AUGA DEMOCRAT
|S ESTABLISHED IN ISM v;
PUBLISHED EVERT THURSDAY BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY,
R. C. RIVERS. JR.. EDITOR AND MANAGER
) JEAN RIVERS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
Published for 49 Years by Robert C. Rhren, 8r!
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Entered at the poetofflce at Boone,
Congress of March S, 1879.
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BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1968
Singing On The Mountain
Sunday was a sort of red letter
day for thousands of people from
over the tri -state area, who packed
up and came for the Singing on
the Mountain.
Many come to this annual event
on the lower slopes of the Grand
father a day or so ahead, pitch a
tent, or sleep in improvised shelters
in truck beds or on the ground, so
as to have the proper vantage point
when the sermonizing and the sing
ing begin.
To venerable Joe Hartley go the
honors for the establishment of the
singing, which as we understand it
started out almost forty years ago,
as more of a Sunday School picnic.
Formerly billed as the "Great Penta
costal Meeting" and Singing, the
event has ballooned from a very
small gathering to a nationally
known event which draws thous
ands to the shadows of the great
peaks of the Granfather where they
sing and preach and fellowship to
their hearts' content.
Mr. Hartley, one of the pioneer
citizens of the Linville community,
who loves the great soaring moun
tain and the people who reside In
the high hills, has lived in Linville
for the most of his years, where he
has done forestry work, raised fresh
vegetables from his own gardens and
been a potent force in the building
of the Linville community and in
the development of the area round
about.
The founder of the singing on the
mountian, despite the accumulation
of his years, remains spry and takes
a keen interest in the affairs of the
country, and more specifically of
the mountain area. Orthodox in
his opinions about basic right and
wrong, and intolerant of all sorts
of wrong doing, he is progressive
and forward-looking and was a great
force in the promotion of the 105
highway from Boone to Linville,
which has done so much for the
region.
We shall hope Mr. Hartley will
spend many more happy years in
the vicinity of the Grandfather and
will manage a lot more Singings to
cheer his heart and bring joy to the
assembled multitudes.
The Big Day Draws Near
Saturday, when Watauga County 1
does her bit in the celebration of
the North Carolina Tecrentenary, i
win be a big day for Uje .area and
mare specifically for those who have
labored so diligently in bringing to
a successful culmination this his
toric event.
The event is being widely publi
cized, and with Herman W. Wilcox,
the energetic chairman of the cele
bration, its success was assured from
the first. Many others of course, on
the various committees, gave tre
mendous support to Mr. Wilcox in
his endeavors, and the organization
thus formed has worked as a unit
to bring about the historical ob
servance.
The publicity value of the gath
ering is great, but more than that
perhaps, is the re-kindling of the
zeal for local historical material by
the people of the county. That is
to My, that it is easier now to dig
out some facts about the early days
than it was before the celebration
effort made our people history-mind
ed.
It is a happy time the county will
be having Saturday and we want to
join in extending a welcome to the
distinguished visitors: Dr. Critten
don, Dr. Frank Graham, Fred Kirby,
Jeff Wilson, former Governor Luth
er H. Hodges, Mrs. Roscoe McMil
lan, Dr. I. G. Greer, Congressman
James T. Broyhill, Her Majesty's
minister Dennis A. Greenhill, and
all the others from away who are
taking part in the observance.
We are happy that you can be
here to help us observe the tricent
enary and to share in the local his
torical aspects of the occasion.
Privilege Brings Obligation
Any human privilege, be it free
speech or the privilege of driving an
automobile, carries certain inescap
able responsibilties and moral com
mitments on the part of individuals
who exercise that privilege.
Our "rights" are taken for grant
ed much too often as something to
be enjoyed and used to our own ad
vantage. Whereas a right should
properly be counted a privilege to
be treasured and used and practiced.
Permission to drive an automobile
is a privilege given to citizens with
the expectation that they will com
ply with certain obligations and re
sponsibilities.
This, naturally, includes obedi
ence to all traffic laws and rules.
Traffic regulations which have been
developed over the years on the
basis of experience are made for
public protection, hence they are
not to be regarded lightly.
When the rules are ignored or
minimized, tragedy too often fol
lows.
