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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-12-23, Page 16Remember the days when *My country School m the land world hold what was called "a Christmas tree"? A tree would, at course, be the centrepiece for this gala occasion, one that would have been cut by the bigger boys and lugged across the snowy fields and then decorated by the girls, Ot the smhOOL Bit it was the program of the evening which would pack the building to its windowsills. Everybody in the section would turn out for that night, plus a lot of visitors from just about anywhere within reach of a horse and cutter. There is a snide little fairytale about country living which would have you believe that time is no object to farmers - that they're always late for everything. Let Q, me tell you that if one of those oldtime country school concerts was to begin at eight, the school yard would be filled with sleighs and cutters and steaming, blan- keted horses long .before then. The teacher, if she were really the industrious and conscientious type, would have been getting ready for this glittering event since last October, finding suit- able dialogues and recitations; choruses, drills, and then practis- ing, practising ... Teachers were always looking for fresh materi- al or so they said, but there were, dialogues so popular that we didn't mind seeing them year after year. There were the ones about mistaken identity, for in- stance.. The sewing machine salesman who gets pretty crusty treatment at Mrs. Grayson's until this woman -is horrified to discover that he isn't the sewing machine salesman" at all but the new minister. And then there was the perennial one about the re- cently bereaved woman who seems almost happy about, her bereavement. She confesses that she was really getting sick and tired of the old bastard lying ' around all day and snoring and smelling the place up. Besides, she tells her neighbor lady, his hair was falling out and so were his teeth. But.the punch line re- vealed that the dearly departed wasn't her husband at all but her old Collie dog. Oh, we used tb find that uproar- iously funny, almost as funny as 'the one called "Uncle Hiram's Cold". Remember that one about the old man who is coming down with the sniffles and there he sits in his rocker bundled to the ears and dosing 'himself with every- thing from Dr. Chase's . croup remedy to skunk •oil? But he is complaining bitterly that none of it is doing him a bit of good. Finally his wife Amanda, her brassiere padded out with boxing gloves, waddles in with a .wash- tub and a bucket of allegedly hot water. She yanks the boots and socks off her old man and then while he yells to high heaven that the water is hot enough to scald a pig, she shoves in first one naked foot and then the other. With an Uncle Hiram who was blessed with an unusually large set of feet, this dialogue would al- ways bring down the house. And will you ever forget the recitations? Especially those tiny verses that were elocuted by four and- five -year-olds making their very first public appearance. This one maybe for a shy little pre-school miss tugging nervous- ly at curls made especially for the ,,occasion: There's music in the teakettle, There's music in the spout, There's thusic iii me But I can't - get - iii - out! Or this for a somewhat bigger and braver boy in the Primer Grade. It would be done with carefully rehearsed gestures: When I was just a little boy, Just so high, My mom would take a little stick And make me cry. Now that I'm a big boy My mom can't do it; So my daddy takes a big stick And hops right to it! And then there would be the choruses of angels - gum -chewing little angels'with lopsided wings. There would be drills and sundry other bits of amateur choreo- graphy. (No dances though. The Baptists, you know.) And there would be a few items which we then referred to as "instru- mentals". These were more apt to be given by some of the more talented adults in the community because there was nothing in the tradition of those old country school concerts which said that the school kids had to do all of the entertaining. Nearly every school had an organ, or if it didn't it was an easy matter to lug one in for the night. And besides the organ solos there would be someone who could play piccolo or guitar or ukulele. The fiddler would generally be