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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-03-20, Page 4 (2)OUR POINT OF VIEW A dedicated servant The entire community lost one of its most valued citizens this. week with the passing of former deputy -reeve Helen Jer- myn. She was the first woman to enter politics in this community, and the con- scientious and enthusiastic manner in which she conducted herself quickly won admiration from the gentlemen who work- ed with her during her all -too brief stint on municipal affairs. As this newspaper noted before, Mrs. Jermyn brought a new sense of decorum to council meetings, but her male cohorts quickly learned she could hold her own in any of the heated debates that were generated and on many occasions she emerged the victor in discussions because of her tenacious desire to see that the cor- rect decisions were made. She displayed a comprehensive ap- titude for the work, making her one of the most respected and dedicated members on council in almost all areas of concern. Mrs. Jermyn was never satisfied to pass over a task in which she had little knowledge or experience_ Instead, she assumed the task and then set about reading and debating to gain the knowledge required to make the decisions required. Her concerns were for all residents, regardless of age or position. She fought for improvements at the local school and was one of the prime backers of the senior citizens complex now nearing completion. Mrs. Jermyn never side-stepped con- troversy. She was always willing to listen to complaints or criticism and always went out of her way in an attempt to understand another's position better. She always had a sympathetic ear for those who thought they were being unfairly dealt with and on many occasions she was noticeably anguished at not being able to do more things for the people she served. Other people in the community will remember Mrs. Jermyn more for what she did for them as students or as members of her church, or simply as a friend. In whatever capacity she served, Mrs. Jermyn was compassionate and dedicated and therefore naturally to be sadly missed. Hopefully. those who were challenged by her courage and desire will step in to carry on the service she dutifully fulfilled. Lot of hog wash We get more than alittle tired of all the arguments against tighter control of guns. With the crime rate mounting by the day and firearms as the key to violence we still have this great howl whenever any form of control is suggested. The big argument from the gun -lovers is that controls would be useless. The criminals would still be able to secure guns when they wanted to. That is about as sen- sible as leaving your doors unlocked because a smart burglar can pick it open. One night recently there were seven crimes in the City of Toronto alone — all perpetrated at gunpoint. Detroit's murder rate is appalling, and guns figure in nearly alt cases. What's more, the murders in that American city are largely the result of family and neighborhood quarrels. not the acts of hardened or professional killers. If guns were harder to get many of these tragedies would end in a broken jaw rather than a dead body. What in the world is the objection to en- forcing the registration of firearms? If you happen to be a hunter or a marksman you would be permitted to own a weapon, provided you had a good character record. That is precisely the case at present for the owners of hand guns, all of which must be registered in this province. The need foraermit would eventually Y prevent the possession of firearms by those people who have no need for them other than the possibility of use against another human. Others have 'em City council spent much of its time this week talking about dogs. A lady had written quite a good letter complaining of the dangers of dogs on the street (and a whole lot more in the letter) and, of course, this set up a general 'hullaballoo about dogs. This Alderman -Editor said he would not give a nickel for a "while truckload of dogs." And this statement will probably come back to haunt him forever. People feel extremely one way or the other about dogs. Most dogs are just family pets, but to those who feel they are about to be attacked. the dog becomes a vicious adversary. Wingham Advance Times Be that as it may, Council has raised the fine for dogs running at large. This might help. It has also taken the need for more manpower and a truck (and perhaps a tranquilizer gun) to the budgets. All in all, it is going to cost the average taxpayer more just because some dumbo has not enough sense to keep his dog on a leash. We deplore the billion -dollars spent annually in feeding pets, anyway. It is criminal that some mutt laps up food that could feed a starving baby in Bangladesh. Sarnia Gazette Sugar and spice Dispensed by romiley The Ides are upon us This is the time of year that everybody wishes somebody would do something about, but nobody does. The Ides