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The Seaforth News, 1950-04-13, Page 3Special Occasion It was a wet nights - a badnight for the Plante of leathers. In the saloon bar there were just the three of thew. The young couple culla had come ie at nine and the spat who had been sitting hi the same corner chair, silent and gloomy, the whole evening. Icor a time time, young couple didn't noticte him. Just as thej hadn't seemed to notice the rale. They were lost in a private world of their own. When they stopped laughing and : talking they looked into each other's eyes. '1 hey did not hear the man's heavy sighing breath that cause every few min- utes. They had no time to notice the misery in the lines re mid his mouth, the paha in his eyes lint when the boy started to order a second rouaid, the gill pudged him and whispered. He hes- Dated for a moment, then smiled and nodded. He walked across the bar to the than in the corner, "1111ceae site, but won't you join es? I mean," he added, shyly, "well, seeing there's just the three of us -- A thin smile struggled on to the man's lips. "That's very kind of you but--" "Please, no 'buts,' As t matter of fact, this is a frightfully special occasion for us, We want some- body to drink with us. We shall be really upset if you don't," "All right: I'nm poor company, I'm afraid. And mine's only a. bitter." "Sure?'' "Quite sure." The three glasses of bitter made their appearance, The barmaid re- moved herself along the counter to the more lively atmosphere of the public bar. "Well, then, here's to your spec- ' ial occasion!" said the pian, remaking another valiant effort to produce a smile. He was really very little older thau the boy—at tine most seven or eight years older. }3tat hap. piness was taking years off one face and gloom was adding years to the other, so that they might have been father and son. The girl laughed self-consciously. Almost a giggle. "Thanks. You're the first. I hope you feel duly lion. mired," The hoy grinned sheepishly. "You see, we got engaged about an hour ago. On the top of a bus. So we didn't get off it—stayed on till the end of the journey. Then we carne in here. I expect it all sounds mad, but it's how we felt" "We just had to ask somebody to drink—to our future,'" the girl added. "Rather! ---only- once in a life- time,", said the boy, heartily. The man fumbled in his pocket, found his wallet, For a moment they looked anxiously at each other, frightened he was going to em- barrass then with the offer of a present. But he handed them 1.5 - stead a tiny photograph. The girl caught her breath. "Why she—she's lovely!" "Yes. Very lovely." His voice was toneless. "I was engaged to her for three years." He fumbled in his trousers, pockets. "Ab, there it is. Yes, that's the ring. She • gave it back to me at five -thirty this evening. That's why I've been sitting in here since six --drinking. Funny, isn't it?" IIis voice was still toneless. "Oh, i say, we're terribly sorry— "If we'd realized we—we'd never have butted 111---" He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not feeling as bad about it as I. was at six. Sunk quite a fee beers since then. It helps," "And now we've made it worse for you," said the boy, guiltily, "No, for Heaven's sake don't imagine that. Talking—once you get started—helps as much as drinking." "Were you very much in love with ]mer?" asked the girl. He paused. "Well, the idea we were going to get married one day was a mental habit" "Perhaps she'll change her mind' again. I think long engagements are awfully difficult — especially for girls. We'd have been enraged Canadian Fighters In Battle Against Cancer—Throughout Canada there are some 70 highly trained groups of research workers carrying on 'scientific research into the cause and cure for cancer. Perhaps one of the tilost unusual research teams is to be found at the Medical School of the University of 'Western Ontario, Dr, I,ee Fraser Bertram, a graduate of Western •Univer- sity, and her husband Ewart Bertram, ht,Sc., a graduate of the same college are working to- gether on cancer research tinder Lite guidance of Dr. Murray Llewellyn Parr, another Western graduate. Jh'. Bertram entered the field of medicine by a rather circuitous route. Daughter of a Port Elgin doctor, Dr. James E. Fraser, she studied music at Alma College and attained her degree before finally deciding to enter the medical Sch ool at Western. - l:wart Bertram is 'a graduate biologist and after his marriage to the brilliant young doctor in the- fall- of 1949 they commenced their resear ch career together. • Dr. Barr, an RCAF veteran, is in charge of the research project which concerns the struc- ture of cell nuclei as it may relate to the cancer cell. Dr. Barr's project is financed by the Na- tional Cancer Institute and the National Research Council. He is also' assisted by H. Lindsay. Part of the funds raised during the April c amnpaign of the Canadian Cancer Society will be used to assist this and similar research projects in Canada. Contributions may be sent to any local unit of the Society or mailed direct to Ont ario Headquarters, Postal Station 'F', Toronto. eighteen months ago but I wouldn't, Now we shall only be eniaged for a fete months. Dick didn't like me being obstinate, but I'nm sure it was right." "Well, it's been the sante thing— we've gone about together every- where, " said the boy, quickly. "Yes, but because we wanted to. Not because we felt we had to. That's the big difference. And it wasn't really possible to think . about. getting married before. Now Dick's had a rise—well, it's a good deal simpler." She smiled almost distantly. She was still in her own private world. The man sighed, "Yes, I know all that. Waiting—this year, next year. Money, money—always blasted - money! People say it doesn't platter but, by Heaven, it does! Well, you two are all right. Stick to it. I hope you'll get a devil of a lot more rises. Big ones. My ruddy firm's in the wrong sort of trade for these days —they've just cut my salary." They looked at him with sudden understanding. "Was that why—?" "Yes, that was why. After three years of waiting—and now smashed to pieces. 