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.raURsDAy, OCTOBER 9,1941 TEE CANADLMq STATESMAN, BOWMAWTILLE, ONTARTO PAGE FIVE 4lainIv 'rers7tcnain] BY John C. Klrkwood1 *UUMUMU~n.uurn U =UM =MfUUMUM * A supremne pleasure for a book- lever is fouad ini a secondhand booksliop. There hie can remain fer heurs, picking up tis book and that. It ts not that hie wants ta posseqs every bock picked up by hm; he gets lits pleasure frcm just, tasting books. 0f course there are bocks which lie does wait te take home with i, even tlieugh he may net read theml Tervery presence on his shelves #is comferting, and perhaps hie wihlewants, yet, cf course, it Is what is inside their covers that made the book desired. Last week I found myseif'%wan- dering from table ta table in a seccndhand bcckshop which liad arnncunced that it had acquired a muister's library cf 5000 volumes. One might thmnk that a minister's library would ccnsist cf very sober, very religicus bocks, but tis minister was apparently a very worldly man, fcr his bocks were largely fiction bocks, with a number of biographies, books an the Bible, bocks about Canada, and so on, but you would not be very much impressed by the col- lection. Yet amoag the bocks cf fiction I Ieund a bock I had been watdh- ing for for years-"'The Private Life cf Henry Maitland." I once owned this bock, but my cepy disappeared, and I had neyer pre- viously seen it among secondhand books. The bock is the stcry of George Gissung, a distinguished Englisli aovelist, yet one un- kncwn even by name to mcst persons cf the present day. I had read a very short biegraphy cf Gissing - an amazing life stcry, and wlien Morley Roberts, Gis- sing's most ntimate friend, wrote about him, maskung his namne with the made-up namne cf "Henry Maitland," I read his bock with a hungry interest. Roberts used the concealing name out cf regard fer Gissings kmn He justifies liii writing the stcry cf his Iriend so: "On three separate occasions I spoke te Maitland about writing lits biography, and it was an un- dersfEood thiag between us that if hie died before me 1 was to write his 11e and teil the wliole and absolute truth about htm. I be- lieve that he foît that it might ini some ways be cf service te hu- manity for sucli a bock tc be writ- ten," and a mutual frienci cf Gis- sing and Roberts ta whom Roberts had written concerning lits inten- tien, wrote: "I am not attempting to dissuade ycu. Henry Maitland was sent inta hell for the purpose cf saving seuls."1 So ini this con- tribution te The Statesnian, I pro- pose telling, aIl toc briefly, the strange and tragic story cf George Gtssing. J CK As a lad cf 11 or so Gissing was recogaized as a creature cf most brilliant promise. At scol lie teck every prize open te him. Ris father, wliom lie loved and revered, was a poor man, yet Gissing's school prizes enabled hlm to go te a university. He was a very gifted classics sclar. But his cliaracter lad not been liard- S ened and weil directed. 0f him- self, when lie was a student, lie said, "It was a cruel and a most undesirable thing that I, at the age cf 16, should have been tunn- ed looso in a big city, complled te livo alene in lodgings, with ne- body interested in me but those at the college." He was thunking cf a disastrous association Wýhicl lie lad with a prostituto, cf lis own ago. For lier lie became a thief, robbing lis fellow students' lockers. For this offense lie was1 sent to prison, and whea lie was1 released, lie went ta the United' I - s .States, on money centributed by 1several student frlends. This was in 1876. There lie remainod for tWc-tliree years, makmng a little money' from wrlting for news- papers. Lator lie returned ta Eng- land, and, frcm a sense cf duty, lie married the girl who lad led him astray, and gave her an al- lcwance, y et did net live with lier, or if lie dîd, it was an asso- ciation withcut love on lis part, but only disgust. In London lie did tutoring, and wrcto, and studied the classics, for his heart was in Italy and Rome; yet most cf the time lie was starving. He and Roberts liad become ccm- rades, sliaring