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The Huron Expositor, 1976-07-08, Page 2Sugar and Spice by Bill Smiley How I began Had a letter this week from a former student who has to present a seminar in a journalism course she's taking. She dial want much - just how to become asyndicated weekly columnist, and some anecdotes about being editor of a weekly newspaper. Thus began "Sugar and Spice" as it was first named, a humble little corenr of the editorial page where one Bill Smiley 'could spoof the world,, needle his wife, damn all politicians, and give vent to his rages. In short, where he could say whatever he wanted, without hiding 'behind the anonymity of the news story or the editorial "we". (Although that's a pretty slim thing to try to hide behind in a small town, where everybody knows exactly who wrote the editorial, and what's wrong with his head, to have such an opinion), Anyway, the column caught on, for various reasons. One was that men enjoyed me pointing out how peculiar women are. Another was that women enjoyed me pointing out how stupid men are. Everyone enjoyed file •pointing out how abysmally idiotic politicians are. , There were other reasons. I didn't mind calling a spade a ruddy shevel. I didn't mind exposing what an ass I was. .I wrote about all the horrible -Ordeals that ordinary people go through: loved ones dying: music JestivalS,Christmas:- I Wrote abOut parents and children, sailors and legionnaires, grannies and young mothers, fathers and fishermen, And I had good'friendS,.Ntitably George Cadogan, still ' a. power in the weekly business in the. MaritiirieS. He urged and encouraged and reCoinitiended to friendS. Under his exhortatiOns , I gradually changed a ragged column of anecdotes, barbs and personal opinions into a short essay that tried to say something, without seeming to. Next thing I knew, 88 papers were running' my 'column.Then, of course, the syndicates got interested. They are not, by the way, much interested in beginners, which makes it mighty tough to break in. Satisfaction? Oh, yes. Not from writing it. That's hard work. If it weren't, it would be hard reading, and if it was that, it wouldn't be read for long. But I've had great joy from the knowledge that I've occasionally brought some pleasure, or surcease from pain, to comeone. One ancient lady wrote painfully, from her old folks' horde bed, that she had laughed until she cried, at one column. A young Canadian woman, in New Zealand, wrote that she'd been in despair, everything black, had read my colunmn in her hometown paper, had laughed aloud, and had realized that God was still in His Heaven. I won't tell you about the rotten letters I've received. They're few, they 're usually bigoted, and they don't bother me. Now, Mary Graham, journalism student. You want an anecdote from my days as a weekly editor. Here's a true one.. How would you cover it, as a reporter? A man had a fight with his wife, got all drunked up, and told her he was going to commit suicide. She told him to go ahead. He marched out to his car, went roaring off, drove it right off the town dock and into that blackness that waits for all of us. next morning, they found him. Sound asleep in his car, which had landed on a bar .f'e tied up to the dock, His wife had the laWsix or seven hundred words. Subscription Rates: Canada (in advance) $10,00 a Year Outside Canada (in advance) $20.00 a Year SINGLE COPIES — 25 CENTS EACH Second Class Mail Registration Number 0696 Telephone 527-0240 (gxpositor Canada Day? 11.0 hum July 1 was Canada Day and around Seaforth, at least, the reaction to it was a big "ho hum." That • the 109th anniversary of Canada's confederation would be ignored was predicted by Seaforth's council. They declared last week "Canada Week" but some of them said, and they were right, that nobody would do anything much to mark or celebrate the fact. Now, that may have been a self fulfilling prophecy, If our town council had organized some community event to mark July 1, then they would have had no cause to bemoan the lack of celebration. Municipal councils have been known to display leadership along that line in the past. The city of Toronto, for example, still disperses free (or at least cheap) hot dogs and refreihments on New Years Eve at Nathan Phillips Square. When You really think about it, it would do our town council a lot of good to officiate over a happy event ,... as a change and a rest from worrying about sewers and taxes, wage settlements and paying for the arena. Maybe next year. Or maybe next year somebody will schedule a band concert or a strawberry social, or even the Lion's Carnival, to co-incide with Canada, or if you agree with John Diefenbaker, Dominion Day.. We Gould move our fireworks displays to July 1 or plan a community pot luck supper at the Lion's Park. July 1 in Seaforth, the streets were deserted and forlorn, The gloomy