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THE GUARDIAN

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"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Th0" the Weakest Ink."

CHARLOTTTYTOVVN. HIONDAY. DEC. 30, 1M8

Our Christmas Number

Today's Christmas number will, it is hoped, be enioyed by young and old. lt provides a very good answer to a favorite theory of the sceptics that Christmas has been so "commercialized" as wholly to have lost its meaning and its flavor. Gift-giving is an essential part of the spirit of the season-hence the persistent refusal cl Santa Claus to retire an old one pension-wad the mutual pleasure shared by giver and receive: is something which, if we had no Christmas, would have to be provided through some other channel to fill an immemorial human need. Our merchants have risen to the occasion, their stoic vrindo-ws and shelves being as richly stocked ai was any fabulous bazaar in the days of the cal- iphs. The prices are as various as the goods, and the bargain seeker will find many valuable tips in today's issue in this connection.

The Question

While the margarine ban has been lifted with respect to sale and manufacture so far as Federal lZQlSlOlIUII is rzrrceriicd, it is V~'0'lll rioting that two of the seven Supreme Court iudges dissented from the niaiority fin mg. Chief Justice Rinfret found that the entire sec- tion of the Dairy lndustry Act was within the power of Parliament on two main grounds.

He found, first, that rl came within Section 95 of the British North America Act, giving the Federal House iurisdiction aver agriculture. This section had not been raised in court, neverthe- less he considered that it supported the Act.

Further, he contended that the Act "has effect, notwithstanding any law of the legisla- ture of a province relating to agriculture which may be repugnant to it."

The Chief Justice termed the act "nothing more than the direct exercise of Parliament's iurisdiction over agriculture matters, or at least necessarily incidental and necessary for the ef- fective control of agricultural matters in respect to milk and its by-products."

”The fact that oleomargarine and margarine do not come directly from the cows (of (OM58 they do not) and the mere contention that they are not natural products but manufactured ar- ticles is not sufficient to remove them from the domain at the Federal Government in respect of agriculture . . . They are iust as much a dairy product as butter, cheese, ice cream . . ."

His second reason was that "the so-called prohibition is not prohibited at all but o regula- tion of trade and commerce and properly with- in rho (Qmpctenu; of Parliament under Section 91 of the B.N.A. /\ct."

Mr. Justice Patrick Kerwin, in his dissenting judgment, adopted a principle handed down by the Privy Council in a previous case and said this showed that "there is no ground on which it may be held that the legislation in question is not what it professes to be, an enactment creating a criminal offence in exercise of the powers vested in Parlianiint . . . . "

These minority iudgmcnts afford good grounds for an appeal to tho Privy Council, if this course should be decided upon.

Strong Lllierzil Protest

‘The news comes from Montreal that five Liberal members of Parliament have entered into a pact to strive for a substantial reduction of the income tax structure when the next bud- get is presented to Parliament. This announce- ment was mide at a public meeting held in Mon- treal ond attended by a large number of people. The M.P.'s under whose auspices the movement was launched are Roland Beaudrv, M.P. for St. James, Azellus Denis, M.P. Jar St. Denis, Sorta Fournier, M.P. for Haisanneuvc-Roscmaurit, G E. Lapalme, M. P, for Jaliette and Jean Le- sage M. P. for Montmagny-Ulslot. The keynote was struck by Mr. Beaudry, who made this declaration before the lY\"'2l'll1QI "The Farl- eral income tax is too high and I believe it should be reduced. ln any event, l will do my utmost to bring it down to half cl what it is now, doling the next sitting of Parliament."

