HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-04-03, Page 13Y
0
e
THE BLUE THUMB Holiday on the
BY G. Nx�EOo ROSS
1. The Journey
(This being the time of year.., humour and of the inco
043 6p•to leave Goderich here is the to come, that you
'Contmnong
keen sense of anticipation of the delivers up his very soul. ' l'riez anyone has yet been able tq
pour les ,Voyageurs" should be decipher the markings on these
out to nit large, over the liortals of all seat reservations, least of all the
first of a series to console those brave the Chann4 crossing. continental ports. "porteur"•' who SQ confidently
left ebehind and to give them ., Having braved it and ,a large Jammed into a slow vino forced his assistance upon you.
some idea of all the fun they are measure of horrors, you" reach press of humanity, yc are `Witt, tlifficul•ty owing to your
missing). Calais', still engraven on the heart • impelled forward towards the . width, Increased by two
If you are a student hof human of Mary Queen of Scots. It is narrow gang plank, the width of handfuls of baggage, being _ at
nature there is no better place to here that the fun really begins. which is still further reduced by least twice the : width of any
which to go than abroad. You As you stand herded together the portly figure of the door or corridor on a railway
may not be conversant with the on the boat as it glides past the gentleman who becomes carriage, you dumbly follow
• language, but much can be learnt company of hopeful fishers on frenzied at the very sight of a your unencumbered leader
from the play • of facial the quayside, .you cannot fail t4 ticket. Encumbered as you are through carriage after carriage,
expression and from the tone in be moved by the onslaught of with suit case, portmanteau, into-c°rmpartment after
which the conversation is the crowd of "porteurs" which camera, etc., you make the compartment, in a never ending
couched. Where but abroad will falls upon the defenceless ship, attempt to adorn yourself with game '''of comparing -the
you meet a man who carries his ' even '' before it is tied up. passport, pass out check, seat heiroglyphlcs on tickets and ,
fountain pen in his trousers Thereafter, whatever the severity reservation ticket, 'ail" in such attaining ua match, only 4half a
packet, and -where but on the of the crossing may have -been, manner that whichever official is , minute before :the train. pulls
A
us
Continent is the motorist asked bedlam reigns. The swarm ' is first encountered, your delay in out.
to "relent" before driving•oround upon us! Hoarse cries of producing the correct "billet." 'thus it is in these days of the
a corner'? It is the unconscious "Porteur, P,orteur" rend the will be minimised. Gr eat Peace, at Calais , or
humour in everyday' life that sticky air; bags are wrenched But the frenzied gentleman Boulogne. The thought passes
makes a holiday abr-16-7,,,s-fromad unsuspecting hands, while has had much more practice , through the mind of ' the
attractive. 1t is therefore with 'a even the sternest . among us ° than you a'l'e ever likely to have comparative dignity with which
•
•
Consumers' Association of
Canada is beginning a program
to broaden its base so that as
• many .Canadians as possible can
receive the advantages of its
consumer information.
One example of this, °'is the
fact' that this column is now
distributed -twice a month. It is
available' to any reputable -news
media which requests it, and is a
. opular feature in more than
25() weekly newspapers across
the ,country. Many radio and TV
commentators use it as.: a basis
for consumer oriented programs.
Another way the Association
+h is expanding is by the formation
of consumer action committees
in 'communities where a
full-scale local branch seems not
feasible. These corhmittees are -
composed of two or three or
more individuals who have the
consumer's interestmvery much in
mind and who want to' -do
something ' to improve the
consumer's lot in today's hectic
and sometimes vicious
marketplace.
To „ help in , this, the
• Association has set up a special
organization committee on a
national basis. For information
about forming a practical, useful
and "commonsense" consumer.
action - comr'hittee in any
catmmunity, regardless of size,
P, write to Mrs. G. Brown, 203
Dopier St., St. Jean, Que.
Several buying guides are still
available free in single copies by
writing to: "Buying Guides",
Consumers' Association of
Canada, 100 Gloucester St.,
. Ottawa 4, OYtt.
One of -the most popular of
all° guides published has proven
to be one ort freezers and freezer
food plans. • A close second in
, popularity is a leaflet called
"Don't make a move!" some
« sage guide lines for those who
must move their household
effects from one community) to
another.
Other guides available are
those on automatidishwashers
and stereo consoles
Of considerable use is a
publication called "Credit costs
money."
Foo
Facts. -
d
The less money you have to
spend on food, the more
meal -planning you'll have to do.
Fish, cheese and eggs make
thrifty • main dishes.
Quick-frozen fish is available all
year round, and can be prepared
in many delicious ways. Cheese
and eggs make inexpensive main
dishes, with little waste. Both
rank high in good quality
protein, say food specialists at
Macdonald Institute, University
- of Guelph.