'I suppose I can't blame her. It was a pretty big cut, blast them! Only it was all an nearly possible. We'd have .had to be care- ful, of course, but, still, it wouldn't have been all scraping and watch- ing every farthing. Oh, I can't blame her. They haven't left Inc enough to offer any woman." "Pretty tough luck!" The boy gulped, 'Makes me feel a pig. I mean, I got my rise this morning and you---" "Don't be a fool, man! If any- body ought to feel a pig it's 1515.— shouldn't have said a thing about it, ought to have just drunk your healths. Spoiling your great day for you—dugbt to have known bet- ter. But it was a kind of coinci- dence and I suppose I had to get it off my chest to somebody. Been ciiinkin' anyway—makes you' say thing's you shouldn't , . "We were thinking too 11111011 about ourselves, anyway, f know I No, No, Not .Again! - - The year is only three months old, but already the flagpole sit- ters are at it, l"jrst to jump the on nim the summer silly season is Odell Smith; •ex-Mar- ue paratrooper, of Atlanta, Ga,, shown ascend- ing to his perch., He plaits to bast all polu- sittiisg records by squatting ftp there for 11111e months, coming down nit Christmas, was. A !tell of a chap I was think- ing myself. Just because they'd shoved any stoney up to eight quid a week----" "How much?" He a Int o s t shouted. He stepped back as if someone had hit hint and the rem- nants of beer in his glass splashed on to time floor. The boy flushed. "Eight pounds," he said, curtly. The mean flung tate glass against the bar counter. "Eight viands— eight quid! tlfy - God, that's what they cut my money down tol" IIe reached time door laughing like a madman. The young couple looked at each other. When they looked round again there was just the door swinging violently, "And what's up with him, Pd like to know," exclaimed 111e bar- maid, looking angrily at the floor. "Glasses cost money!" —From "Tit Bits". How The Donkey Got His Bray Waterloo was a large black don- key. In those days donkeys were the usual means of transportation in Jerusalem, and people rude dou- key-bacic 00 ,their business rounds and even when paying social calls , Our Arab nurses told us the story of how the donkey got his bray when we were little, eolemnly assuring us it was true. \V11en Noah was collecting the animals for the ark, Mr. and Mrs. Donkey came early, but lingered a few minutes on the green turi for a last nibble of grass, They did not notice the gathering clouds nor the first huge drops of rain, Then Mr. Donkey looked up to see timat the door of the ark was closed!, He was terribly frightened. What 11 lie and his mate were left be- hind? So Ile lifted up a loud voice and called: "Noa-ahl No -db l" '1'11e rain beat and the lightning fiashecl and the thunder tore. and suddenly Noah opened the door of the ark to them. Mr, Donkey was so relieved to. see Noah that his shouting sub- sided into "Ail x111 ahl" and that is hoar the donkey got. his bray, and the reason why it .is so loud,, - for he had to raise his voice above the downpoticit of the Flood. The story is much 'better told u Arabic, where the cries of Noah sound exactly lute .the donkey's bray. We children had glorious sinus riding Waterloo, He was big and strong and could carry several of uA at one time. An ingenious con• trivance of panniers made of two upholstered kerosene boxes was slung on either side of an Arabic saddle, on which was fastened, throne -like, a coffee -shop stool up- side down with one rung cut out to make a chair. Plump and cheer- ful John Whiting sat in this, his sister Ruth and my sister Grace in time kerosene boxes, and we older children walked or ran along- side. . , . \1Te often went donkey -back to Ein Farrah, and in my parents' letters are many mentions of pic- nics in this wildly picturesque and rocky gorge near Anathoth, the birthplace of Jeremiah. . We liked going to Ein Farrah •early, to avoid travelling in the summer .heat, and generally ar- rived by sunrise at a certain plain which we children dubbed "The Plain of, the Rising Sun;' for we loved giving names to places. On this plain was a Moslem shrine or "well," and we noticed that all tie donkeys lifted up their voices in a tremendous bray as they faced the first rays of the rising sun, which was usually just as we were approaching the welt Because of the Arabic tale of the donkey and his bray, we called the shrine "Noah's Tomb." A few years ago 1. gave a tea- party to a group of Biblical stu- dents visiting Jerusalem. Tney were late, and in their apology mentioned . that they had been taken to see Noah's Tomb. I questioned them, for I knew there was no tomb in `Palestine that could possibly at- tributed to Noah. To my amusement I found they had been taken by one of our old "donkey -boys," now graduated into a dragoman, or guide, to