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The Huron Expositor, 1970-12-17, Page 2(Nositor Since 1860. Serving the Community First rOli4lled at SEA.PORTH, ONTARIO. every Thursday morning by McLEAN BROS., Publishers Ltd. ANDREW Y. MCLEAN, Editor Member Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation - Newspapers Subscription Rates: Canada (in advance) $6.00 a Year Outside Canada (in advance) $8.00 a Year SINGLE COPIES — 15 CENTS EACH Second Class Mail Registration Number 0696 Telephone 527.0240 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, December 17, 1970. Its Our Hundreth Birthday From My Window — By Shirley J. Keller — /Sugar and Spice by BM Smiley r , It is our birthday this week. Just a hundred years ago yesterday in the issue of December 16, 1870 the name McLean Bros.appeared for the first time as publishers of The Huron Expositor. While those involved in the, publication have changed as succeeding gen- erations of the family assumed responsibility the name of McLean Bros. as publishers has remained constant through‘the cen- tury. In an era when change has come to be not only inevitable but desirable the fact that a weekly newspaper has been car- ried on by one family for such a long period is perhaps unique. Certainly it has been a particular priviledge and opportunity to record week by week the happen- ings of, the community and at the same time contri- bute in some measure to its growth and develop- ment. Throughout these hun- dred years the publishers have been guided by stan- dards set out by M.Y.Mc- Lean in his first editor- ial when he said in-ref- DECEMBER 20, 1895. One day after church at Zurich, 4 or 5 cutters were on their way home, when one of them attempted to pass another, which frightened the other horses and a general runaway took place. Over hall a dozen persons were scattered along the road, Some had ribs and collarbones broken. The new public hall in Farquhar was formally opened. The proceeds amounted to nearly $45.00. Rev. Colin Fletcher presided and Mrs. Fletcher gave a good Scotch reading. Wm. Black of the 2nd concession of Tuckersmith met with a very painful and unfortunate accident. He and his brother were using a grain crusher. Mr. Black started to, oil the machine and in some manner his hand was drawn into it. All the bones in the palm of his hand, lead- ing to his fingers were crushed. Mrs. F. Case of town has purchased a handsome new Gladstone cutter. Dr. Scott of Seaforth is gazetted as an associate coroner for the County of Huron. The appointment is a good one and is well merited. There still remains unpaid $1,800 of the Town taxes. Alex Stoble received and shipped from the station 2,300 potinds of dressed turkeys and 200 pounds of ducks. The price paid receives more than value for his money". Shortly before his death in 1948, Keith M. McLean wrote in reference to The Expositor and the tasks involved in its publication. "In fact it's a good life, although we have wondered many times if it was all worth while. What possibly does make it so, is because so often it offers a chance for ser- vice to the town, the district and the country at large. "We live in a good town and for well over 70 y ears The Expositor office h a s been a landmark on its main street. Through it flows sooner or later all ,that happens in town a nd country. We wouldn't be in business long if we published it all, and some of what we do publish every week is often criticiz ed, but we like to think t hat a good paper helps mat er- ially in making a goo d town, and we try to be just that - a good pap er." Certainly in the ye ars that have passed since his death, the same princi pies have applied. As we s aid ,in our Centennial .isiu e ,of for the turkeys was 6 cents per pound, We are pleased to learn that B. H. Higgins of Brucefield has been appointed a Commissioner in the High Court of Justice for the Province of Ontario. James Cooper of the London Road near Kippen and Hector Reid of Stanley, have recently disposed of a number of their prize winning Shropshietes to an American buyer. Messrs. Thomas and Charles Johns of Varna have started a small saw mill in the vicinity of Bannochburn. A large number of members and friends of the Methodist Church at Varna met at the residence of John Wardess when his daughter was made the recipient of a gold watch as a slight recognition of her services as organist and leader of the choir. The members of the Sabbath School Class of Miss Jennie Cuthill of Winthrop met at her home to bid her farewell. Master Robbie Grieve presented her with a silver sugar spoon and a photograph album. The officers and teachers also met and presented her with a teacher's Bible. The address was read by Thos. Dodds and Miss Annie Love made the presentation. The home of Mrs. J. Wright at Win- throp was the scene of a double wedding when Jennie W. Cuthill and John A. '1 want to weigh my words very care- fully for this particular column beckuse I know it is a touchy problem with many readers . . ,but then, I have an opinion of my own just as each one of you will have your own ideas about certain things. The topic is Christmas cards. I suppose Christmas would not be Christmas without Christmas cards. It