THE STRATFORD MIRRO Published Weekly by the Stratford Mirror Press, 125 Ontario St. BENSON JOHNSTON. EDITOR oe em Val 23 STRATFORD, JULY 20, 1945 No. 29° Reflection And Comparison A lone visitor walked the streets of Stratford today. The loveliness of the day inspired the visitor to reflection and comparison. He noticed how clean were the streets by comparison with some cities he had recently visited in many countries. He strode along the embankment of the beautiful Lake Victoria, So un- acquainted was the visitor with these parts he needs must inquire about the names of lakes, parks and rivers. His thoughts were at first about people-- about the many friends he had made and whom he would never see again. As he so reflected he became con- scious of the mellowness of his being caused by the beauty which surround- ed him. As he gazed on the quiet water of Victoria and listened to the faint rustle of the grand willows he made comparisons with other places of beauty. A white swan majestically coasted by looking like a Churchill version of Britannia. He thought of the splendid gardens along the French Mediterranean; of Paris and the River Seine; of Antwerp and the Scheldt; of London's Hyde Park; of Edinburgh and its gardens; of the foliage-covered hills of Petersfield; of the tulips and wooden shoes of Oyster- wick; of the Century Club and the River Wye. Lake Victoria is not like the Medi- terranean but one could feel that same restfulness which permeates one's being while in places of beauty. There were the tame ducks of St. James; the little foot bridges to give a touch of Vienna and the peony to represent the rhododendron which caused the famous poet to remark: "Oh to be in England now that April's here!" Yes, the visitor came to a conclusion. Stratford is a beautiful city compar- able with any in the world. Editor's note: Our visitor is Mr. Myles Dewar of Toronto who spent a day with us last week. He has just re- cently returned from overseas where as supervisor for the Y.M.C.A., he travelled throughout England and many European countries. PRACTICAL PHILANTHROPY In 1784 Benjamin Franklin wrote the following letter to Benjamin Webb: Dear Sir: Your situation grieves me and I send you herewith a banknote for ten louis d'or. I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you. When you return to your country, you cannot fail to get into some business that will in time enable you to pay all your debts. In that case, when you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him, enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like opera- tion when he shall be able and shall meet with such another opportunity. I hope it may thus go through many hands before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to be cun- ning and make the most of a little. With best wishes for your future prosperity, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, B. FRANKLIN. tratford Chit-Chat La, "Welcome Home"-- Isn't it grand to see the fellows com- ing home again? You can spot the homes to which a boy is returning sometimes for a block or two with its flags flying joyously and occasionally a big "Welcome Home" sign promi- nently displayed. Such is the case at 211 Douglas street, home of Warrant Officer W. J. "Bill" Klein. Bill landed in Stratford early Wednesday morning with his parents, who had gone to Toronto to meet him. On his arrival here he was greeted by three sisters, Mrs. E. G. Stewart, Mrs. S. G. Smith, both of Stratford, and Mrs. C. R. Nimmo, Kitchener. Young Shirley Stewart, Bill's niece, was up at the crack of dawn to welcome her uncle, we heard! A prisoner since May 13, 1943, when he was shot down on a bombing mis- sion over Duisburg, Germany, Bill said that he was imprisoned first in Stalag 1, then 6 and 357, and finally, as the Allied Victory became more and more apparent, moves were sud- den and unexpected and he lost track of the camps. The final 10-week period before the British 2nd Army caught up with them the prisoners were forced on long, gruelling march- es, for the most part in a weakened condition as Red Cross parcels had not been able to keep up with them. The black bread issued by the Ger- mans was carefully divided and eked out over long periods. However, the Klein family seem en- tirely satisfied with Bill's fit appear- ance now as he has had a couple of months in England to recuperate from his hardships. He arrived in Canada aboard the Ile de France. * * = "Meatless Tuesday-Friday" The good housewives of the city