WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
ESTABLISHED IN 1888
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY, INC.
R. C. RIVERS, JR., EDITOR AND MANAGER
JEAN RIVERS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
An Independent Weekly Newipaper
Publish#* for 48 Years by Robert C. Rivers, Sr.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES (EFFBCTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 1MB)
IN NORTH CAROLINA
One Year , $3-8*
Six Months $1.80
Four Months #1-30
OUTSIDE NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $4.00
Six Months $2.50
Four Month* H 00
All Subscriptions Piyible in Advance
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS? In requesting change of address, H is important to
mention the OLD, as well as the NEW addteca.
Entered at the pos toff ice at Boone, N. C, as second class matter, under the act of
Congress of March 3, 187#.
MEMBER NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
NORTH CAROLINA PHESS ASSOCIATION
Enrollment Continues Climb
Prediction of a record enrollment
for the Spring term at Appalachian
State Teachers College by Registrar
Herman Gggers again pinpoints the
important place the college holds in
the community.
Enrollment is expected to reach
3,160, including 2,484 who attend
ed the just completed winter term,
25 new students, 250 in Saturday
classes and 300 in the growing ex
tension classes.
While Registrar Eggers points out
"the final tabulation will vary one
way or the other!" the veteran ad
ministrator's figures can be counted
on to be pretty nearly correct.
The impact of the students on
the community ? in business, social,
church life and other activities ?
was brought home again this week
as they made a short exodus from
the school between terms. We miss
them.
More appropriations, to meet the
growing classes, will be needed, and
Dr. Plemmons and his able staff of
administrators have continually
warned of these growing needs.
Their studies have shown ? and these
studies have been verified with each
new registration ? that Appalachian
will continue to expand.
For many years now, new build
ings, better facilities, and added fac
ulty have been furnished. College
officials have said that much more
needs to be done, and must be done
if the institution is to continue grow
ing.
Safety Belts
Not every seat belt is a safety belt.
The gain in auto seat belts in the
past few years has been so phe
nomenal that there is no doubt what
ever that they are here to stay.
There is an abundance of scien
tific evidence that a reliable seat
belt, installed properly, and used
constantly can save lives and reduce
injuries in an accident.
However, be on your guard: make
certain the seat belts you buy are
reliable. In this booming market
some products are befttfg rushed into
production which differ widely in
quality as well as price. The price
tag alone is far from the best In
surance.
The Robert W. Hunt Company, an
independent testing laboratory which
tests seat belts for the American
Se^t Belt Council, has found many
belts on the market do not meet the
minimum standards set by the So
ciety of Automobile Engineers.
Some belts have failed webbing
strength tests; some buckles latch
falsely or fly apart under stress;
sometimes meeting standards, some
times not. f
Despite the efforts of many states
to require seat belt manufacturers
to submit proof that their belts meet
standards, there continues to be evi
dence of poor quality control in the
manufacture of some seat belts.
To assist the car owner in determ
ining which belt will give his fam
ily the best protection in case of acci
dent, the American Seat Belt Coun
cil offers this advice:
(1) Don't look for a bargain. A seat
belt should be purchased as an insur
ance policy ? seek the best protection
within your mean*. The few dollars saved
may mean nothing ia an emergency.
(2) If you doa't know seat belts, buy
from somebody who does. Pick your sup
plier carefully.. Automobile manufactur
ers, reputable mail order houses, major
oil companies and similar organizations
with reputations to consider investigate
carefully in choosing their source.
(S) Insist that the entire belt meet
S.A.E. specifications ? not just the web
bing or the buckle. Your best assurance
is the ASBC seal of approval which now
appears on two out of every three belts
sold. This certifies the belt meets S.A.E.
standards on a continuous inspection
bas;*,
(4) Double -check your installation.
The best belt improperly installed is not
a safe belt. Be certain the mechanic has
followed the manufacturer's instructions.
Remember, it's your life at stake ? not the
mechanic's.
Demand For Skilled Workers
By 1065, demand for highly train
ed workers will be so great that for
every five professional and technical
persons there will be seven jobs,
according to Changing Times. But
for the unskilled and for those whose
training has gone out of use there
will be only three jobs for every
five such workers.