of March. Some people think the Ides are little creatures like leprechauns who bore holes in your rubbers and whisper into tots ears that that 18 -inch puddle won't go over the tops of their six-inch rubber boots. Others, like my wife, think they are malevolent beings who enjoy . scaring the liver out of you. The other night, there was a great rumble. a crash and all the lights went out. I thought it was maybe the second coming. She leaped a foot. "It's the Ides of March." she screamed. As a matter of fact. it was the ice off the roof, which tore away the main cable into the house. But it could just as well have been the Ides. Around the first of March, we decided we'd start cross-country skiing. Bought two sets of MEW Times Established 1873 skis.boots, the works It rained for the next week- That was the Ides. It's been going on for at least 2.000 years. Its first victim of any import was Julius Caesar. Now. Big Julie was no slouch as an emperor. He had. in his day, a bigger empire than Queen Vic- toria had. although he wasn't as fat. He had a penchant for over- running and over -hearing. He over -ran the Spaniards, the French. the Germans, the British and the Belgians, not to mention the Slobs. in the east. And he over -heard. It was his custom to prowl among the campfires at night, and listen to his disgruntled veterans. He didn't bother much with the gruntled veterans. He did it. of course. incognito. He wore a kilt. extra -long. to cover his pot and his knees. On his head, to mask his baldness, he wore a German helmet, captured Advocate Established 1881 irkeexeferAtimes-ibuocate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. and ABC Publisher — Robert Southcott Editor — Sill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Plant Manager — les Webb Composition Manager — David Worby Phone 235-1331- 44M'CNA in the epic battle of Scheissinkellar. His chest was disguised by a chest -disguiser, captured from an Amazon chieftainess who had joined Women's Lib and decided to go braless. It is tempting for the dedicated historian to disgress here, but I will make only two concise points. One, the kilt was stripped from a Scot who had strayed south to found the Bank of England, had been conscripted into the army of the Ancient Britons and had died gallantly, shouting "Usquebaugh and Aiidrew Carnegie!" The helmet had been torn from a dead squarehead and was rather uncomfortable until Julius discovered that the cow's horn on the front unscrewed, was hollow, and contained 13 ounces of schnapps: From that time on, he found it . comfortable. Of the Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advonce Circulation March 31, 1974, 5,309 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada 59.00 Per Year; USA 511.00 .. a:*W `` Y k. r ,o rAiri'ssz8,. _ P4Vdr.AtrCikfMA8-.xy1..MW.o.. If it DIDN'T WANT A 5115X1tIPTiO$ TO MA011WS. A SIHPIE ND' woo SI FFI(E Need to clean up the act In case you missed it, the Huron -Perth Separate School board voted last week to pay themselves 16 cents per mile travelled on board business. That, of course, is a rather fair price considering the cost of gas- oline. cars, upkeep, etc., but the rather surprising aspect, is that members receive the mileage allowance whether they drive their own vehicles or not. So, if the board members decide to form car pools to get to meetings or attend board events, each member in the car pool receives the 16 cents per mile, despite the fact only one has the expense. It wasn't a unanimous deci- sion. as half the board members felt it unfair, but the deciding vote was cast in favor of providing the allowance regardless of how members travel. What justification there can be for such a decision is beyond our comprehension. We wonder what board members would do if teachers decided they should get paid regardless of whether they teach or not. It's about the same situa- tion. However, before you Protestants start laughing up your sleeve, we should point out that this has been a common practice among county council members for some time. They too get paid for mileage regardless of how they get to the. meetings and several of them travel together and eaeh gets the mileage allowance. In addition, we've been told that recently some members of county council have been work- ing out a deal whereby they get paid for one and a half meetings per day (night not included.) Members decided that to get the full daily stipend, the meetings had to last past 2:00 p.m. So, now they start their sessions later in the morning so they can continue past the magic hour. They are then adjourned and some members take off for com- mittee meetings for the balance of the afternoon where they receive pay for attending another half-day session. So, it would ' appear that residents of our area com- munities don't have to look to Watergates and dredging scan - Amazon breastworks, I will say nothing. There's enough sex and violence in history. without dwelling on it, Besides