The Clinton News Record, 1940-12-19, Page 6PAGE 6
THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD
THURS., DEC. 19, 1940
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Read - And Write - For You
(Copyright)
By
By John C. Kirkwood
Perhaps you remember, vividly, that habitant life in •French Canada. The
sad, tender and beautiful story, reader of it lives with the Moisan
"Marie Chapedlaine", by Louis Hem- family for upwards of fifty Years.
on, a Frenchman, who wrote of , He becomes acquainted with "Cherie
French Canada, and whose book, pub- and his wife, his sons and daughters,
lished in France about 16 years ago, ' and their occupations and ways of life
had a sensational success. That book and ambitions. The action of the
has been put among the classics', and story is main on they 30 -acre farm.
• you won't see it in second-hand book- l All farmers would read this story
stores. It merits a place --+ an abid- with keenest interest, and all of .us
ing place - in every 'Canadian homes. who have a desire to know more-
: And now :has appeared another About the mind And ways of French
book about French Canada-- this Canada - of Catholic French Canada
time-iv'ritten by a' Freaeh-Canadian, -can get much instruction from,
this "simple story. It is a plotless
story --. just a sort of photographic
film of life as lived rust anywhere
in Quebec Province- in the rural
areas, .
Yet the story relates to'.a period
of rapidly -changing times. Perhaps,
.the largest single factor in changing
thoughts and ways the motor• car.
Before the arrival of the motor car
community and rural 'life remained
the same as it had been for two
,hundred years. 'The motor car had
widened horizon and enabled young
people to go farther away from home
and tens of thousands of young Fren-
ch-Canadians had found agreeable
work, at good wages, in the New
England States. Their visits and
letters home had very upsetting in-
' The book is the story of a farm fluences in younger sons and daugh-
and of the family owning and tilling tees.
it - a story covering a period of I Then, too, the high prices of the
over 50 years - the past 50 years. war years of 1914-18 had made many
The farm had a length of about a fanners venturesome: they bought
mile and a width of from 500 to 600 more land, in order to make more
feet, being a characteristic "strip" money, and they acquired the con -
French -Canadian farm with an area 'Action that high prices would remain
of about 30 acres. We who live in forever. So when disillusionment.
Ontario may wonder how so small a came - when high prices collapsed,
fann could sustain the large famil- many farmers were ruined: they had
-fes living on it and working it, but to give up acquired farms, and they
we hape to accept as fact that ,.were not ton contented to farm in the
Flrench-Canadians can make money old way,
from small farms --• by thrift and in-
dustry and simple living. ~ -�
The ferment of new ideas and new
"Thirty Acres" is really the story 'ways working in young people mads
of Euchariste Moisan, who acquired them eager for a life having a faster
the farm -when his :uncle, its owner, pace than farming, and caused them
died, Euchariste, or 'Maris, as he to differ from their parents, there
svgs called by his neighbors, married was manifest the spirit of rebellion
et neighbor's daughter, and had .by and discontent. The book "Thirty
her a large family. 'Charis had Acres" does not condemn the child -
pledged himself to to the priest who ren of 'Maris Moisan; it just port -
Married him that he would dedicate 'rays them with fidelity. Rather does
one of his sons to the priesthood, and this book aim to tell of the new for -
in due course his eldest son - his ces, the new agencies, at work in the
firstborn child -- became a priest world, and particularly in French
.Another son Etienne, was as much a Canada, which have changed the old
'lover of the land as was his father,
and when he married, he made him-
self, increasingly, a farmer in the
modd.rn manner, favoring machinee Moiscn brought upon himself his
and new methods, and wanting better disappointments, his losses, his itard-
aarm buildings; whereas his father I ships, and his final obscuration -
this by his eesistence of the new
forces and agencies, by his stubborn
and blind adherence to old ways and
to his activities, and made money ideas.
from eggs. Another son, Ephrem, If you can, read "Thirty Acres" -
was "difficult", and became a village a book about Canada.
terror. He remained on the farm
with his father and brother, but with
Dr. Philipfe Panneton, a Montrealer,
but it is his pen -name, "Ringuet",
which is on the title -page of his fine
novel. Ringuet began his book in
1929, so it is not a bit of hurried
Work. You perceive this when you
read his book. Like Marie Chapdel-
aine, Dr. Panneton's book was first
published in France, and in French,
and like Marie Chapdelaine, it was
awareded a prize by The French
Academy. It )ias been translated in-
to English, German, Spanish and
Dutch. These honors are assurance
to you that Dr. Panneton's book, en-
titled "Thirty Acres", stands out
high above most books classified as
novels.
order and which have made widen-
ing gulfs between parents and their
children. On 'feels that `Maris
was a conservative, and was not any
too willing to take up new ways and
ideas, Yet he did add egg production
' no goodwill, and in the end went off Make This Christmas
to the United States, as were doing
so many French-Canadian young
people. Of the other sons and of the Free From Fire
daughters of `Cherie Moisan it is un-
necessary now to speak: they are but
minor characters in the story of
"Thirty Acres".