An article in a recent issue of the
magazine reports that persons under
18 or over 45 with no special skills
will have a difficult time. "The best
guarantee of a safe future is to up
grade yourself or, if you already
possess a marketable skill, to be sure
to keep in current," the magazine
advises.
Ways to get in these programs,
suggested by the magazine, include:
The Manpower Development and
Training Act, enacted in 1962 and
designed to pinpoint types of skills
that are badly needed, state by state,
and then train people to meet the
needs.
The Area Redevelopment Act,
which set up a program in 1961 to
cope with chronic unemployment in
depressed areas.
The National Defense Education
Act, enacted in 1958 to provide fed
eral and state funds for a wide va
riety of day and evening courses for
students and working adults who
want to become highly skilled tech
nicians.
Information on all three programs
is available from state employment
offices.
Seasonal Note
(Christian Science Monitor)
It Is a wondrous thing:
In a world where millions specu
late when, where, if, some nuclear
cataclysm will bring all civilization
toppling down, there nevertheless is
something about a five-year-old on
a pair of ice skates: It will make a
man ?top his car where the roed
edges the pond to see whether the
youngster can keep standing up un
til she has reached her parent's arms
agatn.
He hopqp she can. Not because
any great harm wit) have been done
to aayoae if she does net, but be
cause he wants to see her gleeful
smitoof triumph, and hear her shout
i
of laughter. Indeed to experience
these things h? will risk sharing her
disappointment, her tiny sense of
tragedy, if she falls.
He knows he must partake of
them, if they touch her, and he
would rather not. He has his own
share of the world's carat. And of
course, it may be that he hopes her
success will listen his own sense of
things somewhat.
But he does not really ask him
self why he stops beside the pond, or
why he watchts her wavering path
way. And if ytu asked him why, he
would wonder why you didn't know.
Sticky Bi
?T
From Early Democrat Files
Sixty Years Ago
February M, 190S
E. B. Killer of Moretz was la
town yesterday. He is quite un
easy about his son in the Phil
lipines, as he has not been heard
from in several months.
. Since the blizzard last week,
we have had some lovely days.
The days are bright and warm
and the nights are cool and
frosty.
J. P. Councill of Vilas is
having a sale of personal prop
erty today and will move to
Hickory in the near future.
Aunt Saliie Hodges of Poplar
Grove spent the first days of
this week with relatives in
Boone.
Mr. Alex Tugman of Meat
Camp was married last week to
a Miss Miller of Ashe County.
At this writing, Wednesday
morning, we are sorry to state
Mr. John Councill, of Blowing
Rock, is considered in a dying
condition and all hopes of his
recovery are abandoned. He is
rapidly sinking and it is thought
that consumption, that dread
disease, will have gotten in its
work within the next few days.
Messrs. Joe Presnell, Lee
Hodges and others on Brushy
Fork leave for Washington this
week, and a number of others
from different parts of the
country will turn their face*
to the Weit early next week.
Mr. W. H. Penley and family
being among the number.
We are sorry to hear of the
death of Mr. Geo. W. Bower,
that occurred at his home in
Jefferson the 17th. Mr. Bower
was a lawyer of' some promin
ence and well known to a ma
jority of our people. He had
been in failing health for seve
ral years.
Commissioners' Court on next
Monday, and we take it that we
will have a lot more road talk
before the Board. More roads
and less talk is the idea.
Thirty-Nine Years Ago
February 28, 19Z4
Owing to the heavy snow that
is now blocking the highway the
mail from Trade, Tenn., and the
Winston-Salem Jitney, both fail
ad to arrive yesterday. The mcq
in charge of the highway were 1
removing the snow rapidly yes
terday, but the mails were due
before they had time to act.
Mr. A. L. Holshouser died
Saturday afternoon at four
o'clock. He had been in poor
health for some time but not
considered serious by his family.
Death came as a sudden shock
to his dear ones. Funeral ser
vices were held Monday morn
ing at the German Reform
Just One Thing
By CARL goerch AFTER ANOTHER
Sometime ago John D rummy,
manager of the Industrial De
partment of the Raleigh Cham
ber of Commerce, sent me a
copy of an article entitled:
"Don't Obey That Impulse,"
published in Nation's Business.
