I PAGE roux N THE GUARDIAN Authorized II Second Class Mail Punt Office Department. Ottawa. The Island Guardian Publishing Co. Editor Ind ltlInIging Director, Ian A. Burnett. Aasoclatc Editor. Frank Walker. CIRCULATION "Covers Prince Edward Island like the dew" "The strongest memory is weaker than the weakest ink". cuAnLo1"ri:iiowivT.fTfianavfrian. 6, 1954 Federal Building Vote It is reassuring to note that a 3i400,0()O vote has been placed in the Parliamentary estimates, tabled yesterday in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Abbott. for ronstruction of the long-awaited Federall Building for Charlottetown. This is in line; with the assurance given seine time ago by Hon. Robert Winters, Minister of Pub- fic Works, that a start on the building would be made some time before midsum- mer of the present year. The estimated; cost of the building when completed willj be 551,250,000, and apart from the perman-I ent value of this expenditure, it will pro-i ride a great deal of employment locaily.: With other large building projects, such as) the new High School, the T. Eaton Com-l pony building. the new treatment centre at: Falconwood Hospital and show building at the Exhibition grounds, the present year promises to be one of the busiest on re- cord in construction activities. Our representatives at Ottawa. par- ticularly Mcssrs. Neil A. Matheson and J. Angus MacLean, representing this County- in the House of Commons, are to be con- gratulated on their efforts in bringing the! Charlottetown Federal Building project to an early start. Hon. Mr. Winters also is to; be commended for being as good as his word in placing a substantial amount for construction work in the estimates. Underi I new ruling in the Work Minister's de-i partment, all money voted for purposes of) this kind must be expended during the year and not left over to be re-voted at the fol- lowing session, as has too frequently been the case in the past. . With this added assurance that. the Gov-: ernment means business, our citizens havei good reason to feel that the earlier efforts of the late Mr. Lester Douglas and of Mr. W. Chester S. McLure, combined with the activities of their successors and the rep-' resentations made by the Provincial Gov-, ernment both under Senator Jones and thci present Premier, Hon. Mr. Niatheson. will now come to fruition. ., Educational Standards Judging by our Forum columns. there is keen public interest in the question of . academic education in this Province. Thisl .- is as it should be, for the question is ofi vital importance. And it is a problem which is being discussed all across Canada , at the present time. It is evident that lead- )? ing educationists are becoming alarmed at ' the continued pressure being exerted with a view to lowering university and even high school standards. In his current annual report as pres- ident of the University of Toronto, Dr. Sydney Smith warns that universities "should make sure that the energies of able teachers are not dissipated in the ef- fort to stimulate and develop students who are unfilled for membership in the com- munity of seliolars." The hurdle. how- ever, should he an intellectual one and not a financial one. Therein lies the true democratic objective in liigher education. It is one which, in Dr. Smith's words, will involve "a process of selection and sub- sioy." , Diseussim: the educational problem in Ontario, the P.r:n1iford PI::pnsitol' recom- mends, as an important objective. the measuring of academic aptitude and the weeding out of the academically incom-3 potent from the secondary schocls. This. it says, goes for the students who are just not cut out for "book learning" and for those who are too lazy to learn. "For the former." says our Brantford contemporary. "incarceration in class rooms ; ' in I waste of time and a postponement of. . opportunity. They should be working at' 'what they can do. For the lazy ones, th-vi . sooner they are made to find out, the har-ii - way, that life is real and life is earnest, thcl . better. In either case there would be at conserving of the talents and time of the. . teachersga saving of the time, at least, ofi the average as distinct from the below-l average students. and a considerable reduc- tion of cost to the taxpayers. ' "The notion that a young man or young g woman should complete I high school ' come what may and no matter flfvwhen. is based on a faulty and dangerous concept of privilege. To require a boy or girl to go to scnooruniii completion of the! j or grade school course In all right. dive I deserving boy or girl the priv- or continuing free (the term is rei- .HE' r ative) education