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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-05-17, Page 2Page 2-- Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 11, 1970 The Lucknow Sentinel •C A LUCKNOW, ONTARIO "The Sepoy Town" On the Huron -Bruce Boundary Established 1873 - Published Wednesday .Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. Robert G. Shrier - president and publishes Sharon J. Dietz - editor Anthony N. Johnstone - advertising and general manager Subscription rate, $10 per year in advance Senior Citizens rate, $8.00 per year in advance U.S.A. and Foreign, '$,14 per year in advance Business and Editorill ffice'Telephone 528-2822 Mailing Address P.O. Box 400, Lucknow NOG 2H0 Second class mail registration number - 0847 A bouquet this week is thrown to the Lucknow Concert Band, the Lucknow Junior Concert Band and their director, Gord Cayley. Their evening of music at the Lucknow arena on Saturday was not only enjoyable, because- those were our children playing the instruments, but, because their musicianship was excel- lent. They played difficult, advanced. arrangements of Broadway musicals, movie scores, country and western, hymns, popular songs., and the classics. Yet, there was hardly a wrong note or a musician off key. Their obvious pleasure in creating their music was only outdone by the enjoyment of the audience who was stirred to foot tapping, hand clapping and singing along. It is significant that in an age of. adolescent problems including drugs, and alcohol abuse, speeding cars and teenage pregnancy that the young people of Lucknow have such an organization as the band to act as an activity for their free time. The talents of Mr. Cayley as a music instructor are obvious. The children are receiving excellent music training. But, he is also capable of instilling within the youth a pride in their band, their dress, their musicianship and their conduct. None of the band members wore blue jeans as are so frequently seen at school variety concerts in the area. Each musician conducted himself with a -. composed manner and above all stage presence which so many of their rock idpls lack completely. There was no giggling or guffawing during the performance, each concentrated on his music to make his contribution to the whole his best effort. ' They, also have a pride in themselves and a respect for their director, a respect which is not demanded but earned. As parents the people of Lucknow are lucky to have someone such as Mr. Cayley in their community, who is willing to spend time with the young people, leading them in an activity that does much more than just keep them off the streets. The training and experience these young people receive during their years in the band will do much to shape their adolescence and will have a very significant effect on the direction of their adulthood. It is encouraging to see youth in our community who can use' their free time to expand their knowledge, experience and outlook. They have learned that constructive activity can . be creative, rewarding and a lot of fun. And to the. delight of their audiences, they do it. well. LOOKING BACKWARDS THROUGH THE SENTINEL FILES 75 YEARS AGO This is apple blossom time. A lacrosse match will be one of the chief attractions in Lucknow on May 25. No less than three musical combinations struck the village on Wednesday morning, consisting of a hand organ and monkey, a couple of Hungarian pipers and a lady -and gent with a harp and fiddles. It was a gala day for the little folk and many of the big ones as well. According to the new re -distri- bution of the seats for the Dominion Parliament, the County of Bruce will be entitled to only two members in future instead of three as at present. Electrical engineer Strickland, of Toronto, is. "Yat present in Lucknow looking over the electric light plant for the purpose of giving council an estimate of the value and also as to what it would cost to install a new plant with all modern improvements. As soon as the engineer's report is received by the council, a public meeting will be called to discuss the advisabaility of the municipal- ity taking over the plant and running it in connection with the waterworks. Master Gladie McQuaig had his right hand badly crushed between rollers at the Lucknow Furniture Factory on Monday morning. The whole hand is terribly lacerated and large pieces of flesh were completely torn away. . William Switzer of Holyrood was badly hurt in a runaway accident on Thursday. The falling of a door frightened the broncho he was driving and Mr. Switzer was thrown out of the rig, and falling on, his head, was uncon- scious for some time. He received a severe cut on the head and was shaken up. Laurier columnist reports there was a rush to Lucknow on Saturday last which ended in a great disappointment to, some. 50 YEARS AGO A former manager of the Bank of Hamilton, Lucknow, John D. Nichol, was killed when struck by a train in Fort William when crossing the railway tracks on his way home at noon. The body was brought to Lucknow for burial in Greenhill Cemetery. Anniversary services were held in the Presbyterian Church, Lucknow, on Sunday when large congregations at the morning and evening services heard the guest speaker, Rev: James