it is. or was, pointless.) At any rate, strolling anonymously (Oh! Oh!, here comes Himself!") he over- heard the rumblings of discontent among his troops. It was rather difficult to distinguish them from the other rumblings associated with the rude and licentious soldiery, but he had a Trained Ear as well as a Roman Nose. He and his legions had just put down the seventh uprising by some Belgian tribe. Onme grizzled veteran was heard to say: "Belgians. Belgians! I'in sick of looting Belgian towns. All they got is gloves and tapestries. My old Trouble 'n Strife back 'ome 'as 32 pairs of kid gloves an' enough tapestries to make a shawl for the Sphinx." Another veteran, equally grizzled, agreed. "Me too. And them Belgian broads; I swear they got fetlocks. In another 1,500 'years, they'll be callin' 'em Percherons." A third veteran legionary even more grizzled than the other two, concurred. "Right. An howbout that there Belgian beer. So watery ya gotta drink it in the latrine or yer caught short. I'd give my eye tooth to get a whack at some Limeys or Frogs or Krauts fer a change. Wooden even mine goin' backta Iddaly and wipin' up somma them Wops we're workin' for." (It might be noted, in the in- terests of historical accuracy, that the third legionnaire, like so many of them, was not an ancient Roman.He was an Old Pole, who had been conscripted after he had been shot out from under his — Please turn to Page 5 dais. We appear to have some rather dubious practices of our own right -at home, Come now, ladies and gentlemen. Let's clean up the act! + + + This newspaper received some encouragement last week regarding our practice of covering local court news from County Court Judge F. G. Carter. As chairman of the Goderich police commission, Judge Carter cited lack of publicity surroun- ding trials of people found guilty of offences in Goderich as a factor in the recent upswing in deliquency and crime. ••The whole process is a mockery if the public is not made aware of the outcome of trials," Dear Sir: Women around the world regarded the diagnosis of breast cancer in Betty Ford and Happy Rockefeller as a fearsome tragedy but this is not entirely so, says Dr. Boris Ragula, because their cases compelled countless other women to face the realities of a disease that is frequently too frightening to even think about. "The real tragedy". adds Dr. Ragula, "is that too many women can't bring themselves to think abouj it, even when they think tky may have breast cancer". "CFPL-TV's inquiry program marks the start of Cancer Month across Canada with a serious, but informal examination of the facts, the myths, the fears, the problems - real and imaginary, that involve the form of cancer that so many women dread more than any other. Dr. Ragula, a distinguished family physician, is joined by Surgeon John McCredie and an audience of concerned women seeking answers about breast cancer. The program emphasises the simple technique that can lead to early diagnosis and vastly greater chances of a cure. The personal counselling and help available to breast cancer vic- tims, and the nature of the surgical measures necessary if they are to survive will also be discussed. Air date for this special Inquiry is Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. Moderator and host for this sixty - minute program Jack Burghardt. L. J. Shaunessy, CFPL-TV, London he stated, adding -that sentences lose their deterrent effect if the public is unaware of sentences. In the area of young persons who break the law, he said, publicity "and the printing of a family name in the paper" will prompt parents to better discipline their children. Judge Carter said judges usually consider the deterrent effect of their sentences to prevent recurrence of the crime. The Judge's comments may helpreaders understand why this newspaper covers court .proceedings. However, we are concerned about the fact that some area residents are allowed to have their cases shifted to Goderich. This action is taken primarily to avoid having their names printed and it is obviously most unfair for those who do appear in local court and have to suffer the consequences. If other court officials are of the same opinion as Judge Carter, then hopefully they will realize that moving cases out of the Exeter court for certain in- dividuals is unfair and im- prudent. + + + Which comes first, the chicken of the egg? Or which comes first in preparing a budget, approving the expenditures or the receipts? That appears to be a con- sideration for Exeter's RAP committee in their budget deliberations. The committee has come up with proposed expenditures of $137.200 for the current year and are now in the process of altering rates for program and facilities to gear their income to that figure. Unfortunately, that, type of approach is bound to be in- flationary, and it may have been wiser for the committee to go through their anticipated revenues in the first step and then gear their