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Clinton News-Record, 1974-08-08, Page 5we get letters LandMark Dear Editor: Editorial Comment Opinions Deeded badlg We hope that the citizens of this town, and indeed any other interested person, will be at the Clinton council meeting nest week to express their approval or disapproval of council's action two weeks ago on the question of the future of the old Town Hall, This paper has taken a position in the past that something must be done before the old Town Hall falls down. More space is Deeded for the courtrooms, for the police department and for the clerk's office. We have never denied this, Pollution and you For what shall it profit a nation if it doubles its Gross National Product in 15 years and allows its physical environ- ment to deteriorate at the same rate at the smile time?, says the United Church of Canada, To what extent can we have effective pollution control without seriously slowing down economic growth and in- creasing unemployment? Suppose that in your community there is a plant manufacturing plorial-rods, but that its processes put polluting gases into the atmosphere and poisons into the local river. And suppose that the cost of controlling such pollution is economically prohibitive, that it would price those plorial-rods right out of the market. And suppose that the plant em- ploys 200 persons--your friends and neighbors, perhaps you. And suppose . you own a few shares in the company. What would you think should be done? This paper also carried out a survey last February to find out where the people's Sentiments lay. Most were in favor of keeping the Old Town Hall because of its historical traditions. Now behind closed doors, Clinton council has decided, without asking anyone, to tear down the old structure and put up a new one. We hope that many Clinton ratepayers will be present at the meeting next Mon- day, August 12 at 8 p.m. to express their opinion, Effective pollution control may require some quite radical changes in our economic structures and operations. It is obvious that it will require some public controls which many industries will not like. And large sums of public money will be needed for clean-up programs-- and that will touch the purses of all of us. It has been said that smog is a deadly mixture of smoke, fog, and legislative inaction. But we ordinary voters can have quite a bit to do with the action, and the inaction, of the legislators we elect. But politicians are a wily breed, and they know how easy it is for citizens to make idealistic and compassionate noises without seriously considering the sacrifices they may have to make if those noises are to be acted on. How much pollution are you willing to tolerate rather than accept a drop in your standard of living? Convenient ignorance From the newspapers and from radio and television we learn a great deal about suffering and distress at home and in all parts of the world. In recent years we've had so much of this that many of •us are now suffering what has been called "compassion fatigue". Our hearts have been prodded so frequently and so insistently that they become fatigued, developing reluctance to make com- passionate responses. Our compassion fatigue drives some of us to cultivate a convenient ignorance. If we don't know too much about the suffering of others, we will not be made feel uncomfortable about it. Life can be much pleasanter for us if we don't know too much about suffering and deprivation in the world's under- developed regions, in other parts of our nation, in our own communities and neighborhoods. Compassion fatigue and the cultivation of convenient ignorance nourish us in a mood of indifference, the kind of indifference 'that easily says, "Charity begins at home", and then adds, "and that is where I intend,.to keep, it" In one of his plays Bernard Shaw said this: "The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them but to be indifferent to them." Shaw then described indifference as "the essence of inhumanity". The complexity and confusion of our life today, with the compassion fatigues it engenders and the convenient ignorance it encourages,, causes indif- ference to settle rather easily 'on our hearts. Perhaps indifference, the.* couldn't-care-less, attitude, is the great sin of our day. (from the United Church) Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley About my wife and Coca-Cola The Jack Scott Column - NB MI IN NI From our early files • 0 • • • • • Member, Canadian Community Nirhapapor Association Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Esiublished 1881 THE CLINTON NEW ERA Esioblislwd 1865 Amalgoinalecl 1924 "1st HOME Of WO CANADA'" Published every Thursday at Clinton, Ontario Editor - Jamis E. Fitsgorald Gonstal Managdw, J. Howard Allktin Second Claws Mill registration no. 0617 X43 H(8 OF HURON talf,ITY 4---MAINTON NNWS.ANC911Pi TNT,IftSp4AY, NUMIST 8, 1974 I have a number of things to be disposed of this week, and the first is my wife. Don't worry, I'm not going to put her in the