MacKay, of London, one of the outstanding ministers of the church. Mother's Day was fittingly observed at Hackett's Church, Ashfield, with a mother's choir giving special singing. At Blake's Church, a very happy thing was done when a boquet 'of roses was presented to Mrs. Mary Blake, one of our mothers in Israel who formany years has given unstinted service and leadership in the Church. ' The weather was favourable last Friday to a unique afternoon in the United Church when a Senior Folk Gathering was held. CONTINUED ON PAGE 35 vfezed 0/ /2ww, by D.A. Campbell The old frame house on the "Hungry Hundred" lacked many conveniences but we did at least have a telephone. We shared the line with a host of privacy pirates who were otherwise wonderful people.: "You can do without your friends but you ca;g't 'do without your neighbours." We really had no choice. Via the telephone, the intimate details of our personal lives became common knowledge, whether we liked it or not! When our "one long and two shorts" broke the silence, Angus would force his painful joints into action, and limp, skip and hop, in order to be first in the race to the wooden monstrosity on the hallway. With his face half ay -yard from the -mouthpiece, he would scream at the instrument, as if there were no wires 'twix him and the caller. "Huiloo...Noo... this is Angus... well... if yer really have ter....' 'spose yer can...." I'II git 'im... Don! Sombody wants ter talk ter yer." Angus would reluctantly thrust the receiver into my hands, like a spoilt child forced to part with a toy. Th- warted, but with a defiant jerk of his head, he would limp back to his domain andleave the door wide Oen': He had no intention of missing one word of my privileged conversation on HIS phone. By the time I was able to speak, the line would already be losing ifs strength. I would hear the boisterous laughter of children, the clatter of dishes, ._ and thechronic asthmatic breathing of old Mrs. Fraser. Most of the one -roomed school board (or their wives), were also ardent listeners on our "hot line", and eager to extend their knowledge of human behavior. "This is a long distance call, and with all you nosey people on the line, I can't hear a darned thing, I would° explain to my devoted audience. "Tell you what. Hang up, and when i've finished, i'll call you back and give you all a run-down on the con- versation." This usually did the trick, except for one persistent listener: The asthmatic breathing was . always present, refusing to be eliminatedfrom my secret 'life! One summer's evening l received a visit from the young schoolmaster. He had not 'plo ;ed earlier to brief me on the meeting, so I guessed it was to be cloak and dagger business. We walked on the lawn beneath the maples and, as was customary in those days,discussed everything and nothing until we finally arrived at the moment of truth. "I may not be returning to teach school in Sep- tember, Sir. My salary is only three thousand a year and I really need more." I realized,it had taken all his courage to blurt out this statement. But why tell me all 'this? I was a poor' newspaper editor come amateur farmer. How djd I fit into the educational scheme of thing's? "This is school board business" I said with con- viction. "They shouidjdeal with teachers' salaries - place it before the boar!" "I have, Sir, but they are procrastinating' and I have to make plans for my future... would you... could you speak to them?" I could picture it all. A Limey upstart just off the boat from "over 'ome", walking into aboard meeting and laying down the law. It would be social suicide. I could see the face of Angus when he heard about my interference. My God, anything but that. There must be some other way. Suddenly, in a flash, 1 had it! "Suppose "I get you another five hundred." (After all I had my kids to think about.) D "Five... five hundred" he stammered. "If..if you...oh Sir, that's great!" "Listen" I told him. "Tomorrow night a man will call you and offer you three and a half grand to teach in the city. Tell him you'll go for interview." "But I don't want to teach in the city." "I know!" i snapped. "But say you will go anyway - leave the rest to me." The next day I broke bread with another com- munity editor, well known for his acting ability, and outlined a part I had just written especially for him. He protested, of course,' but 1 knew he would do it - he owed me one from way back. The play was not timed exactly according to script. At the appointed hour, the party line was loaded. It was fully forty minutes later that the "city call" came through. I added my own ear to the line in spite of the disapproving glare of Angus. I heard everything, asthmatic breathing and all. My friendly,scribe acted his part with perfection and the stuttering voice of the teacher sounded really convincing. Next morning, before I left to complete the latest edition for the "grunt and thunder", the teacher paid me another visit. "The school board • they offered me another five hundred • came to see me last night, right after the man called - isn't that splendid?" The moral of the story is "Believe nothing you hear tin a party line," As for me, I shall feel guilty all my. 14,0 - 1 made my beloved" neighbours act like a bunch of ding•a-lings! ry