the same living quarters and the same enthu- siasms and ambitions. Then one day came ta him a telegram- "Your wife is dead," and thus lie was given a precicus freedcm. Yet it was not long afterwards tllat Gissing married again. Here is how Roberts tells cf this second misadventuro: "One Sunday lie tcld me that lie had made the acquatatanceocf a girl in Maryle- banc Road. I thouglit at first that he lad picked up some prostitute cf the neighbcrhood, but it turned out that the girl was "respect- able." He said, II cculd stand it ne longer, so I rushed out and spoke te the very first womaa I came across.' He prcpcsed te marry the girl if she wculd marry him. He married lier on Mardi 2th, 1891, and went ta live near Exeter." Of lier Roberts says that she developed the temper cf a devil, and began to make Gissing's lIfe wretdhed. She behaved like a maaiac; she shrieked; sho struck him; she abused him in the vilost terms. Gissing left lier, and es- tablished a relationship with a French wcman-a well-bcra wc- man, and weil educated, and al- together suitable. Gissing's if e with lier was, te the end, a very happy one. 0f Gissung's wife, Roberts says, "AIl this time the wife was I kncw not where, ner did I trouble mucli to inquire."' It would seem ta be the case that ghe lost lier reasan. JC K Before lis second niarriage Maitland liad made a name for huiseif as an author, yet lits in- ceme was but round about $500 a yoar! He and Roberts wore very untimate friends. Rtoberts said that it was Gissing who encourag- ed li.te write lis Iirst bock. Roberts says of lits own circuni- stances about this, time, "'One week my expendituro on 'fod actually tctalled no more than ene-and-eleven pence, but I have ne doubt that I went out ta eat witli scmebody else. Yet we made fun of cur squalcr and rejoiced in aur pcvorty. Gissing loved afl things which wero redoleat cf cil and grease and fatness. In those days cur poverty and our ambi- tion made great subjects for aur talks." Despite the furicus temper cf lis second wife, and the heil she madeocf Gissing's days, lie yet managed to turn out a number cf books, oaci of which lie sold for £50. Subsequently lie obtained mucli more frcm lis publishers, and lis imprcved fortunes on- abled him ta visit Italy, the land cf desire for Min. JC K Gissing died ta lits nid 40's, from tuberculosis. Ia lis last years lie ived in France, witli oc- casional visita to England, Frenchi food anà Frenchi ways cf living wore not te lis liking. Roberts writes, III Iid occasional melan- clicly letters aI lits in whidh lie iadulged in dttlyrambs about thee fine abundance of feeding ini Eng- laad-eggs and bacon and beer. There was no doubt lie was net living as he should have lived." Roberts made an effort to reach the place, in the Pyrenees, wvhere Gissing was dying, before lits death, for Gissifig had sent for him.L But he arrived too late. There have been few men, says Ro berts, s3 persecuted by Fortune as ta lead lives of unhappmness, but this was undoubtedly the case with Gissing. Out of his first great calamity grew ail the rest. Ris 111 luck began early. It lasted even beyond the grave. Ris greatest book is "Born ini Exile"-greatest among lits novels. But there is another book of Gissing's which has been nmucli more widely and continuously read, "The Private Papers cf Henry Ryecrof t."1 It is an English classic. Get it, read it, and ever keep it near you. JC K Once, in England, I picked up a secondhand bock. On one cf its, pages was Gissing's autograph. The sight of that autograph made me feel rather close ta a man wliose l11e I had read in some of his autobiographical novels, one of which is "New Grub Street- a stcry of Fleet street-of a highly educated man, editor cf a famous litert magazine, whose wif e was far below him in the social scale and utterly unable to share his intellectual life. I hope that many cf my readers will read the Gis- sing books. Il they do they will be grateful to me for making Gissing known ta them. THE LOCAL PASTOR AND THE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER By Rev., Edgar Warren It