- Wednesda

“mittee has a taxi: service once.a

“Extended Care: Hospital for.

“portunity to.indicate to you how

ca

_of numerous wars will celebrate

‘21st.

Editor’s Note: This is the fifth
article in a series of anecdotes
from the autobiography of North
Saanich resident James Brown-
Hardinge. This military veteran

his 97th birthday on November

By
Lt. Colonel
Jmaes Brown-Hardinge
(Ret’d)

-The youth of today have little
spunk: they are a_ listless lot
‘lounging on the back of govern-
ment dole and idle times. Few if
any have ever faced a dripping
sabre or snatched a live cobra

‘from their sleeping garments or

even flanked a highland piper in a
straight on bayonet charge.

‘No, the youth of today are. a
churlish ‘lot especially those
within’ pecking distance of 40
winters: all gone soft being
rotund of belly their indolent
minds sniffing’ about the smaller.

_ issues of life. It was no different

in the days of the Romans. And
now since. the Great Wars have
-stilled, this aberration within an
entire civilization-akin almost to
a mental plague, is with us again.

I was born to a different era

‘when genius, talent, expertise,

whatever label the learned man
might: wish to put.upon it sur-
faced at’an early age. I do not
apologize for the inherent skills to
which I was bred and born.
Hunting ground. and: battle
ground are one and the same to
me. The danger of it-all is like a

flame that burns upon one’s soul:

, October 9, 1974

the most weak..minded in-
dividual.

I came upon this. realization.
early in life.

At the age of eleven. I was sent
by sailing ship - on extended visit
to Africa where lived two of my
maiden. aunts. Both of these
gracious ladies were descendent
from my mother’s side of the
family and thus, : lacking any
sense of military breeding hac
become missionaries to a tribe of
Masai warriors some distance
inland from Mombisa.

Foreign langus ¢e learned

In truth they. were both dear
souls and my old heart can still
warm up a sort of love for them
but in the eyes of the: Masai,
whose tongue I soon. came to
know as well as my own, they
were regarded. more as in-
teresting diversions to a spartan
way of life, than messiahs from a
land they had never heard of..

Although the two spinsters
dwelt in a missionary compound ‘

funds they: had imported an
‘almost virulent English flavour
into their living environment.
“Red English. roses, somewhat
‘stunted in the Africa-cun, grew
cautiously outside the main
entrance; nota single oil painting
in the entire place, save those
with a religious message, failed
to. reflect some moment, some
glance’ at life in faraway
england.

The mission had more the

misplaced whenever | entered.
the livingroom, a chamber which
on Sundays doubled as a chapel
for those blacks who had nothing
better to do than listen to my
aunts sing hymns.

This wretched beast with fur

erected for. them out of church. °

odour of a museum about it than:

‘Central: Saanich céuncil: mot 1 -Durrand ‘told | The ; Review.
‘With = provincial Land. .Com-.| Monday. te,
“mission Chairman Bill Lane last Lane and* his “associates

> week,’

“Pine Haven Rest Home on Wayne

stiffening the backbone of even | a home. ‘Indeed I felt’ oddly

THE REVIEW

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LT. COLONEL JAMES BROWN-HARDINGE

tiger at birth had shipped out
from Portsmouth in company
with the train. of my aunt's
luggage and two .English ser-
vants. Cat, cook and housekeeper
were soon lording it over their
African counterparts.
Butter removed

Now I had no quarrel with this
beast in’ spite of my inborn
animosity towards cats until the

Dwelling inthe mission was an
enormous tomcat called Charles.

orange and black in colour and
patterned not unlike a Bengal

A “SEASIDE DIP»

The author ebjoying a refreshing ocean bath following his disem-
barkation in Mombasa from a British sailing ship in 1889. (Photo by.
courtesy James Brown- Hardinge?:

in. a’ further attempt; to
have “parts. ofthe’. district.
exempted ‘from. the land reserve...

Land “commission represen-
“tatives “gave no ‘indication of
‘when. a decision: on. the. Central:
Saanich appeal.can:be ‘expected;, '
however, : “Municipal Clerk. Fred

“listened to’ council’s submission,
Durrand’ said, but, no. decision
was made atthe meeting.
The Central "= Saanich
_Tepresentatives | were;. told the:
commission were considering.
similar... ~ applications.
|. throughout: the” province,” An-:

continued froin Page

range: taxi- ‘service. for’
hem. Service i in this ‘manner: will

be continued until: ‘such time asa.
sufficient. number. are. interested:
‘to warrant’ the: reinstatement: of
“the bus, .-" :
Joe twill) be ‘of interest! to. cnew
“that: the New Horizon’s Senior
Citizen's °.. Transportation .°Com-:

grant. an
"Municipality. for: ‘the: purpose : of
ditching some: excess* water.
‘During the process of having. this

