The Brussels Post, 1949-12-21, Page 3On
Proposhig
By tticturd Bill Wilkinson
VIDA knew all the tricks. You
see, she read a lot. Books on
every conceivable subject, Even
magazine articles and fiction.
Unfortunately Vida's facial beauty
was next to nil. When, at the age
of 18, she came to a full realizaton
of this, and an understanding of its
possible consequences, she was at
first unhappy. But being a sensible
person, sensible enough to look at
the thing squarely, she sought for
other means to achieve her end. The
end was a man: love, romance.
Tthe other means presented them-
selves in the forth of books, learn.,
ing how to put yourself across when
you weren't particularly attractive;
resorting to devices and technique
that good-looking girls didn't have
tot employ,
The results were exceedingly
gratifying. Even now, at the age of
22, the man of her dreams was prac-
tically within her grasp. Give her
another month, two at the most,
and he would speal the words that .
would make her happiness and
, triumph complete.
The man's name was Glen Lam-
phier. He was one of those fine,
good looking, upstanding specimens
of young manhood. Intelligent, gra-
cious and with a promising career
ahead of him. The type who ap-
pealed by exerting only a minimum
of effort. Vida had aimed high when
selecting him as the obect of her
acquired charms, but the thought of
failure had never once entered her
head.
She had aroused his interest by
heeding the dictates of her fiction
heroines. And Glen had seen the
light. He had come to realize that
behind the plain features of this
girl were quality, intelligence,
breeding.
n a word, Vida had been success-
ful in her enterprise—up to a point. i
Unhappily, it appeared now as if
that point might prove a stumbling
bio k, an unsurmountable obstacle.
Coming into the living room one
evening she found him waiting for
h er, comfortably ensconced before
the fireplace, a volume of Oscar
Wilde open in his lap. The fact that
her entrance did not distract his ;
Be was one of .those .Line up-
standing specimens •df young
manhood.
attention, piqued her no end. She
hesitated .a moment 'before making
known her presence, .and sn that
moment the feeling. of being piqued
gave way to torment. Suddenly she
realized that somcetliing had hap-
pened,that she was ilosing her hold,
that Glen's interest was on the
wane. Always before'he•had awaited
her coming with •eager.anticipaticon
glowing in his eyes.
The thought made Vida unhappy.
A WEEK 1.ATER, sitting before
[-s the living room fire, Vida,aban-
doned seeking an answer •to her
problem and, for lack of something
better to do., picked ,up the copy of
Oscar Wilde and.opened it. Her eye
chanced to fall, on ,a paragraph which
had been lightly •checked with a
pencil. She read through it with .a
rapidly increasing pulse, '"— I really
don's see anythieg romantic in pro-
posing. It is very momaatie to he
in love. But there is (nothing roman-
tic about a definite Ipnoposal ,. .
the excitement is all over. Tine very
essence of romance Ile uncertainty."
Vida stood unci, and there was a
wild look in her eyes. Glen had read
that paragraph. He bad checked it
with his pencil. He had remembered
that her faith in books, in the printed
word was profound .
She made her way to the book
case behind the fireplace. Her eyes
scanned the volumes contained
therein. She removed a copy of
" O'Brien's short stories, leafed it
through, found the passage she
sought, and underscored it heavily.
Glen called an hour later. If he
Wass annoyed at the long interval
in the living room before Vida's
appearance, he did not betraythat
fact, Instead he seemed deeply in-
.terested int reading a paragraph
from a volume of O'Brien's short
stories, which he found lying upon
the table. He read it through twice
before Vida's voice disturbed him.
1Ie was glad she had come. He
welcomed her eagerly. He had
something to say, something that
5ould not; Wait, He said it incoher-
lolly, habblingly, but plain enough
for Vida to understand and nod her
head in acquiese ce . . w
NI 1,19 S
1
Gwndolt:me P. C ta,i ,e
Witter comes to Ontario! But
definitely—and more definitely here
than in some places. When the
radio said it was eight above zero
in Toronto, it was four below' out•
side our front door. And I was
told that during the night it had
dropped to 15 below. For the 26th
of November, that was cold enough.
Earlier in the week, when it was
still mild, young John returned
Horn Alberta, driving all the way,
and made the trip in five days in
his 1936 automobile, He brought a
chum along with him who was
going on to Montreal and the two
of them slept in the car, bought
their own food and cooked their
own meals. What a thing it is to
be young!
For a few days, Join was help-
ing Bob with a trucking job, but -
the weather soon put an end to the
extra work they had in view as
there was little they could get on
with beyond everyday chores. So
much coming and going ... the
house seemed full of men—just the
three of them, but there is a lot
of men! They seemed to fill the
kitchen when they all came in to-
gether.
Saturday morning, there was a
great to-do about the cars and
trucks—all of them more or less
ftpzen, but none seriously as all
had been winterized --but not to 15
below.
And into this cold, bleak world
a calf was born—the mother, very
considerately, produced her off-
spring during the day, so trips to
the barn during the evening, and
sitting up late at night were, for
once, not the least bit necessary.
