Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / July 20, 1961, edition 1 / Page 2
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TfrmVAV BY RIVERS PRJ*riNC ?OKPANY, Wc. y~j| An Independent Weekly Nmptpr H^jEatabliehed la UN. Published for 40 year* by the lata Robert C. Riven, Sr. i2 KJ*S$k SUBSCRIPTION KATES In WMMP Coaaty 6* TNT, sc.**; *1 month*. SMS; h?r moatha, $1 M OtrtaMe Wrtn.fi County; One year, $9.00; ?ix month*. $1.78; four moothi, $1.15. 1% talse tax to be added on all North Carolina mUcriptiow ? NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS ? In requratiag chance ef addrau, It It tai portent to meatlon the OLD, aa wall aa the NEW aMreaa. En tared at the poatofftce at Boooe, N. C? aa aeeoad claaa mail natter, under the act of Congrew Dot March I, 1879 BOONE, NORJTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JULY 20, 1961 Accommodations Problem With the tourist season hitting its peak to the Boone, Blowing Rock, Linville area, almost every day we find visitors searching for rooms and apartments, and houses to be rented during the hot humid weeks ahead. The Chamber of Commerce has tried - manfully, and with some success, to get those who have rental properties to let it have the information, and another ap peal is being made to this end. The Chamber is trying to render an im portant service by keeping a listing of facilities, without cost, and should have the full cooperation of those who have accommodations. A considerable building boom is going on ia the area, and mora accommoda tions will be available next year, or even before, but right now the people are searching for comfortable apartments aid small cottages, furnished, for in mediate occupancy, and unless these accommodations are listed at the Cham ber, visitors could possibly apend a short vacation going from place to place try ing to find a place to live. It is quite likely that many rural householders have suitable accommoda tions for visitors, and quite often we find places of this sort being sought. In the town perhaps there are still some spots which are not filled. In any event, if you have living quart ers which are unoccupied, and which could handHy be uaed, you should call the Chamber of Commerce so that in quiries may be directed to you. A few more weeks and the peak of the season will have passed. It's not only good business, but a good thing for the town and country roundabout for you to report unused living space. I ja& New Road Commissioner Avery, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell and Watauga are the counties assigned to Highway Commissioner Jack Kirkaey of Morganton, one of the new canunisaionert recently appointed by the Governor. It is the intent and purpose of the law that the Chairman and members of the Highway Commission shall "repre sent the entire State and shall not repre sent any particular area, provided, how ever, that the Governor and the Chair* man shall, without regard to boundaries or engineering divisions, divide the State into Geographic areas and assign one or more commissioners to each area to be responsible for relations with the public generally and with individual citizens regarding highway matters/^ This is in line with the effort aPfhe Administration to return the operation of the Highway Commission closer to the people, after an era of a reduced number of commissioners, and of at least arm's length contact with those in high position on the matter of roads. This is good. And we would hasten to add our ap proval to the appointment of Jack Kirk sey to be responsible for our area, and we helieve he will fill the position with a high degree (St competence. Mr. Kirk sey, prominent Morganton business man, has long been concerned with the af fairs of government, and has contribut ed to the betterment of the political pro cesses for a great many years. Certainly we would think that Mr. Kirksey is eminently qualified for his new position by virtue of his knowledge of the area for which he is responsible and the road needs of the section, and we have no doubt but that he will de vote his considerable abilities and talents .to the betterment of the highway system. Of course there are limitations as to what can be done, but we'd bet on Jack Kirksey's doing his dead level best as a member of the expanded Highway Commission. That should be good enough. / Days Of The Do g Star The hot, clammy time which cornea in aummer and fetchea mold and mil dew, and hidea the aun a