' THE STATE PORT PILOT
Southport, N. C.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY I
I JAMES M. HARPER, JR., Editor
bale red u second-clMS metier April 20, 1028, at
tSs Post Office at Southport N. C., under
the act of March 3, 1879.
I Subscription Rates
I QM?' TEAR $1.60
I ?>( MONTHS .. . 1.00
nfenBB MONTHS .76
NATIONAL EDITORIAL.
IfldlW ASSOCIATION
L Wednesday, February 10. 1941
Now it is being proven that the Italian
" thunder was more potent than its lightnr
ing.
We know folks who think they can't
do without things which, five years ago,
they never thought they'd have.
The conception that some people have
of doing their part for National Defense
is to look around for a job that pays
twice as much as they have been getting.
' The idea behind freedom of speech and
freedom of the press is that nothing can
go very far wrong before somebody wants
to tell everybody about it.
Right Side j
I Failure to obey what is probably the;
most elementary of all traffic rule?driv-;
ing on the right hand side of the road?
accounted for 1,589 accidents on Northl
Carolina streets and highways last year.
Despite the fact that every driver in
the state is presumed to know that it is
unlawful to drive on the wrong side of
the road, this one violation was noted
last year in 886 property damage acci-l
dents, 550 personal injury accidents, andj
123 fatal accidents.
And this driving on the wrong side was
exclusive of driving on the wrong side
while engaged in passing other vehicles,
a variety of wrong-side driving which
accounted for a good many other traffic1
fatalities.
It is a shameful commentary on the
driving habits of North Carolinians that
jpore than a hundred fatal accidents ocirurrefi
on our street?and highways during
1940 as a result of driving on the wrong
side of the road. Practically every schoolboy
knows that in this country, at least,
one is required to drive on the right hand
side of the highway, and every driver
should obey this rule at all times, not
only because it is the lawful thing to do
but oho herause it is the safe and sen-'
I ling to do.
; than one hundred North Carolinho
were killed last year might be
today but for the fact that some
Carolina drivers would not stay on
ide of the road.
t straddle the center line. Stay on
de. Be a safe driver.
-Maybe!
only human nature to think that
operty and our lives are in small
from fire, the great killer and de.
So, [many of us defer taking simnti-fire"
precautions. In this case,
: off until tomorrow what should
e today, is safe?maybe. And that's
important "maybe" indeed. Fire
onsiderate enough to warn us of
lending visit. It mails no advance
. It strikes when we least expect
id often it strikes at night. If it
is ill prepared, it enjoys a grim
lay of destruction,
aps you've seen homes and buildurn.
You've seen walls fall in an
i of smoke and flame. You've seen
possessions and irreplaceable keepreduced
to worthless ash in a few
s. Possibly you've seen helpless
trapped, waiting in panic at winor
aid that may or may not come,
re lucky if that hasn't happened to
ut there's no guarantee that luck
o on indefinitely. You and yours
e next on fire's long list?unless
ike those precautions that will
your property safe. Nothing offers
potential dividends than fire pros
Near
tically all of the men who have
d in favor of the President's leaseill
have offered the opinion that a
in the war will occur within the
iree months?and that it will protake
the form of an all-out Nazi
against England, beginning with
ds of unprecedented intensity and
I winding up. Witlv the long anticipated at- H
tempt at invasion. Secretary of the Navy L
Knox, for example, testified that, ac- t3]
cording- to his information, the German Io
[strategists were now watching the long-ja
[ range weather reports, and waiting for sol
a time when an extended period of good wa
weather can be anticipated.
Tliere are many good reasons for be- on
neving that Germany will make her great J"
effort before many more moons wax and sti
! wane. Primary reason is the obvious one up
that Hitler has a far better chance of Nc
winning if he makes his gamble before
this country can send materials abroad in i
significant amounts. P"
Second, Hitler, many think, must move ty,
before Italy collapses entirely. She has al.
become a drain on the Reich, instead of ^
an asset. Her reverses in Africa have al- tri
most reached the comic opera stage. eal
17'
Third, according to some experts, Eng- cai
lish and American warplane production >y
is now catching up with Germany. But
it will be a long time before Britain can iea
obtain enough ships to equal the strength be<
of the sky fleet commanded by Marshal
Goering. So it is logical for Germany to wit
make her bid for victory while she has a No
decisive edge in the skies. |^e
Fourth, there are reports, which can-'noi
not be substantiated in the light of the jDo
rigorous German censorship, to the effecting
that morale inside Hitler's Reich is slip- as
ping. Hitler promised victory before 1940
ended, and now seems farther from it oftlian
when the war began. There have edi
been no signal German successes of late. er.
nea
Evedince of a-more material nature is cc
also available. For the most part, the i
Luftwaffe has lately been bombing in- ^
dustrial centers, and has done less in- ma
discriminate bombing of cities. It now yea
seems to be trying to knock out important
: - - -1 41 L...1. 4U?