It tells of a number of crazy
impulses that people have: like
slapping a lady on the back
when she's wearing a low-cut
evening gown, pushing some
fully - dressed person into a
swimming pool, kicking a man
in the pants while he's bending
over and tying his shoe laces,
etc.
Shortly after reading the art
icle I was attending church. The
Rev. Broadus Jones , was our
minister at the time. He had
some kind of a family reunion.
Seems that he had a new grand
child of which he was inordin
ately proud. While making his
announcements he had some
thing to say about the Joys of
family tics, and then he added:
"And I'd also like to say a few
words and let you know what a
wonderful grandbaby we've got."
I literally had to hold my
self down in my seat to keep
from getting up and announcing,
"That's fine, preacher; but when
you get through, there are sev
eral of us here in the congrega
tion who would like to say a
few words on the same subject/'
Wonder what kind of a re
action would have taken place?
We sort of like the little
story sent us by Miss Lois Am
ette Bliss of Jackson Heights,
New York. She's a former resi
dent of North Carolina.
Recently a nelehbor? a Mrs.
Anderson ? told Miss Bliss about
an incident that happend short
ly after she (Mrs. Anderson)
hind a new colored maid. The
maid's name was Beulah.
Bul ah had been up North
only a little while. Prior to that
she had lived practically all her
life in the Cape Fear country.
One day she was talking to Mrs.
Anderson and said:
"You ain't from the South,
are you, Miss Anderson?"
"Well," was the reply, "in a
way I expect I am. I was born
and reared in Oklahoma."
Beulah sighed. She knew that
Oklahoma was a fur piece from
North Carolina.
"How about Mr. Anderson?"
she inquired next.
"He was born and reared in
Scotland."
Beulah clasped her hands in
sheer delight. "Born in Scot
land," she exclaimed. "Laws-a
mussy; that's the country right
next door to Robeson where I
was born!"
Three interesting men I know:
John Oates of Fayetteville;
Fred Wheat in Baltimore and
Rye Page down in Wilmington.
? Richard Kissell of Biseoe tells
this story:
The town of Hemp, in Moore
County, changed its name to
Robbins several years ago. And
before It was known as Hemp,
it went under the name of EHse.
"I think," says Mr. Kissell, "they
still have a school down there
that is known as Elise Academy.
Anyway, the story goes that ?
tourist found himself in that
locality and saw the city-limit*
sign, saying 'Robbins.' As he
continued on his way, he saw
another sign that read 'Elise
Academy.' Further on he saw
a sign that said "Hemp Garage,'
and a few doors beyond he came
across the Bank of Biscoe (?
branch at Robbias). The motor
ist pulled up into a filling sta
tion and said: "Mister, for
heaven's sake, tell me where I
am? Robbins, Elise, Hemp, or
B4ecoer "
i
Church. Ur. Holshouser was 76
yean old. He is survived by his
widow and one daughter, Mrs.
Metta Greene.
Harried on last Saturday, Miss
Grace Winkler to Mr. Jeff Hol
lars. Squire Greene tied the
kifot that made the happy couple
one. Here is wishing the popular
young bride and groom much
happiness and a long and useful
life.
W. Oliver Robertson pf John
son City, Tenn., and Miss Wilma
Critcher, the attractive daugh
ter of Sheriff Critcher, were
happily united in marriage at
the Baptist parsonage in Boone
Monday, Feb. 25.
We are sorry to learn that ex
sheriff E. R. Eggers of Beaver
Dam continues very ill, his main
trouble being his kidneys. He is
under the care of Dr. Jones of
Boone. *''? '
'.Well, ft snowed. The farmers
iM Others have been longing
for a big snow, and Tuesday
night they got It. It fell prac
tically all day Tuesday but much
of it melted as it fell. A night,
however, it began to stick and
yesterday morning the earth was
covered to a depth of 12 inches,
actual measurement.
The Citizens Real Estate, Loan
and Insurance Company is the
style of the new firm of Mr.
