The Red Chamber

(Not to be confused with the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber)

It's always sad to read an obituary.  That's why most don't go looking for them.  They generally appear on a special Obit page.  Alongside those cute little notices of new births.  That's why that special page is called "hatch & dispatch".  Occasionally, however, when newspapers seem to feel that circumstances and the dear departed merit it, a brief notice of death will appear within regular news items coverage. 

As happened following the death of a senator from Saskatchewan.  The news item mentioned that the man who died after complications from a stroke was 82 years of age.  So he had lived a relatively long and presumably productive life.  Forty years of that life was spent serving in the Red Chamber.  Simple arithmetic informs that as he would have retired at 75 years of age, he must have been 35 years old when he was appointed to the Senate of Canada.

Thirty-five years old, and ensconced among others similarly recognized by whichever political party was in power at the time, mostly for cronyism, far less for distinction in any of the respected professions adding considerably to value in public life - far more often known as having been what's often termed "bagmen" for the party in power. 

Herb Sparrow, we learn on reading further, was appointed by Prime Minister Lester Pearson away, way back in 1968.  How many people recall that far back?  Mr. Sparrow was a landowner and rancher in the area of North Battleford.  The current interim leader of the federal Liberal Party in acknowledging the former senator's contributions to the Chamber and Canada cited contributions to Canadian agriculture.

"A leading advocate of soil conservation, he became the first president of Soil Conservation Canada in 1987, after devoting much of his life's work to raising awareness of the dangers of soil degradation.  In addition to his love of the land, Herb was heavily involved in numerous projects aimed at combating poverty and hunger, and supporting people with disabilities. Herb's dedication has been widely recognized, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered."

May he rest in peace.  Sounds as though he deserves the accolades for his involvement in such motherhood issues.  But then, who speaks ill of the dearly departed...