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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-09-21, Page 4PAG ►CLINTON NEWSt4ECORD, MRS PAT', $,E !' ' MIM,R 21,1978 •.i.1.,.rrrir...rr.r.;r•,;r; In just about three weeks - my how time flies - nominations open for all the various elected posts soon to be declared vacant in all municipalities. All those various municipal seats, including municipal coun- cils, boards of education and public utility commissions, need good community oriented, open- minded people to fill them again, much like those, - with a few exeptions - that are filling them now. But with the nominations opening on October 16, and the election on November 13, nearly a month earlier than the traditional date, it has been hard for the politicians to stir the public and various potential candidates, 'into action, but we must start thinking seriously about it or the time will soon be passed. Now running for public office in a small municipality is not for the timid, because unlike the big urban areas where councillors are seldom known by their faces, a politician in the rural area is known nearly everywhere, and the job becomes a 24 -hour -a -day chore at times. It's a tough job to be sure, the demands on your time are unrealistic, the pay terrible in Tight of today's wage scale, and the public sometimes unforgiving, but it does have its rewards, including modest recognition by the public most of the time, satisfaction of the guiding a community is the highest form of democracy, and the knowledge that without the small- time volunteer elected official, our system of government would likely disappear quickly. Although the government of today, even in a small town or township is a, complex mixture of business, and technology and yards of red tape, it still takes no prerequisites to run for office, so let's have full races for all posts. Acclamations don't • mean unqualified endorsement, just apathy. (JF) "Walkout bedamned -- I'm going to go on a sit-down strike instead." Dear Citizens of Clinton and Surrounding Area : We know you are Community min- ded!! Think of this community without an arena ! ! The necessary replacement of the floor is going to cost approximately $180,000, of which grants will cover $90,000, IF we can raise the equivalent in non -tax dollars. A group of interested people are busy planning and organizing a canvass of all households in Clinton and area. Their goal is to raise $90,000 to assure you that the arena will remain an in- tegral part of this community. On a per capita basis, the estimated amount of money required from each and every household would be in the neighbourhood of $75. This is an AVERAGE figure. The committee realizes that there are many who can afford to give much more than this, and some who cannot afford to give this much. We welcome any and all donations regardless of size. However, we still need $90,000! ! When the 'canvasser calls on you he will be prepared to answer any questions you might have. Receive him -her cordially and give generously! An official receipt will be issued for all donations, for income tax purposes. Thank You, The Arena Floor Fund Committee. My only experience with a second language came a few years ago when I studied French by correspondence. It was before the federal government began emphasizing the need for There are only two really important words when you take your trip to Europe. One is "toilet" and the other is "money." Each is a consthnt source of anxiety, fascination and frustration. In general, the ladies worried about the toilets, and the men about the money. As our vivacious guide, Annette, informed us, you don't ask on the continent where the bathroom is, or you're apt to get a response something like, "Watsa matta you lady? You wanna taka bath in a restaurant?" No, you bluntly blurt "Toilet?" It's the same in every language, so you can't go astray. There was only one thing wrong with our bus. It had comfortable seats, air- conditioning, a superb driver. But no "bathroom" at the rear. So you sailed off at 7 a.m., full of morning coffee, and shaky in the knowledge that you might be on that bus for two or three hours before a halt and the magic word TOILETS leaped into view. It wasn't bad for the men, but there was always a line-up for the ladies', the door often guarded by a fierce old harridan who demanded 100 lira or a franc piece before they were even admitted to the inner sanctum. From what I heard and saw, the facilities ranged from spanking clean with hot water and lots of towels, down through pretty sleazy, with tissue the texture of wall -paper, to the very pits, which were just that, holes in the ground, from which the ladies emerged looking a bit stunned, rolling back down the legs of their pant suits. In a little more than 3,000 miles, only two emergency stops were made. One was for Larry, 8, who had drunk three cans of pop at the last stop, and had the distinction of having a tinkle . right beside the auto -route in France. The second was when Graham, a young australian, (pronounced Grime in that language) was hit by a sudden attack of bad tummy and spent half an hour emitting at both ends in a filthy roadside toilet. Nobody minded either stop. Enough about toilets, surely. Now, about money. First of all, take more than you need. You'll need it. By the time I got ,'back to London, on a