‘occasion: to be: in’ “contact. a

“week to the Saanich Peninsula Hartshorne.

relatives of patients there, and ‘write to you and ‘indicate. -how
_that taxi service is also provided

to. bring in. members: of’ “the
‘Mountain: View. Rest Home on.
--Mount: Newton Crossroad and. the

“indeed to find someone who. has
the capacity to do a job well and
at the same. time take into con-
sideration: the needs. ofclients.
Mr, ‘Har tshorne ‘made. every
effort to ensure that our property
stayed: as close-as possible to its
natural state. while at the same
time. satisfying the need for an
‘adequate run-off ditch. 1 think: it

Road ‘to the concerts: held: on:
Wednesday afternoons °in © the
Senior -Citizen’s Centre, Sidney.

Taxi service is also provided to
‘members of the Mountain View
Rest Home onee a week -to St.

David's-by-the-Sea Church Hill in . ran
Cadboro Bay, fay iw snclal ai appropriate that l underline for
4eendon: oO -{ members, of Council. how) im--
Yours truly, . pressed we were with: the: con-
UMrs.) GLP. MeDieken, tribution of this.man and in: our
Secretary, opinion, .the District of North

New Horizon’ 8 Senior.
‘Citizen's,

oo . Phis services,
Transportation C mmittee ot

— Yours sincerely, ’ e
AK, George Vedirsen ,
Lands. Kind: Road

“eTbis

ormaeees eneoniet

'Hditor. The Review, Sip:

1 would like (o take: this: op- teller” was:

oo John Bruce
Sidney
“Realty

i

n FOR SALE” SIGNS ARE
YOUR SILENT. SALESMEN

There are very valid reasons w hy many home seekers end up

buying a-house’ they first RAW asa result ofa | 8ign on the front ;
lawn,

When a house ‘buyer becomes ‘interested inva home ‘after

“sooing a properly sign, he ns already made several important
decisions: ©
_ The home ts in'an area he is Tnrerosted in; HW ohas an external

appearance that appeals.to him; and the chances ore favour able. .
that it is Hkely to be in his price category.

}. How should a seller handle. an inquiry. froma prospective:
buyer who knocks on his door duetoa “forsale” sipa?,

“It ts best: for.the seller to either give the caller one of the
> Realtor's business cards or call the Realtor's office so that.a®
sateamon May pore anny cones ~ Prospect through the
house, * .
“The seller should NOT lour the sruerly with the pr apie
“Firat impressions mre vital and the seller's best interests will bie”
served by referring thie prime pracpect to he Renitar who i

professionally (rained to present his prope rly. to tts Rreutest
advantages. . ve a .

from :

x xtremely ‘well. cmy wife’ andI |
have. been’ treated. by employees, hear
“of the District. of North Saanich. po
“We. ‘recently had» occasion - “to.
easement. to: the:

small project completed, we. had
‘number of times with Mr. George 7
It is most appropriate. that 1

extremely well treated we were:

by Mr. Hartshorne. It is rare. native. Indian howling tour-

‘Saanich is most for tunate ta have |

reevived by af
North Saanich Council Monday)

dicating an Both were slated for residential

ca rly, decision ig:

unlikely. development under the: Central.
‘Saanich municipal plan and were
~The municipalities main’ accepted as. residential areas. in-

; complaints centre on two par cels
of. land; 210::acres. in’: the:
Saanichton area and 135. acres
“near Brentwood on the west side
of the: district. : eae

the Capital Regional Plan.
. Provision. has already . been

oS although to varying degrees, a

. the’ first. time on “the
“Peninsula a. ‘native “India
- bowling “league ; “has
organized with 50: bowlers’ from:
“the’ four: reservations “pare
‘ticipating, :
Held at Sidney Bowling Lanes, :
‘on Fifth Stréet, each Wednesday: :
at. 9°-p.m.; ‘president: of: the:
league. Greg Sam_ said. he is
‘surprised at’ the number = of-
‘people turning out: .

‘He said: the. idea ofa le ague
‘originated | last ‘April : when a.

-ning. He.

year.

concluded.

ok SE RVICE CLUB |
nt ae. SIGNS ,

-nament. was held in Sidney i

teams competing from Dunes
and Vancouver.

“We discovered bowling was a
lot of fun," said: Sam, .‘tand ‘we
decided to go bowling cach week |

‘for recreation.”’ —_

-He- said. the league started a.
month ‘ago with new members
joining cach week, ‘Two. weeks
ago elections were held Greg
‘Sam was elected president Norm
‘Underwood: ~ vice-president. nd
Mitchel) |< treasnrer and Molly:
Pelkey secretary.

creet signs near
"| Anacortes ‘ferry terminal,
designed. advertise
clubs: in a area.

from: the Sidney Lions Club for

at the ‘Town's entrance,
Meetings in: committee, council

signs -could . be. eliminated | by
provision of struc tures capable of

DIA.