saved till near the last, just before Santa Claus came whopping in; -and he would of course stay for the dance that would be held afterwards, after the Baptists had gone home. Too bad that the people wbo set themselves up as exerts in t,ie education business finally got the little red schoolhouse legislated out of existence. But then you see , they somehow seemed to have the idea that our old one -roomed country schools were capable of nothing more than the dispensing of such unenlightened learning as: Reading and writing and 'rith- metic Taught to the tune of a hickory stick. Too bad that some of those great people couldn't have gone to one of those concerts. Channel 6 Entertainment THURSDAY, 6:30 p.m.—"DANGEROUS WHEN WET". A young Arkansas girl, about to swim . the' English Channel is inter- rupted by the romantic advances of a rich French champagne salesman. Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack Carson. THURSDAY, 11 p.m. -"TEACHER'S PET". Clark Gable stars as a tOugh city editor who believes in learning by experience and refuses to lecture to an adult night school journalism class. When he sees the professor (Doris Day) he has a change of mind and decides to masquerade as a student., With Gig Young. FRIDAY, 11 p.m.—"THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY". Fred Astaire stars as the charming Pogo who arrives in San Fran- cisco for the wedding of his daughter whom he hasn't seen in fifteen years, and manages to upset the party. With\ Debbie Reynolds, Lilli Palmer, Tab Hunter and Gary Merrill. SATURDAY, 10 p.m.—"STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND". An officer in the Air • Force Reserve, Dutch Holland must give up his baseball career when he is called to active duty. With James Stewart June Allyson, Barry Sullivan and Frank Lovejoy. MONDAY, 6:30 p.m—"EASY TO LOVE". The popular star of an aquatic show at Cypress Gardens is treated impersonally by her manager, until a young singer appears to cause rivalry. Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tony Martin. MONDAY, 11 p.m.—"RED". An exciting melodrama of a young man torn between two societies. The illegitimate son of an Indian women rind a white man.. he is considered a misfit and rushes headlong to his own destruction. Daniel Pilon. TUESDAY, 11 p.m.—"YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG". Jerry Lewis stars as a bumbling barber's apprentice who has to masquerade as a youngster, not knowing a valuable stolen jewel has been planted on him. With (Sean Martin, Diana Lynn. WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m. --"DOCTOR, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KID- DING". The hilarious story of a wacky unwed mother -to -be, Sandra Dee who is rushed to hospital to have her baby, ac- companied -by three men all anxious to marry her. With George Hamilton, Celeste Holm, Bill Bixby, Dick Kallman. WEDNESDAY, 11 p.m.—"WILD ANGELS". A young motorcycle gang terrorizes a beach community. When one of them is hurt the group raids the hospital to take him out, causing his death. Starring Peter Fonda and Nancy Sinatra. I Cro s o a Published every Wednesday as the big, action cross-country section in The Listowel Banner, The Wingham Advance -Times and The Mount Forest Confederate. Wenger Bros. Limited, publishers, Box 390, Wingham. Barry Wenger, Pres. Robert O. Wenger, Sec.-Treas. Display and Classified ad deadline— Tuesday, week prior to publication date. REPRESENTATIVES Canadian Community Newspapers Association, Suite 51, 2 Bloor St., West, Toronto 9624000 0,0;. SANTA GLASS—Fill two glasses with Christmas cheer by turning them into a jolly Santa Claus. 4 CHILD'S PLAY Make two glasses of Santa cheer By GEETS BUROKER do POLLY HUNTSINGER During the holiday season one often hears the expression "have a glass of cheer." In this case, two glasses can quickly be made into a most cheerful Santa Claus orna- ment that will brighten any table in an original manner. If available, use clear, plas- .tic four ounce glasses, the kind usually sold in sets of eight in novelty or grocery stores. However, any pair of identical squat glasses will do as long as the rim is wider than the base. Join these rims with clear plastic tape after first filling them with small bright Christmas balls or .oil wrapped candy. Bits of household cotton, -ge; redly► -an ,l ant felt scraps, ' sbit sons and pinking