The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Were plain cynical Those who naively assumed the Canadian National Railway would merely remove the agents from stations they wanted to close and continue tram service like it never occurred got a rude awakening last week when the Railway Transport Committee announced they would also like to cancel the two trains waich do stop in Acton each day The announcement had an electrifying effect up and down the line from Toronto to Guclph and there is no doubt the railway will get plenty of opposition on the move But dont bet that the company doesnt get its own way despite the effect it will have on the public who use the daily commuter service Although the railway claims it is merely acting under the new dispensation which allows it to show certain lines are uneconomic to run and thus can claim a government subsidy their actions to date in closing needed transportation across the country shows a disregard for the general public Those who would swallow the propaganda about the CN losing money on certain line are being Weed adfiertUina especially naive since it won demonstrated at the lint public hearing in Acton the railway nut even sure the Acton station making or losing money It in doubtful they could quote figures on an entire line if they cant quote figures on the Acton station The railway would prefer to dump all the passengers who do use the present service onto already congested roads into Toronto The thinking is backward More public transportation is needed into Toronto out not less and it is time those who handle the transportation reins in this province were made aware of it Whatever happened to the public spirited railways which built this nation and linked it from sea to sea Now it seems they want to discontinue services that will get more important as the years roll on 1 1 seems ludicrous for the railways to be urging customers to use services for instance instead of trying to compete for the passenger and freight dollar We were shocked as no doubt were also many area farmers to learn last that lite sale of winter wneat to the United Kingdom had been lost to the Stale of Oregon because inc people Britain didnt know of the of wheat available in Ontario This was repealed recently in Chatham b James OShea of head of the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board speaking at the Cooperatnes of Ontario Annual grain marketing conference Mr said a breakdown in and a failure of the board to let its customers know what slocks it had on hand accounted for losing the sale to the ueet and tout People especially in the cities hae a feeling life lias gone sour Small town and rural areas dont feel this malaise so deeply perhaps because they live close to nature Their people live with the seasons see the sunrise sometimes and can watch the moon hang in the sky like a huge lantern unobstructed by sky scraping buildings Deeply aware of the season knowing what they know seeing they see almost unconsciously the small town person is healthier both from a physical and mental of view Cities are another story says Unchurched Editorials The people in high rise apartments insulated in small suburban homes cheek by jowl to large buildings of concrete and United States Millers in Britain didnt know the wheat board had 500000 bushels of soft wheat for sale and consequently they bought elsewhere he said Frankly we admire Mr honesty in admitting the fact but we suggest the cents per bushel of wheat deducted by ithe board does call for aggressive sales policy that ensures that every potential customer in Ontario wheat does now what stocks are available And it is little comfort for farmers many of whom are suffering from the effects of one of the most disastrous crop years in memory to see customers for their products buy elsewhere H D McConncll Tilbury Times glass begin to lose the feeling nature It is an artificial environment Season are snow tires antifreeze and long lines of traffic or dull heat laden days wnerc the occasion relief of an air conditioned office is appreciated by the city dweller Man has an instinct to get back to the country to find out who and what he rest and relaxto feel the warmth strength and danger of nature These are a few of the basic reasons Canadians must guard and expand wilderness areas and parkland We need them to keep our sanity We must support efforts to keep the natural environment free of pollution liveable beautiful accessible and a haven for the strifetorn urban dweller fim the ALL EYES OF hockey fans are on the National Hockey League playoff race Although the Toronto Maple Leafs are out of contention they still have a mathematical chance of making the charmed circle Here in a recent game against Los Angeles Kings Jim Jennings camera captured the action as trie Leafs adopt the spoiler role Toronto still is a decisive factor in determining which teams make the playoffs ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY MARCH 18 s ug ar and S by bill pice smiley THE YMCA players presented Hare Comes Charlie in and here comes the cast front row Laura McMullen Meryl Charles Flora Sayers Oral Chalmers Ross second row George Mason Albert Mills Mary Chalmers Gordon Cook Rita John Savage Helen Cook Mrs A J Buchanan Colin This has been quite a winter in more ways than one Cold snow cold snow When it wasnt cold enough to freeze the brains of a brass monkey God or the weatherman or somebody let fly with the confetti as though it were the biggest wedding in the world And Im stuck with three females A broody