would be something like having St. Patrick's Day without shamrocks. But somehow, sometime, I'd like the Christmas card , racket banned by municipal bylaw, perhaps, or by govern- ment intervention, if all else fails. I don't know what the average Canadian home spends annually on Christmas cards, but whatever it is, it is too much. At the Keller abode, just for instance, it would take a minimum of 150 cards to get around to all the'relatives and friends who should possibly be remembered with a card - if all things were equal. At ten cents per card (and I think that's a fairly conservative estimate for the price of the card and the stamp) you're talking $15 . and $15 is a fair amount of cash for some colored paper to decorate someone else's mantle. That may sound harsh and cruel, espec- ially so close to Christmas when every- thing is supposed to be peace on earth and goodwill to all men. But take a moment or two to examine the reasons behind the distribution of many millions of Christmas cards annually and then tell me I'm Scrooge. First of all, matey, many cards are sent out just to prevent so-end-so from being offended; • Maybe Alice sent a card "Dst year and she'll lee htert ie she doetirt get one 'from, yeti! this eyearer Rubbish. If Alice eeill' the original card just so she would get one back, better she is offended and off your list of friends. Could be Sam and Elsie are good friends of your friends, Hilda and Hank . . . and to some folks, that's reason enough to remember Sam and Elsie with Patterson of Sheldon, N.Dak. and Jessie H. Cuthill and Robert Smith were united in marriage. Rev. Peter Musgrove per- formed the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have settled down in the neighborhood and Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have left for their Dakota home. DECEMBER 17, 1920. The call that was extended to Rev. R. A. Lundy of Walton, to become pastor of Kippen, Hillsgreen and Blake congre- gations has been accepted and he will be inducted in January, Miss Dora Sherritt, R.N., of Hensall, had the misfortune to slip on the sidewalk and break her leg above the ankle. Miss Clara Dill of Dublin is now in charge of the pipe organ in St. Patrick's Church. The open weather of the past few days has given place to a regular blizzard. Sleighing is good in town but there is very little in the country. Ernest Cortese and the London Harpers are hired for the Christmass Ball in the G.W.V.A. club rooms. DECEMBER 21, 1945. An enjoyable evening was spent in Winthrop Hall when friends of Tpr.George Case gathered to give him a hearty wel- a card at Christmas. After all, it just costs a few cents. Some Christmas cards are sent strictly for business reasons. You really couldn't give a damn about the kind of Christmas your boss spends, but because he holds the purse strings on your job you think it is purely good business to send off a card for the old B . . . and his wife. And then there's the Christmas greet- ing .for the minister, who if you took the time to ask him, would admit that he would sooner you saved your ten cents and came to church on Christmas morning! There's the Christmas card for the mailman who's plainly and simply worn out from carrying around those mounds and mounds of cards other fools have mailed for reasons just as silly; there's the card for the milkman who tosses it in his truck somewhere between the yogart and the chocolate milk; there's the card for the paperboy who would rather have a bit of understanding all year round than a card of Christmas; there's the card for Cousin Herman whom you dislike intensely and who dislikes you even more; there's the card for the next-door neighbor who is over every other day to borrow something anyway; there's the card for the doctor to help him forget that bill that's overdue; and on and on it goes until there is hardly an argument left for sending out Christmas greetings. Don't get me wrong. I think Christmas cards have their place as cheery greet- ings for folks who are sick and shut-in; and pretty hellos for distant friends and relatives whom you truly miss; and as —special messages of love for those who are very near,atid.dear to.you. But toy., RR gvzis part, Chrietenes • earn are racket we could 00 Arm,'k t at Christmas. I really believe that most people begrudge the time and the money it takes to send out Christmas cards . . . and that's a stupid kind of Christmas spirit to spread, isn't it? Merry Christmas, family and friends. come home after five years of 'active service overseas. Rev. W. J. Patton read an address and the presentation of a gold pocket watch and chain and a signet ring was made by James Hogg and Arthur Alexander, J. W. Ortwein, widely known Hensel' resident will celebrate his 96th birthday on Christmas Day and on New Years Day, Mr. and Mrs. Ortwein will mark their 54th wedding anniversary. A pretty wedding was solemnized at Brucefield Church when Marion pearl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Wilson, was united in marriage to Douglas Fred Andrews, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Andrews of Clinton. Sgt. Geo. Charters, who has been overseas for four years has returned to his home. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Armstrong, a recent bridal couple of Hensall, were honored at a reception held in the Town Hall, Hensall and were presented with a chesterfield, the honors going to Ernie Chipchase of Kippen. Murdock's orches- tra furnished the music for dancing. Seaforth, McKillop, Tuckersmith and Hullett Councils held their final meetings when the books were closed for the year. In none of these municipalities has there been much election talk circulating, but one can never tell. Canada's old-age pensioners may not have a swinging Christmas, but they can warm themselves with the thought of what a whee of a time they're going to have in 1971, when there will occur instant prosperity: the basic old page pension will be raised from $79.58 a month to a smashing $80. Can't you see all those male old-age pensloLiers when they get their first new cheljueif-the end of January? Straight to the pub and blow the whole 42 cents on an orgy. Two draught beers and a tip for the waiter. This will produce a moral degration never equalled since the days of Dickens, when gin was so cheap you could get high for a penny, stoned for six-pence, and dead drunk for a shilling. Can't you see all those old - timers lying around in the snowbankds every time their pension cheque arrives? And what about the women? They'll be worse. You know how women squander money. They're just as apt as not to go out and blow the whole 42 cents on a plastic doily or a couple of rolls of pink toilet paper. There'll be no holding them. That's only one of the faults in the white paper introduced by a benevolent government. Further excesses are in sight. Do you realize that the govern- ment is going to retain the cost-of-living escalator formula up to a ceiling of 2 per cent a year for pensioners receiving the supplement (but eliminate it for those who get only the universal old-age benefit.) This means that even if the annual cost-of-living increase crashes down to a mere 5 per cent, these people will get their 2 per cent increase. It's incredible. The dawning of a new, golden age in Canad- ian socialism. If you were 65 and lived to be 75, your standard of living might drop by only 30 per cent, with that magnificent excalator clause built in. The whole country is going to be lolling in luxury; there's no question about it. Did you know that a single pensioner can get up to $55 a month in supplement or up to $135 a month when his basic old age pension is included? The key word there is "can". But if he or she decides to make a few extra bucks shovelling walks or taking in wash- ing, some eagle-eyed social worker will be Johnny-on-the-spot, and the supple- ment will be cut, dollar for dollar. In other words, you are pegged at $1,620 a year. That's a lot of money. Too much to be floating around in the hands of luxury-loving, devil-may-care old timers. Why don't we re-institute the work-house, with cabbage the standard fare and meat, boiled horse hocks, every third Saturday? And what about those widows, wives a the disabled, and the disabled them- selves? The white paper suggests that they will suffer an improvement in benefits. Starting in 1973. There goes another round of tremendous inflation. In 1973. You'd almost think I had some mis- givings about the white paper.• I don't. It's almost es much fun as reading Alice hi Wonderland. Yeefel almostthiqk there were an election coming up, as one was when Mr. King introduced the baby bonus. And speaking of the baby bonus. I wish I were young again. Babies used to be worth $8 a month. Now they'r e worth $16. Taxable, But it's also worth almost two cases of beer a month, per child. This is going to mean a great deal to the families who always put the baby bonus aside as beer money. Six kids, twelve cases. However, it is the time of year to wish everybody joy, and I do so. Include, ing all those poor devils who make$10,000 a year ( and take home $7,300). They can't buy a house. They can't send their kids to college because the kids can't get a loan because their parents are making so much money. To the Editor Says 'Thanks' 105 North St.,Goderich December 12. 1970 Sir: May I, through your newspaper, express my gratitude to the many foster parents of the Children's Aid Society of Huron County, who last week presented me with a very beautiful clock? .4t has been a joy for me over the years to work with you. You are doing a wonderful work. May God richly bless you and your families, and continue to make you a blessing to the young lives entrusted to your care. Words fail to express adequately my appreciation. I can only say "I thank you with all my heart". Very sincerely, Clare McGowan 0 0 40 r grence-to ,Tile Expositor tioa3)0ea)-s.iag0 H ;w0N ,coAtAnue, "It shall ever be our to thin that a goOd -paper earnest endeavor to make contributes to a good town it a welcome visitor in and in the days ahead we every family which it will continue to strive to enters and to make every be just that - a good subscriber feel that he paper. In the Years Agone Our Silver Anniversary An editorial in the Huron Expositor, Dec. 22, 1895. It is just twenty-five years ago to-day since the present. Editor assumed the edit- orial control and business