shears are then all that is needed. Glue or tape an edged trian- gle of red felt over the top so it becomes a floppy Santa's hat. Properly draped, the glass is hidden. Trim this with white cotton which marks Santa's forehead. A dab of cotton on the tip becomes a tassle. Next, cut white circles with the pinking shears, smaller ones ( slightly niched) of black with scissors. In no time, San- ta's bright eyes are glued in Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc., 127 George St., Oakville 884-0184 place and twinkling. A gen- nerous white moustache, glued to the center, hides where the glass •.rims have been joined. Do not glue the pointed tips of the moustache, however, so they can stand straight out in a realistic fash- ion. The next step is to give San- ta a red tip of a tongue that peaks out from under the moustache's center. And fi- nally, cut out a big, bib - shaped beard which, when glued under the bottom of the moustache and tongue will completely hide the remaind- er of the glass front. Allow the bottom part to hang free, however so that a natural look is once more achieved. Santa's head and face is now completed. It is a light ornament that can'be moved easily from place to place ae desired. But at the same time, the solid bottom of the glass insures there's no danger of this 'decoration. tipping over when someone passes by. If you wish, use much larg- er glasses (and larger bits of material in proportion) and make a Santa head that will also serve as a novelty con- tainer for a gift of homemade cookies or candies. Instead of carrying a heavy -pack, the jolly old fellow, when deliver- ing your present, will "really be using his head." CROSSWORD + + + By A. C. Gordon 1 z 's V S 6 1 ill q . 10 til li. ,3 sq ,s 14 ■ 1 ■ 1, 18 • ly to 21 ■ 22 2.3• ■ ■ :y tS tb 3:1 ■ 28 ■ ■ 31 ■ il . 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MM aid rri [110 WWC. ri II111;1111 1111 Wt 4I`J JL k f'I�LIILL?JL 11 - Pronoun 14 - Belonging to 16 - "Come 7, come .. . . low). 17 - Thus 18 - World peace organization 20- Full of 23 - Beginnings $5 - Like 27 - Weird 28 - Btbltcal di - via ton (abb . ) 30 - Biblical Judge 31 - Go astray 32 - High peak 33 - ... Angeles 37 - Send back 38 - Bone 40 - Wizard of .. 41 - A being 43 - Exhaust 44 - Avoid 47 - Printer's untt 48 - Abraham's birthplace 50 - Exist 52 - Pronoun 54 - Apple .. . 55 - Thus 56 - Day before the big day 58 - British legis- lator (abb. ) 61 - jr .'s Lather DO you hear ieindee up there on the roca►�" TED MR= "The Letter to ' the Me . ants Com, maybe the last reqs bit of nac ocr ipttil l tradition, but right Op there, sure. ► in the Top Ten, would be "A Visit from St, Nicho- las**,This is thie,rry vent which begins"'Tw the night before Christian, and all _through the house," and car - *ie e. on through St. Nick's ar- rival, the clatter on the roof, and the rush of the old boy to be on his way, behind' his "eight tiny reindeer." Its. lilting meter and ,,the lively story it tells have put this verse lntj)e all-time class of Christmas literature. "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was written in 1822 by Dr. Clement Clark Moore, who was not a medical doctor but rather a professor of theology, who taught at a seminary in New York and was convinced that if lasting fame ever came his way it would be through "A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language," which he published in 1809. But came Christmas Eve of 1822, and Dr. Moore gathered his children around him in front of the fireplace. He had knocked out a ballad about Christmas, and in the pride of authorship he wanted to read it aloud. Once the kids were settled down, Dr. Moore be- gan: "'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house... ," And that might have been that, except for one thing. Dr. Moore had composed this rhythmical romp for the de- light of his youngsters, but a friend who had dropped by that Christmas Eve sat in on the readkng. The friend thought_ it was delightful ... and he was impressed with. the approving reaction of the Moore smallfry. The friend copied it down and took it to the editor of the Troy (New York) Sentinel. . The editor liked it, too; and what's more, he printed it. Dr. Moore, who possessed the outward dignity and seri- ous mind of the dedicated theologian, wasn't . happy at Agric ultural ;,,,j U -., fr IC if S With Adrian Vos The