'Cherie Moisan entrusted his money
to a notary - putting more faith in
him than in banks; and each year
his fortune was added to - and es-
pecially in the war years 1918-14, and
after, when the prices of hay, and
wheat and other farm produce soared.
Moisan was envied by most of his
neighbors because of his perceived
prosperity, Yet there came times_
'when his animosities, his stubborn-
ness and his misplaced trust consum-
ed his savings. Thus, he had a costly
and disastrous law suit with a neigh-
bor over a piece of property; when
he would not sell his crops when
prices were at their peak, hoping foe
still higher prices, he lost by fire ,his
buildings and their contents - crops,
live -stock and implements; and 'when
a new notary became the custodian
of Moisan's savings, after the death
of the old notary, he skipped out with
the savings of many families.
So when Mosan was about 60 years
of age, he found himself poor, He
was not only poor, but also rather
helpless mentally and physically. His
son Etienne had assumed the full
management of the farm, and had
undertaken to pay his father so much
per year, as a sort of pension, but
he failed to pay the amount due mon-
thly because of bad times. Indeed,
he persuaded his father to visit his
son Ephrem in the United States, the
idea being that the father would re-
main a month or so. But Etienne's
failure to send his father money to
be used for purchasing a railway
ticket home made it necessary for
the father to extend his visit indefin-
itely. His long stay with his son
married with two children - became
burdensome to his son, who was
forced to find work for his father. -
watchman in some public building.
- And the story ends with the father's
being permanently transferred 'from
his native province to a city of New
England, and being permanetly sep-
arated from leverything which he had
loved., and most of all the land from
the land - the farm which was ince.
his, and which was dearer to him
than wife or children.
The story is really . a picture of
Bombs will bring death and destruc-
tion to many British homes this
Christmastide. In many Canadian
homes this Christmas, death and de-
struction may be brought not by
bombs but by the celebration of
Christmas itself, the most festive sea-
son in the democratic world. At
Christmas time numerous fire haz-
ards are introduced into homes, stores
and public places that do not ordin-
arily exist. Every year in Canada
women and little children lose their
lives or are scarred for life from fires
starting in Christmas decorations,
trees, lighting, etc. This is the warn-
ing issued by the Ontario Fire Mar -
that's Office.
Those persons decorating halls,
chuches and public places should use
particular care in their choice of.
decorations. Only materials made of
metal, glass and asbestos should be
used. Packing material and rubbish
accumulates much more rapidly at
this time and should therefore be die,.
posed of at more frequent intervals.
In any case, merchants should guard'
against obstructing any exit facilities
during this season when the shopping
crowds are larger than usual.
'The Christmas tree itself demands
particular attention. It should not be
placed near any source of heat, such
ass radiators', fire places or stoves and
should be well -secured against fall-
ing. The tree should be so placed that
standing or falling, it will not block a
doorway or exit and thus prevent the
escape of anyone. Lights for the tree
should be only of the approved elect-
ric type; and in no case should candles
be used or smoking permitted near
any Christmas tree. After a tree is
broueht into the home it hourly be-
comes drier and therefore more easily
ignited.
The correct choice of toys may
mean much to the little ones in the
homes. Those made of celluloid may
be ignited without coming in actual
contact with flame andwhen once
ignited they burn with such rapidity
that a child's clothing is nearly al-
ways set afire before they can, dis-
pose of them.
Accidental ignition of flammable
costumes has, beenthe cause of many
Christmas tr:ngetlies; in fact Santa
Claus himself must be very careful
not to burn his whiskers.
