oy age 'THE STRATFORD MIRROR Vol. 9 STRATFORD, JULY 17, 1931 No. 7 Pythians and Citizens Benefitted By Convention Publicity for the City May Bring About Results--Many Promin- ent Business Men from Other Cities in Attendance. The Pythians have come and gone. Who can doubt that their visit here has been of mutual benefit? For the two days in which the Grand Lodge and Grand Temple conventions were in session here, Stratford citizens have heard more about Pythians and the aims and ideals of Pythianism than they have in years previously. Strat- ford citizens had an opportunity of meeting some of the delegates Grand Lodge here and of hearing them speak. They were able to watch them go about their work. Certainly the Order has not suffered in Strat- ford as a result. Stratford citizens too, had an opportunity of watching the Knights and Sisters at play. Any who happened through Queen's where a dance was in progress on Monday night would be willing to ad- mit that they are a jolly gang. Then there is the other side of the story. Delegates came to Stratford, re- presenting lodges from the head of the as Oshawa. They received a warm wel- made to feel that Stratford citizens generally join- Jakes to Sarnia and east as far come here. They were ed the members of Hamlet Lodge here in welcoming the visitors to Stratford. The visitors were impressed. They said to they were and there is no reason to Park He was a popular Stratford boy and she was his girl friend. He thought it was a fine night to be on pleasure bent and she agreed. He thought the lake looked inviting and again she agreed. * * * And so they set sail, this young couple, or rather, he paddled while she dragged her hand lazily in the water beside the boat. Out on the sil- very surface of the lake they drifted, sliding past the stand where the band was playing. It was a gorgeous night to be going no place in particular and doing it in no particular hurry. * * * Enter the villians. The scene has shifted to York Street near the boat house. A small coupe is parked there are enjoying a canoe ride. A second car arrives. There is a bustle of activ- ity and great merriment, then the second car departs. oY * The hour is growing late. The crowds have left the bandstand and the twinkling lights at the stand have disappeared. A canoe slides up to the boat house and two figures approach the car. A few tugs at the door of the machine and then a cry of dismay. "It's locked." "No, it isn't, I have the key in my pocket." "Sense and Nonsense"' A closer examination and the my- stery is partly solved. The two doors have been tied together from the in- side and both windows are closed tight. On]y one thing to do, and after much bickering, he does it. He crawls in through the windshield. There he is confronted with a sea of knots. The clutch, the brake, the steering wheel, all are linked up in a chain of knots. * ~ 7~ The young lady is finally enabled to squeeze through a partly-opened door and assists in the attack on the knots. It is slow work in cramped quarters, and the clock in the post of- fice booms midnight before the work is completed. * * * There is no moral to this story. It's while the owner and his lady friend | just one of life's little comedies. It's | the story of a young couple untying a knot without going to Reno to do it. * * * Is Stratford gaining in popularity as a convention city? Reports from Ottawa are to the effect that the 1933 sessions of the Ontario Division of the Lutheran Synod will be held in this city. * * * Evidence that Stratford is in a fav- orable position at the present time, compared to many other cities is sup- plied by the fact that for the first two 'in the estimation of local railroad men Sir Henry Cordially Greeted Deputation Too much credit can not be given to the Board of Trade in taking steps to definitely clear the air of rumors of which had persisted for some time concerning the C. N. R. Shops. Strat- ford is interested in the C. N. R. be- cause a unit in that great system forms one of the vital employment- giving agencies of the city. A large proportion of Stratford's populace de- pends on the C. N. R. When there were rumors of a shut-down, Stratford was worried, and rightly so. It was an unpleasant situation. It was a drag on business. The statements of Sir Henry Thorn- ton have served to replace doubt by assurance and gloom by hope. Sir Henry Thornton occupies a high place' and when he makes a statement, local men are ready to believe that he means what he says. What impressed the local deputation most of all perhaps, was the cordial- ity and simplicity with which they were received. It was like calling on friends while in the city. When Sir Henry Thornton spoke, his words had a ring of sincerity which put them at their ease. There was no attempt to evade the issue or put the deputation off the track by ambiguous answers. Sir Henry assured them that the local shops would not be closed down, 80 that's that. weeks of July more taxes were collect- ed them during the entire month last Stratford Retail Merchants Association sincerely hope that every C. N. R. Employee and citizen who participates in the C. N. R. Stratford Employees' Ex- cursion to Crystal Beach tomorrow will have a most enjoy- able time. question their sincerity. One woman year. from Port Arthur declared at a ban- quet in Parkview United Church that Hamlet Lodge occupied a warmer place in her heart than any other lodge in the domain. Others made somewhat similar statements. Then too, they like Stratford, and felt that this would be a mighty good place in which to live. When they go back to their home towns and cities, it is not unreasonable to expect that they will talk about Stratford and tell their friends about it. While the skeptic may declare that the city derives no direct benefits from that, he must ad- mit that it is mighty good publicity for a city, the kind which can not be bought for dollars and cents. Yes, all things taken into considera- tion, both the Pythians and Stratford would appear to have benefited from holding the Convention here. Sorry to see you go Pythians, but ready to welcome you back just as soon as you want to come. * * * Sampson Webb of Stratford never could understand how, an Orangeman could miss a twelfth of July celebra- tion. Mr. Webb has been an Orange- man for three-quarters of a century and this year was the first in which he has failed to march. He was in the parade though, enjoying the proceed- - ings from a car. * x * A truck driver was ditched when his machine struck a hog on the Strat- ford-Mitchell Highway. Probably one of those road hogs Dad talks about when he takes the family for a drive These events are looked forward to every year with pleas- on Sunday afternoon. * * ure by both old and young and those members of the Retail Merchants Association who have joined with you on your excursion fully realize what an ideal way this is to spend a long day of real enjoyment. After reading that Listowel is mak- ing an effort to have the Listowel- Palmerston highway paved this year, no person need wonder what one of the discussions at the October session Again Stratford Retail Merchants hope the weather will of the county council will be. ¢.6slCUwS keep fine and that you, one and all, will have a real good time. The Stratford Retail Merchants Association Mayor Moore had a ready comeback when Dr. Monteith accused him of not giving the key of the city to visiting Pythians. "I'm saving it for the Sis- ters," the Mayor replied. No person but a married man would have thought of that one. a * ACKNOWLEDGMENT The Mirror editor gratefully ack- nowledges an invitation to be a guest at the C. N. R. picnic. To at- tend these annual outings is always a great pleasure, and no one can meet with Stratford C. N. R. em- ployees and their families without being made aware of the fine class of people who are in the employ of the C. N. R. in Stratford. Another of the many kind inviations from the committee is truly appreciated. j M THEATRE The Best in Talking Pictures * The most optimistic fellow in the world is the potato bug. He sits in the garden which dad planted this Sum- mer and waits for the Irish Cobblers -- to come up. K. QUARRY GORDON, President -DUNCAN B. EMM, Secretary ---- WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY Doug. Fairbanks, Jr. : in 'Chances " He saved his brother's life-- but lost his own heart. MONDAY -- TUESDAY WINNIE LIGHTNER 'Gold Dust Gertie "' Her tender "touch"' turns hearts to gold. _ NOW PLAYING Joe E. Brown--Joan Bennett "Maybe It's Love'" It's a wow of fun revel !