Wolf League . of Canada was quick to jump on a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Ontario Federation of Agri- culture which demanded limited reinstatement of wolf bounties in areas whera wolves and coyotes are killing livestock. It seems a reasonable demand. These same people would prob- ably be. the first to complain of dogs running at large around schools and demand that they be destroyed-. No one wants the )en- tire wolf population wiped out, only that it be controlled. For the wolf league that's already too much. Ontario has not the slightest inkling of the total population that can eventually be accom- modated in Southern Ontario. It appears that the government is willing to let things go as they are, and when the limit is reached we -will see further what has to be done. In the meantime new cities are built on agricultu-, ral land wherever industry chooses to locate. One way to give incentive to in- dustry to locate in northern areas would be to build Hydro power plants along the north and east shores of Georgian Bay and give them a discount on electricity rates because of less need for transmission lines. Once industry locates there, the population will automatically follow, as has been shown by mining towns. The Ontario government does- n't see it this way, for they en- courage Ontario Hydro to locate on the shores of Lakes Huron and Eire. Jack Riddell (MPP Huron South) questioned the Davis government on why the new Ontario Energy Corporation doesn't plan to research alternate energy sources such as wind or solar and geo-thermal forces. But again, the policy seems to be: "When we run out of present sources we will see what can be done." The government is far-sighted but only where it concerns Hydro's present concepts. Not all farmers want to pre- serve agricultural land. There are quite a few who are willing to sell the birth -right of their chil- dren for a good sum to develop- ers. They argue the children may be better off working as labour- ers in the factory built on their land. The solution still is an ade- quate return for the farmer en his efforts, so that land value for a farm is the same as that for a factory. {Ilii printing. Ha denied Write the poem; he Will working on a biography of King Cutriota► of Albania, and ,a poem about reindeer . named, Donner and Blitlwen seemed a bit out of keying. Eventually, as be saw how the poe ► kept bringing de- light to folks each year, he 'famed up and basked in the glory that was due hien. Dr. Moore's impact on Christmas would have star- tled him; until he wrote his descriptive . page4 a t "He had a broad face ana little round belly. ... He was chubby and plump, a right lolly old elf ..." — until this portrayal, St. Nicholas had been a somewhat dour Import from Europe. Dr. Moore's poem changed the concept of St. Nicholas from that of a gaunt ,and bearded oldsaint, wearing black robes and rid- ing a white horse, to what was developed into today's roly- poly, -white-bearded, red -and - white -clad Santa Claus. He introduced the reindeer as Santa's source of motive power, and established the rooftop as a landing field. The name "Santa Claus" came along' later, as the old boy was still "St. Nicholas" to Moore, and, of course, the Moore kids. Gradually, in the legend of the . fun side of Christmas, Ne---names--ie- came pretty much inter- changeable. Dr. Moore wrote his poem more than 150 years ago, but nobody since has improved on this little story in rhyme.. . p' %yrnil COO OW pootithlrp *VIA you soy! $43.71 you s $12.1,4 you root1 $102.12 yoo wetc, The &rove are 11% par 1110> $ Yr. Torm-20 Yr. Amortleettori Borrow for any worthwhile purpose: To coneolidate your fix the car,'buy eattle,Ora cotter' Fast–Court Servke.-PIesse Call PAPIglitiMON x41132 Gerald H. Wolfe Re?pirot Arnold Mighman Realty Ltd - .. Kitchen', * 5l ►x! il , Member of Ontario Mort a e ''$ Amodio,* 0. ,.. 0,0, 0 1. 0 q.0044400000. .111 , 100 0 .400014 4044044 0 0 0. 0 .. 0. 0. 0 4.$3,001. 00 1 1 0 4 1 0 ., 0 0 0 0 0 0. 0 44 44 40444000 00 000000., 0.000.40..04440.1 ►',000 MOBILE HOMES DOUBLE -WIDE HOMES .Glendale .Pyramid .Marlette .6endix *large selection of double -wide and single -wide models on display. *fast, efficient delivery and set up by professional servicemen. *low prices assured by our volume buying and easy purchase plans. 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