WEEKLY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
FRIDAY, DEC. 20th:
8,00' a.m. Breakfast Club
9,00. Piano Ramblings
8.00 p.m. Grain's Gulley -Jumpers
SATURDAY DEC. 21st:
9.30 ;a.m. Kiddies' Party
1,30 p.m. Ranch Boys
6.80 Sports Reporter
'7.30 Barn Dance
SUNDAY DEC. 22nd:
11.00 a.m. Anglican Church
12.35 p.m. Wayne King Oroh.
2.00 Triple-V;Class
4.30 St. Andrew's Choir
7.00 Presbyterian Church
MONDAY, DEC. • 23n1:
9.00 a.m. Piano Ramblings
12.45 pm. Bel! Boys
7.00 The Novatones
TUESDAY, DEC. 24th:
9.30 a.m. "Story of Pamela Pride"
7.00 p.m. Christmas Eve Show
8.30 "Good Luck"
WEDNESDAY, DEC 25th:
9.30 a.m. Christmas Greetings.
from British War Guest
Children To Parents
' Overseas
4.15 p.m. Christmas .with the C.
A. S. F. In England
8.15 Christmas Chimes
THURSDAY, DEC. 26th:
11.45 a.m. Fashion Club
8.30 p.m. "On Parade"
PRESBYTERY OF HURON
UNITED CHURCH
The Presbytery of Huron United
Church of Canada was convened by
the Chairman; Rev. E. F. Chandler,
B.A., at' North St. Church, Goderich,
on Tuesday; Dec. 10th. On account of
the bad condition of the roads, the
attendance was greatly lessened. The
call of Victoria St. Church in Goder-
ich to Rev. Arthur J. MacKaye of
Iron Bridge, in the Algoma district
was sustained, and arrangements
were made for his induction, pending
his arrival in the Presbytery. The
induction service will be in charge of
Rev. W..E..Brenurer, ,Secretary of
Presbytery, who will preach and in-
duct the minister, while Rev. G. G.
Burton of Clinton will address the
minister, and Rev. R. G. Hesselwood
of Benmiller will address the con-
gregation.
A somewhat new feature' of the
work of the church was presented by
Inspector Kincaid of Public Schools
for Centre Huron, who presented the
problem of Christian Education in the
Public Schools. His address was very
much appreciated, especially his sug-
gestions as to the most satisfactory
methods of giving such instruction to
the pupils. It was afterwards passed
in the form of a resolution, that we
commend this important matter to the
consideration of the Christian people
of the County, with the suggestion
that they ce-oeprate with their min-
isters, teachers and School Boards,
particularly in rural areas, with a
view of promoting a deeper interest
in the question. In many of our town
and city areas it is already being
done through the co-operation of' the
Ministerial Associations.
Rev, W. P. Lane of Goderich re-
ported having had a very successful
year in the management of the Sum-
mer Schools and Camps, pointing out
that the time was fully occupied
throughout the months of July and
August, and the financial returns
were very encouraging.- The site of
the Summer School is now all but
free of indebtedness, thus giving op-
portunity for greater usefulnes+ and
expansion. The Presbytery went on
record as strongly opposed to any
legislation by which the sacred char-
acter of our 'Lord's Day be further
eft We ,Jowget.
WHILE we celebrate this Season of Goodwill in comfort, our
brothers, sisters and comrades across the sea live 'neath the
shadow of death ... 'death let loose from the skies by the monstrous
hordes of Nazidom and Paganism.
At this season we are particularly reminded of the debt we owe to
those whose service and sacrifice make it possible for us to enjoy our
Christmas midst the carefree happiness of children and fond parents ...
those valiant men who patrol the skies, man the ships, stand by the guns,
and place their all - even unto life itself, between us and the enemy.
How can we pay our debt to them?
The least we can do is to Save every dollar that we can and lend it to
Canada, so that Canada can provide everything in munitions and
equipment to fortify these men for the defence of our country and our
civilization.
Our savings should be invested in War Savings Certificates, and we
should continue to save and invest in War Savings Certificates until
Victory is won.
The widow's mite counts as much as the more fortunate ones' plenty,
as evidence of service, sacrifice and determination.
So then, whatever else you do at this Christmas season, save and
invest in War Savings Certificates. The very consciousness of your
service in the Defence of your homeland will make greater your
personal enjoyment of Christmas.
