_lliis weak a new liquor bill.

u

l’_¢9~§_5.-_!*'_9.!l3_r_.__ -

THE GUARDIAN

Morning Dally (Founded 1n 1.887s. Authorized as Second Class Mall, Poll. Office Department. Ottawa.

President. lun A. Burnett; Vice-President. Wm. R. Burnett; Secy.-'I‘reas.. (i. M. Barnett; tlaiuging Director. J. lt. Ilurnell; Associate Editor. Frank Walker.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink."

IJIIARLOTTETOWN. TUESDAY. DIARCII 23, 1945-, Mum’s The Word!

There is to be introduced in the Legislature Last week Premier lones voiced the opinion that our fir trees which have replaced the old disease-free hardwood growths on the lsland are of little value, and that their cutting for pitprops is beneficial rather than harmful. What have these subjects to do with each other? Perhaps there is u link of connection.

If during the passage of the liquor hill one were to get up and enunciate the word "Mum", ll‘ is doubtful whether any member would have the faintest glimmering of what was meant. Ex- ceptions might be made in the cases of the Premier, the Minister of Agriculture, and the omniverous Mr. Saville. These gentlemen are not only versed iii the agriculture of today, but have a wide and varied knowledge of agricultural history. They might, perhaps, recall that in the 17th and 18th centuries "Mum" was a vefY popular drink in the Old Country, and that it was decoctcd chiefly from the tops of fir trees.

Other ingredients of course were necessary- "To make a vessel of sixty-three gallons," says an old authority, "the water must be first boil- ed to the consumption of a third part; let it then be brewed, according to art, with seven bushels of wheat-malt, one lI-lillfil of oat-malt, and one bushel of ground beans; and, when it is tunned, let not the hogshead be too much filled at first; when it begins to work, put-ta it of the inner rind of the fir, three pounds, of the tips of fir and birch, of each one pound; of carduus bene- dictus dried, three handfulls; flowers of rosa sulis, two handfuls; of burnet, betoiiy, mariorum, ovens, penny-royal, flowers of elder, wild thyme, of each one handful and a half; seeds of carda- muni bruised, three ounces; bay-berries bruised, one ounce: put seeds into the vessel. When the liquor hath wrought a while with tho herbs, and after they are added, let the liquor work over the vessel as little as may be; fill it up at last, and when it is stopped, put into the hogshead ten new laid eggs, the shells not cracked or broken; stop all close, and drink it at two years old; if carried by water, it is better. Dr. Aegidius Hoff- man added water-cresses, brook lime, and wild parsley, of each six handfuls, with six handfuls of horse-radish in every hogshead; it was ob- served that the horse-radish made the Mum drink more quick than that which had none."

Our ancient authority goes on to say that by the composition of Mum, we may guess at the qualities and properties of it. "You find great quantities of the rind and tops of'fir in it; therefore if the Mum-makers at London are so careful and honest as to prepare this liquor after the Brunswidk fashion, which is the genu- inc and original way, it cannot but be very powerful against the breeding of stones, and against all scoibutick distempers. When he Swedes carried on war against the Muscovites, the scurvy did so domineer among them, that their urmv did languish and moulder away to nothing, till, once eiicamping near a great num-

ber of fir trees, they began to boil the tops of‘

them in their drink, which recovered the army, evcn to a miracle; from whence the Swedes call the fir, the scorbutick tree, to this very day."

Moreover, our authority reports that "the most renowned Dr. Walter Needliam has ob- served lha great success of these tops of fir in thc scurvy, which is no wonder if we consider the balsam of turpentine (with which this tree rrbgunds) which proves so effectual in preserving oven dead bodies from putrefactioii and cor- riiption."