basement and cover her with fresh cement. That's old-fashioned, and you usually get caught. I'm going to put her in the attic, with a gag in her mouth, rolled up in a piece of that roofing that will be left over af- ter our shingling job, which she ordered. Now, I've nothing against women, particularly, though I have generally, and nothing against roofers at all, though they charge too much and get you involved . in all sorts of side issues like louvres and in- sulation and squirrels. I know what a squirrel is, and I've a vague idea about in- sulation, but I haven't a clue about louvres. I thought it was some kind of an art gallery in Paris, but it turns out to be a couple of holes up around the roof so the air can circulate. It's not that my wife has an extra big Mouth for a woman, but every time she opens it, it costs me money. I had a perfec- tly straightforward deal with a roofer to put on a roof. That's what roofers are for, besides taking them off. Admittedly, not many people call up a roofer and say, "I'd like thy rod taken oft" But, as a rule, they take off the old one before they put on the new one. OKA That's when the Old Bat, tleaXe opened ter mouth, "What about the insulation?" She wouldn't know an in- sulation if it bit her on the kneecap, but she has this sub- conscious desire to be an engineer. The roofer is a fine fellow, but he wasn't going to argue with a lady. He agreed that. you can' t have too much insulation. Then he said, "I guess you'd want a couple of louvres?" I just nodded, numbly, A couple of art museums? Fine. Might as well go for the works. There. I've disposed of my wife, and I feel better already. The blood is beginning to recede from my head and go back to its normal channels. But I have a few other people to dispose of, so let's get on with it. How about Coca-Cola? I can feel the blood mounting again. Perhaps it's a mistake taking on both my Wife and Coca-Cola in the same column. They are both undisposable, if not un- dispensible. But my wife is much more formidable. Anyway, There is this fellow, Donald Durwash, who works for Coca-Cola Ltd, He is a pouncer. Not a bouncer, which we don't need when we're dealing with soft drinks, but a pouncer. Whenever he sees the word Coke written with a small "c", he pounces. He doesn't 'get hysterical, but he does get a bit stuffy. _ He pounced on a column of Mint 'recently in which the Sacrilegious word was used twice with a :small "c", Two of the more than 100 papers using this column sent 'me along his hurt letter of protest, Hi, 'Harry Stomp of the Lake Sitricoe Ad-.._ vocate, and Hi, Mrs. Brebner of the Meaford Express. I hope ofd Burwash didn't write the same letter to all the other editors. Knowing weekly editors I'm sure, if he did, that most of the letters wound up in the trash-can. won't bore you with brother "Burwash's whole letter, which was almost identical in both cases (sorry, Donald), because it is a very boring letter. But here's a sample; "Coke" distinguishes and identifies only the product of this Company (large "c".) and we must of necessity be diligent in safe-guarding it against im- proper use lest inadvertently, it loses its distinctiveness •and significance." • How about that? "Of necessity?" "Diligent in safeguarding?" "Inadverten- tly?" That language is straight Out of a novel by Dickens. And do you think the word "Coke" is distinctive and significant? Lest you should, inadvertently, think otherwise, pray do not be deceived by the obtuse ramifications. of the ' unholy and insidious media. How's that? I can write that stuff r• Oh well, Burwash old boy, it takes all kinds. But you're get- ting there, kid. On June 12, you were Assistant Secretary at Coca-Cola, On June '21, you were Secretary, It must be that magnificent, Churchillian prose style, In the meantime, is it all right if I burn a little coke in my fireplace? Or should I just cool off and have a Pepsi? to YEARS AGO August 6, 1964 Tuesday night's full house at the Imperial Helldrivers Show at Clinton Community Fairgrouds turned the ledgers of the Huron Central Agricultural Society from red to . black. A profit of ap- proximately $700 more than covered the balance owing on a $1,075 bank loan made in 1963. Most fall wheat in Huron County has been harvested although the yield is down Tho quality is ex-cellent. Gentle heavy rams over the holiday weekend brought most harvesting operations to a standstill. Exeter area farmers are faced with a shutdown of their hydro for two hours daily during the next two weeks. 'Po those who have chickens, this could be disastrous if a hot day -• should arise. The hydro works the lighting and ven- tilating equipment without which many chickens could die. The interruption in service is to allow the stringing of a third wire on poles from Hurondale School to Thames Road on the second concession of tjsborne Township. