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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-08-24, Page 4• RAGE 4--CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, TI URSDAY, AVOUST Z4,, 1978 Apathy not needed Apathy is a horrifying state of mind. The feeling of indifference leads to failure, unhappiness, carelessness and irresponsibility. No country, city, town or com- munity is ever free from this burden, but it must be closely guarded and discouraged to keep it under control. By keeping the community people involved and active, apathy can be warded off. Sometimes it takes more than asking for volunteers to get this help and gentle force can often bring these indifferent people to their feet. It is obvious that the Clinton and Vanastra District Big Brothers Association is going to have to use some method other than posting notices and advertising, 'to get he area people involved in the new, worthy organization. Although Seaforth, Goderich and Wingham have had great success in their new attempts at similar Big Brother branches, the Clinton and Vanastra association has been the runt of the new litter, slow at starting and a little unsteady on its feet. Hopefully, unlike some other ventures in this town, recently, the Big Brothers will remain per- sistant and succeed. The formula for success is really quite simple, take one indifferent citizen, who seems to have a few hours a week to spare, and gently twist his or her arm. Should be impressed One of the events associated with the annual International Plowing Match is the farm and home beautification contest which awards prizes to residents in the host county who improve their surroundings. • About 135 residents of Huron have submitted entries in con- junction with this year's plowing match near Wingham. That may appear to be a small 'number in view of the total population and may suggest to some that Huron residents aren't, interested in beautifying their abodes. However, a drive. through the countryside will quickly dispel that suggestion. in fact; most Huron residents keep their properties looking extremely neat throughout the years and don't need special contests to spur them on to that end. Visitors to Huron this year no doubt will be most impressed with the general well -kept appearance of the urban and rural environs, including the 135 where people have taken the time to enter the match contest, if you're not included among those who have entered the contest or taken the time to get the place tidied up 'recently, you still have enough time remaining to perform that ,task and . join your neighbours in presenting a welcome sight for visitors.—from the Exeter Times - Advocate sugar and spice Canadian writers A few years ago, I picked up a paperback novel entitled, I think, The Last of the Crazy People, written by one Timothy Findley. As usual, I turned to the back cover to find out something about the author. There was nothing, and I, a voracious reader and a teacher of literature, had never heard of him. I began reading the novel, and soon thought, "Oh boy, this is an excellent writer. Who the heck is he?" And that was the end of my curiosity. • This year, I read in the paper that one Timothy Findley had won the Governor -General's Award for a novel called The Wars. That suggested he must be a Canadian writer. Never heard of him, but remembered the name and the other novel I'd thought so good. Since, I've read The Wars. It is powerful, sensitive, beautifully structured. Probably "the best novel that has won the G -G's A. Some of the other winners were sleaze. Recently, Findley wrote a newspaper article in which he pointed out the appalling lack of ability among Canadian critics. I don't blame him. He was right on. With a few exceptions, I find our critics to be narrow-minded, nit-picking people who approach anything new with pre -conceived prejudices only exceeded by their desire to reveal how clever and, witty they themselves are. But the point that interested me, most in his article was its concluding one. He stated, unequivocally, that we are in the midst of Canada's golden age of writing, and suggested it was a pity that no one would say this until 50 or 100 years from now. Well, he's wrong. This one small voice in the desert of Canadian critics agrees with him about 94 percent. Not quite golden. There's some dross among the glitter. But absolutely high- grade ore, with the occasional diamond popping up, and a lot of silver threads "Crime doesn't pay -- at least not till you get caught and write your memoirs." Baseball and its fans M many of you know, I'm not a baseball fan, but when someone offers me a free ticket, I'll watch almost anything. A few weeks ago 1 saw my first big league game in person - a contest between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers. We had excellent seats along the first base line. The diamond looked smaller than the among the gold. Fair enough? What is a golden age? In writing, it's a time when a rich vein of talent is discovered, and mined, and turned into vessels and shapes and pieces that will delight and enhance' life for many "ars. England had one in the late 16th century, when Marlowe and Ben Johnson and Will Shakespeare served as lucid, brilliant witnesses to the vagaries, foibles, and magnificence of the human species. Russia had one in the 19th century, with Tolstoi, Chekhov, Dostoievsky and a dozen others. • America had its golden years in this century, with Willa Cather, Steinbeck, Dreiser, Hemingway, Sandburg, Frost and a host of smaller fish cruising along in their wake" A golden age in writing is not something planned. It cannot even