* .*
Here are some money -saving
' ideas when you're buying food.
Home economists at -Macdonald
• .Institute, University of Guelph,
. recommend buying foods in the
amounts you . need. Check
,ingredient amounts in recipes
and purchase accordingly. Take
advantage of special sales by
buying large quantities; then
store carefully whatever you
(don't need for immediate. use.
ENJOY THE- FINEST FOOD
, IN TOWN
Chinese Food
Our Specialty
had at this game. In fact you one negotiated these same ports
have to admire the spirit which in former years, circa 1916,
can simulate such keenness, day when all your luggage was
in day out, over a routine task. contained in a pack and when all
As you are squeezed like porteurs had answered a national
toothpaste , from the tube call to arms; when the battle
towards him, he falls upon you began on the banks of ''the
with such zeal that your finest Somme, rather than in Parisi. or
dispositions are upset within the Calais, or Boulogne.
instant. Passports fall; tickets It is time to, brace yourself
blow away; in his rough energy
cotnpartment against this endless
serpent of hungry, temperfrayed
r>ravellers.•
You are nom at liberty to
"compose" yourself for the
night. "Compose" is just part of
the ironical humour we have set
out to seek. A fearsome night in
a foetid atmosphere ensues,
during which you are afforded
the opportunity to assume some
of the•most agonising attitudes it
will ever be your lot to maintain.
Throughout the night your fitful
.slumbers will be interrupted by
whistle screech -es; by violent
racings of the train, what timer,
you will firmly believe the
•lueurpotive is completely out of
control. Your companions will
be in constant need •of varied
forms of refreshment -,to be
found only in the, depths of a
squeaky wicker.. basket; these
will be .,w.eoni,ujgs and goings;
switchings on, and switchings oft'
of the lights; openings and
shuttings. of windows; flapping
of blinds, whilst overall a warm,
close, enfolding atmosphere in
which alcohol, boots, sulphur
and human bodies are all mixed
in equal proportions. Reach for
the . anaesthetic! Truly these
tortures are the finest
advertisement for the
never-ending delights of
Switzerland, to come.
• :r
The Swiss railway official
may best be .described as
efficient, but I presume that
Basle is near enough to Germany
for the officials to be incoulated
with something oto that
expectation of unquestioning
obedience which is. invariably
required of the -traveller in
•Gernianv. At Basle 1 foolishly
left my carriage to re -register
some of my header "bultos
varias"' to the Iittl;c known
station which was their.
destination: It Ails whilst I was
entrusting myself to the kindly
offices of a "d'ienstermann" that
my carriage 'disappeared, 1 knew
not where, I knew there was a
wait of i5 minutes, nevertheless,
I sa,v fit to ask an official the
present whereabouts of ` rriy
missing carriage. Perhaps it
should be explained that on the
, Continent - I affect that
'deplorable mixture of bad
German and Urdu which come
- so easily to the tongue. At first
he appeared. to have •missed the
fuller meaning of my pregnant
interrogation, but then he
turned with• an air of paternity
to explain that at seven hours.
twenty on Perron II, the carriage
would be restored to me. I
verified the time: It was then
6:35 a.m. I explained as
elaborately , as my limited
vocabulary would permit that 'I
had left several valuables
the camera is knocked from for the scramble for the Dining -
�" " '"" our umbrella is Car. You become one of the
Oil? hands; y never-ending queue in the
wedged athwart the gangway, corridors; noses pressed against
while the fat man behind you is the cold glass of windows as you.
trying to lift a suit 'case from make the futile effort to shrink
down under to a shoulder high enough to permit the large
position. woman, who never moves in the
You stumble; you fall; almost same direction as yeti do, to pass
you expect the ticket collector with some modicum of
to cast you overboard into the propriety. But persevere and
crack between ship and quay in soon the delicious atmosphere of
his fury at, what he believes to be cooking assaults the nostrils.
your effort to evade him. In that (.
awful second you pray, that Large numbers go to the
insensibility may overcome you. heads of the restaurant staff like
c But no! Forward you must go,' new wine. Let there be need for
forcing your way against the.. two sittings and the waiting. staff,
bined farcies nf ravity,' rockets into hysteria at once.