came to me the other day1 that I neyer have had a city pas- tarato, that all my charges have been ta country villages and thriviag tcwns. I count myse]1 mcst fortunate that sud bi the case. A city is ail riglit to visit and ta buy and sellinii, but when it cames ta a home there is ne place like a small tawn or village. And ta my work as a village pas- tor I always have fcund a strong ally in the local paper. The pastor cf a village dhurci is supposed to be endowed with supernatural insighit and clairvoy- ant pcwers, te pcssess special il- ltination from on higli. He is supposod to kaow wliat new fam-i iltes have maved into the com-1 munity, and their dhurci affilia- tion; what liouseholds are to be coagratulated or ccmniseratedi upca the birth cf a baby; who is sick or lias been involved in an automobile accident; wliat couples have lived togother for 50 years in mocre or less liarmcay and are ta celebrate their golden wedding anniversary; wliat boy or girl isJ going away to college or lias "accepted a position" ta the city; wliat three-year-cld dhild lias had a birtliday party. This knowlodge is all very important for it shows him where to send a card ôr a acte and wliere te caîl. But, strange to say, no cao ever thinks ta gîve the minister this informa-, tica ever the telepliane or by word cf mouth. He lias to pick it Up by himself as best lie can, and discover it in the columa cf the local paper. I sliauld hate ta be pastor cf a dhurchint a tcwa where there was ne local paper. 1 don't know iow I would get along. Ia the minis- tor's efforts to imprcve a tcwn lie finds in the local paper a mos t efficient ally. The paper wrnl print colunins about local conditions that aeed cleaning up. It _will1 print communications Irom "Vox1 Populi", "Mother cf a Family"l and "Old Resideat". And there are editars cf a crusading spiit wlic will back up reforms and sometimes take the initiative, evea if their advertising falls off1 and subscribers say, "Stop my paper". The local paper is very gener- L»-<W N-fýY" 'W "Sorry-I can't take a message listening ta Supermani" for fifteen minutes. The cclonel's1 VIPEVENI ILEIS [TIese sipesugestionsIf followed by everyoae in the famlly, wlfl make your home sale from fire. Put liglited matches and smokes out before you tlirow them away. Keep matches where small chil- dren cannot reach tiem. Nover smoke ini the garage, ban, or attic, nor ta bed. Remove rubbisli, waste papers and ail uaaecessary combustible materials. Pravide motal ash and trash cans. Bura rubbish only ini a safely covered brick or motal incinerator. Watch the lire. Examine ail steves, furnaces, and smoke-pipes to make sure tiey are sale and weil away froni wccdwork or other burnable ma- teniaIs. Have noeded ropairs miade at once. Value the advice cf your lÈre chef who says that many lires are caused by dirty or defectivo dui- noys. Have the chtminey cleaned regularly, and have ail defects repaired. Escape the danger of flammable liquid lires and explosions by keeping no gasoline in thee liuse. Do dry cleaniag with sale liquids or send the work te the cleaner. Nover start lires witi kerosene. Natif y the electric company af electrical trouble and the gasý company cf gas leaks. Replace- "blawn" fuses with aew co-net pennies. Avoid hamemade wiring jobs. Don't look for gas leaks with a match. ous ini cpening its columns te dhurci aews. Some aiunisters take advantage of this and flood the paper oaci week with announce- monts. In many cases the editor's generosity is net appreciated. Net long ago I heard a minister sev- erely criticise a local paper for lack af enterprise and editerial ability. That week the paper car- ried 21 linesosfaI urci notices frcm this miaister, which, at 10 cents a lino, would have cost hîm $2.10. Here was a man who was gotting $100 worti cf free adver- tising 1cr lits church oach year and did aot show tee slightest appreciation cf the fact. Thank God, there are forces which make fcr betterment in every commuaity! Aniong theso forces I count thee durci, the school, the public library, the tcwa oflicers, tee police, clubs and