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Vodden of RR 1 Clinton celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on July 26th at the home of Mrs. Vodden's sister, Mrs. Clark Ball at RR 1 Clinton. Mrs, Wes Whittington has returned recently to her home 'on Princess Street West. Starting Friday, August 14th, the Clinton Police Department cruiser May be reached by telephone. 25 YEARS AG() August 11, 1949 Par-Knit Hosiery Limited is the official designation of Cliff- tons newest industry. It is the name of the firm which pur- chased the local plant of Rich- mond Hosiery Limited. An old-fashioned high wheel made. It is not "hacked" out. It is lovingly carved and, like the Great Pyramid of Khufu, is carefully created a step at a time. My own particular park con- sists of approximately four acres (nine less than the area covered by the Khufu pyramid) and, based on current projec- tions, will be completed in about 300 years. By my own rough estimate there are 20,000 trees con- tained within the park's bor- ders and one can see the enor- mity of ,the project when I tell you that there have been some full working days when the total "cut" (as we say in logging circles) has been a single tree.,;:y:, This is because the fate of each tree must be carefully weighed, studied from all sides for its esthetic "rightness" and left or levelled only( after deep thought. All trees containing nests are, of course, inviolate since the park is.not only for me and for coming generations, but for the birds as well. Why, only the other day, a visitor was heard bicycle rode through the streets of Clinton Tuesday and attrac- ted considerable attention. It was owned by Dr. Fowler who has treasured the machine for years and recalls having en- tered it in the Old Home Week of 1925 Dr. Fowler is shipping it to his brother-in-law out' West. Mayor Hattin returned early this week from a months 7,200 mile motor trip to the Pacific Coast, travelling both by Canadian and United States routes. • John H. McEwen well-known Stanley Township farmer, although in his 77th year cut 85 acres of grain this year with his fine Clydesdale horses and bin- der, The grain was grown on his own farm and that of his brother's Alexander McEwan, who is ,equally active for his years. The weather has been ex- . tremely' hot during the past few days, with a high of 91 in the shade reached in mid-afternoon Tuesday and 90 yesterday cif- ternoon. A storm broke shortly after 4 p.m. A severe electrical storm took place about nine o'clock last night, accompanied by heavy rainfall. The heat wave seems to be broken. 50 YEARS AGO August 14, 1924 John Torrance, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Torrance, Clin- ton, and now with The Herald, Lethbridge, has been elected president of the Western Canadian Advertising Managers' Association. Mrs, Morgan Agnew is presiding at the organ of On- tario St. Church while Mrs. VVenclorf and the choir on vacation. Asa 'peeves attended' the Derry Day celebrations „at Guelph. Earl Cooper, son of Mr. and Mrs, George Cooper, Clinton, who has been working in Goderieh, has secured a to remark, "This park is for the birds." I have even spared a par- ticularly ragged-looking maple because, high in its branches, there is a colony of some sort of exquisite, miniscule insects which fly in a tight, clockwise circle. When the late afternoon sun strikes them they light up like a million tiny, golden bulbs. 'I believe that they are the first day-time clockwise fire-flies ever discovered by man, but. that is only my opinion. In any event • their domicile must be spared the axe. These decisions must be reached without haste. In ad- dition to my swede saw and axe I usually enter the:park,area carrying a book'S,Uita' the . surroundings--any book, really- -and if there is any slight doubt whatever abOut a tree's "right- ness" I simply stretch out on a mossy slope and read until I am in a sufficiently serene mood to pass judgement. Once"a man has reconciled, himself to a 300-year deadline he may adjust himself to ,this sort of pace without guilt and if position in Toronto. He will be greatly missed in the Coun- try Town as he was the pitcher of the Purity Sall Team. Miss Ruth McMath has ac- cepted a position on the teaching staff of Oshawa Public School. Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Hanley and two sons, Murray and Donald, and Mervyn Hanley are visiting in Detroit. Fred Elliott has gone to Min- neapolis where he will play hockey with a team in that city which is in the American Association. Miss Veesta Snyder has been appointed assistant principal of the school at South Porcupine. Miss Ethel Wasman is the prin- cipal. Clarence Shepherd, St. Thomas, son of Mrs. James Shepherd, is relieving manager in his home bank while the manager, H.R. Sharp is on vacation. 