November like weather didn't help put anyone in a holiday mood. • But still, it seems remarkable Just how well we managed to forget Canada's birthday. This newspaper's right at the top of the forgetful list, Our July 1 issue doesn't give the -slightest clue that it came out 'on Canada Day, except that you picked it up a day later-than usual at ttte-post office. We forgot too. Can you imagine in your wildest dreams a U.S. newspaper or an American town forgetting the Glorious Four.th, cif July? Not likely. Other countries have great celebra- tions on their national" days. Quebec joins together to mark St. Jean Baptiste day with all sorts of festivities. I h the old days in this area they used to have great picnics and train excursions and parade s on the First. Next year we could too. What's your Canada Day project for 1977? Since 1860, Serving the Community First PtIklished at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by McLEAN BROS. ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Publisher SUSAN WHITE, Editor DAVE ROBB, Advertising Manager Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association Ontario Weekly Nespaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation PUBLISHERS LTD. A A good idea This property, Lot 12 & 13 Hibbert Twp. was taken up. by Oswald Walker Sr. in 1849 at same time as his parents and brothers took up land as the first settlers in the Markdale district or town. They emigrated from Ireland and landed in the Dalhousie district a few years earlier. . Lot 12, with no buildings on it i's owned by Otto Walker, Cromarty, a grandson of Oswald Walker Sr. The property in the photo is now owned by the Ben Ruston family. Oswald Walker Sr. did not take up this land from the Canada Co. as so many of pioneers did according to his grandson. He bought it by transfer from two brothers named Gray from Toronto. The brothers had taken the land a shor't time earlier and decided it was too big a job.. "In settling up the business at that time when there was very little in the line of communications my grandfather was to meet them at the property site" Otto Walker says.. He h ad walked up from Dalhousie district and after waiting a few days there decided to walk to Toronto and possibly meet them on the way." "When he got to Toronto he learned trey had missed each other oria different trail. He decided' to go back. towards the property again. This time they met and made a deal and the business was finalized in Toronto". He had to walk back to Dalhousie. where he had collected a very few n ecessary items to start on his own. Then the journey back to his Hibbert property started with wagon, team of oxen, plow, etc. "There was no land cleared on this' property at this time. He built his shanty of logs and later a log barn was erected. Spring, summer, and fall he worked on his land in the winter months he went to the state of Michigan and worked in the bush," Mr. Walker says. As the years rolled by and more land was cleared he built a frame barn on lot 12 which a few years later was destroyed by fire. In about 1895 he built the brick house in the photo on lot 13 after he had been back to Ireland fora trip and had gotten an idea of the kind of house he wanted built. "My father Oswald Walker Jr. built the , present barn in 1901, the hog barn in 1906 and the drive shed in 1908. All the frame buildings were framed by a framer by the name of Duncan McLean of near Russeldale", Otto Walker continues. Mr. Walker's daughter, Marg. Hulley of Winthrop brought the early postcard of the Walker house to the Expositor. They've got a good idea at Harvard. As part of their course 'work, medical students at the famous university are working at a nearby hospital. They work with janitors and clean walls and scrub floors. They empty bed pans. They work along side the receptionist :Who takes incoming calls. They work as dietary aides in the kitchen. The idea is to teach doctors to be, who will eventually be at the top of . the medical- pyramid that their jobs aren't the only ones that are essential to good patient care.. It's a good idea that shouldn't stop with doctorS and bed pans. 'Judges could spend the night in the jail's drunk tank or 6 week as a ' pseudo-juvenile offender at a training school. Politicians could spend time licking some of their own envelopes in an election campaign. Newspaper editors could work 'on the mailing crew in a post office. Doctors could spend an afternoon, as patients of course, in their own waiting rooms. How long would they put up with the crowded conditions and germ transfer that goes on because -they have their time badly scheduled? Businessmen could try doing the work that secretaries do for a while. Store owners could clerk, store clerks could spend a week doing the financial juggling that's . needed to keep many small, businesses going these days: We can all use' a little humility. Anyone who' does one pb, for,,a,, long, time tends to forget :that tiis work is only possible because a large number__ of people work just as hard as 'he does, at their jobs. It's a lesson to learn: That his time is just as valuable as yours; that she works just as hard as you do; that their working conditions are a heck of a lot worse than yours will ever be.