Saturday, May 9, 1992 & “In the seaport of St. Malo, twas a smiling morn in May. When the Commodore Jacques Cartier to the west- ward sailed away.” — Thomas D’Arcy McGee That little poem appeared in one of my old and beloved Canadian Readers c. 1922 — before Canada became balka- nized by the bureaucrats and — an Reflections and Recollections John CHARTERS the word — but it does em- phasize love of country, of free- dom and (we're being ana‘ nistic again) chivalric duty of men to women. - The second is a highly imaginative kind of love story on Beethoven’s composing of the famous and haunting Moonlight Sonata for a young woman. Beethoven? Moon- light Sonata? Surely you jest? The third is a fragment from Dicken’s David Copper- _. when Canadian children stitt learned that while they had widespread roots in dozens of other cultures, the visible plant (themselves) was a spe- cial product whose stems, twigs, and leaves represented - the new and hardy Canadian ‘tree,’ a unique reflection of their varied history and liter- ature. The book I have in front of me — The Canadian Readers published by Thomas Nelson copyright 1922 — is an olive- colored cloth bound reader of 416 pages which we used about 1929 and which was au- thorized for use in Public Schools of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. It is still in serviceable condition — physi- cally, educationally and intel- lectually. ial advances it is a petty, divi- sionist, egocentric period in mankind's history, as shallow and insubstantial as a drop of oil in a pool of water, magnifi- cently iridescent but essen- tially without substance. A‘Brave New World’ whose birthing midwifes are the cost accounting technocratics and whose handmaid the educa- tional system. In sharp con- trast to many of our modified American-based texts, this one is unashamedly Canadian — not narrowly, nationalisti- cally Canadian, but reaching back proudly to all our rich lit- erary, cultural and historical heritage. Moreover and contrary to the present ‘in’ point of view ‘A ‘Brave New World’ whose birthing midwifes are the cost accounting technocratics and whose handmaid the educational system.’ It was a treasure over 60 years ago and it is still a trea- sure and a delight to dip into this very day. I’m not proud of this pre- sent time of my dwelling and am almost certainly a living anachronism within its con- fines. For all its self acclaim and technological and mater- which all that is bad is held up to view, it chooses to admire that which would point to higher aims and ideals, the best rather than the worst, for our guidance. It starts off with the poem Rule Britannia — nationalis- tic, a bit chauvinistic if you like, in the proper meaning of son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, Oh Absalom, my son, my son!” Pure poetry! But how many school kids read it? Then there is Leif Ericsson, asaga style tale by John True. It begins: ‘Out through the black wolf’s mouth of massive history. It tells of how in 1660 a young officer Adam Dulac, with sixty Frenchmen and four Algonquins and Hurons held off an attack by 700 Iro- quois and saved the new built Montreal. It is a later parallel to the self-sacrificing kind of gal- lantry of Horatius at the ... 1 can remember, about 30 years later, an English teacher at Victoria High School li Saturday, May 9,1992° wai field called Copperfield and the Walter. It is a small mas- terpiece on a minor con job, which together with a later piece ‘Mr. Winkle on Skates’ made me a lifelong admirer and reader of the eccentric Victorian genius (there were a lot of them a hundred or so years ago before almost every- one opted for freedom of ex- pression and group-think). He is joined by Tennyson, Mark Twain, Hawthorne, E. Pauline Johnston (surely you know her — Canadian Indian poetess?), Robert Louis Stevenson, John Ruskin, Charles Kingsley, Walt Whit- man and Rudyard Kipling. Victorian all and all there. The text reaches back quite a bit further, as well, back to the magnificent Psalm of David ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. ‘The world and they that dwell Therein’, as well as the poignant story told in 2 Samuel: of the death of King David’s rebellious but beloved son Absalom: And the King said unto Cushi, Is the young- man Absalom safe?’ and Cushi answered, ‘The enemies of my Lord the King, and all that tise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is (dead).’ The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept: and as he went, thus he said, ‘Oh my complaining that her Grade 10 class couldn't understand Horatius. cliffs one morning a swift long boat sped . . .” and ends with ‘. . . Leif Ericsson is still the crosser of far seas, the finder of strange lands, the sleepless watcher forever gazing from beneath his shadowed brows into the golden west.’ Another hero story in mag- nificent prose poetry, is it not? There are scores and scores” of others — the Greek legend of the ‘Miraculous Pitcher’ and the good but poor couple Philomena and Baucis played host to two of the gods and were granted immortality —a moral tale. And the poem, ‘The Minstrel Boy’ by Thomas Moore. It sings: “The minstrel boy to the war is gone His father’s sword he has girded on And his wild harp slung be- hind him.” Patriotic romanticism? Perhaps. But it lifted me right off my bench when I heard it sung accompanied by two women playing Celtic harps, at a Medieval banquet in Ruthon Castle in Wales. One final sample: The He- roes of the Long Sault by Fran- cis Parkman. It is a small vi- gnette in the unexplored or forgotten wilds of Canadian Bridge. Not too suitable, ’'m afraid, for the age of the anti- hero. In spite of the fact that we read them in Grade 7 in the Barnet elementary school, I can remember, about 30 years later, an English teacher at Victoria High School com- plaining that her Grade 10 class couldn’t understand Ho- ratius. To them it was incompre- hensible. What did you ex- pect? They had no back- grounds. - The book ends appropriate- ly with John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields and the fa- mous words ‘... to you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.’ Patriotism, honor, gal- lantry, idealism, even chivalry — are they just words now? I really don’t think so. The flame is low and flickering, but hope and the human spir- it springs eternal. I don’t know, either, how I got into this, sincé I started writing an essay on the spirit of joy and the feminine woman. I'll have to change the opening quote from Brown- ing’s Pippa Passes. Try again another time. Anyway, I've got a SS Acclaimed poet, playwright visits Nelson cafe @ Paulette Jiles set to give reading of selected works in Vienna Cafe Friday Paulette Jiles, a Governor-General’s Award- winning poet and an award-winning play- wright, is returning to the Kootenays to read from her book of non-fiction, Cousins (Alfred Knopf: 1992). Jiles will read in Nelson at the Vienna Cafe on Friday at 8 p.m. The reading, which is free to the public,is full: sponsored by the Canada Council, the Koote- nay School of Writing, and the Silverton Gallery Society. ~ Jiles divides her time between her homes in Nelson, and San Antonio, Texas. that “... (Talonbooks), In The Club Car She has recently been a writer-in-residence program in Banff where she worked on a new radio play commissioned Cousins is the result of three years of work and 10,000 miles of travel, taping interviews with 25 first cousins spread across the US. The New York Times Book Review gave Cousins a rave review as well, commenting again and again, she goes her own way and makes something new and wonder- ” Her other books include Waterloo Express (Anansi), Celestial Navigation (McClelland & Stewart), The Late Great Human Roadshow The Jesse James Poems, Sitting Drinking Rum & KarmaLo- by the CBC. Navigation. tial Navigation. ham Greene. Future plans include a non-fiction book on her ten years of work as a journalist in the eastern Arctic, where she wrote most of Celes- To The Rising Sun (all by Polestar Press) and Blackwater (Alfred Knopf). She is the only writer who has ever been awarded the Governor-General’s Award, the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award and the Pat Lowther Memorial Award for one book. That bokk was none other than Celestial While in the north, Jiles also wrote and act- ed in stage plays with such talented artists as Tomson Highway, Doris Linklater and Gra- RRR AR RTT The Castlegar News Hockey Pool has come to a close, but not before three lucky contestants walked away with some wonderful prizes. Ray Pettyjohn (top) proved to be the pollster of pollsters, winning a CD player for his efforts. Second spot went to Marinus Waterberg (bottom left), who collected a 14” color television for a strong showing. Third prize was won by Dorothy Martini, who walked away with a portable telephone. The News would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for taking part in its successful hockey draft. Answers to today’s Crossword Puzzle and Cryptoquip T; M|O 1 N [e) mojri—i4 OR >|2||= io O|m)|-|2|>| DRO} = | >| TR S| >| D| OM 0] 0} >! 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June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13. and 14. Tuition $250. au HEALING THE PAIN OF TRAUMATIC FAMILIES: Jane Middleton-Moz. Day-long clinical training for clinicians, health professionals and working with children and adult children of dysfunctional families. Evening session is open to the public from 7-9:30 p.m., $10 fee at the door. Tuesday, May 12, 8:00 a.m.-4:30.p.m., Capitol Theatre in Nelson, $100. SUICIDE INTERVENTION WORKSHOP: This workshop will offer caregivers the opportunity to develop the confidence and skills to intervene until the immediate danger of suicide has passed or until other resources are mobilized. Instructor: Anne Bowles, Executive Director, B.C. Friends of Schizophrenics, Victoria. Castlegar — May 26; Nelson — May 28; Grand Forks — May 27. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $45. P & A Ss ng R fe) N D GAs |oj2z 7 oe) -] fe) oe) FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER CALL: CASTLEGAR CAMPUS - 365-1261 — Selkirk, College COMMUNITY ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND HEALTH INFORMATION SERIES An expanded five part Alcohol, Drugs and Health Information Series begins Wednesday, May 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Castlegar Community Services, 1007-2nd Street. Gain and share insights and information on a topic that affects us all. For more information phone 365-2104. There is no charge and the general public, including youth, are welcome. 5/36 VOICES FROM NICARAGUA Galo Family Concert; St. Michael's School, Trail; 7:00 p.m. By donation. Contact: 368-8619 or 365-5077 for information. 2/36 oer MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP - jastiegar Community Services will be offering a Men's Support Group in May (date TBA). The group will present an opportunity to explore the Stress in our lives and discover directions toward health and well-being. For more information phone 365-2104. There is no charge. 5/33 Coming events of Castlegar and District non-profit organizations may be listed here. The first 15 words are $5 and additional words are 30¢ each. Boldfaced words (which must be used for headings) count as two words. There is no extra charge for a second insertion while the third consecutive insertion is half-price and the fourth and fifth consecutive insertions are only half price for the two of them. Minimum charge is $5 (whether ad is for one, two or three times). Deadlines are 5 p.m. Wednesdays for Saturday's paper and 5 p.m. Monday for Wednesday's paper. Noti should be brought to the Castlegar News at 197 Columbia Ave. COMMUNITY