weekend, banks closed, I was so broke I had to borrow five pounds from the hall porter at our hotel. Before you begin your trip, obtain from your travel agent or airline alittle chart, or table, showing the_ ap- proximate value of your own dollar in European currencies. It won't help much, but it will be something to cling to in the maelstrom of five or six dif- ferent currencies changing value from day to day. For example, I changed some dollars for lira three times in one day, in Italy. First time, I got 850 lira fora dollar, second time 830, third time, 80O. Get rid of your loose change before you cross a border, even if you have to buy some candy and pass it around the bus. Each country will change paper money but is not interested in coins. You would wind up with a suitcase full of utterly useless francs, lira, marks, schilling, etc. I have enough to start a coin collection. Millions of tourists are honey to flies for the international pickpockets who infest the large cities. Our guide, la belle Annette, warned us so thoroughly, especially as we headed toward Rome, that we were a sight to behold after two days there. The women were all hurhpbacked frond - clutching their purses to their bosoms with both hands.. The men looked like a group of spastics, trying to keep their hands firmly in all their four to eight pockets at the same time. Just the other day, our Rome guide informed us, a gentleman had had his wallet, containing $450 Australian, lifted right in St. Peter's, the largest church in the world. We had a nice few moments of vicarious excitement when Glynis, from Australia, discovered her watch, worth $450, and a gift from her husband, was missing from her wrist. She said she'd felt a very soft, slight movement, looked down, and the watch was gone. She was distraught. So,were we all. Twenty minutes later, she found it in her bag, the turkey. It has slipped off her wrist and fallen into her purse. Some of the ladies were so nervous they took the unprecedented step of pinning their credit cards inside their bras. I played it safe. I never gave my wife more than a coin for the john, gild I kept my cash in one pocket, my travelers' cheques in another, and my credit card in a third, so that I wouldn't be made bankrupt by one swell foop. It was a bad year to visit Europe, with inflation rampant there (cuppa coffee or Coke well. over $1.0.0), the Canadian dollar diddling around 88_ cents, and the American dollar sliding. Hotels run around $48 to $60 a night, and that's not the Savoy or the Ritz. But wothehell, Archie, it's only the price of 'a new car, and a small one, at that. Take your trip and drive the old heap for another couple of years. You can't sit around in an old car 20 years from now, and exchange things like: "Remember the pinchy-pinchy party in Rome, where the waiter, straight- faced, pinched each lady's bum as he served her soup or pasta?" bilingualism. I studied the language only because it was part of my high school curriculum. If I had had 'other reasons, I might have tried harder. Reading and writing were not dif- ficult, and translating was fun. I passed 'the stage of identifying familiar ob- jects, such as the chair, the door and the hat, and was soon reading and writing french paragraphs and stories. My marks weren't bad - not terrific, but not bad. The only problem was the teacher couldn't hear my pronunciation. At the time, I thought it was to my advantage, but later I realized it wasn't. I didn't know anyone who spoke French; I didn't even own ' a 'French record. I experimented with certain sounds the way the book told me but most of it *as guess -work. The result was a dialect of my own that no one could understand but me. A few weeks after successfully completing—my—final . lesson, I met -..sq., neonne, Who ..spoke ..French. When I mentioned that I had studied the language, he promptly switched to the French ;tongue, and I quickly replied, "Huh?" My pronunciation and understanding never improved, and my reading and writing ability grew rusty over the years. Now I wish I had studied more seriously and retained a few of the things I learned about the second most - used language in Canada. It wasn't until the murmuring' about Quebec separatism grew louder that I The Clinton News -Record Is published each Thursday at P.O. Sox 30, Clinton. Ontario, Canada, NOM iLO. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association It Is registered as second class mall by the post office under the permit number 0117. The News.Record incorporated In 1024 the Huron News.lfecord, founded in 1001, and The Clinton Ned Era, founded In 1045. Total press run 3,300. Display advertising rates available on regttesi. Ask for Rete Card No. 0 effective Oct. 1. 