Our authority goes on to say that thc in- gicdinnts of this liquor are so celebrated by some writous, that they (llOflt; should be "sufficient to ridvziiicc the Mum-trade amongst us." He quotes Simon Paoli, a learned Dane (perhaps an unccstcr of our lat: lamented chairman of the Scnatoriurit Commission) as talking about "the great exploits of thc tops of this tree in freeing a grcct man cf Gzrmziny from an inveterate scurvy," and also of their genera! usefulness against "the brooding of gravel and stones." lt is necessary, however, "to be so exact as to pull thes-s tops in their proper season, when they abound most with turpentine and balsamick parts, and then they may make the Mum a pro- per liquor." Still another authority, "the learned Dr. Merret", is quoted as saying that "thoso liquors into which the shavings of fir are put, may be apt to create pains in the head; but nevertheless it is to be confessed, that the fir cannot but contributo much to the vigor and preservation of the drink."

Our authority goes on to soy that tho Gor- mans, especially the inhabitants of Saxony, "have so great a venoration for this liquor, that they fancy their bodies can never decay, or piiio away, as long m they aro lined and ombolmod with so powerful a proscrvutivl," and it coiicliiilfl 5f gqyiirg that "if this drink, callod Mum, bo made according to the foregoing instructions, it must noodsbffl most- oxcclloiit iiltorativo medicine. tliolingrodionto of lt being vory roro and choice samples, ‘thorn being scarce any disoaco lri mir- movlpgoliist ftlllcliumo of tliom are not provol- onfl," Four is oxpmsod, lipwovor, that "sovorol of ' j ' oiim are not so lioiicst and conscien- proporo tlioklr Mum faithfully Ind

‘I'M some foto. would owolt any

to rcvlvo llio Industry lion. Certainly

not Idiom: going 1m any ovsiiiios of , . - i‘ ._ \ I y

-.ss.. a

Editor and _

‘oilrilcfor. _ ‘

tho intricate business of brewing and distilling. But tho Jones Government may‘ well be con- templating something of the kind after getting rid of the doctors‘ signatures to their liquor- scripts. "Why," they may be asking, "import our beer and liquor if we can make ithcre, and save all that expense?" In such a contingency, Premier Jones might well turn his attention to the hum- ble fir tree--which abounds in this Province, and which he says is good for nothing but making pitprops and pulpwood—-and transform it into something "rich and strange."

- EDIIURIAL NOTES ~

The decision of the Commission on the pro- posed 3095 increase on railway rates is expected momentarily, and will go into cffect at once.

t w 1k fir

The Government has provided the legisla- tion for regional high schools, leaving to the School trustees the privilege of financing thc major part of any such project.

i i ‘k l!

Once more, without undue boasting, let us be thankful our lot is cost in such pleasant places compared with those elsewhere suffering from floods and fresliets.

it \’ i fl

Ottawa does not seem to have adopted the policy of decentralization called for by condi- tions of modern warfare. The old idea of "to him that hath shall be given" dies hard.

fi I W k

The Provincial Government appears to be at sixes and sevens. How long can an administration continue successfully when the members are ap- parently so hopelessly at sea regarding financing of their respective departments?

i i Q Q

The Hon. Geo. H. Barbour's cheerful justi- fication of our twelve million dollar debt by pointing to a ten million dollar potato crop would be wonderfully reassuring if the potatoes cost nothing to grow and if the entire proceeds went into the provincial treasury.

fi i i Q

The average value of occupied fanri land in Canada is $35 per acre, an increase of 9% over 1946, according to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Fortunately for the former the profit is a capital gain rather than income and is there- fore free of income tax. i i fi Q The Federal Government is considering pass- ing a resolution of congratulation to the King and Queen on their Silver Wedding anniversary, April 26, this year. The Government states that a proclamation might be issued marking the an- niversary throughout Canada. fi it "I W

The number of farmers filing income tax returns took a big jump during the last fiscal year over the previous two years, it was shown in an answer tabled by Revenue Minister Mc- Conn. Replying to a question from T. J. Bent- ley (CCF-Swift Current), Mr. McCanii said that in the 1946-47 year 210,751 filed, as against 136,036 the year before and 104,588 in 1944-45.

lt is proposed to form a Canadian Clan Macpherson Association, with Chief Justice Ewan A. Macpherson of Manitoba as President, for all Canadian Macphersons in Canada, to be ad-

ministered by Canadian Macphersons. It will be affiliated to the Clan Macpherson Associa- tion in Scotland.

