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PAGE TEN Current and Con fidential (By E. K. L.) VANISHED WAY 0F LIFE In the days when Hector, Mary and Agnes Beith lived at "Southi Park," they enjoyed a way of living, gracious and leisurely, which bas vanished forever. M4oney bought much more in those days than it does now and families like the Beiths were able to maintain such homes as "South Park," adequately staffed by maids and other help. It may be said that people o! that day "lived" in their homes. They ate in them, slept in them and enter- tained at tea, dinner and parties in them. At night, families were together in them. Home was notf as now, just a place to hang your bat (if you wear one) while you grab a bite and the family scat- ters to the four xinds as quickly as possible. There wcre certain days when one -was "at homne" to visitors, and certain days when others of one's acquaintance were similarly at home to callers. The calling card is now practically a museum piece. Life then had a pattern and regularity and went on at a peaceful jog-trot. If only we could take the plumbing and electricity of this age with us and mnove backward in time! But we can't. We must struggle to live wvith ail the improvements we have made and try flot to die of a heart attack or an atom bomb before our time. Miss Flora Galbraith who was a friend of the family of Alex- ander Beith, the father of Dr. Alex Beith who was practising when the old hospital opened in 1913, tells us that "South Park" was an establishment in the old style. The urawing room wvas on the west .ýide, runniiing the ful krU~of the house; the dining- room was on the east sicle to th(, north. and a library was ini front of it on the south-cast side. The ]itchen, as in so many of the older bouses, was in the base- men t. Gordon Beith, Church Street. remembers his great-aunts, Mary and Agnes, and great-uncle Hec- tor well and the beautiful resi- dence of South Park. Five maids were kept, and a butler. and two gardeners worked constantly on the immaculately kept grounds. In front of the steps xvas a long, oval bed of flowers encircled by a ring of clipped grass. The drive wvas then farther to the south. and this bed was of large extent. In the spring it was a riot o! color with tulips and biyacinths. The spruce trees at that time droped their branches gracefully to the ground, and peacocks were kept in this part of the grounds, strutting about in their gorgeous plumage. Extensive stables were kept to the north of the bouse in the form of a quadrangle, the old coach bouse whcne the carniages were kept, forming the east sitie. When the bouse was sold for use as a bospital. this building. with the others was tomn down, and the bricks from it were used to build the old nurses' residence. O! the bouse itsel!, Mn. Beith adds tbe information that there was a beautiful spiral staircase ising from the main hall, but this bad to be rcmoved when the bouse was to be used as a hos- pital. Miss Agnes Beith was an in- valid, but Hector and bis sister, Mary, attended their churcb, St. Paul's (then Presbytcnian), reg- ularly, sitting in the side seats on the ûast side, Miss Galbraith says. The Galbraiths faced thcm, sit- ting in the side pews on the west side o! the churcb. Driving up in style in a shining carniage be- hind a good borsýp, Mr. Hector Beitb was always attîred in morn- bng clothes o! striped trousers, cut-away coat and black silk top bat. There was usualiy a flower in bis buttonhole. O! Miss Mary Beith's costume, we have no de- scription. It was no doubt mo- dest, but in the fashion o! the day. Brother and sîster were very fine people, as were their par- ents and ahl the members o! the !amily. Hector and Miss Mary were staunch supporters o! their cburch and zealous workers in ts intcrest. And o! the home at 'Fairfield" where they and oth- er members o! the family lived originally, Mr. J. B. Fairbairnt says in bis book, "History and Reminiscences o! Bowmanville," "from its earliest days, it was the very acme of Highland bospital- ity. No one who was ever engag- ed about the prernises as servants or otherwise, but entertained foi, the famiiy the bighest respect and good will." SOUTHI PARK HISTORY Be fore another issue o! The Statesman appears, the ne\v Memorial Hospital will have been ofbciaily opened. To manv in Bowmanviiie this brings back memories o! the opening on March 26, 1913 o! the old bospital and o! the Beith family, whose home At had been. The Beiths were among the earliest