The Huron Expositor, 1963-11-28, Page 4WO, SEAVQAT
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Bit GAVE ITS A, 14ATION
ift From Jo
(B $ , M. I1! KECHNIE)
This. a Canadian Christmas
story of nearly 100 Years ago.
It ia.:not a story of jingling
sleigh holly wreaths and
naming plum pudding.
Its a story of a lonely man
(soon to be a prime minister)
ezkjoying a solitary feast cif
toast and tea in a hotel bed-
room.e
and putting he200 miles finalmtouches
on the blueprint for Canada's
na,tiOnhood.
A is Christmas day 1866.
!:e Weeks earlier the men
ww IoW call the Fathers of Con-
fetlefi&tion—five Nova Scotians,
five New Brunswick and six
froil'i the Canadian Provinces
(Oi tario and Quebec)—arrived
in London to present their plan
for p ederation of all British
North America to the Imperial
go, terument.
IIey all Stayed at the West -
jjuncter Palace Hotel, at the
tion of Victoria and Tothill
stOets (within, sight of West-
magster Abbey) where a ground
floor concert room provided
thheir meeting place.
One Voice
The delegates were far short
of agreement on details of the
terms. But they wanted to ask
with a unanimous voice for the
measure which the British Par-
liament would need to pass to
accomplish their purpose.
So they worked steadily with
little time for social affairs.
Nevertheless, on Dec. 11, three
of the "Canadian" delegates,
John A. Macdonald, George
Etienne Cartier and Alexander
Galt went for a two-day visit
to Highclere Castle, Newbury,
the home of the Earl of Carn-
arvon, the Colonial Secretary
duce the confederating bill in
n A. Macdonald
and the man who was to intro -
the House of Lords,
They spent a pleasant two
days and returned to their Lon-
don hotel late on the evening
of December 12. Macdonald
said goodnight to his colleagues
in their common sitting room
and retired to his bedroom with
a bundle of Canadian newspa-
pers newly arrived.
It seems he climbed into bed
to enjoy the news from home
and dozed off. Historians don't
agree on whether there was a
FRESH FLOWERS and POTTED PLANTS
Make Ideal Christmas Gifts!
GIFT CHINA
WE HAVE' A HOST
OF DISTINCTIVE
GIFT IDEAS!
Table Centres
Xmas Novelties
Corsages
Wreaths
• Decorative Bulbs
• Room Decorations
• Yule Table Pieces
Tinsel -Roping -Snow
For the youngster or adult that has
everything
Canaries or Budgies
Wide Selection
ALUMINUM TREE
1
Alone
He wrote to Louisa:
"I had a merry' Christmas
alone in my own room, and my
dinner of tea and toast. I drank
all your healths in bohea,
though you didn't deserve it. I
was to have gone to Evan Mc-
Pherson's to dinner, if I did
not go down to William Clark,
but I could do neither. The
town is quite empty, and I have
no news to tell."
What he didn't tell .his Sister
was that, before .their departure
on Christmas Eve, the other
delegates perhaps influenced by
the season, left the Prig details
of the confederation rief in
Macdonald's hands. Unanimity
had been achieved.
And so, on Christmas Day,
1866, Macdonald tidied up the
final draft, put his signature on
the document which history de-
scribes as the "London Resolu-
tions" and dispatched it to Lord
Carnarvon at the Colonial Of-
fice.
Macdonald wrapped up a
present to the Canadian peo-
ple.
Then he sat back to enjoy
his Christmas toast and bohea
(which, for non-bohea-drinkers,
is black tea of the lowest qual-
ity).
lamp or a candle beside the
bed. But Macdonald himself
wrote that he was awakened
some time later "by intense
heat."
His bed was on fire.
True Version
Here's the story as he told it
in a Boxing Day letter to his
sister Louisa:
"For fear that an alarming
story may reach you, I may as
well tell it to you as it occur-
red.
"Cartier, Galt and myself re-
turned from Lord Carnarvon's
place in the country late at
night. I went to bed, but com-
menced reading the newspapers
of the day, after my usual fash-
ion I fell asleep, and was awak-
ened by intense heat:
"I found my bed, bed clothes,
and curtains all on fire. I didn't
losevmy presence of mind—pull-
ed down the curtains with my
hands, extinguished them with
the water in my room.
"The pillow was burnt under
my head, and bolster as well.
All the bed clothes were blaz-
ing. I dragged them all off on
the floor, and, knowing the ac-
tion of feathers on flame, I
ripped open bolster and pillows
and poured an avalanche of
feathers on the blazing mass,
and then stamped out the fire
with my hands and. feet.
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DECORATIONS
and GIFTS
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FLOWERS
Electrical Appliances -- Sales & Service
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Legion Auxiliary
Has Nominations
The November meeting of the
Ladies' Legion Auxiliary open-
ed with Mrs. M. McGrath pre-
siding. Mrs. Margaret Cooper
won the monthly draw of $3.00.
Applications for membership by
Mrs. Donelda Barry was approv-
ed and Mrs. Barry was initiated
into the auxiliary.
