auga democrat
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Entered at the poatoffice at Bnane, N. C, a* second class mail matter, under the act el Coagrest
? March S, 1I7B. M*
BOPNE, NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22. 1960
,Anh it rftmf to pass in those dayi, there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
*||(And this taxing waa first made when Cyrenlus was governor of Syria).
And all went to be taxed, everyone into Ms own city
And Joseph also went up from Gallilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea,
unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house
and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary, hit espoused wife, being great with child.
And, so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that
she should be delivered.
r
And she brought forth her first barn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the Inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, peeping
watch over their flocks by night.
And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone
round about them; and they were sore afraid.
* *
And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring yoy good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, Which is
Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger.*
And suddenly there was with .the A ngel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
? From the Gospel According to St. Luke.
He Aims To Bq In Charge
Offhand belief is that never has the
election of a President been held in so
much uncertainty for so long by so many
followers of the rough and tumble art
of partisan politics.
However, we would presume the
electors chosen by the peoffiCTHowei
tradition and elected Senator Kennedy
on Monday, since the Illinois reversal
of the verdict was impossible of accomp
lishment and since Southern electors,
by and large, are going to go with the
people in their respective states.
In terms of the popular vote it is a
razor thin plurality that Kennedy has
amassed. In electoral preference, he's
in good shape. As a matter of fact,
however, it isn't set up to that a person
must have any specified number of pop
ular votes, only a majority of the elec
toral votes. So Kennedy will be just as
much President, as if he had run up a
Roosevelt ian lead, and we think he takes
it that way, since we haven't known a
President-elect getting down to the busi
ness of taking over the big job so quickly
and with such thoroughness.
The appointments he has made to
th? cabinet have met with general ap
proval, the quality of the men he has
tagged cannot be brought into question
But there is evidence that the new Ex
ecutive is of a notion to be in charge
of his administration and will not trans
fer complete responsibility in important
aspects of Government as President Eis
enhower has been wont to do, partic
ularly as regards the State department.
In other words, the Kennedy appoin
tees will not, by and large, be calculated
to outshine their boss. Jack Kennedy
will take his job seriously, and if we
don't miss our guess, there will never
be any doubt about who's the main man.
Name The Best Man
To recognize the talents of a man
because he belongs to a particular race
or group, is just about the same as de
nying a man his rightful place in the
American system.
At any rate that's what the Franklin
press thinks, in referring to some of
the appointments of Senator Kennedy.
The Press adds:
Now there's talk that we must, by all
means, have at least one Jew in the
cabinet, and one labor leader, and one
Negro.
Nonsense!
It would be just as reasonable to argue
that we must have at least one Moslem,
and one representative of the latest
school of bridge playing, and one man
with blue eyes.
If the one man in the entire nation
best fitted for a particular job happens
to be a Jew or a labor leader or a
Negro, then it is his qualifications of
ability and character and experience that
dictate his appointment, not his religion
or his labor connection, or his race.
These cries from a self-labeled liberal
element for representation of groups
give the lie to the very thing they've
been shouting about all these years ?
that we should look at a man a t a man,
hot at his religion or his vocation or his
race.
If it'* wrong to deny a man office be
cause of these things, it's doubly wrong
to give him an office because of them. ?
Besides, it's stupid.
.O
lhe rar Horizon Auto
<Th? Charlotte Observer)
? a ? m ? . . ? t ill. i - I ? 9 _ _?1
ine national Academy 01 sciences in
Washington ^predicting (hoping?) that
tho electric automobile is on its way
back to popularity. A report released
East week by NAS contends that electri
cally-powered autos would ease the strain
on America's dwindling petroleum re
serves, would reduce the smoke menace,
and might even cut the cost of electricity
in the long run. These autos. they say,
eeuld be dj-iven on batteries and plugged
into electrical outlets for recharging
when not in use.
We can see it now . . . service stations
replacing gas pumps with banks of elec
trical outlets (AC Or DC, sir?") power
companies sinking millions into adver
tising campaigns ("Only the water from
M clear, clean mountain strwms used to
prodece the flnertJcttowatts en the mar
Ket ), ana siaie ana ieaerai icgiuauuu
getting into the act when dwindling gas
oline tax receipts bring forth a crisis in
road-buiiding programs. ("No electrifi
cation without taxation, Suhs!") . . .
And finally, the scene shifts to the
Happy Dwelling of the Average Suburb
anite, complete with Mom, Dad and
Junior.
Junior: "Diad, can I use the car to
night?" . . . Dad: "No. You forgot to
plug it In after yoa used it last night."
. . . Mom: "Yes, he did ? I unplugged it
early this morning so I could give the
station wagon a quick charge before the
Junior League meeting." . . . Junior:
"Chee whiz, pop, why can't we have two
outlets like everybody else on the
streetr
See the proMems yoa can get Into?
