HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1952-04-24, Page 3When Gypsies Came
To Do the Tinning
All of our utensils were of cop-
per, tinned on the inside by the
gypies who came in droves in the
springtime. The men's hair was
always long, uncombed, and un-
washed, a, l,rtck as a crow's wing.
'1'be wo: young and old, and
even the ..tie girls, wore many
full skirts, every one a different
color. Their hair was worn in two
braids, brought around in front,
one on each side of the face. Also,
they had bright -colored cloths over
their foreheads. The gypsies would
come into the yard in a Sort of
whirlwind, all talking loudly among
themselves in their own language.
The headman would ask if there
was any tinning to be done, or
soldering; of course there was, for
we had been putting things aside
for just such a time, He would
give an order to his followers, and
at once they would hustle and bustle
in a corner of the yard, starting a
fire with charcoal. One of the chil-
dren would use the blower, and
very soon the sparks would fly
high and bright.
The price for the work having
been fixed, the leader would call
and every one of the gypsies would
swoop down upon the pile of uten-
sils and .carry them over to the
fire. There the man would do the
tinning. As well as we could slake
out from the window where we
were, or from the front step (for
Mother would not allow us to go
too near), we saw the tsigane take
a piece of tin, put it in a pot over
the fire, and inelt it, one of his
children.::pumping continuously with
the blower to make the fire as hot
as possible. When the tin had melt-
ed, he would dip a sort of mop
into the molten mass and use it to
coat the inside of a pan, As to
whether he first added an acid, or
some other chemical, I cannot say.
The newly tinned surface was
-rough when it cooled, so it was
rubbed in a very vigorous way.
Sometimes, as' they worked, the
men would stop their polishing and
pass their hands over the inside
surfaces of the utensils to try
their smoothness, and when they
were satisfied with the results, they
would put one pan aside and take
up another.
• We had a large boiler for the
laundry, and one of the gypsy sten
would polish this himself. Taking
It out by the fence of the chicken
t•ard, he would put his polishing
cloths and powders inside; then,
Zipper Sewing Eas
ET EDNA MOLES
NSERTING a zipper in a
dress or skirt often can be
a bugaboo even for women
experienced at, home sewing.
It takes time, doesn't always
come out smooth, sometimes
]means a stretched seam.
That's why a new and sure
method of putting in a zipper
is such welcome news. It re-
quires only the use of cello-
phane tape and it's this use
that eliminates pinning, bast-
ing, ripping—and all the ac-
companying guesswork.
There's little or no han-
dling of the fabric. This
means that s e a it] s won't
stretch and that you won't
pull the zipper tape out of
shape, Nor is there a need
for pins. When the zipper
is in, it's there to stay. It
won't buckle, pucker or pull
the seam.
We've chosen to show a
slot seam, which is right for
sleeves or the back opening
of a dress. But exactly the
same principle applies to the
lapped sears type of placket
used in either dress or skirt.
when Using
ellophane Tape
Sew the seam up to the point
where the zipper opens. Then
press entire seam into place.
Now run strip of cellophane
tape along entire outside length
of opening so that fabric edges
will be just touching.
Turn the material and place
zipper along the seam on the
wrong side of the garment. Use
strips of tape crosswise to hold
zipper next to the seam. This
holds the zipper firmly in place
while you sew on the machine.
Now for the actual. sewing.
Stitch it on either side of the
garment except if you have a
chain -stitch machine. Run the
stitching down one side, across
and up the other side. Finally,
remove tape and press garment.
stepping in and taking hold of the
fence, he would polish with his
feet, swinging left and right and
talking loudly all the while. All the
gypsies gesticulated wildly, lifting
their shoulders and stopping their
rubbing just long enough to throw
their hands up to heaven; and
their faces changed expression as
fast as their hands moved thhout.
The work finished, the fire would
be put out as quickly as it had been
lit, the tools returned to the bags
in which they belonged. Then each
one of the gypsies would bring
some utensil to the house, the chil-
dren the small ones, the women
the large and heavy pots and pans.
