POSTING #149

A CHANGE OF PACE

The last few postings have been about the War of 1812.

I am sure there are many readers who have had quite enough of stories about the War--- at least for the moment---so I thought I would tell some stories about a totally unrelated subject.

Artificial insemination.

How much more unrelated can one get!

I am not entirely sure why I feel like writing about artificial insemination (AI) but I suspect that the many recent articles in the press about fertility treatments are to blame.

Anyway, here goes….


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Freedom of Choice

In the fall of 1959 I was in BC’s Fraser Valley visiting an Artificial Insemination centre with a small group of other Immigration Foreign Service Officers.

Sitting in a conference room, the manager explained that it was a prosperous business, sending semen from high quality, pure bred bulls all over the world. He described the type of employees they had and then talked about the sort of immigrant workers they would be interested in recruiting.

We then accompanied him to a barn where the semen was collected. As we walked along a centre passageway, he explained that the donor bulls would be brought in along the same passageway. When the bull got to the end of the passageway it would sniff the air and look to the stall on the right and to the one on the left, in both of which an animal had been tethered.

Once the bull had made a decision about which animal it would like to mount, it would strut over to the stall and prepare for action. At this point a technician would slip a heated and lubricated rubber sleeve over the bull’s member. After some thrusts, a quantity of semen would be shot into the sleeve. The semen would then be diluted with distilled water, divided into samples and frozen.

That seemed clear enough and we prepared to leave the barn.

The manager stopped us by saying that there was a sidelight on the collection of semen that might be of interest to us.

He said that before bringing a bull down the passageway, their custom was to put a cow ‘in heat’ in the stall on the right, and a bull in the stall on the left.

He said that visitors were always puzzled about why a bull would choose to mount another bull.

 But some bulls just did.

In the end, as he said it didn’t matter to him whether the bull headed left or right, the centre was still going to get its semen in the rubber sleeve.

“And”, he added with a smile, “We are a democracy after all”.


000


The Turkey Trot

In the 1970s I was on a training course with a number of public servants including Albert (not his real name) who was a research biologist with Agriculture Canada, and a very serious fellow. One evening Albert and I and a couple of others went to a busy bar for a beer.

Albert said that the bar reminded him of one he had visited in Washington when he was attending an international conference of research biologists. Four or five of the biologists escaped to the bar after a day of papers and presentations.

Albert then launched into a story.

“After we got our beer and had chit-chatted a bit about the conference, I started to tell them about the work I had been doing in artificial insemination with turkeys. AI with turkeys was new at that time and the other biologists were interested in what Canada was doing.

“I told them how we ran an experiment. We brought a group of tom turkeys into a room and lined them up---as long as there are no female turkeys around tom turkeys are pretty docile. Then we would take the first turkey, massage its member and catch the semen in a test tube. Then on to the next in line.

“Things went well until we discovered that some of the toms that had been ‘done’ were going to the back of the line, ready to be done again. We finally had to paint a mark on the toms that had been done.

“It was at that point that I realized that all the conversation in the bar had stopped. Everyone was looking at me and listening.

“It was really strange”, Albert finished.

I started to laugh---thinking he was being ironic---but when I looked at Albert I realized that he really didn’t understand why a serious discussion of an experiment testing artificial insemination in turkeys would be a conversation stopper in a Washington bar.

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Before Artificial Insemination


This is a story that my father relished telling--- within the family---about a scandal in the Ontario Government sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which party was in power during this scandal but since my dad was a closet Conservative---as a member of Ontario Provincial Police he had of course to keep his political views to himself--- I am pretty sure the scandal happened during a Liberal regime or perhaps during the time the United Farmers of Ontario Party was in power (1919-1923). I don’t think dad would have joked about a Conservative scandal.

I am hoping that a reader with an historical bent will be able to tell me when the scandal happened.

Anyway, the government of the day decided that it should help improve the quality of dairy herds in Ontario. Since this was before the time of artificial insemination, it meant bringing in a bull from a fine overseas herd. The plan was to send a team of experts to Britain to find a really good young bull that could be brought to Ontario and used to sire high quality calves.

According to the story, the experts found such a bull in Scotland. It had a most impressive pedigree and was a superb looking animal. The Scots said they were reluctant to sell the bull but were finally persuaded to part with it in return for a goodly sum of money.

The team accompanied the bull back to Ontario and proudly presented it to a farmers’ organization. The farmers all agreed that it was a fine looking bull, and there was some friendly competition about which one would be the first to have a cow serviced by the new bull.

The bull was carted from farm to farm to do his duty, which he did with commendable aplomb.

