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10 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, September 7, 1977 He Found Reasons to SmiIe By Judy Durkee Oshawa Times Staff Writer People keep trying to tell Claude Smith, 72 to be unhappy. A permanet hospital resident since his early 20's when he was involved in an automobile ac- cident, his survival is considered a miracle by doctors. A patient at Oshawa General Hospital which has been his home for the past three years, /'he is known as "smiling Claude" to friends. Claude has no legs and has crippled arms and hands. He bas a long-standing tumor which can't be operated on until he is stronger, and he is currently plagued by kidney stones. Before coming to Oshawa he spent 18 years in his bed at the Strathaven Nursing Home in Bowmanville. Can Stili Smile "I've known nothing but hos- pitals and operations all my life, but at least I can still smile," he matter of factly says. Three things seem to have seen him through the lifelong troubles, steely determination, a religious philosophy and a love affair with music. When Claude was growing up in Enniskillen, family and friends thought he would make his life in Music. He played the auto harp, piano and accordion and as a tenor was featured in many concerts with a sister who sang soprano "I kept up with my music until my hands were too crippled to go on. And when I couldn't walk upstairs to sing with the Enniskil- len Choir, I was carried by one of the other members," he recalled. Before he reached the age of 21, Claude was running the Enniskil- len General Store, the local post office and was selling gas and oil to boot. When he was 21 fie was knocked down and crushed by a car. Van Belle on House plants for beauty At this time of the year we all are looking forward to spending more time at home, and dress up the house by painting, wallpaper and of course the most important way to make your home truly home, by placing houseplants in the home. We will discuss a few very popular plants, their care and culture. Diefen- bachia or commonly called Dumb Cane, a very decorative plant vith leaves that are heartshaped and closely spotted and blotched on the upper surface. You must not forget that this plant needs a humid atmosphere, this can be given by the deep-dish method, by taking a deep dish, "In 1926 there was no such thing as an x-ray I spent two months in bed and when I tried to get out, I couldn't stand, as in the mean time my legs and arms had drawn up," he explained. Crutches But Claude didn't give up. Despite the pain in his legs which ween't healing, he began walking on crutches. He knew he wouldn't be able to make a living ina job that required walking so he decided to go into the watchmaking business without knowing anything about it. "I made up my mind I was going to be a good watchmaker, and before long people were bringing me work from as far away as Toronto,"' he said. From the time of the accident his doctor advised against an opera- tion because he felt the shock would be too great for his system. It wasn't until he was 52 that he finally met a specialist who agreed to remove the painful leg. By this time the other leg had developed the same problems. Following a debate of two weeks by specialists, he eventually had both legs amputated at the body. "Before my first operation the doctors had to see me wajk before they'd believe it," he said. Despite the painand years in a hospital bed, Claude kept up the happy disposition be calls "a gift from God." He'd never been out of his bed on a social call until two years ago when he acquired an electric wheelchair. "My first treat was when I was able to manoeuvre myself around the hospital floor to visit other patients. "And then I was able to go across the street to park where I could be outside in the sunshine and fresh air. " But for Claude, the biggest thrill of all was when he had his wheelchair were taken by Handi- lower a saucer upsi the centre and addv the bottom of thes emerges from thev will create a lit where the plant can You will be surpri amount of water evaporate in the co week. Spray the l water through a sprayer, such as th use to dampen dow available at your garden centre. Ti Cane can tolerate: light, but it shouldt ed from direct sunl the summer month sun rays are verys will magnify thr window and willi Transit to visit his former beloved home in Bowmanville. "That day we saw my old house