expenditures to that figure. Some increases are to be ex- pected. but certainly nothing in the order of 50 prcent. And, no matter how they slice it (in- creased rates or increased mill rate) the money still has to come out of the same pockets basically. There appears to be little question that the expenditure columns have to be reduced considerably before the final tabulation is completed. OLD 'TIMES SO Years Ago During the first electrical storm of the season, the bank barn on the pasture of Sherwood Ilunter, on townline between Usborne and Biddulph townships was struck by lightning and totally destroyed. Nelson Vale, aged 42, an em- ployee at the Exeter flax mill, died from blood poisoning. He removed a flax sliver from his hand with a knife and blood poisoning set in. Thos Acheson last week pur- chased the fine red brick house of D. Mack, Main St., for 85,500. 25 Years Ago Pupils from the nine public schools in Usborne Township presented a program Wednesday evening, the first to be put on in the gymtorium of the new Exeter District High School. The concert was staged with a view to raise money for the proposed new hospital. The proceeds were $178. Inspired by the work of the Boy Scouts Association, S. M. Sanders of Exeter has donated a plaque to the Exeter District High School. Stuart McBride, a student of Exeter High School, has won a $1, 250 scholarship at the University of Western Ontario. Twenty three OES members motored to Detroit the latter part of the week and were guests at Samson Lodge at aninternational Birthday Party. 1S Years Ago Ihor Orenczuk, Exeter won a holster set in the ATD Christmas contest at Beavers Crest Hard- ware. Spring floods in town threatened to drive families out of their homes and water rose rapidly Wednesday afternoon. Walter Creery, son of Mr. & Mrs. Theron Creery, Usborne, has been awarded a Canadian Council pre -master's scholarship of $1,200 for studies in philosophy at the University of Western Ontario. A well balanced, beautifully costumed carnival -on -ice was staged at the Exeter arena when an audience of 531 viewed the 1960 Exeter Figure Skating Club presentation. 10 Years Ago Although organized for some time, the Dashwood Boy Scouts finally received their charter, Rev. M. J. James accepted the document from Jack Gallant, Bayfield, District Commissioner. As their Mothers had done 19 years earlier, Cindy Parker and Debbie Smith joined the Hensel) Brownies. Their Brown Owl is ,Mrs. Bob Cook. Council Monday accepted the resignation of Constable Lloyd Hodgins from the local police force because they felt they could Seivia9, ?them Transparent Christians Collen Townsend Evans in her book,A New Joy,suggests that the sixth Beatitude, 'Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God', might be interrupted as "Blessed are the transparent people ... '. Sometimes when speaking of another person, we say, 'I can see right through him' which often takes on a derrogative slant, meaning we're on to his devious plans. However, this is not the kind of transparency of which the author Evans speaks. She's talking about that person who is without guile, has no shadows or double meanings, one who says what he means and means what he says. She means people who don't play it cool, but who are willing to take the risk of expressing themselves honestly, exposing themselves, being vulnerable. They may get taken advantage of, they may get hurt,_they may be misun- derstood ... that's part of being transparent .And nobody, says Mrs. Evans, said it would be easy. As Jesus moved among men he emobodied the principles of honesty and openness. He rtvealed himself in terms of his hearers' needs and un- derstanding. He identified himself with everyone. He'dined so often with the outcast and the despised that he was called a "glutton and drunkard'. He went where the action was, sensed the interests of human beings and talked their language. Lee Whiston, another author, points out when Jesus was with the common people he didn't often quote scripture or invite them to join him in the synagogue on the Sabbath. He told stories of sowing seed, lost money, tending sheep, usigg illustration to which his listeners could relate. However, when with his disciples who were deeply committed men, or with the scribes and Pharisees, who were religiously oriented people, he often quoted Scripture and spoke on a highly intellectual level. Again, his method and manner were determined by the needs of people. Jesus allowed himself to be vulnerable and defenseless and it was these very qualities that made him approachable. We, too, are drawn to people who take that costly risk of transparent openness in their lives. In time of deep trouble, would you seek help from someone who admitted to no problem jp his life, who was coldly crillcal of anyone who did, and who had all the pat answers for everything? Of course, you wouldn't. You'd go to sombone who had a similar experience to yours, who would-be willing to -let --you walk into the openness of his heart where you knew you would find love and comfort. Whiston also says, 'wherever there is loving self -disclosure, God is set free in the hearts of men, to be rejected or accepted, thus the doctrine of the Incar- nation leaps to life in our midst today.' God seeks transparent people in whom He may live and through whom he may reveal His love. He wants us to be people through whom He can communicate to others. Our manner and language may have to be dictated to by the needs of those around us, and above all we have to be com- pletely transparent ... that is, honest with ourselves, with others and most of all with God. It is then that God's love in our lives becomes apparentto others and we are able to channel it into their lives. Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 br 228-6291 Empathy (from an essay of the same title by Miss Hazel Thompson for- merly of Information South Huron) "The key ingredient of helping!" That's the tribute paid to empathy by one leading educator. Here is a word often used which begs -for definition. Let us call on Websters - a helpful, if not empathic volume - for help. Empathy is "the capacity for participating in, or a vicarious experiencing of, another's feelings, volitions . or ideas and sometimes another's movements." When we notice the similarity of the last two syllables - pathy - with the word passion and realize that both come from a common source, we gain some "feeling" for the word "empathy". It seems to mean roughly a "feeling in". One feels with another in his very being. Carkhuff, our leading educator, confirms this thought. "Empathy involves crawling inside of another person's skin and seeing the world through his eyes..." Empathy and help got together. Empathy does not directly mean help but certainly where empathy is experienced, help has been given. Empathy is the ability of the helper to understand the other person's inner experiences, to integrate this understanding with his actions, and to communicate the depth of this understanding in a warm, accepting and genuinely helpful way. The one being helped knows quickly that someone is listening, listening not only to his words but to himself. The helper is in- terested in him and seeks to understand him in order to help him. What are techniques beside such empathy! Techniques are effective only so long as they are glorified by the empathic glow. To be a technician is one thing. To be a helper is a matter of per- sonal discipline, a discipleship, a learning. Again our friend Carkhuff comes to our aid. "The facilitator is a person who is living ef- not meet his demands for an 8800 pay increase and a five day week. Chairman Ted Wright said the 84,000 salary of Constable Hodgins was in line with the other two men in the community. fectively himself and so discloses himself in a genuine, con- structive fashion in response to others." A helper uses himself helpfully in order to help the troubled. To help is to respond. Most know how to react. Reaction is like jumping on a horse and riding off in all directions. Response is different. The responder is free enough in himself to respect the person before him, to sense em- pathically the need expressed by that person, to relate his un- fettered self in a vulnerable fashion to the tied -up one. To begin to help then, one listens actively. Such a one faces fully the face before him, maintains eye contact, is at- tentive and alert. The helper must hear not only the verbal but the nonverbal. The active listener is a good waiter. He talks little and learns much. When he does respond it is a careful response from prac- tised stillness. In such an at- tentive presence the tied -up one begins to explore his tie-ups. Self - exploration leads to self- awareness and this increasingly. When the helper sees the tied -up one exploring his problems ever more deeply, he knows the helping process is begun. And where it will end, no one knows! The seasoned helper turns from advice and does not seek to persuade. That may come later. Now he listens without words. And the tied -up one shares his deep feelings with tile accepting person. The active listener, the ac- cepting person, the empathic helper thus lays a base of trust. We have the advice before us that "if you have just fifteen minutes to help, you must use five minutes or so in facilitative responding." Why is empathy so important then? The tied -up one comes for help, knotted and entangled. His behaviour needs changing for it is tying him up tighter. But before he can change his behaviour, he must understand himself. And before he can understand himself he must explore himself. Now, pray tell, how can anyone explore himself when he is so unsure, feels so unsafe, is sinking under his own dead weight, and every motion drapes him with the sticky web of his own making? Only empathic, active listeners can help then! In such is strength and rest whereby the flounderer comes to himself.