HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-07-18, Page 9staid.
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Nothing Like A Young Mind
Dr. Wilder Penfield, one of Canada's
most reliable authorities on the workings
of the human brain, was interviewed re-
cently on a Montreal TV program. The
theme of the interview was the capability
of children to absorb more knowledge
than they are currently being expected to
accept. Specificially, the interview dealt
with the possibility of teaching young-
sters a second language at an early age.
Dr. Penfield pointed out that it is quite
feasible to teach a child two or three
languages simultanteously if it is done
early enough — at the latest before 12
years of age. He also mentioned a cur-
ious, but well-founded fact — if a child
learns a second language at an early age
he will be able to learn a third language
in later life with much Tess difficulty than
would have been the case had he learned
nothing more than his mother tongue in
childhood.
Dr. Penfield's advice was that the sec-
ond language should be started by six
years of age and that the teacher should
not be a person whose only contact with
the child is in teaching that language. He
asserted that the language teacher should
take up a part of the school week teach-
ing all subjects in the second language.
The -purpose is to teach the child to
think in a second language, so that the
process of hearing in one language and
then mentally translating can be obviated.
His plea, of course, was that French
should be taught to every Canadian child,
not only in Quebec but in all the other
provinces as well. Conversely, the French-
speaking children of Quebec should be
taught English in the same thorough
manner.
This is a subject we have referred to
before. It is a most important one. If
you never meet anyone from Montreal or
other parts of Quebec you may not be
fully aware of the growing problem which
is exemplified by the Quebec separatists.
It is a very real and dangerous feeling
among French-Canadians. True, it should
never have arisen, but the plain fact is
that it has arisen, whether we like it or
not.
The difference in language is by far
the greatest single barrier between the
two major ethnic groups in this country,
and that difference must be removed as
speedily as possible.
If a full and comprehensive course in
French were started in Ontario public
schools today it would be 20 years before
its full benefits would begin to appear.
Therefore it is obvious that there is no
time to be wasted.
For Clearer Writing
The time may be here for discussion
of and argument for middle-class mor-
ality, says The Printed Word. Or perhaps
it is the high-class morality of the middle
class. By middle class one means a class
that is middle in income and modest in
social ambition and attainment.
There is much to be said for the man
and woman who bring up a family in the
way the Victorians said they should go.
There is faithful attendance at Sunday
School and in large congregations as the
youngsters become full members of the
Church. Or there can be nothing more
heart-warming than to see the pride of a
family when a boy makes his speech at
Bar -mitzvah.
North America is Christian and Jew,
yet there are writers for stage and screen
who preach against or who bring into
their work a scorn and derision of the
churchly qualities that held, or hold
civilization together. It is not held to-
gether by motion picture stars who trade
for a new wife at a cost of millions, or
by writers and editors for stage, screen
and magazine who use their talents try-
ing to find new ways to shock.
It is highly probable, in fact, that
writers who try to exploit prurience and
who are supported in their "rights" to
bare their lewdness are far from being
first class in their profession. They find
themselves much in the position of Ra-
belais now virtually unreadable, whose
droll stories had to become droller and
droller—or drierer and drierer. There
is nothing new about filth and readers
who have some instinct for good taste
are sure, in the end, to turn toward
bright, clever, entertaining cleanliness if
it can be found.
Budget Triggers Higher Prices
One of the most serious consequences
of the confusion which has arisen from
the Gordon budget will be a general in-
crease in the prices of many of our com-
monly -used goods and services.
Having breakfast in one of Toronto's
larger restaurants the other morning, we
were greeted by a neatly -printed notice
in which the management regretted that
their long -famous ten cent cup of coffee
would in future be 15 cents. The notice
is typical of thousands of increases which
are being applied all over the business
field.
In our own business it has become
apparent that some price increases will
be necessary. We have tried to hold the
line for the past four or five years, in
the vain hope that the economy would
level off to some extent. Like other
conscientious firms, too, we have made
every effort to practise economies wher-
ever possible, rather than passing on
higher costs in the form of higher charges.