wife a moody daughter and a pregnant cat So things havent exactly looked up as spring hides well around that However there are always bright spots and Ive had a fair share of them Terry Barker took me to task in a long intelligent letter in rebuttal to a rather disgruntled column I wrote about teaching He didnt convince me but lets say that I am a little more disgruntled than was There arc deep and satisfying rewards in teaching along with the frustration red tape and the feeling that youre hopelessly entangled in a huge cobweb Theres a real thrill in seeing young people grapple and grope with new ideas and light up as the ideas get through Then 1 had a thoughtful letter from a Quahcum Beach reader enclosing a clipping from the North Bat tic ford bask NewsOptimist stating that Bill Smiley is by far out most popular syndicated columnist Thats great for the old ego which needs a Utile balm once in a while Another egobooster was an invitation to to the Vimy Branch Royal Canadian Legion a unique organization in London Ont It meets only twice a year to observe Remembrance Day and Vimy Day A charming and kind chap called Joyce made the contact pointing out that it was a tossup between me and some MajorGeneral The branch it studded with Brigadiers Colonels and Wing Commanders and there was a terrible temptation to take advantage of this to stand up and tell the brass what Ive always thought of them But I had to decline However the brightest spot of all has been the tremendous and moving response to a recent column about my daughter Every day letters have been coming in from all over Canada full of sympathy and warmth Many of them have been addressed to Kim herself Old friends have rallied round and complete strangers have taken time to write cheering encouraging letters and cards This has not restored my faith in human nature because Ive never lost it but it has bolstered it Heres an excerpt from a typical letter Whatever happens dont blame yourselves Its very easy to do this as parents You did what most of us try to taught her to stand on her own feet and let her go She fell So shell get up again and be twice the girl she was before And heres another Dear Bill Detected grave concern beneath your casual request for a prayer I have solicited our Father on your daughters behalf and feel that He has answered your prayer May God bless you and yours in the name of His son Jesus Christ That was from a complete stranger From Red Deer came a long letter full of scriptural comfort and the assurance that his or her prayers would be with us Others sent prayers that had helped them in time of trouble This is only a sampling I am not an emotional or sentimental person My wife calls me Old Stoneface But it has touched me deeply that so many people have tried to communicate with and help a stranger Sometimes a columnist feels that he is writing in a great cold void It snot a good feeling Now 1 know better and I will be of good heart Meanwhile we live a day a time the sun shines spring is on its way Thank you all Its good lo know that there is still a great deal of human kindness in a world that sometimes looks a bit bleak THE ACTON FREE PRESS PHONE t and Editorial Off KB Nib Pepper ft mmi by hartley coles We left Mamie and tier new found In law fearlen Cram on a In fit hall lit Toronto hit week din the of Maggie i husband plain Hill after his dluharge from the I unit Maggie I seen uit plain Hill time he left her In the lurch many years ago failing Into seuind line fog I In I tier heart leaped when fcarlcn filled her In with details of life he evaporated and the was determined now to track her shiftiest filhw down with the help fearlen who made a fortune prtidutlng cookies In Montreal Maggie Ill 1 1 said turning to lie lady whose feelings on juit plain were Very evident on her face think I may know where the bounder Now I you to get a room for the night and tomorrow morning were going to take a trip Meanwhile 1 II phone some friends here in Toronto stay with them Ill meet you on tint bench again tomorrow morning slurp at Willi these directiom fearless Phil bounded from the bench with new meaning in his step He faded into the late afternoon crowd winch started to infiltrate the city hall court yard Maggie watched him go with a tug of loneliness She would have liked to have called Phil back but her shyness acquired years of living alone inhibited speech and she waved him goodbye with a flutter of fingers Then she took off into the crowd herself a subdued but reflective figure among the jostling Bay and Queen crowds She crossed the street with the light and after a quick look around for a quiet retreat went into a small tavern along Queen St Events of the day flooded her head with thoughts Perhaps the best tiling she could do would be to step on the next bus and head back to Acton But Maggie was made of sterner stuff She wanted just plain Bill Crane back even if she had to go to the end of he world Gulping a supper of liver and onions down and polishing off three cups of tea she felt much better when she emerged from lie tavern to find a room for the night She trudged down Queen turned down Yonge until she sighted the King fiddle a hostelry whose she always yearned to sample Yes lie clerk said she could have a tingle room lot princely price of a turn Maggie though Inflated But she was too tired o argue Her luggage She told he Jerk It got on a Greyhound but the Higgled lo herself I really am going to he dogs Site wasnt long settling Into bed in her making sure Tie night latch was on the door the boll slipped