HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1939-02-16, Page 4PAGE FOUR.
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
James Beattie, 96, Still Likes Fishin.
Mr, James Beattie, of Watford, re-
ferred to in the fallowing article by
W. G. Trestain, in the London Free
Press, is a 'brother of \Ir. John Beat-
tie, well known Seaforth merchant,
There were •fourteen children in the
Beattie family, James being the sec-
ond eldest. The other members who
are still living are Mrs. Alex McCart-
ney, 93, of Tuxford, Sask., Angus, 87,
on the homestead in Westminster
township, and Andrew-, 79, of London.
Of his 96 -year-old brother, Mr.
John Beattie says, "'+I went to call on
James at Thanksgiving, but I didn't
see him. He was away fishing."
Watford — 'Western Ontario has
done a major part of its .growing up
in the last 96 years. The memory of
James Beattie, 96 on February 112,
can 'pick up practically every phase
of that entertaining process.
The Free Press roving reporter
:pays tribute to Mr. Beattie as pos-
sessor of one of the most remarkable
sets of faculties he has ever seen in
a man snore than 90. Last week, 110
years ago or the middle of last cent-
ury comes to Mr. Beattie with equal
vividness. Many older people tend
more to live in the long. long past.
Mr. Beattie, born 'in Westminster
Township, near Pond Mills, five miles
southeast of London, was a Member
of a prominent pioneer family whose
roots go deep into this district.
There were seven 'boys and seven
girls. Angus Beattie is still on the
Westminster Township homestead.
•
James Beattie can recall the Baty
mill '(about ta'•hic'h the reporter wrote
November 2, 1933) and 'old Tom
Baty," a !pioneer of such sterling in-
tegrity as to 'have left legendary tales
of his philanthropic honesty. It is
said that during the "`famine year," in
the 18310's, Thomas Baty sold grain
only to those who had no ,means of
paying for it—anybody with money
could go and buy elsewhere.
Thomas Baty was a strict observer
of the Sabbath. Two colored 'boys
tvho persisted in trying to fish in his
pond on Sunday were collared by
Mr. Baty who sought assistance from
the Beattie family just then passing
in their walk to church at London.
"Would you mind," said Mr. Baty,
''helping me take these 'gentlemen to
jail?" •
The "gentlemen were greatly per-
turbed. They were taken along some
distance during which they promised
practically anything but their life, if
only they were not taken to jail. Fin-
ally, Mr. Baty let them go.
"You will be welcome any day but
the Sabbath," he told 'them. "Come
out and fish during the week."
Those were the times tt+hen Pond
Mills (the names applied to the com-
munity and the little inland lake
there) .abounded with fish, mostly
bass and sunfish. There were no pike
'then, although Mr. Beattie said. 'he
thought .pike had since worked their
way there throu'g'h Dingman's Creek
and ditches.
When 2111 he left Westminster
Township and -came over between
Kerwood' and Watford, the distniot in
v hidh he still . resides: He and -the
neiglhboring pioneers set to work
clearing land 'with 'just axes. Some
times it took half a day to out down
one tough old oak.
Rate of clearing in those early
times'. was about 1110 acres a year, al-
though this was speeded up when
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1939
J. GALLOP'S .GARAGE
SEAFORTHH ' '
Chrysler Plymouth and Fargo Dealer
Come in and see the new Plymouth car and Fargo Truck
We also have a Service Truck—if ,you have car trouble,
phone 179 and we will come promptly
PHONE 179. SEAFORTH
All Revirs Strictly Cash. We Mm To Please
WALTON
The W. M. S. met Feb. etth with
sixteen members responding to the
roll eat!. "'Lord of :the lands" was
sung followed by responsive reading
of 'hynnn 71511. Paragraphs entitled'
"Who cares" taken from the New
Outlook were read by Mrs. Cumm-
ing. Miss S•invpson read the Scripture
from Luke ;110. 'L'etters of appreciation
of sympathy and fruit were presented,
The study "Our duty to our neigh-
bors" was given by the 16th of Grey.
group led' by' Mrs. Broadfoot. A letter
regarding supply was read. "-In Christ
there is no East or West," was foll-
owed by prayer by the ,president.