be foreseen. It can only be backseen. It's a seemingly spontaneous outburst of literary fireworks, for which there seems noprovocation. O.K. End of thesis. But, as I so seldom do anything useful in this column except expose the darker side of our national psyche -- crazy wives, rotten kids, bewildered politicians — perhaps today I can render a service. A little digression. I teach a Grade 13 course in contemporary literature first term, all Canadian; second term, all American; third term, all British. At the end of this year, I had the kids write an assessment of the course; no names, no pack drill. About 80 percent of them said the' Canadian section was the best, that they'd become acquainted for the first time with great Canadian writing, and that it should be extended for the full year, , This was after meeting perhaps 20 Canadian writers, in print. What does that tell you? First, our . own children don't know our own writers. Second, their parents don't have any Canadian books in the house. Third, Canadian publishers are lousy promoters. End of digression. It's summertime, time for reading. Time for my public service bit. The Clinton News -Record Is published each Thursday at P.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM 110. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association 1t is registered as second Class mall by the post office under the permit number 0017. The Nows-Record Incorporated in 1424 the Huron Naws-Record, founded In nil, and The Clinton Now Era, founded In 1i6l. Total press run 3,300. Clinton News -Record Moiatboit Canadian Cortanunity Newspetper Astt,ileition Dlepiey edtnifiiIftnp rotes rirallabies+ oit reeitrett. Alk for 040e Cord talo.• $,sft+rtfly. Ott. 1. 1 hit. r General Managar ..1. Howard Aitken tdito,. James I'. Flfstperatd Advartlfing Director. Gary L. Hoist Maws editor • *hatlay Mel►hed Citic. Mtsvii par . Margaret Glbb Circulation • hada Method t t .0, a Subscription Rates Canada • "111per year u % A, '11.00 Other . YA. If you can take your eyes for a moment off the golden shoulders of all those golden girls, check this list, when next you decide to pick up a paperback novel. If the store doesn't have it, demand why, hotly. If you like Westerns, read anything by: Jack Hodgins, Paul St, Pierre, W.O. Mitchell; Robert Kroetsch, Rudy Wiebe, Margaret Laurence. Every one is a genuine artist, and I've missed others. If your taste is with the effete East (Ont. and Que.) ready anything by Morley Callaghan, Hugh Maclennan, Alice Munroe, Margaret Atwood. And three dozen others, including Marian Engel (Bear). ?continued in last column, impression given by TV cameras ; the ball moved faster and the crack of the bat, when it made contact with the ball sounded much louder. With his usual candour, my brother- in-law leaned over to my sister and me after we sat down and advised, " You gotta keep your eyes on the ball. This is where people get hit." We soon found out what he meant, In the first two innings, half a dozen foul balls headed in our direction; we felt shell-shocked. My problem was that after the ball left the pitcher's hand, I lost track of it. Consequently, whenever I heard wood hit leather, I automatically ducked. After awhile, I relaxed a little. The balls seemed to pop up high and come down several rows behind us. In ad- dition, I noticed a boy of about 12 or 13 sitting in front of me and three men to. my right. I reasoned thatL, if aball come in my direction, itV least four pdirs of hands would be inAont of my face trying to catch it and surely one of them would snag it. I began to enjoy the game, but I admit I got as much kick out of listening to the fans as watching the players. All around me came shouts from the experts: "You shoulda had , it, you fool!" "Clown, Clown!" "Show a little hustle, will ya?" "Get that bum outta there!" When a good play was made, it was acknowledged, too. "Nice catch ! " "That's pitchin''em!" "Way to go!" To our left was a man with a camera, a, telescopic lense and a companion with powerful lungs. He focused the remembering our past 25 YEARS AGO September 3, 1953' With her "beauty, poise, personality, charming smile and a. graceful walk," the 18 -year-old Barbara Brandon was awarded the title of Miss Huron County at the annual Zurich Lions Club frolic held on August 19. The pretty green-eyed brunette won first place among three contestants and is slated to enter the Miss Western Ontario contest in Windsor later this fall. This is the second year that Miss Brandon has won the title. She entered the contest at Zurich last September 1. Barbara is the daughter of Harold Brandon, Bayfield. Nearly $1,000" in cash was stolen from the office of the town clerk sometime between 12 noon and 12:40 p.m. on Monday. None of the town officials were in the building at the time. The money was the property of J. W. Manning, town assessor and tax collector and was in a locked green cash box, deposited in the filing cabinet in the office. Usually kept in the safe, the money had been taken out in the morning so it would be handy for use. Several cases of vandalism have occurred during the past two weeks in Clinton. Most serious of them was the desecration of the lovely 83 -year-old gravestone marking the grave of Rev. Bourdieu on the lawns of St. Paul's Anglican Church. Thoughtless persons managed to push the cross off the top of the gravestone. Made of sandstone as many old stones were, this was comparitively easy,to do. This stone was a matter of pride to the people of St. Paul's and an added beauty to the town. Those who committed this criMe of despoiling a beautiful and reverent reminder of an early settler, should be apprehended and made to feel the enormity of their action. Except for a few last minute jobs, Clin- ton's new $345,000 Public School stands ready for teachers and pupils. 