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STEWART SHACKLETON, 13, of RR 7 St. Marys was the winner of the Perth County Educational Association public speaking contest held in Milverton recently. A grade 8 student at Downie Central School, Stewart was judged top of ten students with his subject "American Influence on Canadians". He emphasized the need for Canadians to think Canadian; to study extensively â€" the history of Canada; to be aware that we are a great nation with a fine history and [promising future. > Stewart‘s class teacher is Mrs. Margaret Mountain, and his school principal, W. E. Beckett. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Shackleton. _.. David S. MacKay, former township reeve, and president’ of the Perth County Educational program was chairman for the evening â€" and commented on the excelâ€" lent quality of the students‘ presentations. j As winner, Stewart, is allowed to keep this fine trophy for one year, plus a book of his choice. Eoh. 48 1972 ; Brown‘s Corners There‘s many a girl who got marâ€" ried because she didn‘t like to spend _ her evenings alone . .. and then got â€" a divorce for the same reason, A Successful Sale Mr. Danny Troyer who reâ€" sides on the old Leadman farm, held a very successful auction sale last Saturday. Brown‘s U.C.W. ladies had a booth, sellâ€" ing hotâ€"dogs, sandwiches, pie and coffee, all of which was most welcome on such a cold day. Danny and his family have made many friends in this comâ€" munity, and will be missed around here. He and his famâ€" ily have supplied popâ€"corn for the skaters on Friday nights. We are grateful to our Amish friends for the interest and parâ€" ticipation which they take in the rink each year. ' Several ladies from Brown‘s attended the World‘s Day â€"of Prayer at the Union Church last Friday. & â€" Mrs. Marion Munro. and Mrs. Merle Kirk returned last week from Florida where they spent seven weeks, having motoréd: down with Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Kirk of Toronto. All enjoyed a pleasant holiday. Several parents and grade 7 and 8 students were at Wildâ€" wood Park School last Thursday night to hear Mr. Creech and Mr. Blackmore from the St. Marys Collegiate explain the various courses available to stuâ€" dents entering high school in the fall. h PYlany t / *LA ‘ P"lax 10f42 Optimistic Mood Prevails/ln The Mink Ranching Industry According to mink breeders in St. Marys and area, prices received at recent fur auctions were considerably better than last year‘s disappointing low level of prices. One breeder ventured that they were generalâ€" ly 15 to 25 per cent higher. , Mink pelts marketed from St. Marys and area ranches generâ€" ally include the dark species, brown (pastel), sapphire and the new demiâ€"blush. Many of the pelt bundles were bought at the Montreal auction by purâ€" chasers from West Germany and Italy. The United States market is considered not as lively as it has been in the past. Optimistic Mood The executive of the Canada Mink Breeders which directs the promotion and sale of mink pelts produced in Canazla held their January meeting in Monâ€" treal and found a mood of opâ€" timism concerning 1972. . The The Canada Mink Breeders feel that over the end of the year the fur market made a very good recovery. â€" Retail salâ€" es are up and natural fur is gaining in popularity. Buyer attendance at sales has been high. They also feel that with higher prices, ranchers who conâ€" sidered "pelting out" will now be ‘encouraged to remain in proâ€" duction. C.M.B. will again participate in the Frankfurt Fur Fair. World Mink production for 1972 is estimated at 22,390,000 of which 49.9 per cent will be Standard Mink, 18.9 per cent Pastel, and all other mutations will represent 31.2 per cent. At Canadian sales so far top prices realized by ranchers have been as follows (female prices are in brackets): Darks, $40. ($22.50); Demiâ€"buffs, â€" $47.00 ($28.50); Pastels, $25.50 ($13.75); ($22.50); Demiâ€"buffs, â€" $47.00 ($28.50); Pastels, $25.50 ($13.75); Sapphires, $26. ($13.50); Violets $28. ($13.75); â€"Aleutians, $26.50 ($10.50). A Surprise W.1. Meeting A glow of colour and style‘ greeted the members of Browns‘ W.I. when they assembled for the February meeting in the school house. Mrs. John Hawâ€" kesworth and Mrs. John Conâ€" way, leaders of the course "The Knack of Sewing with Knits"; were on hand to direct the laâ€" dies in this most fashionable parade.of pant suits and dresses Much credit is due the leaders and to the following ladies who successfully completed and moâ€" delled the popular garments made from the Knits: Mesdames Helen Conway, Alice Hawkesâ€" worth, Marj Martin, Annie Uren, Florrie Kingdon, Clara Taylor, Susan Towle, Dorothy Taylor,, Edythe Howe, Joyce Tate, Evâ€" elyn Arthur and Miss Ruth Gill. Brown‘s Corners Mrs. Murray Kingdon, viceâ€" president, presided for the busâ€" iness period. The minutes of the January meeting were read by the secretary, Mrs. Dan Conn. The members were reminded that each group is responsible to raise funds for a yearly doâ€" nation to the treasury. Challenging twoâ€"minute reâ€" Mrs. Fred Arthur gave a very informative and interesting acâ€" count of the 75th Anniversary F.W.I.O. noon luncheon meeting at the Royal York, Toronto. A highlight of this meeting was the part played by two mem:â€" bers of the Langford Institute, Brant County. The members were invited to attend a similar noon luncheon at Tavistock in April. The musical selection by Mrs. Chapin and Mrs. Jackâ€" son will be repeated . at that meeting. Challenging twoâ€"minute reâ€" ports were given by Mrs. John Howe on "The Whirlpool Bath" and by Mrs. Geo. Martin on ‘How a small Town got smaller.‘ Mrs. Doug Metcalfe, convener of Citizenship and Education, presided for her part of the proâ€" gram. She read a poem. The roll call was answered by "Quoâ€" tations". Mrs. Herbert Schutt. commented on the motto: "Plea: sure is like a toothâ€"ache, you have it all to yourself. Happiâ€" ness is like measles, you canâ€" not have it without giving it to others." The achievements of the Leaâ€" dership course were commented on by Mrs. John Conway. A discussion followed re: the cost, care and. washing instructions of the many different materials classed as Knits. Two contests were to name the present Proâ€" vincial Premiers and the 15 Prime Ministers of Canada since Confederation. The winners were: Mrs. Geo. Martin, Miss, Freeda Conn, Mrs. Fred Arthur,; Mrs. John Howe, Mrs. Hubert! Uren. Lunch was served by. the group in charge and the meeting closed with the Queen.