And then the farmers waited.

And waited.

Weeks passed and it became clear that although he was a fine looking bull he was, as they say, shooting blanks.

And then the Official Opposition bombarded the government with taunts about having been gulled by canny Scots who had sold the Ontario Government a sterile bull.

‘Successful’ scandals are always those that the public can understand. Ontario was still very much an agricultural economy in the 1920s and 1930s and everyone could understand about a bull that had been purchased at great cost, but just couldn't produce.


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Note:

A new Letter from Virgil Posting will hopefully appear during the next couple of weeks.

Posting #10 in the companion Icewine Guru Blog was uploaded on August 6, 2012. In it the Guru expands on the reasons why Obama may win in a landslide. http://theicewineguru.blogspot.ca/

POSTING #148

CATCHING UP

The last few weeks have been crazy here but there is a lull at the moment and it gives me a chance to tell a few stories.

Declaration of War

On June 18, 1812, US President James Madison signed a declaration of war against the United Kingdom and its dependencies (e.g. Upper Canada). Many historical documents are lengthy and boring but the declaration of war is neither. I think it is useful to read it and realize just how threatened Upper and Lower Canada were in June of 1812. (Click to enlarge.)

For several years, legions of Niagara-on-the-Lake volunteers have been preparing to commemorate that event. They’ve been attending lectures on the history of the war, and on matters such as the dress and menus of the time, and, above all, they’ve been planning and organizing.

And now, all that preparation is being put to the test.

And the community is more than passing the test!

There were many activities in the days around June 18th, but I will focus on only a few of them.

The Brock Ball 

History (or legend) has it that word of the declaration of war reached Niagara-on-the-Lake several days after Madison signed it. A breathless messenger burst into a dinner being hosted by General Brock at the Officers Mess at Fort George, and announced to the General and his guests (British and Canadian officers, along with American officers from Fort Niagara) that war had been declared.

General Brock thanked the messenger and then told his guests that he was not prepared to have a declaration of war interfere with a fine dinner. Fighting could start the next day. He led his British and Canadian guests in a singing of God Save the King, while the Americans toasted President Madison.

The guests resumed their eating and drinking.

At the end of the meal, General Brock escorted the Americans to their boats for the short trip across the Niagara River to Fort Niagara. He shook hands with them and is supposed to have said that although they were parting as friends, the next time they met it would be as enemies.

Our Museum, the Niagara Historical Society Museum, decided to organize a re-enactment of that dinner on June 16, 2012 (a few days before anniversary of the signing of the declaration of war, but who is counting). There were 200 tickets sold, mostly to people from the Niagara area but there were guests from around Ontario and a few from the US, for example there were guests from Tennessee and Pennsylvania. The Ontario Lieutenant Governor and various federal, provincial and local officials also attended.

Pat and I travelled to Fort George in a horse and carriage, which we shared with a couple from Toronto, Don and Kathy.

Here is how we looked as we prepared to enter the tent for the dinner.

This picture is courtesy of Ruth Bolton.

 If you will permit me, I would like to say a word or two about our costumes. 

Pat is wearing an outfit, which she made herself working from an1812 pattern. The russet-coloured linen dress is Empire Style trimmed with satin ribbons on the sleeves and under the bodice, and has many deep pleats in the back of the skirt. It is ankle length at the front and dips to floor-length at the back. Note the bell-shaped finish at the elbow. Because this was a formal occasion, Pat also wore an ‘over-dress’ with a taffeta bodice and chiffon skirt.

In 1812, women in Upper Canada attending a formal dance or dinner would wear a small tiara in their hair or a band to which they attached a feather arrangement. Pat chose the feather arrangement. Her jewellery was typical of the period: long, dangling earrings, an amber necklace and an amethyst broach. She carried a black-beaded feticule (a small purse) and an antique fan with a russet tassel.

My dress is formal Scottish from the period. I had originally planned to wear a kilt but found that the wool scratched me something awful. Instead, I opted for what the Scots call ‘trews’, trousers made from the family tartan, which some experts believe predate the kilt. A Toronto firm imported Hunter tartan material from Britain and tailored the trews, lining the legs so the wool didn’t make me feel itchy. My top half consists of a dress shirt, with studs, black tie, a waistcoat and a Prince Charlie jacket (the 17th century Prince Charlie!).

Here is my non-formal 1812 costume, if you are interested. (I should point out that we1812 volunteers are encouraged to select a persona. My persona is that of a retired surveyor, while Rick is playing a Methodist minister, Tom a sheriff and so on.) Here is my concept of what a retired surveyor would wear when he came to town in the summer.