Mr. George Ramsay has gone on a
visit to his aunt, Miss Margaret Ram-
say of Los Angeles, California. His
many friends wish him a pleasant
trip,
Word has been received of the
death of Stephen God'kin of British
Columbia.
Mrs, F. Hackwell fell at her home
in the village, injuring her leg, Her
'friends hope it is not serious.
Mr. Bert Glidden of Clinton visited
his cousin, Mrs, W. IL Humphries
last week.
Robertson Hamilton is spending a
few weeks in. Toronto at present.
Alex Coutts of Winnipeg is at :pres-
ort 'holidaying with his brother And-
rew, and other relatives.
Sister Dies In British Columbia—.
Word has been received here by
relatives of the death of Sane Carter,
widow of the late G. H. Bloomfield. of
Summerland, B.C., aged 88 years,
Since the .death of her husband, 4
years ago, she made her home with
her daughter, Miss Beatrice Bloom-
field, at Fruitdale, B.C. She was a
sister of the late Mrs. James Bolger,
Walton, and Mrs. Leonard Sholdice,
Seaforth, and was the last surviving
member of the family. She was born
at Burrisileigh Castle, Otway, Coun-
ty of Tipperary, Ireland, and came to
Canada when quiet young. After her
marriage to Mr. Bloomfield, they lived
in Egmondviile for some years, then
moved to England, his native coun-
try. After some years in England.
they returned to Canada and lived' at
Winnipeg, for several years, and 33
years ago they moved to Summer -
land, B. C., where funeral services
were held, Rev. F. Pearson officiat-
ing. Mrs, Bloomfield is survived by
two suns and 4 daughters, and was
;neclereased by five of her. 'family,
One son served in the great war,
\Ir. John Balfour of Leadllury
:pent a few days in London with his
family.
saw. "which were cut were intro-
duced, (Early saws were crude and
less effective than the axes.) Event-
ually the Beattie fancily cleared off
400 acres.
guess we cleared it too well,"
sighed Mr. Beattie, recalling the for-
ests which would be so valuable
today, ''Nobody in those times could
see much good about a tree."
"Neighborliness" was an important
feature then. Bees, attended by the
neighbors. were social and ,business
institutions by which a large part of
the work was done. Present-day snob-
bery based on material possessions
was almost unknown. Some of the
proudest families were as poor as
"church mice,"
31r. Beattie's first logging !bee was
attended, among other things, by 113
yoke csf oxen. He had brought horses
with him and although there were
oxen all about, he, himself, never
used anything but the horses.
Markets at first were through
Strathroy and Napier, 'Napier, now a
quiet hamlet of a few buildings, was
at that time .(11865-11873) a thriving
place, with stores, grist still and
great plans for the future.
Once Mr. P,eattie had a large tree
lodge in another and as he moved
to free it. the support gaveway. Sim-
ultaneously, .lir. Beattie tripped and
the tree carne crashing in the spot lie
might have been 'had lie not fallen.
"The Lord was merciful, Mr. Beat-
tie," said James Cook, another pion-
eer, witness of the mishap. Thus, was
voiced an expression which exempli-
fied the pioneer attitude.
Those were the day's of maple
sugar bees. Sap troughs were made
by hollowing out a split stick of tim-
ber. Two notches were chopped down
at each end, following which the cen-
tre portion came out like a kernel
from a nut shell.
Game was plentiful. Mr. Beattie
was a reitowncd shot, twinning a
sword as a trophy when he was only
six years old. The sword is still at
the old homestead. He teas also fond
of 'fishing—and still is.
His long. 'healthy life has been pro-
bably due to moderation in habits.
He eats and sleeps well. He walks
the equivalent of half a mile or so
every day. The diet on which he
throve as a young man consisted
mostly of pork, bread and potatoes.
with the addition of some :beef. He
smokes a pipe, cigarettes and cigars
being "not much use.
