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The Seaforth News, 1962-04-19, Page 7Why Horses Ware No Bells in Sumner Comes now an interesting let- ter and contention from Brown- lee Haydon of California, who chides me for putting bells on horses "as a warning device." He .e says the origin is Biblical (Zech. 14:20), and that the lore and legend of lmarness trappings is too impressive for such dalliance, He says I should be more care. fel, and I shall. Yet 1 find myself woncloling why our old Yankee forebears were so all -fired pious all winter with their jingling compliance with Scriptural instructions, and quit as soon as the snow left to spend a pagan summer in horsey silence, We never had bells on the teams unless there was snow on the ground, and I understand there has been no heavy sledding in Jerusalem since they logged off Lebanon. The rugged old Maine teamsters may have had the only seasonal religion on rec- ord, These things are always fun. With all due respect to the over- whelming evidence, I think most of the teamsters would have ex- plained the bells as a warning. The hand of little employment hath the• daintier sense, and a teamster was never without plenty to do. He was an earthy, usually uncouth (how do you be "south?") and work -a -day fel- low whose exposure to cultural ponderings was small. And I think his superstitions developed with his full knowledge of their reasons. Well, lie had a superstition that you didn't talk while eating, All timberland meals are prop- erly held in silence. This sort of thing could, after many years, be construed into a pretty folk custom ' and given mystical sig- nificance. But he knew that talk leads to discussions, discussions to arguments, arguments to fights, and you don't fight in a dining room. He would tell you It's bad luck to leave a half -sawn log on the sawmill carriage over- night. This, too, could become a superstition and some day en- tered in the records. But behind the "bad- luck" was plain old sense - sawmill carriages are delicately balanced, r u n on tracks that can sag, and the inert weight for a period of time could throw the whole mill askew, So, it was "bad luck," and let it go at that. He would tell you it's had luck not to duck your head when you go in the dingle. A kind of obeisance to propitiate something or other The dingle is a back shed sort of place. off the kitchen or bunk eam.p. So you bow upon enter- ing. But if you pressed the old teamster for details, he'd tell you that dingles usually sit low in the eaves after a few feet of snow has been trod down, and if you don't haul your head down to a passing mark you'll likely ;get it shoved into your shoulder blades by the momentum of your arrival. A fellow who has run his toque into a two -foot dingle Upsidedown to Prevent Peeking 1:11Z6112 - 121T721 CI ©CI��Y E1IJ syy�sl� ©0EMIEI C7E7 • EInlr1® El©©oa ©nno®© © �11 on -' CI :J©�1 �0��MCI IJ®1r1 0©0E2 ®®® I/©®® ®n®®n0l® C7FJ©n® ®n® ®f70 DUN o©®o®®®I7 �7 • [�© ®®0 0©Gil© DCII© DI2112 ©©D 2 log tends to became loyal to this superstition in the future. In fact, he would involuntarily hump up if chance caused him to walk under the Arch of Trie umph. So much for the way leg- ends start. Team bells and sleigh bells were not the same thing. Team bells wore east, hacl some brass in them, and had pitch. They attached to the !tante straps on the collar and swung with the movement of the horse, You would have an alto and a tenor on a team, so to speak,and by the sound of your bells the coun- tryside would know who You were, Bess Means didn't sound like Hod Marston, Across frozen snow on a sub -zero morning the team bells were as brave a sound as ever smote the human ear, and the one thing they did not do was jingle. Sleigh bells jingled. They were not made from bell metal, but were pressed into little balls with a cross -mark cut in the top. Inside there was a free- moving shaker, like a pea in a. whistle. Whole dozens of these would be riveted by the harness maker to the bellyband or br'eastband. Sometimes there was a bell -strap, like a surcingle. that you simply fastened to the summer harness when winter came. The little hobbits would shake and fret as the horse trotted, and it was a sound com- pletely different from the clear- cut ringing of team bells. A cow bell, incidentally, was still another thing. Cow bells were made from sheet metal, shaped and riveted and hung with a fairly heavy clapper. Cow bells didn't ring at all, but had a gong note, flat and unres anent, Here in Maine there was certainly