TpDAVand
Ht MANITY . . . still same
rim more thoughtful members of
(J,0 human family have always been
cu! . us to know how, when and where
the manners, customs and habits fa-,
miliar to everybody, began. It is]
no: merely curiosity that prompts
scientific investigators to go back
to tin bogirnlng of things. Every
bit of < vider.ee that tilings which we
are jnciined to regard as modern are
ready very old helps to a better urjei
. 'aiiding of v.hat we call, for lack
oi a better na e, "human nature."
The more I dig into the history of
til.- human race the more firmly I am
convinced that human nature, in its
main ssentials, has net changed
since the beginning of time.
BEGINNINGS . . one mystery j
My indefatigable friend Joseph N. j
Kane, -spends his time in digging t
down to the beginnings of things, i
Some years ago he published a thick
book called "Famous First Facts" in j
which he told who was the first por-1
son to do or invent or discover many j
of the things that we regard as what
have always been done. Now he has j
,t new book called "More First Facts." i
I have gone through it carefully t
to see if Joe has found out the name I
of the first man who ever ate an oyster.
It was Dean Swift who said that i
that man, whoever he was, was a i
real hero. But Joe Kaue hasn't got I
his name in his book.
I.IKK .... spore hunting
There are still millions of questions
about the beginnings of things to
which science has not fount! the answer.
but every year we come nearer
to the truth. The origin of life itself
is a mystery which has not been solved.
A great Swedish scientist, Svend
Arrhenius, put forward a theory that
ifc first came to earth in the form
of spores carried through 3pace from
some distant point in the universe.
Scientists admit that may be true.
The American Professor Common's
discovery of "cosmic rays" which 1
bombarded the earth from somewhere 1
in interstellar space suggests that
such a thing is possible.
When the biggesL balloon ever made
-.vent up fourteen miles Into the stratosphere,
a few days ago, the observers
carried not only instruments for 1
detecting and measuring tile cosmic j'
rays, but apparatus designed to col-1
iect spores, if there were any, in this;'
realm beyond the earth's almosphere. |1
DEITIES many | >
From the earliest days, people of 11
an races have been puzzled over the;'
beginning of things, and in the ab-ji
sence of facts they have developed I
folk myths to account for matters'
which they did not understand.
Out of these attempts to explain j1
origins came many of the ancient re-!1
iirrinnc T<V.? -"fi C ft: -' *1 ' 1
..Qiviisi. aiiv inuot i vi: 1111liti ui uitrar !
is the Greek mythology, which has i
been preserved because the world '
ha3 access to more written records I
of ancient Greece than to those of
any other race. The Greeks imagin- i
ed an elaborate system of god3 and I
demigods to whom they attributed I
not only the origins of every-day phe-1
nnuena but all of the good and ill |
that happened to human beings. In
this they were like all other primitive
peoples, in ascribing human attributes
to their deities.
I think a good deal of that idea of
God as nothing but a superior and
ail-powerful man persists in the sub- j
conscious minds of a great many peo- j
pie still.
SPIRIT unchanging
-My mother, who was brought up a
devout Presbyterian, taught me the
"shorter catechism" when I was a
child. I still think that classic document
contains the mo3t perfect definition
of God: "God is a spirit, infinite,
eternal and unchangeable, in
His being, wisdom, power, holiness,
justice, goodness and truth." I think
if anyone clings to that conception
of God, as a spirit moving in the
hearts of men and guiding their lives,
he is not going to concern himself
much as to precisely how the God of
t V. .v OiLi. j: J as in: u: ?t. of
vmr Diutf. (ua Uie Ulir.g3 WHICH attributed
to Him.
"In the beginning, God created the i
heavens and the earth." Modern sci-1
enee tends more and more to the be- i
lief, for which it is constantly seek-1
ing proof, that every so-called physi-1
cal fact is merely a manifestation or i
evidence of an all-pervading spirit.,
Call it God, or wh?f *""* will, all life'
and substance, so the most advanced 1
physicists are coming to believe, is'
one with all the other shapes and
forms and forces which rule creation {
and dominate our lives.