His suggestion as the most import-
ant thing for a young person's . con-
sideration 1y to "get to work at some-
thing." He spent part of his youth
working for '30c a day. Young people.
he thinks, should do something; any-
thing, rather than lie about idle.
There may be a tendency today to
substitute hook ,learning for horse.
sense - wihich is regrettable. Mr.
Beattie suggests the advisability o'
young people replacing theoretical
consideration with practical applica-
tion. But, he has no intention of be-
littling scholastic training.
The thing he could recall as most
entertaining at the moment was the
escape only a few days ago of a -cow
atho led London's dignity a merry
chase over city streets, Mr. Beattie
had read it in The Free Press,
His plans for the future are: To
catdh more and bigger fish next year,
even if the streams of Western Ont-
ario are sadly depleted to the days
when 'he was a boy.
SHALL WE BELIEVE
OR •BELITTLE.
(Continued from Page 1)
before, we discover that it has. At the
time when 'Jesus came upon the ho -
man scene, the Roman Empire had
reduced the level of human life to the
point where men and women were
talking about each other with this
cynical 'distrust that is characteristic
of our sorry day. Jesus strode across
the stage of that day, surrounded by
this cynical bitterness, determined al-
ways to believe and never to belittle,
always to give those round about him
credit for more than he could -discov-
er, and thus by his faith in them 'build
them up to something better than.
they might otherwise have 'become.
And so the business of the church to-
day is to 'believe in people, not to be-
little them.
'\Ve'd find each facewas'beautiful;
however 'dull it seems, If looking past
the grits outside, we'd see the wistful
dreams."
in the realm of human relationships
lives are !being made from time to
time 'better or worse, as they meet ex-
pectations, confidence, belief, trust,
understanding on the part of the
people round about them. I plead with
you in this Club, dedicated to the ser-
vice of the unfortunate, wherever
you go, whatever you do, for the sake
of oor country, and the destiny of the
human race, make your life a 'believ-
ing life and not a belittling one.
BRUCEFIELD
Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Allan, Mr. and
Mrs. C. Haugh, Mr, Wallace Haugh,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Douglas. Mr,
Lindsay Eyre and Mrs, J. Snider at-
tended the funeral of the late Mr,
James Allan at Zurich last Wed-
nesday.
lies.rs. T. Chapman, :Jas. Mc-
Naughton, W. Haugh and Jas. Souter
attended the horse sale at Stratford
on Monday.
Mrs, Frank Coleman, after spend-
ing a few days with her niece, Mrs.
W. Haugh, returned to her home in
Hensall on Monday.
Don't .Forget the play "The Girl
froth over Yonder," which. is to be
put on by the young people Friday
evening in the school room of ,the
church.
Frozen Vegetables
The pack of frozen vegetables in
Canada in 11938 increased to '5190,0:00
pounds from 1126,000 !pounds in 1937,
the principal' increase 'being in peas
and corn on 'cob. New factories were
opened in British Colunvbia and in
'Ontario, and efforts will be made
during 1939 to establish freezing units
in retail stores. At the present time,
the bulk of this product is sold to
the hotel and restaurant trade,
Butter Consumption
Consumption of 'butter in Empire
countries is 'higher per ;head of popu-
lation than in foreign countries, states
the Imperial Economic Committee. It
amounted in 1907 to 40:7 pounds in
New Zealand; 3142 pounds .in Austra
lia; 32,7 pounds in Canada, and 24.8
pounds in the United Kingdom, com-
pared with 119.6 ,pounds in Germany;
17.9 pounds in Denmark and Belgium
and 16.7 pounds in the 'United States.
"The memory of the j'ust is blessed."
The choir sang "Only a little way
beyond.' Interment gook place in the
Bronson Line cemetery, Relatives'
were present From Detroit; Fair
Grove, Mich.; Dainties, Kitchener,,
Waterloo, Exeter, " Hensall', Bruce
field, Dashwood, Grand Bend and
Bayfield.
