THE STRATFORD MIRROR Job Printing with Quick Delivery LETTER HEADS ENVELOPES STATEMENTS TIME SHEETS BUSINESS CARDS The Stratford Mirror Press Tel. 115 123 Ontario St. ~ LAFB-A-DAY fe 2 as Eee i top was Kin Cidaees tila te. 3s. wold rights Pa al | "But why did they scratch him--was he itchy?" ~ Ptirror Short Story Dowager's Rights By FAYE McGOVERN { ~ 'Friday, November 2, 1945. ite ; if: THE STRATFORD MIRROR =e oes + "7 EI MING," complained the: ; dowager from the depths of her' silken bed, "you aren't going to. work in that hospital again today?"': Her daughter continued fastening her quilted black jacket. 'Yes, Mother. They need me." "But must you degrade yourself?! Isn't there something more genteel' you can do?" |. Lei Ming shoox her smooth dark' head. "They need every helping! hand they can get. The city is full! of refugees in need of medical at- tention."' "But how can you expect me to arrange a suitable marriage if you persist in such associations? No man of character will want you.' "There are too many children who need attention now," sighed Lei Ming, turning away. "Many of them are homeless." She turned: back suddenly. "If you would only' come with me!" The dowager settled her plump, perfumed self deeper among her pil- lows and sighed. There had been a' time when the many splendid rooms of her house were filled to over- flowing with prominent, notable, im- portant people. But with the war's: coming lavish social affairs were: frowned upon, and life was exceed-' ingly dull. And Lei 'Ming was be- coming harder to understand. ~ Tears ran down her cheeks, and with her plump hands curled help- lessly on the coverlet, her small mouth drawn into a pout, she fell asleep. When her frightened hand- maid shook her she awoke with a start. "'Madam! Lei Ming needs you. The ricksha boy who brought the message waits without. Make haste!" For the first time in all her shel- tered life the dowager hurried. Tot- tering on her tiny bound feet she arrived at the rambling old mission **I told my brether."' hospital, her hair awry. The curious eyes of weary, hungry refugees fol- lowed her progress across. the erowded courtyard. Greedy hands twitched at her silken trouser leg, and shrill voices pleaded for alms. Angry maledictions followed in her wake as she swept past, unheeding. _ Rushing from the bright sunlight mto TNE Blovimml OL Wie vuLulig suc collided with a very dirty-faced little girl who had been standing directly in her path watching her approach with awe. "Must you stand in the way, child?" the woman scolded. "'Good- ness, don't shriek so. Here." She dabbed at the child's tears. Immediately the howling ceased, and a radiant smile lighted up the youngster's face. "Mmmmm,"' she cried. "You smell good." An odd, half-forgotten warmth swept over the dowager. "Thank you, child," she said abruptly, and hurried on. She stumbled through three crowded rooms before she found Lei Ming efficiently bandaging a man's shoulder. "What does this mean?" demanded the dowager in- dignantly. 'I thought you needed me."' '"'We do, Mother,' Lei Ming said without ceasing her work. "Hand me the scissors, please."' Trembling with anger the older; woman obeyed. "I never dreamed} you could stoop to such trickery." | "I merely sent word you were) needed, and you are. I'm sorry if! you were frightened."' 'Frightened! Of course I was --" A tug at her clothes caused her to look down. The little girl she had run into was holding a dirty little boy by the hand. "T told my brother if he would let you wash his face he could smell you,' cried the child eagerly. The small boy grasped the dowa- ger, pushed his face against one leg and inhaled deeply. He smiled and clung, staggering a little. i She stooped and picked him up.} His head dropped against her soft) shoulder and almost instantly he) was asleep. For a moment the dowe-} ger looked uncertain. But when the child stirred and sighed, her clasp tightened. Decision brought pink spots to the plump cheeks she hadn't taken time to rouge. "'I'll take these, two home with me." "Oh, thank you, Mother," Lei Ming cried. "But are you sure you can manage?" "With a houseful of empty rooms) and servants? Of course I can," was the retort. Then, with vigor,| '"'And tell Dr. Wu if he wants to retain his fees he'll get the rest of the children up to my house--at once!" Anti-Rust Fluid | Anti-rust fluid that can be brushed; on, or applied with a cloth, is now; being marketed. It gives protection; up to three years. An unusual fea-, ture is that it is not necessary to, scale off the old rust before applying the fluid. Wood Preservatives The annual $50,000,000 damage to American property by some 58 vari- eties of termites can be practically, avoided by proper utilization of) known chemical wood-preservatives. There are more men in Canada than women. Of the total population 14 years of age and over on April 1, 1945, 4,567,000 were men and 4,382,000 were women. 