WRESTLING MATCH
The first wrestling match of the
season at Appalachian College takes
place Saturday evening at 8 o'clock,
when the Mountaineer grapplers meet
a strong team from Winston-Salem
Y. M. C. A. Considerable interest attaches
itself to the initial meet and
Coach Watkins promises plenty of
excitement for mat enthusiasts.
PIANO RECITAL
Piano pupils of Miss Blanche Blair
and Mrs. Howard Gragg will give a
recital Tuesday evening, December
17th at 8 o'clock in the auditorium of
the Demonstration School building'.
R
Wai
An
VOLUME XI.VU, NUMBER 24
MOTOR CIRCUS TO
TAnn IV nimrmriron I
nun ii> mtitr.M
ELECTRIC SURVEY
Steps Taken to Follow Up On
Surveys For Rural Electrification
Plans.
GOVERNOR CITES RELIEF
BALANCE SHEET OF STATE
Stale Said to Be Al)le to Participle j
In Social Security Act; Comprehensive
Review of the News
or Tin State.
I
By M. R. DUNN.VGAN,
(Special Democrat Correspondent) j
Raleigh, Dec. 9.?An "electrical'
circus." made of trucks carrying all
kinds of electrical equipment suitable
for rural home and farm, is to
visit even the remote areas of North
Carolina to demonstrate to farmers I
that electricity is the cheapest and
most efficient servant, if plans of |
Josh L/. Home Jr., Rocky Mount, \
member of the N. C. Rural Electrification
Authority, mature. Mr. Home, I
according to Dudley Bagley, head of j
the Authority, is as "full of ideas as j
a dog of fleas," promoted the plan j
toi uuiuuig county meetings explaining
the rural electrification plan
ami purpose. Arrangements are being
made for easy financing in purchase
of electrical equipment, through Federal
aid, by which appliances maybe
bought on 30 months payment
plan at an interest rate of three per
cent. Some of the power companies
may finance such purchases at even
a lower rate, in order to get the. business.
Scores of electrical appliances
will be used in the "electrical circus"
Mr. Home states.
MORE JOBS
The State WPA office had provided
1073 work projects to employ 48,1155
unemployed persons, up to thcend
of last week, Director George
W. Coan Jr., announces.
ALLEN IS SWORN IN
E. F. Allen, Lenoir, appointed recently
by Governor Ehringhaus as a
member of the State Highway and
Public Works Commission, succeeds
ng Luther Hodges, of Spray, resigned,
was sworn in Friday before Associate
Justice Heriot Clarkson. The
commission awarded contracts for
ibout. $800,000 worth of highway
work, heard several delegations and
ittended to other business.
GOVERNOR TELLS OF RELIEF
Governor Ehringhaus recently went
tilo details on North Carolina's reief
receipts and contributions to the
Federal Government in a letter to a
newspaper man in New York, after
Senator Dickinson, of Iowa, had said
ne vvuuiu _ ciiuuk up on reiiu cumuig
to this state. Governor Ehringhaus
had angered him by holding him up
to ridicule in a N. Y. State Chamber
of Commerce meeting for jumping on
the Roosevelt Administration. A New
(Continued on Page Seven)
Other Agricultural
Films To Be Shown
A second series of U. S. Department
of Agriculture films are to be
shown for the vocational agriculture
and home economics students and
4-H clubs of the county at the Pastime
Theatre Friday morning, De-1
cember 33 at 11:30.
Included in this series are. ''Carry!
On," "The Cougar Hunt," and "The
Cow Business." About 250 people saw
the first series and thought they
were very educational. Several farmers
and farm women attended. They
will also be welcome to this and other
shows and they should find them
well worth their time.
Again the showing of these films
is made possible by the courtesy of
Mr. A. E. Hamby.
