Times Advocate, 1999-09-01, Page 261
l6
Exeter Times -Advocate
Community
Earthquakes and the Eatons
By
LEONARD
LESSER
COUNSELLOR
Leonard
Lesser
This last
week our
n ews
✓ eports
have con-
centrated
on the
demises of
the Eaton
empire and the devastat-
ing earthquakes in
Turkey. The headlines
have given front page
coverage to both events,
one dealing with the trag-
ic death of thousands of
innocent people who were
trapped in their beds
under tons of rubble
caused by the quake and
the end elite Eaton fami-
ly dynasty. The contrast
blows me away. The
Eatons empire was found-
ed by Timothy in 1856 in
Kirkton, Ontario and
grew into a retail giant
comprising of 65 stores
across Canada. The bil-
lion dollar business was
based on the motto,
"Goods satisfactory or
money refunded."
The longevity of family
enterprises have a poor
record of succession.
Rarely does the second
generation successfully
carry on the good deeds
of their fathers and the
third generation -has a
very high failure rate. A
few prominent names
come to mind, Birks,
Peoples Credit Jewellers,
Canadian Tire, Laidlaw ,
Enterprises, and Denison
Mines have had their con-
cerns.
My uncle Ted, founder
of Upson Shirt -once told
me a tale of Bert
Guersteen, founder of
People's, visiting his fac-
tory to order some made
to measure shirts. After
picking the fabric and
colours, Bert selected
three shirts. Uncle Ted
remarked that Bergs son
used to buy them by the
dozen. Bert replied, "my
son has a rich father".
t "All in the family" desig-
nation does not guarantee
intelligences, expertise
and duty. Poor Queen
Elizabeth has to hang on
with the hopes that her
P"
grandson, William, will
succeed her to the throne
of England. Charles has
not embraced the motto,
God and Country over girl
friend, Camilla. Being
born into the right crib
dees not in itself make
strong leaders of the
recipients of wealth or
title. The Eaton family
history has been chroni-
cled by Rod McQueen,
"The Rise and Fall Of
Canada's Royal Family"
and Peter Newman in
"The Titans". I am an
avid reader of biogra-
phies and autobiogra-
phies and thoroughly
enjoyed reading the tales
of the rich and famous. It
is a little like "stealing".
You can learn about the
mistakes and successes
and try to copy the for-
mer.. Peter wrote of the
hard working Tim and his
son Craig who built a
family fortune and empire
followed by cousin Robert
who carried on the family
tradition. John D., the
grandson of Timothy,
took over the firm and
produced four sons to try
and carry on the firm's
name and reputation.
Yachting, race car driving
and high living canget is .
the way of running a
business empire and now
the chickens have come
home to roost.
The Eaton stores are
faced with bankruptcy
and closing of many of the
retail outlets. My guess is
that there will not be
white knight to step in to
save the empire. One
thing is clear, thousands
of employees will lose
their jobs along with
many small suppliers who
provided merchandise
with only the Eaton good
name to protect their
investments.. The
Canadian public loves
"Going Out of Business"
sales and will line up to
pick up their Christmas
presents 144 days early.
What is the lesson we
can learn of the Eaton
story of success and fail-
ure? Tom Stanley and
William Danko have writ-
ten a wonderful book,
"The Millionaire Next
Door". It is a must read
Cash and carry
only
Prices In effect til Sept. 7/99
Gat Spetiat�,�
' . on
• Paint
• Baler Twine
• Doors
• Trutt
• Soffit and fascia
• Insulation
� Railway Ties
• Footwear
• Starter and Valley
• and many other items
for parents who have an
interest in raising produc-
tive, hard working chil-
dren to grow into future
mature adults. He talks of
how to "Build a founda-
tion for building wealthy
families - three little
words, `Frugal, Frugal,
Frugal". Teaching our
children to be indepen-
dent and not dependent is
an art. Gifts of money and
material goods, `toys',
cars, jewellery,
allowance, expensive
clothes are' not good
incentives for an indepen-
dent life style. The depen-
dent "child" at the age of
30-40 is still waiting for
his/her dad to die in order
to 'receive their inheri-
tance to sustain them in
the manner that they
have become accustomed.
