Loading...
Zurich Herald, 1957-05-23, Page 3Grarnadma's First .Automobile Ride To Grandma, the automobiles, phonographs, and telephones that came into our town during my boyhood were. "contraptions." When the Youngs stopped at the house to let us admire their first .car she exclaimed, "You'll never get inc into that contraption!" When the Dawsons' first talking machine spluttered a concert at her, Grandma told Mrs. D.: "Now -there's a contraption I don't un- •derstand." The man who tried to sell her a telephone installa- tion heard his offering similarly labeled, but with this concession: "Well, it's probably all right, but I can talk enough without one." Grandma's adjustment to the encroaching mechanics of the musc#e-flexing 20th Century was rather easy and pleasant. She was thrilled when called across the street to talk by phone with her daughter in New York, and she listened rapturously to Caruso, Kubelik, and Schumann - Heinle brought into the Rey- nolds' living room by a victroia -much grander than the Dawsons' morning glory horn. Her pro- fessed aversion to the automo- bile, as a matter of fact, did not survive the first invitation to a ride. I accompanied. Grandma on her maiden motor trip. It took place One weekday afternoon when I was supposed to be in school, but she reasoned, quite correctly, that so important an event had greater educational value than two hours of instruction by the sovereign State. of New York. Our hosts were the Youngs, Mr. Young, proprietor of a local mill, was unfettered by routine, academic or otherwise, and could go riding when he chose. Mrs. 'Y., whose household facilities in- cluded an upstairs as well as a downstairs maid, and mahogany paneling in the dining room, was similarly unshackled. Both were. Grandma's good friends and en- joyed "doing things" for her. She received their favors gratefully, but insisted on keeping her end up -a jar of .grape jelly for Mrs.. Young (who, Grandma said, couldn't make toast), a box of fudge for Mr. Young. This fortunate couple had the first chauffeur in our little com- munity. People differed on the pronunciation of his occupation, but everyone agreed that he was handsome in his olive green uni- form with its brass buttons and visored cap. The new panoply, it was felt, became him even bet- ter than had the coachman's garb which accompanied the Young's bay team into Academy Street's mempey book when progress dies. tated the'' shift• to internal com- bustion engineering. One spring evening the chauf- feur -he was called Mel -rang our doorbell while Grandma and I were at supper. He had a mes- sage: Mrs. Young hoped we would take a ride the next after- noon. My grandmother hesitat- ed the polite number ot split sec- onds, then accepted. As we went back to our meal she observed, "Well, you do see quite a few of those auto contraptions these days, and I suppose they're all right." The next day's expedition be-. gan auspiciously. Friend Mel, whose training for chauffeurship had included a briefing in auto- motive mechanics, looked highly professional behind his steering wheel and brass -girt windshield. Over his uniform was a buff "duster." Goggles . added to his disguise, if not to his dignity. "I see your daughter is practis- ing the harp. How is she getting on?" "Well, none of us are as keen on going to Heaven as we once were." Mr. Young, sitting in front beside him, and Mrs. Young, Grandma, and 1 in the back seat. The first few miles of our jour- ney, proved pleasantly exhilarat- ing. Trees, hills, houses and fields just flew by, and the wind was so strong Grandma could hardly retain her bonnet, It was like riding down Market Street in a roofless trolley car, only much bumpier. When Mrs. Young shouted to Mel, "How fast are we going?" he reported, rather proudly, that the gallant Packard had touched 30 on the last level stretch. He was advised to slow clown. A •little farther on the car sighed and stopped. The Youngs looked at each other and at Mel, who shrugged and got out. After tinkering with the engine brief- ly he "got under," as the saying was. Mrs. Young hoped he could fix it. "Don't worry," reassured her husband. "He took the course, didn't he?" But it was soon apparent that the present emergency had not been covered in Mel's training. "Get a horse!" suggested Grandma, boldly borrowing a phrase popular with carless folks. Mel emerged from his sub - chassis inspection just in time to hear her. "You're right," he nodded. "We'd better." Mr. Young pointed to a farm- house ahead. "Try there, Mel," he directed. In ten minutes a team attached to a whiffletree appeared up the road. "This is