no legendary meaning to the cow bell our old pas- tures were juniper and ledge and tall growth, and a cow was. ex- pected to go find her grazing, as best she could. If you didn't, have a bell on her you'd never find her come night. We had sheep bells, too, Now, there was another kind of bell, about like a sheep bell, which attached under each shaft, fill or thill, of the sleigh or pung. It had team bell quality, but was smaller, and tended to tingle rather than swing. Instead of swinging from. a strap, they were rigid to the wood, and reng when the clapper swung. This kind of bell was never attached to buggies, wagons and carts - only to things with runners. I cannot believe this suggests that only runners were intended in Zech, 14:20, or that Maine peo- ple. had no need of exorcising evil spirits in the summertime I am sure if the legendary rea- sons were valid, somebody would have rung a bell now and then in July, which has always been cur month of - very poor sledding. - By John Gould in the Christian Science Monitor. ,LUMINOUS EARS Fashions at St. Tropez change faster than they do in New York. Probably because it's about the hardest place in the world to be noticed. So, to relieve the mon- otony of the bare expanse be- tween her bikini's bra and briefs, the ahead -of -the -trend girl will have the heads of wild animals drawn in charcoal on her midriff by the resort's most popular art- ists, a Paris correspondent writes. And to ensure attention in a dimly-lit ballroom, a cosmetician there suggested that ear lobes be daubed with a luminous, glitter -dusted , paint. DRIVE WITH CARE I LOST HIS HEAD - The snow didn't prevent David Graves, of Ilford, England, from seeing the humorous side of a bleak day, With his head completely hidden by scarf and coat, he Married his snowman head under his arm while waiting at the St, Paul's bus stop, causing many a smile, SNOW BUNNY -Connie Michael, 3, offers a paper carrot to giant snow rabbit made by her father. THE FARM FRONT Johlo2usseil Can commercial cucumber growing in Canada be expand- ed? In an attempt to producea cucumber plant which will bear heavily, yet adapt readily to this country's sharp weather changes, the Ontario Agricultural Col- lege at Guelph, Ontario, has be- gun experimentsto cross a high- ly productive female cucumber plant from Michigan State Uni- versity ' with an Ontario male plant -derived from hardy stand- ard varieties. * * * The more female flowers a cucumber vine . produces, the more fruit it yields. Hybrid seed developed in the United States from a Michigan all -female plant h a s shown double normal .'yields in experi- mental plantings during the last two year's at the College in Guelph. It will be distributed to 40 Ontario growers this spring by the Matthews -Wells Co.. Ltd., to try out in haifacre plots 'along with their usual crops., Prof, T. O. Graham, of the Horticultural Department at O.A.C. has high hopes for the new Michigan. hybrid, which he helped to develop. But he would like to see an even hardier var- iety, produced. He has developed a male plant from standard strains, accustomed to the On- tario climate, which he will use with the•hybrid's all female par- ent, originated by D1'. C. E, Pe- terson of Michigan State Uni- versity, in an effort to deve'up as productive a vine as the new hybrid but with even sturdier qualities for growers in colder areas. * * * Experiments in sex -changing cucumbers have been going on at 0.A;C, under 'Prof. Graham's direction for several years. Only the female blossoms of a cucum- ber vine bear cucumbers. The others, which on standard vines outnumber females four or five to one, are non-productive males. The new hybrid bears fruit at every node, The Michigan hybrid vine, more compact than normal plants, requires half the acreage yet doubles the early yield of the small gherkin -size cucum- bers which bring the highest commercial price, Prof. Graham said. Because the vine does not expend its strength on non-pro- ductive flowers, the fruit devel- ops more evenly. Standard vines are usually picked every second day to remove the fruit while it is small. But the more evenly developing hybrid cucumbers need picking only each third day. * * * The hybrid showed better re- sults in the Ontario plantings than in areas farther south. This has encouraged the college to continue its cucumber experi- ments. Canadian cucumber fields are on the northern fringe of the best cucumber -producing geo- graphic belt. In the United States, cucumbers are the top , processed - vegetable