. Few people stake in a year what Canadians consider to be their disposable income. Few in the world have the freedoms, -rights, the full tummies, the peaceful that Canadians enjoy. co -existence with neighbours and neighbouring countries It is someing to thunk about as we head into arnother new year. Something to consider long and hard. Wei Canadians have it so good. By Am Ca bell In general, the Highlanders had been either tenant farmers or fishermen, and their eniployntwent options in a seaport-like_Halifax were extremely 'Rinked:: One _the immigrants, a man called Colin Grant, had been a blacksmith. so he was one of the :exceptions. He found immediate work at a livery stable, and smithy. adjacent to a; popular seafaring tavern called the•"Southern Crory". This establishment catered to both the higher and lower classes of clientele: A rough . saloon provided for the thirts of transient seamen and lower ratings of the Royal Navy, whilst an exclusive lounge and dining room was the popular meetingplace' of propserous merchants and naval officers. The tavern also had rooms for rent in its upper storey, so perhaps it' might have been more properly classified as a hotel. It was to -the owner of the "Southern Cross" that the old fiddler, Adam MacKay inquired for employment. Adam, carrying his : precious instrument in a worn and well scuffed case, entered the smoke laden atmosphere of •the"bar room. Sawdust covered the boarded floor and at that time of th,morning, only a fewunsavoury looking characters occupied the rough, liquid smeared tables. They sat on stout benches drinking from earthenware smoking • dirty clay pipes, or spitting, not , too irately, towards conveniently placed brass recep- tacles. • The owner, a fiery haired man appropriately named Red Morgan, had to be summoned from the more respectable part of the tavern. He was dressed in a light brown suit with beaver trimmed lapels. There was a frilly cravat about his, neck and a large diamond flashed from his finger. He gave the old tiddler an impatient contemp- tuous glance. "`You Want to see me? Let me warn you I don't give credit, if that's what you're after!" "I'm looking for work, Sir," Adam said quietly. "I could wait at the tables." He tapped the fiddle case with a thin hand. "And I play a lively tune on the fiddle! It would be good. for business." ' Red Morgan's eyes narrowed as he thought and weighed up the possibilities, but he didn't .reply immediately. Adamtold him about his recent arrival, at Halifax and howhe and some of his fellow countrymen were looking ,for work to tide them ove "Alright. I'll letyou wont-fromfour in the .afternoon until •two in the morning. but 111 only pay for waiting at the tables. The music will have to given free.Six days a week and the pay is four dollars. These are hard times nd. I can g tall the hel I: need: Only the fiddle -has got -au 8 P y ej'r' . Red Morgan was an entrepreneur and quick to seize on • anything which increased his business. • "Do you have any women in your party who can do cleaning and making up . beds -, I could employ a woman right away." He laughed, showing a gold tooth{, and his eyes reflected the lechery of his thoughts. "Women now, they are hard to keep. I'm always looking for women: It doesn't take longfor a woman to find out she can make more by lying on a bed than by changing the : sheets!" • It was quiet early, in the day, and since Adam did not • have to start work at the tavern until four in the afternoon. he returned to the church basement to tell the women and children of his good fortune. - Neil MacCrimmon was not so fortunate. He wandeled, around;the docks looking for labouring work: Until now, he had know little but the Highland glens and knew more about sheep and cattle than the life amongst cargos and ships. It was late in the afternoon when he was at last successful in finding a job loading lumber onto a large, ship bound for Amsterdam. • He had not eaten all clay and was tired front his search and the summer heat. Nevertheless, he laboured up the gangplank carrying lumber upon his shoulder and then down into the hold where it was stacked and secured. ' When at last it was too dark to continue, he was ordered to quituntil the dawn of the next day. He tottered rather than walked through the streets back to the church. Halifax at night took on' a different scene. The yellow tights of lanterns shone through the windows of buildings. Fine' carriagespicked their' waythrough the !+g pedestrians, carrying men in fine clothes to 'mysterious destinations. There were sounds of raucous laughter from the open doors of the taverns and drunken sailors reeling down the sidewalks and back to their ships. It was dark inside the, basement of the church, except for the light of a single candle on the table: Neil found a piece of bread and climbed wearily into" his hammock. Too even to eat,: he fell quickly to sleep with he crust still dclutched in his hand.