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Commentary on the Highlights of the Week’s News SUNDAY COMPANY: Take a drive through Eastern or Western Ontario’s agricultural areas of a Sunday afternoon, and what do you see in every farm lane? Two or three swank cars standing empty after bringing a load of vis- itors from the city or nearest big town to sponge on their poor far- mer friends and relatives for the day. And there you see the com- pany, rooking back and forth on the verandah chairs while the far- mer’s wife, up since dawn, slaves in the kitchen in mortal fear lest the table won’t “groan” enough to suit those limitless city-bred appetites, always ready for an- other meal. Sweet are the uses of hospital- ity but they can’t stand too much strain. If the farmers of Ontario were not such out-and-out indi- viduals, they would long ago have risen up in a body to protest against their Sundays being tak- en away from them in such incon- . side rate fashion. But oven though the farmer may never go on strike for a free Sunday, some day he will murder the occupants of the first car to turn into his lane of a Sabbath morn. And the jury will acquit him .... SENATE KILLED IT: The peo- ple of Canada felt that at last they were getting1 some action, when, following the report of the Royal Commission probe into the Dominion’s prisons, the Govern- ment gave notice of its intention to carry out some of the recom- mended reforms, to establish a three-man Commission to admin- ister Canada’s penal system. But the Senate killed the bill as it was rushed through on the final day of the parliamentary session. Prison reform in Canada is thus given an indefinite setback because our parliamentarians were in a hurry to get away for the holiday. A GRIM LAUGH: Vociferous protests from the British people led by the parliamentary Opposi- tion caused Prime Minister Cham- berlain last week to make a real fuss about the consistent bombing of British ships by insurgent air- men in Spain (55 British vessels have been sunk in two years with corresponding loss of life). But the ironic part of it is that Mr. Chamberlain asked Mussolini to ask Franco to stop the bomb- ings, when everybody knew that Italian planes were responsible for the outrages! A laugh indeed, but a grim one. FEELING THE PINCH: Pull- ing in her belt another notch at home last week, Japan is prepar- ing for the greater and greater strain which is sure to be felt as the Chinese war keeps on. War essentials are now rationed (no more cotton cloth or iron pro- ducts may be manufactured for domestic use) ; imports, save of war materials, are curtailed; the government is controlling prices of commodities. Says Japanese War Minister Itagaki: “The war will continue a long time. Chiang Kai-shèk may attempt to continue hostilities throughout his lifetime and as long as Chiang continues, Japan must continue. Consequently, it is necessary that the Japanese re- . By Elizabeth Eedy solve to continue fighting at least ten years.” Political observers are prac- tically unanimous in their view that, at the rate she is now going, Japan cannot possibly last those ten years. BUMPER CROP: Hold your breath now lest something happen to spoil Western Canada’s chances for a bumper wheat crop this year. At the moment, everything is all set for the fulfilment of our Prairie farmers’ best hopes, mois- ture conditions being just right. The next two weeks will be de- cisive ones. Better times for all of Canada will result if present crop conditions hold. NEXT OBJECTIVE: Poor lit- tle neutral Switzerland is shiver- ing in her shoes. Within her borders dwell 000,000 German- speaking people, a juicy bite for Herr Hitler whose avowed pur- pose is to unite all the German race into one nation. Switzerland shivers in spite of the assurance given by Berlin last week that no German troops would march through her territority in event of war. One reason why she quakes: German Field Marshal Goring re- cently published in his “National Zeitung,” a map of Greater Ger- many, prepared by Reich propa- gandists for -chool use, which pic- tured practically the whole of Switzerland as belonging to the Reich. The Swiss frontier is “the boundary of the internal separa- tion of the German people,” an- nounced Goring’s news-sheet and claimed Switzerland’s 3,000,000 Germans as “exiled citizens of the German Reich”. In France, however, the belief is current that the next Hitler “putsch” (now that Czechoslo- vakia has him stopped for the time being) will result in the annexa- tion of Danzig. The capture of this Baltic port would be an easy walk-over, would restore Hitler’s flagging prestige. Expect developments in that di- rection, then, not many week-ends off. Australia Boasts Underground P.O. ADELAIDE, Australia.