Making Christmas Safer

A Connecticut tree surgeon has ‘reportedly discovered a spray that completely fire-proofs spruce and other evergreens generally used as Christmas trees. In a demonstration, trees, after being sprayed, were thrust into flames and did not ignite. As a consequence, the fire depart- ment of Hartford, Conn., has withdrawn a gen- eral prohibition, that has been in force since a disastrous fire in 1945, forbidding indoor Christmas trees in public places. The ban, how- ever, still applies to theatres and hospitals, so it may be that the Hartford fire department ‘is not 100 per cent satisfied that tho fireproof- ing is exactly what the wcrd implies. In the past it has happened that that which has been called fireproof falls short of the full mean- ing of what is claimed.

1'.‘ must be remembered, points out the s." t John Telegraph-Journal, that even if the tree il_:.'f is rendered fireproof by this spray, there are also decorations that are in some can: very inflammable. Perhaps they too can be rendered fireproof or at least highly resistant to fire. It would be a great thing if the fire haz- ard of Christmas trees could be completely oyorcomc. lt would banish one of the great

anxieties of the season. Until this is so, how- ever, and all trees and decorations are truly fireproof, the only thing is to exercise extreme care and constant vigilance. No unprotected lights should be allowed near the tree and no smoking in its vicinity; all electric lights and their connections should be examined minutely and the tree should be dismantled and carried outdoors before it becomes tinder-dry.

ltDIlURlAl. NOTES

l Stage plays in England were suppressed by

Cromwell this date 1649. "k .. 9r

This will be the first Christmas for three decades when it will not be o legal offence here to serve wine with meals.

. w i.

Too much is being heard of the spy scan- dal in Washington for the authorities to be tak- ing it seriously. "Much cry and little '00".

i X U i

The Federal Government may pussyfoot over margarine till after the by-election in the agricultural constituency of Carleton on the 20th. W I Q I Revenue Minister McConn has been able to hold out little hope of easing the tax bur- den, but it is something that the work of malc- ing out returns has been simplified. it It rk

The Transport Commissioners are as puzzl- ed as the average reader over what they have to do and how they are going to do it. Just another sample of bureaucracy run wild.

W fi ‘I This Christmas issue, to a large and ap- preciative extent, is medc possibie by the gen- arous support of our advertisers to whom read- ers will no doubt return heartfelt thanks- by bestowing generous patronage.

I * *

Ontario's Legislature is to open Feb. 10 and pioraguc sometime in March. Here, although we have fallen in with the Federal financial year we still hold our legislative sittings as if accounts were on a calendar year basis.

Just now when butter prices are high it is tempting to Ottawa to permit the introduction of margarine and other substitutes. The danger is that once manufacture has begun we will have vested interests in its continuance which may become powerful enough to prevent future steps to save the dairy industry.

.1 s a

An hour's wages will buy 60 per cent more food today than it would in 1913, according to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. Those who think that the farmer is "making a killing" are misled by remembering the depressed food prices of the ‘thirties.

f: Q I

Agriculture Minister Gardiner, speaking in London, has called for a solution ta the dollar problem which prevents Britain from buying the food she needs and which Canada can produce. His voice may be that of one calling in the wilderness of post-war destruction, but withythe faith that moves mountains of obstacles.

i 1'

lf we want to realize what this Province would become were dairy farming to cease or decrease considerably as the result of margarine ban being removed, let us look at the experience of Queensland and New South Wales, "where," we are told, "the country is literally blowing away." Our top six inches of fertilized soil is our salvation; lct that be deprived of natural ferti- lizer, and the sandy under-foundations will fol- low jhe top soil down the rivcr to the sea or be blown into the fair air. Self-defence being the first law of nature, everyone here should be on the qui vive. l‘ I W ‘I Exports of livestock are playing an important port in Britain's battle to close the dollar gap. During the first nine nronths of this year, Brit- ain earned $12,800,000 from the sale of iive- stock abroad, occording to A. G. Bottomley, secretary for overseas trade. Before the war the actual total was under $2,250,000. During the whole of 1947 farmers in Canada, the U. S. and other hard currency countries imported $1,600,- 000 worth of pedigree U. K. livestock. X Y. k

lf, in a condition of full employment, says The Letter-Review, the Government attempts to make large defence expenditures out of money previously collected, and not out of money col- leclcd at that time, the only effect will be to increase inflationary pressure, and push prices higher. lu any case, present taxation methods in Canada take money away only from those who might save and invest it. The only effective method of taxation or borrowing, in order to divert national energy to defence, is to tax or borrow from those people who otherwise would spend all their income on consumption goods, and that is precisely the reverse of present Ca- nadian taxation policy.