W. H. Somerville and de Gasp6 Beaubien, Joint National Chairmen, War Savings Committee, Ottawa
encroached upon, by the running of
special trains for pleasure purposes
on that day. Rev. J. R. Peters of
Varna was on motion appointed of-
ficial reporter for the Presbytery, for
the local press and also for the Unit-
ed Church Observer. He will be glad
to receive from any of the charge,
items of general interest, with respect
to the progress of their work. The
time and place of the next meeting
was left to the discretion of the Ex-
ecutive Officers.
vamntttlll\\11tmiawmn lg lllP/l//l//�/F n ark_=_
•
' 1a�,§7
The spirit of Christmas is not so
frail a thing that it can be crushed by
a bully. For twenty centuries it has
suririved calamity, treachery and
cruelty. Like another unquenchable
spirit, the spirit of Britain, the spirit
of Christmas will survive ten thous-
and Hitters. And so, in Canada and
throughout the world wherever men
have confidence, hope and charity in
their hearts', a new fidelity ,marks the
Christmas season.
Men want good -will to flower more
than they have wanted it for a very
long while and there are many agen-
cies at work to help good -will in its
new growth.
In the vanguard is radio,
The CBC regards its Christmas ser-
vice as an obligation and a privilege.
Its schedule has been designed this
second war Christmas to embrace the
home, the fighting forces and the in-
dustries of this great land. For only
through such unity can industry give
the armed forces strength to preserve
the home, its institutions and its
Christmases.
In the following summary an out-
line of the principal programmes for
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
are briefly reviewed:
The King's Christmas Message
There is no reason to believe that
His Majesty, the King, will give his
Christmas message to, the Empire.
Official announcements have not been
received by the OBC at the time of
going to press -but it is understood
.that the' broadcast, when scheduled,
will be between 10,00 and 11.30 a.m.
Christmas Day and C B C will, of
course, carry the King's words on its
coast-to-coast network. Listeners are
requested to consult their daily news-
papers for fuller details of this im-
portant Christmas broadcast.
Hello to Mummy and Daddy
Canada's young war guests are to
have the honour of taking part in a
trans-Atlantic broadcast immediately
following the .special overseas pro-
gramme in which the King partici-
pates. Several British children, spend-
ing their first Christmas in Canada,
will engage in a two-way conversa-
tion with their parents in Britain.
The broadeast will be heard at 11.30
a.m. EST and there will 'be a re-
broadcast of the exchange of family
greetings at 11.30 p.m. EST.
Christmas Morning Service
Those who are spending Christmas
morning in their own homes will have
the beautiful ritual of the Church of
England ,service brought to them by
CBC microphones. At 12.00 noon the
National Network will carry the spec-
ial service from St. James Cathedral,
Toronto.
Christmas in the Country
Stmg by a male quartet, "Men of
the Soil", a Danish folk song, will be
heard on Canadian networks for the
first time, during the Christmas
Farm, Broadcast, This special Farm
Broadcast goes to the CBC National
Network 2.30 - 2,59 p.m. EST on
Christmas Day and will carry greet-
ings to all farmers in Canada. Four
regional Farm Broadcast commentat-
ors will be heard on this programme,
the first of its kind to be produced
,by. the CBC Farm Broadcast Depart-
ment.
Greetings front Hollywood
The pampered darlings of the west
coast film colony and the bomber -out
daughters of Limehouse are sisters
under the skin. On Christmas after-
noon -3.00 to 5.00 p.tn. EST, the stars
of Hollywood will broadcast in honour
of the heroes and heroines of Britain
-the real-life stars of a living drama
that has never been matched on stage
or screen. And to do honour to the
men, women and children of Britain,
Hollywood has assembled a galaxy of
her most illustrious personalities
flanked by other notables who will
join in the presentation of this mem-
orable programme in salute to Brit-
ain:. Special music, songs, comedy,
drama and sketches will make up the
broadcast with messages of deep sig-
mficance expressed by a number of
British, Canadian and American mo-
tion picture artists. The time again:
Christmas Day at 3.00 p,nt. EST,
Canada's Famous Choir in
Hander's Messiah
The Mendelssohn Choir of Toronto,
with orchestra and soloists conducted
by Dr. Herbert A. Pricker, will be
heard in a broadcast presentation of
Handel's "The Messiah", at 5.00 pen,
EST.
Christmas Presents
for the Troops
Not socks, this time, but songs -
presents for the heart and the spirit
-will travel thousands of miles from
Canada to her soldier sons overseas.
At 6.15 p.m. EST there will be a sing-
song staged by member's of the C.A.