settiers in this district. ar- riving about 1826 or calier. James Beith, bis wi!e Margaret and !amily of three sons and three daugbters arrived in York from Argyleshire, Scotland. The members of tbis orginal family were: Robent, Mary, Agnes, Alex- ander, Margaret and Hector. Ro- bent was the eldest and Hector the youngest in the family, but the order o! the others is flot known for certain by this writer. Margaret dbed when quite young. -THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO According to Mr. J. B. Fair- bairn's book, Robert and his fa- ther walked from York, through the forest, to Bowrnanville, as the family knew other Scotch families settled in Darlington. They chose as'the site for a farm, the property on Raby Head on the shores of Lake Ontario, whicni they named 'Fairfield." Here the family cleared the land and built their home, and here. they lived for many years, Robent be- îng particularly interested in new and better methods of agriculture and the importation and breeding o! better stock. Alexander, the only one o! the original family wbo married (being married in 1838 to Miss Catherine McTag- gart) lived first with the others at "Fairfield," then bought a farm in Clarke township. Eventually he moved into Bowmanville and lived in "Beaconsfield," the large house now used as a multiple dwelling, on the corner of Wel- lington and Liberty Streets. Hector, Mary and Agnes stay- ed at "Fairfield" for some years. They then moved to South Park, and Robert (Senator) Beith also made bis borne with tbem. Ag- nes died first, then Mary in 1906 and Hector sold the bouse in that year to a Mr. Johnson of To- ronto. He was not in residence there except in the summer. In 1912. Mr. Johnson sold to J. W. Alexander. who gave South Park for a hospital. Miss Clara Allen, Beech Av'- enue, tells that South Park, which was built by Peter Coleman, was first the home of John McLeod, Liberal member of parliament for Durbam. Mr. McLeod ran a hardware business wbere Lan- ders Hardware is at present. At this rate, this store bas boused a hardware business for a good many years, most Bowmanville residents remembering it best perbaps as belonging to W. H. Dustan and bis son Tom. On John McLeod's death, South Park was sold by auction. and Miss Allen's father and Hector Beith were the two main bidders. Mr. Beitb finally xvent bigher than Mr.' Allen wished to go, and South Park became bis propertv. Miss Clara Allen believes this would be in 1877, as she and ber sister, Miss Margaret Allen, have lived in their present residence since 1878. The Misses Allen, who were members of the wom- en's committee wbo canvassed the town for hospital funds in 1912, and bave been members of the Ladies' Hospital Auxiliary since it was formed, remember with pleasure attending parties a t South Park when the Beiths lived there. One particular party is re- called by Miss Clara Allen. The guests were invited to corne at seven and leave at 10:30, but ext- eryone was baving such a good tîme square-dancing in the big drawing-room, including Missj Mary Beith berself, that they wvere asked to stav on after this decorous bour. Miss Allen says1 that everyone was assembled promptly at seven, so that no time might be iost in beginning tha Lparty. LAST DESCENDANTS For those interested, and we hope this is almost everyone, since we are devoting all our space this week te the old hospîtal and kindred subjects, only one mem- ber o! the Beith connection still lives in Bowmanville. This is Gordon Beith, Church Street, q son of Duncan Beitb. The entire family o! Alexander Beith. the only one o! the original Beiths to marry. was, to the best of our knowlcdge as follows: Mary (Mrs. Peter Murdoch), James, Robert (Senator, owner o! "Waverley Stables" and famed breeder o! the Hackney horse), Dr. Alex- ander (practising as we have said, at the time the old hospital was opened, and living in what is now Dr. C. Slemon's home); Duncan (who managed Waver- ley Stables), William, a banker who lived first in Whitby, then in Toronto: and Chrîstina, wbo married William McKay o! Pick- ering Township. who was for some years Secretary-Treasurer o! the Dominion Organ and Piano Company. Chnistina was married from "Beaconsfield," the large house on the corner o! Wellington and Lib- erty Streets mentioned earlier, her father baving rented it on bis retirement from the farm in Clarke. William McKay died in middle life, and bis wife bougbt "Beaconsfield" after bis death and made ber permanent home there. They