Quebec is crowing aver Ontario on account of the manner in which the hydro-electric sup- ply has been handled. Not withstanding the drought which affected both provinces equally, there has been practically no interruption in Quebec, while there has been nearly chaos in Ontario. The Gazette says: "Pertinent to the whole matter isrthe fact that right through the crisis Quebec has been supplying Ontario with roughly 1,000,000 horse-power under contract even after allowing for temporary, drought-caus- ed drops in deliveries from one area. Beauhor- nois, for instance, is supplying about 300,000 h. p. This represents a 100 per cent load factor as compared with the 70 per cent load factor called for in the contract. This very substantial contribution by Quebec to the economy of On- tario could have been materially greater hod it not been for the cancellation of contracts by the Hepburn Government. This halted the big Beauharnais development and some Other: and put the quietus on one sizable new Ottawa River development entirely."

'l‘HE GUARDIAN. CHARLQTTETOWN

THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS

There fared a mother driven forth Out. o! an lnn to roam;

In the place where she was home-

less

All men are at home.

The crazy stable close at hand. with shaking timber and shifting

sand,

Grew a stronger thing to ablde and stand

Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick ‘m their homes,

Ancl szrangers under the suu,

And they lay their heads in a. foreign land

Whenever the day ls done.

Here we have battle and blazing

eyes.

Arid chance and honour and high surprise.

But: our homes are under miracu- lous skies

Where the yule tale was begun.

A Chlld ln a foul stable,

Where the beasts feed and foam, Only where He was homeless

Are you and I at. heme:

We have hands that fashion and heads that know,

But our hearts we lost-how long ago!-

fu a place no clinrt. nor ship can show

Under the sky's dome.

This world ls wild as m old wives’

tale, ‘

And strange Llie plain things are.

The earth ls enough and the alr ls enough

For our vroncler and our war:

But, our res‘. ls as far as the fire-

drake swings

And our peace ls put ln impossible tliltigs

Where clashed and thundered un- Lhuikable wings

Round an incredible star.

To an open house ln the evening

Home shall men come.

Tn an older place than ‘Eden

And rt taller town than Rome.

To the end of ‘the way of the wan- dering star,

To thr- tbirizs that. cannot. be but that are.

To tlvi nlace where God was home- 10>.

And all men are at home.

-G. K. Chesterton.

‘Ci/fol Old Charlottetown time r. n. r.)

OLDTIME WEDDINGS

In the olden time clerggrmen were scarce, and magistrates were often called on to perform the mar- riage ceremony. They generally used the form of the Anglican pray- er-bock-or as much of lt. as they considered necessary to make a binding contract. A rather good story of n marriage which took place long ago in the vlclnlty of Cavendish has been told me by persons who were present at the ceremony. 'l‘ho contracting parties vrcr-e “hroncl Scotch" and so was lllt‘ officiating magistrate. who un- fortunately for the solomriily of the occasion had been imbibing rather freely that day. However the ceremony must go on at. all risks, and tho youthful lover's stood up bc-ftirr» him supported by the best. mun rind maid. After reading at the marriage service for" some time, and troming to the bottom of a page, tlio magistrate unfortunate- l_\' turned over several leaves of lhc- pvnyor book by mistake, and \'Ol'|ll|1kl[‘(l tight on. fir: was about t-i irttci- the solemn words "Elnrtli t0 mirth. nslics la nsltris." when he was SlUpDPll and his attention cul- lvu’ t0 the mistake by the lrest mun. v. ho exclaimed; "Tut, mon. ye'r‘e iutil tlio bcei-izil senivc-V-just in Linc to avert fatal consequences.