Partner is getting his cows very
well trained—that is the second
daytime calf inside of two weeks.
And then came the end of Day-
light 'Saving Time in this district,
but, ironically, we had our last day
of summer time on the coldest No-
vember day recorded in years. With
what relief f set the clocks back
Saturday night! You people who
have been on Standard Tinite for
the last two months—you don't
know how lucky you have been!
And yet it takes a little while to get
adjusted, even to what you have
been looking forward. Many a
morning recently, I have thought,
"Oh, if only we were on Standard
Time and didn't have to get up at
this unearthly hour!"
Plzen we go back on Standard
Time and what happens? I wake
up three tunes between 4,30 and 6
o'clock, And at 6.10 Partner starts
prowling around. "What are you
getting up for?" I ask. "Don't for-
get, this is Sunday morning, plus
Standard Time. You don't need to
get up so early." But it didn't do
any good. Partner was awake, so
he had to get up. And that was
that. Habit is hard to break.
Remember a couple of weeks
ago, I remarked it was a good idea
to fit one's work to the weather?
Well, I have been doing just that
again. It so happened I had a quilt
top finished when winter struck so
suddenly, and, of course, I wasn't
happy until 1 had it in the frames
—a kind-hearted neighbor coming
along to help me with the job. You
know, this quilting business must
be contagious. The W.I. had a
quilting; a friend in the next town-
ship was awfully busy because she
had been quilting for two days, and
a contemporary columnist in this
district also was writing about the
joys of quilting—so it must be in
the air. And I ask you, what bet-
ter job could anyone have in cold,
stormy weather? The trouble is,
once started, it is hard to leave a
quilt alone. You feel you just must
go on ... get it rolled again and
see how much smaller it is. Two
friends were coming in to help me
Bank of Montreal President
Analyzes Dollar Problem
I B. C. GARDNER STRESSES STABILITY OF
CANADA'S ECONOMY — RETURN TO
COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS
Gordon Ball, General Manager, Reports Resources at
Over Two Billion — Savings Deposits Highest in
History — Loans at Record Level
B. C. Gardner, president of the .hank of Montreal, told
shareholders at the recent 132nd annual meeting that the broad
Canadian trend seemed td be toward a closer balance in trade
with "our nearest neighbour" and a contraction of exports to
"important and traditional overseas markets."
In Canada, price influences had
achieved "something approaching 'a
balance of forces," Mr. Gardner ob-
served. The balance, however, was
precarious and could easily be tipped
in either direction. The accumulated
demand arising out of wartime
shortages "has pretty well spent its
force." Competition, efficiency, qual-
ity and salesmanship were regaining
their normal place.
But the most noteworthy feature
of the Canadian business trend was
its relative stability, compared with
developments in the United States,
the president stated. Offsetting re-
cessive influences in large part, "we
have a vigorous program of indus-
trial: expansion." Gaining self-confi-
dence and "know-how" as an indus-
trial nation, "we are re -discovering
our own frontier" in natural re-
sources. Canada appeared to be
atndergoing a dynamic growth not
unlike that of the United States
after World War I.
• Reviews Dollar Problem
Turning to Canada's dollar dilem-
ma, Mr. Gardner saw a broad trend
toward " a closer balance in trade
with our nearest neighbour," and,
'almost inevitably," a contraction of
exports to important and traditional'
sverseas markets. Pointing. out that,
since the devaluated rates of ex-
change had been established by
governmental fiat, there could be no
assurance that they would accurate-
ly reflect comparative costs and
prices, he suggested "permitting a
range of variation in exchange rates,
cushioned perhaps by a stabili^ation
fund designed to prevent v.olent
short-term fluctuations."
Mr. Gardner affirmed the "general
agreement" on the need to raise
productivity in dollar -short coun-
tries but questioned whether an "ad-
diction to nationalization of indus-
try" would encourage the flow of
domestic or international invest-
ment, He cautioned against "an
exaggerated State paternalism" blur-
ring the "vital connection between
effort and reward." Incentives for
the individual provide a vast reser-
voir of energy, and the great task of
the present was to create an envir-
onment in which these fundamental
forces might once more be put to
work.
General Manager's Address
Gordon R. Ball, B of M general
manager, reported year-end figures
for both resources and deposits at
more than two billion dollars for
the first time. Total assets stood at
2,140,000,000, and total deposits at
2,019,000,000, with savings deposits
over the billion -dollar mark for the
first time in the history of any Cana-
dian bank, Current loans and dis-
counts in Canada also amounted to
an all -tine high in year-end figures,
$442,000,000,
Remarking on the number of con-
cerns showing "stationary or declin-
ing profits on a substantially in-
creased volume of business," Mr.
Ball drew attention' to the impor-
tance of businessmen re-examining
their "break-even" points. He also
felt that reduced tax rates should be
applied to "a higher level of profits
than the present amount of $10,000."
The maximum amount of earnings,
he said, should be ploughed back
into small businesses.