75 YEARS AGO August 10, 1899 There have 'been a few he has an alert dog with him whose ears prick up at any foot- fall within a thousand yards he can leap up and pretend to be "clearing" before the arrival of interlopers, like wives. At first glance you might think this sort of thing rather boring for young people--and Lord love you, it is--but I do my best to make it a game. Instead of simply "clearing" the parkland I have mapped out a series of trails through the underbrush. I do this. by going ahead of my "helpers", as I like to call them, and tie little bits of orange cotton onto trees to mark where the trail will go. Sometimes I get so far ahead of them that I can lie down ,with my ,,book and establi sh a mood'.'of Splendid serenity as I listen to them working far behind me. These trails do not lead to anything. This adds a note, of suspense and interest which sometimes encourages my "helpers" to work for as long as 18 or 20 minutes, at which point I cry out to them, "Wait'll you see what's up here!" deliveries of new wheat at the mill this past week but . the grain was of an inferior quality, testing no higher than sixty pounds to the bushel and some going as low as fifty-six. A couple of boys caught a mud turtle about 80 rods from the River Hotel near the dam, They brought it home and in- scribed their names on its up- per crust and left it on its back during supper. The turtle managed to escape. Two days afterwards the boys found the same turtle in the same place it had been before. Samuel Gliddon has rented the farm of Christopher Dale on the Huron Road. Wows-Record readers are en- couraged to express their opinions In letters to the editor, however, such ophdons do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News-Record. Pseudonym" may be used by letter Writers, but no letter will be published unites it can be verified by phone. In last week's paper, it states ridiculous' figure of $400,000 t repair the old town Hall, .A new one can be built (supposedly) for $200,000, Is this the opinion of three or more people or architects? No one person should say this about anything so important, If so, why not build a new place elsewhere? The old building is a historic landmark and would be a thing of the past to keep as the centennial is next year, Surely no one in Clinton would like to see it torn down. In years to come no one will ever know what we inherited except by pictures. Thank you, An interested reader, CWAC Dear Editor: We still' haven't located all our C.W.A.C. friends of those great service days of World War II. The news media have helped a great deal in other years, so once again we call Canadian Women's Army Corps Veterans to Annual Reunion through the medium of this release. This event is sponsored by the Canadian Corps Association C.W.A.C. Unit No. 47, the last weekend in Sept em- ber, 1974, in-Toronto, Canada. This is the 33rd Anniversary for our Canadian Women's Army Corps - 1941 - 1974. Here is our schedule in brief:- Friday evening from 7 p.m. September 27th, photo viewing, wreath-laying ceremony, social time, dancing and fun; Saturday, 12 noon to closing, September 28th, reunion lundheon, banquet dancing and fun for all. For complete reunion brochure write to: C.W.A.C. Veterans Reunion ,Cliffiiiman, (Mrs.) Shirley Wood "i-1,eeSaker, 201 Niagara Street, Toronto M5V 1C9, Ontario, Canada, Telephones 652-0192, 652-0164, 488-4027. Brucefield Major Engelbertus de vry,' son of Mrs. Jacoba de Vry who lives at 405 Romeo St., Strat- ford, Ontario has been assigned to the Canadian Forces Base at North Bay, Ontario, North Bay is the home of the headquarters for the 22nd Region of the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD) and the Canadian Forces Air Defence Command. NORAD is the joint United States-Canadian defence force charged with tht air defence of the North American continent. Major de Vry who attended Stratford Collegiate and the University of Western Ontario entered military service it 1957. He is married to the for mer Val Cameron o: Brucefield, Ontario and hat three children. His previous assignment was that of Corn. manding •Officer of t h e Canadian Forces Station at Lat St. Denis, Quebec. At NortE Bay he is assigned to the headquarters of Air Defence Command' as the senior staff officer responsible for com- munications and electronics systems standards. Mrs. de Vry is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Cameron who live at R.R. 1 Brucefield. That Park My littlest daughter, now a big girl with a career of her- own, is bringing over some of her pals for a weekend at our country retreat and writes me that they're slightly concerned about the Scott Do-It-Yourself National Park. Because of a little joke made about my National Park in one of these columns they seem to have the idea that I am going t9 make them work all the time at the project."Well, as a matter of fact, I am, but since I don't want any of them to chicken out "I really must ex- plain the nature of the develop- ment. One of my daughter's male friends, for instance, has won- dered if he should ,lining oyof Ins: father's chair, Saw ••oricir,h•as talked to her about "hacking down trees at a great rate," a remark I find most distressing. Clearly the youth ,of today has no appreciation of what goes. into the making of a National Park. A chain saw, in- deed! Would you take a lawn- mowet' to your true love's hair? A National Park of the Do-It- Yourself variety is all hand