After their bags were stuffed with
presents, the gypsies would vanish
with many a loud and long addio,
and we would be left, with the feel-
ing that a storm had passed. Maria
would have to wash all those uten-
sils with soap and water, and dry
them and hang them up in the
kitchen, each one in its place—and
were they not wonderful to be-
hold?—From "And Across Big
Seas," by Helen J. Jannopoulo.
TKEFARM
RONT
Every year Canada pays a price
for forest fires representing the
timber supply for 85,000 five -room
bungalows. Of the five -thousand
conflagrations beraking forth be-
tween Spring. and Fall, at least
four-fifths are the product of
human negligence, Most of them
nee the work of campers, smokers,
motorists, sportsmen, and the land -
clearing operations of new settlers.
Last summer, lightning struck the
woodlands 940 times, but human
hands struck far more dangerously,
causing 4,400 outbreaks.
* * *
With 500,000 Canadians depen-
dent` upon the raw material of
forests for their wages 'and the life
of thousands of communities, every
burned timberland is a threat to
steady employment. No industry
can survive an annual subtraction .
of two -million acres of its harvest -
field of wood material, especially
when one considers that every acre,
turners into a barrens, requires
from 75 to 100 years to restore its
only useful crop. Nor can such
devastated areas ever be used for
b
sl
Peter Tumbledown takes as
much care of his old car as he
does of his buildings, imple-
rr,ents, and livestock, which is
practically none. The catches
en the doors are so worn that
he bas thrown Mrs. Tumble- ,
clown out twice when he made
loo sharp a turn, and the door
;sew open. When he falls out
himself some day maybe he will
fix them—and maybe not,
agriculture, except in minor in-
stances.
* * *
• • What complicates the forest fire
problem is the disastrous effect
upon the watersheds that safe-
. guard hydro -electric development
and, not less, -upon the flow of
tourist trade Canadawards. Direct-
ly in the path of the forest -burning
menace stands Canada's pulp and
paper idnustry with its annual dis-
tribution of nearly a billion -and -a -
half dollars through all channels
of Canadian commerce. Such pro-
ductive activities deserve better of
Canadians, than to turn their fields
of raw material into a bonfire.
nl * *
After all, the annual holocaust of
'the forest is the work of only 4400
persons, a few of whom had male-
volent intentions, although all were
guilty of reckless conduct, Nothing
but incessant vigilance in handling
-any form of fire within a forest
region will keep our timber in-
heritance as a national bulkwark.
* * *
We don't have many coyotes
around Ontario — except human
ones --•- but that's no reason why
any of you interested in animal
life, and the ability of certain ani-
mals to adapt themselves to chang-
ing conditions, should miss reading
l'rattk I)obie's highly interesting
book "The Voice of the Coyote.'
Origin of the coyote on the
North American continent is un-
known, but its; was familiar to
Spaniards in New Mexico about
300 years before English-speaking
people were aware of his existence.
The Lewis and Clark expedition
of 1805 observed coyotes on the
western plains,
Wherever the coyote has ,gone,
he has likely followed man because
of human wastefulness. Attracted
by the domestic animals which men
drove across the prairie and the
opportunitics offered an undiscrim-
inating scavenger, the coyote fol-
lowed,
Mr. Dobie tells Trow coyotes fol-
lowed the great trail herds north
from Texas in the 1870's. The
trailbosses had the habit of lolling
every mottling those calves which
had been born during the night,
The newborn calves could not
travel and the cattle markets could
not wait for the youngsters to
learn. So the calves were slaught-
ered and their carcasses left on the
trail to feed the slinking coyotes
which followed the drag of the
herd. It is possible many coyotes
came up into Canada with the trail
herds.
• * •
Although calves and sheep still
snake up a portion of the coyote's
diet, about 51 per cent. of the
volume of food consists of .rabbits
and rodents. This was proven in a
recent examination of 14,809 coy-
otes which had been killed in farm
areas by the American Wildlife
Service.
* q;
In the percentage of volume?T the
contents of the stomachs were:
* * *
Rabbit 33.25 per cent
Rodent 17.52 per cent
Sheep, goat 1.2.92 per cent
Calf, colt, pig 0.67 per cent
Poultry 0.75 per cent
In percentage of occurrence in
the same stomachs they were:
* * *
Rabbit ............ 43 per cent
Rodent 32 per cent
Sheep, goat 19 per cent
Calf, colt, pig 1 per cent
Poultry 3 per cent
* * *
These examinations reveal that
about 78,640 sheep would have been
killed by these coyotes in one year.