I once played a game
with a 24 year old young
man who lived off his par-
ents. 1 asked, "What
would you do if your folks
were killed in a plane
crash?" His answer was
"My folks better leave me
well provided for." Sad, a
young, healthy, strong
youth could not, would
provide for himself.
I do not know about you
but I will not grieve for
the Eaton boys' retailing.
empire. I will not even
shed a tear if the name
disappears from the bill-
boards. The scenes of
devastation and death in
Turkey deserve our atten-
tion, money and prayers.
"Most men look at
things as they are and ask
Why. I dream of things
that never were and ask
Why Not?
Len Lesser provides
eucational and career
counselling. He can be
reached at 519434-8316.
Wednesday, September 1, 1999
Leiter to ditor
Looking for Canadian soldiers who
served in England
Dear Editor:
The Second World War
saw over 368,000
Canadian soldiers make
their way to England.
Some would be there 42
months before the ill-
fated Dieppe raid of
August 19, 1942.
Others -- the fortunate
ones -- would go on to
marry 45,000 British girls
and father over 22,000
children.
Still though, when any
history book of Canadian
involvement in WWII is
picked up, the reader will
be lead to believe that our
men arrived only days
before `Canada's darkest
hour.'
Or even, just a short
period before the advance
to Hong Kong or Sicily.
This is not the case.
For the overwhelming:
majority of the Canadian
Army Overseas, the bulk
of their military life was
spent preparing for com-
bat in besieged southern
England.
There, they were in
charge of the `Defence of
. the Realm' while the bat-
tered British
Expeditionary Force
recovered from having
been saved by the
`Miracle at Dunkirk.'
Our `boys,' would not
see action, . en masse, until
the summer of 1943
when Churchill finally
convinced" Roosevelt that
the first attack on
`Fortress Europe' must
come in the
Mediterranean.
The remainder orf our
troops would attack the
next spring -- D -Day.
• Music for Young Children ?�!
I'Z 4-8 year old beginners
n keyboard -based curriculum41/13
Et child, parent and teacher are a team
n small group instruction
Et singing, rhythm work, ensembles, theory, note -reading
and fun in eve class
CALL LAURIE ERB A Mus
After the Germans sur-
rendered in the summer
of 1945, the powerful
Canadian Army would
now find its way back to
England to await repatri-
ation -- some would be
mere for over a year.
Unfortunately, there is
very little written about
this point of our history.
What exactly went on in
all those years that our
men spent in England? I
would like to record this
for posterity.
Right now, I am work-
ing on my master's dis-
sertation.
At the University of
Edinburgh (Scotland), I
have been trying to,
record this= story — our
story.
What I have come up
with is plentiful, yet is
nowhere near enough.
For this, 1 need the help
of our veterans.
1 would be forever
indebted to any of you
who might want to share
their experiences with
me.
Nothing is too small.
Thank -you.
Yours very sincerely,
Jason Orendorff
7 Richmond Place
Kenneth Mackenzie
House,
#311 Edinburgh
EH8 9VE
United Kingdom
e-mail:
hisjop@srvO.arts.ed.ac.uk
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Offering Separate programs for Regular and Alzhelmer's ailg
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THE THAMES VALLEY
SOLOOLBOARD
OPENING & BUS ROUTES
SCHOOL YEAR 1999-2000
Elementary and Secondary . schools in the former Mx.
County Board of Education open on Tuesday, September 7,
1999 on the same time schedules as last year.
(Parents of new students should consult neighbouring bus
students for times).
A ROUTE CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE AT STRATHROY
DISTRICT COLLEGIATE
This route will be published in the Strathroy Age Dispatch and
The Pennysaver
All other bus routes will ret ain the same, however, some
adjustments to bus routes may be necessary after the start of
the school year.. • .
Questions regardingtransportation matters should be directed
to Mr. Nick Hatch Transportation Officer at 452-0269
Patricia Smith W. (John) Laughin
Chair Director of Education and Secretary
ant in on t
Ball Came
Enter to Win
Round Trip
Coach to
Skydome
+�p to 500/0 Savings
Throu:hout the sto
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• Cement Blocks
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Prince Arthur St., Centralia 519.228-6638
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