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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-12-13, Page 4PAGE 4 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY,. DECEMBER 13, 1973 Baa Be on your guard! Years ago, we learned that ideas come with people. The tramp printer revealed to us many tricks of the trade, There is something to be gleaned from every single person. The inebriate teaches one not to make a fool of oneself, and, in turn, the pro- hibitionist makes an ass of himself. In fact, we are rather fond of using the phrase " a negative virtue is a positive vice." It's like waving a red flag in front of a bull to say to an editor; "Don't quote me." During the war there was a particular directive issued to key business houses all across Canada. This is what was printed: WARNING! - The sharp ears of enemy agents are always listening for scraps of information. Don't let your careless talk help the enemy. Do not discuss ship movements, def- ense plans, munition factories, troop movements, harbor facilities, aircraft production, supply stores. Be on Guard. At various public meetings there are those mortals who, either through a fit of temper, a desire to play to the gallery, or some other design to attract attention, say something they do not want in print. They turn to the scribe: "Don't quote me as saying..." In smaller communities, where everyone knows --or thinks he knows --the worst side of everyone, a weekly would not survive that printed all the statements made on the street, at socials, or meetings of a public nature. Sometimes, we believe it would be preferable for community papers to campaign against careless talk in public. Rather than ask the editor (and even implore him as one man did recently) not to quote you after you've said it, guard carefully what you are about to say. Warning! - The sharp ears of all present are always listening. Don't let careless talk hurt you, your society, or your commun- ity. Discuss your society problems at society meetings, your town problems at town meetings; let your teas and bees be aids to an improved outlook, rather than allow them to become dens of gossip. What profits an organization when one is maligned over a piece of cake or a hot dog, and the sponsors receive silver in the exchange? "Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print, " wrote Byron. Yet how unpleasnat it would be to see your name as a community saboteur! Remember, the fellow next door who is continually running down the preacher, the doctor, the teacher, and the business- men about him (God help them all) is a mighty poor commun- ity man. Is it not then a stringent necessity for people in soc- iety or public life to be careful of what they say? Careless talk helps defeat any organized purpose. BE ON YOUR GUARD! (One Small Drop of Ink) Scab! Inside Ontario we have the supernal beauty of hill and valley, lake and forest, farm and populated communities--ar era of gracious living. But in this color -pattern of living, the comfort of home, and the challenge of work, there is the disturbing element of man's attitude to man. It is a continuing contest for conquest, union versus management --for hunger's sake no longer --for supremacy. Clouding the Ontario scene blackly is the attitude of men who will call their brothers a despicable word: scab. The term "scab" was used in 1886 when "the shoemakers' union overseas was very strong. Because one of the group refused to pay his dues, his shop was struck from the union list and all men working there were called scabs." It is presumed that this was the period when it was decided that all men should have equal pay for unequal ability, that force was the only legislation, that effort should be measured by a shortened ruler, and hours rationed, that money was the greater evil if the other fellow had more, that the rich should be made to grovel, and the have-nots should be raised to the high status of position without thought and without effort. When one thinks of the transition of "scab" into the Ontario community these late years, when a fellow citizen is called a scab because he thinks and acts differently on bargaining issues, it must be humbly acknowledged that some humans have not advanced much in their thinking since the days of the shoe- maker scab --and God help some of us for our dumb stupidity! (One Small Drop of Ink) ZURICH Citizens NEWS PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHEPS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association 'Norio Weekly Newspapers Association el go, Subscription Rates: $5.00 per year in advance in Canada; $6.00 in United States and Foreign; single copies 15¢ DO THEY EVER GROW UP? Perhaps someone who has gone the whole course can tell me when one's children stop depend- ing on their parents when it comes to the clutch, Is it in their forties, fifties, sixties? Certainly it is not in their twenties. Recently, we received a note from