THE STRATFO Vol. 8 STRATFORD, APRIL 3, 1931 No. 44 Postponed Meeting will | Probably Be Held Soon) Now that "Tom" Orr is back from his holiday in the warmer clime of | the South-Western United States, | that postponed meeting of citizens to | discuss plans for fittingly celebrating | Stratford's will probably be held in the near fut- ure, That is a meeting which should interest practically every 'citizen of | Stratford, as the celebration which is | planned for next year will be one of | rejoicing for the progress which has been made since the first building, said to be Shakespeare hotel, was er- rected here. A centennial is a function which can not be planned overnight, and for that reason, any person who has suggest- ions should attend that meeting. There is an old saying that two heads are better than one. That applies to plan- ning celebrations. Even if you have no suggestions, perhaps you will get some ideas out of the remarks of others at the meeting. The Historical Society is one or- ganization which has. considered means of adding to the success of the celebration. One suggestion which has been put forward is that the site of the first building in Stratford be marked with bronze plates. The site of the old Shakespeare Hotel, the old grist mill and the old Grammar School would be among those marked. For the purpose of arousing interest in the history of pioneer life in the Huron Tract, the society will sponsor a contest of essay, poem and song- writing. Prizes will be awarded for the best works dealing with pioneer life. Residents of the Huron Tract will be eligible. o he Miracle of Easter £7 VW. £. , What a wonderful thing that Easter comes in the Springtime. Just when the deadness of our northern winter is giving way to the freshness and the beauty of the Spring, and our hearts are tingling with joy, because the gladdest and most hopeful season of all the year has come, we lift glad hearts of raptuous song to welcome one hundredth birthday, | Raster back again. Springtime is resurrection' time. Just consider the lilies. Their black unsightly roots lie in the sleep of death beneath the frozen clod. What can ever come of them? But the dreary days of winter pass, and lo, the miracle of spring appears. The warm sun beats upon the graves and they rise to sudden life and beauty. At the night-time of the year we buried our bulbs in the garden. And a dreary lonely place it was. The cold frost of winter sent its cruel pangs into their very hearts, and tempests of raging fury beat across the garden. But once more there comes. the dawn of spring and the green life rises to welcome the first mild day. Easter proclaims the coming of life's great springtime. It is the birth- day of life's immortal hope. The whole story of the gospels is vital, fresh and hopeful, bursting like the buds of April. It is the story of light coming into a dark world like the springtime sun that kisses the winter boughs into blossoms and leaves. It is enchanting music, sweet and low, soothing the heart, like summer trees. It is a great drama of life. Its very words are words of life. As you follow through the incidents of the gospels, their magic life-giving impulse are like the warm breath of spring touching everything with life and beauty. A woman at a well asked for a drink of cold water and the Master of life offered her living water. He shares a picnic meal with a great hungry crowd, and as_ they break their little loaves, he talks of living bread for hungry souls. At a wedding feast he performs a miracle that is also a parable, teaching people that he can turn water into the wine of life. He touches the eyes of the blind, and there is healing in His touch. The very hem of his garment has life in it. The gospels are adorned with flowers of life gathered from the gardens of eternal spring. Their words are beautiful garlands woven from the tree of life. The miracle of spring is new life. The miracle of the gospels is new life. Standing out against the dreams and systems and creeds and cults of all ages, the gospels posses the creative power of life. And the miracle of Easter is - the miracle of life,--immortal life. The form of the bulb is annihilated in the soil, But out of this very dissolution there comes forth the new and beau- tiful life of the flower. The seed of the vegetable dies, but the blade of living green starts up from its ashes. The kernel of corn falls into the ground and dies, but the stalk of corn lifts up the shout of victory from the grave of defeat. So also, says Paul, is the resurrec- tion of the dead. "It is sown in cor- ruption, it is raised in uncorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory." Out of death there comes forth the body of a new and glorious life. Over the scarred and grave-rid- ged surface of earth there is lifted the light of a new hope. For in every grave on earth's green sward there is the seed of resurrection life. Reviv- fied, incorruptible, and wonderfully glorious life shall rise again. S _ Always Shines Easter Ex-Ald. Waugh, the genial secretary lof the Board of Trade was in The Mir- | ror office yesterday on _ business. | While conversing with him about the weather, he said: "No matter how bad the weather is before Easter, you can | always count on the sun shinging on | Easter Sunday morning." It has never | been known to fail. | We believe Mr. Waugh is right, and we might add that in Stratford there 'are always a great number of daugh- ters shining on Easter Sunday, as well as the sun. It's a good thing to keep in mind that behind the dark clouds the sun is always shining. Yes, the good Lord gives to the world plenty of sunshine, but how often are the blinds pulled down, and the windows of the soul tight shut. Powerful and strong as the sun is, it's a simple matter to keep it outside. We meet many people every day who generate their own sun- shine and under the most trying cir- cumstances radiate joy and gladness. These kind of people are truly the salt of the earth, and do much to dis- pel gloom. FRIDAY and SATURDAY Edward Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in 'Little Caesar' Sensation of all Sensations MONDAY -- TUESDAY JOAN CRAWFORD in "Nance Fools Dance' She crashed society and battled the underworld WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY Charles Farrell--Elissa Landi "Body and Soul" He was her dream -- She was his awakening