Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1981-12-30, Page 4PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30,1981 The Cnnten tieurs-leconi is published each Thursday et P.O. Dort 39, Clinton, Ontario, Cantrale. N'ifMR 1(4. Tel.:41W2.31183. Subscription Siete; Cenaode 411.11 Sr. cieteen - •13.11 porn year U.S.A. ® fcaelgsa - °31.11 fear year it a registered se mrd close mail by the� poet office asrsder tfae parwalt ajssabar 9517. The 19awmllecard insorpe Beed In 1989 the Huron 69eva lieraord, founded In 1111, end The Clinton Hems Ire, founded In 11193. Total poem run 3.391. A MEMBER JAMES E. FITZGERALO - Editor SHELLEY McPHEE-HAIST - New Editor GARY HAIST - Advertising Manager HEATHER BRANDER - Advertising MARGARET L. 0111.Office Manager MARY ANN HOLLENBECK - Subileriptions Display advertising rates available on request. Ask toe Sete Card No. 13 eff ctivatect. 1, lilt. The right to celebrate The festive season each yeFr fills many people with the true spirit and meaning of the end of the year celebr`®tions with sharing, caring and renewing of friend- ships. But it also fills many of els with another spirit - the liquid kind. In our socie- ty, a citizen hos a right to drink alcoholic beverages, and even the right to imbibe to the point of intoxication. But many times, this right must be viewed in a wider social !context. During this holiday season, more than any other time of the year, drinking and driving, unfortunately, go hand in hand, and then the right to drink interfers with someone else's right to drive on the road safely. There are overwhelming statistics given out every year to prove that an alarming proportion of accidents, including the most serious ones that result in severe injury and death, are related to alcohol consumption. What those statistics don't show is the underlying pain and suffering to relatives and friends who have lost a loved one, or seen another crippled for life. Neither do they show the enormous medical costs of treating those who are sick and injured, both by the accidents themselves, and by alcoholic related diseases. /Although the rights and liberties of all citizens must be protected at all times from unnecessary harrassment by police and courts, the laws must be stiffened against drinking and driving, and even though breathalizers and other roadside fl tests interfer with a citizen's rights, sober people have the rights to a safe highways too. By J.F. Once a year Once in a year in our hand is laid, An uncut book by the Master made; Unread are the pages written there, Twelve new chapters clean and fair. Once a year, when the glad bells ring, And the Old Year nods to a baby King, Fresh in our hands with the title clear And the leaves uncut is an Unlived Year. An Unlived Year! Ah, stained with tears Is the well thumbed volume of other years! Soiled by blunders and black regret Are the pages we read with our eyelids wet. Close in our hearts as the leaves are turned Is the record of passions that flared and burned, Now laid away with our doubt and fear, Lonely winter hillside remembering our past 5YEARS AGO January 6, 19'77 Highways in Clinton were reduced to near tunnels following a vicious snowstorm on the last day of 1976. Department of highway crews had to call in the huge snowblowers to widen several highways including the stretch south of Brucefield, where eight -foot high drifts had piled up. More than a foot of snow was dumped on the area in the storm bringing As we open the book of an Unlived Year. Once in a year in our hand is laid, An uncut book by the Master made; It is ours to read with eyes that cling To flowers that blossom and birds that sing. Light and shadowy, and hope that wakes Like a song in the heart when a glad day breaks; Dreams that beckon and ghosts that leer, Look out from our book of an Unlived Year! by Carey Holbrook, in the 1935 New Years edition, Clinton News -Record sugarand ice g p dispensed by bill smiley The world fogies Some old fogies get all het up every year, and write letters to the editor, deploring the increasing commercialism of Christmas. I used to do this when I was a young fogie, but I've quit. What's the difference? Well, a young fogie gets all upset about things that should upset only old fogies. As he gets older, he really doesn't give a diddle. They can play "Rudolph the Red -Nosed Reindeer" on the, first of July, and it doesn't bother him. An old fogie, on the other hand, is a young fogie who has molded his ideas ear- ly, and left them there tto moulder. Or in- creased the rigidity of his early opinions until they are molded in iron. He likes "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas", but doesn't want it played until there is some snow, and Christmas is imminent (not eminent, as my students insist). I prefer to be a middle-fogie. This is a person who listens to young fogies, old fogies, node solemnly in agreement, and wishes they had buried "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, , its perpetrator. In other words, the young fogie dances in the latest, frenetic style, because he doesn't want to be called an old fogie. But he thinks it is decadent. He'd like the return of the waltz and the schottische. While an old fogie shakes his head at the modern, openly sexual dancing, knows the dancers are all going to the hot place, and would like to see the return of the waltz and the schottische (polka, what have you? ). The middle-fogie says, "Jeez, there but for the grace of God, Go I." Or, "Holey ole moley, I wish my arthritis would ease up. I'd love to try it, especially with that girl who's just kicked