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Zurich Herald, 1955-03-31, Page 6TE Spring is furtively peeping around the corner. Old Sol has raised his thermostat; crows are flying noisily across the fields; robins are tentatively twitter- ing from tree -tops and swamp frogs are singing. In the garden snowdrops are blooming; daffodils buds are swelling; spiked -shaped tulip leaves are appearing; tender buds of flowering shrubs are taking on form and colour and the first ruby -red rhubarb leaves are beginning to uncurl. In the house every room from attia te, cellar is becoming less attractive. Bright sunlight flood- ing the rooms reveals the need for spring -housecleaning. Paint- ed surfaces have a dingy look; paperd walls you hoped might do another year show dark, un- sightly streaks along the seams. In the fields wheat is taking on a greenish hue and looks fairly promising. Clover? It is too early yet to predict how well clover has survivied the winter. Well -drained fields are devoid: of surface water and in low lying fields swampy patches are less in evidence. In the stables spring calves have begun to arrive. Cows and heifers, let out for exercise sniff the air exploratively; the smell of early new growth is in their nostrils. They . stand pensively looking over' fences and gates; gambol; afound the yard at in- tervals`.and then return unwil- lingly`to dry hay and dairy con- centrates. Dogs and cats roam the fields in search of unwary mice and rabbits. Sparrows keep up an incessant twittering in and around the buildings. And among . all this response of nature to the call of spring there site one inanimate con- traption -- the term tractor! In- sensitive to the God-given aniracle of new life it sits there -- not a tremor of expectancy BAOS r—=m-337- -'^agar=.. .7 -..-- = can be detected corning from its great mechanical body. The throb of Its heart is stilled until human aid is forthcoming. Great rubber tires act as insulators between the living earth and the steel of its body structure. And yet this mechanical mon- ster; its intricate insides a mass of gears and wires; its blood. and nerves gas, oil and electronics; its breath foul; it voice noisy, drowning out the song of birds, frogs and humanity. This . this THING, as tempermental as a neurotic woman, as power- ful as the devil himself; this thing has more attraction for most young boys on a farm than all the horses, livestock and poultry put together. Some boys, not previously too fond of farm- ing have settled down quite happily once Dad has been per- suaded to buy a tractor. Others, once the novelty has worn of!, have found a tractor not quite the answer to a foot -loose dis- position. I have often wondered about tractors . . . is there a special affinity between young boys — and 'old boys' too for that mat- ter — and man-made power machinery? There can surely be little sympathetic relationship between tractors and the good earth as compared with horses. In early spring horses can make their way where tractors fear to tread, Tractors must bide theirtime until sun and wind have conditioned the land to hold their weight. Horses can work in a field, leaving the wet spots until the last, their hooves indenting the land but not to the extent of heavy rubber trac- tor tires. We know all this yet in our stable there are no friendly horses to whinny their welcome at our approach. In- stead, in our drive -shed, there is a tractor, just as I have des- cribed -- cold, inanimate and insensitive to the miracle of spring. Another sign of spring is the number of annual organization meetings — past, present and still to come. Retiring officers who have done their stint; in- coming officers, some of them reluctant and uncertain, a few stren 1110 ration ' C$ ir coarfl( the Jkuse Jean Pau! Ri(ter ,Sea,Seag ram Mon who think of tomorrow practice moderation today Keeping Warm — At chicken farms throughout Europe, incubators are at a premium, so scenes like the above are not uncommon. These six -hour -old chicks seem quite content in the arms of as young Hamburg, Germany, lass. And she seems quite content, too. with shaking knees taking the chair for the first time. Here and there members up against the problem of filling an office that nobody 'vdants — and I mean no- body — for in most organiza- tions there are many workers but few apparent leaders. I say `apparent' advisedly because a good worker has all the qualifi- cations of a good officer — to a greater or lesser degree. True, her leadership qualities may be dormant but they will slowly but surely develop -- given the opportunity — if her interest is genuine and active. It is up to the older members to encourage and promote installation of younger members to office — and then back them with their own years of experience —._ without criticism or prejudice. New blood is necessary to keep pace with the tithes. And for in- spiration and guidance in W.I. work there is no better lead than our own splendid little magazine — "Home and Coun- try." "Dear Anne Hirst:- I am from overseas, and have no one else to turn to. Please help me be- fore I go out of my mind . . married my husband when he was visiting over there; I was only 17, and my family tried to stop me, but I thought I knew all the answers. Now we have three children. I could have loved my husband dearly, except for his insane jealousy. "Hegives us everything we want — except what any wife needs most, her husband's faith. "Without any reason, he ac- cuses me of seeing men when I go shopping, and he even thinks I let them in our home! I am attractive,. and though I can at- tract men without even trying, I have turned my back on thein all. It is only my faith in God that gives me the strength to go on. Much as I love the children, sometimes I feel like walking out on everything. (He does not like people and found fault with all the friends we have had.) HOME IS PRISON "I am not allowed to leave the house at night. I try to make him understand that a woman has to have some change, but it is no use; he willnot take me anywhere. I work hard, and keep the children and the house clean and fresh, and