Letter from the front from Capt. T.R. Caldwell:
"...letters and cablegram were delivered while we were in the trenches and you can imagine how much they helped to keep up the smile...We have finished our first term in the trenches. We were relieved and are now in the rear, five or six miles from the front line, in which they call a rest camp. It is quite an experience being relieved - everything so quiet and in the dead of night. If the enemy knew what we were doing they would cause serious losses to our troops. But my what a relief to be able to walk around in the open and feel you can keep your head up. The first night out we spent in tents without blankets, being afraid we might have picked up some friends in the trenches. In the morning the baths are ready, and what joy.... I did not have my clothes or boots off for seven days so you can form some idea how we felt after a bath and clean underwear. The men are all issued clean underwear, and, although it may not be new, it is clean, and that counts. It has rained for two days and the mud is simply awful. One gets covered from head to foot, especially in the trenches. It is the kind of mud and clay that seems hard to drain, and, while you may be able to get rid of surface water, it does not seem to dry up. The Major and myself have a nice tent to ourselves and have managed to get some straw which keeps us off the damp ground. I have my kit bag, Hudson Bay Blanket, and the Donegal rug, and I tell you these cold damp nights you need them all. During our stay in the trenches someone got into my kit bag and took all my socks and handkerchiefs, so at present I am rather hard up. Long ere this you will have received the good news. It is some distance from where we are; so far we have not been drawn in, I can't say any more or my letter would not go through, but I can say this, that just at present the Allies are winning."
Trafalgar Day has come and gone with its appeal for assistance to the British Red Cross Society's funds. From early morning until late at night our worthy councillors in turn, assisted by representatives of the Women's Institute, sat at the receipt of gifts, taking the amounts that were gladly given until, when the day was done, $883.90 had been handed in. This was a splendid response, reflecting great credit upon our citizenship and giving just cause for gratitude for what has been done.
Mr. John Legary left for Englehart, where he has secured a situation as barber.
Mrs. Henry Shillington is confined to her home near here with an attack of typhoid fever.
Butter making will be commenced at the Lanark and Drummond factory on Nov. 1.
The new 6-ton boiler for the Clyde Woolen Mills is en route from Perth. The bridge over the Mississippi had to be strengthened to allow it to pass over.
Mr. John Johnson of Watson's Corners was taken to Kingston, suffering from appendicitis. An operation was performed in the General Hospital there and the latest reports are that he is progressing favourably towards recovery.
Mr. Clifford Watt of Winnipeg, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Watt of this place, underwent an operation for appendicitis in the Winnipeg General Hospital. He is doing as well as could be expected.
Accounts are being mailed this week to subscribers who are in arrears for two years or more, and we trust that all who receive them will respond promptly. We need the money. The amount due from each is small but when multiplied by hundreds the aggregate due us is large. Kindly examine label on your paper and if you are in arrears, please remit.
Mr. Thos. L. Closs, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Closs, Prestonvale, has heard the call of the Motherland, and gave up a good position with a railroad company to enlist with the 1st Canadian Pioneers at Prince Rupert, B.C. The battalion was mobilized in British Columbia, but is now at Winnipeg, where a few more recruits are being taken on. Only miners, lumber jacks, prospectors, railroad construction men and others accustomed to a rough outdoor life are accepted. The Pioneers expect to come east in a short time.
Dr. A.B. Roberts, a native of Lanark and a well-known practising physician of Saskatoon, received word of his appointment in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and will leave to join his new regiment at Camp Hughes. He expects to be sent abroad with little delay.
Mrs. F.A. Drysdale and daughter Hilda left for their new home in Renfrew.
Miss Annie Craig, daughter of Mrs. Andrew Craig of this village, who has been employed as stenographer in Lindsay's Store, Ottawa, is now a clerk in the Department of Naval Service.
The weather has been delightful; bright, sunshiny days and clear, frosty nights.
Tatlock News:
The good road work carried on by Mr. James Caldwell is now completed.
Some of the men around here are preparing to go deer hunting this season.
Mr. Wm. Easton of Marble Bluff is at present employed with Mr. John Guthrie.
Messrs. James Yuill and Albert McGonegal, who have been employed with Mr. James Caldwell for the past few months, have returned to their homes.
Hopetown News:
Mr. Arch Gibson, who went to Saskatchewan with the harvest excursionists, has returned home.
Mrs. Stewart Baird and daughter, Miss Edith, have returned home from an extended visit to Antler, Sask.
The hum of the threshing-mill is heard near our village, and the granaries are better filled than they have been for a number of years.
Births:
Dopson - In Drummond, on Oct. 10, to Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Dopson, a son.
Kehoe - In Drummond, on Oct. 19, to Mr. and Mrs. A. Kehoe, a son.
Marriages:
Stedman-Couch - In Drummond, on Oct. 16, by Rev. Mr. Huxtable, Evelyn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Couch, to E.R. Stedman.
Towle-Mitchell - At Perth, on Oct. 19, by Rev. W.E. Reynolds, assisted by Rev. W.M. Grant, Jennetta Mitchell, daughter of Mrs. Andrew McArthur, to William H. Towle, all of Perth.
Cox-Tullis - At Perth, on Oct. 20, in St. James' church, by Rev. D.T. Clayton, Edith Tullis, daughter of Mrs. W.F. Devlin, to John W. Cox, of Toronto.

75 Years Ago ~ 1940

The Local Government Extension Act, introduced by the Hepburn Government, would go into force in local municipalities Jan. 1 unless voters decide otherwise.
Marriage:
Publow-Noonan - At Sacred Heart church, Lanark, on Oct. 28, by Rev. J.G. Clancy, Catherine Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Noonan, Bathurst, to Wilfred Publow of Perth.
Deaths:
Pennett - In Drummond, on Oct. 22, Louis J. Pennett, aged 75 years.
McDiarmid - At Ottawa on Oct. 24, James R. McDiarmid, formerly of Carleton Place, in his 86th year.
Munro - At Clayton on Oct. 25, Martha M. Shane, relict of Thomas Munro, aged 77 years.

60 Years Ago ~ 1955

An unfortunate accident occurred to Mr. Gordon Taylor of the village. Mr. Taylor fell under the back wheel of a truck driven by Mr. Ronald Sweeney and had his leg broken about six inches above the knee.
Mr. Wellington McDougall has leased the rink for the 1955-56 skating season.
Birth:
Roberts - At the G.W.M. Hospital, Perth, on Oct. 22, to Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Roberts of Lanark Village, a daughter.
Deaths:
Bartraw - In Lanark Village, on Oct. 24, Mary Dunn, beloved wife of Joseph Bartraw, in her 84th year.
Cameron - At McCue Nursing Home, Perth, on Oct. 23, Agnes Jane Larocque, beloved wife of John G. Cameron, in her 80th year.

50 Years Ago ~ 1965

Vernon S. Ready, a former Lanark Village student and son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ready who resided in Lanark for a number of years, has been appointed dean of McArthur College of Education in Kingston.
The Central Mississippi Conservation Association was formed with Albert T. Miller as president.
Birth:
Thomson - At the Ottawa Civic Hospital, on Oct. 19, to Alan and Ruth (nee Affleck), a son, Paul Andrew.

25 Years Ago ~ 1990

A Lanark resident's solution to Lanark's water problems could be to bottle the water from the Paul Drive well for drinking. Each residence would be supplied by enough bottles to last one to two weeks. The resident's own well could be used for bathing, washing clothes, etc.
The Lanark Figure Skating Club is off to a good start with 125 skaters registered for this year.