Tue Str ATFORD Published Weekly by the Stratford Mirror Press, 125 Ontario St. BENSON JOHNSTON. EDITOR oo --------_-- ----" Vol. 2 ' STRATFORD, NOV. 9. 1945 No. 45° Fr = = = Te ". ---- A Great Contribution At No Cost To The Donor What a thrill we experienced the other day when we read of a girl having regained her sight after seventeen years of blindness! Itread like a fairy tale, and everyone joined in her happiness. We could not but marvel at the great courage and mor- ale which Bernice Biggs displayed all through those many years of dark- ness. More than half of her life has been spent in the black valley of blind- ness, yet never despairing, always de- termined, and, forever filled with faith that some day, somewhere, someone would restore the light that went out when as a student of thirteen her eye- sight began to fail and doctors told her there was no hope she would ever see again. "Now I can see how beautiful even ordinary leaves are," says this girl. "T have stopped several times to look at each blade of grass on the lawn." Incidentally, is it any wonder she was disappointed that so many people she saw on the street were full of strain and worry? If we would only stop and see in nature what this girl now sees, would we go through life full of strain and worry? There are so Many beautiful things to see, yet we really do not see them. This girl was enabled to get her sight back again because someone's eyes had been given immediately after death. In view of what this remark- able medical achievement has meant to a blind girl one cannot understand why so few people are willing to offer their eyes after death so that others may have their sight restored As you will have read in The Mirror last week, "The Eye-Bank For Sight Restoration" has been organized to collect and pre- serve healthy corneal tissues for transplanting to blind persons who have lost their sight because of cor- neal defects. If there are enough people contribute to this "Eye Bank" 10,000 to 15,000 now blind may have their sight restored as in the case of Miss Biggs. The purpose of the "Eye Bank" is to make available a supply of fresh or preserved corneal tissue wherever and whenever needed by hospitals and surgeons who are qualified to perform the operation. Apparently no method has yet *been discovered for preserva- tion of the corneal tissue indefinitely and until this is found, corneas must be obtained and removed within a few hours after death. When we consider cases such as Bernice Biggs and what it must mean for her to be able to see again after seventeen years of total blindness, surely the least we can do is offer our eyes, if, as and when they may be used for such a marvellous transform- ation. a TRAGEDIES OF SOCIETY -.. BY LINDA LANE Wrecked dreams and ruin come to the upper crust as they do to humble folks. Linda Lane begins, in The American Weekly with this Sunday's (Nov. 11) issue of The Detroit Sunday Times, a series of articles on famous tragedies that stunned the 400. Get Stratford oo Chit-Chat . M. Are You Having a Party? In these days of limited space and food rationing planning a party is a real worry, but let me help you by sharing a secret I've just discovered. There's the loveliest homelike atmo- sphere that you could possibly desire to be found at the Old Homestead, just 11%4 miles east of Shakespeare, on No. 7 and 8 Highway. The food simply melts in your mouth and you have the happy feeling of being in a home. They have one large room decorated and fitted up very specially for wedding parties which saves the family so much worry and _ work. There's a big fireplace, cupboards full of beautiful dishes, well chosen. wall declorations, homespun curtains, all to give it the homelike atmosphere, and you won't have to worry about getting those decorations which in these days are so very hard to find. They have everything you need and the whole family can share without any concern about preparing or serving, Just phone ahead of time -- 37-r-4 -- and presto, everything will be arranged for you like magic. For that anniversary or birthday which you'd like to mark in some spe- cial way, what could be nicer than to take them to this delightful spot. Un- expected guests need no longer bother you so that you lost half the pleasure of their visit through worrying about what to serve. Let me whisper, "their chicken dinners are the kind that once tasted you'll plan to go back for more. You needn't take my word for it -- prove it for yourself. DON'T MISS THIS TREAT! Residents of Avon School District, attention: Be sure to keep open the date of November 13th for Special Home and School Meeting, at which Mr. J. Wood, chairman of the Board of Education, will be the special guest speaker, and musical numbers will be given by Misses McKellar and Ford. This is a worthwhile group in your community -- why not come out and join us. CHILDREN'S SHOES -AT BOYD'S We have not all sizes in everything but usually Boyd's is the best place to try first. 2-6 6-7% 8 - 1044 11 - 12 6-8 8% -12 12% -3 Low Boots Low Boots| Low Boots Low Research ...... Jack & Jill... Savage ......... Health ......:.. 1.50 2.00 1.65 DOWN 1.50 1.29 Skipalong ..... Hewetson ..... 3.00 3.50 re 2. (99 29 550. 4 4.00 3.50 2.75 4.50 5.00 3.50 4.00 3.00 25 2.45|2.45 2.75 STAIRS 29: 2491199 2.19 1.79 1.99 4.00 2.45 Good Shoes Properly Fitted. 99 ONTARIO ST. The Detroit Sunday Times. Our Capital Correspondent By Dean WILSON Unfounded Whispers Ever since it has become known that steps were taken to increase by $2,006 a year the sessional payment for mem-~ bers of Parliament, in addition to their present sum of $4,000 sessional indemnity, whispers have been heard along Parliament Hill that a number of Senators were not fully contented with this proposal without doing like- wise for members of the Senate. How~ -- ever, there is a vast difference since: the 245 members of Parliament have had a most difficult time in meeting' - their expenses or carrying on properly" in quite a number of instances, with the hint that many members had re- tired voluntarily prior to the last gen- eral elections in June solely for this reason. They could not afford to re- main in public life under the condi- tions, and these included some of the most desirable representatives in the House of Commons. Then again, Sen- ators are appointed for life; do not have the expense of conducting elec- tions; do not have to make contribu- tions to numerous organizations im their constituency; Senators do not sit. more than a certain fraction of the: time of members of the House of Com-- mons during any session, probably no» more than half the time or less. © Extremely Serious Problem "No problem is more important than housing, particularly for the members of the armed forces," ad- mitted Hon. J. L. Ilsley in the course of a statement in Parliament. In- deed, this assertion by the minister is mild in comparison to the remarks heard in the lobbies of Parliament and elsewhere in this capital about these extremely serious housing situa- tion across Canada where the health: and existence of countless thousands of people are being placed in jeopardy by the lack of a suitable dwelling- The consensus of opinion is that not enough is being done and not too much can be done in view of the dangerous situation affecting the lives of so many thousands of Canadians. However, Hon. J. L. Tisley has empha- sized that a surprisingly large number of housing units have vbeen built in Canada in 1943 and 1944, probably more than in the previous generation and a_ half. "Limitations on the housing building program are phys- ical rather than financial," he stressed with emotion, pointing out that in the United States and Australia compar- -- able housing pro as to building supplies and manpower exist, with the added comment that production of building supplies is not so low in level but the demand far exceeds the pre-war levels. \ : Deadline Is Set The Deputy Minister of the Depart- -- ment of Veterans Affairs, has revealed in Ottawa that the dead- line for war service gratuities has -- been set as March 31, 1946 with this -- information being disclosed as he (Continued on page 5) Pe a nemmmenmnnm cian BUY A .t it ad 'ia i. XS : * Bake POPPY TOMORR blems and difficulties ae W.S.:Woods, --