in the secondary schools is commendable. But to make such at- tendance 'routine' or compulsory for those who do not appreciate the privilege is to make a bad mistake in a fundamental les-I son in responsible citizenship." It would be an even worse mistake to adjust the curricula of our institutions of higher learning to suit the requirements of the unqualified. The continuance of our democracy depends, most of all, on enlight- ened leadership. By all means let us equalize the opportunities for advancement in this direction, as the surest way of building permanently for the future. Evidence of Greatness Most people probably think of Albert Schweitzer as the 20th cerituryls most re- nowned medical-missionary, one of its out- standing philosophers, and a humanitarian as great as any in modern -history. These appelations are, of course, justified; indeed, they fall short of describing the worth and distinction of a man who has been called ”the world's first citizen." What is some-' times overlooked is that Dr. Schweitzer is a noted music composers and critic; to mention only one of his attainments in this field, he is considered one of the great- est living authorities on Bach. A few months ago Dr. Schweitzer paid a short visit to the small Alsatian village of Gunsbach where he was born. While there he sat down at the little organ in the parish church and played a number of selections from both Bach and Mendelssohn. As he played, tape recorders went to work, and another album of immortal music was released for the enjoyment and inspira- tion of music lovers the world over. For this purpose, Dr. Schweitzer could have had the use of an instrument in any of the worlds great churches; that he selected a little old-fashioned organ in a small out of the way place is one more evidence of the man's true greatness. It may well be that there, on his native soil, rich with the memories and associations of his childhood and youth, he found an inspiration which no other spot, however important in cul- ture or in world affairs, could bring to his heart and mind. EDITORIAL NOTES New Zealand Day. 0 0 I Tomorrow, the 5th Sunday after Epiph- any. 0 Accession of Queen Elizabeth II, 1952. As from today, Canadian statutes will be dated ”3 Elizabeth." Now that nominations are complete in the Civic Elections it is up to Mr. and Mrs. Citizen to get out and vote Wednesday next. No one act or series of acts could do more to cement Commonwealth relation- ships than that being performed by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Their present tour is reaching a climax in Australia. The deep affection held for the Throne is everywhere in evidence. It is none the less a tribute to two young people so ably and unassumingiy shouldering re- sponsibilities given and known to few. O O I Christopher Marlowe. English dramatist and poet, was born this date 1564. He found English drama crude and formless but left it a mighty force in English liter- ature. He took large serious subjects for dramatisation, that appealed to the pop. ular imagination, and converted the old stiff blank verse into a medium of delicate and plastic beauty. ”Come Live With Me fwd B9 My Love" is from "The Passionate Pilgrim”. I 0 c lilvidcncc that Canada is moving for- ward in jet aviation is found in a report from Ottawa that, for the first time, the Canadian aircraft industry last year built more jet aircraft than piston-type planes. During 1953 Canadian manufacturers deliv- ered nearly a thousand military aircraft at a price of about 5300 millions. Most went to the Royal Canadian Air Force, but some were exported to Britain and the United States. Masculine dignity was a sign of mascu- line authority, and much has now been lost, notes "The Printed Word". It was be- ing undermined as the emancipation of women began and they were able to earn their own livings. Then along came Mr. Gillette with his handy little invention. De- lilah-iike, the' women began to praise its advantages to their men-folk, and the men swallowed the propaganda, hook, line and sinker. The authority of the heard was a bulwark of masculine authority in all walks of life. Beard-growing was one thing that women could not accomplish, so beards had to be Ibollshed. The women got their way, and they gotthe vote, and they've moved rm: GUARDIAN. .. CHARLOTTETOWN Slick Chick cleanliness Ind: PUBLIC FORUM This column ll open to the discussion by correspondent! of questions of interest. The Guardian does not neceuah Iiy endorse the opinion of corrupondentn. l CHANGING A NAME sir,-"You not I nor nobody knows how oats, peas, beans, or barley grown". So no one seems to know