off her shoes and displayed her navel." He'd like the return of the waltz, but never learned to count past two in the one -two -three of the waltz, and gets tangled up, and falls on his face, in a fast polka or schottische. This brilliant analogy, gentle reader, if you are still there, represents my attitude toward the commercialization of Christmas. I can turn off the commercials and ignore the town's brave decorations. Or I can crab when they commence, or are erected (sorry, that's a dirty word now). Or I can say, "Cheeze 'n rice, I wish I were back in business again, pulling in all those dollars that should be going for food and fuel." As a middle fogie, I choose to shut out the carols that begin Nov. 1st, ignore the drooping angels on the town decorations that were erected (there it is again) on Nov. 8th, and merely set my teeth, grit them a bit, and try to get through the Christmas season, bearing in mind that the Minister of Finance wants a little piece of every. action going on in town, out of town, and across the country. The aforementioned gentleman, if you'll pardon the euphemism, after preaching a budget of equity and restraint, went out to lunch with a few of his ilk, and ran up a lunch b°�ry jll of between and $2,000, depending on which version you read. That, to me, is the real Christmas spirit. His boss, King Pierre the First, has ex- pressed similar sentiments. "If they can't afford filet mignon, let them eat boiled sumac bushes". Very tasty, by the way, and a true national dish, along with pum- pkin soup. I don't really know where I'm going with this column, but I have to live up to the bill- ing another teacher gave me this week, after he'd arm -twisted me into talking to his creative writing club: "Wednesday afternoon, we are going to have a seminar on writing, headed by Bill Smiley, former reporter, editor, publisher, and author of a syndicated column that ap- pears in more than 150 papers across Canada." It sounded great. Like those November Christmas carols. But I cannot say, "That's a lot of crap, John." Little do the kids know that I was a reporter because everybody else was do- ing something useful; that I was an editor because nobody else wanted to take the blame; that I was a publisher only because I owed half of a $30,000 mortgage; and that I am a household word across Canada, almost inevitably preceded by the prefix "bull„ My colleague didn't mention that I wrote stories about nothing happening •in town that week, just to fill up a hole on the front page; that I infuriated merchants and township reeves and little old ladies, and had to bear the brunt; that I personally carried the newspapers to the post office in hags weighing about 280 pounds: that I helped stamp and roll up the out-of-town papers; or that I am neither rich nor famous. However, the show must go on, whether it's "Good King Wenceslaus" in November, or yours truly talking a group of youngsters into adopting the glamorous life of journalism, at 60 hours a week, and basic pay a little below unemployment in- surance. But I must admit, the Christmas spirit sort of grabs you, whether it's by the pocket -book, or the short and curly. Just this week, I wrote a letter of recom- mendation for a student. If somebody checked it out, I would be on the stand for perjury, mopery and gawk. But, what the heck, a commercial is a commercial, even though it's a tissue of lies, half-truths and exaggeration. Those Christmas commercials don't bother a middle-fogie. I just wish I were being paid for writing some of them. Keith Crittenden photo a look through the news -record files this year's total to over five and one half feet. It was also the coldest December in several years. 10 YEARS AGO January 6,1972 Families of the surrounding area joined Bayfield residents last weekend when the Bayfield Lions Club held their first winter carnival; termed as a tremendous suc- cess. Festivities began New Year's Eve when the Community Centre Board . held a dance. Snowmobile races, a performance by the Bayfield Figure Skating Club and bingo matches were all part of the weekend activities. Theresa Margaret, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neil Josling was thefirst baby of the year at the Clinton Publics Hospital. The six pound, 11 ounce baby arrived on January 3rd. 25 YEARS AGO January 3,1957 Intermittent heavy snowfall combined with a blinding ground drift on New Year's Day made driving hazardous and a number of accidents occurred throughout the province, including this area. 1957 promises growth of Clinton's in- dustry and shows a healthy labor situtation that this is a good place for an industry to locate. We believe that Clinton could assimilate one or two more in- dustries, without upsetting our basic economy too greatly; in the long run it will mean better times for everyone in the area. Youthful Art Ball, Clinton's new post- master, at 25 years, is probably the youngest postmaster the town has ever had. He took over from P. Cairns last Friday. Four years ago, when only 21, Mr. Ball became the postmaster at the office at RCAF Station Centralia At that time, he was probably the youngest postmaster in the Dominion. 