Mr. Gordon's budget, however, makes
it official. Already a 4 percent tax has
been cracked onto the very costly equip-
ment which is used in the newspaper and
printing industry. This 4 percent is to be
increased to 11 percent over the coming
months. The increase must be reflected
in our prices if we are to stay in business.
All of this makes it very plain that
the government of Canada, regardless of
the party which may be at the helm, is
going to face the urgent necessity for
very careful scrutiny of its own expendi-
tures.
Curiously Unaware
Sometimes we are amazed at the lack
of attention the Lakeshore townships pay
to one of their most important sources
of revenue. Though tourists and cottagers
must of necessity leave a sizeable amount
of money behind them at the end of each
summer, it is not unusual to find town-
ship roads along the lake frontage in de-
plorable condition. This cannot be said
of every township, but in many cases it
is all too true.
We have also heard of cottagers who
were most irate over the difficulties they
experience whenever it is necessary to
seek any sort of co-operation from muni-
cipal councils. In fact it is these prob-
lems which have given rise to the numer-
ous cottage -owners' associations.
Perhaps it is inevitable that township
councils, composed almost exclusively of
farmers, who work hard all summer,
should find themselves short of sympathy
for the sort of people who can afford
the time and money for holidays. We
suspect there is more than a tincture of
jealousy in the atmosphere.
It is not unusual for the "natives"
to carry a spirit of ill -concealed contempt
for summer invaders, but this attitude is
one which should speedily be corrected.
Tourists and cottage owners, in many
parts of this fair province, provide the
chief form of livelihood for the natives.
Millions of dollars are spent every year
to attract tourist business and a big per-
centage of that expenditure can be wasted
by a poor welcome when the tourist ar-
rives in the area selected for his holiday.
This applies not only to the actual lo-
calities in which the visitors will stay,
but equally in towns such as our own,
through which the travellers must pass
and in which they would at times like to
do some business.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ-
ation; Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives
Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mail and
for payment of postage in cash
Subscription Rate:
One Year, $4.00; Six Months, $2.25, in advance
U.S.A., $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year
Advertising Rates on application
"CLOSE -ORDER DRILL" — Skill and precision are
demonstrated as four destroyers of the RCN's Pacific
Command steam in tight formation while carrying out
a multiple jackstay transfer evolution in waters off
Victoria. From port to starboard the ships are the
Margaree, Skeena, Saguenay and Fraser.
btancoZi
Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, July 18, 1963
SECOND SECTION
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SUGAR
and
SPICE
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIpBy Bill Sm ley
Some people are addicted to drugs, others to drink,
some to the weed, others to women. Teachers are addicted
to summer courses. Why? *
Ask a teacher and he'll tell
you, "To improve my profes-
sional competence." Ask the
chairman of the school board
and he'll tell you, "So he can
demand more money." Ask
the teacher's wife, if you
want the real truth: "So he
can get down to the city there
and have a big time running
around and living it up while
I'm stuck here at home with
the kids." They're all equally
right.
That's why I've been taking
a Refresher Course in Eng-
lish. And don't think it hasn't
been refreshing. It started off
in rip -snorting style and the
pace hasn't let up for a min-
ute. Girls, drink, bawdy con-
versation and wild reunions
with old comrades.
I hadn't really intended to
get involved in anything be-
yond a few love affairs and
half a dozen nights on the
town. That's why I picked out
what I thought was a fairly
quiet spot to stay. My illu-
sions were dispelled even be-
fore I got dressed in the
morning. There was a surrep-
tious tap on my door. I open-
ed it and was confronted by
two young ladies, both stark
naked and grinning broadly.
* .* *
Talk about your Profumo
affair. "Hi, Unca Bill!" chor-
tled my nieces, Jenny and
Susie, aged four and three.