F. P. Jennings and T. J. White
head. The company has offices
in the Watauga Bank Building.
Fifteen Years Ago
February 26, IMS
Mr. Paul Nave of Franklin,
who has established residence
in this city, is the field manager
for the Coble Dairies in this
area, and not the Sugar Grove
plant manager, as was erron
eously stated in this column last
week. Mr. Emory Mitchell is the
plant manager at Sugar Grove.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. W. Rowe
returned to their home at Valle
Crucis last week after spending
several months with their sons,
Henry and Howard Rowe, in
San Diego, Calif. Mr. Rowe also
visited a brother, Fred, in Couer
de Alene, Idaho, whom he had
not seen for 37 years.
Mrs. James McKeown and
daughters, Carol and Linda, are
at New Smyrna, Fla., where they
will spend several weeks. They
were accompained there by Rev.
M. McKeown and Rev. Sam
Moss.
Mrs. Callie Shore of Boone is
recovering from an operation
performed a few days ago at the
Caldwell Hospital, Lenoir. She
is expected to return home
during the present week.
Mrs. Dock Hodges of Adams
iai recovering from a broken
arm sustained in a fall at her
home some time ago.
Mr. Paul A Coffey, who was
taken to the Watauga Hospital
last Thursday for treatments,
remains ill but his condition to
day Is described as improved. .
Miss Marianne Ragan became
the bride of Mr. Bill Max Gragg
in a ceremony performed by
Rev. Tipton Greene at his home
in Boone last Saturday. Mrs.
Gragg is a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Daniel B. Ragan, while Mr.'
Gregg is a son of Mr. and Mrs.
Sylvester Gragg. -
Mrs. J. W. Coffey has return
ed home from Wilkes Hospital,
North Wilkesboro, where she
underwent an operation recent
ly. Mrs. Coffey is getting along
nicety. *
KING STREET
BY ROB RIVERS
V?fce With A Smile . . It'? Silenced
Mrs. Jearie McGuire filled an important niche in
the life of this community and the service she rendered
as manager of the local telephone exchange in the days
before numbers were used by the patrons, was often of
vital concern to the Watauga Democrat. . . . When one
called "central" and asked for John Jones, Jim Smith
or the General Store down the street, Mrs. McGuire
was depended upon to take care of untold business for
him in case of emergencies. . . . For instance, when a
physician was needed in a hurry, we have asked Mr6.
McGuire to send our family doctor, and if he wasn't
in, get someone. ... In one life and death case, three
physicians showed up, quickly, but the spark of life had
grown too dim to be fanned again. ... On another
occasion she made hospital reservations in another town
for a proud parent's first baby, when sickness messed
up his arrangements, and got word to the paper boy
that the family would be away for a few days.
? * *
Helpfulness . . Unlimited
Mra. McGulre would gladly
tell us the time of day, or
night, let us know whose house
was burning, tell us where
the great pale horse had made
his silent way and taken
away a friend, and let us
know when a chum was down
with the miseries. . . She'd
take care of your telegram,
send a message of condolence,
got word to a fellow who had
no phone to get to one and
call us right away,- and still
had time to talk to us sin
cerely and tearfully when there
was trouble about our house.
* * *
Changing Times . .
Changed Ways
The day came though, in the
march of progress, when we
had to call by numbers, which
cramped our style . . and we
joined in begging Southern
Bell for the dial system, which
fine as it is, took away the
"vpice with a smile" from the
lines . . and we have missed
Mrs. McGuire and her per
sonal service when we wanted
to visit with her a minute or
send word to someone. . . She
kept a helping hand out
stretched and contributed im
measurably to the. welfare of
the community. , . . We feel
bereft since she died. ^ , Shfl. .
had helped us no end and
always showed an active inter
est in the Watauga Democrat
and those of us who produce it.
No Visiting
(From Winston-Salem Journal)
Local get-well wishers should
practice what hospitals in some
parts of the other states are
preaching. That is: During the
current flu epidemic, don't
visit patients in hospitals un
less it is absolutely necessary.