- . Let's see this good idea from Harvard spread. ti I'm no saint 'I am. Nor am I hardly a St. Francis of Assisi either. I'm not the sort of person who'd ever think of going out into the country and preach to the birds. At this moment about the only thing I'm ready to do is to talk to them with a shot gun. ,You see, it'sa my cherry trees. Note. I said my cherry trees. Those feathered aviators think my cherry- trees are for the birds. ' I like my cherry trees. I love my cherry trees. We've grown up together on my one ' acre. We both arrived in Brodhagen about the same time. We were both Mississauga transplants. Plant out trees, That's the first thing I did when I came to the country, even before we put the broom and hammer and nails to the run-down church. Everyone knows it may take a mart a year or so to get his new home in order. But trees, well, trees take time. Years of tinie.. As I said, I'm not exactly a St. Francis kind of man. Trees. Bees. Birds. But who else would take up good gardening grOund and put down trees? Who else would til, weed, prune, spray and pray over all his sapling trees? I would put in apple, pear, plum, peach and cherry. Yes, those two cherry beauties flourished most of all. They outgrew every other tree. They dwarfed all the other trees in my orchard, I use the word orchard with hesitation. Because each spring my orchard gets smaller. Each year I dig out more of my trees, uprooting them in their tender youth and putting them to the fiie. Oh, did those trees have great potential, Oh, what might have been-. But you must understand, I'm a generous man. I provide every mouse and rabbit in the district decent nibbling pastures in the fall.. And when winter sets in, I let them have all kinds of chewy bark to gnaw on.-And not just all around the trunks either. Who else would ever let the winds pile up bank' of snow around the trees? So all the hungry creatures can climb up on frozen snow and chew on the branches? And t his kind of charity doesn't end in the winter either. It goes on and on in the summer. Take my cherry trees. For two summers now those two cherries have come forth in fruit. And do you think I've ever eaten a single red cherry? If I'd be content with a few green ones, maybe. Maybe I'd possess a few. But those birds get so anxious they pick them off before they're pink. Believe me. I've tried to put a damper on my generosity. I've hung silver aluminum pie plates in the branches to dazzle the birds away. I've tried putting an old fur pelt on the ground. That'S supposed to scare them away. I've considered staking out Pepper and her three kittens around the cherry trees. I've looked all over town for the latest: a hair net for trees. A plastic net you tie around the tree and say no-no to the birds.--It sounds perfect -- and perfectly expensive.. But no garden store around here ever stocked them. I couldn't even give them a try. I wish the birds would understand. I believe in sharing. But there's such a. thing as fair sharing. But they won't listen. They keep flying down, and swooping up my green cherries. They know they have God on their side. - Doesn't the Bible say the birds are freeloaders? They keep on chirping and taking and quoting the Sermon on the Mount: "Look at the bircKof the air; they do not sow and reap ,and,/stOre /in barns, yet your heavenly Father "feeds them." the\he'avenlyPaTher feeds..them? \sa titntitult , there.. As I lay-, I'm no St,. Francis. But I believe in getting a, little credit when it's due. tik;,464C Amen by °Karl Schuessler Feeding the Birds SEAFORTH, ONTARIO. JULY 8, 1976 An early Hibbert home tin -77 In ti-t Years AgoIne JULY 7,1876 We were shown by Wrn. Fowler of the Huron Road, a sample of flax, grown on his farm, which measured 3 feet 4" in length. Wni, Cline Of Seaforth, met with a painfuLaccident. He was cutting a bar of iron with a coal chisel, when the implement flew out of his hand, striking him on the wrist, cutting one of the arteries. Roht. McMillan was coming to town when the horse was frightened and gave a sudden spring, running the buggy into the ditch and..throwing the occupants out. Mr. McMillan had one of his legs badly sprained. A. G. McDougall, Miss Tillie McDougall and J. C. Laidlaw'left Seaforth for Scotland. They sail-from New York and expect to be absent for two months. The Union Sunday School picnic of the several Presbyterian schools in ' McKillop was held in Govenlock's grove. Rev. Simpson of Westminster and Rev. Thompson addressed the group. A young man named John Hilburn of