embarrassing," ob- served Mrs. Young. "Nonsense," said her husband gruffly. He was obviously rather sensitive. "Thank our lucky stars!" com- mented my grandparent. The horses, piloted by a man in overhauls, approached slowly as though they appreciated their importance and intended to make the most of it. Mel, burdened by his flopping duster, trudged behind. When the salvage party reached the car he climbed to his seat. "I think she'll start with a little pull," he told the farmer. A chain was fastened to the front axle and the team tugged. Down the road went potent horses and impotent horsepower, slowly, then briskly. The engine fired and we were once more on our own. The•farmer was dismissed, richer by five dollars, standard price of a short-range tow. We had clear sailing the rest of the way to the little lake that was our destination, but on the way home ... well, we met an- other farmer. This one was :an- euvering cows along the road. "Watche.,out! .cautioned : Mr..' Young. "Yes, sir," said Mel. The cattle, unaccustomed to the sounds emitted by a gasoline engine, fanned across the high- way. Again, Mr. ,Young coun- seled caution. The Packard was amid the herd now, and my intuitive grand- mother, as she said later, "just knew something was going to happen." Cow and car made contact; headlight glass tinkled; a damaged Holstein bellowed; and the motoring pilgrims were confronted by an irate farmer. Ignoring the car shattered left eye, he announced that Mr. Y. would pay him $40, and let's have no •argument about it. Our host: produced four tens. Somewhat subdued by this en- counter, the party proceeded. A few miles from home a tire blew. "Tires," commented Mrs. Young gravely, "ere more ex- pensive than cows. That one cost $60." When we finally reached our house, Grandma said to me: "That was an expensive ride, Sonny!" Doubtless Mr. Young thought so, too. -By John Cooley in The Christian Science Moni- tor. CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1. 4 9, 2 ACROSS 56. Turn 1118186 Recline nut Male duck 67. Dine Tibetan sheep DOWN 1. N"old over Ohio college 2. Mountain In town Crete ,3 Damollsned 3. Edible .4 Negligent 4. Melancholy .5 Heraldic cross 5.'I'inlgo tree (var.> 8 Charge for conveyance 19 Street urchin dl Ceruse t? Restaurant entertainment 25 ramous Amerlon n family 28 frame or a ship 29 Part ot ploW 61 Concerning 82 Scotch for one B4 Equine t4 Grown boy 35 New Testament lab.) 86 Oriental flower 37 Unit.of power 138, Beginners 40. Afternoon performance 48 Serpents 144. Anc. Philosophy 145. Lens -shaped seeds 48. Plower r61. Urge 52, Containers 64. Night before 65, Female deet' 1. N. 5. parrots 33. Religions Inn . 8. Train the 34. Aquatic mind mammal 9. Slope 36. Misplaced 10, Harass 37. 'False hair 11. Chopping tool 39 Scope 16. Of an era 41. Browned 18. Plog bread 20. Stupefy 49. Eastern 22. Religious European song 46. Guided 23. Pet name for 46. Self relative 47. Compass po1n8' 24. Play on 49. Miss Le strings Galllenne 26. Make 60, -Expose to speeches moisture 2?. Pr. security 53, Word of 30 Attempt hnsltatinn I z 3 i;r } q 5 6 7 8 , ;•y',; :;rrr 9 10 Il 15' 16 ;{<'t7 18 ,I.,r s„ �;r:� 19 20 ::21 21,• •5::••:'Z5 •�r �� r cit 20 'fj: 27 22•••23 28 32 n�,.:> • ih'v• _... 29 3o : ti;;f r 31 �.. ?r't1%33,;# V.. ems •t.••' i, 34 35 r 36 k 37 36 39 07T40 4 41 *h 'OA ,t;'{{ x `' 4 8 .15 45 46 1�, 4$ 49 50 51 53 c{ 51 55'v?e: f•4i-0 6 r . -0 Answer elsewhere on this page, PRETTY POGGONE , NICE -A couple of canine connoisseurs of such curbside necessities. study the spanking new paint job of this fireplug in Memphis. Judging by those rapt gazes, to their eyes this plug is almost "as lovely as a tree". WLFAIM FRONT Results of the first central pro- duction test for poultry, at Ot- tawa, show a wide range in the performance 'of commercial chicks, reports G. R. Wilson, Chief of the Poultry Production Section of the Canada Depart- ment of Agriculture's Production Service. . Q * b, Mr. Wilson says the First Cen- tral Production Test shows the great variation that exists in the performance of commercial chicks offered for sale in Canada. During the 500 day test the range in net profit per chick was from $3.95 down to $1.68. Livability throughout the test period rang- ed from 92.8 per cent. to 69 per cent. In egg production, a dif- ference of better than five dozen eggs per chick started, existed between the poorest pos a wing entry and the best egg iaymg entry. The best entry had an egg production record of 208 eggs per chick started, whereas, the lowest producing strain had a production of 146 eggs per chick started. Similar differ- ences were shown in egg size and