good part of the time, has alwaya been known aa dog days, and householders used to keep track of the humid period by Blum's Almanac and wait fretfully for the end of the disagreeable aeason. We'd always noticed, however, that during one of those nearly bone dry summers, when the corn wilted and spindlud and the garden sass had to be watered, no one said how come the dog days didn't bring the atickiness and the beat which are supposed to come at this time of year. Anyway the forty daya of humidity and clammy weather have taken over from June, which didn't win its usual acclaim in these parta for perfect, balmy day*. You might have guessed it was the Greeks who gave us the name for this summer misery. World Book Encyclo pedis says the ancients derived the name from the dog star, Sirius, which rises with the sun during this period. Of course, the uncomfortable com muter might disagree and insist that the days were so named because dogs are most likply to get rabies at this time, as some superstitious people once believed. ? Sirius, the brightest star in the heav ens, radiates about 27 to 30 times as much light as the sun. That's not why the weather is so hot, but it is a reason why we pay any attention at all to the star. Another reason is that Sirius, which la the head of the constellation Canis Major, or Great Dog, doesn't travel alone. It has a companion star made up of material that is about 50,000 times as dense as water. One cubic inch of material from this star, would weigh about one ton on the earth. What Is A Fireman? (Lincoln Times) Thik vnlimfoAP flvamrn. A# T lit. KT 1U. ?? county department! ? at Lowesville, Denver, Boger City, North Brook, as well as members of the Llncolnton Fire Department may feel, after reading the foregoing, like saying "Amen" to the Florence, S. C. Fire Department. It aeems the South Carolina firemen eventually got fed up with accumulated gripes and complaints. Consequently, the following was in eluded is its annual report to the Flor ence City Council: When fire trucks are delayed 40^ec onds in traffic, people say, "It took them 30 minutes to get here." When a truck races at 40 miles per hour, it's "Look at those reckless fools." When four men struggle with an eight man ladder, it's "They don't even know how to raise a ladder." When firemen break windows for vent ilation t* reduce heat in fighting a fire, us juuuk ai me new, When firemen rip through * door to get at a blaze, it's "There goes the ax squad." If they lose a building: "It's a lousy department" If they make a good stop and do a good job: "The fire didn't amount to much." If lots of water is necessary: "Thpy are doing more damage with the water than the flames." If a fireman gets hurt: "He was a careless guy." If a citizen gets hurt: "It's a careless department." If a fireman inspects a citizen's prop erty: "He's meddling in somebody else's business." If he gets killed and leaves a family destitute: "That's the chance he took when he joined the fire department." Sample Of Coexistence Diplomacy . . ? ? . ? ? a ? i ? ? SOME LOCAL HISTORICAL SKETCHES From Early Democrat Files Sixty Years Ago 'Jaljr IS, MM. Mercury stod at 92 in the shade on Tuesday. Mr. W. R. Spainhour, wife and two daughters, of Montezuma, are over this week. Many of the familiar faces of Watauga Academy students are to be seen on the streets this week. On Monday evening Henkel Bros., liverymen at Blowing Rock, had three good horses killed by lightning near Green Park Hotel. Four horses were hitched to a sur ry on the road to Lenoir. Three were instantly killed, the fourth one badly stunned, and the driver knocked from the surry, but not seriuosly hurt. The horses cost Henkel Bros. $340.00. We are told that a field of fine com owned by Benjamin Culler, of Howard's Creek, was almost en tirely destroyed by a large drove of sheep that was deliberately turned out by their owner, in open violation of the stock law. For such violators there is a remedy. Hay-making Is now in full blast in Watauga, and as the weather is very favorable, good headway is being made. A finer crop of grass was never harvested in the county than will be this year. W. E. Shipley, of Valle Crucis, and 3. D. Brown, of Blowing Rock, left on Tuesday for Grayson Co., Va., where they go to buy some thoroughbred Hereford cattle for Moses H. Cone, of Blowing Rock. Rev. Dr. Thomas Hume of the State University, has gone to his summer home, in Waynesboro, Va. One eighth per cent of the peo ple in