Hay, employed" at Rennie's saw mill, tripped and fell on a saw while in motion. Before assistance could be rendered, oneof his legs and one of his arms were literally sawn off. After four hours death ended his sufferings. Hugh Alexander, of Tuckersmith, has purchased from Mr. Hotham, the handsome imported carriage stallion "Pride of England". The price paid was $1,100. A large number of ladies of Duff's church McKillop assembled at the manse. W. J. Shannon was called to the chair and he called on J. Kerr to address the meeting. He read a flattering address to Mrs. Thompson and presented her with a welt-filled purse. .The cooper shop at Volmar's stave factory was discovered to be on fire. The fire engine was promptly on hand and no serious damage was done. JULYS, 1901 While playing football at Kinburn W. Butt, son of Ephriam Butt, had his leg broken above the ankle. Mrs. James Dodds, McKillop, passed away on the 22nd. of June. She was 63 years old, and her maiden name was. Elizabeth Hugill. She was a member of Mr. Musgrave's congregation at Winthrop. A new traction engine completed' at the Seaforth engine and machine works of Robert Bell, was run along Main St. and attracted a good deal of attention. Sparks from a traction engine being tested at the Seaforth Engine Winks, set fire to the roofs of the buildings in connection with the Coleman Salt Works. At' the regular meeting of the directors of the McKillop Insurance Company there were 102 applications presented and accepted. A team of horses belonging to Sim Neely,' succumbed to the intense heat, while being driven on the .road in Harpurhey. The post office department has renewed the contract for another term to Wm.Mclntosh for carrying the mails between Seaforth and Harlock 'and Constance. Messrs. Tyerman and Sparling are busily engaged erecting the' frame of Mr. , Willis' new residence on Goderich St. At a meeting of the Collegiate Institute board, Mr Rogers was appointed principal at a salary of $1,200.- Monday last being Dominion Day, was observed as a public holiday. It was •the wannest day of the season, the thermometer registering from 99 ° to 102° in the shade. JULY, 9, 1926 _ ' Miss Marian Scarlett has -had a 'most successful and enviable record as teacher of• No. 6 McKillop, was pleasantly surprised by the pupils. She was presented with a pen and pencil set. The pupils of S.S.6; Hullett gathered and presented . their teacher, Miss Dinah Staples with several pieces of cut glass. A very fast game of football was played at Winthrop between Kinburn and Winthrop. Fergus Bullard, and C. Dolmage left for Brockville where they were engaged with the John Brocerick Decorating Company. Zurich Band furnished the musical program at the lawn social held at Dr. Moffat's Varna. Miss Greta Ross and Miss Gladys Th onip'son left for Montreal where they will sail on a two months trip to the Old CoUntry. Miss Vera Haist of Winthrop has been engaged for Roxboro school' to succeed Miss Hutton, who has resigned. A very sudden and tragic death occurred at London when Leonard A. Smillie was killed at the C.N.R. crossing by the express train. He was 33 years of age. JUNE 29,1951 Miss S. I. McLean retired after • 41 years as a Kindergarten Teacher. She has taught three generations of some families. In her over four decades of teaching, she has introduced over 1,000 children to school life. Rev. R. G. Hazelwood and Mrs. Hazelwood, Walton, were honored at a farewell party held in the schoolroom. He is leaving for Mt. Forest. John Bryans was master of ceremonies. The following took part on the,prograrn: Solo, Mrs. Herb Traviss, duet,Corrie and •Rita van Vliet, John teeming, reading, Mrs. Gordon McGavin, solo, Marilyn Johnson, Rev. and Mrs. Hazelwood were presented with a purse of money. Wayne Dinwoodie and Ruth Sills have recently passed their second theory examination at the St.' Joseph's School of Music, M. A. Reid was appointed to fill the P,U.0 .commission vacancy. The following normal school students have been granted first class certificates. Yvonne Bolton, M ary Frances Elizabeth Boswell, Mona Ellen Caldwell,. Catherine Mabel Campbell, Doris Elizabeth Pullman, Margaret June Snell, Margaret Jean Stevens and Mary Isabelle Speir. Mrs. Joseph Smith entertained at a trousseau tea it honor of her daughter Arbutus, bride of last week when about 90 guests were present. Delbert Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Smith has successfully passed his second year in ,Mg&ing at the University of Western Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. E.P.Chesney, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Charters and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Jackson spent the weekend in Detroit. Henry Weiland of Egmondville, 94 years old, was seen cleaning out the eavestroughs on the porch of his house. "How about knelling oft work and making me a sandwich?" 0 •