â€"-Philat- elists (stamp collectors) are just beginning to take a marked in- terest in Goober Pedy, the remote South Australian opal field, be- cause it possesses the only under- ground post office in the world. The prospectors live in “rooms” dug into the soft earth of the low sandstone hills. Here, too, is their bank and their post office. Recent issues of stamp journals carry articles dealing with the unique interest of covers bearing the postmark of Goober Pedy, which is the aboriginal name for white man’s burrow. It has been suggested that specially decorated covers should be made available for use on Goober Pedy’s inter- national air mail. Supplies of hay and clover on farms in Canada on March 31, 1938, amounted to 2,740,009 tons, a moderate decrease of 016,- 000 tons on the amount in hand a year ago. A Good Voice Is An Asset An Unpleasant One Ruins the Whole Effect Otherwise Pro- duced by One’s Personality. It’s a mistake for any girl to work hard to improve her figure, hair, skin and her taste in clothes but ignore completely thé; fact that she has an improperly placed, unpleasant voice. Because, no matter how attractive she is, un- less her voice has a fairly sooth- ing effect on others, they just aren’t going to listen to herâ€"-not for long anyway. To say that a girl has a nice voice doesn’t necessarily mean that she has a low voice. It can be high and still be pleasant to the ear. Breathe Correctly One good way to begin a voice- improvement campaign is to do a breathing exercise regularly until you breathe correctly all of the time without thinking about it. Do practice speaking slowly and enunciating correctly. Nothing is worse on anyone’s nerves than having to listen to a woman who rattles on, slurring words together and speaking so rapidly that half she says can’t be understood at all. The exercise to . correct bad speech is as simple as the breath- ing exercise that will tend to im- prove the voice. Just read aloud for fifteen minutes every day. Go to your room, close the door, then read. Listen to yourself and try Crop Outlook Is Favorable For Ontario Department of Agriculture Re- port Shows Bountiful Har- vest for Most of Province; Damaged Tobacco Replant- ed. TORONTO.â€"Spring rains and warm weather have brought prom- ise of good crops in most parts of the province, the Ontario Depart- ment of Agricultur : announces. The report says: “A new indus- try in the form of an alfalfa de- hydration plant is in full swing in the Oakville district. This plant is merchandising approximately , 20 tons per day." Look Promising North Simcoe reported that fre- quent and heavy rains in the past two weeks ‘‘have promoted very rapid growth,’’ although damage was heavy in the north part of the county from a recent storm. Prince Edward County, in Central Ontar- io, reported that “all crops look promising.” “Hay crop is looking very good as we have had plenty of rain, but the grain crop is proririly damaged by a little too much rain,” the de- partment' representative in Coch- rane said. The report added that “all crops, however, looking better than average.” Abundant Feed Pastures in Middlesex County generally are in excellent condition with abundant feed for all kinds of livestock. Spring grains there will have a fair length of straw while corn and roots “gre rather back- ward because of cool weather, but in most ..mes are a good stand,” Britain is aiding emigration to Australia. NAMES £ NEWS Chosen as the new President of the Canada Life Assurance Com- pany, Mr. A. N. Mitchell, of To- ronto, still in his early fifties, is one of the most brilliant of the younger insurance men in Amer- ica. Only last month he was eiec- ed President of the Life Insur- ance Officers of Canada. Mr. Mitchell has had a diversi- fied career, starting out as a school teacher, branching out into news- paper work, then joining the staff of the Manufacturers’ Life as ad- vertising manager in 1921. He remained with the Manufacturers for ten years, rising to the posi- tion of Assistant Secretary of the company. In 1911 he joined the Federal Life in Hamilton, was ap- pointed General Manager the fol- lowing year. When the Federal was absorbed by the Sun Life in 1915, Mr. Mitchell joined the Canada Life as an Assistant Superintendent. In 1926 he became Assistant General Manager; General Manager, 1930; Vice-President, 1935. In the period during which he has been General Manager of Canada Life, the country has passed through very difficult times. A. N. MITCHELL Mr. Mitchell had a tough job, but' he has done it well. His