feed required to produce a dozen eggs. The test is an extension of the R.O.P. Policy operated by the department's Production Service. It is designed to provide facilities for breeders to compare the per- formance of their stockwith that of other breeders, under common management conditions, and thus learn the factors on which they must concentrate in their breed- ing programs. Since the results of one test cannot be regarded as conclusive, details of the per- formance of individual entries will be released publicly only after further tests have been completed. e '8 The first test, which included all the commercially important egg breeds, indicated that there are a number of highly efficient egg -producing strains in Canada. The performance of the heavier breeds was assisted in that re- spect by the revenue from meat. Under the conditions of the Test, feed costs and egg returns from April 1, 1955 to August 13, 1956, (the period of the test) the aver- age net return over and above chick cost, per chick started, was $3.05. The Minister of Agriculture announced recently that the Agricultural Prices Support Board has been authorized to provide a support price for fowl produced in Canada. The sup- port is on the basis of a price equivalent to 23 cents per pound live weight at Toronto for top grade fowl five pounds and over, marketed for slaughter from August 1 to November 30, 1957, with appropriate differentials for other weights and principal mar- kets throughout Canada. The Minister stated he hoped by introducing this additional support for the poultry industry that a measure of stability would be provided in the main market- ing season for fowl. He indicated that this price was slightly above recent market prices. 0 e 0 This is the time of year when farmers are buying seed of le- gumes, such as alfalfa, sweet clover, red clover, and alsike clover. All these crops have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air and store it in small tuber- cles or nodules on their roots, says J. L. Bolton, Canada De- partment of Agriculture Forage Crops Laboratory, Saskatoon, Sask. This is done by the action of bacteria in the soil which in- fect the roots of the legume and change the nitrogen into nitro- gen compounds. It is estimated that the: bacteria on legume roots can fix up to 100 pounds of nitro- gen per acre per year -and this nitrogen can then be used either by the legume crop or any other crop following it. o '8 However, not all soils contain these bacteria and not all nitri- fying bacteria are the same. Some strains are of little value,•. and some may be actually harm= ful. Thus the only way to be sure that the crop is inoculated properly is to buy the inoculant when the seed is bought. All commercial inoculum is made up of tested strains and is likely to improve yield even though the soil may be naturally inoculated. For this reason, inoculation is recommended for all new seed- ings. 0 a n Sweet clover and alfalfa should be treated with the same kind of inoculum, but red and alsike clovers require a different kind. So when ordering, the kind of crop to be inoculated should be indicated. The cost is reason- able as 70 cents worth of inocu- lum will treat 60 pounds of seed. Complete directions for treating the seed come with the container. • • e Septicemia appears to be an- other disease of the adult honey- bee, and studies are being made by Canada Department of Agri- culture agriculturists at Ottaw* to determine how the disease is transmitted from healthy to sick bees and to find therapeutic sub- stances which will act as a con- trot. The extent of its occur - ranee in the beekeeping areas in Canada, however, is not known. * 4' 4 The disease is caused by soil bacteria, Bacillus apisepticus, which enter the body of the in- sect and develop in the blood. The symptoms of bees which have died as a result of the di- sease are somewhat similar to those caused by other diseases. The dark and greasy appearance of the abdomen is a symptom of bees infected with Septicemia but the same symptom is also apparent in bees heavily infect- ed with Nosema disease. One symptom, however, which ap- pears to be specific is the ten- dency of the body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) to separ- ate when the dead bees are han- dled. Inoculation experiments indi- cate that the disease is not likely to be spread by food transmit- tance. When bees were fed sugar solutions containing the bacteria the disease did not develop but when sprayed with suspensions of the organism heavy mortality occurred. Will Flowers Become Scentless? Will many flowers have entire- ly lost their scents by the year 2057? Worried by the gradual loss of fragrance in some flow- ers due to hybridization or in- terbreeding, some botanists are beginning to fear that in the next hundred years their subtle essen- ces may disappear. This may be a groundless theory but it has been noticed during recent seasons that violets have lost much of their perfume. Musk mysteriously lost its scent all over the world some. years ago, and plants that seem to be following suit are wall- flower, mignonette and sweet pea. A gardening expert said recently: "I deplore the tend- ency to work for size and colour in so many of our flowers at the expense of scent. The scent of a flower often adds to its beau- ty." Scent - makers :confirm that white and cream -colored blooms are best for fragrance. Hardly any orange -coloured flowers are of value for making scent. A few pale yellow flowers such as the American jasmine are useful. Pinks yield their scent only after having been in full sunshine for at least three hours. Only seven- ty-seven varieties • of yellow flowers are scented, compared with 951 which have no perfume. Frostbitten In Heatwave Doctors in the Pretoria Gen- eral Hospital, South Africa, thought someone was pulling their leg recently when they were told that a man had been admitted suffering from severe frostbite. "Impossible!" the senior medi- co declared, looking at the thermometer on the wall. It registered ninety-three degrees Fahrenheit. But it was perfectly true - there had been a hailstorm just before dawn and the man had cleared away debris and hail- stones with his bare hands, thus contracting a condition which is almost unknown in South Africa. UNMY SCIIOOL LESSON fly ltev. R. Rarvlay Warren B.A., B.O. A Man of Peace in a World of Strife Genesis 26: 17-28 Memory Selection: Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5: 9. In 1916 H. G. Wells wrote: "The thought of war will sit like a giant over all human af- fairs for the next twenty years. It will say to all of us: 'Set your houses in order. If you squabble among yourselves, waste time, mitigate, muddle, snatch pockets and shirk obli- gations, I will' certainly come again -Go on muddling, each for himself, his parish, and his family, and none for the world; go. on in the old way, stick to your rights, stick to your claims, each one of you make no con- cessions and no sacrifices, ob- struct, waste, squabble, and pre- sently I will come again: " His prediction has come true, and the giant of war still hovers over us. Let us learn a lesson frond. Isaac. He prospered greatly as he sojourned in the land of the Philistines. The Philistines en- vied him and the king finally asked him to leave. In Gerar while digging a well he came on a spring. The herdmen o'3 Gerar said, "The water is ours" Rather than fight about it Isaac's servants dug another well. But the herdmen claimed that one, too. So Isaac moved on and dug still another. Later he went on to Beersheba where God esta- blished his covenant with him. Also the king of the Philis- tines came with his army chief, saying, "We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, 'Let there be now an oatlii betwixt us- and let us make a covenant with thee.' " God blessed Isaac for taking the peaceful way. Even those who had envied him came to gain his favor. If we had more of Isaac's spirit in world affair§ there would be less tension. In- stead of seeing who can mak* the most destructive bomb let us seek the things that mak* for peace, In one home the story of Isaac's conduct served as an ex- ample. xample. When the children start- ed tarted to quarrel the mother would say, "Dig another well." We can dig another wall by ignoring some provocative words and deeds, and by returning good for evil "I want some flour that isn't like that last lot," said a young wife. "My husband could hard- ly eat the pie I made with it.'° Upsidedown to Prevent Peeking ODE MIME EEN NMI Rk]M7 EEPJ Rt7MO MEt0©©Et F&3 EMU EEMUBOMI ROMP MOO MIME BM MOE EINEM MU En ©©i© BE DEMO BEELJLL MOM MOO MOO u©©1LJ LaosOM MOM EIRE. SOCIAL AND BUSINESS CLIMBERS -Strictly for the birds, in so far as most of us are concerned, are the activities of the men pictured, above. At left, Casper College Mountaineers make use of old utility poles in their training tower. Instructor Walter Bailey, foreground, puts students through their paces as they learn safety routines for mountain climbing. Foreign mountaineers visit the installation often to study Bailey's roping techniques. At right, students in an aerial school for linemen observe instructor Cliff Bosch, right, replace an insulator on a "hot" 66,000 - volt wire.