Well, that wasn't so bad. I'm
used to bare -bottomed little
girls, and these were the only
ones I had anything to do
with while I was away, so
help me, Mom.
But the drink was another
matter. I couldn't seem to
stay off it, without the old
Trouble 'n' Strife there to
keep an eye on me. Morning,
noon and night, I was into the
stuff. I'm so sick of coffee
it'll be a joy to get home,
where a man can have an
honest beer after a hard day's
work watching the starlings
decorating his new picnic
table.
Then there was the shock-
ing conversation I was ex-
posed to. At home, the dia-
logue runs on pretty conven-
tional lines. You know, stuff
like, "When are you going to
cut the grass? The place
looks like The Petrified For-
est." Or, "Iley, Dad, will you
take us for a swim and play
badminton with us and go
bowling with us and give us
our allowance and buy some
watermelon and ice cream
and a boat so we can go
waterskiing and can I drive
the car?"
* * *
Pretty tame stuff. But on
the course, there were no re-
straints. Just a bunch of men,
out for a good time, and no
holds barred. You should
have heard us throwing the
bawdy talk around. Like,
"Yeah, my old woman's the
same. Sorta owly." And,
"Yup, these modern kids are
spoiled rotten." And, "Guess
I . godda gedda new car.
Body's shot." And a lot of
stimulating stuff like that.
But this was nothing com-
pared to the wild times at
night. That's when we really
cut loose. I'll never forget the
first night I threw caution to
the winds. Met a couple of
the boys downtown in a bar
and had a pretty raucous
time, talking about how they
had a hell of a time getting
their kids to practise the
piano, too.
* * *
Well, sir, they just couldn't
stay with me. They faded.
There I was, at 8.30 p.m.,
raring to go. And by sheer
chance, I got into a terrific
reunion with some old mates.
It was the night of the pre-
miere of The Great Escape,
and I was passing the movie
house. I wandered into the
lobby, told the doorman I was
an old prisoner -of -war (what
the film was about) and he
told me to go on in.
It was a thrilling show. At
least that's what the critics
said about it, in next day's
papers. I snoozed. After the
show, the old P.O.W.'s came
out, grand in rented white
dinner jackets and fat wives
with borrowed mink stoles.
And there was old Elmer,
large as life. In fact, twice as
large.
I hadn't seen old "El," as
I called him, since the day
the Russians liberated our
camp, back in May, 1945. He
hadn't seen me since then,
either. As you can imagine,
it was a hilarious reunion.
Nothing would do but that
I'd have a drink with him.
We went off with our arms
around each other's shoul-
ders. At least, as far as they'd
reach. Mine wouldn't go
much past the nape of his
neck. He had grown. Side-
ways.
* * *
We were just getting nicely
REMINISCING
JULY 1913
The following donations
were received by the Wingham
Hospital: James Gaunt, $5;
J. A. Currie, $10; W. J. Boyce,
$5; J. L. Awde, $5; D. Bell,
$5; J, C. Graham & Son, $5;
G. Carr, $5; Wm. Bone $5,
Mrs. Elizabeth Bloomfield,
with her late husband, Robert
Bloomfield moved to the
Township of Morris fifty four
years ago and nine years ago
took up residence in Wingham.
This week she left Wingham to
spend her remaining days with
relatives near Clinton.
Again the pale rider has
been in our midst and it is our
duty to chronicle the death of
one of Ontario's oldest pioneers,
in the person of the late Dune:
an McKinley. Mr. McKinley
was bom in Cawal, Argyles -
shire, Scotland in 1835 and at
the age of 1 immigrated with
his father Donald McKinley
and settled in the township of
Lobo near London, Ont. When
quite a young man, he leamt
his trade as carpenter, working
at this, also contracting and
bridge building. He built the
bridges on the Grand Trunk
between London and Wingham,
as well as many other sections
in Canada and the United
States. About 30 years ago,
owing to ill health, he retired
to Wingham where he has been
one of our most respected citi-
zens.