CONSTANCE
The W. A. and W. M. S. met in the
basement of the church on Thursday
afternoon, Feb, 9111. The W. M. 5.
meeting was• presided over by Mrs.,
Britton. Hymn 2164 was sung. 'Min-
utes were read and business transact-
ed. Mrs. E. Adams took charge for
group 2. Prayer by Mrs. 'Britton,
Scripture lesson, at chapter Luke
25,311, taken by 'Miss Ailnna Leitch.
Study of the scripture lesson was.
taken by Miss Phyllis Medd. A ,chap-
ter in the study book was given by
Miss Ivy Simmons.. Mrs, Adams dos-
ed with prayer..Lunch was served.
For the W. A, meeting Mrs. Lind-
say was in the chair in the absence
of the q resident, Hymn 24o was sung
followed by prayer by Mrs. Mont-
gomery. Scripture lesson was seed
and a card Of thanks read from Mrs.
cJ'oseph Riley. Hymn 264 was sung.
Miss Ethel Dexter, Orangeville,
and Mr. Clifford Adams of Londes-
boro, spent the week end at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Austin Dexter.
The Young People's Society spon-
sored a very delightful social in the
schoolroom of the church on Friday
evening. 'Valentines, red and white,
!formed the effective color scheme for
the decorations in the room, ,Mrs.
Chas. Riley. !being responsible for this
work of art. The evening was pleas-
antly spent in progressive crogetinole:
The prizes were awarded to the win-
ners by the president, Miss Donelda
Adams. Miss Clete Medd captured
the ladies' .prize; the gents' prize
was a tie !between Howard Arm-
strong and Kelso Adams and after a
tie -breaking round Mr. Armstrong
was the winter, The president moved.
a vote of thanks to all who in any
way helped to make the evening so
successful. This motion was seconded
by the secretary, Miss Phyllis Medd,
after which a dainty lunch was
served,
ZURICH
Late James Allan—
One of Zurich's 'highly respected
residents in the person of James Al-
lan passed away on Sunday, Feb. 51th
in 'his 7dIst year. Deceased suffered a
stroke on June 112th which left Itis
left side paralyzed After four or five
months' suffering in 'bed, he was able
to be assisted into a wheel chair,
.On Jan. 8th he suffered a second
stroke, after which he gradually grew
weaker, His passing away is the first
break in a family of eight. Mr: Allan
was born in Hay township, west of
Blake, the son of the late Robert Al-
lan and Annie Drysdale. In Jan. !19112
he was united in marriage to 'Matilda
Witmer of Hay, For some years he
farmed west of Blake. Ott disposing
of his faun, they moved to Zurich.
Mr. Allan was for many years a
member of Blake United Church,
later joining the Evangelical Church
in Zurich. Deceased is survived by
his widow, 6 sisters and one 'brother,
Mrs. McDonald, Dundas; Mrs. T.
Hess, IIensall; Mrs. C. 'Haugh and
\Ir. Robt. Allan, Brucefield; Mrs. G.
Howard, Exeter; Mrs. J. Carrie, Bay-
field; and Mrs. A. Esler, Lloydmin-
ster, Sask. The funeral was !tell on
Wednesday, Fab. &th, conducted by
his pastor, Rev. C. Heckendor, assist-
ed by Rev. Hauntsberger, Water-
loo; ,fr. Heckendor closed the priv-
ate service at the house with the fol-
lowing poem:
O1 the gladness of the going,
When the faithful travel home;
0! the rapture of the welcome,
Where their feet no more shall roam.
0! the beauty of the mansion,
Which for them all prepare,
And the 'bliss their souls inherit,
Who in ?Jesus' love 'have shared.
Through the tempest and the sun-
shine,
Tftey have crossed life's vales and
:hills;
iNeath a changeful sky, their pathway
Led them oft through many ills,
Now 'before them iieth nothing
Save the cloudless, perfect day,
Shining o'er immortal .beauty
In an everlasting ray.