crop, In Canada, they rank third to po- tatoes and tomatoes, Yet Cana- dian pickle packers could use larger cucumber crops if grow- ers stepped up their production * '* * Farm mechanization is driving thousands of workers and hun- dreds of families from their homes in the southern United States. Field hands flock to, town, looking .for jobs. Whole; families, uprooted from farms of small acreage which had been their homes for genera dohs, abandon their places and go into town to try to start an entirely new way of life. The old boat in song of "pick a bale a day" is puny before the' relentless march of machin- ery across cotton fields. The me- chanical cotton picker can har- vest many bales a day, Nimble fingers and a strong back no longer count, * * Machinery has been a boon to growers, even while it has forced the field hands from the farms. - It .is a trend that is not con- fined, but is a region -wide prob- lem, although more intense in certain areas. From east Texas to the Atlantic Ocean farms have felt its force. Abandoned farm homes stand in mute testimony to this change. It is a change that began before World War II, but which has picked up speed since the war. The cutback in labor force has amounted to about 3 per cent, according to official figures. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta comments in its monthly review that "because future adjustments in the farm labor force will in- fiuence southern economic growth, this pattern of change is of great significance," * * * Because they have only their labor to sell, while the land- lords provide the land, capital, and management, the southern tenants have been close to the bottom of the agricultural in- come scale. They have little credit to use in borrowing money for expanding or going into busi- ness on their own. These and other disadvantages have driven tenants from farms into other work at a rapid rate since the end of World War II. While this has been apaprent in all of the South, it is most pronounced in northern Ala- bama, northern Georgia, and the northern• tiers of counties in Florida. * * * Farm tenancy has waned least in the sugar cane belt of Louisi- ana. Negro farm families, usually engaged as sharecroppers or renters, are fewer than ever in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississip- pi. Some of the tenant families have tried to make a go of it on small farms. But their lack of skill, education, and capital and their background of being supervised rather than making management decisions put a big handicap before them. A Visitor From Mount Everest At an impromptu dinner in Washington in his honor recently Sir Edmund Hillary, tall, craggy New Zealand explorer -conquer- or of Mt. Everest's snow-covered summit laid claim to yet an- other world record, "I'm probably the most trav- elled tourist -class air passenger to, be photographed exiting from first-class passenger cabins at the request of the airlines." Late afternoon had arrived and the Hiilarys' Washington host and hostess, Dr. and Mrs, Edward C. Sweeney, were still net sure their guests of honor would arrive. The reception com- mittee for Sir Edmund and Lady Louise at the Washington air- port Included New Zealand's air attache, Wing Commander ,lohn R. Claydon and his family. (Claydon was pilot and com- manding officer on Hillary's Antarctic flight when plans were being laid for the United Xing- door's spectacular trans -Antarc- tic trek by Sir Vivian Fuchs and party from the Weddell Sea through the South Pole Station to the Ross Sea.) The flash -bulb barrage follow- ed by the front-line advance of reporters took too long a time for the three Hillary youngsters, Peter 7, Sarah 5 and Belinda 3, but they stood by like old troop- ers. "At least they didn't hand me a skull and all ask questions at once in three or four different languages," said Sir Edmund later, remembering a previous occasion when photographic props were at a premium and someone came up with some- thing supposed to be "approp- riate" to the return of Hillary and his party from a hunt in the Himalayas for the "Abominable Snowman." "You'll never be able to con- vince the Sherpas that Yetis are not real, live, rugged creatures, native to the heights of southern Asia," he said, "but after long experience and a careful study of the matter, I'm certain there is no such creature." Sir Edmund told of many hours spent with the natives of northern India and Nepal., list- ening to wild tales about the supposed supernatural abilities of the Yeti, how one can follow