our shrine, en our "Plain of the Rising Sun," both named by us when we were children. So does fantasy get handed down to become a Tradition, —Front "Our Jerusalem," by Ber- tha Spafford Vester. Imagination "Mrs: Cohen," said Mrs, Nathan, "what's the trouble? Yon look worried," "Yes, yes," 'sighed mfrs. Cohen, "my husband is always sick," "Your husband is just a hypo- chondriac," said Mrs. Nathan, IIe isn't sick, He just thinks he's sick. Take no notice of his complaints and watch him get well," A 111011111 later, time two women met again. Mrs. Cohen looked even more worried. "Your husband no better -r" asked the friend. "Worse" said Mrs. C'ohen. "lie thinks he's dead." How To Build A Barbecue Grill Naturally you'll need first to se- lect your building site. Choose a spot where there is shade in the late afternoon, if this is possible. Von had better get the whole family to- gether to decide on this, because altheugh:the grill can be moved, it is unnecessarily hard worlc. Then you must place your order for con- crete blocks. It will take 43 whole - blocks and 12 half ones, While this order is being filled, youcan use this time to find tate articles you will need in order to start work, They are few, A hoe, a spade, four pegs and some string, a level and a trowel will do. Stake the pegs and string that you have to the ground to forst the outline of your pit. Take some sharp instrument and stark this outline off so that the strings may be removed. 'Then you start to dig because you must have a base for the grill that will not allow it to sink and become unlevel. You ac- complish this by sinking ttte blocks their full 3" in time ground. The base is completed. The remainder of the work is placing the blocks in order to build up the sides and back. No cement is used. Time blocks are merely stacked one on top of . the other. The sides of the firebox are built 3 blocks high from the base and are 354 blocks deep. In order to keep your wood in a dry and order- ly fashion, a wood box is built on one side of the firebox. The walls of time wood box are only two blocks high, but are the same depth as the firebox. This wood box also serves as a table during cooking operations. Now take two and one -halt blocks and place 1115111 on the top of the back wall of the firebox. On top of these you place two more blocks andanother one on top of these two, so that you have a simulated chimney in the back. All blocks should be placed so that they inter- lace, since this lessens their chance of falling. Since no cement is used, the blocks may be replaced easily should one crack from the heat. However, chances are you won't have to worry about this for sev- oral years. The building operation can be completed in a day and your grill finished except for three items. The wood box needs a top, the firebox needs a grill and tate base of the firebox needs to be built t'p about eight inches so that so much wood need not be used for the fire, The base of the firebox may be ' built up 'with either concrete , blocks, gravel, cinders, or old bricks, The grill must be obtained and can either be made out of iron rods about % inch in diameter, or any suitable grill that can withstand great heat. The top of the wood box will look best made of concrete, This means that a frame the exact six,e of the top must be built, The ground :nay serve as the base of this frame. The concrete must be moxed in these proportions: G coal buckets of gravel, 4 of sand, and 2 of cement. Water must be added to forst the correct mixture of con- crete. Mixing concrete is Meaty work and you may treed sgnme help on this. After it is poured, the top must be smoothed with ti trowel until there are no lumps or l:ieces of gravel left Olt top. ''lie concrete mull be left to dry for at least 24 hours and must be sprinkled with wafer several tunes during this•dry- ing period to - prevent cracking.. Ther with bclp, a great deal of help, because this concrete block is very heavy, the i:ni,ited slab is Placed- on top of the eoocl box and the barbecue grill is complete. Comeback A wealthy widow married a moat of slender means. The honeymoon had scarcely ended before she be. gran reminding her husband that it was her money which was paying time bills. Even when friends drop- ped in and admired time newlyweds° home, time wife would remark, "Of course, if it weren't for 111y money, Henry would not be able to afford a place like this." One day the bus - band bought a television set. His wife examined it and said: "It's beautiful, But I don't have to remind you, Henry, that if it weren't for my motley. it wouldn't be here," "My dear," replied the husband, quietly, "I tltinlc it's time to tell you that if it weren't for your money, I wouldn't be Here either." And then, of course, there was the optician's daughter. Two glasses and she made a spectacle of herself. Warp and Woof of Fashion—Snug as two dogs in a rug are "Fancy Dapper Dan," left, police bloodhound, and "Merry Windjammer," champion Surrey English cocker spaniel. The dogs suffered through the fitting of their new "rug -ed look" hats for a special benefit fashion show. Hats get that way being made of carpeting. Leper Mission Begins—Navy doctor Gordon C. McNeilly, with his slaughter, Miriam, 4, left Alameda, Calif.;, bound for ata 18 -month tour of duty in the leper colony on Tinian Island, Dr. McNeilly volunteered for the hazardous assignment be- cause he felt it his "Christian duty." 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