North Carolina live in cities. The country people have long memories. Therefore, the "com mercial McKinley Democrats" will find a froet in North Carolina. ? News & Observer. Great Bend, Kansas, dispatch of the 8th, says that 1500 , acres of wheat was destroyed by fire here this afternoon. The fire originat ed from a lighted cigar thrown down in the stubble by an un known man. It i? estimated that at least 300,000 bushels of wheat was destroyed by the flames. Thirty-Nine Years Ago July 20, IMS. Dr. and Mrs. R. H. Hardin, of Shulls Mills, passed through the village Monday en route to a Char lotte Hospital with their little son, who had the misfortune to break an arm and stick a nail through one of his feet. Miss Ella Hardin, who graduat ed at the A. T. S. in the class of 1019, arrived in Boone Tuesday from Kirksville, Mo., where she has just completed her second year in the American College of Osteopathy. Sbe win spend her \acation here, and return for the fall opening. She has two more yeara before her to complete her course, after which she Intends to locate In Wilmington, N. C. Her home Is near Riitherwood She Is one of the brightest young women that ever left Watauga, and the Democrat wishes for her abundant success in her chosen profession. Mr. James Councill, our local and efficient civil engineer, has been employed by the Road Com mission it Henderson county, and entered upon his duties several days ago. The services of young Councill are always in demand, as he ? becoming quite an expert in hia line. Training school items: Hiss Ruth Rankin is teaching piano this session. Mr. Downum, school registrar, has returned to hia home at Le noir after registering the students of the second term. Young Archie Quails, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Quails, was taken by his parents to John Hopkins Hpspital in Baltimore, for treatment. The boy has been suf fering most excruciatingly for some weeks with some trouble in his hip Joint, which, it seems, baf- ' fled the skill of our best physi cians. They left Tuesday morning and the anxious parents have not yet returned. Fifteen Years Ago July IS, 1946. Major Catherine E. Falvey, WAC, has announced that she will run for the Democratic nomina tion for representative from the 11th Massachusetts district, posi tion now held by Mayor James M. Curley. She will be opposed by John F. Kennedy, son of former Ambassador Joseph Kennedy. Mrs. Jack Hodges returned Tues day from Louisiana where she had been called due to illness of her father, Sheriff O. H. Haynes, who was wounded in a gun battle with a fugitive. Mr. Haynes is recuper ating nicely, she reports, and will loon be back on the job as sheriff of Webster parish. Mr. Charles Wilcox, suffered a broken leg while in bathing last week near Wilmington, where he and his family were on a vacation trip. Reports are that Mr. Wilcox was struck by another swimmer as he dived into the water. He hat returned to his home here, and is carrying on his business for the time being from his residence. Mr. Leander Norris left Thurs day on his return to Bentonville, Ark., after spending 30 days With relatives in the county. Mr. Norris left Watauga county in 1883. Be fore leaving' he dropped by the Democrat office to say goodbye ItM renew his subscription. He 'Mas received every edition of the Democrat since its establishment 58 years ago this month. Mr. and Mrs. John F. Greene announce the birth of a sort on July 14, at Watauga Hospital, who has been named John Floyd Greene, Jr. Mrs. Annie Cooper, chief clerk of the house of representatives in the last session of the legislature, and Mr. Cooper of Raleigh, visited in the home of Representative and Mrs. S. C. Eggert recently. Just One Thing By CARL QOERCH AFTER ANOTHER Legal lormula varies 111 differ ent states, but up in New York, the custom Is that in a capital felony, before the jury is empanel ed and before the evidence if heard, the prospective juror takes an oath to make true deliverance. George Gordon Battle; was pro secuting a case of this kind, the defendant being a rather hard looking customer. The first juror called to the box was a dour-look ing Scotchman with a long upper lip. The clerk put the prospective juror on hii oath: "Juror, look up on the priaoner; prisoner, look up on the juror. Do you solemnly swear that you will hear the evi dence and give true true delivery as between the prisoner at the bar and the people of New York?" The Scotchman took a long look at the prisoner, and it was evident that he wasn't impressed very favorably. Turning to the Judge, he solemnly announced: "Your Honor, I vote ?Guilty' I" ? When your suit gets mixed up with somebody else's at the clean ers, it usually isn't very difficult to get the matter straightened out. W. R. Grant, town clerk of Troy, N. C., didn't find It quite so easy to do this, however. The day before Easter, his suit came back from the cleaners, and instead of being ? 