I ocrossa 20. 1931 Our Wonderful Vacation In Prince Edward Island By ANICE B. PLUIILEE 214 Iowa Street. Oak Plflr Illinois. U. 8. A. Autumn. 1951. Perhaps winter wings are blow. in; in from the several seas now. but it has not been many days gince the warm breezes and the warn! friendly welcome of Prince Edtvard Islmders save us 1. won- derful vacation. And it is to those people--l:l'I0lE who are willing to do more than in most parts of the world to make the traveler happy -tltat I'd like to send greetings. lrrtru Chicagoland in the states, As my husband drove our Illin- nls car onto the ferry to begin our tour of P.lEl.I.. we had no idea we urre wing to an enchanted spot tame everything we did. every stop on our Journey, would be named with a magic wand. The clean-out young man who helped us get our car into the palklllg lane of the boat was most gracious about answering our ques- 'tlilllS. and even gave us. I believe. 3 part of his lunch time. when he rircl leave us he asked us to be his gut.-ts on the upper deck-a gen- mne treat to us landlubbers-for the trip. The whole ferry was a buzz of lI.Cilf'lllnES5. There is a sort of "lt'l'l"F air" mong vacationers in the northlands. like cafe society in I.;l,".C cities. for the tourists are enough "in the know" to be crtstmlly chummy. The meals were served in full course fashion by vtttilcrs who seemed to feel with its that this was a festive occa- lllflll. when we were well off shore we took our box of States-made choc- olate creams and walked boldly through the "bio Admittance" sign. There - topside - we found our young friend steering the huge rmft across Northumberland Strait . which until that time had only been a name in my geography nook. and seemed as far away lrom home gs Alaska! I couldn't see how the men of the "order-of- the-gold-braid” could be so cheer- T ful. for there was a heavy fog. I warned them they would never make a landing. for I couidn't' see a thing. They all shared our candy and their friendliness and were untlring in the answering of our quutions. How could they possibly see through the fog? Wouldn't they go astray? Did they HAVE to blow the whistle so often? The reply was an explanation of the radar equipment. and many com- ments in sea-going Scotch brogue. which, even if I couldn't under- stand. I enjoyed. They explained the action of the gulls. the por- poises. the status of other boats. and those prolonged noisy signals. They were as gay as old friends. It was a. wonderful way to start our Maritime holiday--a delightful trip across rough waters in a fog -a real welcome from the Island- ers before we reached the share. I wish we might thank the young helmsman with the clear eyes and the shining brown hair. from Borden. for he not only piloted us safely across the Strait but guided us to another benefactor later on. At the first gasoline station on the Island, the owner took us un- drr HIS wing. He called a hotel owner for us, helped us get quart- ers for the night, and gave us such complete road directions that the next day, Sunday, promised to be easy going. During the after- noon we visited the huge depart- ment store in Summerside where the clerks seem to and it a joy to serve the public. There a sales- girl in the candy department pack- ed our yearly supply of Scotch mints, a delicacy we hoard be- cause they are not found in the states. A saleslady in soft lines advised me About a blanket pur- chase. and a dignified little lady customer chose a Canadian tea for me which she said would make I "beautiful cup" for my American friends. Often I have wished for more of that fen--a brand unknown here. one on the crowded street. a milk-wagon driver posed for a rloiure; a paslerby directed us to I Disco where we could buy ice. lreryons was courteous-more- lraciousi That evening as we dressed for dinner, we remarked that we had already made a dozen friendly ac- quaintances on the Island. and cm your only begun. new little did we know the kindly people who limited us. I O 0 Our helmsman pI.l had directed UI to a big restaurant outside of Bummerside where we might en- ioy the dining room or get drive- ln service. -We went inside for dinner. and immediately we found mother of THOSE PEOPLE-one lwisn we might have brought back lit the states with us-in the per- Bon of Dolores. our waitress, who helped us to choose a real see- side meal. She would be an addi- tion to many of our fine eating hlaces in this area. A3 We started to leave." the own- "-you know me name-took an interest in us. He offered to mail our cards for us. and when we made some inquiries about places in the'Island. he put his desk W" to work to get the answers by telephone. told us to lock our car. took us to his big sedan. and gave us a most adventurous rhour. He took us through the town. telling us o the events which Saturday night brings into the stores and streets. then drove out to a fur-farm, and finally ushered us right into the middle oi what we had most hoped to see-a lobster packing house. I was permitted to reach in the vats and pull out some of the big fellows, hind-side-before. and was shown how to peg them and pack them for hipment backhome. our friend was buying a big order of boiled lobsters for his