'And Was Made Man'
- - - - - - -
SOME LOCAL HISTORICAL SKETCHES
From Early Democrat Files
Sixty Years Ago
December 21, 19M
After all, New York is a temper
ance town. The Prohibition ticket
received 640 votes there. No one
dreamed that there would be so
many.
Linney Greene of Meat Camp
entered school here on Tuesday of
last week. Glad to have him back.
Owing to thi protracted cool,
windy weather the roads are get
ting almost as good as those of
summer.
As is always our custom, we will
not issue any paper next week, but,
nothing to prevent, it will be out
on time Januar>3, 1901.
Miss Mary Lillington Hardin,
who is in Grensboro at school, is
expected hom this week. She will
remain at home during the holi
V
days.
Some Tennessee drovers pasted
through town on last Saturday with
73 head of horses and mules bound
for the southern markets.
Miss Maggie LoviU left Tuesday
for Mooresville to spend the holi
days with friends and relatives at
that place. She was accompanied
as far as Lenoir by Mr. J. D.
Councill.
Friend Harrison Penley, who haa
Just returned from Skagit City,
Wash., was in to .see us last week.
He says he left a good country in
many respects, but proposes to
make old Watauga his future home.
The Queen didn't want a thing
but money and she told her Lords
and Gentlemen that in the briefest
possible message.
Just One Thing
AFTER ANOTHER
The setting for this tale 1> in a
country school not far from the
town of Lenoir in Watauga Coun
ty.
A couple of weeks before last
Christmas, teachers and other
members of the P. T. A. decided
to put on a rip-snortin' Christmas
program. Word leaked out about
plans and preparations and all the
children got tremendously inter
ested.
One of the first things the kids
wanted to know was whether San
ta Claus was going to be present.
They were informed that a letter
had been sent to Santa at the
North Pole, but nobody could be
exactly sure whether he would
show up or not.
The children hoped and prayed
that he would.
Three or four of the grown-ups
got together and decided that San
ta would have to be present by all
means, otherwise, there would be
a lot of disappointment.
Let's get Jim Walker to dress
up," . someone suggested.
They went to call on Mr. Wal
ker, a middle-aged farmer who
lived about a mile from the school.
He didn't much want to do it. but
they finally persuaded him to ac
cept.
Several other growti-upt, ont
knowing what the first group had
done, called on Mr. Tom Hadley
with the same proposition.
"We want you to act aa Santa
Claus at the Christmas celebra
tion," they informed him. "Don't
Osay anything about it, because we
want this to be a big surprise to
the children."
After much persuasion, Mr.
Hadley agreed.
The event was to be held on the
night at December St. Teachers
and parents continued to fcsep the
children in suspense as to whether
Santa woaM appear or not.
When the program started at
eight o'clock, the school auditor
ium was packed and Jammed with
children and grown-ups. TV school
orchestra rendered several selec
tions. There was an appropriate
Christmas talk by the preacher.
And then ?
In walked Mr. Walker, dressed
In a perfectly nifty Santa Claus
suit!
The children spplauded joyous
ly and Mr. Walker bowed and
waved his hand.
And now. momentarily, we turn
to Mr. Hadley.
It was clow to Christmas. Mr.
Hadley felt that the idvent of the
Yuletide season justified mm in
taking a drink. So he drank a
toast to himself. Then he dressed
up in the Santa Claus suit his wife
had made for him and decided it
would be polite and considerate to
drink a tcast to Santa Claus, which
he proceeded to do.
Just as he was leaving the house,
he happened to think of Mrs. San
ta Claus; so he drank a toast to
her, too. And then, as a final
thought, he also remembered the
reindeer.
All of which meant that by the
time he arrived at his destination
he was in a highly festive mood. .
He entered the back door of the
auditorium and walked out on the
platform. The children gasped in
amazement. They hadn't been
sure whether one Santa Claus
would show up or not, and here ?
all of a sudden were two of them.
They yelled, stamped their feet
and clapped their hands.
Mr. Hadley bowed in apprecia
tion of the reception being accord
ed him. Then he happened to look
over toward the side of the stage
and saw Mr. Walker. An interloper!
He walked somewhat unsteadily
over toward Mr. Walker and mid:
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm Santa Claus," (aid Mr.
Walker.
"Like hell you are!" said Mr.
Hadley. "I'm Santa Claus."
"I was here first."
"Yes, and you're going to get
out of here first."
Mr. Hadley looked around him,
spied a guitar within easy reach
ing distance, and crowned Mr.
Walker with it. The children went
wild.
"You . . you . . you . gulped
Mr. Walker as he slugged Mr. Had
ley In the face.