Q 1c

A bill that wouldhelp the Department of Agriculture curb the export of diseased cattle has been approved by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. By amending the vAnimal Contagious Diseases Act, it would provide for the offence of conspiracy to ship such animals, would provide heavy penalties, and allow the Depart- ment longer to prosecute. ~

It is the main duty of an Opposition to op- pose Government policies until such time as the said government recognizcs the error of its ways. Of coursc it must bd boring to those under the lash to submit to such treatment, but neverthe- lcss they must concede that were they the Op position, they would pursue similar tactics.

Price increases of basic foods reported to the British _Housc of Commons by Food Min- ister Strachey, included higher rates for bacon and shell eggs bought in cjuanlity from Canada. Comparing February prices with those of the some month a year ago, fAr. Strachsy said bacon had risen 3d (five cents) a pound to 2s lid, and shell eggs ls a dozen to 2s 6d or 3s a dozen. Other prices, with the increase since Inst year shown in brackets, follow: Milk, quart, 10d (ld); potatoes, seven pound lot, 9l/zd to 1s 1'/zd(3'/zd); granulated sugar, pound 5d (ld) and tea 2s 10d to 3s-10d (4d). Butter dropped 2d a pound at 1'. 4d, and cheese 3d at 10d.

Sir Muirhead Bone, Scottish pointor~ and etcher, born this date 1876. He created a very favourable impression on the artistic world early in life, but it was not till 1901 that heottaiiicd universal recognition as master of dry-point. Dur- ing Groat War l he was sent by the British War Office to make drawings and sketches on the Western front for official records. His work has boon exhibited at tho Royal Academy and at Edinburgh. r

i O I O

Tho brockvillo Recorder fails to soo anything sinister in Ontario following tho Dominion Gov- emmoiit example in requiring government em- ployoos to tolu an oath biiidiiig'thom not to divulgo information concerning public matters to unauthorized Individuals. Tlio old principle usod to bo that tho public-had a right to liiiow tlio public business unloss it was doornod in the m“: liitomt to withhold particular information.

iowapproocli lii Ontario is to doom ole:- tors oiitltlod to no Information about public hus-

__;ji_ia GUARDIAN.

After being up all night at the

lodge dance we mos-t. resent the unseemly behavior of teen-lagers lii e bus.- Bradou Sun.

A umn may not look hlo ago, bur. he gives lt. away by saying; "Don't, the years fly by in a hurry!" -Vle- Lorin Timed.

An odd thlng about. problem children ls that so many of them know iriost of the answers. —Klng- stun Wing-Standard.

Watching the doughnut-maklng machine ln the ivlridovi‘, the golfer

sighed: “How easily it. makes a hole-ln-one." - Moose Jaw Times- ‘Herald.

You get out of most thing! Just. what. you put tnbo them~ except. slot. ‘machines and occasionally parking meters. -- Sh. (Jatharlues Standard.

Cucumber: two feet long are being grown 1n South Essex, whlch suggests that. the next. wonder of the world wlll be the king's slze d.lll pickle. — Windsor Star.

- A new Boy Scout Troop la being organized at Tuktoyaktuk. North of Akliavlk. on the Arctic Ocean. The Scoutmaster, who 1s also the Guide Captain. ls Miss Dorothy Robin- son, und the Scouts, three ln num- ber. wlll be Eskimo boys attending the new school. Up until now Cari- ada's most. northerly Scout. Troop has been at. Aklairlk. - Boy Scout. News.

The extent 1.0 which inflation has developed 1n the United Kingdom was indicated in the House oi Commons at. Westmlnster on Feb- ruary 4 by Sir Stafford Cripps. Asked to declare the purchasing power of the British pound 1n con- trast: with past. years. Si: Stafford said: Taking 1914 as 100. the per- centages are 59 (19271, 62 (1937); and 38 (I947). All years are as a! December 31. — Winnipeg FTeP. Press.