patrons, and gave me.one to put on ice for Sunday. What a story to tell my inland friends to whom lobster is the peak of luxury. Back at the restaurant he issued orders to his help for the certain care of these Crustaceans (see what I learned?) then said to us. "Now, let's get our teeth into that tour you are going to make on Nova Scotlai" And, tirelessly. he worked out routes. mileages. stop- overs, with names of people to contact for extra information or interest, until it was really night. and we had to go. Meeting this man was a high spot in our sum- mer-even making friends withhis liugc dog was worth going many miles for. That night we had hit the jackpot of kindliness. O 0 I We slept rather briefly. I was up at 5:30 preparing our breakfast for we wanted to drive across the Island to take pictures of Green Gables by morning sun. As a re- sult of my early-bird efforts we drove into the yard of this famous old home Just as they were open- ing its doors. And there. again. we found. with delight. people who put friendliness above every- thing else. for the girls who were preparing the flower bowls for the rooms allowed me to help choose blossoms for their vases. and to take out the weeds which had in- vaded the beds. It was just. the thing I was missing most. back home. and it did my heart good. As I sit here. there lies beside me a rich shaft of purple stock which they gave me to press in my book of memories. Sensing my away-from-homeness. they al- lowed me to visit the kitchen and see the dinner muffins being made. My husband was off happily tak- ing pictures ln the Haunted wood. and I was a guest in the House of Dreams. Later we drove out across the headlands. played along the beach at Dalvay. and watched the early lawn bowlers in front of the Big Hotel. It must have been getting on toward eleven o'clock when we drove into the little town of Mount Stewart, hoping to and a restaur- ant and a second breakfast. We were HUNGRY. The only place which looked as if it might be open was directly across the street from a church. A sweet-faced lady un- booked the screen. explaining that they never opened before one o'- clock on Sunday. But she DID.ask us what we wanted, and we told her we'd been prowling around for five hours since breakfast and would like just some tea and toast-something easy to fix. she smiled like my own mother. and hustled into the ”en. bringing out in jig time delicious hot toast. steaming pots of tea. and as a special treat, little individual dishes of home made strawberry preserves. Did anything ever taste so good? 0 O 0 You see. we were beginning to find. through the lovely things they did. in each ' dividual whom we contacted, a devotion to the tradition of kindliness-and we began to suspect that the Island Cradled in the Waves was actually ensconed in a circle of magic. Because of I crowded schedule we had decided to give up attend- ing church and had planned to drive on to Bouris for lunch. ar- riving in Charlottetown or Mont- ague to spend the night. But we were to have our Sunday blessing just the some-leave it to I mir- aclel For just as we stepped out of the lunch room the chimes across the way peeled out their call to services. And it was our favorite hymn-"sweet Hour of Prayer". Spellbound. we drove to the hill out east and sat. singing the song along with the musician and living silent thanks for such a wonderful world. We watched as the people in their cool white clothes popped out of the doors of the village as if pulled by unseen strings, and began to walk toward the chapel. We got 0. never-to-be- forgotten picture ed the Holy day. Magic it was-God's magic. We came to a decision as we drove along that it might be but to call a hotel listed in Monteauo and get reservations for the night. strangely enough it was not too longuntll we paued ahouscby the side of the road which bore the sign, "lbiephone Office." It wasn't in the least like our tele- phone buiidinu in the states. but there was a heavy load of wires over the house and my husband said. "You may I: well have a try at it. Whoever i is will probably We talked of the'be nice about it." I can't tell you tour-book ite . ho I appreciated the cheerful when. ..rmm?'wY?nEI'.'”ll.5”m'i'a vol; in Montana that told no in ,..t l llllANGt: lliilffll: go all and have a nice day-he would have a place for us to stay. 1 do want totell you that the door little telephone operator be- came so interested in our tour that she decided she'd just go out to the car and meet my husband -Ibc'd pick him a flower for his buttanhole,-and. if he'd come in. she'd brow a cup of tea for the both of us. We regretted naving to explain that we had just had tea and were not far from our lunch deetination.for she was such a line spirited person. Do all tele- l Phone operators invite strangers in for tea? s In Bouris. dinner was not ready at the hotel, so we asked for our noon meal in a little canteen up the street. The menu, although not minted. was complete and whole- some. In fact, I nearly lost. my husband then and there. The ccconnut pie he had'was so good he almost stayed. I hope the very young waitress found her gratuity. Sin was such a tiny lady to be run; GUARDIAN. such a good waitress. some