Just. when the town of Kenslngwn first got. its present name. It. is like one that Albert Edward Prince of Wales would sug- gest, having been to our Province in 1860. Let. us suppose that 1862 would be the year for dropping the old name of ".Barret.'s Cross" and adopting the present. label. In support of this we find it marked on "Lakes" inup of P. E. Island - Kenslngton which was issued in 1863. We also find that the district school was reported in 1863 by the school visitor. as Kenslngton. Mr. John Sharpe being the teach- er. Still the Post. Office name continued to be Barret.'s Cross until 1884 and may be longer. I imagine it would be more difficult for Mr. McNaught to convince the "powers that be" at. Ottawa that we needed Just. such ll beautiful and commodlous Federal Building and Post Office as they have granted us, it he had called the town-Barret): Cross. The old name was hard to get. clear of and for years, some farmers would ask the question-What. are they paying for park at ”The Cross"? The following taken from "The Islander" newspaper of August 20. 1881, will be of local interest: "Tile subscriber offers at. pri- vate sole for or few weeks. that valuable property, crop, stock, ei.r., now occupied by her and situated at Barrett's Cross, Lot. 19. For particulars apply on the premises to Margaret Barrett, Barrett's Cl'os.s, Lot 19, July 19, 1861." Also the following death notice appeared in "The Island Argus" of January 11. 1872: "On Monday. Jan, 2, Mr. John Carruthera aged 53 years. He was the proprietor for many years of an hotel at Bar- rett": Cross, noiv Kensington." It should be mentioned that. the residents of Lot 19 petitioned the Provincial Legislature in Al-lrli. 1851, for l Post. Office at. Barrett: Cross. This was more than 20 years before the railway was built. the mails being carried then from in; City to st. Eleonora by Alain coach. This request for.I D05.tV0i' flee was granted and Mr. William Glover received his appointment. on Jilly 15. 1851. This writer being too young to remember the above facts, had to depend on Mr. G. A. Lcard of Soul-is who ramsaeked his rilcs nnd "brought forth from his treas- ures, things new and old." He has our sincrrc thanks. I am, sir. etc.. ARCH MacKENZIi-'. Kensington. ,.......a--- A FAULTY SYS'l'Eitl sir.-I have read with much in- tcrut. the many letters about the sad state of our educational syl- tern Ind where we should put the blame. It is only too true thlt this state does exist. so far the con- cern iii Ibout. those entering col- lege-tlhe seemingly bright. OMS- Whut. of the vast. majority of our children who never reach even this goal? They too are deservinif of some education. Ask any of our merchants who employ help from this class-those who may have failed Grade X and they will tell you that they have ruched this grade Ind Ire not capable of doing Inything in the way of arith- metic. Yen-they can find tfne nine of In even cloaen of eggs but anything that does not. make an even dosen or yard or pound hIa them puzzled-In actual not. They cennot. handle fractions or the tabla of weights-and rneaisui-ea. Before the family Iiiovnnce BEAUTY l I have seen damn Ind sunset. on moon and windy hills I Ooming in Iolemn beauty like Iiow old tunes of Spain: I I have seen the lady April bring- ing the dnlffodila, l Bringing the wringing grass lndl the soft warm April min. i l Ihsvehesrd hheeongoftbe bios- Ioms and the old dune of the sea. the arched white ships; But. the loveliest. things of beauty God ever has shown to me Are her voice. and her hair, and! eyes, and the deer red curve. of her lips. rails of -John Maoefield. I school. That stale doesn't. exist today. In talking with A teacher or high standing and with many, years' experience in many different schools she voiced the opinion that I very small number (about 5 per cent.) of the children she had taught. was incapable of passing Grade X. The reason she gave for the many failures was poor teaching in the lower grades and I agree with her. The fault does not lie with the professors in P.' W. C. Without I good foundation your building is bound to toppie.. I can safely say there are many first year student: who do not know Grade VIII work sufficiently. How then can I professor hive nny- . thing else but failure in his clasalli The numerous books in use to-l day in Ill grades should be used.i as I expect they were intended, as guides for the teacher to enlarge, upon', instead in most schools the guide book is all that is ever taught. Take arithmetic guide! book, say Grade IV. A child starts- onc It the beginning of the year. He works along doing some right,l some wrong and passing