and a chair lodged under the knob She checked the window surmising it would take a human fly to climb JO storeys With one last look at the Toronto skyline Maggie dropped into bed only anting once more to shove the chest of drawers door the event rther measures failed to deter wouldbe mashers Maggie spent a the comfortable bed night deipire dreamed of plain awl the used In lake the over the old big bridge the lunches they used to pack for picnics under the tall on Warren Grove The voice of Rudy Vallee kept wirirg back much of he night the dreamed dances she and Bill attended at the over Blue Spring the radial rides back with a few of the mote noisy young from Acton When her mental alarm rarg silently in ihe lonely room she acne quickly washed and ai the sun rase over waters of Lake Ontario and the city noises hummed She was waiting for fearless Phil at the city hall after a breakfast of Danish pastry and strong coffee Without a word he grabbed her hand and they started for the bus station They boarded a bus and Maggie settled back to watch the city go by Soon they were out of the city and into the country Where are we going Phil she asked as Ihe bus headed towards the hills Youll see Maggie he purred grabbing her hand and squeezing Maggies first thoughts were to wrench her hand back but she let him hold it and when the bus glided to a stop at the Forks of the Credit she didnt object when fearless Phil leaned over and brushed her cheeks with his lips For the first time in over years Maggie started to wander whether she wanted to find just plain Bill to be continued 20 years ago Taken from the issue of the Free Press Thursday March 16 The firsl annual Father and Son banquet for Scouts and Cubs by the s Men was attended by Men president Ken Mackenzie gave a cordial welcome Toasts were given by Bill McHugh and Claude Cook Charles led in songs George Mason had a bag full of tricks and the guest speaker was Cons OxhamofthcRCMP Mr and Mrs Howard marked their wedding anniversary Both have spent entire lives in Acton A men club was organized at Rock wood United church and on the executive arc honorary presidents Rev W J Oliver and Dr R O president Ralph Hodgson vice present Ross Gordon secretary George Day treasurer Stanley Harris publicity Thos Crawford Douglas who has been working very diligently has received his Kings Scout badge The high school hockey team lost by one point to Milton Acton players weie Anderson in goal with Barr Bruce Greer Ware Davidson Tyler Sommerville Hull Davidson and Mac Sprowl has been in St Joseph s hospital with appendicitis Acton shook a three game jinx to win against Tuesday and theyre still in the playoffs With Fred Kcntner more his former self Harold Townsley back on defense and young Bill Hum centering and Baste the Acton club was aggressive yet cautious 50 years ago Taken from the issue of the Free Press Thursday March 181920 The first places at the county stock judging contests at Milton last Friday were again won by Acton young men W J McDonald son of William McDonald Esq fourth tine succeeded in defeating the whole list of contestants throughout the whole county J won the Shorthorn calf shield and diploma Second place was won by Stuart son of Robert Esq of the fifth Last Thursday evening the big transformer at the Hydro power house which supplied the scries of street lamps on Bower Ave Church St and intervening and outside districts burned out and these streets have been in darkness every evening since Electrician Wilson is doing his utmost to get repairs effected but owing to scarcity of material this is very difficult to accomplish It is unfortunate that he break came when the snow off and a new moon of meagre rays had only come in On Laymen Sunday at the Methodist church excellent addresses were given by Miss Minnie Bennett and Mr J M the mail order houses arc active again flooding the country with catalogues But they do not offer exchange their goods for eggs poultry butter or produce They make you pay cash They pay no taxes into our municipal treasury they do not contribute to our churches Why send your ready money to Toronto and ask credit from Merchants When a depression comes Toronto will have lots of money and country will be hard up 75 years ago Taken from the issue of the Free Press Thursday March 14 1895 The lunar eclipse was seen in this vicinity under very favorable conditions Mr Ezra Adams who resided for many years in Acton died in Drayton where he resided with his nephews He experienced many trials in the death of all his family The new spring veiling makes a girl look as though she had caught her head napping and and put it in a cage for safekeeping The last checker match of the season will be played by the Acton Checker Club next Thursday evening In their rooms on Mill St The entrance at wis blocked with snow this week the first tune since it was opened An hours work will give a passable road Fish and Game association has decided to give a bounty of 50 cents a head for foxes owing to the damage they afflict on farmers poultry While driving the remains of Miss Annie Swackhamer from trillion last Thursday the hearse of Mr McPhenon undertaker was upset on the second line and one of the plate glass panels in the side was broken She was in her year and a few hours from acute inflammation visiting friends Miss Gertie Coolunani spirit took Its flight while she was visiting her uncle in Acton A severe cold settled on her lungs and developed Into consumption She was 21 years of age and a devoted Christian much beloved by those who knew her