The Huron Expositor, 1980-11-27, Page 9Ykk
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".4."-.1- 'r "r"
Paitline Kael the film critic has a colleciten of movie
reviews with the intriguing 009, I lost it Af The Movies..
Now. I'm not sure, never having met Ms. Kael, but I've
*rays asSumed what she lost in front of the flickering
ninvie screen was her itittocence - the habit of regarding
the world threugh rose-coloured glasses.
Someday I'm going to write a book called I Lost It At The
Royal - it might at least prove •a bestseller at fame shows
and county fairs.
But before I tell you the sad tale of how I turned into a
hardbitten, jaded member of society, like to talk about
the Royal itself a fair that's just as exciting, just as
fascinatins, the second time around and likely will be the.
twenty-second time' around.
When the Royal was little,..more,than a teenager, in the
1930'sand 40's, -the popular' slogan was ''If you've' Won the
Royalorou've won it all!" In Canada, the Royal remains
the crdam of 'agricultural faits, the final testing ground for
cattle breeders, cash crop farmers and 4-11 showmen (and
women).
There's something a little breathtaking about standing
in -the -auction -ring, and -hearing- Norma-Roddickts-grand
champion Queen's Guinea steer sell for $13 a potind - a
coneiderable amount when you realize the animal weighs
well over 1,000 pounds. There's also a tinge of regret
these animals not only represent hours of good, hard work,
they've also been a labour of love and you know the 4 -II
members have mixed feelings about the sale.
The Royal, for those of us with less expensive hobbies,
lsooffers a -brief glimpse into another world - the world of
t e moneyed, horsey set - or as the Royal's own magazine
puts it, "the upper crust!". In that set, floor -length minks.
grooms who curry, comb and pamper their charges, and
stalls decked with rainbows of impressive satin ribbons,
are the order of the day.
Last year, in my first introduction to the Royal'Horse
Show, 1 wondered what lay behind those curtainS at the
end of each aisle in the h6rse barn. I iinagined some
foldout cots, where grooms ancL;2wners could grab a few
quick winks betWeen shows, and piles of extra horse
blankets. Boy, was I wrongl
On Friday, while trying to locate the aisle which housed
tik Canadian equestrain team horses, I found the curtains
on one of those mysterious rooms were drawn aside. Inside
was a beautiful, gold -framed mirror, of the Louis the Sun
King style; a table covered wth a red velvet tablecloth and
topped with a large silver bowl filled with fresh flowers,
comfortable chairs and, to complete the setting, a crystal
chandelier.
With their owners relaxing amidst such splendour, it's
no wonder tire horses at the Royal are rather selective
about just who they allow to rub their noses!
In the years since the Royal was founded - 1922 'to be
specific - the fair _has grown in stature to the point many
believe his international, rather than national, in scope.
For example, last year the "Guest of Canada" booth had
more that 5,000 people register at it, from 60 different
countrios.
• This international flavour Was reflected this yedr in the
world field crop championships. There, right • beside
jtussell Bolton's trophy for the hay championship, were
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trophiesfor the top.shelled corn and WlaeSt-cropS.
TPw4sPndtof Salisbury, Zimbabwe produced shelled corn
whose kernels were almost as big as my thumb a..nd the
wheat pr4e was won by Gerald• and Barry Unger, ,not of
Western Canada, as you'd expect, but of New South
Wales, Australia. Now that the West has oil, viheat is
taking a back seal.
Serendipity
by Alice Gibb
The Royal, which Metro chairman Paul Godfrey calls "a
bringing together of the country and the city," is probably
one of agriculture's most effective advertisements :• from
those mouthwatering recipes handed out by the marketing
LOOK, IT PASSES THE TIME!—This fellow
didn't want to be interrupted, so we didn't get
his name, but if he charmed the judges as much
as he dtd the. Toronto school children visiting
the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, then he was
a winner for sure! • (Photo by Gibb)
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boards, in the Foodlands Ontario displays :to the
beef.on-the-hotf in the livestock barns. The fair is major
4r4wiiI card for Toronto sChoolchildren who descend
,sometning like. file ritins and Vandals" Once—diinii"iiicieni
Europe. Many likely never progress beyond the souvenir
stands, food booths and free pamphlets, but thereare
those who decide to meet the livestock face-to-face. It's
fascinating watching their first tentative introduction to
farm 'animals - the decision whether or not it's, really
advisable to handle that hefty looking steer who's viewing
the tourists with rather a wary eye.
But if the cattle may be a bit dubious about the
sthoolchildren - the goats aren't. They're in their el'ement,
since there's nothing like an audience to perk up their
spirits. After all, anyone would get bored spending a week
or two. in one of. those tiny enclosures - sometimes ,with
their owners sleeping in them as well.
This time, one particularly tall white billy goat, noticing
he had a captive audience in a school tour - invented his
.pwn game, playing catch with a broom handle Someone
td leaned against the pen. He'd_push it out with is nose,____
etid then retrieve it with the side of his head. Those with a
camera handy were capturing his antics or; film.
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„ FAIR'S FAILING
But now, with the toys of the Royal behind us, 1.) -can't
help but point out the fair's failing. The Royal is simply too
popular. People, many of them of the smaller variety,
cluster around the coliseum, exactly like the same vicious
band of Huns I mentioned earlier.
Now usually, at least in my own opinion (not necessarily
that of my co-workers), I'm rather a placid type, .slow to
anger. My heated temper (well-known t6 family
members) is usually kept in check. But Friday afternoon,
after attacking a perfectly innoceitt band of Huron County
4 -Hers and demanded they line up for photos, and then
being bumped and jostled by a Grey County steer who
wanted to play rather than pose, my spirit of goodwill was
a OlittnItehsetrruaisnhroefd.
m horse barns to auction ring and back
my temper snapped. My mind on other matters, I
stumbled into a ring of teenagers, pretending they were
future Muhammed Ali's, and tossing/each other around in
the passageway., As I went past the group, one of the
unfortunate fighters came hurtling into me - striking not
, only my person, but hitting the camera as well. It was like
waving -a red flag in front of one ef the ,Royal's bulls.
Without knowing quite what I was doing, I grasped the
child by the shoulders and shoved with all my might. It
was nothing short of assault - and a nearby security guard
looked startled. The kids, likely convinced they had a
madwoman in their midst, let me through without further
injury! •
So you see, I lost my innocence at the Royal and turned
into the type of character usually found in a Clint
Eastwood movie. I'm ashamed to discover I've a violent
streak that would do a hockey player proud.
But bey, would my old assertiveness training . teacher
ever by pleased!
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Seaforth Lioness Club
Christmas
BAKE SALE
Friday, December 5th
10:00 a.m.
At the "Dutch Store"
LAST NIGHT THURS. NOV. 27
COAST r.
TO
What s Coyest
than •
site-et:Ting buVet,
COAST AIRPtANt
4. WARNING
AinptelLILtNT pSnOtikaTeEteNesENes TimikiRC.Liarr.aoriNt.Te.roe
Starts FRIDAY!
NOV. 23-TUES. OEC. 2
SHOWTIMES FRI. & SAT. 7&9
SUN.-TUES. ONE SHOWING MOO P.M.
TREY THOUGH -I' THEY RAD BURIED HER viavritl
THE AWAKENIN
WARNING: SOME SCENES UNSUITABLE
FOR PRE -TEENS. THR. BR. ONT.
TWO NIGHTS ONLY WED,.-THURS.
ONE SHOVING 8:00 P.M.
A TER FUFYING
SECRET HAS
BEEN KEPT
PARK
GODERICH
OH
PHONE 524-7811
AIR CONDITIONED
PROGRAM SURJECT T • CHA WITH • UT NOTICE
lntermedjate
HOCKEY
TOURNAMENT
Hqnsall Arena
November 28, 29 8 30
Sponsored by Hensel, Minor
Athletic Association
Family Paradise
Dance Hall and Caippground
RR No. 4 Walton
Our hall Is available most nights for:
• Christrr2ias Parties
• New Year's Parties
• Anniversaries
* Club Meetings
• Banquets
Socials
• Weddings
Rehearsal Hall
Capacity over 200 if required
Hardwood,dance floor
Catering available
Prices to fit almost any budget
Whatever your needs
call 527-0629
WINTER CAMPING AND
SEASONAL SITES
TRAILER STORAGE
THE MITTEN TREE—The mitten tree is alwaysc.li popular drawing card
t the St. Thomas Anglican Church Christmas bazaar as customers stock
up for winter. Here Lila Thompson selects a woolen hat and gloves from
the display. (Photo by Gibb)
Accountants offer tax tips
Approximately 35- farm-
ers attended the Lion's Club
annual Rune Relations night
on Monday. at which chart-
ered accountants • Archie
Leitch and David Atkinson of
Seaforth were the -guest
speakers.
The accountants spoke on
tax planning for farmers in
1980. • explaining the tax
deductions available to them
and that this was thc time of
year the v 'should be doing
their tax planning instead of
v.aiting until March 1981,
when it's too late.
Theat5.0 gave the farmers
•
McKiIIop
visitors
Correspondent
MRS. ED. REGELE
527-1106
Mr. and Mrs. John
Ellacott of London visited On
Monday at Seaforth
Community Hospital with
' Mrs. Mary Thornton. Mrs.
Thornton k not as well as her
'friends auld like to hear.
Mrs. Harold McCallum el
Walton is a patient in
Stratford General Hospital.
We v.ish her a speedy
recovers
Mr and Mrs. Edward
Regrele ‘isited with Mr. and
Mrs Cla-ence Regele on
Wednesda% evening.
Mr and Mrs. Wayne
Hartman of Brueefield
visited .m Sunday with the
latter's pa-ents Mr. and Mrs.
Harold McCallum.
n
bit Huron .County
Public Library •
announces
EXTENDED HOURS AT SEAFORTH BRANCH
NOTICE
Beginning December 1,1980
NOW OPEN: Mohday 2:00 - 9:06 p.m.
Tuesday 2:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 2:00.- 9:90 p.m.
Friday 10:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 1:430 - 5:30 p.m.
We are pleased to offer this
extra service to our County patrons.
-4,
an update on the various
changes in the income Tax
Act including income splitt-
ing with wives.
Ted Leming sang three
solos and regular business
was also conducted at the
meeting.
C.:447Itti 6", r.A.
New Year's Eve
•DANCE
Dec. 31 st
SPONSORED BY
SEAFORTH BEAVER OLDTIMERS
, Dancing 9 till ? (Disc Jockey)
Smorgasbord meal by Mrs. V. Miller
AT SEAFORTH COMMUNITY CENTRE
520.00 per couple
TICKETS AVAILABLE:
Jack IVIcLiwain
Ron Driscoll
Bob Beultenmiller
Sunday, November -30
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Christmas Arrangements
• Silk Arrangements-
• Candle Rings
• Pointsettias
• Begonias
• Cyclamen
• Potted Mum
• Green Plants
Drop In and browse around. Have o coftee
and don't forget to bring your carnern.
K. C. Cook, Flo
61 Orange St . Clinton
482
9 1s
assette For Christmas
40 ONTAQI0 'STQE{T
6TQATFOQD
DAILY 10-6,6,\T 10
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