The entire auditorium was In an
uproar. The two Santa Clauses
were goinr at each other with
everything they had. Four or five
men sprang from their seats and
went up on the platform. They
succeeded In separating the com
batants and u&hered them uncere
moniously out of the building.
Then the fchool principal said
that In view of unforeseen cir
cumstances, he himself would en
act the part of Santa Claus. The
kinds didn't give a rap about the
rest of the program. They had
seen enough to last them a life
time. and they haven't quit talk
ing yet about the dandy fight that
Santa Claus and his brother put
on for them.
Thirty-Nine Years Ago
December 22, 1921
.Mr. H. B. Blackburn left for
Hickory Monday where he will re
main for a few weeks under the
treatment of his brother. Dr. T. C.
Blackburn of that city. His health
has been rather poor for some
time and it was deemed best for
him to leave business cares behind
for a while. Here's hoping that
the disease, whatever it may be,
will readily yield to the skill of
the physciian, and that ere long
Manley Blackburn, one of our most
valued citizens, may return to his
home and business entirely re
stored to his former good health.
There will be a Christmas tree
at the Baptist Church in Boone
next Saturday night, given for the
Sunday School pupils of that
church. By the way the Sunday
School there is possibly more large
ly attended than any one in the
mountains, the actual attendance
running as high as 225 in the fall.
Mrs. Dr. Little, who has spent
the summer at her home in Boone
left last Thursday for Salisbury,
where she will remain during the
winter with her son, Mr. Roscoe
Little, a large property owner re
siding near that city. The Little
home here is being occupied by
Mr. O. L. Hardin and family.
Married last Friday at the home
of the bride's parents in Johnson
City, Tenn., Mr. Ralph Winkler of
Boone to Miss Effie Vance, the
young couple coming to Boone on
the evening train, and will make
their future home here. The groom
is the junior member of the High
way Motor Co., a good business
man, and his bride it one of John
son City's attractive daughters. The
Democrat, with best wishes, ex
tends to the happy couple hearty
congratulations.
Fifteen Years Ago
December 27, IMS
Gene Wike, recently pi wed on
inactive duty by the Navy, and
formerly connected with Appalach
ian State Teachers College, will be
come public relations director for
the division of game and inland
fisheries on January 1, Commis
sioner John D. Findlay announces.
Mr. Richard A. Olsen, who until
recently was executive secretary of
the local ration board, and who has
been In the employ of the DAP
Pipe Works for some time, has
been given full management of the
local smoking pipe basfnens, Mr.
D. P. Lavietes, president of the
organization, has announced. Mr.
Lavietes, in relinquishing active
management of his local enterprise,
states he will now attend to sales,
and re-establish his residence in
New York City.
While many people frown on the
use of Xmaa for Christmas, this
abbreviation has an authentic basic
in history The X is the first letter
of the Greek word for Christ. Chris
tian scholars of the middle ages,
are said in their writings to have
abbreviated the spelling of the
Nativity celebration into X mass or
simply Xmas. In the same way Xn
was used for Christian and Xty
for Christianity. In the catacombs
of Rome. X is frequently found
to stand for Christ Early Christian
artists, when making a representa
tion of the Trinity, would place a
cross or an X beside the father
and the Holy Ghost.
America's great master of tank
warfare, General George S. Patton,
Jr., died peacefully In his sleep
today of ? bleod dot which de
veloped gingrine in his lungs and
weakened his wflrfor heart.
KING STREET
# By ROB RIVERS
Christmas . . Some Reflections
Christmas brings happiness and joy in a troubled world,
maybe enhances the miseries of those who haven't had it
good, has a tendency to re-kindle the Christian faith, and one
is apt to lean back sleepily when there's fire on the hearth and
recall Christmases of other days along the Street.
When M. B. Blackburn, M. P. Critcher, R. M. Greene
and D. Jones Cottrell did most of the merchandising, and when
of course we knew more about the Blackburn store, on ac
count of its being right near our home. . . . And we kept an
especial eye open at Christmas time when the ' lumbering
wagons and the straining teams would haul in the great pack
ing cases from the railheads, |nd there would be toys, and
books, sometimes, and a good many things we didn't see at
other seasons.
And oranges, and occasionally bananas would arrive for
the holidays and Mr. Blackburn would worry a bit lest he
would he unable to keep the fruit from freezing until it had
been disposed of. . . . And there was the striped stick candy
which would find its way into the ribbed cotton stockings hung
by the chimney, and the raisins, filled with seeds and deliver
ed by the vendor right on the stem, and some figs?and gum
drops and chewing gum.
And once in a long while there'd be a home Christmas
treefc Usually the stockings sufficed, along with some red
paper bells which might be hung around the place. But there
was always a big public tree at the courthouse, and maybe
that had to do with the trees not being used so much around
the home.