Loans Double in Decade
"In 1939 we had about a million
current and savings accounts on our
books," Mr. Ball recalled, "We now
have over 1,750,000 accounts." Loan
accounts had more than doubled in
number. All types of banking trans-
actions showed "commensurate in-
crease." Personnel totalled 9,700,
compared with 6,000 in 1939. The
number of shareholders had also
doubled, "and we are naturally glad
to see this wider share -ownership
in our institution."
The B of M was not primarily an
impressive row of figures or an im-
posing building, lie said. "We think
rather of the bank as the local
manager and itis staff, on whom our
customers cam always anJl for
friendly counsel and service." More
than a million and a half customers
knew that it was not money alone
they dealt in at the 13 of M. A
man's relationship with his bank
manager was "a highly personal
one." Behind this confidential rela-
tionship stood the resources and
stability of a nationwide, century -
old institution, so that strength was
linked with "understanding in the
service of the individual."
Mr. ;3a11 praised the staff for their
"untiring energy." Ile detailed the
arrangementa for their leitere, re -r
ferring to the consideration given to
changes in the cost of living and to
personal problems caused by tratts-
fers, as well as to the bank's contri-
butions to the,pension fund and to
group insurance schetpes. The staff,
the general manager said, were the
'bank's "greatest asset"
Low -Down On Hollywood—Seven-year-old star Gigi Perreau
works diligently over her "Hollywood Weekly Report," an
occasional publication which sells to her friends for five cents
a copy. Gigi handles the whole business, penciling her news
beats on school paper and peddling the final product. Profits
go to the March of Dimes.
with my quilt but 1 am afraid by
the time the weather lets up, I shall
have my quilt about done. But
there will be others—yes, 1 am
quite sure there will be others!
After reading this, I wonder how
massy people will get the urge and
bring out the quilting frames.
Ah, another advantage to Stand-
ard Time ... it is 11 a.m. and I
see the mailman at the gate. For
the last two months we have been
getting our mail anywhere from 12
o'clock to 1.30—and we haven't en-
joyed it at all! Excuse me a min-
. ute, please .. .
Well, here we are again. We
went down for the mail, the dogs
and I. At the box, Honey stood
on her hind legs until I gave her
some mail to carry home. Tippy
thought that was the signal for
having fun and started chasing
Honey. But Honey, faithful to her
task, kept the advertising folder
tightly in her mouth until she had
reached home, loping through the
sleep snow like a jack rabbit.
JIML4Y SCllOOL
LESSON
By Rev, R. Barclay Warren
GOD'S MESSIAH
Isaiah 9:2-71 11:1-5
Golden Text: "Glory to God in
the Highest, and on Earth Peace,
Good Will Toward Men." Luke
2:14.
The Book of Isaiah has some-
times been called the fifth gospel
because it gives such a vivid port-
rait of Christ. Some have felt that
Isaiah taught that the Messianic
age would be a human achievement
rather than the result of the com-
ing of a Divine personality. The
great light would be the fruit of
man's advance in science. But to-
day's lesson clearly links the golden
age with a Divine person. Who,
other than God's Son, could be
called "Wonderful, Counsellor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace"?
Ieaiah saw with great clarity that
the hope of the world lay not in
man, but in One Whom God would
give to us from Himself. Here was
One Whose Kingdom would never
falter, but would ever increase. His
Kingdom would not be carved out
by a sword or achieved by atomic
weapons. His is a Kingdom of
righteousness and peace. It will
pot be biased in favor of the rich.
Oppression of the poor will cease
and He will champion the cause of
the meek. The wicked shall be
overthrown. Well may we pray,
"Thy Kingdom come."
The kingdom is already here in
a measure. There are many lives
into which Jesus Christ has entered.
These have peace, glorify God, and
have good will towards men. But
the world's ills—and they are many
-will only be righted when all shall
own Him as Lord. That day is
nearer than ever before, Jesus
Christ, Who was despised and re-
jected of men, will ultimately
triumph and His Kingdom shall
prevail over all. At Christmas, we
celebrate the birth of this King,
which occurred over 1,900 years
ago. He is the most important per-
sonage ever to walk upon this earth
for He was, and is, the Son of Godi
Shining Example -. Mrs. Lied
Varney, 18, told police she was
forced at gun point to drive a
getaway car for her gunman
holdup. The bride of six weeks
husband while he staged a
said she got the black eyes
from her husband, Ernest Var-
ney, Jr., the object of a police
search.
•
•
The joyous family reunion is a tradition
in our Canadian celebration of Christmas. The gaily
decorated Christmas tree, loaded with gifts
. the holly wreaths ... the laughter and
excitement ... the tantalizing aroma
that heralds the Christmas dinner .. all
affirm that Christmas time is family time
•
During the past year Calvert has paid tribute to
the various racial groups which comprise
then great Canadian Family. At this Christmas
season of happy family gatherings we wish
to salute all Canadian families with the words
written by Calvert himself over three hundred years
ago: "May all happiness attend you".
Ctvnt
(d2
AMHEISTIURG, ONTARIO