A vvcrlrliiig in the olden time was u big ufl,'_:ilv. Everybody was in- vitr-rl-not representatives of each family, but every member of the families. Wedding presents were not thought of; the bridegroom. ln- stouil, had to supply stimulating drink fur lllf‘ whole Cl‘O\\'(l. We have uri account of a wedding which took place in Cu\'e|\dls|‘t about sixty-nine years ago; our informant who uias piasrut says that there were about fourteen urtllnus of spirits provided far the occasion. besides wine for the lurllcs. And ll is claimed that there Wits no drunkenness or fight.- ing. ’l‘lie liquor must have been .="i:~ir\'.1~:~t rliffr-zrent. from vchnt ls dcnlt out over the counters of Chur- lattelovvn rum-shops today. This wedding. which lasted two days — first at the home of the bride, and lutrir nt. the home of the groom, with dancing being kept up tlll the close of the fesllvitios~passed off without any serious results, and was but one of many celebrations that hclperl to enliven the monot- ony of the long winter season.

—f~‘rom an nrllclo by the late Mr. Waller Slmpson, 1900.

DVZrICi-IQCEOTOQOIGZICSOCQDZCIDQQUUJIU

"'3.

.9

g The Age-Old Story

ticiqfistiiirltfrirnfidil z Yo shull nerve the Lord your

God; and Ile shall blem thy broad

and thy water . . . And thou

shalt rejoice ln every good thing

which the Lord f-hy God hlth

given unto thee and unto thine house.

HUNSPAITIUN. Norfolk, ling- lnnd — (C?) - Mick, Wl-ltcr Caiwatovi’; terrier entered n butch- er's shop, looked round, grabbed a joint from among several vult- lng to be collected, and nu. Af- ter n chase, Mlek placed the Joint -rwhlch was Onwaton’: ardu- — on the Cawston doorstep, waged his tall, barked until the 60o! In opened.

PARTME NT STORE

IS H! THE REAL MSCOY "'09. THE 0E-

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Jill ‘ “i

VARIETY P?

Seasonable Books

RAFF- bl/ F‘. E. Reclinltzer, illustrated b.v Marguerite Kirmse- The John C. Winston Company, Philadelphia $2.75.

There Ls nothing so fine. so magnanimous, Bs the devotion of a. boy and lils dog. ThLs benullful adventure 510T)’ Ls full of just such devotion. An English Seller named Raff captures the heart of Bruce and the heart of the read- er, lri a moi-lug story of a. dog's cxperlences with humans who love lilm and others who neglect him. Slxteen-year-old Bruce Kendrick chose his dog from a litter of puppies belonging to his father's kennels. A black patch uound the puffs eye and hla rafflsb look ln- splred Bruce to name hi: dog "Raff." A devotion between boy and dog, as they t-raln ln the fleld for dog shows. ls described with a keen understanding by the author. Their separation pulls at the read- er's heart, as Raff searches for kindness and devotlon among strangers.

Raff becomes involved 1n many n foul plot as tlme and distance separate hlm from Happydele Kennels and home. Befrlended by o restaurant owner, who captures a rlng of dog thieves, Raff loses another chance of reunion with Bruce. and falls in with a band of hobos who well understand and love thls hobo dog. After a. long weary trek of hung and. neglect. the author brings he story to a happy close.

An excltlng and heart-rend- lng story, Raff \f.ll takes his place alongside Benny's Boy. Ranger, and Lassie. For all boys and girls l2 and up.

LUKE BALDWINS VOW, by Morley Callaghan. illustrated by Stanley Tamer. The John C. Wln- ston Company, Philadelphia $2.75.

Here ls one of the mast. appeal- lng storles you will ever read about. a boy and his dog. It: has all the dramatic qualllles to make an out- standing book for boys and glrls rlne to twelve.