50 YEARS AGO August 30, 1928 Mr. N. W. Trewartha left this morning with a number of the members of his Sunday School class to take in the wonders at the Toronto Exhibition. Arrangements are pretty fully made for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Huron Road on Monday next, the celebration to start at Fryfogle, east of Stratford. It is expected that the Hon. G. S. Henry, Minister of Highways, wilt be , present to declare the road orieb. camera on a certain player, while his friend tried to attract the player's attention by yelling his name,. "hey you" or anything else he could think of; Behind us was a rooting section for one of the Blue Jays - Rico Carty. Every'' time he came up to bat, the chant began: "Let's go, Rico -o -o ! " One little girl got carried away with her enthusiasm, and I heard her pixie voice urging "Let's go, Rico" regardless of whichplayer or which team was batting. Another of her favourite battle cries was "Let's make a homerun!" When one player hit a pop fly, she asked, "Was that a homerun, Daddy?" "No," answered her father. "Oh, I guess he has to do it again, huh, daddy?" Excitement is contagious. I became buoyed by a Blue Jay rally, which tied the score halfway through the game. I was out bf my seat with the rest of the crowd when , a Toronto player con- nected for a homer. I oohed and aahed over a diving catch, a seemingly im- possible double play and a scintillating fast ball. I disagreed with the umpire. And in the eighth inning, when Milwaukee scored five runs, I sagged with the other fans. Although the outcome was disap- pointing for Blue Jay fans, I came away with a little more appreciation for the finer points of baseball. After seeing a game in person though, I doubt whether I'll become excited about watching it on TV for an important ingredient will be missing - the crowd. The New Barber Shop; shave, 15 cents; hair cut, 25 cents (Saturday 35 cents); shampoos - plain 20 cents; electric, 30 cents; mange, 30 cents; lemon and egg, 50 cents; witch hazel steam, 20 cents; massage - plain, 20 cents; electric, 30 cents; boncilla, 35 cents. Fenton Rumble, E. Mitchell's Old Stand. Mr. McCool of Londesboro wears a smile these days as the stork visited their home on Saturday, leaving a little baby girl. The softball game which was played Monday night by the Wesley -Willis` and Manufacturers had all the appearance of a walk over in favor of Wesley -Willis up to the end of the seventh innings, when they were brought up sharply by the heavy hitters on the Manufacturers' team who pasted the offerings of Tom Churchill to all corners of the diamond. There were some outstanding plays made during the game including some spectacular catches by Norman Livermore on the Wesley -Willis side who is, by the way, no weakling either when handling the bat. The street committee is busy this week patching up the holes in the streets. 75 YEARS AGO August 27, 1903 A very severe storm of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning passed over here early Tuesday morning. The lightning struck and burned a stack of oats in Mr. George Stephenson's field near Varna. Little thought good natured "Tom" Webster of Goderich Township as he left town shortly before noon Friday that hour was his last. All went well until they reached the Grand Trunk crossing on the 14th concession. There was a heavy cut there and for some distance an approaching train cannot be seen. It not being a regular train time all unsuspecting of danger he drove to the crossing, but just as his buggy wheels touched the rails the pay car dashed down upon him and he was hurled into .eternity. The buggy was smashed into kindling Wood - and the horse hurled through a fence and almost cut In two, - Mr, Webster was horribly injured. There were great gashes in his head exposing the brain, while his right arm was broken and one of his legs almost ground to jelly. The escape of the child was miraculous. It was found lying beneath its father and the buggy and was uninjured. When picked tip 1VIrr Webster was .unconscious and the train ;. hands placed ' him on the pay car acid brought hire to Clinton. Dr. Gunn was telephoned for and speedily arrived on the scene but a brief examination convinced him that the case was hopeless. A con- veyance was secured and the poor fellow was being taken to the hospital when he breathed his last. The remains were con- veyed to the undertaking rooms and at night removed to his late residence on the 10th concession. Let's draw the veil over the sad homecoming. Thomas Webster was a native of Ireland and only in his 34th year. In 1899 he married a daughter of Mr. John Dempsey and of their union three children have been horn, the youngest only a few weeks old. 100 YEARS AGO August 29, 1878 Up to within a few days since, a party composed of the Messrs. Ransford and Railton of Clinton were camped on the picturesque banks of the Maitland.. and one day while the female members of the party were enjoying themselves away from their male associates, they were suddenly startled by the appearance of a large wild cat in their midst. They heat a hasty retreat to the camp and their friends went forth, on "slaughter bent" but the animal had disappeared. A gentleman complains to us that in this place the butchers charge 11/2 cents per lb, for lamb, while at Goderich it is only 10 cents. This should not be the case. We would suggest to the council the propriety of providing a few cushioned benches