We have all known of people-who have boasted of how they have been able b0 beat. the lnoome Lax but It. 1s a rather expensive pastime when discovery ls made, and ma! nearly always ls the case eventual- ly. Reading recent cases and decis- ions. those concerned must be feel- ing sorry for Lhxziselves. Nobody likes paying taxes, but better o0 do so when they are clue than ti. suffer still greater loss and conse- quent; publicity. No one admires lri dlvlduals who get into such jar-rte. _Nla.gara Falls Review.

“A dlscuisalon has been faking place in a New York newspaper about. hhe orlgln of barbed wlre, but. there should be no doubt. on~ the question. Away back 1n the late 60‘s a Texas cattleman was troubleo wlth his stock breaking out. and also with neighbors‘ stock breaking 1n. Ordinary smooth ivlre being useless, he devised u barbed wire device of his own by painstaking- ly sharpening small wlre nulls and inserting them lnlo twlsbed strands of wire. Hts novation met. with great. hostility. Neighbors found their livestock coming home torn and bleeding. and 1n course of tlme a group of _st.ookbreeders carrying shotguns vlslted 111m, bold him that. his invention was cruel, and demanded he destroy lt. The farm- er looked at the guns -—t.hen for? down his fence. — Stralford Bea- con-Herald.

Any Canadian who knows Iils apples 1s undoubtedly aware of Lie fart that the world is indebted to Canada for the luscious McIntosh. Unlike famous Canadian varieties of iviieut. such as Marquis. which was the deliberate and planned re salt. of the experimental plot. and laboratory. the McIntosh apple was a slrntglitnglll. from Nature. Tiic (Ylgilllll llTC was discovered over a century ago igroiiriiig wild on a lr-n iic-ni- the tillage of Duudetla lit ljiislr-rn Ontario. All of the mi. lions of ‘McIntosh fret-s in Canada. the United States. Now Zcaliiiiil ind yliuci-slrofe lrrice hack dlteirl-lj,’ la that single tree. lri propagating true apple mrieties. of course. etch er a piece of Lwlg known us. :1 “salon,” or a live bud ls taken from the parent tree. and grafted onto nursery stock. Literally thousand;- of gftlflS were taken from the or- "inn! tr". l‘-"“.‘t' Dnnrlella rinrt is l-hcsc grafts gfCW they 1n uirn pri.» srionsi for sLlll ivlcler distribu- - Kitchener-Waterloo IM-

0rd.-

l o .

We ‘hear sportsmen talk about their beautiful catches of speckled beauties, the game small mom?‘ bass. the fighting masklnonge. etc but. how many of them notice one actual beauty of these flsh. the beautiful coloring Mother Nature has provided each and every flsh with. For instance. there 1s the speckled trout with its different. colored spots; the smell mouth bass with its green tinted shades: the blue gill sunfish wlth a variety of colors too numerous t.o mention; the crapplo wlt-h its different green and sometimes vellowlfli lhldcl. the common rod breasted sunfish with its yellow. pink and reddish coloring. and the common corp with tts ‘glossy sheen and golden brownish shades and oocostonollv pret-ty green fins. There ls also the dogflsh. with its peculiar ‘spot. m. i.he caudal. Thls spot. at tlmes 1| u very pretty purple abode wfth chad- od lroon flns and noon coloring rum-lingo up Info thc body. Hovs you noticed tho yellow ootllsh that 1s yellowish brown on tho belly, or tho Yellow pickers! with its golden yellow oolotl Ind M1165 that. chino. Boouly 1n lsh does not apply to Just tho speckled can brown trout. or to i.» rolubovr trout with tho booutftal colored

lriou oxcopt what is specifically roloosod by o

course-r"

JFBARL-QTTETQWN .