have another problem on their shoulders these days vis-a-vis the above; but probably not all of them will be as "agile'--and we use the word advised- ly--as Mrs. J. M. Morphey and Mrs. M. Kingsley of Stratford in solving it. It all occurred at Swift's staff picnic Wednesday afternoon out at Queen's Park when a chicken race was held during the afternoon's amusements. With the ladies gathered around in a circle, two chickens were let out of a box and tossed into the air. The two ladies successfully getting hold of the squawking fowl could keep their gains. All this accompanied by the amused comments of the less timid masculine elements of the crowd. To get back to our meatless days... Fowl? Well, there's one answer. Say hot, roasted, for Tuesday, and cold, sliced, for Friday. Umm! Umm! Mrs. C. Funnel, 69 Norfolk street, and Mrs. TT. Enright, 448 Albert street, discussed the situation with us and said they thought that egg dishes and salads would help a lot. The only thing is, can you see your hus- band coming home hungry for dinner and accepting calmly a dish of devilled eggs! The Sunday roast might be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out, too, they agreed. (Continued on page 8) oe and wear, medium and very wide widths. Pair..... oe Downstairs 99 Ontario WORK BOOTS BOYD'S DOWNSTAIR DEPT. Greb Heavy Duty Arch STEEL ARCH »% EXTENSION SOLE ORTHOPEDIC HEEL "Greb" Black Retan Work Boot, full double sole both nailed and sewn, soled leather insole, orthopedic rubber heel, bellows tongue, built for both comfort oy i 99 ONTARIO ST. 1 Women Who Overcame Handicaps Betsey Barton had been paralyzec? for ten years. At sixteen her back was broken in an automobile accident.. Some years later, when she was be-- ginning to adjust to her handicapped. life, disaster struck a second time. A car swervéd into one in which she: was riding; again she was severely" injured. Why had such meaningless, sense--- less, purposeless things had to happerm. to her? Betsey Barton lived through: a long period of bitterness and ques-- tioning and resignation. And why™ not? Only those who have not had te reconstruct their lives after some shattering disaster can possibly har---- bor the mistaken notion that such ad-- justment comes easily. But the human spirit has unexpected resources of strength. Today Betsey» Barton is helping hundreds of the dis-- abled -- soldiers, civilians, men, Wwo--- men -- to find their own new strengths: that she found within herself. She is: doing this through her unusual book "And Now to Live Again" (Appleton-- Century), in which her own story of" a life reborn charts the course by" which others too can build a rich life upon the wreck of an old. Here are a few bits of the philoso-- phy of this courageaus girl who sank-: farther into despair, and rose far- ther above it, than is given to most. of us: It seemed to me that the bloody wake of accident can be redeemed in» only one way: through our reaction te" it. If we allow ourselves to grow im vision the bitterest suffering can be- said to have been worth while. "We are being forced to realize the- amazing practicality of the religious point of*view. We are beginning to see that any other point of view has. been and always must be impractical... "T must dare to feel, dare to expose my feelings to be hurt again, if would see it as a creative opportunity,. a chance to work at becoming whole. 'If you did not have the ball and chain of your legs to hold you down," my teacher said, 'you would surely" run away. Hach person has some ob-- stacles in his path to wholeness. Yours' is more evident than most. It is na worse.' "We cannot do much for the hurt,. the crushed, the sick, except clear @ space around them and give them: time. Therefore, do not be quick to become impatient with us. We need time and quiet and more time and quiet." Rise and Swim Again One of the best-remembered of wo- men athletes is Georgia Coleman. She was acclaimed greatest woman diver,. twice winning Olympic diving honors, but her greatest victory was not im: the realm of sport. At the peak of her fame she was: stricken with infantile paralysis. She- could not speak or move her arms or legs. She could only lie flat on her back month after month, taking treat- ments, working ceaselessly toward the glorious day when she might be able: to wiggle so much as a toe or finger through her own efforts. That day came, after many months. After a while she was able to walk om crutches, then to throw them away~ (Continued on page 5)