131111811 lactones, rainex man to uieciiv uic put.
people's morale?an endeavor which sol(
completely failed. And air observers to
have seen frenzied activity along the ove
German-occupied coast of the Continent, ed
and in the ports which Hitler must use beC
as the starting points for invasion. 175
It is obvious where the U. S. enters this ?fa,
picture. If England is to be really helped, ear
there must be a tremendous speed-up in
our shipments of war materials. And, de- ha(i
spite claims of Administration spokesmen less
to the contrary, the feeling persists that a
ict*
it will not be long before we are convoy- tab
ing British shipping. Germany's greatest Fes
damage to England has been in sinking mei
merchant ships and, equally serious from geF
the Brjtish point of view, destroying or her
disabling numbers of the convoying de- Gr?
err
stroyers. thr
Hitler himself has said that any Amer- Ro1
ican ship?merchant or naval?which is riec
put to the service of England in European fan
waters will be sunk. There can be no 5
question but what use of our navy for
convoy purposes would be an act of war, enc
complete and unmistakable. Yet Germany cha
has shown no desire to formally break ^
relations with us. Hitler has taken a anc
great deal and done little in retaliation. Uvc
Fear of the American navy is considered
by many experts to be the answer to "m
that. Furthermore, Hitler's record shows unc
that he never increases opposition if he ^
can avuiu iu con
anc
Should Re-Appoint Powell ing
pat
There seems every reason in the world re^
why A. F. Powell, Jr., of Whiteville, i
should' be re-appointed as a member of gjjj
the State Highway and Public Works Jua
Commission. cha
During his tenure in office, Mr. Powell
has served the interests of his division
and of the state well. He has lent an at- Get
tentive ear to the voice of the people ^
whom he served, and without any inten- ver'
tion of casting aspersion upon those who mo:
preceded him in office, we believe Mr.
Powell has done more for the roads in ma
this section of the state than any other thu
man.
At the outset of his term of office, he for
introduced a plan whereby the Tuesday the
following the first Monday of each month 1 8
was set aside by him for hearing the re- g?a
quests of individuals and delegations from is
this division who might want to be heard.
By the adoption and the faithful pursuit ma
of this policy, Mr. Powell was more close- hai
ly associated with the needs of his district thc
than he could have possibly been other- ves
fur
wise. eff.
There remains in the division and in the
the State much to be done with regard ^
to the road building program. In order
to accomplish the task which lies ahead, ^
the State of North Carolina and the ^
Third Division needs such men as Mr. ^
Powell to remain on the highway and by
public works commission.
We sincerely hope that Governor
Broughton gives the work which Mr. bu
Powell has done the recognition it de- ter
serves by reappointing him as a member ^
of the commission. -u
enderson Throws Nisw
ight On Caridinlahi! DuH
(Continued ffonr Fag#!)
eritfd British. officer, Major
hn Andi-e, who was hanged as
spy. This able North Carolina
Idler, and duelist on occasions,
is distinguished also in states-mshlp,
often representing his
jntry in the house of commons,
the committee of safety, and
the patriotic conventions and j
lilant gatherings during the |
rring yea is which marked the
surge of the spirit of liberty in
rth Carolina.
BORN IN BRUNSWICK
COUNTY
Robert Howe was born in the
icinct of Clarendon within the
lits of present Brunswick counabout
the yeai' 1730 The Roygovernor,
Joseph Martin, conved
such an animosity against
iwe because of his resolute paotism,
tliat lie insisted upon
ling- him Howes, declaring in
15 that he was "commonly
led Howe, he having impudentassumed
that name for some
irs past in affection of the
rle family that bears it whose
st. eminent virtues have ever
;n far beyond his imitation."
ere was no foundation for this
y story. Howe being connected
:h some of the best families of
rth and South Carolina. In:d
he was the great grandson
James Moore, who was gover
of the two Carolinas in 1670.
ubtless he acquired his social
oir faire and high culture durhis
long sojourn in England
a youth prior to the age of
hteen. He returned to North
olina shortly before the death
his father. Job Howe, a well
icated and prosperous plantat
his home on the Sound
ir Wilmington in 1748.
1MMANDS FORT JOHNSON
it the age of thirty-five he
s appointed by Governor Wiln
Tryon to the post of comndant
of Fort Johnston. A
,r and a half later he was
ceeded in that post, to which
had been only temporarily apnted
by John Abraham Collet,
lier, mathematician, and enTTfho
rotlirt! of C!ollf?t. I
England in 1769, