The Huron Expositor, 1979-01-18, Page 100, �**; THE :HURON. 'EXPOSITOR, JANUARY 17,. lin
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Maty Ptekford galled him "Chareleon Arthur" and a
,critic dfthe day labelled 'him a "`combination, of
contradictions.",
The many they were speaking of •.was Arthur Stringer.
;one of Canada's most prolific ,authors, of light ±,erse acrd
Popular•fiction, •
The contradictions in Stringer's life started' in hiss family
backgronnd
tRANDEATH`R'
His grandfather, on the paternal: side. 'Was a fiery
Yorkshireman who was an ardent follower of William Lyon
MacKenzie in the 1$37 rebellion and was forced 10 flee to
the United States, to escape prosecution.
ironically, Stringer's maternal grandfather was a proud
loyalist officer. one of the military: officers whin hunted
down. the rebels involved in the conflict in upper Canada.
BORN
,Arthur John Arbuthnott Stringer, their grandson. was
born in 1874 in Chatham, and spent'. the first ten years of
his. Life in a variety of exploits along the bank of the
Thames River:
Years later. Stringer immortalized hit younger days in
Lonely O'Malley,an autobiographical novel; based on
some of his adventures - like finding religion at. a negro
revival meeting, only to lose it again when he stole the.
family horse and surrey to chase the Indians he imagined
lurked nearby. Nowa the tail, gangly young man decided it Was time to
But Stringer has been officially Claimed as a resident of take the big plunge.
London, since it was here he first made his early literary The plunge was the decision to become a freelance
mark,.and he the w
received thdihin t�n.einto. d him iJ w.
. riter, and Stringer.and two other young Canadians with
a writer, similar. ambitions rented an old brownstone on Fifth
I.ONDOS Avenue and 'went int° business,
,. i! , , ,: „, ! :
steady :employment.
Hisfirst job Was '.working for the Pere Marquette
Railway, in Saginaw, Michigan. where he spent his days
figuring the coal consumption of freight and passenger
engines. and spent 'his nights turning Out ;prose fast and `
furiously,
FortunateIC his, freelance articles: caught the eve "of
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Joseph, Atkinson of the Montreal Herald,and the ,editor
�sho telegraphed Stringer offered hini a job with the paper.
This. was the escape Stringer had longedyfor. and he
AVVViltvd the j;Qb im edt4tely,.
' REPORTER
like any novice reporter. Stringer's chores were varied:
everything from ,compiling the papers obituaries to
writing a society column. But Stringer's literary talents
earned him some extra privileges, and he soon took over
the paper's drama and music, reviews, and published his
verse in the paper's feature pages.
But Stringer's writing was destined for even larger
audiences, and he was invited to New York to workfor the
American Press ;Association. Work, was exactly what he
did - and in his, time with the ,press: group,. Stringer turned.
out articles and copy under 11 different non's de plume.
By 1890, Arthur Stringer was also a published
non-fiction writer, with a book of prose about the horrors of
child life in New York City. •
later, their son achieved local acclaim by winning. the
Diploma .of Honor. The diploma was awarded to the
London student withthe highest standing in his high
school entrance examinations, -
Arthur Stringer's literary ambition 'aiso blossomed in
the city. While attending the London Collegiate institute,
Stringer founded and became chief editor of the school
magazine.
Once Stringer started down the literary path, there was
• no containing •him, , •
While the writer- was still an undergraduate at the
University of Toronto: he published his first volume of
poetry. Watchers of Twilight; wrote feature articles for the
Canadian magazine and-. had. a' regular e(aumn on
university life in Toronto Saturday Night:
,After capping his academic career' with a year at Oxford
University. Stringer was forced settle into the routine of•,•
The Stringers Came to London in 1884, and two years•
Freelancing, even in those days, was a hazardous
occupation and the three men slept on army cots, and lived
for weeks at a timee on oatmeal and porridge and tomato
slush.
The one room where they wrote was nicknamed the
chamber of a thousand sorrows, and they papered it with
their rejection slips • from magazines around the world.
What little income the men did earn came from short
feature articles produced for the. Saturday pages of the
New York papers. These articles brought in 25 cents a line,
and the men pumped `them out - on everything from the
smells of Harlem to the charm of Long island.'
Stringer also continued with his first love, poetry, and
soon became friends with two other expatriate Canadian
writers -Bliss Carman' and Charles G,D. Roberts.
By 1900, Arthur Stringer was on the route of both fame
and. romance.
Next week: Arthur Stringer's love and success.
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Renovations; to begin soon at Seaforth "Legion
Renovations will soon be- done by Ken Smith 22nd, The guest speaker will:'• Any one', interested in the
competition.' may enter
If anyone has information
about three missing trophies..
please,, contact the legion
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gin at Seaforth. Legion, This Construction and will, corn-. be.Rev. Roberts of Egmond
will consist of removing the : mence as soon as the support 'ville United Church.
wall separating the "Ladies' beam is fabricated, A cribbage tournament.
and Escorts" Room from the Brotherhood Night will be ' will be=held. January27 at: 2
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ain area.. The work will be held. •Thursday, February o'clock
, executive.
Eric Peterson as Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop flies
again at Blyth
Billy Bishop, an exuber nt
musical recounting af� t e
adventures ` of .Western
Ontario's World War One
flying ace. will take off at
Blyth Memoriasl Hall; on
Wednesday,' Jan. 24, , and
again on 'Wednesday, 'Jan.