Mrs. Scott read a letter from
the Seaforth Scouts, thanking
the ladies for the flag and bold-
er. The flag was •dedicated at
St. Thomas' Church when the
Legion marched to their Re-
membrance Service. Reports
were read by the various com-
mittees. Mrs. McGrath asked
the ladies to cater to Teen Town
banquet in December. The No-
vember lunch committee made
plans for the Knights of Colum-
bus banquet, also arrangements
were made to give a lunch to
the men on Nov. 11, also a pot-
luck supper in the evening, and
to give the High School Band
hot chocolate and doughnuts.
It was decided to have a pot-
luck supper at the December
meeting, also exchange gifts.
The ladies are also bringing
gifts of toys for the Sick Chil-
dren's Hospital at London.
At this point of the .meeting,'
Mrs. McGrath vacated the chair
and Mrs. Margaret Cooper took
over for nomination. The of
ficers for 1964 are as follows:
President, Mrs. Ina McGrath
(accl.); first vice-president, Mrs.
Reg Coombs (accl.); second vice.
president, Mrs. Eva Brown
treasurer,
Coombs (accl); secretary, hetary Mrs
Barbara Scott (accl.); sergeant -
at -arms, Mrs. Racho (accl.) ;
executive, Mrs. H. Dillon, Mrs.
Grace Miller, Mrs. A. Watson,
Airs. M. Chapple, Mrs. Peg
Howart; sports officer, Mrs. A.
Sallows,
"Lest the hair mattress might
be burning internally, I then
went to Cartier's bedroom, and,
with his assistance carried all
the water in three adjoining
rooms into mine, and finally ex-
tinguished all appearance of
fire. We made no alarm, and
only Cartier, Galt and myself
knew of the accident.
"After it was all over it was
then discovered that I had been
on fire. My shirt was burnt on
my back, and my hair, fore-
head and hands scorched. Had
I not worn a very thick flannel
shirt under my nightshirt, I
should have been burnt to
death. As it was, my escape
was miraculous.
"It was found that my right
shoulder • blade was much
scorched. So I got it dressed
and thought no more of it. In
a day or two, however, I found
that it would not do, and have
been under the doctor's hands
for a week.
"The wound at one time took
an ugly look, I was kept in bed
for three days, and have not
left the house these eight days.
I shall take a drive today if the
doctor allows it when he calls
to look at my back. So much
for that story."
On Christmas Eve the Cana-
dian delegates all went off to
enjoy the festivities at the
homes of English friends—all,
that is, but John A. Macdonald,
The doctor refused to allow him
to leave his room.
Records Fall
Be a Popular Santa! Select
AUTOMOBILE GIFTS
From Our Many Practical Auto Accessories !
SEAT BELTS
Come in today and select
a set of Seat Belts for
you car.
Buy from Our Stock of
ATLAS and OTHER
POPULAR MAKES
SNOW TIRES
Be ready to GO when it snows!
LADIES! —. A Popular Gift
Suggestion for your man !
J
•
GIFT WRAP
4
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Your Car With
New Seat Covers
CAR HEATERS
Be warm and comfortable.
Let us install a new heater
for you.
Select These
Solve Your Shopping
Problems Here !
o Safety Jacks
• Fog Lights
• Bumper Guards
• Fender Mirrors
ETC.
Practical Gifts At
ROWCLIFFE MOTORS
Phone 267 Seaforth
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Christmas records tell us of
the biggest punchbowl ever
seen. It was staged in an
orange grove at Alicante at a
party given by the Admiral
commanding the British Medi
terranean fleet, and the "punch
bowl" was actually an artificial
lake. .4 boy rowed around the
lake filling the glasses for the
6,000 guests. The ingredient
for this massive bowl of Punch
(were: 4 hogsheads of brandy;
1 barrel of Malaga wine; 20
gallons of lime -juice; 8 hogs-
heads of water; 2,500 lemons;
nearly three-quarters of a ton
of sugar, and 5 pounds of nut-
meg.
`KU
1444.
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Dine at
1NONG'S CAFE
Good Food at
Low Prices !
We serve superb food, with deft, courteous service, in
pleasant, spotless surroundings at Moderate Prices.
We hope you'll try us!
— SPECIALIZING IN CHINESE FOODS —
Try our Festive Holiday Meals
and Take -Out Orders
- WE EXTEND SEASON'S GREETINGS
TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
Candy For Christmas Giving
SOFT DRINKS – CIGARS -- CHOCOLATES
ICE CREAM
WONG'S CAFE
In the •Cardna Block
woartivato
Seaforth
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SNOWBLOWER .
Don't Be Trapped By Heavy
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The low initial cost of the new Snow-
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lanes. The high standard of work-
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cost. Made of heavy gauge steel
throughout with full penetration
welding, the Snowblower offers a
superior product of rugged depend-
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unit can be changed from forward to
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• Can be hooked on either end.
• has been designed and tested to meet
rugged farm needs.
• Will handle all types of snow . •
blowing it 35' - 60' away from the road-
way.
• Has a special heavy duty pulverizing
cutter assuring a smooth flow of snow
into the fan.
• Has concave heavy gauge steel win• gs
r set at an angle which allows the snow
to move easily into the fan.
• Is full penetration welded.
• Features adjustable hood which al-
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in both forward and reverse operation.
• Clears 72 -inch path.
• Fitted for standard 3 -point hitch on
front and back of plow, permitting plow
to operate equally well with tractor
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For Information or Demonstration:
Hurpn Canadian Fabricators
PTIONE 467
Market Street at High =-• "Oite Block West of Town Hall
SEAFORTH
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