Seventy-five
Years of
Debate
How much has changed in seventy-
five years? Tobacco farmers and citi
zens against the use of tobacco are
engaged in a struggle that could make
or break the tobacco industry. Cig
arette and tobacco manufacturers
have fought wars of science and wars
of rhetoric with tobacco opponents.
Countless editorials have been written
for both sides of the debate in recent
years. In the year 1920, Wilkes
County was faced with much of the
same debate, and editorials were
written with the same fervor. In the
April 1920 edition of the Yelloui
Jacket, a conservative political news
paper out of Moravian Falls, editor
James Larkin Pearson had this to say
about anti-tobacco proponents: "If
Ananias were to return from hell and
enter a fresh contest for the prize
medal of lying, he’d have to enter the
list of propagandists against the to
bacco 'evil' or he wouldn’t stand a
ghost of a show of retaining the world
championship. For if anybody has
ever pretended a greater array of star-
spangled lies than the 'Anti-Nicotine’
crusaders, they have not revealed them
selves up to the time we madly rush to
press...that tobacco is...'killing tens of
thousands...’ is balderdash and veriest
rot.” Sound familiar? The tobacco
industry today feels much the same
way, but it tries to be more tactful in
presenting its arguments. Apparently,
this is one debate that will Cake many
more years and hundreds more edi
torials to resolve.
-Christy Blevins
A Halloween Perspective
A typical All Hallows Eve in
Western North Carolina during any
given year has a light side and a dark
side. The lighter aspect is comprised
of grade school children walking from
house to house trick-or-treating or
being driven around their neighbor
hoods by their parents for the same
reason. Another custom enjoyed by
young people is visiting haunted
houses or haunted hayrides. The dark
half of Halloween usually involves
teenaged youths interested more in
tricking than they are in being treated.
It is not uncommon for several dozen
yards to appear on All Hallows morn
ing shrouded in sticky white paper
and spotted by smashed jack o’
lanterns as a result of the neighbor
hood tricksters.
If the calendar were flipped back
eighty or so years, what would have
changed? The Wilkes Journal, a
local newspaper dated 1917, reported
in its post-Halloween issue that pre
depression youths celebrated Hallo
ween by "dressing in grotesque and
uncanny costumes and parading the
streets.” The entire county of Wilkes
got into the "Halloween Spirit” and
sponsored a parade for the Wilkes
County Fair, complete with students
dressed in costumes according to their
grades. Turn-of-the-century Hallo
weens in Western North Carolina.also
had their darker elements. The "bad
seeds” of earlier Halloweens were
even more mischievous than modern
tricksters. Today, older residents of
Wilkes County relate tales of teen
aged boys getting the full trick-or-
treating experience by maliciously trick
ing anyone unfortunate enough to
give them candy, fruit, or pennies.
Tricks of the day included minor
vandalism like soaping windows and
the more destructive act of trying
wagons to barn roofs.
Halloween has remained a fiin holi
day in Wilkes and surrounding coun
ties for many years. A Great De
pression, two World Wars, and what
could be the equivalent of a thousand
years of social and technological
changes have not been enough to
disrupt the celebration of this holiday.
So, fellow goblins, stock up on candy
and tie Rover to the Buick to keep it
off the garage, because Halloween is
right around the corner.
'Christy Blevins
Do We Need A Change?
when we are young we tend to
believe we know everything. That
wisdom eased its way into our mind
through mystic powers once we be
came teenagers. Therefore, we were
smarter and more wise than our par
ents and elders. I had hoped the
majority of young people growing
intelligently when entering college
would give thoughtful and interesting
answers when asked, "What is it you
would like to change at WCC?” I was
thrilled that each student, when asked
this question, was thoroughly thought
ful before responding. Most students
would like to see the book store prices
drop to meet their income level. The
rest of the students would like to have
a fifteen minute break between classes
instead of the normal ten minute
break. This extra five minutes would
give the lungs of each student more
time to adjust from Thompson Hall to
the Technical Arts or Daniel Hall.
Now we all can say re-adjustment is
not just for teenagers.
-Christine Boult
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Alcohol vs. Books!
The typical college student
spends more money for
alcohol than for books!!!
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Why Is It
So Quiet?
As children in elementary school,
we all learned "the basics” about the
library, such as the use of the card
catalog, the definition of the Dewey
Decimal System, or the location of the
encyclopedias. Oh, and there was
always that rule — you know, that one
to "BE QUIET.” Well, those ele
mentary teachers and librarians have
definitely taught us well. Upon enter
ing the WCC Library, there is an
instant quietness. Our former tea
chers would be proud. But you may
find yourself wondering, for curi
osity’s sake, perhaps, "Why is it so
quiet?” or, more importantly, "Just
what are the students doing in the
WCC Library that requires them to
be so quiet?”
A poll of students working in the
library revealed that they spend their
time mainly studying and doing home
work. Amy Nichols commented, "I
do all my homework in here. I read my
own personal stuff too, sometimes, if I
have time.” Matthew Beker, Shaunda
Handy, and Patsy Wike all said they
utilize their time by studying. "Doing
English homework” occupied Hardin
Kennedy’s time as he sat among the
towering shelves of books. Sandra
Wolfe responded energetically: "I
look at everything! I’m interested in
everything! I look for myself and for
my kids. Students also gave an overall
"good” rating for the library.
Besides being a quiet refuge for
doing homework and studying, the
WCC Library is a helpful, educational
center. Info trac, Newsbank, and
North Carolina Law on dies are just
three examples of its many, many
resources. The Librarians are always
glad to help answer any questions you
may have. So, go on, check out the
WCC Library!
~Alisha Edwards
Tips For
Getting
In Touch
Feed the squirrels and the birds.
One of the best ways of sensing
and appreciating the life energy of
other creatues is to get in touch
with them. Feeding and caring for
your dog or cat is fine, but there’s
something about sitting quietly
and sending out a peaceful friendly
energy to the bird or squirrel so
that it approaches your hand and
the food you offer it. It forces you
to concentrate, to be in touch to
accomplish your task. When you
get up and walk away, you’ll feel
differently, and better.