'Unto this they've looked with longing
As their various ;paths they trod;
Alt have come through one dark
valley
As they've travelled'h'one to God.
Some through years of long endur-
ance,
I'n a moment some have passed,
But the hour of final testing
Was of pain and woe their last.
From their trial to their triumph
Is a sure and high •exohange;
All the •sedrets of the ages,
Are the fields they swiftly range.
In the love of friends !beloved,
In the fellowship of Christ,
In the Fat'her's :gracious favor
Sweet the. joy 'neath Heaven's dome
\Vhen the faithful travel home.
Public service was 'held in the
Evangelical church. The scripture,
Psalm 23, and part of 'John. '114, was
on the request of the departed read
from a Bible printed 323 years ago,
This Bible has 'been in thg•:possession
of Mans for many ,generations. Mr.
Heckendor preached from Prov. 10:7,
REGENT.
THEATRE
NOW SHOWING
Battle of Broadway"
Starring
Victor McLaglen Brian Donelevy
New screen team dishing out punches
and laughs
Mon. Tues. Wed., Feb. 20-21-22
Gingers Rogers James Stewart
"Vivacious Lady"
Jaynes Ellison Beulah Bondi
The new Ginger 'Rogers displays her
fine dramatic talents.—In this thrill-
ing story of young love
• VARNA
The funeral of the late Albert Rob-
ertson passed through the village on
Monday. Deceased was a native of
Stanley. A little over a year ago, Mr.
and Mrs. Robertson moved to Hes-
peter. He was a victim of that dread-
ed disease, cancer, and passed away
in Kitchener hospital Saturday, He
was in his ,76th year and was a mem-
ber of L:O.L. No. _1035. A large num-
ber of the .brothers turned out to per-
form the last rites at the graveside in
Bayfield cemetery. Much sympathy is
extended to his now bereaved widow.
Mr. Howard, Mr, and Miss Doug-
las and Miss Logan of Hensall call-
ed on friends Monday.
There will be a social in the hall
on Friday, March 17th, under the aus-
pices of St, John's Church. Watch for
details, and keep this date .open.
The W. A. of St. John's Church
was held at the Monte of Mrse M.
Reid, Wednesday, with a good at-
tendance.
The February meeting of the Wo-
men's Association of Varna United
Church was held Feb. 110th at the
home of the president Mrs, Roy Dow -
son. Fifteen ladies were ,present; The
meeting opened with hymn 485, "Je-
sus keep rote near the cross." Scrip-
ture lesson, Psalm 38, was read by
Mrs. Wmt, Reid. Mrs, Roy Dowson
then led' in prayer. The minutes of
the January meeting were read by the
secretary Mrs. Alf Johnston, and ad-
opted as read. Business was then
'transacted. 'Meeting closed with
hymn '503 "Pass me not, 0 Gentle
Saviour." The remainder of the af-
ternoon was spent in quilting and a
delightful supper was served by the
hostess.
Mrs. James McBride spent a few
days visiting friends on the Parr line
during the past week.
Mr. Alf Jbhnston spent the past
week end in Toronto,
Mrs. Lloyd Keyes and family spent
the week end in Clinton
MANLEY
Mr, Leslie Beuermann was taken on
Monday to Victoria Hospital, Lan-
don, for treatment. His many friends
are sorry to •know that his leg which
was broken in apainful accident
last 'fa'll while threshing, has not
completelyhealed. The' bone has re-
fused to knit, although it has been
reset.
Word was received her on Tues-
day that Rev. ff. M. Eokart of :Chic-
ago had suffered a relapse about six
weeks ago and is in a precarious con-
dition.
The road's are again passable for
cars by being cautions and not driv-
ing faster than 10 miles an hour in
the had spots.
