70 Success (m the Edge

general, economic survival was still difficult, at least up to the early forties. By that time the new co—operative institutions were established, and money was coming in from those in the Armed Forces or engaged in war work in the cities. ”That which does not kill us makes us strong” seems to sum up the story of those earlier years.

The contrast between these developments and the traditional way of life, which only began to break down towards the end of this period, is striking. Most Acadians were still living much as their ancestors had throughout the nineteenth century. Externally too, very little had changed during the forty-four years of our period. The village grew bigger, but not by very much. The First World War passed the Tignish area by to a great extent, although some local men joined the armed forces, and the influenza epidemic of 1918 reached even this remote spot. World War II, however, made a distinct difference. The money sent home by the armed forces members and the men and women who had gone to work in munitions factories meant that more cash than usual was around, though there was little to buy. The presence of a Signallers’ Corps in St. Felix, just south of Tignish, had the effect of encouraging the use of English - especially by the girls of Tignish. In fact, it has been said that the decline of spoken French in that area dates from the War years.

By the 19505 and 19605, some new businesses were being set up again, including a garage, a restaurant, a co- op drugstore, and a canteen just outside the village limits. The Myrick Company died out towards the end of the period, due largely to a combination of poor management and the success of the co-ops.