S.F. in Britain and it will be directed
particularly to families and friends
back home. After the sing -song from
overseas concludes, Canada will send
song' greetings to Britain, and in this
exchange of the old familiar tunes,
the well-known ballads and the rous-
ing airs of Erin, Scotia, Wales and
England, families will be united for
a half-hour stroll down music's mem-
ory lane.
Canadian Christmas -1940
In a Christmas panorama at 0.00
to 9.55 p,ni. EST the CBC will pre-
sent the picture of the Dominion, en-
gaged in war, but determined to pre-
serve the traditional habits of peace-
time and the nation's. happiest cele-
bration., Christmas in the home,
Christmas with the forces and Christ-
mas with :the industrial workers,
whose united. a efforts will bring vic-
tory to Freedom's cause, will be the
story told in "Canadian Christmas -
1940". Postmen, flyers, war guests,,
engine drivers, farmers and all the
other men, women and 'children who
'make sup the colorful scene of a Can-
adian Christmas will be represented'
in this CBC feature broadcast which
will follow Christmas dinner in the
homes of Canada from Saint John to
Vancouver.
Christmas Night Minuet
A special broadcast of classical
music in minuet form will be broad-
cast frons the Montreal studios at
10.30 to 11.00 p.m. EST. Dr. J. J.
Gagnier will direct the orchestra and
the soloist will be Rose Comate-Mor-
itt, soprano. Her song will be the
minuet from the "Military Symph-
ony", by Haydn, the words having
been specially written for this oecas-
ion. The conductor's own "Minuet
Poudre"will also be played.
The Girl of the Golden West
Once again the beauty crested by
a young girl standing in a field of
yellow grain has proved inspiration
for an artist. This time it is one of
CBC's own producer's, John Kenna -
win, recently appointed Prairie Reg-
ional Representative, who eulogizes
the girl of the golden west. He has
written a "Western Fantasy" in her
honour, and it will be one of the
features of Christmas Night. Kenna -
win's tribute is in verse which has
been set to music by Hugh Bancroft.
The programme, under the direction
of Geoffrey Waddington, will be sung
by Miriam Dugan, contralto; Ralph
Roberts, tenor; and Stanley Hoban,
baritone. The soloists will be sup -
'ported by an augmented orchestra
and choir. This feature will be heard
from Winnipeg at 11.00 to 11.30 pee.
EST.
Christmas Eve
True hearts beat alike under th
dark blue of the navy, the light blue
of the airforce or the modest khaki
of the army. An so on Christmas
Eve the lads of all the branches of
Canada's services will think of each
other and the part comrades are play-
ing ill. the crusade for freedom, when
representative members send greet-
ings home across the land from Hali-
fax. This broadcast of greetings from
the boys will be heard at 9,00 p.m,
EST, Tuesday, December 24. ... At
9.30 p.m., EST, Alan Sullivan, Canad-
ian writer and traveller, will read his
own original Christmas story, "Star
of the North", andafter the broadcast
of the midnight service from hlstoric
Holy Trinity Church in downtown
Toronto (12.50 midnight to 1.10 am.
EST) Canadian hearts will turn to
those other crusaders, the men. and
women in the Northland who are do-
ing thein part 'ter make Canada' safe
for future Christmases. "Bringing
Christmas• to the Frontier" will cont
mence at 1.10 a.m. EST and will
bring relatives and friends to the CBC
microphones to give their own mes-
sages on this Yuletide edition of "The
Northern Messenger."
All Times Eastern Standard Time,.
CAN AD A'S
retreat
PLAYGROUND
q•
eeAgai
N
bye
For rest or play -Vancouver and:
Victoria are ideal for a thoroughly
enjoyable winter vacation.
Warm days and cool refreshing nights.
' Excellent golf courses -myriad sights,.
in the mountains and by the seashore..
Riding, tennis, motoring, fishing...
Canada's Evergreen Playground offers
them all, in an unexcelled setting.
Special Winter rates at hotels. The
new Hotel Vancouver's spacious
rooms and delightful accommoda-
tions will add to the pleasure of your
stay in Vancouver.
ATTRACTIVE RAIL FARES
ALWAYS USE CANADIAN NATIONAL
TELEGRAPHS - MONEY ORDERS. -EXPRESS
SPEED, DEPENDABILITY, SAFETY
Reduced sleeping -car facet.
J`ew meat rates on trains.
TRAVEL WEST THE JASPER WAY
ttSING THE AIR.CONDITIONED
CONTINENTAL LIMITED
Pall; informaricalyon any ticket agent