50 YEARS AGO January 7,1932 A number of the pupils of the junior room of the Bayfield Public School gathered at the home of Miss Nan Woods on Christmas Day and presented her with a walnut table. The weather has been such that the woolly caterpillar ventured forth to view the world and was observed crawling along a vine on a brick wall, doubtless wondering in his caterpillar mind where the green leaves had gone. 75 YEARS AGO January 3, 1°.47 Mr. George Strong, proprietor of what is known as the Red Tavern in Tuckersmith, is a liberal minded sort of man. The odds 'n` ends Temperance people ei that township are campaigning for local Option and the only public hall in that part of the municipality being over the hotel itself, Mr. Strong freely gave them use of it for a meeting in which the bar part of the hotel business wasdenounced without stint. Mrs. A.P. Gundry will receive at her home on Ontario Street on Thursday, January the 10th and afterwards on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Mr. E. Crawford of Hullett Township had a very successful wood bee on Thursday afternoon last and in the evening entertained quite a number of young people. When it comes to raising turkeys, we are 'quite safe in saying that no finer birds have been shipped out of Goderich Township than those raised on the farm of Mr. George A. Connell. When turned over to the dealers and placed on the scales, they tipped them at a fraction over 14 pounds. Birds at this weight pay fairly well, as Mr. Connell will tell you. The Clinton Hockey team defeated Seaforth on the' local rink on Thursday evening by a score of five goals to four and on Thursday night played in Goderich. At hall time, they had their opponents played off their feet, but then the Goderich team resorted to slugging tactics, in which H. Cole, one of the Clinton players, had his jaw bone broken in two places. It is alleged that it was maliciously done, and the crown is expected to set an investigation 100 YEARS AGO January 5,1882 Many in town were much astonished last week to learn that Mr. Crich, painter, had suddenly left town, leaving several unpaid accounts behind. He was one of the last mut of whom such a thing would be ex- pected. People were equally surprised on learning that Mr. Levi Smith, for nine years a resident and one of the steadiest men h re, had left a number of creditors in the lure . On Sunday morning a large Newfoun- dland dog passed down Albert Street with a stuffed goose in its mouth, evidently having relieved some one of their New Year's dinner. The band made a parade on Saturday night, playing several tunes in different parts el the town, highly delighting the inhabitants with their well played pieces. They also played on Monday afternoon and evening, and serenaded the Mayor near midnight. One evening last week some person who was dete rained to have iaaeat for hew !years, no matter how it was obtained, stole about 35 pounds of corned beef from a house on Rattenbury Street. The Christmas feast The good smells coming from the kit- chen were almost too much for the children to resist, but Mother warned them the room was off limits. They busied themselves with their new toys, but occa- sionally they wandered past the open kit- chen door to peek at Mother bustling around. The dining room was used only on very special occasions, and Christmas was the biggest holiday of the year. Mother had spent hours rubbing the round wooden table until it shone. Emily didn't understand why she wanted to cover it on Christmas Day, but she did as she was told - smoothing Mother's finest white damask cloth over the table and setting the two green candles in their brass holders in the centre. A bright red cloth covered the long wooden table in the kitchen, where the children would eat. A centrepiece of pine cones tied with red ribbon' decorated their table. Soon the guests began to arrive - Uncle Robert and Aunt Martha with their three children, Teddy, John and baby Jane; Un- cle George and Aunt Mabel with their fur children, Elizabeth, May , Mary and Anne; and Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who lived on the next farm half a mile down the road. The Browns' children were grown up and married and lived too far away to visit, even on Christmas Day. Mrs. Brown brought a piece of candy for each of the children. They could hardly wait to eat it, but she made them promise to keep it for an evening treat. Each of the ladies brought something for the dinner. They disappeared into the kit- chen to help Mother. Finally each re- appeared carrying a steaming bowl to the dining room table. Bob and Teddy ate in the dining room, because they were older, while Emily, Ed- ward, Elizabeth and John supervised the younger children in the kitchen. After Papa said grace, the feast began. First camesoup - mutton broth, hot and delicious. The second course consisted of turkey with chestnut dressing and goose. (Emily and Edward tried not to think about the two geese and the turkey that us- ed to run around the yard.) There were also mounds of sweet potatoes, peas, tiny whole carrots, turnips and onions. For dessert, there was plum pudding with sweet sauce and mince pies. After dinner the adults drank tea in the parlour, while the older children cleared the tables. Soon the ladies were working again, washing dishes with help from the older girls. In the evening, everone sipped eggnog and nibbled raisins, almonds and walnuts. From the fruit cellar, Bob brought apples and red and black raspberries. Everyone gathered round the tree in the parlour and sang carols, while Uncle George played the violin. It was very late when Mr. and Mrs. Brown bundled up for their sleigh ride home. The others would stay for the night, because the ride home was much too long for a cold winter night. Upstairs sleepy children heard sleigh bells ringing in the night and violin strains of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks. Dear Editor: This letter is in response to the letter by Mr. C. F. Barney, tided "Another View". Let me