1011. General Manager • J. Howard Aitken Editor • Autocrat. illtscpsrolof Adv+srlis1f y tAreclor • Gary L. Heist p44,44 *Moe 0heliey McPhaa 04f104t Manager - Margaret Gibb CirouIe*lon. Prada Mettlod Subscription Woo: Canada •'13 per year U.SA. •'11.00 Other 25 YEARS AGO October 1, 1953 This is a fine school building which the Minister of Education will officially open next Thursday evening. It is a fine building, and the occasion of its opening is one to attend and remember. It is a symbol of many hours of labor on the part of the School Board that planned its erection, and of the thought which the townspeople of Clinton gave for the better education of their children. But the real opening of the school is already over. Into its classrooms on Sep- tember 8 of this year, went the 472 pupils that make up Clinton's primary school enrolment. There they met the 12 teachers who will guide them through another year. That was the real opening of the Clinton Public School. The new teachers include, George H. Jefferson, Miss Edna Jamieson, Clayton O. Martin, Miss Winnie Gray, W.G. Nediger, Miss Louella Johnson, Mrs. E.M. Jefferson, Miss Grace Goodfellow, Miss Olive Johnson, Francis Hiusser, Mrs. Louis Dixon, Mrs. Bessie L. Falconer. Also on staff are Mrs. J.D. Thorndike, supply teacher and Mrs. May Rance MacKinnon, music supervisor. Although at present only 12 of the classrooms are being used in the school the other classroom is found to be quite an asset as a music room. If the enrolment at the Clinton Public School continues to grow with the speed it has managed in the last few years, it is quite probable that the 13th room will be in use before the school year is over. It is interesting to know that Miss Sherry Cochrane, who is a pupil in Grade 7 is a great -great-granddaughter of Sarah Hale Hunter and the significance of that is, that Sarah Hale Hunter wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb" just about 137 years ago. Mrs. Hunter Was the editor of "Godey's Ladies Book" the fashion magazine of the time, and v'as the first woman editor in America. She' was also credited with making Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. 50 YEARS AGO September 27, I828 Miss Helen Disdale of Kippen left Mond : y for Stratford General Hospital, where - e will begin a course of training, This is a noble work and we congratulate iss Dinsdale on her splendid choice for her fe's work. A fire of unknown origin and which ' ight have proved more disastrous occurr: d last Saturday morning when it was dis •vered that the home of Mr. John McEtt , ane of Stanley Township was on fire. Th neigh- realized how little I knew about Quebec, not just its language bust also its people, its culture, its ideals. Although I'm concerned. .I haven't really tried to Overcome my ignorance. I want to visit Quebec sometime, but I spent this year's vacation somewhere else. I'd like to brush up on my French, but I haven't enrolled in any courses. Like many other people, I use the excuse that I'm too busy or a course is not readily,available to me. Language is only one of the dif- ferences between English and French Canadians, and one English-speaking Canadian learning French is not going to affect the problems facing Canada, But it never hurts for people to try to learn about each other and to un- derstand each other. One thing I have done is try to put myself in the place of French Canadians. I have tried to imagine, for instance, how I would feel if I crossed -the Ontario border, heading east or .west, and discovered. I..coi.ddn't understand the language or make myself understood in my mother tongue, even though I was still in my own country. I've always felt proud of living in a country in which so many cultures are blended and people from so . many different backgrounds live together peacefully. Although I don't know as much about Quebec as I probably should,I've always been glad it's part of Canada and the thought of losing it disturbs me. Unity is worth saving. a look through the news -record files bors rushed in with their fire extinguishers and the fire was under control in a very short time. We are glad that it was no more serious. Mr. G. Brogden of Londesboro had the phone installed in his home recently. The weather was not very favorable this year for the Bayfi9ld Fair but it takes more than a spell of showery, cold weather to ruin Bayfield Fair, so, even though Tuesday, the first day, was wet and blustery, and yesterday, the Last day, was, little better, there was a fine array of exhibits. The concert given in the hall last evening was well attended and the program provided by the Brunswick Trio, with Jack Ballantyne, the comedian, was most en- tertaining. After the concert a number remained for a little social dance. In the baby show the winners included: best 'baby under 10 months, Mrs, Fred Middleton, Mrs. Ross Harrison, Goderich; best baby girl under 10 months, Mrs. Wm. Sturgeon, Mrs. Harold Penhale. Tenders for the erection of the Wesley Willis United Church, Clinton, will be received by S.B. Coon and Son, 4 St. Thomas Street, Toronto, up to Oct. 4th, 1928. Plans and specifications will be available in a few days from R.E. - Manning, Secretary Building Comarnittee 75YF.AR'S AGC September 24, 1903 Mr. Wilson Cook of Varna was in town on Monday making arrangements with Mr. Archie Cousins for the laying of a stretch of cement walk in that village. Dr. Ovens of London, specialist in diseases of eye, ear, nose and throat will be in Clinton on Tuesday, September 29th. Glasses properly fitted. Office in Combe's Store Mr. Harry. Darrow of Bayfield was in town Drug on Tuesday. While he did not say so, we fancy he has wished that the average weather of July and August might have been as warm as we had on Monday and Tuesday. As mine host of the most popular hotel in Bayfield he would have more , money in pocket had it been . Mr. H.P. Douglassoleft last week for Hamilton where he will enter the head office of the Bank of Hamilton. Trinity Church