fresh tracks for hours, then, just as a face-to-face meeting is im- minent - the mysterious "sn':w- men" will disappear, writes Her- bert B, Nichols in the Christian Science Monitor. That's the way the natives tell it, and they have tried to back up their stories with all sorts of supposed Yeti oddments - "in- cluding some pretty grisly but obviously human remains," he said. "I do believe the tracks everyone has been following, in- cluding myself, are those of the Himalayan blue bear." Sir Edmund is here "until the end of the year" to give a long series of lectures. He hopes to do quite a bit of camping with Lady Louise and the children between talks. "We plan to really rough it a bit," he said, "no posh motels - sleeping bags and camp fare for everybody." Next year Sir Edmund plans another Himalayan expedition, this time to the summit of Ta- weche in Nepal, a peak still un - climbed. NDAYSCfl001 LESSON By Rev. it. B. Warren, B,A„ B.B. The Cross Calls Us Titus 2:11-3;8. As we approach Good Friday, all Christendom pauses to thank- fully acknowledge Christ's death for us. Christians are divided in many things such as forms of church government, ritual, eta, But when we approach the cross, there is an amazing unity. Here is an outstanding fact of history which stands as a watershed in history. We recognize this when we write on our letters, 1962, The purpose of the cross is clear, "God was In Christ reconciling the world to himself." A man was asked, "When were you saved?" Ile replied, "Nearly two thousand years ago but I just found it out eighteen years ago." The provision for our sal- vation was made by Christ in his death for us. But this provision does not avail for us until we turn from our wicked ways and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, Our memory selection speaks • of our crucifixion with Christ. Here it is: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Gala- tians 2:20, We are not literally crucified on a cross of wood, but in a very real way we are identified with Christ in his death. The word for "I" in the expression, "yet not I," is, in the Greek, pro- nounced "ego." In order that we may sharein the benefits of Christ's death, the "ego" or big "I" is crossed out, Now we live by the faith of the Son of God. The theme is then, in the words of the poet: "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me; Alt His wondrous compassion and purity. 0, Thou Spirit, divine, all my nature refine. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." A little girl said to a visitor in the hospital, "Are you Jesus?" He replied, "No, but I ane trying to represent Him." "Oh," she said, "I thought you looked like Him," Q. Is it proper for a family to follow its usual custom of speak- ing a blessing before the meal when there are guests at the meal? A. There is no question of "propriety" here. Devotion to one's religious principles is al- ways in perfect order. ISSUE 14 - 1962 8. Append 29- Beseech 9. Piece of 32. wolf baked clay instructor 10. Russian city 34. Sever 11, Fermented 36 Vases with drink fest 16. Arabic letter 36. Policeman's ACROSS DOWN 20. Evergreen stick 1. Be defeated 1. Mother of tree 30. Pack 6 Scratch 13elen of Troy 22, Melody 30. Father 8. Jot 2 Finished 23. Spoke about 40. Prevaricator 12. Perpetuallq3. School term briefly 91. Quantity of 13. Rubber tree 4. Bonner than 24. Poisonous medicine 14. Confiagra-snake 43. Alms chest tion 16. Comported oneself 11. Fldo's antagonist. 15. a>uido's second note 19 Ile located 20 Land for [inane 91 Levantine ketch 22. Mingle 24. Craltsman 27. Tarradiddle 80 Early Irish tenant 31. Play on words 32. Star facet 33, Unit of tight intensity 34. Arresting 36, Hebrew month 37, Smooth 38, Divide Into shares 41. Put on 42. Oriental lute 45. Part of a kite 46 Work together 48. Gem 49. i]tnploy 50 Formerly 61, Cautious 52. Flower plot 51 014 nnth CROSSWORD PUZZLE 5. Of local 20. Electric fish 44. Coarse grass government 26. Drinking stem 6. On the shel- vessel 46. Young tered side 27. Swooning reporter 7. rnd1eal 28. Tavern 47. Amer, author 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ' 8 9 to 11 12. 13 14 15 6 17 IB• I9g 2o p e 21 22 AO' 2 '•::� C :4�'••':. 24 25 26 ' 27 28 29 3o 31 32 33 f 34 35 0'.•'-,:N.86 37 •,•Ss._,,�1 38 • 39 40 ``3 41 42 43 44 45 0 46 47 48 i�?:• 1�. 50 51 1 52 k::::..53 2-,6 Answer elsewhere con this page SUSPENDED ADMIRATION - Mernbers of the German Gymnastic team look on as Staff Sgt, Richard Gradley does one of his special gymnastic stwit4 i4, Aldershot, England,