- friction and terrible abuse, only Bread is hurled; soup is slopped;
to be set upon, on. the quay, by entrees are splashed and the
yet another villain demanding piece de resistance is slammed. A
the• dirty sopping slips of pulp' maniac yells in, your ear;
which once were billets, passport 1)esirez a boire'? but. all you
anti the like. can manage is to point meekly
eALSO TAKE-OUT ORDERS
OPEN DAILY 8 a.m. to 10 p.m:
Open Friday and Saturday
Until 12 Midnight
.The Esquire
Restaurant
"524-9941
One . more effort and you
make the Douane, and Madame
in the blue smock having given
to the bottle on the table nearest
you. Thereafter plates are
snatched; conditions are written
you the chalk mark of the day,` out in flamboyant and totally
upon all your remaining illegible - ciphers. The meal- is
possessions, you are free to seek over; at least for you. 1 pray you
the cool, calm, backwaters of have forearmed yourself with
the Salle d'Attente, before French francs, otherwise the
bracing yourself to find the calculations will be too
reserved seat in the train. But brain wracking to . contemplate.
even as you emerge. on to the'.' The • tinkling. little' bell goes
platform you are ambushed. A down the swaying endless
convivial "porteur" demands corridors again and hundreds
your seat reservation; and your more of the human race are
morale now being at its lowest coerced to the 'slaughter, while
ebb, you surrender placidly. you are faced with insinuating
I do not honestly, believe that your body back to your
FOR YOUR
FIRE INSURANCE
MALCOLM
GENERAL, INSURANCE AGENT
46 WEST ST. .. 524-9442
•
•
Fre--e: 10-0Tern coupons!
Ifyouroflyourown-•
r�a4fl!1 in, clip out and mail
this a .
•
•
•
•
•
•
.,--- thictireng!
,s.
Mail this ad before
April 30th,1969 —
you may win $100
a week for life!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•�
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CIGARETTE
TOBACCO
MariTen
ro.t rtAvatUR YftG�N�A
You'll find valuable'gift
coupons on every pocket pack •
of Mark -Ten cigarette tobacco. :
But for a special "sure thing", - :
mail the front of a Mark Ten •
pocket pack ora reasonable. .
facsimile along with this ad_ - :
(make sure to include your -
name and address) to Mark Ten, •
P.O. Box 7575, Montreal 3.,--Que. •
We'll send you a bonus
•
certificate worth 100 Mark Ten •
coupons, absolutely free!
Sure thing! - . :
•
Address
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name n
(please print)
City
Province
This offer expires December 31st/190
••••••••••••••••••161•1•••600000•••••••••••••••••••555
unguarded in my compartment. ..
With the superior, pityh g slain e,
of the rmystio, he ideated •
huddled mass 'cit- r: ll:i stock.
which. crowded the triage. W,ho
was L to worry - with the
intricacies so far below the levef •
of my intelligence? At seen
hours - twenty on Perron II
(slightly crescendo here) he gave
'me his word of honour the
mystery would be solved. ,His
expression gave me the added
'information that at that precise
hour I imuld appreciate him at
his true value; a . oer at
whose 'feet the whopajoyfamily of
Houdini might well be proud to
kneel. Until that hour struck he
was -a big enough man to wait.
COW ie UA
4+
T
ar
•
��, f+ 1
PNN. 452438
4 '
of • Notforn"i
GODpit1011
CHARTERED,A0QutgANT
3s St • nolo lt..014 53
Gvdsrich4' Ont lrI
;;moi
,,!!
145 ESSEX SYS. Ga IGH. ONTARIO
Availaibie: For
PUBLIC QR, -
PRIVATE PARTiES
•
BINGOS
CONdiRTS
DANCES
, r•
'CONVENTIONS
• . ,
Cater. ;'? to- Luncheons
•
C, AIL PARTIES
BANQUETS, ETC.
Special attention to weddings
PHONE 524.9371 or 5249244
tor
Dllti 5241442
•
G. C. -H
Accredited
• Public Accauntar,►t
•
$$ $244797
G.erich °Marin
R. W BELL
OPTOMETRIST
The Square
524.7661
A. M. .HARPER
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT `
40 THE SQUARE" TILEPHONE
GODERICH, ONtARIO 524-7562
RECREATION STAFF REQUIRED
for Judith Gooderham Park
PROGRAM DIRECTOR:
One ►car minimum Recognized Recreation or 1110'c 1:d, con ('c°rtiJicd Red Cross
Swimming Instructor. To organize Park Recrcation l'rocrarn and Supervise
SPORTS SUPERVISOR -4,f,
To work with Program Director on Sports Program. .
•
svviromING INSTRUCTORS
AND. LIFE GUARDS:
To work with Program Director on Swimming Program.
CRAFTS "INSTRUCTORS:
7'o organi:c crafts and primary grade Dai' (amp Po grain in co-operation with
Program Director, "
111.ti1:111' 11.•161:' 1-OR.11.1. POSITIONS 17 as o11iInc '1. 7 (C);
•
Applications must be received not later than April 15 and should be
mailed to the: q
Goderich -Recreation and Community Centre Board,
57 West Street, Goderich, Ontario.
•
`Evefydeposit made bef�i€51prii 15,1969
eafnsntefest�m `�Jlptpllst.
(IN
CANADIAN IMPERIAL Ed. BANK OF COMMERCE
•
v��