Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-05-21, Page 4Page 4—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 21, 1986 P.O. Box 400, Lucknow NOG 2H0 Established 1873 Thomas Thompson Alan Rivett Pat Livingston Joan Helm Merle Elliott 528-2822 -Advertising Manager -Editor -General Manager -Compositor -Typesetter Subscription rates in advance: 517."Q Outsiae Canada 560.10 514,00 Outside Canada $5$.A0 Senior Citizen Second class mailing reg. no. 0847 Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rates. More scandal in government Voters and Progressive Conservative supporters across the country cannot help but be a little disillusioned with the Mulroney government. It all stems from their latest scandal with the resignation of Sinclair Stevens and the investigation of another Conservative MP for taking kickbacks. Last week, Sinclair Stevens, the government's industry minister, resigned after the opposition party charged him with arranging a $2.6 million loan for his wife's company. Also MP Michel Gravel was alleged to have taken S232,000 in kickbacks connected with a Montreal museum and was charged with 50 counts of influence peddling, bribery, fraud and abuse of public trust. To add insult to injury, Mulroney, who at first defended Stevens against the conflict of interest charges of the opposition parties, accepted his resignation saying, in a recent television interview, something to the effect that the Progressive Conservatives were "more honest than the Liberals had been". However, these two instances represent only the tip of the iceberg in how the Conservatives have undermined the public trust since assuming power. Remember Tuna -gate in September 1985 when fisheries Minister John Fraser resigned during the controversy over the sale of 1 million cans of spoiled tuna? Remember Suzanne Blais Grenier, the former environment minister, who resigned after it was revealed she took her family along during government trips to Europe at the taxpayers expense? Remember Robert Coates, who when serving as the minister of defence quit after it was found out that he and two aides had frequented a West German bar with strippers and pornographic movies during a government assignment? The question remains: How much more of this blatant dishonesty and misuse of government power are the voters going to take? NHL playoff system a bust All yes, the end is nigh for the current NHL season. After 80 odd games and the almost never-ending host of playoff games, it's finally coming to a close. Just think, hockey fans, no more cutesy -pie Wayne Gretzky, no more of Howie Meeker's hockey hysterics (put it upstairs, golly gee whiz!), no more of the obnoxious meanderings of Don Cherry, and last but not least, no more sitting by the television, watching Dave Hodge and his picture -perfect hair, and wondering - "wouldn't it be great to see Dave - just once - with untidy hair?" While the, Stanley Cup final always promises some of the best hockey action of the season, this year's version of the final playoff round is sort of anti -climat- ic. The best and the hardest -fought series has already been played when you look back on the match -up between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. The fact that the best series occurred near the first of the playoff schedule rather than at the very end, points to the inescapable truth that the heirarchy of the NHL have devised a totally inept playoff system. Chuckles could be heard Canada - wide when the Leafs, the bungling doormats of the entire league, made it to the playoffs. Although they somehow managed to awake from hibernation and ALAN play well in the playoffs, doesn't overshadow the fact they finished the season with a losing record. - Today, it seems the all -mighty dollar has stripped away the competitive spirit of the game. It appears like the playoffs are only. an opportunity for the majority of team owners to cash in on the extra games, rather than it being a showcase of the best talent in the league. The NHL could take a lesson from the way other professional sports leagues operate its playoff rounds in baseball, only the top team in each division reach the playoffs while in NFL football, the top teams and two wildcard teams form each conference. And, best of all, in these playoff systems, it's usually the top two teams who meet in the finals. Before the NHL loses all credibility, it must act on a new playoff format. My advice? I think the NHL should throw Dave, Howie, and Don into a room for a couple of hours to discuss the merits of a new playoff system. With that much hockey knowledge in one room - how could you lose! Missed again. By Alan Rivett Bridget Sutherland was not the type of person to meddle with the private affairs of another woman, but she considered Anne Livingstone's condition to be extremely serious. Because Annie refused to seek medical help, Bridget felt she must break the confidence between herself and the pregnant woman and inform Doctor Cam- eron. She did this by speaking to the doctor's wife, Rebecca, and revealing what Annie had told her. This placed Rebecca in an awkward predicament. The doctor was away on one of his routine visits to patients in the surrounding countryside. "If what you say is true, there is very little chance that Annie will live," Rebecca said gravely. "1 doublt if even Doctor Cameron could do very much to help." A glance at the gravestones in any pioneer cemetery will testify to the tragic deaths of many young married women and/or their babes. In those days, a woman about to abort in an advanced stage of pregnancy, had little or -no hope of survival. Rebecca lost no time in arriving at the Livingstone cabin. at was the .ttfiddle.of the morning. Allan was in the midst of his chores at the barn and Annie had been unable to rise from her bed because of excruciating pain. Under normal circumstances, Annie would have been hostile to . Rebecca and resented her interference. But fear of the unknown, on this earth and beyond, made the frightened .girl thankful to talk to anybody, epsecially the doctor's wife'. When Rebecca had finished her examin- ation, the look on her face told Annie what she feared the most. It was about that time Allan came up from the barn. He had been told of Rebecca's visit but made no attempt to go and speak to her until he heard his .wife's pitiful screams of pain. Then he . . asked Rebecca if be should ride out intinta the countryside and try " 'to find Doctor Cameron, but she'°`shooks her head. , "You wife does not need:My husband. :1 am afraid it is' far too late for .that„;:' She needs God,' Rebecca said gravely. "Perhaps you would. be kind enough to fetch the minister."` The Reverend Durncan. MacLeod was not all sure how he sItould approach Anne Living'stione. on, .the .snifter ofsnaking her peaee with Gerd. In fact, he was 'not certain how she would react. Hut like so many people on the edge of eternity, he found her eager to grasp at straws, just in case there was indeed a heaven. She confessed her sins and repented for her self-indul- gent life. After MacLeod had done all he could to assure her she would, having repented, take her place in paradise, she said weakly: I need tae speak tae Allan, Reverend. Would ye please beg him tae see me before I gae?" Duncan MacLeod told Allan of his wife's request and the young man came to her bedside and took her hand. He could never forget the time when Annie was the idol •of his life and how much he had loved her when their romance was fresh -and new. , Regardless ofhow she had: treated him, he felt it was his duty to make her fleeting, moments a little more bearable. He would have .spoken words of comfort if only he knew how, but between the .pangs of pain, it was she who spoke. "1 wronged ye cruelly, Allan. 1 never deserved a good man such as ye are. There is nothing mare 1 can do now, except tae ask ye tae 'forgive me. Let me leave ye, knowing somewhere in ye're heart, there is still a wee bitte love frac the wicked lass ye took as ye wife." News of Annie's death spread quickly throughout the community. There were some who regarded her passing as a blessing - hadn't she caused enough sorrow and mischief? But those with more compassion saw the good side of Annie. They reflected back to the days when she was a little girl, happy with the simple but good things that her new life in Canada had given her. Neil MacCrirnmon, the realist and practical leader of Redtrees had nothing to say. As. soon as he heard that Annie had departed this life, he dressed himself in his full regalia and went to the Livingstone cabin. A cold east wind pulled at the streamers on his bagpipes as he paced in slow precision and played "The Flowers of the Forest", In his opinion, no true Highlander should leave this world without a lament.