44 stoat ? which is his regulai1 siae ? it tamed oat to be a perfect M. Naturally Mr. Grant was opaet" He rushed to the cleaners and de manded his suit. The cleaner made an Investiga tion and then announced very apologetically that K was Impos sible to retnrn Mr. Grant's suit. , "Why?" inquired Mr. Grant. "Because tfe sent 1t 19 another man," he was informed. "Tint why can't you send for It and let me have it?" "Because they buried him in it early this afternoon," the cleaner informed him. While watching a fire in Carth age last week, I met Mr. and Mr*. Carrie ? who live down In that sec tion ? and also their little daugh ter, Anne. Mrs. Currie told me that a few nights ago. she was putting Anne to bed and told her to go in to the bathroom and brush her teetch. "I'll brush them," Anne an nounced, "but I'm not going to use any Carl Goerch toothpaste." It took Mrs. Currie a few min utes to figure out that her daugh ter was referring to Colgate'* toothpaste. Robin Hood ia ? resident of Washington, N. C. I've know him for fifteen years or more by that name. It was only a few days ago, however, that I found out hia real name. It la Bold Robin Hood. Lacock's Shoe Shop in Chapel Hill ran the following advertise ment in The Daily Tar Heel some time ago: "Omnifarious pedal integuments rehabilitated and sagaciously re stituted regardless of their noughtnesa of antiquity. Also, ped al integuments become effulgent In the splendor of prismatic i iri descence after having been sub jected to Illumination at oar burn ishing salon* In other words: "We fix old shoea and shine 'em up." On the road between Charlotte and Monroe, you come to a service station known as "Outlaw's Place." Further down the road hi another station known ? "Crake's Place." KING STREET jL W ? By ROB RIVERS For A Visitor . , Sentimental Journey His recent visit to Boone was a lenttmental Journey for A1 Reach, publisher of the Chatham News, for two reasons ? first, he realized a childhood ambition to ride in the cab of a slim locomotive (courtesy of Tweetsie), and again because it gave him opportunity to re-live some happy days spent in Boone a loag time ago We like what A1 wrote in his personal column when he returned to his desk in Siler City, not altogether because of the personal references, but because of the refreshment which comes when a guy looks behind the glitter, and the lust and the greed of modern living, and sees the basic worth of humankind and the eternal verities. ... We re print a part of his column: A trip to Boone is always a sentimental journey for me. There's quite a story and this is part of it. I had been banged up in a wreck. Physically, mentally and spiritually I was at the lowest ebb of my life. A friend suggested I go to Boone to recuperate. Chances are that the taking of his suggestion has had more to do with my career than anything else. Ever since I can remember I aspired to do the work I am now doing. I wanted to edit a small town weekly. Don't ask me why. I doubt my ability to give credible reasons. I went to Boone to recuperate and there came under the influence of one of the finest of God's creatures, the late R. C. Rivers, longtime editor of the Watauga Democrat, then and now one of North Carolina's best weekly newspapers. Mr. Rivers quit carpentering at Linville to become editor and publisher of the little paper in 1889, just one year after it was founded. It wasn't long after my arrival in Boone that Mr. Bob and I became fast friends. And it wasn't long before I told him nf m\r omhiimn V* U1J "! don't know why you've got it Into your head to be a small town editor," he said. "You'll never make any money at it and you'll probably get more cussin' than you'd get in any other business." All the while he was talking there was a twinkle of merriment in his eyes for he knew he wouldn't swap careers with the richest man in the world. When I was in Boone two weeks ago the Watauga Dem ocrat was observing its 73rd anniversary. Today the editor is R. C. Rivers, Jr., and few men have