in Blyth will be closed for repairs for a couple of Sundays. Mr. James Walthew and his helpers from St. Thomas will frescoe and paint the church and pur- pose making a thorough job of It. The Ladies' Guild have undertaken the expense. Death visited the home of John Vollick, concession 7, Hay Township on Tuesday of last week, taking away the wife in her 55th year: The deceased had been ailing for years, gradually growing worse until released from suffering. She was a member of the Methodist Church and an earnest Christian. Dear Editor: An advertisement appearing in last week's issue makes the statement: "Both Old and New Testaments in- dicate that God exists as aX Trinity.. God the Father,God the Son and God the Holy Spirit." I have examined 15 different tran- slations and can find no expression: "God the Son" or "God the Holy Spirit", but then, the advertiser used the term "Indicates". However, what would the following indicate? "Blessed be the God /and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". "That the God of our Lord Jesus'Christ, the Father of, glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened." ... "And what is the excecling greatness, of his power to usward, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly plaices." (Ephesians 1:3, 1 ,-19-,20KhTsg 'Ta ogles v' si on ) This would indicate to me that Jesus worshipped the God who raised him (Jesus)' from the dead. And Peter identifies that God as: "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers."; then Peter identifies Jesus as "The Prince of life, -whom God hath raised from the dead." (Acts 3:12-15) That same English translation reads at Psalm 83;18: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." "Believers" may, if they so wish, uphold the "trinity", but for my part, I'll accept the Bible's testimony. Sincerely yours, C.F. Barney, Clinton 100 YEARS AGO September 26, 1878 The number and violence of the storms that have prevailed this year, has been large and unusual, but the most violent one ex- perienced was on Thursday evening last. ,The first intimation of its coming was at about six o'clock when it suddenly became dark, and in five minutes a terrible wind was blowing, which was soon accompanied with rain and hail. Dust was lifted from the streets tri clouds so thick that one could not see ten feet in advance of them. The porch of the Presbyterian Church was torn off and broken to pieces and part of a large shed at the Flax Mill was blown down. A wag remarked the other day that "the influence of the Conservative government was already felt, as the hens had quit laying' and no eggs were brought in." Several parties are wearing new hats now as a result of the elections. Frosts are now of almost nightly oc- curence. A certain lady in town, not long since, lost a member of her family by death, and on the grave she placed three splended plants in pots. A subsequent visit to the cemetery showed that some contemptible being had removed every one of the plants. Bears and squirrels are more numerous this season than they have been for many years past; and from this fact is adduced the belief that an early and severe winter is before us. Those who have made ob- servations in nature, say that the near approach of those animals to the dwelling of man in early fall, is an almost infallible sign. In tearing down the bar room of the Farmer's Hotel, in this town yesterday, a large quantity of mutilated paper money was found. Twelve dollars worth was found passable but the remainder the rats had cut up too much to be of any use. In a letter to the Expositor, a Seaforth man boasts of his child being able to milk before it was three years old. Pshaw, that's nothing; there are numbers of babies in this town that could milk at a much younger age. In Holmesville signature`s are being ob. tained to a petition asking the Granit Trunk Railway to make a !lag Station here, which if obtained, 'would be a great convenience. As it is, trains frequently slacken up to allow passengers to get off, but anyone from this neighborhood wishing to get on, has to drive to Clinton. Dear Editor: The Centennial Committee of the Town of Mount Forest, Ontario feels that there may be some of your readers who have lived in our town at some time. Or may have friends or relatives who have done so. Because we want to reach as many of these people as possible to invite them to our cen- tennial festivities in 1979 we are hoping you will publish this letter and help us reach them. The main events will centre around the week of June 29 to July 7 with the monster centennial parade on Monday, July 2. Anyone wishing to be on the list of invitations can notify Mrs. Annabelle Langdon, Mount Forest, Ontario NOG 2LO. We would like to thank you for helping us reach former area residents through your newspaper. Dear Editor : Dear children who attended the daily vacation bible school of the Christian Reformed Church bf Clinton: The Christian Reformed World Relief Fund is thankful to all of you for the $119.50 which you have collected. It sure 6 a lot of money for a D.V.B.S. to collect. We are thankful that children who are better off care for their fellow boys and gfrls who need help. The money will will be used to buy milk, seeds, rabbits, chickens and food for hurlgr3''chiidr~en, May the Lord richly bless you in your giving. (Signed) Peter Zwart C.R.W.R.P.