Visitors milling around hos
pitals bring flu germs in ? not
only to the particular patients
they are visiting but to nurses
as well. Patients who are in
the hospital for some other
ailment shouldn't have their
conditions complicated by a
case of flu. Nor, with an epi
demic going on,- should hos
pital staffs be unnecessarily
exposed to the germ.
Seed Catalogs
By JOE MINOR
With spring still several
weeks off, seed catalogs are
beginning to make their ap
pearance on the local scene.
Used to be that nearly all seed
were ordered from these color
ful booklets sent out by various
seed houses from over the
nation. . . . Now farmers and
gardeners are able to purchase
most of their planting needs
locally, and the seed books'
popularity maybe has diminish
ed somewhat. Still the cata
logs are available, and maga
zines' and newspapers carry
advertisements offering to' send
readers one "as long as the
supply lasts" just for filling in
the coupon and mailing. . . .
We remember when nearly all
the catalogs carried their vege
table offerings first, then a
few pages of flowers and shrub
offerings... . . Now, the order
ia many of the booklets is re
versed, and the flowers and
shrubs are placed first, and in
beautiful and glowing colors.
Instead of the bright red de
licious looking pictures of to
matoes and cantaloupes, the
readers are first treated to
illustrations of out - of - this
world photographs of flowers,
fruit trees and green lawns.
We still get a few catalogs
regulwiy cnch year, and intend
to send off for others as the
coupons appear in our reading.
They still offer good reading
and timely planting hints, and
we enjoy looking at them.
King Street Bulletin
Bob wants it explained that
be failed to finish this week's
column and other matters for
which he is normally respon
sible. He says he is down with
the miseries" (flu to you).
This troubles him no end, but
he says he is "gaining on it."
Jean L. Rivers.
Uncle
Pinkney
HIS PALAV ERIN'S
DEAR MISTER EDITOR:
Zeke Grubb's preacher come
by the country store Saturday
night, told the fellers he has
come up with a new idea that's
liable to shake up the preach
ing perfession all the way back
to Moses.
He said he got this idea from
listening to all them commer
cial on television. He allowed
as how you don't sell nothing
nowadays by talking about it,
you just sing about it. He fig
gers if you can sell refrigera
tors, soap and automobiles with
singing, he can sell religion
the same way.
He said he could just see
hisself now, walking up in the
pulpit humming a little inter
action to his sermon. Then
when he got everybody's atten
tion, a couple guitars and a
bongo drum would git the con
gregation in the proper groove.
And just as soon as the con
gregation got to patting their
feet real good, he'd start sing
ing hu sermon. He told the
fellers he wasn't much of a
singer but with this modern
music it didn't make no differ
ence, that most of it was just
hollering aet to music. And he
reported he could holler real
good.
ne iiggers nis pian nas got
great promise fer the preaching
perfession. He says folks ain't
too interested In what a prea
cher has got to say if he tells
'em the truth, and if he tells
'em the truth they'll run him
off. This singing approach
would solve all that, he claims.
He wouldn't have to be saying
nothing one way or the other,
like politicians, so he could ?
keep on winning friends and in
fluencing people.
And he told the felleri he has
got a trick up his sleeve in
case the members git to nod
ding. Ever few minutes he's
going to have all the folks sing
along with him. In fact, he says
he's thinking about calling part
of his sermons, "Sing Along
With Parson" and give it to
'em with the down beat and all
the trimmings.
And he reported that Rufe
Zinder was on the rampage
again Sunday. They was having
the Hen's Bible Class and Rufe
ask to take the floor. The Par
son said it was a mistake to
give Rufe the floor, that from
then on it was the Gospel ac
cording to Saint Rufe. It seems
that Rufe was snorting about
one of the schools has done
away with a little praying afore
each ball game. He said he
, couldn't say nothing on ac
count of Rufe would claim he
was asin prayer, but he told
the fellers be was agin using
prayer like perfume to sprinkle
on everthing that come along.
He claimed be had saw poli
ticians open a rally with prayer
and then go out and accuse
their opponent of stealing
sheep.
The good Parson left a little
early,- aaid the Finance Com
mittee was raffling off a steer
and they had ask him to opea
the raffle wtth prayer.
Yours truly,
Uncle Pinfaiey
(Mac Knight Syndicate)