filled their father's footsteps as well as has Rob Rivers. I noticed that Rob has preserved, against the progress, a maple tree .that stood in front of the old printing plant. It seemed to me to be an example of the many close ties the son had with his father for the tree was a favorite of the elder Rivers and I can remember some happy hours of sitting beneath its encompassing branches as I listened to Mr. Bob expound his homey philosophy. Maybe there are richer monetary rewards in other fields, as Mr. Bob pointed out, but I doubt if there are any which can compare with the knowledge that one's newspaper is a mirror of the community in which it is published. Nor is there any comparison of the closeness of the smalltown editor to the people he serves and the ivory towers in which sit the editors of larger newspapers, remote from the people, and usually inaccessible for the warm relationships which accumulate down through the years. What bothers me is the lack of time to savor to the fullest these sentimental journeys. There are others of them usually made as part of a jet-propelled dash from one place to another. I want to go back to Boone again one day soon. I'm not so much concerned that the area is now booming with tourist attractions. That's all well and good. What I want is more time to reminisce ? to think back on days when a much younger man was pouring out his life's ambitions to a man full of his years and possessed of vast stories of knowledge of humankind. We live at such a rapid pace that if we're not careful we forget the real worth of the sentimental journeys we so .seldom make. Uncle Pinkney (MacK night Syndic, t?) |||S PALAVARIN'S DEAR MISTER EDITOR: A feller hat to look mighty careful to find anything in the papen anymore that don't keep him thook up and worried half crazy. The headline! if full of gloom and doom, stories about how them Ruaalana is closing in all around ui and hinting that maybe civilization will git wiped out in the showdown. I recollect reading a while back where the Navy was making all officers git theirsclves a sword and wear. It at formal affair*. A sword will be mighty handy when it Kits to ever man fer hisself. and with the rat race we got going in the world today, I'm thinking about gitting myself one far civilian uae. But if a feller will skip the Wg type and read down In the fine print, he can find a heap of Items that'll help take his mind offn his t rubles Fer Instant. I see where a inspector in the U. S. Mint says our money h meet lag the "physical requirement*." It's comforting to know there's somepun it's meeting. And a expert from the Retail Association says more and more folks is going to the smaller towns to shop. A gentral trend to the small towns would be a big help to a heap of a*. It used to be that ? feller couldn't see much in a small town, bat now adays wlmmen dress about the aame everwhere. Here a while back, I was tell ing you about thia pamphlet from the Department of Agrlcul ture saying onions wasn't very good fer humans to eat. I see in the papers yesterday where two i fellers died from drinking a eon- I coction of varnish, shelack, lem- " ons and onions. I reckon they just got too many oniona in it A note of progress comes from a official of Eastern Air lines. He says they'll have jet , passenger planes by 1070 that'll ' travel 3,000 miles a hour. The i piece didn't say, but I figger these planes won't have no Mats. A passenger wouldn't git set down good till it waa time to g!t off. On the Washington front, the papers is saying then Congress^! men is tiring to ipeed things upa they can adjourn ia time f?r ? simmer vacation. Som? will be taking all their kiafolki on a big Ouvernment tour anc some will be coming home t< mend their political fences. Then that takes tours, I reckon, is Um ones that's got their politics ii pritty good shape back home. On the home front, our preach er is having a hard time seper ating church and state. He aaic Sunday that a feller that don' go to church is abusing his con ititutiona! right to go to church It's his right to visit Kalamasia too, but according to my preach ei^s doctrine, if he ain't been t< Kalamazoo he's abusing his con stitutional right to do so. Bat maybe things will loo better next week, Mister Edito Yours truly, Uode Pink
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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July 20, 1961, edition 1
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