4' * *
This is taking into consideration
that the whole carcass is not eaten,
and that some of the sheep would
have died from other causes and
would have been eaten by the
coyote as carrion.
* *
Although this in itself appears
to be sufficient reason to wipe
out the coyote; his economic im-
portance is keeping down the rabbit
and rodent population cannot be
overlooked.
* 8. *
The same coyote at the time of
the survey would have eaten. about
15,426 tons of rodents and rabbits
in one year. If this was expressed
in field mice alone, it would total
401,076,000 average -weight ro-
dents. These mice, average 12 to
the acre, would show that an
annual feeding by these coyotes
would be equal to the elimination
of field nice from 33,000,000 acres
of land,
The .destruction caused by such •
a large number of nice is very
great.
SALLY'S SALLIES
i01 . K:1 {tinort.l Nies IR•. WAI I
"1 really don't know what hap-
pened. I wasn't even looking."
NMYSCJ
4JjSSON
By Rev. R. B. Warren, B.A., B.D.
SUPREME LOYALTY TO
GOD
Exodus 20:1-6; Luke 14:25-27;
16:13-15
Memory Selection: Thou shalt
have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven image. Exodus 20:3-4.
The Decalogue opens naturally
with the command, "Thou shalt
have no other gods before mei If
we do not keep this command, we
shall not keep all that follow, for
this is basic. God will brook no
rivals in the soul. He claims first
place in the affections of man. The
bowing to images was forbidden.
Worshipping idols was common
practise among the neighbors of
Israel. But Israel was to.have no -
part of it. Our God is a jealous
Goci Children to the fourth genera-
ttoal will suffer for the sins of
parents. But God's mercy is em-
phasized more than his wrath. It
extends to a thousand generations
(Deut. 7:9).
Jesus confirmed the' command-
ment requiring supreme loyalty to
God. God must have the preemin-
ence over one's family, yea, over
one's very life. Discipleship calls
for an all-out surrender and dedi-
cation. Nothing less will do. Money
or the pleasures of this world have
won first place in the lives of litany.
In such cases God is crowded out.
He is not content to take second
place.
In some parts of the world
people' are learning in a literal way
what it means to love one's life
less than God. Many are suffering
for Jesus' sake. It's a big price to
pay for being a Christian but it .is
worth it. "Godliness is profita.'tle
unto all :things, having promise of
the life that now is, and of that
Which is to come!"
MONEY'S WORTH
Al Cghn; reporting tlj vas=ions
and highly profitable American
tours of'ehe' great Finnish runner,
Paavo Nuiiti, points out that he
was as fast in a financial deal as he
was on the cinder paths, ,and need-
ed no agent to get all That was
coining to him.
The incmoters of 'one outdoor
meet agreed to pay Nurmi a thou-
sand dollars to participate, but
when he showed up handed him an.
checic.,for $750, explaining that they
had miscalculated expenses, and
Nurmi took the check without i`
comment.
The race was a mile long—four
full laps on that particular tra^k
Nurmi ran the first three laps in
sensational style, and led the field
by a wide margin. When he com-
pleted the third lap, however, he
calmly walked off the track, and
trade for his dressing room, "They
pay me three-quarters," he ex-
plained cahnly to reporters, "so i
run three-quarters of a mile."
Big Figures
How many species of mammals
would you think there are inhabit-
ing our planet? Perhaps you could
name one hundred, or even two,
but few people. have any idea of the
sheer weight and mass of animal
life that exists.
There are 8,000 different species
of mammals alone, while the varie-
fies of birds more than double this
figure. Then there are 40,000 known
species of fishes, and new varieties
are being discovered almost every
day.
On top of this, scientists have
numbered 80,000• kinds of molluscs
—that is snails and shellfish.
This total alone outnumbers
every known species of back -bon-
ed animals ,which comprise nam-
• mals, birds and fishes.
. Coming down to the insect world
the figures become astronomical,
for there are no less than half a
million known species.
Scientists say that 'this whole
kingdom is/ almost unknown, and
many of them assert that we still
have to discover ninety per cent of
all the insects that exist.