Lentegn Meditations (From Tho Tlmcx)

LIFTING THOUGHTS T0 GOD

In an ale 1n which so much nt- tentlon ls given to psychology aria other studies o1 the mind and be- liavlou: of man. ll: 1s surprising that. there s often misunderstand- 1118 of t.h nature and purpose of Prayer. Yet. the practice of pray- er 1s as old as faith tn God one ls inseparable from 1t. '

The essential purpose of prayer 1s that. ll. 1s an act. o! faith, an ex- pression of lt.. To an first-rusted Christian, the words “Let. us pray" evoke an Immediate turning of the mind towards God» But. this ls merely a preparation. and care ls r-eederl lest. it. be accepted for prayer itself.

This does not mean that con- templation of God may not be prayer. In a true act. of faith the flowing of prayer 1s in two dlrec» Lions-quart slxlves to 11ft. up his thoughts to the level of God. and the splrlt of God descends to enf- er into tho heart. of man.

The model for prayer W111 aJ- ways be the Lord's Prayer. This ls not only because Christ tough‘ Hls followers. lo pray thus. but also because even a slight ex- ornlnotlon wlll show that. 1t. con- tains the three essential principles of prayer: Praise, which lifts un the spirit towards God: confession of sin. which humbles a. man and through which he becomes con- scldus of his own cleansing; as b; faith he believes he ls cleansed 1n

the sight. of God; and petltlcn which implies. trust. "Ask. and 1i shall be given you." But out‘

where there ls faith to ask car there be fitness to receive.

7.6”? $-62”

FROM: FOR ALL WI} HAVE AND All!

S-

Comfort, content, dellghf, The ages’ slow-bought, gain, They slirivellod. in a night. Only ourselves remain

To face the naked days

In silent fortitude,

Through perils and dim-urn Renewed and re-rens-oved. Though all we mode depart. The old Commandments stand:- ‘In patience keep your heart, In strength lift: up your hand.’

—Rmdyard. Kipling.

Old Charlottetown (And P. I. L)

ass-rumours IMPRESSIONS

In his first despatch to the Earl of Hlllsborough, dated 21st. Octob- er, 1770, Governor Patterson glves an interesting description of the Island. so far as he was then able to form an oplrilon. Ever since n11 arrival, he had been engaged lri furnishing one of the housm 1n such s. manner as he hoped could keep out. o. llttle of the approaching oold. and 1n sendlnir to different ports of the continent for provis- lons ho maintain his family during the winter. Owing to the bad com- muntcsttons, he was able at that time to furnish a very indifferent. description of the Island, though. so far as he coal-d see, the soll seemed good and easily cultivated. and he was of oplnlon that. it. would produce every kind of grain and vegetable, common 1n England, with little or no trouble. and such as he had seen of the latter were much better of their kind than those 1n England, though raised in a very slovenly manner. The various woods near Chor- lotlctown lie describes as of ve:y little use. except for firing, but tn other parts of the Island tlierr: were some oaks audlurge pine trees in plenty. He TIIGHLlOHS the differ;- ent \\llfl fowl. and describes geese. brunt and ducks, as of as good of lliclr kinds its ‘re ever met. Wlbll. The beasts were principally bears. foxes. otters, ivlld-cals of a very largo slze, mar-tins, squirrels and mice. That year the mlce were so numerous that. 1n most. places. they find destroyed the little which ivas attempted to he raised. The lnhan- ltants said they appeared every seven years. He adds. as to also mice. which were a plague to the curly settlers: "Mv opinion 1.x. it depends entirely on tihe sort. of winter we have, as I am informed the last. was on uncommon one, the snow falling before Llie frost. come on, by which means the ground was kept soft. and the mloe,-'n- stead of belng partly destroyed by the frost. as ls commonly the case. bred under the snow; they are, lri size. something between our rats end mice 1n England." _ As to fish, he says: "This side of the Island 1s but. lndlffcreutly off for fleh, except 1n tho spring. when I am told. we may have '\ small klnd of cod, mackerel. trout. been. smells and several sorta of flat-flan, pretty plenty. At. present there are only lobsters and oysters, nolttier vary good." Bo Ind only been hero l few weeks, and had evidently not yol. Ion-nod much o- bout. tho fisheries of this mead. - -Worhurt0a‘a History. .