0--0--0
JULY 1926
Mr. G. A, MacKersie,
Principal of School, Bounty,
Sask. , is spending his vacation
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Wm. MacKersie of Shuter St,
Mr. Wilfred Fryfogle of
Detroit, spent a few days with
relatives in town. He was
accompanied home by his two
sisters, Mrs. Jas Hamilton and
Mrs. Cummings.
The C.G.I. T. of St. An-
drews Church spent a couple
into our reunion, and swear-
ing we'd reforge the strong
bonds of those days behind
the wire, and bring our fami-
lies to visit each other, when
El asked if I'd gone straight
back to Calgary when I was
discharged from the air force.
As I've never been in Cal-
gary in my life, I was rather
taken aback.
A few minutes later, it had
been revealed that Elmer's
name was Elwood Middle -
house, and that he thought
mine was Bill Wiley, who'd
slept in the bunk above his
in Stalag Luft 3. I was in
Stalag Luft 1. We parted
rather coolly, trying to out -
fumble each other for the
check.
There's nothing quite as re-
freshing as a refresher
course. At least, I can tell
my wife that I led my class.
Down to the cafeteria every
day, for coffee break.
Of pleasant weeks at Mr. R. S.
McGee's cottage at Kincardine
beach. Miss Marjorie Gurney
and Mrs. A. M. Hannah were
the chaperones. The following
young ladies were in the party:
Misses Eva Rintoul, Bertha Mc-
Gee, Penelope Hannah, Nancy
Taylor, Mary Mitchell, Fairy
Fells, Elizabeth Ross, Lois
Prast.
Mr. Harry Ansley of Winni-
peg is renewing acquaintances
here and visiting with his
mother, Mrs. John Ansley, Shu -
ter St.
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Anderson
and sons, Jim and Donald of
Peterboro are guests at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. John
Galbraith, Minnie St.
Mr. W. G. Knox, who has
been visiting his brother-in-
law, Mr. W. J. Gallaher
and other relatives here, re-
turned to his home at Moose -
jaw, Sask.
0--0--0
JULY 1938
The Newton family reunion
took place at Pike Lake on
Saturday with 125 present,
members being in attendance
from Gowanstown, Belmore,
Clifford, Ayton, Harriston,
Wroxeter, Hanover, Toronto,
Listowel and Gorrie.
Mrs. J. W, McKibbon and
daughter, Mary Elizabeth and
Mrs. C. B. Armitage and
daughter, Doris, motored to
North Bay and Callendar last
week to view the Quints. On
their return they visited at
Buffalo and at Niagara Falls.
Mrs. F. A. Parker and
daughters, Patricia and Grace,
have returned home after spend-
ing the past few weeks at Day-
tona Beach, Florida.
Word was received in town,
of the death of Annie Catherine
Griffin, R.N., daughter of the
late Mr. and Mrs. C. N.
Griffin, of Wingham, at Wind -
so r.
Mrs. John Campbell, who
resides with her daughter, Mrs.
Geo. Hawthorne, Lower
Wingham, celebrated her 92nd
birthday on Monday.
Mr. and MIS. Peter Gowans
left on Tuesday for Owen
Sound where they took the
boat for a trip to Sault Ste.
Marie. They will visit with
Mrs. Gowans' sister there for a
few weeks.
JULY 1948
Four rinks of Trebles from
the Wingham Ladies Bowling
Club attended the tournament
held in Clinton last Wednesday.
First prize was won by Mrs.
Elsie Sturdy, skip, Mrs. M.
Ilam and Mrs. Murray Johnson;
and third by Mrs. It, Campbell,
skip, Mrs, 11. C, MacLean
and Mrs. Chas. Lloyd.
Mrs. Chas. MacWilliarn of
Swift Current Sask. , visited
for a few days with her cousins,
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Kelly.
This was her first visit to Wing -
ham in :3U years, since a party
of 13 went west and settled in
Swift Current and Stewart
Valley, Sask.