5 ee ¥ * pane ORS ron Soe aaa Se we sar La Se ei Serer a eae ee #eg cee or " crop, Interested. - ments are under way for growing our Just Among Ourselves A regular department conducted for Mirror readers by Ina St. John. IN A RUT Dear Miss St John: I have been going with the same boy friend ever since we both left High School. That was six years ago. He has been overseas but is home again. I love him with all my heart. He says he loves me but sometimes he takes other girls out. He has never asked me to marry him, Of course I have no ring. J would rather go on like this but my youngre sisters are all married and they taunt me about waiting so long. They say I should tell him I won't go with him any longer without a ring, anyway. But, oh, Miss St. John, I'm just a coward, I guess. I'm so scared he'll call my bluff and go with one of the other girls he takes out. Somehow I just can't do it. Do you think he has some reason for treating me like this? TWENTY-FIVE SUMMERS. Answer: There is no good reason for a man to keep a girl waiting all that time. If he cannot marry for some secret reason he should step out of the picture and give another man a chance. A long engagement is sometimes a wise arrangement, but there is certainly "no future" in the present state of affairs as far as you are concerned. You may run a chance of losing whatever happiness you en- joy as things stand if you do as your sisters advise. On the other hand, it may be all the man needs to wake him up. AIR LINE STEWARDESS Dear Miss St. John: My husband and I do not live to- gether. We are divorced. Is that any reason why I could not be a steward- ess on the Trans-Canada Air Lines? J am very anxious to do this work but a friend tells me one has to be single to be accepted. Please answer Friday. FLORENCE. Answer: Only single women are accepted as stewardesses on -the Trans-Canada Air Lines, Florence. This rule may not be followed by other air lines, however. INA ST. JOHN. ALMOST TWENTY-ONE Dear Miss St. John: My mother fusses about me going away week-ends. Don't you think a girl almost twenty-one can take care of herself? IRIS. Answer: A girl of your age certain- ly is old enough to take care of her- self, but not every girl is wise enough even at that ripe age to guard her re- putation. Probably your mother is concerned with that angle. Most cri- ticism is worth considering--particu- larly when it comes from one who loves us. Do think it over, Iris. INA ST. JOHN. Scott, Crane COMPANY INSURANCE - REAL ESTATE : INVESTMENTS -Phones--633 and 2413J 110 ONTARIO STREET = eee remo mcaema na & an eee m AAO GES eh AI Aeon BO aR Si ae, a -- ae a "My poor fellow," said the kind old: lady, "it must be dreadful to be lame,. but just think how much worse it would be if you were blind." "You're right, lady," agreed the beggar. "When I was blind I was al- ways getting counterfeit money." Crosier's Coats - TAILORED FOR WARMTH TRIMMED FOR BEAUTY There's No "Point" in Waiting -- Make Early Selections It is a matter for you to decide, but we do hope you will try something drastic in the hope of the happiness you crave. INA ST JOHN. AWAY TOO LONG Dear Miss St. John: About three years ago I met a hand- some sailor. We fell in love. Two months after we met we got married. I went to see his folks. They are dull people. I was disappointed. I soon found him to be pretty dull, too. But I loved him and we got along all right. Then he went overseas. He was home twice on furloughs. We have a little girl just learning to walk. He's wild about her. I made a mistake, Miss St. John. I like gay, clever men. I hate to settle down with the man T married. I'm afraid I don't love him any more. He doesn't know how I feel. He will soon be home to stay. He's counting the days. I'm dreading it. What can I do? ZONA. Answer: Well, Zona, there is just one thing for an honorable person to do: Welcome your husband and your little child's father home. Try to think of him as you did in the early days of your marriage. Probably his old attraction for you will return, and you will find real happiness when you are reunited. You have our best wishes. INA ST. JOHN. NEW FOOD FOR CHINA Dear Miss St, John: There is so much written about rice shortage in China causing poverty and starvation. I wonder why they don't try to grow some other kind of food. Can you enlighten me? INTERESTED. Answer: The land in China has seemed suitable for rice as the main However, experi- old Irish standby, potatees. Some success has been achieved and the Chinese are delighted. ey : INA ST. JOHN. -- re on eeeee fates ea Scores of Tailored Styles - - - MANY WITH DETACHABLE LININGS 8 40 6 Price If you are a Coat buyer this season. attention" to these smart casuals. Thye have been approved by foremost Canadian stylists for their smart appearance, for their usefulness, ~ for their dependability. exceptionally choice quality materials, all have warm interlinings, several have detachable linings of Chamois. Now is the time to choose delays may prove disappointing. Smart range of colors and sizes. Groups 19.50 a 29.50 to 49.50 if Day Come tailored from Luxurious Fur Trims: - Of BLEACHED and SILVER FOX is real value. Price If your fancy turns to fur trimmings there's elegance in these clever fashions ornamented with luxurious bleached, silver and Arctic fox skins. Their style lines are full of clever wiles. For example, here are becoming straight, boxy lines, creating an illusion in height . . . interest- ing collars and skirts to make waists littler and narrower by contrast. And they come in wonderful colors -- the whole picture is one of elegance and dependability. Every garment rie, 52.50 » 150.00 rae cakes ce Quality -- Service J. J. CROSIER "tinier" " stator Ontario §