where there were many happy memories of my mother, visited my sister and lunched at the Bowmanville Zoo. "When I arrived home that night I was happy because it was the very first day I'd ever spent in the outside world," he said. The things most other people take for granted as occasional treats for Claude. He sampled Chinese food for the first time recently when an orderly invited him home for dinner. "You know, I've been to the Oshawa Centre four times," he happily boasts. Of the worthwhile things in life, he counts "love and the company of cheerful friends" the best. Once when he was visiting a fellow patient, a visitor blurted out on seeing him: "You should be dead, no one should live like that." Happier Than You I've found that a lot of people don't think before they speak, and at first my blood boiled. But when I thought about her comment for a moment, I told her, "Maybe so, but I'm a lot happier than you are." Although he enjoys many visits from a sister and brother, hospital staff are considered family mem- bers by Claude, and when someone on his floor gets married or retires, there is usually a gift bearing his name. During long reflective years in a hospital bed Claude bas had lots of time to think about life in general. "If Iwas ever asked for advise, I'd say live life on a day-to-day basis, get the best out of it and never abuse your health." A person would have to be in my place for one minute to appreciate bis own bealtb. "But life is good and don't let anyone tell you any different", he says. Gardening de down in leaves to burn. t can be grown water until in a normal temperature, and saucer, just will stand some variations in water, this temperature, but it must bave tle island plenty of ligbt. In tbe winter i be placed. the plant may lost some of its ised at the leaves, wicb can be removed that will by taking a sharp knife and by urse of one making a dean cut at the eaves withstem. Snow Queen is the best fine mist variety to buy, since it bas the îe type you most coloring on the leaves. If in clothers, you bave problems witb tbe florist or name just think of Diefen- he Dumb baker, and you have baîf the some sun- name already. be protect- Norfolk Island Pine or ight during Araucaria beterophylla. This .s when the is a tender evergreen conifer- strong, this nus tree, wbîcb is becoming rough the increasingly popular. Tbe cause the beautyof this plant is the soft needle type foliage, resem- bling the spruce tree outside. If treated well it will live for years, it bas been in use snce the late eighteenth century. Place the plant in a well lit place and try to place so that the tender needles will not be touched, wben walking past. t - does not ike too warm a room, st keep it in a moderately eated room. Watering should be done at least every two days, because the root system is very fibrous, and it can not stand being dried out. Fertil- ize at least once a montb. It is interesting to note that some specimen have grown to a height of eighty feet in the tropics. The Dracena family has numerous varieties, with the most common ones used in Ontario are Dracaena fra- grans, commonly called corn plant, and the Dracaena sanderiana. The plant needs a humid temperature and a warmly heated location, so try the deep dish method and spray the leaves with water every week once or twice, or you can sponge the leaves every week. This plant can be used in corners, since it will grow to a good size. Trans- plant to a larger pot when the plant stops growing, by using a good fibrous soil, consisting of 1 part peat, 1 part soil and one part sand or perlite, or you can buy the potting mix Claude Con Stf111 SmIIe already prepared at your florist. Weekly fertilizing will keep it healthy and growing and the plant will last for years to come. Keep in mind that this family of plants love plenty of light, but no direct sunlight. Rubber plants, or Ficus elastica var decora. There are quite a few pitfalls in growing the rubber plant. One is the dropping of the leaves, this is caused by wrong watering treatment. First of all this plant can not stand cold water, so same warm tepid water will have to be given and you should water from the top, because if you water from the bottom, and the water is left in the saucer, it will be too cold again. Watch placing them in ceramic pots, where water will collect. Feed weekly. Until next week, happy gardening. *SHAWS About eighty friends and neîghbours