had no children. James and Robent lived with ber. Mr. Hector Beith also lived there for a time after he sold South Park Then be boarded with Miss Jenny Gale, over the West Durham News office (now Jamieson's Tire Sbop) run by ber brother, James Gale. When Miss Gale (later Mrs. Garratt) moved to Queen Street, Hector went also and died there. Dr. Alexander Beith married, and bis family were: Winnie, Hel- en, Robert and Jim. These are now ahl deceased, but Jim had one daughter whois married and living in Washington, D.C. Besides Gordon Beith, and this granddaugbten o! Dr. Alex Beith's, the only other Beith de- scendant still living is Miss Es- ther Beith, a daugbter o! Wil- liam. William who was a bank manager in Whitby and then in Toronto. bad another daughter, Mona, who died at the age o! 14 from the e!fects of dipbtheria, and a son. Robin who wbile in Halifax as a member o! the arm- cd forces in the Second World War, was kilied whcn bis car ran into a train during a blinding snowstorm. Miss Esther Beith is very active in public bealth 'and welfare work and bas been en- gagcd in this profession in several parts o! the Dominion and also in tbe United States. She is at present in Montreal. It scems sad to think that this fine family. among Bowman- ville's earliest residents, will comt, to an end as fan as the Beith name is concerned, when these two representatives o! it pass on. We are indebted to Miss Clara Allen, Miss FIera Galbraith and Mn. Gordon Beith for the above information, and thank them most sincerely for their help and interest. HOSPIT;L *ANECDOTES Many will remember ail too vividly the 'flu epidcmic o! 1919. As mcntioned elsewhere in this issue, the nurses and other help o! the hospital wene unfortun- ately flot immune to the disease. They wcre stricken with the rest, and this at a time when the bos- pital was full o! 'flu patients, even to the reception room and hall, The members o! the Ladies' Auxiliary went to the bospital and helped out, as did others such as> Miss Flora Galbraith. Miss Galbraith upon ber retire- ment !rom teacbing became a member o! the Auxiliary, but during ber teaching career she did not bave the time to de- vote to its many activities. Howevcr, in the 'flu epidemie she was on hand to do anything she cQuld at the bospital. She remembers a time whcn only Mrs. Smyth. a Miss Sanderson (now Mrs. Rupert Hambly o! Ot- tawa, wbo incidentaîly bntcnds to make ber home in Bowmanville in the near future) and bersel!, were the only pensons on duty in the daytime, and a Miss Marlowv from Blackstock in sole charge at nigbt. Miss Galbraith also remembers an incident whcn she was in hos- pital with a biroken leg in 1924. A storm had put the electric lights .out o! commission one night whcn Dr. Harold Ferguson, the-r in Enniskillen, tekephoned to Dr. B. J. Hazelwood to make ar- rangements at the bospital for an emergency operation. Miss Gal- braith's room was ncxt to Mrs. Smytb's, and she heard Mrs. Du- mas (then Miss Sauva) the nurse on duty arousbng Mrs. Smyth. Miss Galbraith beard Mrs. Smyth protesting, "It can't be donc, it can't be donc," and ail the whiie drcssing and proceeding to calm- ly make arrangements so that it could be donc. This was in the days before the bospital bad an emengency lightining system of bts own, and the light provided for the operatrmn came from al tbe lamps to be found in the bos- pital. When the doctors and, patient arnived, aIl was in readi- ness. Dr. Hazelwood Iaughed and said be knew Mrs. Smyth would corne tbrqugb. We hope this is not teiiing taies out o! school. Quebec asbestos mines produce about 70 per cent o! the world's supply o! asbestos. In 1950 U. S. people invested, about one billion dollars in Carn- ada, more than the total for 1946-1949 inclusive. THURSflAY .TULY ~Rth ¶flM COURTICE The Afternoon Auxiliary o! the W. M. Society held their July meeting at the Ebenezen Cburcb. President Mrs. R. Gay opened with the "Caîl to Worsbip." De- votional period xvas under direc- tion o!f Mrs. H. F. Osborne and was ficom the four-fold verse "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in. favor wvith God and man." The President gave a welcome to the mothers and mnembers o! the Baby Band and ocelled on the Supenintendents o! Baby Band, Mesdames K. E. Courtice and A. J. Gay, who took over with the following program provided by the members of same: chorus, "Jesus Loves Me" and the roll caîl given with ail marching around thé rooma and placing their gift boxes in a dec- orated