Epilogue 105 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     enscogue 
     
    
   
   
    
     Are There {In secrets? 
     
     y 
     
    
   
   
    
     I741 spite of all the outward and inward changes 
     
     of the past two hundred years, Tignish remains a good 
     
     example of a small town's survival, co-operation, and 
     
     independence. To foretell the future is dangerous; 
     
     nevertheless, I venture to say it may still be an example 
     
     for many years. It may grow bigger and acquire more 
     
     and different industries, and it may continue to acquire 
     
     other features which differentiate a small town from a 
     
     village or a settlement, but it will probably still be 
     
     recognizable, just as present—day Tignish would be quite 
     
     recognizable to any one returning from 1899. And it might 
     
     gratify, as well as amaze, anyone returning from 1799 to 
     
     see how much has been accomplished. 
     
    
   
   
    
     What are the dangers that threaten Tignish today? 
     
     In my opinion, the biggest threat to Tignish is the lack of 
     
     knowledge of its history by local residents, especially the 
     
     children. Up to less than forty years ago, some of this 
     
     was handed down by grandparents and other older 
     
     residents, and today’s elders can still do so. But television, 
     
     rather than story-telling, has become the favourite 
     
     evening entertainment, and Island schools teach little or 
     
     nothing about local communities. Many younger men