first of all mention, that I am not a Jehovah's Witness. I was however, a witness for over eighteen years, and therefore familiar with the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. As a born-again Christian, I am,quite aware that what I am about to say will not be too warmly received by some of your readers. I have nothing to say to the world, nor to anyone who does not belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. My appeal is to those who love Him and, desire to please Him in all things. To such devoted persons I would like to point out some important facts about the holiday known in the world as Xmas, keeping in mind that the Word of God is the only true and sufficient guide for the child of God. (read 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The fact that God has not commanded the celebration of the birth of His Son is sufficient reason for any child of God NOT to have any part in such practice. There are many other reasons that may be stated for the true believer having no part in such unfruitful works of darkness, but this is enough: "MY LORD HAS NOT TOLD ME TO DO IT". As for the word Christ -mass, I am hesitant to take it to my lips. Think of associating the title of our blessed Lord with the abominable, Roman mass! The modification with the Greek initial (Xmas) is preferable to me, for it at least leaves, the precious name of our Saviour out of the shameful affair. Some of your readers will ask: "Do not Christians the world over observe this holiday?". To which I would reply: "It is more generally practiced by the world and by nominal pro- fessors than by genuine Christians. And whatever the world practices ought to be held in suspicion by the believer in Christ, for "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. "And" we know that we are of God, and the world lieth in wickedness." (1 John. 2:16 and 5:19). There are but few subjects which Mr. Barney and I agree on, but for the sake of truth, Christmas is not of Christian origin! For truth's sake let me say in passing that as a matter of fact Jesus was not born at this time of the year (Dec. 25th) but in the month of March or April. When Con- stantine, by an Emperor's edict made the pagan Romans "Christians" he also declared that the day of their sun god's feast should be the day of Christ's feast and that day was December 25th. The Xmas tree, the mistletoe, the holly wreaths, candles and the child -deceiving tradition of Santa Claus, are all of heathen origin. There is not one word in the Holy Scrip- tes in favor of any of them. But listen to what the Word of God does say about it: "Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathlen...for the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold: they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not" (Jeremiah 10: 2-4). God has not told us to observe any special days. Instead, He has warned us about getting entangled with them. To the Galatians, who had been led off by such traditions. He said through Paul: "Ye observe days and months and times and years; I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain." (Gal. 4:10).. To the true Christian there should be no special holy days; every day should be alike holy unto the Lord, though it is the believer's blessed privilege by divine order and precedent to meet together on the first day of the week for fellowship and remembrance of the Lord's death on the cross. The fact that the world joins in the celebration of Xmas is a proof that it is not according to the will of God, "For the car- nal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither in- deed can be." (Romans 8:7). If they would not link the name of our blessed Lord with their pagan ceremonies, then I would hold my peace. If it were like the 1st of July celebration I would have nothing to say. We see pictures of elaborate mangers on billboards and magazines, and the whole world glories in its shame - that the eternal Son of God came into the world and the best it could give Him was a cow barn to be born in! But for the bel}ever, not ono possi- ble argument has any weight, since "MY LORD HAS NOT TOLD ME TO DO IT". God has not allowed us to know the time of the birth of His Son. It is not His birth that we are asked to remember. It is His death on the Cross, His precious blood that paid for our sins, that we are told to remember. And that is what the world tries to soft pedal. "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish." (1 Cor. 1:18). The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are right about Christmas, is no endorsement by me of their teachings on other subjects. Every cult has an element of truth in their teachings. If the teachings of the J.W.'s were all lies, no one wotild believe them. Mr. Barney is no doubt very sincere in what he believes about Christ, but by being zealous in his efforts to expose some falsehoods he is blinded in other more vital points of teachings contained in scripture. The Deity of Christ, The Trinity, The im- mortality of the Soul, The fact that Jesus is Jehovah and scores of other teachings. I agree with Mr. Barney that people ought to examine the Bible for themselves but disagree that it ought to be done through Watchtower glasses. A study of the Bible is all sufficient and not books printed by the Watchtower Society. To those who like to say Humbug to people who do not celebrate Xmas, I like to say: "earnestly contend for the faith." and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works .mf darkness, but rather reprove them." (Jude3, Eph.5:11). Respectfully yours, Daniel D'Haene