ba;sket, to muzcic played bY Mrs. Chas. Found. witb the President dedicating the gifts. Piano selections wer-_ gix'en by Ray Pickell, Karen Ormiston and Lynda Osborne. Vocal music by Carol and Charlotte Courtice, Patsy Adams, Glen Walters and Jane DeCee, Ronald Found. Jarne Miller, Gary Tubb, Greg and Donald Simmons, readings given by Marion Muir, Gary Down, Nancy and Virginia Brown, Ric- 14,y and Denny Gay. Ray Pickell and Shirley Jobnston. A lovel.y story' wac told by Mrs. Jack Brooks. Oshawa, "You're a Jar)- anese Girl" beld the attention of all and was much appreciated. A picnic supper was served to about 100 and closed with a very en- joyable time. Congratulations are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Wilf Brown on the arrivai of their daughter and to Harold and. Mrs. Osborne on the arrivai o! their son. Glad to report Mr. Norman Down borhe from Oshawa Hos- pital, he having bad to return for furthèr treatment. Best wishes to Elmer and Mrs. Down (nec Helen Davidson) wliose marriage took place on Saturday. Best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Trevail (nee Mrs. Mar- garet Crossman), whose marriage took place on Saturday. A very pleasant time was spent by uncles and aunts--Mr. and Mrs. John Balson, Hampton; Mr. Jesse Arnott, Taunton; Mr. and Mrs. Blake Oke; Courtice, and abou; 50 cousins at Hampton Park on Sunday afternoon with guests oif honor, Mr. and Mrs. Alan Arnott, Norfolk, Virginia, who are spending a vacation among relatives bere. Wicb heavily laden tables which were soon made much -lighter, the delicious watermelon provided and served by Cecil John Found, made a very f itting close to a m o s t enjoyable get-together. Guests were present frq.m Lon- don, Oshawa. Courtice, Ebenezer, towmanville, Nestieton, Hamp- ton. Solina, Taunton and Holland. Congratulations to Mr. Ja2ýk Wiggins on being the lucky win- ner of the lovely radio given away at the G. M. picnic, and to Mrs. Wiggins best wishes for a pleasant trip and safe return, when she will sail about August lst for a visit to Ireland and Eng- land. A pleasant surprise was given Mrs. Wiggins wben a num- ber o! neighbors met at the home o! Mrs. Ollie Tooley and presented a lovely coat for trav- elling, wbich was much appre- ciated. Games and contests were enjoyed and lovely lunch served. Among the guests were two younger ladies, Mrs. Essery Sr., and Miss Etta Flintof!, both over the 80 mark. Handbook of Facts About This Country A Quick Ref erence That eight of Canada's ton pro- vinces border on saît water is one of the little realized facts about Canada pointed out in the nexv isue o! Quick Canadian Facts, tbe bandbook of facts about this country. "We put that item of unusual information into the new issue because we once bad a read- ada ubli schols PHONE 2HU EVC 3224-W 24MU SEVC DIAL ACE REFRIGERATION Commercial and Domestic - Sales & Service Ail Work Guaranteed - Free Estimates on Ail Equipment 78 SIMCOE STREET, N. OSHAWA ALLAN THACKERAY RING TAXI THE RADIO CAB Anylime -:- Anywhere PHONE 561 At Night - In Ernergency PHONE 922 or 3418 Six Modern Cars .. . Ail Passengers Insured ra ... Prompt Efficient Service TAXI Lld Operated bya Laihangue Bros. SE RVIC I CONGRATULATIONS.. TO THE CITIZENS 0FDO WMAN VILLE AND ON TEE OPENING 0F THE OR]IAL DISTRICT OSPITAq GENERAL CONTRACTORS BRADFORD - HOSHAL (Eastern Division)-- LTD. PORT HOPE, ONTARIO er caîl long distance from. Winni- peg to Toronto to confirm the fact and win a wager," says R. L. Gough, one of the publication's editors. In addition to a timely quiz on Cànada and Canadian affairs, the new issue carrnes several special feature articles, one of which de- scribes the hife of our Eskimos and caîls these far-north citizens "the happiest Canadians." The Eski- mos, says the article, are a people who have no chiefs, soldiers, pol- ice or servants. Largely un- changed by civilization, they are about the happiest and healthiest peop1t, on earth. As with former issues of the annual pocket book, the main contents of the 1951-1952 edition of Quick Canadian Facts, is a com- pilation of up-to-date factý aboàit the Dominion, the provinc, e0' ernment, trade and industr.: at\ý ural resources, the population, finance and taxes, and ail sig- nificant aspects o! Canadian life. Distrjbuted through booksthres and newstands, the new issue of Quick Canadian Facts is this week released across the country. At the end o! 1949 there were more than 81,000 teachers in Can- . ........ .... . ... , THURSDA-ý. JULY 26th. 1931