sound conservatism, his great energy and capacity for work have been in- valuable assets, will continue to aid him in a distinguished career. The Human Skin Is Illness Clue Men Welcome Practicality Doctors Foretell Course of Disease by its Elasticity Ability of the human skin to stretch is a, newly discovered prognosticator of death or recov- ery in several serious diseases. The methods of using- skin stretch, worked out at Tulane University school of medicine, were reported to the American Medical Association by William A. Soderman, M.D., and George Burch, M.D. When It Tightens The skin, which doctors call “the outer defense of the body,” changes its elasticity during disease. The change is connected with alterations in the pressure of body tissues. The Tulane phy- sicians have worked out methods of measuring both skin stretch and tissue pressure and of using them to foretell the course of ill- ness before the patient himself feels a change. In disease the skin tightens; the tissue pressure rises. In health the abdomen skin has the greatest elasticity, six times as much as that of the shin bone, and twice as much as the skin on the back of the hand. . The pressure in the tissues of the back of the hand is equal to a column of water half an inch deep. From this lew it i anges up to an inch-and-a-half of water for leg tissues. But in some diseases these tissue pressures are multi- plied up to 10 or 15-fold. The diseases are heart edema, kidney troubles, pernicious anem- ia, peritonitis, pregnancy toxem- ias, malnutrition and scleredema. The latter is the “steel skin” de- scribed by Sir William Qsler. The skin loses all its elasticity, until fingers cannot bend and finally it cracks. Women ,Should Remember This When Shopping For Them Salesmen in men’s shops never forget that they have to have in , stock what they call women’s mer- chandiseâ€"things that appeal to wives who shop for their husbands and are subsequently exchanged. It is a woman’s duty, obviously, to steer clear s£ these eye-catch- ers. This turns out to be laugh- ably easy if thé woman keeps in mind one fundamental; the gar- ment or accessory the woman is considering for her male relative will be welcomed if it has prac- tical value. Several men’s shops in New, Yoi'k were combed for practical, attractive summer things this week. - A shirt made like a carpen- ter’s jacket of closely woven nubby cotton has a row of deep pockets across the front below the waist, where a man can tuck- the things he wishes to carry about with him. For the man joining the ladies on the terrace of Ms country club there has been de- signed a collarless jacket of heavy crash linen that is cool and looks easy to wear. Single-breast- ed, with long sleeves and an elas- tic strap .across the back to give it a slightly nipped-in line at the waist, it can be had in navy or white. Week-Ends In Jail Convicted of embezzling his parents’ pension cheques, art American has been sentenced ta spend 40 week-ends â€" Saturday afternoons and Sundaysâ€"in jail. Reason: On week-days he can work to support his wife, his two children, and his parents. “That’s the way to talk!” cried the gnome King. “What is your name, general?” “1 am called Guph, your Majesty.” “Weil, â- Gtiph,” said the King, “come with rue to my private cave and v.eTl talk :t over.” Then he turned to the army. “You are to obey the commands of General Guph until he becomes dog feed,” he said. “Any man who tails to obey wifi he thrown away. You are now dismissed.” THE WONDERLAND OF OZ Guph went to the King’s pri- vate cave and sat down upon the King’s chair. Then he lit his pipe and threw the live coal he had taken from his pocket upon the King’s left foot and puffed smoke into the King’s eyes, making ; him ver uncomfortable. For he was a wise old gnome and he knew that the best way to get along with the King was to show hint that he - as not .afraid of him. “I am ready to talk,” he said. The King looked at his new gen- eral fiercely, “Do .you not tremble to take such liberties withy your Monarch?” he asked.- “Oh, no,”' said Guph. “You mant to conquer the Emerald City and 1 am the only gnome in all your dominions who can do it, so you will be very careful not to. hurt me until 1 have carried out your wishes.” “But suppose you fail?” -r ked the King. “Then it’s the slicing machine. 1 agree to that,” an- nounced Guph. ‘“But if you do as I tell you there will be no fail- ure, The trouble with you, King, is that you don’t think enough. You would go ahead and march your army through the tunnel in- to Oz and get defeated. 1 won’t. And the reàson I won't is because when I march 1 will have a host of allies to assist us.”