LIONS. CLUB |

- Wolunteer
Firemen

FORAJOB
WELL DONE
IN OUR
COMMUNITY.

Sunday morning the. animal
elected tolick the butter from my
breakfast toast. The brass bird
bell about his fat neck tinkled as
he slathered his tongue back and
forth and both aunts gazed at him
with laughter in their eyes.

Even the Kikuyu working. the
corner fan allowed a: ghost of a
smile to cross his thin lips. 1
clenched my teeth.

My eves immediately. darted
toward the: top shelf -of a
Klizabethan bookcase where
resided a piece of machinery that
both aunts only suffered to be in
their presence through fear of a
native uprising. This was a
Brescian flintock pistol.

It had a proper, wheel-lock
appearing magazine -and to
prime it one simply tipped .the
gun over. This action set up ‘the
pan.
~ PE knew how it fired,

My younger aunt
trained in its use by a British
army officer. In fact the chap, a
rather inferior sort. of Welshman
used to drop in or-her more often
than seemed necessary for the
execution of his patrol duties.
‘These training sessions had taken
several afternoons.

Thereafter, whenever -[ felt
myself unobserved E'would open
the case and. fetch down . the
weapon, fondling its grip -and
taking aim at unsuspecting
‘servants. Since the most com-
plicated part of discharging the
weapon was in the actual loading
of it the revolver was left primed
-and stocked with shot;

had been

onee

no one

for it in the execution of a British
tomcat.

Dusk was .upon the mission

when | took the weapon down.

As was his want Charles took

an evening stroll before retiring.
When he left the main gate | was
but a few feet behind him and
holding the heavy pistol under
my shirt.

No sooner had we crested a

small hill some distance from the
mission than he began to act ina
strange manner. He put each foot
down as though he were walking
on ice: his cretin mind obviously
cautioned by some ‘scent,
absence of sound.

some

Suddenly he froze, arching his

back. tail straight up and T took
the pistol from. under my shirt
intending to despatch him where
he stood. when a blur came out of
‘ascrub tree some 20 feet from the
mission cat bowling it. end-over-
end Jike. a rugger
sound except the bird bell going
leopard | &

ball and no

and then. the
standing there, over the tomcat,
looking down the trail at me six.
feet away as the fear twtiching
down my forefinger finally
allowed me to pull back on the
metal trigger.

Unlike the leopard Charles
survived the incident.
Although. my aunts. were.

relieved at his safety they did

commission the Welsh officer to
cane me for having their pistol
_upon my person.

However, this
brush with death cast me as a
hero amongst the “Masai ‘and

made i in both areas for addition to
“the municipalities sewer. system, »

cmembers © ‘don’t..know Taek

-about: bowling but they’ re lear:
‘anticipates a tour-:
“nament will be: held later: in | the”

“Any native pedpte Ww ho want to a
come © out.are welcome. hee

‘Sidney council has agréed to qe
Sanscha andthe |

Revere
‘The decision followed a reque st

permission to place its own sign co
members elt a) proliferation, of » i

carrying a. mumber of. individual

| _ Salts Our : : |

suspecting that an cleven-year

upon my first lion: hunt, armed
old boy would one day plan a role

‘only, with a spear.

~ BRENTWOOD BARGAIN
BARN

Check our prices b efore you uy or sell anything

- Used F urniture - — T. Vv. S “Appliances. : oe
— Tools. — What have yous on aeer
Fe or. Prompt. Free Estimates | Phone 652-1711. che

" FamilyDining- " 90Seat Dining Room
, Air Conditioned ~ Banquet! Facilities

OPE N7DAYS: A WE EK. .
: Use YourE $50 OF! Chargex for oa or Meals

F or Reserv ations’.

‘1 652- 1146 _
Block: & Party Ice’ Gasoline

.Propane. © ~ ,Marine Gas |
10 Miles Down Pat tay Hwy. at Mt, Newton X Road

ih : i preraceerm nmin *

{ ‘Before The Rains Come.
Be Sure Your Drains —

1, | Are Clear

You With The Job

SIDNEY. RENTALS

_ 9773 Fifth st * _656- 554

-within a few months 1 was invited —.

We Have The Roto Rooter find hecessoies lo Help [

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x Green Cabbage
* Crisp Celery
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x Cooking Onions
+ Rutabagus

c G:
rR 7,

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Medium

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with Whipping Cream.

Assorted
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28. fl 02, bottle

| Panco, Scott or
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| Avg. 16-20 Ibs.
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Ready
j To Eat Hams

j Bone: An, Whole or Shank Paton

Sidney

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