Future Farmers Hold
Father-Son Banquet
The Daniel Boone Chapter of the
Future Farmers of America held their
second annual Father-Son banquet
Friday night, December 6. Some
~v.fr fathprQ sons and cuosts
OCVCli cjr -Xi ? v- AV>?<" _ 0 ..
ve't present for th occasion.
Officers of the Chapter opened
the program with the "Opening Ceremony."
following this Rev. J. C. Canipe
pronounced the invocation. Several
members of -he Chapter with
i their string instruments entertained
I the guests with a few numbers. Karl
Tugman, president of the Chapter,
welcomed the fathers and guests; to
this Mr. D. L. Wellborn responded.
Edwin Norris recited the F. F. A.
Creed, after which Shaler Greene
told of the work of the Chapter. R.
G. Shipley outlined the work of the
department after he introduced the
following speakers; Mr W. H. Walker,
County Superintendent; Mr. W.
B. Collin3, County Agent. Mr. G. P.
Hagaman and Mr. Roy Dotson, Principal.
The banquet was graciously prepared
and served by Home Economics
Department of the High School.
m
AUG,
Independent Weekly Newt
BOONE. WATAUGA CPU?
All is in readiness in this commur
town hav
REV. MKAUGHAN
CRITICALLY HURT
Baptist Divine May Not Recover
From Injuries Received
In Car Crash.
Rev. J. A. McKaughan. Baptist
divine, who until recent months had
made his home in Watauga county,
is a patient at the Baptist Hospital,
Winston-Salem, as a result of injuries
received in an automobile accident
last week, and serious doubts |
are entertained as to his chances tor
recovery.
The accident occurred as Mr. McKaughan
and a brother-in-law, 9
Tom Cash, were en route from Winston-Salem
to Mount Airy. Cash
became blinded by the lights of an
approaching voh'Me, his car left the
road, crashed into a bridge abutment
and turned over, and the perhaps
fatal injuries sustained. A broken
peivis bone, and likely internal :
injuries were suffered by the minister.
Mr. McKaughar. was formerly a
pastor of the Cove Creek Baptist
: Church and is generally known
J throughout this section, where much
; anxiety exists on account of his In
juries. He has recently been engaged I
as field secretary for the United Dry j
Forces of the state and had visted in |
Boone only a few days ago.
RECORDER'S COURT
Only two cases were disposed of
in Recorder's court Tuesday.
G. G. Wilcox and Robt. Winkler
were each arraigned on charges of
violating the state prohibition laws,
and were fined $5 and the court
costs.
REUEFCOMKTO
CLOSE LAST WEEK
Dirsct Dole System of Government
Ends After About
Three Years.
Direct relief as administered by
the Emergency Relief Administration
ramo tn ft nlftse last Thursday, but
Miss Theodosia Watson, who has efficiently
administered the program in
this county for almost two years, is
keeping the office open for an indefinite
period to clear up details incident
to the disposal of the organization.
Offically Watauga county had 401
cases on the active list when orders
came to issue no more funds for
food. It is explained however, that
actually from 50 to 100 will be left
when those gaining work under the
WPA are duly certifed and offically
checked off. The cases are carried in
the active fie until they receive two
weeks pay under the WPA.
Something like 350 are now at|
work under the new works program, j
practically the maximum of employ-j
ables existing on the relief rolls.
mmrn
\ DE
ipaper?Established in the
JTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THUR:
lity for the coming of Saint Nich<
e officially inaugurated the shop]
Mayor Exten
T Christma
Mayor W. H. Gragg, a foremost i
exponent of the 4<trade-ut-home" I
philosophy, has issued the follow- |
lug statement' as shopkeepers of !
tho city inaugurate their Christ- <
mas selling campaign:
"As Mayor of the town of Boone, j
I wish to extend upon behalf of the i
city administration and the citizens
of the town generally, a cordial invitation
to the residents of the surrounding
country to visit us often
during the Christmas shopping season
and to patronize our local
places of business.