An obituary, clipped from the pa
per, listed the death of a man, 38
years old, 15 years after a traffic
mishap. He had spent the entire
time in a hospital bed, completely
paralyzed.
It's a harsh pitcure but it serves
as a stark reminder that having re
spect for and obeying the traffic
laws may make the difference be
tween a similar fate ,and a normal,
happy life.
Tar Heel Employment Sets Records
(Lenoir News-Topic)
Nonagricultural employment set
a May record in North Carolina, ris
ing 18,800 above the job total of
May, 1962.
State Labor Commissioner Frank
Crane said the total of 1,263,000
people employed in non-farm jobs
last month set new highs for the
month of May in both manufactur
ing and non-manufacturing employ
ment.
Factory employment totaling 521,
600 last month was op 3,200 from
the May, 1962 figure, Commission
er Crane- said. Non4Maafacturing
jobs, totaling 741,400 In May were
15,600 higher than a year ago.
Weekly earnings of the 521,600
Tar Heel factory workers advanced
$2.40 during May to an average of
$68,47, Crane aaid. Largely respon
sible for the increase in earnings
was a 1.2-hour rise in the factory
workweek to a May average of 41
hours. Hourly earnings registered
a one-cent gain over April, bringing
the May average np to $1.67.
Total non-farm employment in
creased 8,000 from AprH to May.
He Made It, After A Fashion ?
From Early Democrat Files
Sixty Years Ago
Jim 28, 1903.
The executive committee of
the Training School held a
meeting here on last Tuesday.
The plans for the building and
propoaitions for the work were
discussed and we hope to pub
lish the full result of thfe meet
ing next week.
A fine rain on Monday even-'
tog.
The cherries are ripening, but
the crop is rather light.
Friend Will Clarke and wife,
of Stataiville, are visiting rela
tive* to the county this week.
John Critcher, of Bamboo is
rapidly recovering from an at
tack of Typhoid fever under the
treatment of Dr. little.
The glorious Fourth ap
proaches .and it promises to be
? gala day in Boose. Be sure
and come, and don't forget your
basket for the picnic dinner.
Mr. L. N. Perkins and fam
ily, of Lenoir have moved baek
to their (rid home two miles
east of Boone. We are all glad
to welcome the estimable fam
ily back to our midst permanent
ly
We are sorry indeed to know
that friend Fin Brown, of Bam
boo, remains quite feeble, but
hope he may yet improve. Con
sumption we are told, is prey
tog upon him.
H. C. Miller of Todd, is op
ening up a nice stock of gener
al merchandise at Blowing Rock
this week. The business at Todd
will be continued under the
management of his brother, W.
S. Miller
Mr. W. A. Watson, of Lenoir,
and Miss Minnie, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Farthing,
of New River, were married to
Salisbury on Inst Wednesday.
Mr. Watson i* one of Lenoir's
prominent merchants and will
make his future home there.
The prospects for the Train
ing School are good. The stu
dents of Watauga had a very
enthusiastic meeting last week
and subscribed $130 and pledg
ed themselves to the support of
the Executive committee.
On last Friday nlghi the
steam saw mill and all the
machinery belonging to Jordan
Henson on Beaver Dams, to
gether with a lot of custom
lumber on the yard, was de
stroyed by fire. The loss is es
timated at 91,000 to $1,900.
M. B. Blackburn, J. W. Far
thing, J. F. Hardin, B. J. Coun
cfll and J. C. Ray have been ap
pointed a local advisory build
ing committee for the Appala
chian Training School. The first
three constituted the commit
tee for Watauga Academy, and
did their work well.
Thirty-Nine Years Ago
Jane 2?, 1924.
Mr. W. R. Oragg spent the
day Monday In Johnson City in
the interest of his business
here.
Mr. Vance Palmer of Beech
Creek was in town for two
days this week on business.
Mr. and Mrs. A D. Scott of
Mt. Airy, N. C. spent Monday
and Tuesday in town.
Mr. Fred Shoun of Mt. City,
Tenn. visited relatives and oth
er friends the latter part of
last week, returning Monday.
Mr. 3. W. Brawley and wife
of Greensboro were week end
visitors at the home of Mrs.