- And those frigid mornings, when the house let in a good
deal of cold, and one would snatch his Christmas stocking and
take it to bed with him, happier than a prince, and grateful
that there was a Santa Claus, in spite of what some folks said.
And the Christmas mornings of unrestrained content
ment, and the good smell from the kitchen where the turkey
was roasting, and the carrying of green logs to add fuel to
the hungry flames in the fireplace.
And the sleds and the coasting when there was snow,
and the shooting of firecrackers and of firearms during the
early morning hours, after one got big enough.
And the men of the community, some of them, gathering
in small groups at somebody's barn, and coming out wiping
at mustaches with red bandanas, and seeming uncommon
happy. . . We thought at the time it was just good fellowship,
but in later years came to believe that it was the homing
day of the cocktail party.
And the church services, and Rev. Mr. Hargett or Rev.
Mr. Brendall reading St. Luke's account of the birth of our
blessed Lord, and preaching some, and Mrs. Minnie Winkler
playing the organ and the rest, both young and old, doing their
best at singing.
And our good colored friends who'd gather wishing us a
Merry Christmas, and visit while we got the gifts.
And rabbit hunting maybe in the afternoon for the older
generation and bellyaches for the children, and a refreshing
calm in the e/enlng hours.
And we recall the qiil&ude, broken occasionally by a hoof
beat on the rocky street, atid the good neighbors, and the vis
itations, and the merry greetings.
? * * ?
And Now . . Some Things Unchanged
And while we are looking back, we might mention that
a close-up* look through the lower part of our bifocals, show
a lot of good things lasted right on through without change.
There are still the good friends. . . . There is still a
sprinkling of stinkers just like there used to be.
The general store is gone, unwanted oranges and bananas
are in most households, the public Christmas tree is a memory,
a blazing fire is a luxury reserved for the holidays, we've quit
firing the musket, but the kitchen still smells the same, and
there is still the gaiety at the Christmas feast.
And there are no barns for the men folks to gather In,
the jug's been moved inside.
And this corner looks back on a lot of happy days, and
of good friendshipping along the street. ... To those with
whom we've mixed and mingled, and who've been good to
us, we are most grateful . . and for everyone we crave hap
piness and well-being on this festive occasion.
Uncle Pinkney
HIS PALAVARIN'S
Christmas li (bout to (it here
again and the fellers at the coun
try store Saturday night was hav
ing their annual discussion about
peace on earth and good will
toward men.
First off, H was agreed that
the peace we got is pritty shaky
but it was better'n none and that
this Christmas we better be
mighty thankful fer what we got.
Of course, the fellers all admitted
that ole Khrushchev was slow but
sure worrying us to death. On the
other hand, even Bug Hookum.
that laments about everthlng, Mid
it was better to depart this earth
worrying and painless than to git
hit with a atom bomb.
Clem Webster sorter put a sour
, note to the session by claiming
that It didn't take near as long
to worry us to death as It twed to.
He allowed as how us Americans
can't take it like we could SO
years ago, that we're gifting soft
er ever year. I'd have to vote
with Clem on this Item. There
waa a time. Mister Editor, when
you cetiM say the average Ameri
can waa a pritty solid citizen.
But he's been pushed around so
much wtth the New Deal, tlM
Old Deal, the Qmmr Deal, taxa
tion, red tape, Guvern orient forms,
rules and regulations that he's
fitting a heap of gtre ht Mm,
alnt near as solid as he mod to
to.
But. anyhow, we got peace on
earth af this Christmas time and
it was agreed by all thaf every
body ought to say a prayer o{
thanks fer it on Christmas Day.
On the topic of good will, the
fellers was a little bit divided.
Zeke Gnibb, fer instant, allowed
as how good will ought to start
out with your neighbors and
spread from there. He said some
?f his rieighbori had the meanest
youfig'uns ever brung into this
world. They was so mean, al
lowed Zeke, that he was thinking
about fencing in his pigs to keep
'em from mixing with the liftle
hellions, said they set a bad ex
ample fer his pigs. But maybe
after Zeke gits his pigs fenced
in and his neighbors kida fenced
out the good will bug wilt hit him
a little harder. It was agreed
that especial at Christmas time
everybody ouvht to fergit old
grudges and start over, with good
will toward men. ,i\
In spite of the met* the world's
in, all of us ought to try and
make this a happy Christmas. I
can recollect them war years
when our 1*v?d ones was fight
ing far from home and fireside
and how we wished they was at
home fer Christmas Now that
we've got 'em here fer this
Chmtmaa, let's try to make It
one to remember fer years to
come, regardless of what comes
with them years. MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
Yours truly,
? tTNCLB PINK