"Never in my knowledge have J
the merchants of this city prepared
themselves so extravagantly for
the Christmas trade, and no town
in North Carolina of a similar size
can boast of such modern purchasing
facilities. These firms and individuals
are contributing to this j
community and to their county in |
EMPTY STOCKING
DRIVE IS BEGUN
Fire Department And Others
Anxious That Christmas
Cheer Be Given Poor.
The local newspaper, the city administration,
and various individuals
of the town are co-operating wholeheartedly
with the Fire Department in
its effort to raise an adequate sum
of money to provide trinkets, can-!
dies, etc., for the destitute kiddies in
this community, who otherwise would
face a drab and cheerless Christmas '
morn.
Every business interest of the
town, and the people generally are
asked to contribute as liberallv to1
this fund as possible, and every effort
will be made to see that distribution
is made only to the needy
children. Donations may be left at
the city hall, the newspaper office,
or with Pat McGuire, chief of the
fire department.
Discarded toys of every description
are also wanted by the Fire Department
to repair for other children,
and should be brought to the
city hall promptly.
Notwithstanding government expenditures
for direct relief, which is
being abndoned, and even with the
public works, those familiar with the
situation know that many children in
Boone and immediate environs will
not have any joy at Christmas time
except as it is given by the public.
Let us contribute liberally so that
there may be a minimum of childhood
misery brought on by the sight
of a pair of tattered stockings, hung
by the fireside, as ar. invitation to
j the Saint Nicholas who failed to
1 come.
MOC1
: Year Eighteen Eighty-Ei;
5DAY, DECEMBERgSl 1935
ughthehoD.se \ s
*e tDfts stitmg, ^
c
Dlas, and the merchants of the \
ping season. t
i
ds Welcome
i
s Shoppers I
every way passible and helping to
build up a more prosperous region.
We owe It to them as well as our- !
selves to spend our money at home, '
where It Will continue to stimulate
business nnc! industry. 1
"Let us desist from outside shopping
during this Christmas season;
give the home toivn merchant the
first chance at your business. He
wants to please you, and has a personal
interest in your satisfaction.
"We want ail the people of the
county to visit their couuty-seat
during the holiday season. Boone
people want you to know it is
YOUR town, and will do their best
to rnako your visit pleasant and
profitable. Every official anil individual
will be literally at your service,
and will show you every kind of
courtesy. Let's meet and mingle together
and enjoy the old-time
Christmas spirit.''
FINLEY OWNER OF
LOCALHOSTELRY
Daniel Boone Hotel Sold Wednesday
Noon to North
Wilkesboro Man.
Mr. R. G. Finley, North Wilkesboro
manufacturer, became the owner of
the Daniel Boone Hotel Wednesday
noon, when the property was offered
for sale by Security National Bank
of Greensboro. Trustee. Mr. Finley
bid $36,750 for the 50-room hotel and
realty at the foreclosure sale.
The hotel which was constructed by
a company of local citzens as a tour]
ist hostelry, is a modern brick structure.
and information is that Mr.
KSTIIAV rvnppts fn **vrv*mrl CDVAral
thousand dollars in improvements on
the property, and make of it a model
hotel.
Reports indicate that Mr. J. B.
McCoy will retain the lease on the
property and that the management
will be unchanged.
Mrs. Edminsten Dies
Mrs. N. L. Edminsten, 68 years old,
and former resident of this county,
died at her home in Lenoir Monday
of last week.
Funeral services were held at the
home in Lenoir Wednesday afternoon,
and interment was in that community.
Among the survivors is a brother,
Mr. W. L. Holshonser, of Blowing
Rock.
Mrs. Edminsten lived for many
years in the Blowing Rock section
where she was held in high regard.