and spit boxes for the ac- commodation of the gentlemen who congregate at Fisher's corner every evening, Sunday included -r It is bad enough for owners fo suffer the loss of fruit by the youthful thieves that seem to abound here but when the trees are wilfully broken it is going too far. Last week a resident had a splendid plum tree destroyed by the whole top being pulled off. The telephone connecting the office of Messrs. Glasgow MacPherson and Co., with that of Mr. J. A. Yuill, is now in perfect working order. The distance between two places is about three hundred yards and sounds are heard most distinctly at this distance. Quite a number have already witnessed the workings of the curious little instrument which at one end is nothing more than a speaking tube. On Monday/ evening, our reporter, with others, spent a pleasant time in conversing oyer the line and also in listening to the singing endplaying of Mrs. Yuill; the piano Some god write letters Dear Editor: Concerning Jeannie Seddon's letter of the 17th, concerning knowing God and walking with him: Every intelligent person walks in the name of some god. Whether individuals or nations realize it or not, they serve SOME god. How can that be? Well, not everyone today serves a specific god by name. But some persons idolize actors, politicians, sportsmen, rock singers, even themselves. Philippians 3:18,18 in the Bible, tells us one's god may be their own belly. Some directly worship the Devil, whereas others may serve him un- wittingly, for "the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." (1 John 5:19) How true are the words recorded under divine inspiration by the Hebrew prophet Micah: "All the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god." (Micah 4:5 ASV) In verse 1, Micah refers to what would occur "in the final part of ,the days." : "... the mountain of Jehovah's house...shall be exalted...and peoples shall flow unto it." Those who flow unto Jehovah's house realize that "there is no God but one. (1 Corinthians 8:4) Hense, while each people 'walks in the name of its god,' the attitude of true Christians is well expressed in Micah 4, verse 5: "And we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever." They do this because they believe Isaiah, whenhe prophesied "Jehovah is his name ... the God of the whole earth shall he be called." (Isaiah 54:5), Sincerely yours, C.F. Barney, Clinton. NOTE: ASV was copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Educatiota in 1929 "to insure the purity of the text". Parents concern Dear Editor: Looking around at the Board of Education meeting last Monday night, I failed to recognize one other person I knew from town, either for the books in question or against. How many parents have any real concern for the quality of education their children are receiving in our schools to -day? It was heartening to hear the results of the vote banning "The Diviners" but disheartening to know that all the ' women on the board voted nay to the To -tion n "The Diviners be removed 'from thebook list". I waited expectantly for the one I gave my vote to, Mrs. Dorothy Williams, only to hear a nay from her also. Expressing my disappointment to her after the meeting, she replied that she knew 1 would be. It gets tiresome "listening to those who say, why should one group force their views on others. No one is trying to dissuade any adult from reading the books in question. If their tastes in literature are of that level then by all means let them continue feasting on such. What is of concern is the fact of the eagerness of "professionals" to teach high school students this blasphemous and degrading trash. Sincerely, Mrs. Joan Cornish, Clinton is several teet from the instrument but a few tunes played upon it were easily recognized. The lady also sang "the march of the Cameron men," the words of which could be heard quite distinctly. Altogether this invention is an astonishing one and is likely to prove of incalculable benefit. Mr. C. Arnold of Paris cautions farmers against purchasing Arnold's Victor Wheat from a person calling himself Tilt, as he is taking orders for this variety and filling them with some other kind. Messrs. Mooney and I. Rattenhury have returned from Europe where they had been on cattle business. In having the rope of the fire alarm brought down behind the first door in the market and a label placed on the door in- forming all of the fact, the Fire Committee of the town have acted wisely. This two dollar excursion from Clinton to Toronto via GTR which is to come off the next Tuesday with tickets good to return by any regular train within seven days, adapts itself to everybody who wishes to travel in that direction. Last night Mrs. J. A. Yuill and Miss Joslin along with the Clinton Juvenile Band` took part in a concert at Varna, their per- formances being highly appreciated. We understand that the Band is now open for engagements on reasonable terms. Bili Smiley... • • t (continued from column 31 Not to mention, all from Quebec, Mordechai Richter, Marie -Claire Blais and Roch Carrier. And forty-four others, like Yves Therriault. Way down east, Ernest Buckler, Alden Nowian, Ray Guy, and 14 more. i ne book wfll cost you a little more than that porno U.S. novel with the cover of a girl being raped and whipped while she's stuffing pills down her lovely throat.' That's because our publishers have a small market, because people like you don't buy their books, and have to charge more. But you'll be doing our writers, our country, an'd, more importantly, yourself, a service that will make the Canadian Golden Age of Writing a fact, not a footnote in the future. 1