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THE HERALD Wednesday January 3 1990 Margaret Laurences story leaves a lump in the throat Some writings are so closely con nected to Christmas that I read them every year It would be tedious to give you the whole list here but I want to mention one that belongs to my holiday leading since it was published 10 years ago Its The Olden Days Coat by Margaret Laurence the story of a little girl who with some time on her hand on Christmas Eve is in a wondrous way transported back in time to meet her grandmother as a girl her own age showing her a gift that will unite them again in the present The story is simple and totally artless but leaves the reader with a lunip in the throat It makes you aware that we are links in an endless chain of generations that eternity means to be reborn again and again into the family of man and woman that make up mankind Margaret Laurence has like no other Canadian writer made this endless chain of life the theme of all her books She wrole five novels that have all become a part of our national heritage This Side Jordan The Stone Angel A Jest of God The Fire Dwellers and The Diviners These are the titles of books we will read as long as there is a Canada because they tell us so much about our country and about ourselves She was born in and she died in She wrote her five great novels between the age of 30 and 37 and she was given a Gover nor Generals Award for two of them One A Jest of God was made into a movie by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward She was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971 At one point in her life she became the target of the lunatic fringe who called her rich and radiant novel The Diviners obscene por nographic immoral and Now two years after she left us she has given us a gift from the grave in the form of a most moving memoir titled Dance on the Earth A friend gave it to me for Christmas and I have been living with it and in it since then The memoir has four parts each devoted to a woman The first part is flamed Verna after Vema Simp son Margaret Laurences mother who died at the age of when the author was herself only four years old This chapter is a dirge for a mother only recalled in the dim mest of memories It is also a reconstruction of her mopwrs life and contains strongly worded opi nions of the author about the posi tion of women in the modern world about the education of women about the partnership of the sexes about abortion and other related matters Hers is a grave voice a resposible voice never spurious nor superficial always fair seek ing understanding instead of con frontation The next chapter is about Margaret Simpson the older sister of her mother who became her Mum after her mother died and eventually married her father This is a memoir of sweet affection for a wonderful and very much lov ed woman Margaret Laurence has a priceless gift She can write the most heartrending sentiments without becoming maudlin or sen timental Her prose is dark gold without any addition of cheaper metals The third chapter is in praise of Elsie Fry the mother of her belov ed husband Jack Laurence and the last chapter is finally about the writer herself Here she writes about her struggle to become a writer her loves and friendships her concerns her fears and her DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC TH Denture Therapist 72 Mill St Georgetown 8778974 102EastDrBramalea Comer Fid iEil Dr 7912314 Foodstuff Chicken Soup 129 1 Stock I YELLOW or GREEN SPLIT PEAS 451 92 Main S Downtown Georgetown joys Margaret Laurence as dying when she composed this book yet her affirmation of life was so strong that she gave her book the title Dance on the Earth She topk this title from a hymn by Sydney Carter which goes like this I danced in the morning when the world was begun And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth At Bethlehem I had my birth Dance then wherever you may be I am the Lord of the Dance said he Ill lead you all wherever you may be I will lead you all in the Dance said he Yoga classes start soon RECYCLING if we rjffrfo our pari Please Remember to Recycle This Newspaper Yoga enthusiasts interested in developing their skills to the in structional level can enrol in Sheridan Colleges unique Yoga Teachers Certificate Program in January The Oakville Campus program is exclusive to the area offering the only local opportunity to pur sue Yoga for either self- improvement or to obtain a teachers certificate As well as expanding a stu dents selfawareness this pro gram also explores different breathing techniques to reduce tension and produce a relaxed state of mind A certified yoga instructor can teach courses through recrea tional facilities childrens cen tres boards of education and facilities serving the disabled or handicapped Twelveweek certificate courses beginning in January include Hatha Yoga Instruc tional Yoga Hatha Yoga 3 In structional Yoga 3 or In termediate recreational Hatha Yoga Visit the Continuing Education Office at the Sheridan campus nearest you or contact at for in formation or registration ml Main Street South Georgetown 8731470 MAID SERVICE WHOS BEST ESS THEAWARD WINNER rami For FREE Estimates call 87321 65 Nells DRIVING SCHOOL Approved by Aw Ontario Safety fail t t NEW COURSE Jan 22- Feb 14 630930 pm For Information About Courses or Private Lessons phone 8772671 OPEN MOnSat 96 Fridays 99 WINTER CLEARANCE SAVE 30 OFF ENTIRE WINTER STOCK All Christmas Exchanges by Sat Jan OUTERWEAR All winter coats and jackets from London fog Sterling Stall Luhta Novelti Far West and many more now 30 OFF Regular and Petites CAREER DRESSING Blazers skirts pants blouses and sweaters from Jones New York Mr Jax Simon Chang Mister Leonard Garey Tan Jay Chic Pantman and more ALL AT 30 OFF Regular and Petites DRESSES Day wear and Party Dresses from Joseph Ribkoff Simon Chang Route Linda Lundstrom Maggie London and many morel SAVE 30 Regular and Petites ACCESSORIES All Warm Winter Hats Scarves Mittens Gloves 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