Her husband died during the month
of March, 1935.
ght
$1.50 PER YEAR
MERCHANTS PLAN
HEARTY WELCOME
FOR SANTA CLAUS
*
tores in Holiday Attire as Holi
day Shopping Season Is
Ushered In.
i RECORD CHRISTMAS
TRADE IS PREDICTED
'igorous Selling- Campaign Aimed
At Further Establishment of
Boone As Trading Center
For Wide Area.
In preparation for what they beeve
will be the most active holiday
rade for the past several years,
;oo:ie merchants have made their
iiops resplendent with yuletide deorations,
as a background of the
lost elaborate displays of gift items
ver assembled in this city, and the
Christmas shopping period is off to
healthy start.
Never before in the history of the
ity has there been such fairyland
>f Christmas merchandise thrown
pen to the public. From baby ratlers
to eight cylinder automobiles,
rom lollypops to diamond rings and
adios, throughout the catalog of hunan
wants or requirements?what:ver
your desires, the Boone mcrihar.ts
have made the solution of
'our gift problems so utterly simple
liat the visit of Kris Kringie can
>e looked forward to with an elenent
of pleasure by even the grownips.
The opening of the shopping scaon
has been preceded this year by
he most progressive publicitj' proTarn
thus far attempted in this city,
.nd a desperate effort is being1 made
o widen the trade radius of Watauga's
metropolis. The local newspaper
oday is a rather complete directory
?f information for the Christmas
ihopper, and is enjoying a greatly in:reased
circulation throughout neigh)oring
counties in hji effort to atract
some of the trade, which has,
or want of adequate local facilities,
dipped through into Tennessee or
>lher sections.
No effort has been spared in makng
these elaborate preparations for
:hc holidays, and officials are joining
,n extending a cordial welcome to
visitors lo the town during the slioping
period. Holiday war.ta can be
filled more satisfactorily and more
economically; in Boone than in the
larger cities, and her establishments
are just as thoroughly modern as
those found anywhere. The wisdom
3f home buying is taking hold more
and more with the home people, and
there Is every l-eason to believe that
the local retail receipts will even
exceed the expectations of the business
men.
DURHAM MAN BIDS LOW
ON PARWAY PROJECT
Roanoke. Va., Dec. 5.? Nello L.
Teer and Nello Li. Teer, Inc., Durham,
N. C., contractors, today posted a
low bid of $290,055 for construction
of 13 1-4 miles of the ShenandoahGrcat
Smoky mountains parkway in
llircc North Carolina counties, Ashe,
Alleghany and Wilkes.
Specifications call for the construction
of a 20-foot roadway.
Second low bidder was E. W. Graniriis,
Fayetleville, N. C , $310,905;
third, C. A. Ragland Sr., Louisburg,
N. C., $311,870.
15ASKKTB.M.I. AIERTfNG
A meeting for the interpretation of
basketball rules will be held at the
College auditorium Saturday from
1:30 to 5:00 o'clock under the auspices
of the Appalachian High School
Association. The meeting is open to
high school students and others interested
in Ashe, Avery and Watauga
counties.
FARM DEBT BODY
IS REORGANIZED
Will Assist Farmers Who Are lit
Financial Distress. No
Cost Attached.
The farm debt adjustment committee
was reorganized last week following
a visit to the county of T. A.
Holcombe, District Specialist for the
Farm Debt Adjustment, and the new
local body is as follows: J. B. Hor
luii, uKuiiwaii, vv. n. vv ainci, acvictary,
R. T. Greer, T. C. Baird and
Wade E. Brown.
The committee, it is recalled, was
organized primarily for the purpose
of assisting worthy farmers who were
in financial distress, and who, in
many cases, were in danger of losing
their properties through foreclosure
proceedings. Any farmer in such distress,
it is pointed out, may apply
to any member of the committee, or
to the county farm agent, or to the
Resettlement office, and such aid as
can be tendered toward an equitable
.'debt adjustment will be absolutely
without cost.