of Shaw's gathered at the school last Tuesday night where Ken Bragg, Gerry Brown and Dick Pocock had a roaring fire with a boiling pot full of fresh corn ready. Hot dogs with the usual trimmings, coffee and choco- late milk were also provided with Shirley Brown, Gail Guthrie, Marg and John Killeen assisting as the com- mittee. After about an hour and a half of eating , and visiting the crowd retired to the school room where the tables had been arranged for games. Some of the winners were Joan Anyan, Barry Bragg, Leland Crago, Gina Guthrie, Eunice Oldejans, Don Rickard and Rod Stork The games had been arranged through the kindness of the Kinsmen Club. Newly-weds Wes and Doreen Lane were then in. vited to seats of honour and Doreen Barrie, Dorothy Crago and Marg Killeen presented a Approx few remarks in poetic form to cousinslc remind the young couple of ail home o the good wishes from the meet thi community for a happy ofwhor married life. Steve Barrie, had prev Calvin Crago and John Killeenhitherto then presented the bride and Billar groom with a lovely crystal and Don fruit bowl and a five piece the race bridge set.Saturda Both Doreen and Wes spoke ing being briefly and expressed their had the appreciation for the thought--the prize fulness of the community. Cental A They then proceeded to cut the the winr nicely decorated cake which Janet was served with ice cream. John Da And so another evening of Schultz, good sociability came to an at the I end. Camp a Among guests of Garnet and parents Annabelle Rickard this past tea and week were Margaret and Fred afternoo Wood of St. Mary's Ontario wabing and Dr. and Mrs. Winston young p Reynolds, University of Cali- the con fornia, Santa Barbara. The on Labo Reynolds remained thrqugh- out the week while visiting their many cousins in this area, gathering information relating to his grandparents families-Allin and Rickard E CLA RKE H. S. KENDAL ximately forty-five called at the Rickard n Sunday afternoon to s distinguished couple many of the relatives viously been aware but had not met. nd June Bragg, Gordon reen Barrie attended s at Kawartha Downs y evening. The even- g Orono Night, Gordon honour of presenting e given by the Durham Agriculture Society to ier in one of the races. and Bruce Brown, vid Killeen and Duane town, spent ten days Interprovincial Music t Parry Sound. Their enjoyed the splendid Symphony on Sunday n at the Maniton- Arts Centre. These eople participated in cert at Ontario Place ur day. upportU Dl CROSS OBITUARY PETER MARTIN SR. The death occurred sud- denly on Sunday, August 14, 1977, while holidaying in Kamloops B.C. of Peter Martin Sr. of Englehart. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1906, Mr. Martin had been a resident of Dock Township since 1932. Predeceased by one son Stanley, one sister Janet and two brothers, James and Thomas, he is survived by his wife Beatrice (formerly Beatrice Lee of Bowmanville), two sons Peter and Harlon, three daughters, Janet (Mrs. Alex Stevenson), Beatrice (Mrs. Donald Elles- ton), Lillian (Mrs. Harvey Lamb) all of the Englehart area, 27 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Also survîving are two brothers, John of Englehart and Doug- las of Bowmanville and two sisters, Helen (Mrs. James Thompson) of Aurora and Bessie (Mrs. George Purdy) Bowmanville. Interment Englehart Cemetery. CLASSES NEWCASTLE KIRBY NEWTONVILLE REGISTRATION FEES $7.50-20 HOURS Senior Citizens - No Fees Courses can be extended Pay by cheque on night of f irst class CLARKE H.S. 7 to 9 pm. Hwy. 115-35- N. of 401 Monday - Tuesday Wednesday September 12-13 - 14 Adult Leisure Class Gymnastics Sewing Art Horsemanship (English, Shorthand Badminton Show, Jump) Slimnastics (Women) Cake Decorating Instrumental Music Square Dancing Ceramics Leathercraft'tretch'andSew Crocheting Metal Craft (Light) Decoupage, Macrame, Music Apprecîation Upholstery Crewel Music Reading WeAving Family Life Education Needepoint Winemakinq Flower Arranging Oral French (Aduit) eWoodcarving Furniture Refmnishing FamiIv Conversational Yoga Gourmet and Continental French (EIem. Students> Cooking Pottery Other Courses as the Guitar Quilting demandarises iwk Ju1977 For Further Information Contact: Mr. A. R. Dormer Evening Class Principal Day - 987-4842 After 6 p.m. 1-705-277-2709 BECAUSE 0F THE DEMAND FOR CERTAIN COURSES AN ALTERNATE CHOICE IS ADVISABLE Canadièn Litera ture A tisses - Reference Books N 'I -MU%