young fellows had been talking near our booth as we ate. speaking the most delightful Scotch, so that I couldn't resist smiling. Not once did they approach us. or act as if they noticed us, even though we were so obviously strangers. But when we started to drive away. they came out of the door. waved. and called "good-bye" just as if we "belonged". It was heart- warming. After, that the miles simply whirled away. and we found our- selves taking a quick look at the famous spots in Charlottetown. with a moment's visit to the Basi- lica. and a coke out on the west end beach. Before we realized it we were ready to proceed to the Wood Islands ferry. along that winding. scenic road through the hills and woods. It was our plan to call a cancellation to the pleas- ant voice in Montague. and take the last ferry over to Nova Scotia. The captain at the pier told us that the five o'clock ferry was CHARIJOTTETOWN booked full. and that our very best procedure was to stay nearby. put our car in line at the dock for the early morning crossing. and come down at 6:30 a.m. to drive it on. We were glad to do that-but where could we get accommoda- tions? How bring the car back? How make the ,scheduie in the morning? This genial man had all the answers. There were cab- ins a mile away. 60 there to stay. take out our bags. and the cabin owner would follow us down with our car-or, why. the Captain would drive us back up himselfl- and the people where we were to stay would waken us and bring us down the next morning. It workedi Everybody did what was asked-and no fee! I O O I was allowed to call my Mont- ague voice, and HE seemed to be happy we had everything arranged 50 nicely. "Had we had a pleas- i told him the half of it. 0 The breakfast served on the ferry the next morning was satis- lying, but more so was the com- pany of two hardy gentlemen whom we persuaded to join us at table. We got them to talk to us for an hour about the lobster fishing, the logs, the crops and industry of the Island in general. They couldn't tell us much about the people-you see. they were 'I'l-IE VERY SAME KINDI We have never spent thirty-six hours in which every encounter. cvcry contact. was so charmed with the friendliness and kindli- ncss of a people. Thank you. Prince Edward Is- lnnd-not for this short visit so happily made. but for preserving the thought of service to human- ity. for keeping the ideal of goori will toward men" upperm it your hearts. I shall not have to search through a public library EDWIN C. J(')llNSTONF.. B.A., C.L.Il.. Provincial Manager rm m9;' ,l5fl0MKIIIlIMlW.9VflHO. E. 6. iiiiltsroittt - says When a man dies. his wife not only loses yet her her husband but his income also: needs and those of her family do change, LET'S TALK THIS OVER. 111 - II5 Grafton Street, Charlottetown, P. E. I. enjoy the Island?" and seek out some thriller in a magazine titled. "Island Magic". I learned all about that from YOU. ant day?" waohis query. "Did we "Had we been well treated?" I could not have Ten . & -meCVT TMRS. FERGUSON . . a You liave re.-.' o Caroda Savings Bonds," Mn." Ferguson ? A few. All but one issue, I think. How did you buy them 7 Up to the present we've pold cash for all of them.- My husband gave me two, and I paid for the others out of housekeeping moneys Why do you pay cash for them? We have a Ion that what we can't pay for, we don't have. but we have we own, like our ' house here.- Wlreilsyourpurpeulnbuylnglcnif To know that l have saved, and to help when my husband retires. It's a world on emergency. . How did you dart buying Government loam ? lbouglil a couple of bonds in the First World War 'i CANADA sivmcsaouns ......t. CAN ALWAYS BE erful thing to have for when l was out in business in Montreal. These come in handy when I was getting married. I believe it's a good investment because you don't dribble at it Vlhe some as if you have some money in the bank. r And then the interest is good. Do you plan to buy the New Canada Savings Bonds? Yes. OOOOUCCOOOIOOOOOOOOOOIOOOOOOCOC: NOW BETTER THAN EVER Canada Savings Bonds-6th Series-mature in i0 years and 9 months from data of issue and bear ten SVIT; coupons. The first coupon covers 1 year and 9 months and is payable on August lat, I953; subsequent coupons come due August lsl yearly thereafter until maturity. If cashed before August lot, 1953, simple interest is paid at 2k per year, colculeled monthly. If hold to maturity the overall yield is equivalent to 3.2l9E, per year. The limit for holding: in any one normal: 35,000 in the 6th Series. The bonds are cashoble at full face value, plus interest at any time at any bank in Canada; They are registered in the owner's name. They are non-assignable and non-transferable. 000000OOOIOOOOOOOOO0.0000IOOOOOOO FULL CASHED AT FACE NOW VALUE PLUS "'Mrs. lillion Ferguson, the former Lillian Saunders, lives of l55 Shirley Street, Halifax, and is one of more than a million Canadian: who have invested regularly in Canada Savings Bonds. Her husband, Donald A. Ferguson, is supervisor of the money order branch of the Halifax Post Office. Mrs. Ferguson worked as a clerk in Monlreai for eight years prior to her marriage. a t'l.'."..'."'.."'..."' mo ndouou. X". rarccu. uvmu MIA lNTERE:aT