Next Thur. Fri, Sat., Feb. 23-24-25
"Radio City Revels"
Starring
Sob Burns Jack Oakie
Kenny Baker; Ann Miller, Milton
Berle
A hilarious lineup of high powered
comedians in the year's most lavish
and unusual musical
Notice to Creditors, 3 wks. for $2,50'
COMING:
"Army Girl"
AUBURN
Mr. and Mrs. Earl Raithiby, Marie
and Bill, were in London on Saturday.
Mr. William Sltepp'ard of Clinton
visited on Sunday With his sister,
Mrs, Gorier, who we are !glad to say
has recov'ere'd from a recent illness.
Miss Josephine Weir 'spent th'e
week its Gederich.
Mrs. A.' 5, Ferguson ando Stewart
spent. Saturday at London.
Owing to the icy 'conditions of the
Auburn-Goderioh road last Friday
two carloads of students going from
Auburn to Goderich 'Collegiate were
compelled to turn back to Auburn
without getting to school..
Mr. John Symington quietly cele-
brated his 35th 'birth'day at his home
here on Saturday and Mrs. John
Raithby was 73 on Sunday.
The storm on Thursday night blew
over a large fir tree at the . side of
Mrs. John Ferguson's 'home.
Miss Margaret Ferguson of Park-
hill spent the week end with her par-
ents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Fenguson.
The regular monthly meeting of
the Women's Lnstitute will be held in
the Forester's Hall on Tuesday, Feb.
21lst, The subject will be taken by
Miss Margaret King. The roll call
will be answered by a name of a cab-
inet minister. The hostesses, 'Mrs.
Jas. Woods, Mrs, A, Robinson, Mrs.
J. Raithby and Mrs. 'Glen Raithby.
Mr. Victor Yungblttt is quite ill at
his 'home with a violent attack of
sciatica.
Death of Russell Armstrong—
Mrs. \tank Armstrong received on
Sunday the sad news of the death of
her youngest son, Russell, of London,
Ont. He mac widely known as opera-
tor of the barber shop in the .Harron
and Erie building, London. He died
Sunday morning in St. 'Joseph Hospi-
tal, after a few- days' illness with
pneumonia, :He was 28 years of age.
Inc. Armsrottg was 'born here, the
son of Mrs. Armstrong and the late
Mr. Armstrong. He had dived in Lon-
don for several years. He was a
member of Centennial +United Church
and of the Moose :Lodge. He was ac-
tive in the Y. M. C. A. and was a
member and director of the Y.'s
Men's Club and the 'Vigilante Clubs
of the Y. M. C. A. and the Badmin-
ton Club of the "Y". Besides his mo-
ther be is survived by his wife' and 2
children, Ronald and Shirley, 3 'bro-
thers, Thomas Armstrong of V'ancou-
'eer, Wart, Armstrong of Toronto,
and Wilfred Armstrong of Saskatche-
wan, and One sister, Mrs. Russell
Bentley of Blyth. !the funeral was
held on Tuesday and interment was in
Mount Pleasant Cemetery at London.
Cheese in Export Trade
Exports of cheese from the chief
exporting 'countries of they world,
reckoned by value, account for only
a very small ,proportion of total ex-
ports from. these countries; in New
Zealand, where the proportion is
highest, it amounted to little more
than 8 per cent in 119137. The propor-
tion has declined in recent years in
New ,Zealand, Switzerland, the Neth-
erlam.ds and Italy, but has remained
fairly constant in Canada, where 'hotw
ever it amounts to only one per cent
of the total Canadian edpbrts:'.'
Beef Cattle Trend
Nomlbers of cattle on fiarms in Cati-
ada at 'June It 119139, are expected to
show a further reduction from those
of 1938. ' The present cattle produc-
tion cycle reached its peak .in +19316.
Nat, cattle 'marleetings in 191318 were
materially below those of 193(7 and
114931. Further declines bay be expect-
ed during 1939 and 11940. The num-
bers of, cattle' on 'farms itt Canada at
Nile 1, 19138 T80114200) were estima-
ted as fewer than at the correspond-
ing date of the previous year,
•