31. at 8 p.m. Eric Peterson:
welt -known in theseparts as
the funniest of Theatre Passe
Muraille's troupe stars as
1silly. the nawx,survivor,
andhcro who shot down. 72
German .planes, won the
Victoria Cross and stayed
alive,
Billy Bishop was 'a farm
boy from Owen Sound whose
irrepressible high 'spirits
kept him in constant trouble.
With its music, songs, and
boistrous script by John
Gray, author of 18 Wheels,
Eric Peterson's Billy Bishop
is described as a triumph in a
two. page article ` in the •
December 4th issue` of. Mac-
Lean's magazine The show
was heldover for four weeks
to Vancouver and is begin-
ning an extensive tour of
Ontario. If you are tired of
seeing Canadians portrayed
is losers, be. `assured Billy
Bishop is a winner!!
The performances at Blyth
Centre for -the Arts.
Admission is $4.00 for
adults, $2.50 for children.
For reservations please. call •
523-9403.
Children from the ages 4 to
7 are invited to participate ,in.
stories, songs, games and
crafts. This program is
offered free of Ycharge to:
encourage children -toi-use•
their public library,
Many people -say they,
would like to be able to go to
' the library in he.. morning.
This is espech Ily true of
1'`
people who. live in the eoun-
try ndi generally come to
town to shop in the morning.
To t to accomodate these
patrons; Huron County
Library has decided to open,
Seaforth: Public 'Library' on
Friday mornings from 10:00.
to -12.00 noon.
Asa result, the library will
be closed on Friday evenings.
This should not inconveni-
ence anyone,as.the library
will still be open Monday,
Tuesday .and. Thursday eve-
nings. Ttte Staff at the library
hopes that patrons will take
advantage of this,. time
change.- ,_-•_- •.
Storyhour has resumed 'at
its' regular time from 1:30 to..
9
2:0, -every Saturday
moon:
after -
(12 Teams)
Fr
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th.
6 P.M. Minor Hockey Games Start (Atom Hockey)
8:00 P.M. CASINO -,NITS [Arena] Admittance Free
12 MidnighttDOLD BUFFET Available - $2.50
Snowmobilers "Rally Round" You're Welcome at the Arens.
Hockey Fans Welcome Upstairs to Lounge
UNDAY, JANUARY 21st':.
A.M.: Carnival Breakfast [At Opt. Park*uildingj to 12 P.M.
: Everybody Welcome .
9 A.M, - MINOR HOCKEY FltvALS
2 P.M SNOWMORILE POKER RALLY
• from Optimist Park
[Registration 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.]
CLASS' A - Participant $3.00. per entry
CLASS B Spectator $3.00 per entry •
2 P.M. - Cross .Country: Ski Poker Rally •
Class C. Participant $2.00 ea.
3:00 p.m. ' Hockey "B" Championship Fine
4:00 P.M. Hockey "A" Championship Final
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anuary
SATURDAY, , Jj
20th
9:00 : 12:00 a.m. BREAKFAST
9:00 a.m. ATOM• r..,C........ TOURNAMENT
--
9:00` a.m.
SNOW SCULPTURING [Optimist Park]'
CLASS A - ELEMENTARY GRADES -1-5
with supervision
CLASS B'— ELEMENTARY GRADES 6 - 8
No supervision.
Open to all Elementary Schools in the area.
10:00 a.m. PAUL BUNYON CONTES i Parte
12:00 Noon JUDGING OF SNOW SCULPTURING
12:Ou Noon STEAK & PEANS - DINNER cooked in the
outdoors at 'Park.
Sat afternoon free sleigh rides
9:00 p.m. WINTER CARNIVAL BALL - Seaforth Legion!
Music by "Nile -Lines" ""
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Admission $6.00 couple door.
° Advance .Tickets available at Seaforth insurance
and The Forge, • '
9:00 'p
.m. WINTER. CARNIVAL DANCE - Seaforth Arena
Music by Lincoln Green"
Admission - $3.00 per person 19 years and over
Advance Dance • Tickets .- Tickets will be
available of the door ."Furst Come, First Served's
ENTRY FORM'
PAUL BUNYON CONTEST
NAME ...
• 1 ADDRESS:., . .. . , . , .....:. PHONE•
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EVENTS ICircle numbers of dealred events, please]
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1 1 Cross Cut: Saw -`Cut, aplft and' pile '%, cord of wooa
1 2. Chain Saw -i Cat, split and pile' Vi cord' of wood'
3.• Crosscut Saw Fastest lime
4. Swed Fustiest bate
• .1 5. Axe - Fastest dme:
`I. 6. Firelighting
1 7. Arm Wreaung
E
8. Broom Handle 'Fuming, Enter them all or enter one - Entry.Fee-$2.00 per person,
1 for entire contest • • -
In case of injury to the applicant. the applicant or patents
of, herewith waive all claims against'The•Seaforth
1 Optimist Club.and`members there of.
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Signature of Applkant 1,
Lunch. Booth open at OpfimisfP�rkSw4ay
• Co-C.ha rmen Doug Sinal and Larry Wesen ierg
Suppori yo Ur o ca Service Clubs in their continued • nvoltre:ment
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