myself, too. I get so nervous I cry day and night, and I am dead inside. "My husband knows I come from a nice family, and he knew the good life we had in my own home; I have never been back since coming here. , .. Only God knows what I go through, giv- ing the best years of my life to a man who doesn't trust ire. "Please, please help make him see how unbearable things are for me! He does not know I am writing you, but he reads your column. UNHAPPY AND DIGUSTED" a` When a man marries a girl * from another country he has a * double obligation to see that * she is a happy wife, Uprooted * from her, own people, she * must look to him to provide * the social life that will balance * her homemaking routine and * keep her mind and spirits em- * pioyed and alert. In this way, * she stays young and interest- * ing; their home becomes a * center where she blooms into 4' full maturity that reflects * credit upon him as a citizen, * a husband, and the father of * a fine family, * This husband has offended * all along the way. He so fears * that other men will be attract- ' ed to his wife that he con- * demns her to a veritable * prison of loneliness, Her * whole being is insulted by his '" groundless suspicions; h a r * spirit starves for companion- * ship; her personality sinks * into a nothingness. Xs it any. * wonder she feels dead inside? 4' Without the inspiration of * friendliness, how can he ex- pect her to be an adequate >ISSIJE 18 -� 1954 * mother to his children? Cut * off from any local activities, * forbidden association with * friends who would welcome * her, she cannot provide the * proper social background his * children will need more and * -more as they mature. She her- * self languishes in solitary con- * finement that saps her natural * gayety and can, indeed, drive * her into a state of real col- * lapse. * Men call themselves crea- * tures of reason. How can a * self-respecting man justify * such a stand? Even American * girls, alert and informed, can * wilt under jailership and sue- * cumb to despair; this column * has printed hundreds of their * complaints. * How r i c h would be this * man's reward if he would * behave like a real husband! * His wife would be so --.grateful * to be treated like a human * being that her affection would * warm his heart. His life would * take on a new meaning. As * he watches her spirits revive, * he will see himself not as the * bully whose baseless jealousy '" has darkened her life unbear- * ably, but as a reasonable and * trusting husband who plays * fair. * I wonder how he would feel * to respect himself for a * change? * * * A husband who doubts `''his wife .falsely is' about the lowest of human beings. The sooner such men learn what they are missing, the more happy homes there will be. - In any time of trouble, turn to Anne Hirst, Writ e her at Box 1, 123 Eighteenth St., New T or on t o, Ont, Real ''' , all.Airnd- e " Taken To Altar • When 82 -year-old Maxwell B. Moorefield of Sydney, N.S.W., took his "ball and chain" to the altar he was wearing a real one. His bride weighed a neat 119 pounds. The real ball and chain weighed 45 pounds. It happened when Maxwell was being given a bachelor send-off by his friends just be- fore he drove to the church. They chained his ankle to the ball, which was made of con- crete, and threw away the key. So as not to keep his bride waiting, Maxwell went chained to church. Blacksmiths and lock- smiths were sent for, but did not turn up. The ceremony took place, and then someone arrived with numerous bunches of keys, one of which was at last found to fit the lock on 1Vtaxw ell'is ankle, "So far as the wife is dencern- ed it's just a case of ;mind overr matter, old man. She doesn't mind and I don't matter!" dern Ebquette Q. How should an eng• rave invitation to a horse wedding b worded? A. It may read thusly: "iVI and Mrs. William Jones reques the honour of your presence a the marriage of their daughte Margaret Anne, to Mr. Frederic Allan Sprague on Saturday th nineteenth of December at fou O'clock, twenty two Be e c Street," Q. Is it correct for a man t use the double -sheet type o stationery for his personal car respondence? A. It is all right, but th single sheet" is considered mor masculine, Q. 0 a . close friend of a be reeved family attends the fun oral, is it necessary to wea black clothes? A. No, However, one should wear subdued clothes, and avoid any gay colors. Q. Is it permissible to exam- ine the various dishes on a cafe- teria counter` before selecting a certain one? A. If this can be done quickly. It is thoughtless of those behind you in line if you deliberate too long, and, also, it is rude to be conspicuous in selecting a dish that seems to contain the la?gest portion. Q. Should one ever select a wedding gift that is something only the bride can use, if one is not acquainted' with the bride- groom? A. No; it is better always to select something that can be used and enjoyed by both the bride and bridegroom. Q. Should the used silver be gathered up before removing the used plates from the dinner table? A. No; the silver should be left on the plates, and , all re- moved from the table together. Q. If one has just moved into a new neighborhood and some of the neighbors have paid calls, how soon should one return these calls? A. Within two weeks. Failure to do so is a strong indication that the friendships are not desired, What, to wear? Morn -to -be, don't worry! Whip up a new top or skirt in a day with this sew - easy pattern! For casual wear, sew -the checked version with or without the Peter Pan collar. For cool comfort on 90 -degree days, choose the scooped -neck, cone-shaped top. Make it in a glamour fabric too, for evening! Send now! Pattern 4705: Misses' Mater- nity Sizes 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Size 16 skirt, 2 yards 35 -inch; top with pockets, 3 yards; Ye and contrast. Send THIRTY -FIVE CENTS (35e) in coins (stamps cannot be accepted) for this pattern. Print plainly SIZE, NAME, ADDRESS, STYLE NUM ER. Send order to Box 1, 123 Eighteenth St., New Toronto, Ont. 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