our son Hugh, to tell us he was taking some holidays and would be home for a few days' visit. I thought, "Good. He's saved some money and won't arrive broke, as usual." He had. Some days later, in a teleph- one conversation with daughter Kim, we learned that Hugh had dropped in to see her, and had drifted off, muttering something about going to Chicago. That is a slightly roundabout way of getting to our place. And a few days later there was a collect call from Houston, Texas. You guessed it. Hugh, flat broke. Could we wire him money for bus fare to get home? He was crafty enough to call when I was at work. 0 would probably have refused the coll- ect call, and regretted it later. Or I'd have shouted, "No, I will not send you the price of one serving of Kentucky fried chick- en, " and slammed up the receiv- er. But he sweet-talked his moth- er for five minutes before he popped the question. She was not only affronted but taken aback and didn't think quickly enough to tell him we were just off to Florida or the west coast or anywhere. She waffled a bit, and event- ually said she'd see what his Dad said but nor to expect any- thing. He sighed with relief and told her where to send the mon- ey. I came home from work on a Friday after a hard week. All I wanted was to get my shoes off, have a quiet drink before dinner, and read the latest goodies about the energy crisis. And all I got was a family crisis, a scramble to the bank, and a dash to get to the tele- graph office before it closed for the weekend. At first I stood my ground. Not a penny. Let him starve in Houston. At least he won't freeze to death (he'd airily told his mother it was 90 degrees down there.) And she agreed with me. "He doesn't deserve a cent. He was told he was never to do that again. Ungrateful young pup. Why doesn't he hitchhike home?' "Well, I said, "some of those southern states are pretty tough on hitchhikers. Throw them in jail for a month." I could just see her thinking of her first-born slaving on a Georgia chain -gang or something of the sort. After a heated half- hour, we agreed that money isn't everything, that you can't take it with you, that he's the only son we have, that it would be nice to see him, and that I'd better hustle if I wanted to get to the bank in time. It cost me about $115, count- ing the bus fare and grub to get home, the cost of the collect call, and the charge for sending the money. That's what I call sending good money after good. Of course, Hugh wouldn't dream of accepting a gift. It was strictly a loan. According to his figures he now owes me $3 80. without interest, and will have the whole thing paid off any time now. According to my figures, he owes me $880,46, at eight per cent interest, and he'll never pay if off. This has been happening to me for years. First, the kids go to their mother, and soften her up. Then she comes to me, and softens me up. Then I go back to the kids and practically apol- ogize for being so slow with the loot. Of course, I reason, Hugh's only a kid. Practically a baby. He won't be twenty-seven until July. You can't expect him, at that tender age, to know enough to SAVE MONEY FOR BUS FARE HOME! But that other kid. She's a different matter. She'a almost a mother. And she pulled a swifty Oil us this week. Another coll- ect call, on Sunday. Nice to hear her. Asked how big the tummy was. All very matey and maternal. Then carne the punch line. Don, her husband, was on the way up from the city with their cat, to put in our care. He had to hitch -hike because he couldnt bring the cat on a bus. Her mother nearly blew a cork. The Banged cat isn't trained. So we have two additions to the household this week. Two fat cats. One in the backyard, yowling to get in. The other watching TV, sleeping till noon, and waiting to put the bite on me for more bus fare back to his job in Quebec. I shoulda been a cranky old bachelor. 0 When Rama and Mara Town- ships, in Ontario County, join Simcoe County January 1, 1974 3, 500 acres of Agreement For- ests will be added to the 22, 000 owned by Simcoe County and managed by the ministry of natural resources. Business n ►A Prof essiona8 OPTOMETRISTS J. E. longstaff OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH MEDICAL CENTRE 527.1240 Tgesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat- urday a.m., Thursday evening CLINTON OFFICE 10 Isaac Street 482.7010 Monday and Wednesday Cal) either office for appointment. Norman Martin 9PTOMETROST Office Hours: 9.12 A,M, — 1:30.6 P.M. Closed all day Saturday Phone 235.2433 Exeter „I.N $,U,R A N C E S ®� Robert F. Westbke insurance "Special ste Int General &neuromace°' Phone 236.4391 -- Zurlah NORM WHITING LICENS iCI AUCTIONEER 61 APPRAISER Prompt, Courteous, Efficient ANY TYPE, ANY SIZE, ANYWHERE We give complete sale service. PROFIT BY EXPERIENCE Phana Collect MITER AUCTIONIERS PUCV WRIGHT LICENSE AUCTIONEER Kippen, Ont. 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