More than half the insects so far
•discovered are beetles, and one
branch of the beetle family alone
—the ;weevils—contain more spe-
cies than there are fish.
But these figures are nothing
compared to the numbers of indi-
vidual insects that occur. A British
soil authority recently worked out
the number of insects under every
square mile of soil, His total was
2,240 millions.
The numbers of insects- living in
the air over a similar area is equal-
ly fabulous, but most of them are
so small that we never notice
them. •
"I'm asking you to, marry me."
"No. • f'ni afraid I can't accept
you."
"Oh, come on: Be a support."
% E
)1111
Got'do , Small,
Don't Rush
It does not pay to rush the sea-
son with most gardening opera-
tions, and especially in the planting
of things that will not appreciate
a frost. For the great majority of
seeds started there it little to be
gained and considerable risk in get-
ting them in the fround before the
soil and the air have definitely
turned warns and our long Can-
adian winters are really over. But,
of course, there are some excep-
tions.
Jobs that might have been done
last fall, if the weather or soma
other reason interfered, are an ex-
ample. Under this rough classifi-
cation will come the planting of
trees, shrubs, and most lawn work.
In this category, too, will be sweet
peas, which must be planted as
early as possible if they are to do
well. This sort of gardening can
start just as soon as the last snow
has gone and the soil is dry enough
For Tender Vegetables
If there is any secret about get-
ting the finest quality in vegetables
it is soon shared. The main thing
is to grow these things quickly, es
pecially the sorts of which the
leaves or roots are eaten. If for
some reason growth is checked, es-
pecially in the later stages, then
more fibre develops and the veget-
ables become woody. To avoid this
the experienced gardener pushes
his vegetables with lots of culti-
vation, watering when necessary
and feasible, and using fertilizer
either natural or chemical, or bath.
He will also thin properly so that
the plants have room and will be
protected from insects or diseases.
For A Big Show
Almost anyone almost anywhere
in Canada can have a showing of
flowers the neighbors will envy
with half a dozen packets of seed
or a few flats of started plants and
an hour or two spent outdoors in
the fresh air and sunshine. Some
flowers do need a bit of babying
and they are worth it, too, but
what we have in mind now is a
big show for little money and lit-
tle work, To fit that pattern will
be any • of these: petunias, asters,
zinnias, marigolds, alyssum, corn-
flower, balsam, cosmos, nasturtium,
portulaca. All of these grow quick-
ly, come in various heights to suit
the fi ont, centre and back of the
flower beds, and given just a little
encouragement' will pr o v i d e a
wealth of bloom from July until
frost. Special planting directions
will be on the packet.
* *
Growing Screens and Fences
In place of fences and walls one
can use growing screens and even
the fence or wall will look more
attractive if partially hidden in this
way. There are all sorts of plant-
ing Material available for this pur-
pose. It will be listed in any good
seed catalogue. The perennial types
are well known. Many people do
not realize that one can get quite
good and quick results from an-
nuals too. Dahlias, ornamental suss
fllowers, cosmos, spider plants are
only some of the many things that
will reach 'three of four feet in
height in a few weeks. And there
•are quick -growing vines, too, like
scarlet runner beans, sweet peas,
hops and morning glories.
BY
HAROLD
AVCNETT
CLOTH SECURED : •
WITH RUBBER BAND
•
TNCI3ANG
BENT AS 5114tNN
ROLE iN END
OF BROOMSTICK
,'LEANING HIGH WALLS AND CEILINGS CAN BE
SIMPLIFIED BY BENDING A CUATHANGER AND
PUTTING IT INTO THE END OF A BROOM. 7T1E
CLOTH IS HELD BY A HEAvy RUBBER BAND,,
JITTER
EROADCA`TTlN5 O&M
[PUT ARADIO IN
'MTTER'S HAT MOO
LISS Ir TO TRA
ret
You ANDVOLIgt SCeevvey
Coarfeh foN U Nor YOU'LL ER
SENDING TN0.5s MONkS ON A
Rocker TO THE' MOCK!
By Arthur Pointer
�AW,,G0 SOAK
sitXR WAD/ is ,
e.-""77",
iii