fraternities, and the local paper. And the local papor is net least. Eyesight Education And Efficiency By C.H.Tuck Optometrist Eyesight S%ecait.st Disney Bidg. 1 (opp. P-0.) Number 193 If anyone would onjoy gocd healte, it is aecessary te de riglit, sleep riglit, and exorcise. If the routine is improperly interrupted the goed af ail cr any coeao theso is less effective to the final detri- mont cf health. At tany, and at ahl timos, it is essontia, tebe careful af aur diet and se0 that it is prcperly rogu- lated-regulated ta, suit the in- dividual. The ladividual alono should know what is best to use cr tc avoid. One persan may thrive on rîcli, greasy food and antler on conned licol and cab- bage, but reverse this order and oaci is unduly upset. These are extreme but 1cr illustration can best prove the point. The same Is true of the eyes. One chld or adult may dc a piece cf work witli ne appareat offert, while ta another mudi eaergy is used. The strain of modera hife flls heavily on the eyes. It is te the best interests cf your mental and physical wellare that they bo riglit. If you are not sure about your eyos, make sure. Muci poor healti cornes frcm Imperfeet eyes. (ta be conthnued) Teaci everyoae ini the famnily te be careful of lire, ta watch steves, fireplaces, electric irons and ail other possible lire causes, and every day ta remnove ald rags, papers and other rubbish. Firepreof ycur home as far as posstble by lire-sale rcefing, lire stoppung ta hollow walls and par- titions to stop the spread cf flame, and a non-combustible basemeat ceiling. Inquire cf your lire chief, whea buying a lire extinguisher, te be sure of getting the rtght kind. Den't liesitate ta ask your. firemen whenever you have questions an Fire Preveation. 1 Remember always wliere the nearest lire alarmn box is and liow te send an alarm. If teleplicaing, besure the address is cloarîy un- derstood. Use a neighbor's phono rather than coetanthe burning building. Explain to overyaae tn the liouse wliat te do in case of lire, how te put out lire ta dlathing b"y wrapping in a rug or blanket, whàt ta do when greaso catches lire ta the kitdhen. -;Save life and prcperty from needless destruction by lire by keepiag tlie principles cf lire pre- veation always in mind and nover takung a chance witli lire. Union,_Darlington Mr. and Mr&s. Harry Larmer and family, South Monaglian, Miss Verna Griflin, Oshawa, visit- ed at Mr. R. Griffin's. Miss Jean McLean spent the weekead with lier parents in Ux- bridge. Several from this community attonded the presentatien ta Mr. and Mrs. John Slemon at Ennis- killen. Sympathy is extended te the Avery family in the sudden pass- ing cf John Avery who died Sua- day eveaing. Ho lad lived in this ccmmunity for many years. Mr. 'Harold Macro, Pickering, visited Mr. Frank Macro. Cadmus Mr. and Mrs. Russell Brown and Gordon attended the wedding of Russell Batten and Miss Poil at Oshiawa. Mr. W. B. Ferguson spent Sun- dey in Toronto wîhth his daugli- ter, Mrs. Everett Sanderson. Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Philp, Ross and Merlin, Mr. and Mrs. Tenny- son Samells, Miss Annie Mount- joy and Mrs. J. E. Elliott attended the silver wedding anniversary cf Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McLean (nee Amanda Samnells), at Ux- bridge on Saturday evening. Congratulations to Norma Mc- Quade and C. Gay of Courtice on their marriage. Glad to see Edgar Gibson out te churcli after his illness. Blackstock United Church W. A. met at Mrs. Albert Wright's Tuesday evening. Mrs. C. Hill gave the scripture and prayer. Roll cal was answered with a half-yard of material for quilts. Mrs. Percy VanCamp and Mrs. Wilbert Wer- ry offered to put the quilts ta- gether. Mrs. Strong also pieced a top for one. Mrs. W. Bradburn's group will be in charge cf decor- ating the churcli for October. Mrs. Osmond Wright teck the chair for the prcgram. Miss Jean Toms and Mrs. G. Strong favored with a piano duet. Miss Harnden gave a talk on "What.people are think- ing behind the scenes in Europe." Miss Jean Wright gave a piano solo. Miss Jean~ Toms, who teck Girls