‘All-hands-in’ soup
The Financial Post in early March 1949 put a question to renowned Canadian poet E.J. Pratt as to “what we should do to mark Confederation with Newfoundland and acquaint Canadians with the problems and potentialities of the new province.”
Pratt was at the time professor of English at Victoria College in Toronto. He had been born at Western Bay, Newfoundland in 1882, and carried in his heart and soul a sense of Newfoundland that found expression in some of the country’s most significant poetry.
Introducing a Pratt poem (“Newfoundland Seamen”) in their 1984 anthology “The Newfoundland Character,” Don Ryan and Tom Rossiter wrote that Pratt “knew the Newfoundland seamen very well; he mixed with them, saw how they lived and was impressed by their skill and daring and by their ability to handle their boats in darkness and in storm.”
Responding to The Financial Post’s question, Pratt wrote, “since Confederation is now settled, the obvious thing is to acquaint the bulk of Canadians who have hitherto seen only the fringe of the issue with an exhaustive account of Newfoundland resources. The next step, even more important is to get into the schools the history of the country to show the courageous stock which survived early English legislation, winter storms and the fishing admirals. And another is to furnish either to large groups or to wherever two or three are gathered together, an organized welcome to the most hospitable people on this planet.”
Adding some flavour
“The members of the St. John’s Rotary Club with their wives and friends were hosts to over 250 of the underprivileged children of the City yesterday (Aug. 31st), when a very enjoyable outing was held for the kiddies at Mount Pearl Park. Each Rotarian brought along two boys and two girls, ranging from 10 to 14 years of age. Well-filled baskets were provided and with a long string of cars parked in order along the beautiful park lawn the picnic made a very happy scene. Tea was served to the children in groups all round the grounds whilst numerous side shows, games and competitions were run during the afternoon.” (The Evening Telegram, Sept. 1, 1931).
Of special interest to the children that afternoon were the YMCA clown and the Imperial Tobacco Company’s calliope.
The Depression column
My column on Monday, July 30th was titled, “As depression approached.” A selection of small items from newspapers of some 88 years ago illustrated the point that a gathering financial storm was brewing. So here is a positive little piece from one of those papers. It shows how small our world truly was at the time:
“A new and up-to-date 5, 10 and 50-cent store was opened this morning to the public. Mr. A.T. Wood, the proprietor, undoubtedly will fill a long-felt want. The new store did a brisk business at the hour of opening and the proprietor feels more than confident of its success.”
The products were variously listed as, toys, toilet preparations, candy, jewelry, stationery and enamelware.
On that column, I received a note from a reader: “Good morning Paul. I read your story in the ‘Tely’ with interest. Have you read the book ‘Sposin’ I Dies In D’ Dory’ written by Victor Butler from Placentia Bay? It describes life in Placentia Bay leading up to, during and just after the Great Depression of ‘29. You can’t put the book down when you start it and I doubt if you can finish it without getting emotional and a tear in your eye.” Rich Mease.
I have not read it but I have certainly heard of Victor Butler. I’m going to find a copy and do as Mr. Mease advises.
Paving Duckworth Street
Also from autumn 1931, a bit of welcome news: “The work of grading Duckworth Street preparatory to paving the thoroughfare was begun this morning by the Standard Paving Company in the section between Holloway and Prescott Street. A steam shovel was employed. About two inches of asphalt will be laid on a bed of concrete under which will be crushed stone.”
Targeted marketing
Apparently taking advantage of the employment which the project would generate, Parker & Monroe (“The Shoe Men”), ran this advertisement: “Men’s Boots for road work — and look at the price — $2.98 the pair!”
However, not everyone was excited to see that steam shovel in action: “At Council meeting two firms on Duckworth Street wrote to complain about smoke from the steam shovel entering their premises. The Council is powerless to do anything in the matter. A suggestion was made to have the smokestack on the machine raised but one of the councillors stated that this would not be possible.”
Talking about council, we note that St. John’s city council has done away with “Discovery Day,” June 24th — supposedly the day when John Cabot “discovered” Newfoundland. Yes, we should do away with it. It is an insult to the Vikings who found us long before Cabot; but wait! The Skraelings were already here then. They may have been the Beothuk or perhaps Innu or Inuit from northern coasts. But wait — the Maritime Archaic were here even before that!
And isn’t there also a measure of honour due to one John Scolvus, the (presumed) Norwegian who is (presumed) to have skirted along our coast 20 years before Cabot? In Smallwood’s 1975 “Book of Newfoundland (Volume six)”, the question of Scolvus is explored by Lawrence M. Larson. Scolvus is believed to have been aboard a vessel sent out by King Christian I of Denmark and Norway and to have seen and named our fair land “Terra do Bacalhao,” “The Codfish Country,” as Larsen translates it. I like “Vinland” better.