When fourteen - year - old Luke Baldwin, orphaned by the death of his tuna doctor-rattler, becomes the ward of his practical-minded Uncle Henry. he makes friends with the uncle's old collle dog. Dan.

Dan, once a prlze show dog. ls now bllncl ln one eye and lame, and not ivorth hls board and keep ~- at. least ln Uncle Henry's opinion. But when Uncle Henry decides to dispose of Dan- Luke Baldwin vows to keep the collie.

l-fo-w Luke rescues Dan and at lust galns his uncle's permission la keep the aged collle ls a beauti- fully tender. and at the same time an exciting story that, wlll hold young reader's interest to the very last. page.

I HEARD OE‘ A RIVER, a story of the Pennsylvania Germans, by Elsie Singmusler. illustrated by Henry C. Pltz _ The John C. Winston Company, Philadelphia $2.75.

Here is a part of America's heritage —- the story of the Ger- man-Swlss Mennonites who settled m what is now Lancaster County. Pennsylvania. At. Wllllam Penn's invitation to establish themselves near Philadelphia, these people came to America, bringing ~wlth Lhem their superb knowledge of agriculture and a grooved. or rifled gun.

They came to the New World be- cause nll through their oppression lu their homeland they had heard of a beautiful river ln America, which we know as the Susquehanna. and whose verdant banks were the source of legend. They came to build a new life in this strange, unspolled Paradlse.

This ls n story of l-lannes- a. German-Lutheran boy who tolned a band of Swiss Mennonites fleeing from Europe's desperate terror and poverty of the 17th century. It la a story of the perlls of Hermes‘ journey and the improvement of his rlfle, brought. from his father- land.

A moving, stirring adventure of a people who found happiness tn the freedom of America — thlri story la on lntrlnalc part of the courageous heritage of "The Land of the Free."

FOR THE NEW MOTHER. by tiilldrexl V. Hardcustle. R. N, illustrated by Shirley Talus-afield — The John O. Winston Company Philadelphia N50.

You wlll flnd tbla book the por- fect answer to the dltfleult per-lad of readjustment that each mother must undergo. This book like: up

Bonny Prince Charlie

(Montreal Star)

Is not. t-hls the time for the Scots to cock thelr bonnets? On ‘this day of the days when, once azuln. a Charlie lays claim to Edinburgh and the fealty of his lleges everywhere ilncludlng the border-side, a chancy enough coun- try for any claimant. to the throne) .et Scotsman everywhere‘ lay aside for a few hours the burden of running Great Brlbaln and the Commonwealth and Empire and half a score other countries and de- vote thcruselves to the ceremonlous ccmslderatlon of that. great. fact.

We can flnd. llltle reason to be- lieve that. all the Scots of that day had unbounded admiration for or confidence ln the unhappy Stuarts. If young Gharlle liad not bad the mlxed fortune of fighting the English (whereby he lost a throne and became a. legend) 1t might. well have been that. the Scots themselves would in tlme have chased hlm out, just. as t-hey chased out. Mary and the Enzllsls themselves chased out. James. It was the way the English meddled ln at Culloden, and Cumberland in the Highlands. that flxed lf,, forbye that. business of banning the kill.

The Scots have ever been ones to blde their time. They have made too much history not t.o know that. you cannot hurry lt. Sooner or later they knew there would be a balance struck ln that matter of the Charlie the Eiugllshry had so unwarrantably -- and perhaps pre- maturely — interfered with. In lbe two centuries that have pass- er.‘ since the '45 the bodlly presence of a Stuart at Holyrood or West- nilnster has ceased to be the sine qua non of Scottish complete ac- ceptance of things as they are. But there has always remained, we suspect, n. certain perhaps sub- canselous feeling that the old Jacobite prophecies were duue for fulfilment; that it was about. tlme Charlie should come agaln.