Brawley's brother. Attorney W.
R. LovilL Mrs. Lovill came up
from Johnson City Sunday, re
turning Monday.
Rev. J. Morton Atkins, for
merly pastor of the Episcopal
churches in Watauga County,
bat for a number of years lo
cated at Warwick, N. Y. was a
pleasant visitor among friends
here yesterday afternoon. He is
now located at Se wanes, Tenn.
The Dixie Theater Building
will soon be ready for use, snd
work is being rushed on the
walls for the remainder of the
Just One Thing
By CAHL GOERCB AFTER ANOTHER
We quote from ? quarter
page advertisement which ap
peared in a recent |saue of The
Elizabeth City Independent:
I Ain't Got No Shirt
No, I haven't been gambling
and loat itl I Juat wore it out
and can't buy a new one.
And so, for a new shirt ? 15
neck, 33 sleeve, I will trade
any of the following items:
One ton of Sand.
One gallon of Paint.
Ten Cinder Blocks.
Two pieces of Wall Board.
Five bags of lime.
Two boxes of insulation.
One half Keg of Nails.
Four Bags of Cement.
Two Gallons Tupentine.
DUNSTAN SUPPLY CO.
Builders' Supplies of Quality.
Here's an Item from G. E.
Nunnery, of Fayetteville, sent
us recently. He says he took tt
from a northern paper:
"A remarkable birth record
has come to light in the little
town of Francisco, N. C (Than
up in Stokes County.) To Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Wilsoa of Root*
1, near Francisco, were born
17 children, including tht*e
?eta at triplets and it* teta or
twfa? Only eight tt ?e chit*
ren are living today, however.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have spent
all their lives in North Caro
lina. Mr. Wilson is 77 and his
wife is 76."
"In the put you have pub
lished several variations of dif
ferent girls' names," writes
Miss Katherine Calhoun, of
Durham, "but how about my
own name ? Katherine? Here
are some of the variations I
have come across in the last
year or two:
Katherine Catherine
Katharine Catharine
Katheren CathefeA
Kathryn Cathryn
Kathryne Cathryne
Katheryne Catherine
"To say nothing of the fol
lowing nicknames:
Kay P Katha
Kat Kitty
Kate Kitten
Katie Kathy
Kathie
AH of us make mistakes is
spelling at softie time or other.
A letter has Just come th from
a subscriber who lives 10 Michi
gan. hi renewing his subscrip
tion to our magazine, lie proud
ly announces: *Tm a "far
tor* tad rm a Tar Heel I
handsome Mock of buildings in
which K ii located. The forma
for the concrete foundation for
the Daniel Boone Hotel are
practically in, and work on
these two projects wil be push
ed to the limit.
Heat Gmm News
Rev. I. A. Wilson preached
at the Proffit Grove Church
Saturday and Sunday last. *
Mrs. Clay Miller and mother
Mrs. A. P. Eller went on a trip
to Boone last Monday.
Mr. Quailey Arnold of Ashe
bat now a student at the A.T.S.
spent the week end at the home
of Mr. Alex Wilson's.
Miss Hazel Proffit spent the
week end in Boone at her
uncle's Mr. John Lewis'.
Mrs. Belle Reeee of Mabel,
visits her parents Mr. and Mrs.
Oris Daney.
Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Hodg
son i and little son of Ashe
comity, visited at their cousin's
Mr. Albert Hodgson's over the
week end.
Fifteen Year* Ago
June 24, 1?4S.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Isaac
and daughter, Dolly, of Miami,
Florida arrived here Monday.
They will occupy their summer
home "Wildacres" at Shulls
Mills. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac are
connected with the school sys
tem in Miami while Miss Isaac
is a senior in the University
of Miami.
Mrs. G. L. Hodges, Mrs. E, >.
Caudill, and daughter Betty,
returned to their home is
Wayne, Mich. Monday after ?
short visit with Mrs. R L. Hod
ges and friends in and around
Boone.
Mr. and Mr*. R R. Richards
and family left Sunday for
their home in Los Angeles,
Calif., after visiting a week with
Mrs. Richard's parents, Mr. and
Mrs. A. H. Hodges of Boone.
Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Stalling*
and Mr. Will Walker attended
the jewelers convention at May
view Manor on Sunday and
Monday of this week.
Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Bell and
family from Napa, Calif., have
been visiting Mrs. Bell's par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Hod
ses of Boom.
Miss Betty Ellis left Monday
for Farmville, Va. whet* she
will enroll for a four weeks
course ia the Spanish work
shop of Farmville State Teach
ers college.
Miss Maude Wilcoa left Mon
day, June 21, for Charlotte,
where she will attend the work
shop training school for cafe
teria managers.
Mrs. Clyde Edmisten and Miss
Faith Thompson of Vilas left
for Chester, Pa., where they
will visit with a sister, Mrs.
Charles A. Safian and Mr. Saf
lan.
Miss Sae Coffey has return
ed to her home at Laxon, after
spending the past few weeks
visiting with her sister, Mrs.
Walter H. Adams, and Mrs.
Ernest C. Lane of Portsmouth,
Va.
Miss Francis Farthing has re
turned to Concord after spend
ing a few days with her par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Firth
llbg. f' V
Miss Roberta Critcher was a
?eefc end guest of Miss Lois
EDer of Mars Hill. Miss Eller,
former ASTC student, will leave
Itaraday for Houston, Texas
*? ?i?it relatives.
I .1
^1^0 & by rob WERS
ur:- ; - \ -"??:% ' '
THE ROCKET . . Back Again
This corner feels better now that the Blowing
Rocket is bade in business, and for good this time ?
winter and summer. . . . Born in the skimpiness of 11182
with C. V. Henkel of Stateeville its publisher, and Archie
Robertson its talented editor, the Rivera brothers had a
hard time of making the press that summery day, while
we pinch-hit for Bob Reynolds at the polls, as he wound
up to trounce Senator Cameron Morrison and take a long
sought seat in the upper bouse of the national assembly.
. . . But in between the courthouse and the old Democrat
office, we finally got the fuse of the Rocket kindled on
a muggy night, and it managed twelve issues the first
summer, in spite of the depression.
IT WAS A HARD JOB ia
that day of eae linotype ma
chine and two people to do the
work, along with the Demo
crat and miscellaneous print
ing, hat we came through ia
tolerable shape We reacti
vated the Rocket partly on ac
count of the happy memories
of the many splendid people
who struggled to get up the
ada aad the copy in the nn
harried day* of the past.
AT ANY RATE, Gary Dal
ton, who got his degree at
Carolina's fine school of Journ
alism in June, and who's been
newspapering during vacation
time right along, is the editor
aad is doing good. . . A lot
of compliments are reaching
his office, and the Democrat
office too, and we're obliged
for the fine reception the Roc
ket is receiving. . . . Next
to the Democrat, of course,
the Rocket has rated second
in our affections, and it might <
be referred to as our second
love, in newspapers. . . . We
shall bend every effort toward
making the Rocket a good
newspaper ? with an eye single
to serving the best interests of
Blowing Rock and the Holiday ,
Highlands region of which it
is the delightfully charming
capital.
? ? ?
Whistle Pigs . . Continue
To Abide
Motorist on the Parkway in
Blowing Rock slows down
while a mama groundhog and
her four piggies, slowly march
across the pavement, ia "sheep ,
fashion" formation. . . . We
often see the little critters
along the Federal highway,
where they will keep mosey
ing along?their only peril be
ing the same danger man con
trived for himaelf? the speed
ing motor car. . . . The ground
hog has been trapped, poison
ed, gassed, had his subterran
ean tunnels blown np with
dynamite, but still he thrive*.
. . . His troubles multiplied
when "chuck huatlag" became
a popular sport. . . . Hunters
with high powered rifles
equipped with 'scopes, eaa
fetch sadden death to a snow
ing whistle pig at a faaatastk
distance. . . . Tamer Watson
says he's dawned U since he
got hack from Florida ? few
weeks ago, aad reports a rec
ord crop af the groaadhaga.
. . . Bat we'd say the luckiest
chuchs ia the caaatry are those
which took a liking to the
Parkway and Ma eaviroaa. . . .
If they'll develop a little more
respect for aatomohOes, we'd
say they are ia far long aad
happy Uvea.
