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Page 2 Editor, Castor Review: What an outrageously un- Canadian attitude the article about the cowbells in last month's Castor Review showed. Mr. Wyss is not only a newcomer to Russell but: tov Canada: "and 35 welcomed--with his cowbells--to our community. I think, Mr. Editor, we can say here that you have "dropped a clanger". Yours truly, Johanne Cowling, Russell. Editors: note: Here's how Ms. Cowling would have reported the cowbell controversy. Ding, dong merrily...Some for- tunate Marvelville residents have recently had their warm summer evenings endowed by the melodious, rythmic sound of the alps. What pleasure and peace of mind it brings after-a hard day's grind to hear the beautiful, fluid sound of bells tinkling while cattle graze in the cool of the evening. A new resident in a neighbouring community has provided this echo of Switzerland in Russell through his cow bells. It is, indeed, a pleasure to receive and enjoy a custom from a far-off country to add yet more interest to our rich mosaic of cultures, on which Castor has been built. This musical focal point lends added character to our countryside. How sadly I read in the July Castor Review that Mr. Wyss' cows have been met with such a biggotted at- I am sorry to see so eminent a Canadian as Patrick Watson ex- plaining in Weekend Magazine how he strolls around his property in Smiths Falls, .22 at the ready, in order to knock off groundhogs, should one be so foolish as to raise his head. I realize that in saying this, I will be out of sympathy with the majority of readers in this area who, perhaps rightly regard the groundhog as a pest and varmint, much in the same way as prairie dogs were regarded in the West a few years ago, and may still be, as far as I know. | What is my brief for the groun- | dhog? Only that he exists and if he exists, he must have some right to live. This is merely a modernistic way of saying that if God found it worthwile to create the groun- dhog, then there must be some purpose in his being here. The groundhog does a lot of \ CASTOR COMMENT Correspondence titude; and I, on behalf of his more tolerant neighbors, welcome this new asset to our community. Editor, Castor Review: As a_ self-supporting single parent of two children, and a home owner in Edwards with the so called "derelict, dilapitated" building on my property and "an eyesore', I wish to express my feelings. After three years in search of an affordable home, I bought an older farm property in the village of Edwards, consisting of a barn, numerous old sheds that were fall- ing down and a house that needed and still needs thousands of dollars and hours of repairs to make it comfortable to live in. There was no running water and the first winter after $500.00 worth of oil bills, we still had to wear our heavy coats in the living room and kitchen to keep from freezing. We all are worried about refugees with no homes. Everyone is willing to help them but next door neighbors that could. use some help are not appreciated for what we've been able to do but brought down for what we can't do ourselves. The little money I have I need to put running water in my home and pay my taxes. I'm not asking for sympathy just a little consideration for so- meone that was never given anything for nothing. I've worked hard for everything I have and I don't plan on letting people walk on me while I'm lying on the floor doing the best I can and stretching hard to make ends meet. On $164 a week, it's not easy to make all ends meet and provide a livable home for two small children. Florence Williams, Edwards Editor, Caster Review: The Kenmore Continuation School reunion committee would like to thank the Castor Review for giving us such good publicity for our reunion. Thanks so much, Hazel Rombough (on behalf of the committee) Editor, Castor Review: Refreshing. That's the best word I can find to describe "The Castor Review." I discovered a copy of your newspaper while visiting with my brother and his wife in Russell. After reading it through, I was most impressed, both with your paper's content and the originality of its ap- pearance. As a reporter with a weekly newspaper in the Toronto area, I'm always critical of uncaring editors who offer their readers the same bland, uninteresting fare week in week out. You and your staff are obviously excited about your publication, and are eager to provide your readers with the best. Ed Schroeter, Markham, Ontario. Beaver Bob Destructive Man tunnelling under the ground. He> cah undermine a field and cause an unwary horse to break a leg. This is not the kind of thing which anyone advocates. On the other hand, all the arguments against the groundhog apply equally aginast his large cousin, the bear, and have been applied. They applied so well in England, that the last bear was . shot in the time'of Charles II. Im- agine living in a country without bears! Now, we come to wolves. There 'are all kinds of people who want to wipe out wolves, especially peo- ple who keep sheep. I know peo- ple who want to wipe out sheep. We must ask ourselves, do we want to live in a world without wolves, without bears? Without groundhogs? Consider the noble and spec- tacular mountain lion. Once they CASTOR REVIEW "One Canada" Box 359, Russell, Ontario Editor: Mark Van 445-2080. Sports: Jack MacLaren, Edit- or, 445-2131; Peter Van Dusen, columnist; Garey Ris, reporter, 445-2069. News: Suzanne Schroeter, 445- 5709. Photographs: Mary Rowsell, 445-5244. Advertising: Michael Van Dus- en, 445-5770. Layout: Stuart Walker, 445- 5707. Subscriptions: Tina Van Dus- en, 445-5707. Bookkeeper: Joan Van Dusen, 445-2080. < Dusen, Submissions preferably typed, double-spaced are welcomed, publishable at the discretion of the editor. Published by Castor Publish- ing, Russell, Ontario. President: Thomas W. Van Dusen. Printed by Performance Print- ing, Smiths Falls. -- NEXT DEADLINE August 31 NEXT ISSUE September 7 Second Class Mail Registration No. 4218 ISSN 0707 -- 4956 roamed the entire continent. The big North American cougar; to- 'day, restricted to parts of Van- couver Island and New Brunswick. Somebody felt they were unnecessary. There is no point in mentioning the passenger pigeon or the buf- falo. One thing is certain; no one now living will ever again look on the passenger pigeon. Seen any buffalo lately? I have. Only a few days ago. They were behind a fence on a game farm. They say there are only a few dozen golden eagles left in the ca- nyons of Colorado. Apparently, there are maniacs who shoot at golden eagles from airplanes. Such people should be instantly certifiable and placed under restraint. The whale is fast disappearing on the face of the deep and it is likely that within a few years, the harp seal will be no more. Each one of us is prepared to protect the creatures half a world away. Only last summer, a blue heron made his home on the Castor. He has not been seen since. No doubt some public- spirited citizen decided that the town census did not provide for long-legged birds. For some reason man has decid- ed that he has some proprietary right over everything that walks, swims or flies, to do with as he sees fit. From that concept, to ex- ercising a right over other human beings is but a small step. We filled the air with DDT a few years ago. First the flies disap- peared, then the bees, then the birds. Now, they are coming back. Soon man will be alone on the planet and then he can get down to his primary concern of destroy- ing himself, with no distractions. Does God ever ask himself, is this creature" necessary? If 'he 'ever does, that will be the end. A sign One day not so long ago a sign of things hopefully to come sprung up among the thistles in a Russell Village field. It's not solid yet by any stretch of the imagination, but the apparition has reassured residents that long-awaited senior apartments may finally be built. Keep those fingers crossed. BELL BLOWUP There is a simple solution to the Marionville cow bell controver- sy. Farmer Wyss should remove the largest of the bells which com- plaining neighbors say, are the only ones that keep them awake at night. These neighbors say that the more numerous smaller bells with which Farmer Wyss collars his cows are musical, restful. They don't mind these bells; only the big, pot-like*ones. Both parties admit_that it was too bad that they didn't try a little harder to work things out between them before a seemingly trivial problem got out of hand. It's not too late. With some swallowed pride on both sides a com- promise can certainly be reached in a spirit of friendship. The one suggested above is the obvious one. The only alternative is an aggravated rift between respectable, law-abiding citizens who should be living side by side in harmony. That this whole dispute centers on a bunch of imported cow bells seems humorous at first. A closer look at the situation and its con- sequences shows that it is far from funny. IN MEMORY OF MUNSON Thurmon Munson would have liked to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was asked recently about his chances. He said it was something he would appreciate because it would allow him to be remembered by people eternally. Thurmon Munson may get his wish. But there won't be any pic- ture taking of the all-star catcher wiping away a tear, shaking hands with top baseball officials, or kisses for his wife and children. Thur- mon Munson is dead. At times he was a moody player. Some players liked him, some didn't. But everyone agreed he was a great baseball player, a super baseball player. New York Yankee coach Billy Martin sobbed openly at hearing of Munson's death in a light plane crash. The rest of us cried, at least a little, if not openly inside. Thurmon Munson will be missed. No doubt we will see his likeness in the Hall of Fame. 'AILING BRIDGE While the municipal and provincial authorities are talking about new bridges in Russell township, they should take a look at the cor- onation bridge over the Castor River on the main street of Russell Village. This bridge was built some 40 years ago. The metal approaches on the south side have come loose and are ready to drop into the river. The right of way is pitted with dangerous holes. Both ap- proaches are so narrow that it is difficult for two cars to pass. This bridge is rapidly becoming an eyesore as well as a danger. It should be rebuilt or replaced as quickly as money can be found. CHINA IN VIETNAM It does not come as a complete surprise to learn from statements by Chinese leaders that China contributed something in the neighborhood of 300,000 personnel to the war in Vietnam. That represents a lot of Chinese. The suggestion is being made that these individuals filled non-combatant roles. At the same time, the Chinese are saying that many of their nationals died in Vietnam as a result of American bombing. The revelation is both ironic and illuminating. In the first place, the West was continually warned against going too far in Vietnam lest the Chinese be provoked and enter the war with major force. Apparently, they were in'it in a big way from the beginning. Is this something the CIA didn't know about, or were the Americans simply afraid of the results if the truth-leaked out?» - - - os fis eis