management of The Expositor, and he has stuck pretty closely to the old ship ever since, and although growing grey in the service, he is still at his post. During that time The Expositor has never missed a single issue, nor has it ever failed to greet its readers regularly every Friday morning. A quarter of a century seems a long time looking forward, but to a busy man, who ha s to wrestle with the problems of every day life, it appears very short when looking backwards. But in that time many changes ;take place. Twenty-five years ago Seaforth was but a hamlet, and much of the ground now covered by fine residences was then used as farm lands. The many lines of railway which now intersect the county in almost every direction were not then built, and Seaforth was the railway centre for a stretch Of country extending from near Walkerton on the north, to half way to London on the south. Now, nearly every farmer in the county can visit his railway station with his load of produce, and get home for dinner if he so desires. Then, the great Northwest was comparatively unknown, and its fertile acres were a vast wilderness, inhabited only by the red man and the buffalo, and a pilgrimage thither was considered an adventure which only the most courageous would think of undertaking. Now, it is the happy home of thousands of Ontario's sons and daughters, while it pours forth its millions of bushels of the fines t cereals, and sends out from its flocks and its herds hundreds of car loads annually, all of which enter into active competition with the products of Ontario's thrifty agriculturists in the markets of the world. Then, the telephone, which is now so necessary an accessory in every line of business, was unthought of, and if a person had predicted that in the year 1896 people separated by hundredseef miles, would by its use, be enabled to talk with each other and hear as distinctly as if standing side by side, we would have thought him a subject fit for a lunatic asylum, while the most sanguine dreamer never seemed to anticipate that electricity could be used as a motive power and to produce light and heat, as it does now. Great has been the march of progress and improvement since the year 1870. But, perhaps, in nothing is the change more noticeable than in the people and their sur- roundings. The writer recollects the first funeral procession he saw passing through Seaforth. It was a very large one, and was from the township of Tuckersmith. It was ,composed entirely of lumber wagons and saddled horses. The only semblance to a buggy was a vehicle known as a"democrat," and it looked almost as if it had come out of Noah's ark. Now, a lumber wagon or a horse back rider would be a curiosity in such a procession.' But, notwithstanding the improved facilit- ies and increased comforts which the people of io-day unquestionally enjoy, we do not know that they are in reality any better off or more contented. +They complain even more 'bitterly of hard times and scarcity of money than they did then. it is just as difficult, or more so, to get one dollar as subscription for The Expositor, or even fifty cents a year for the Globe, as it was twenty-five years ago to get $1.50 and $2 respectively, the prices then prevalent for such publicat- ions. It is the same in all other lines of trade. There are more unemployed now than there were then and poverty is even more prevalent. Now, if all these modern inventions and improvements, on which we are accustomed to plume ourselves so highly, have not added to the happiness and con- tentment of the people, or the comfort and prosperity of the masses, in what respects have they been a boon or benefit to humanity? Most of those who were prominent in public affairs twenty-five years ago, have passed over to the silent majority and the few who are left, have retired from active life, and are awaiting the call, while nearly an entirely new generation has sprung up. Many of those who are now most actively engaged in the pursuits of life and' who are most deeply immersed in the great struggle for existence, were then unknown or unborn. Whether or not they will perform a better part in life's great drama, than the good men and true who have gone before, remains to be seen. They should, at any rate, as they have superior facilities and a vastly better equipment. But, amidst all the changes and vicis- situdes which time has brought forth, we are pleased to state that we still have on our subscription lists many hundreds of names which were there a quarter of a century ago, and to whom The Expositor has been a regular weekly visitor all these years; and in many instances where the connecting link has been broken by the great reaper, the connection has been kept up by those who have stepped in to take the place of the departed and revered sire. To all such we desire to extend our most sincere thanks. Their constancy has been a source of inspiration and encouragement in many troubious hours, and while we cannot expect that the same con- nection will continue for as long in the future as it has done in the past, yet we can promise that while it does continue it shall be our constant aim to merit their approval and support. 0 0 0 ao.