Club Work gave hier talk on "Bocks We Have Read." Miss Jean Wright conducted a contest while lunch was being prepared. Miss Mary Cerley, Toronto, visited Mrs. W. A. VanCamp who is mucli improved in liealth. Mrs. R. C. Green, Mrs. Alex Welker, Miss Edith McMeegan, Kitchener, visited Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gilbert. Special Harvest Home services were held in St. John's Anglican Church on Sunday. The cliurch was beautifully decorated with flewers and fruits. Rev. W. J. Mc- Donald, newly appcinted Field Sec'y. cf Wycliffe College, Toron- to, assisted Rev. E. P. Wood. Mrs. Cecil Hyde, Toronto, played the organ and special music was sup- plied by the regular choir. Mrs. Albert* Wright and Mrs. A. L. Bailey, leaders for the local Girls Club Work, attended a spe- cial course for leaders at Mill- brook. Mrs. S. Swain has returned home after visiting Mrs. C. Mar- low. St. John's A.Y.P.A. met at Mrs. John - Carter's, Burketon, Friday evening. President Tom Hodge led in prayers. Roy Carter teck the scripture. Letters cf thanks fromn four boys cf the A.Y.P.A. serving their country, who were presented with bull folds, were read. Report cf the fair day pro- ceecfs from A.Y.P.A. booth, lent by Alex Gilbert, were very grati- fying. Clothing is being prepared for England. It was decided ta send tw edelegates ta the A.Y.P.A. conference ini Toronto. Miss Ethel Carter had charge cf the program: Comniunity singing; musical con- test, conducted by Mrs. Win. Van- Camp; readiag, Irene Rahm; vie- lin and piano duet, Ethel Carter and Burketon friend; piano in- strumental, Edgar Emerson. The meeting clcsed with a social per- iod. Victorian Women's Institute met at Mrs. 'T. Samelîs' October lst. Mrs. John Byers, Ottawa, gave the scripture lesson. Mrs. A. L. Bailey read the Women's Daily Prayer. Roll caîl was answered with an historical eveat cf the community. Mrs. V. M. Archer reported on the salvage cam- paign. Honey is ready te. ship to the Red Cross. Institute fair ex- hibit was placed first at Portt Perry Fair. Each member is ask-1 ed ta bring a quilt block 24" x 27" Miss Jean Wright Éave an ad- to the next meeting or 25c. Mrs. dress on Girls Club Work. Samells was in charge cf the pro- -__________ gram: Readings, "Help them over there," Mrs. John McKee, "Those Prcsperity is net without many craz y foods we eat," Mrs. Wilbert fasaddsats n dest Archer; Mrs. John Byers,.a char- fasaddsats n dest ter member, gave an address; is net without comforts and reading, Mrs. Stanford VanCamnp; hopes.-Bacon. "EVREAY"FLASHLTIGHTS OVEISEAS AND IN CANADIAN CAMPS mANY an accident lhm been averted M many a lif. lias been saved-by a flasblight!1 That's why your relative or friend in the Service needa a sturdy, de. pendable teEveready"~ Flasblight NOW. Plan to send a gift package this week and be sure to include an ttEveready"~ Flashlight. Extra batteries would b. mucli appreciated -so leave room in your gift box for four or six fresh, dated "Eveready" Batteries. HAVE YOU A MODERN FLASHLIGHT? You'Il find a score cf uses for a flashlight in your owa home. Sa why flot buy au exta co for yourself I Yeu'il like the new colored " Eveready " Flashligbts recendtliaroduced -ina ed, blue, ivozy iLs weil as the ever-popular black. $1.50 everywbere in Canada (including two fresh, dated "Eveready' Batteries). C.ànadlân Natioal ICarbon Company, Limitd HaiItax' Morcal TORONTO Winnipeg Vscou COLDER DAYS arc on the way ORDER your tailored-to-meesure TIP TOP. O VER COAT, Bof ore roaliy cold woather arrives, step ia Our store NOW and have your measure- monta takon. Thon on the fiet cold day you cant stop out [n styloead ho adoquately Protectod by.the fluer quallty of Tip Tops Brtish overcoatingu. W. mre howlunqca groat seloction of wool- ens noted for thele endurance and abillty to taillr weil. All shades and stylos --tcaored- to-flltIBureof couse. $29m75 TAILORED-TO-EMESR TEE ARCADE lauuice D:euh - P:opdiete EXCLUSIVE DEALER FOR Tip Top Tailors Ltd. 1 ý c 1 Al MMDAY, OCTOIBM 9, 1941 PAGE PM THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, BOWMANVI=, ONTARIO ,%> %ES#