by the ones he thought were hard. Often 3. month, or months, go by with none of this work ever being corrected. when finally it is corrected, of what benefit is that. to the child? He isn't. asked to go back and make his corrections or told how to make them. Se he just blunders along and It the end of the year he goes into the next. grade never having niastered the work of the last. one. Can you won. der then. why he reaches grade VIII or X not sure of Inythlng and knowing so little? Yesterday "Pro-Grammar" gave a clear picture of the grammar taught. How can a child know the correct form to use? Usually in his conversation with his chums. at his home and, sad to any even. with his teacher he hears the wrong way much more often than the correct one. Here I'd say a more sensible way would be for the teach- er to correcj. the children uch time she hears them use the wrong word at work or It play Ind leave the remedlIl corrections to Grade xx when the reIIonI for wuectlons could be given Ind understood. Now what. in the remedy? Strict- er supervision. In city schools ex- aminations from Grede I corrected by I central board. If too many failures occur in my trade, find out who or what. is to biIn-ie. In the country schools the only remedy lies with the inspector. bet. his visit to the school be In in- spection not I flight. I specto . now can Ind do cover two Ind sometimes three schools in one day. They cIn do prIeticIliy no good in that short time. The only supervision our Ichools receive in renrd to grading in from the in- spector, and so far I hIve never heard of an inspector making in clunge in any child's gndlng. Now you may Icy the inspector hasn't the time: he me to visit. all the schools in I specified time. Well. came in this was attributed to the in everywhere. And look at the beardless world today! carelessness or greed of the parents in not rendin the children to as things are now. their work in of little use: so put on more in- And seen strange lands from underi iicii to I will made by the late i17ih June, 1832, I few days after in daughter, and on the 5th day beloved. have Iiwnys obeyed, not Is in my Wherefore, my ll ye presence only, but: now mudl more in my Ibeence, work out your own II.lvIidon with fear Ind trembling. For it in God which worketh in you both to will Ind to do of his good pleasure. Old Charlottetown uu r. I. I.) SPECIAL JURY CASE From the Royal Gazette, July 12. 1836: . "An important special Jury cue. relative to the validity of a cod- John Stewart, Esq., of Mount Stewart, the trial of which we: commenced in the Supreme Court on Monday the 4th instant, did not terminate until- yesterday. having occupied the Court exact- ly seven days. "It appears that the late Mr. Stewart, during the short inter- val which occurred between the death of his second wife and his subsequent marriage. made I will. by which the house and farm of Mount Stewart were bequeathed to his granddaughter, Mrs. Lit- tler, wife of Lleut. Col. Littler. of the H. E. I. C. S. Mr. Stewart's last marriage took place on the which, he embarked with his wife for England, and returned here about twelve months afterwards. "Mr. Stewart was I person of advanced age, and those who had occasion to see him on his return, were forcibly struck by the great change which had occurred during his short absence. His bodily strength was falling, and his men- tal faculties were evidently givli.1, Iy. "On the 15th of October fol- lowing, his wife was delivered at of January, 1834. he made I cod- leli to his wiilwby which he evok- ed. the bequest to his grand- daughter, leaving Mount Stewart to his wife for the term of her natural life. afterwards to her daughter and the heirs of her body. with the reversion, in the event of her dying without heirs, to his granddaughter, Mrs. Lit- tler. On the 22nd June, 1834. Mr. Stewart riled. aged 76 years. His widow remained in possession of the house. but admits Col. Littler- lnto possession of the farm, by sanctioning the 'hiring of it by his agent to certain individuals, in his name. It would seem from this. and from subsequent pro- ceedings which were produced in evidence. that the widow had abandoned the idea of proving under the cohlcil. Be this as it may, it would appear that in July, 1835. Ibout the time. or it little before her rnardiage to Dr. Conroy, having obtained the opin- ion of counsel (Mr. W. Young, of Halifax). it was determined to insist on the validity of the cod- ieil. For this purpose, and in order to bring the matter to is- sue, an action of ejectment was taken against Col. Littler and wife by the plaintiffs. Dr. Conroy and wife. in order to eject the former from the farm. "The trial hinged altogether on the state of Mr. Stewart's mind at the time he made the carlicil in January 1834. Mr. Young appear- ed for plaintiff. and Mr. Johnston (both of the Nova Scolia par) for” the defendant. The first two days were occupied with the plaintiff's case. On Wednesday. Mr. Johnston opened for the tie- iendnnt. and his opening speech occupied the greater part of two days. The whole of Friday was occupied In xemlniniz the de- fendant's wltneuu. On Saturday money spent. The Government doesn't hesitate to boost their own The Passi FEBRUARY 5. 