Birthday . . Coming Up
Thil edition of the Domo
crat winds oat severity-five
years of continuous publica
tion. . . . We had timed at
getting out a monstrous anni
versary edition, and there was
wide interest in the proposal.
. . . However, due to overtattd
mechanical facilities, and de
layed expansion plana, wa de
cided against the project (or
next weak. . ? . Besides solicit
ing advertising for the event
would be a little like having
some one pay for the ice cream
at our birthday party. . . . But
before long we will be coming
out with a progress and his
torical edition of the news
paper, which will take a while
to produce but which will be
worth waiting for, are aaaure
you. . . . Meantime, ar we
wind out the 3900th week of
publication, we'd make our
beat manners to our multi
tude of friends and patrons,
who have allowed us to stay
around for so long. . . . Like
has growing pains, emergency
equipment is being added to
take care of the situation, and
when the shoe company is
through with the building next
door, oar long-laid plans will
bechi to take shape. . . . Pot
the immediate future the PeBf
oerat will maintain weekly
publication. ... A semi- weekly
is perhaps the next step, even
though we do have the notion
of a daily before we retire
from the realm of paste pot
and shears and presses and
linotypes and deadlines.
ALL OF U8 at the Democrat
are working with might and
mate to provide consistently
good tal constantly hnprev
ing newspspei aci vice to the
area. . . That we have dene
this, is evidenced by the gen
erous way we have been re
ceived by the people through
the multiplying years. . . As
we wind ?p the seventy-fire
and take dead aim at the cen
tury mark, we thank you, good
friends, for yonr good will
and your forbearance, and we
dent aim for any grass to
sprout under our feet as we
move forward in this beantifnl
county, where luckily for us,
rar upbringing took place.
Uncle
Pinkney
HIS PALAVERIN'S
They ain't nothing no more
that can't git "surveyed" or
"compiled." Fer instant, I see
by the papers where the Na
tional Macaroni Institute has
Just completed a "survey" and
found that the per capiter con
sumption of noodles and mac
aroni by Americans in 1063
Was 4,424 feet.
"si" think Americans has got
teched in the head over this
tad since we got them Unhrac
things and electric brain gad
gets. Here is another piece
about a New York outfit mak
ing a "survey" on girl watch
ing. It shows the average male
observes a passing female on
the street fer a average of
6.5 seconds. And men in
groups stares longer than in
dividuals, it says. And con
struction workers stares at
girls longer than anybody else,
averaging about 8.8 seconds to
the girl
And some of the Commerce
Department officials ha* made
a (01X7 on cigarette smoking
in thk country. They report
that in 1083 cigarette* was
amoked at the rate of 11 a day
far ever American over the
age of 14, and the coat was
9J billion dollars. They go on
to report that men smokers is
outnumbering the wimmen
smokers but the wimmen is
catching up fast. la 1988, the
piece says, they was 7 million
wimmen smokers and today it
has Jumped to 28 minion, with
the men still holding the lead
at 87 million.
I was reciting these Aggers
at the country store Saturday
night bat most of the fellers
was un Impressed. Clem Web
ster said he couldn't cam less
if American* was eating 10
foot er a country mile of
noodle* per eapiter, and Bug
Hookum claimed it
bother Mm none If ever
man ia the U. S. took to i
ing cigars. But Ed DoetKtle
allowed as hew he had sew a
few Aggers from the federal
Reserve Bank that had shook
him up. One out of ever {we
people in the V. 8. that voted
in 1880 1* new gltting Govern
ment checks from
~JB
Kd reported. V
Clem Webeter said they
it m ewe fer It, that the
voter* ha* got their Congress
man over a barrel. If he don't
vote fer more benefit*, he
don't tit re-elected, and wftat
this world 1* to tit re-elected.
Zeke Grubb allowed a* h Mr
the vbter* ha* not a sore bet
In this deal, said It reminded
him of the story about the le*
tag husband that called the
pater and wanted to put In a
ad offering $1,000 reward fer
the return of hi* wife'* pet
cat. Whan the feller on the
paner ask him 1 1 this want a
pritty high reward fer I Cat,
he an*wered. "Not Oil Cat, t
done drowned ft." _
UNCTJf PINK