Notice the 'drop-front' cotton trousers. There were no 'flies' in 1812, just lots of buttons. One doesn't leave bathroom calls to the last minute. Pat found the cane in a local antique shop. I have a green wool frock coat, with tails, for cooler weather.

Getting back to the Brock Ball, two hundred of us assembled in a huge tent inside Fort George. The weather was perfect and the sides of the 100 foot long tent were rolled up.
 

Volunteers from the Niagara Horticultural Society prepared elaborate flower arrangements for each of the tables. Some old friends from Grimsby were among the volunteers. Pat kept the spirits of the volunteers up with coffee, tea and treats. In the background one can see Fort George's palisades.

And we began to eat and drink--- and eat and drink, and eat and drink, etc. etc.

Chefs from the Queen's Landing Hotel prepared this menu from 1812 recipes. Every item on the menu was brought to the tables, platter after platter. Sorry about the wine stains---I think it was the Port at the end of the meal. (Click to enlarge.)

After each course, we stood up, walked around, listened to a quartet from Music Niagara and talked.

Part way through the meal, a breathless messenger broke in and shouted to ‘our’ General Brock that war had been declared. The good General told us to continue dining. We sang God Save the King and it is possible that some of the (few) Americans present toasted President Madison but I didn’t see them.

In 1812, dinners began with three or four tablecloths placed on top of each other. There were no dinner napkins, so the guests wiped their hands and mouths on the table cloth. After each course the servers removed the top, soiled, tablecloth.

In our case, we were provided with napkins for the first two courses. Then the napkins and the top table cloth were removed. For the last courses, we did what the 1812ers did---wiped our hands and mouths on the table cloth. It was an odd experience.

Dinner began at 6 PM and we finally struggled (waddled?) off home between 11 and 12.

A wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime, experience!


Fort George

On June 18th we went with some visiting relatives to Fort George for the official commemoration of the Declaration of War. Parks Canada and the Friends of Fort George put on a fine show with a fife and drum concert, Native American drumming, hoop dancing and singing, followed by musket and cannon firing. The evening ended with the world premiere of a spectacular sound and light production about the War of 1812. The sound and light show will be shown at the Fort on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from mid-July to October.

My cousins said they enjoyed the show mightily but the one from Saskatchewan couldn’t get used to the fact that as we walked around the Fort it wasn’t necessary to watch for gopher holes.


The Tall Ships Are Coming

Since moving to Virgil, we have learned that if we have to get to an appointment in St. Catharines or Grimsby during the Welland Canal season it is better to cross the canal via the Skyway Bridge. If we aren’t in a rush it is more fun to cross the canal at one of the locks, in hopes that a bridge will be up and we will have a chance to watch as one of the ocean-going vessels or an enormous ‘laker’ threads its way carefully into a lock.

The other evening we were coming home via the Carleton Lock and struck gold.  Coming toward the lock was a tall ship with young men and women standing on the deck and hanging from the riggings.

Tall ship just entering the Carleton Lock on its way from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.

We couldn't catch the name of the ship,but the flag flying from the top of the centre mast said, “Never Surrender the Ship”. We assume the ship will be taking part in The Navy of 1812: Sailors on the Lakes event which is being held on July 14 and 15 near Fort George. There will be 5 tall ships (4 Brigantines and a schooner-1812 Squadron) and 22 longboats with 300 naval re-enactors.

Yet another 1812 event!

For a full list of upcoming events, please check out NOTL's Bicentennial website.

The Tragically Hip

The popular Kingston Ontario band, The Tragically Hip, held two concerts in Niagara-on-the-Lake--- on Friday, June 29th and Saturday, June 30th. Not being great rock fans, we decided to give the concerts a pass.

On Saturday night our curiosity got the better of us. How were the organizers (and the town!) going to cope with the 20,000-30,000 fans who were expected?

Along with hundreds of ‘eavesdroppers’ we found a spot near the VIP entrance and settled in to watch (through gaps in the fence) and listen.

It is not our taste in music but the fans obviously loved it.

Staid old Niagara-on-the-Lake will never be the same.




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Note:

I hope that the next Letter from Virgil will appear in a couple of weeks, but things are still hectic so I can’t promise that.

There is a new Posting (#9) in the companion Icewine Guru Blog, in which the Guru offers his comments on the US Supreme Court decision on the health care mandate. He is feeling a little smug since he predicted the Court would find the health care legislation constitutional. The Guru also makes some startling comments about the possible outcome of the US presidential election.