1954 ng Scene By Observer HIE BATS OF STE EPLE BUMSTEAD I Bats are not the most attractive animals in the world but they do have intriguing ways. Many times it hen I have been fishing a stream at dusk I hIve marvelled It the way they appear suddenly in if from nowhere. frolic around I bit, and then. as quickly Is they came. disappear into the unknown reg- ions of the night. They have the distinction of being the only mani- mals which are capable of flight. Perhaps for this reason no other animal has any social relationship ivtih them; birds rather look down on them. I, myself. have never seen a bat in the day time. but I have hr.-en told by tlhose who have that they spend the daylight hours in utter lndolence. When they do come out they are as quick as anything that flies. They flit and dart in perfect safety in spite of the fact that their eyesight is so poor as to be practically non-existent. What they min in vision they make up in hearing which is extraordinarily acute. Absolutely silent them- selves, they like nothing better than to circle around and listen to the quiet melodious sounds that fill the air. The hum of the mos- quito is especially w ' e for, in addition to providing soft music for the mind. it leads to good sur- culent food for the body. As bats as well as people know. mental nourishment is doubly stimulstlriv who it is accompanied by physical wt-ll ing. Bats. however. do not like land. ear-splitting noises, like those t'.i.i'. come from it running niotnr-cycle. for instance. At least, that seems to be the kernel of II little story that has Just. come out of the vil- lage of Steeple Bumstesd, Eng. I O 0 It scents that last fall several hundred of the creatures. presum- ably looking for suitable winter quarters. took up residence in the village church. some, following the proper imoldltliovn, climbed into the belvfrey; others took over the pews: a few, with evident liomlletlc pre- pensities. ventured into the pulpit. At. dusk they all assembled in the name for their evening exercises. Quite understandably the strange invasion caused considerable alarm among church officials, especially when I falling-of-f in church at- tendance become noticeable. It viun't as bad on Sunday mornings when most of the invader: were hanging upside down in silent re- pose; but no in people ventured into the cimrch Ifter dark that the evenlng services had to be can- celled, Like all other citizens. Steeple Bumsteaders had had their share of civic problems, and pro- bably I few ecclesiastical ones; this was the first time in their long history (Steeple Bumstead is an old village) that they were oil!- ed upon to make war on bats. Sometihiug bed to be done about lt and. of course, the first step was to call I meeting of the aiuieh Council. Without much debate xi resolution was passed to the effect that the bets should be driven out without warning and with the least possible delay. A committee was appointed to deal with the matter. 0 I 0 A resolution is one thing: how to make it. effective, especially when bats are irwolved. is quilt? another. One ingenious member of the committee thought. that sulphur fumes might. do the trick. .:..----m--m-:-"'mt two additional witnesses were pro- duced for the plaintiff. WINCH gIvz Mr. Johnston In opportunity of Ignin Iddreulng the Jurt'- 1" the Ifternoon of that day Mr. Young made his final reply, oc- cupying I space of four hours: and on Monday morning the Chief Justice recapitulated the evidence, commenting upon it. II he went along. Ind finally concluded his charge, occupying altogether about three hours Ind I half. Al A quarter past. 3 p.m. the .iur.V 1'9- tired, and after an absence of three hours, returned into Court. with I verdict for the defend- ants." (This one was of particular ill- terest inasmuch as Mr. Stewart was widely known as the Islands first historian. He was for many years Speaker of the House of Assembly and in 1823 presented its grievances before the Home Government with the result that both the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice of the day were dismissed from their offices. His Mount Stewart estate was a "Alright," said the oither '-we'1i try it." They did ti-1;niim:f,"., it didn't. work. In fact, thlflm, seemed to like the strange odou. and, the night. it was used, .i.y..', above the nave longer than uslm A water fountain with A i...,;.g light on it was then installed. The theory was that the light would lure the creatures to one central spot: men with nets would com. plete the capture. This device was no better than the first. The bag, circled around it. alright, but, msy were too nlmlble for the new Finally. after one thing and an- other had been tried. without suc- cess, it was decided to call in ii bag expert. from London. This is whit; the committee should have done in the first place; however. for some reason. the English don't like r.-, consult exports on any rungs.-:; when they do it is a sign that Lha situation is really bad. Anyway in soon as the great man ,had 5i'r,n1 the thing up. he said: "Pliers onh one thing that will frighten g bat. That thing is noise, the loud. er the better." .Now they were getting from... where, "Herbert." said one of the commltteemen to another, "while about that old motor cycle of yours?" "llVcll," answered Herbert, "it makes noise enough if that's what you mean." "I think it will be the answer to your problem, gentlemen." said the expert. I O 0 First. ll permit had to be obtain- ed from tho local police depart- ment. It seems that there's I lav in England which prohibits any vehicle from being driven in A church building. It dates bI.ck. l believe, to the time of William the Conqueror. But this was no ordin- ary cnse and, on the theory that "diseases, desperate grown. by dc!- perate appliance are relieved, on not at all." the permission was granted. IT WORKED. The motor and the horn together gave out such I fearful din that ttha bail. in broad daylight, took to their wings and made for the exits, Peace was re- stored to Steeple Bumstead; nc longer did anyone have any excuse for not going to church. "I was not really surprised," Herbert. told a representative of the press, "bv the time it was all over I was it Hi. sliakv myself." Fantastic (Montreal Gazette) Some heat but little light has been shed upon the question of what. will happen to the pension: of members of Parliament, now that their indemnitles In to be doubled. The most Iuur-Ince the Prime Minister was prepIrId to give in reply to questioning by an honorable gentleman of the Opposition was that if the honor- Ible gentleman wilhu to have the Banking and Commerce Com- mlttee of the Common: consider the actuarial implications, he may do so. It seems curious that the mat- tor should be left I0 vaguely in the Ilr. It is beyond reuon that members of Parliament should re- ceive. pensions of Ibout 86,000 I year for life, only by being elect- ed for more" than two Parliament: and paying into the pension fund I sum of about 38,000. But this possibility has not been denied. The increase in the indemnity of members appears reIsonIbiI. But to combine this increue with pensions on this incredible IcIiI gives an inevitable impression tint those elected to serve the public have been willing to Ibule their power, and that the Ibuse has been sponsored by the Govern- ment. This is not A position in whicli members of Parliament should have been placed. The proposal to increase their lnrlemnitlu oullit to have been accompanied by I clear indication that this would not involve pension Icalel that would draw fantastically upon the taxpayers' money. Service in Parliament should undoubtedly receive its due 2'0- wards. But there are other pon- sioners in the country. They. ton. have served their country well- many of them on the battlefield Their rewards can hardly be lie- scrlhcd as fantastic. . r ROADS SCHOLARSHIP O'I'I'AWA. (cP)- A echoing for study in the United States '-'-v- be awarded this year by the Gann- very extensive one. A Scottish paper, in noticing his death in 1&4, stated that he was the legal claimant of the ancient. title of thei; Earl of Orkney and I grandsonx of the Highland chieftnln Mac-1 kinnon of Macklnnon, who fought at the head of his clan under Prince Charles Stewart It Preston- pens and Culloden In 1743). dian Good Roads Auociation to '- Canadian hlghway engineer. '5' r.asoclat.lon'a headquarters hare IW nounoed Wednesday. The schoi!" ship is made available by the ID- tematlonirl Rood Federation M one year's study in some field of highway engineering in the United States Insurance nlu-in It our expense Ind are they one-hIlf II the ones who Ire children? . 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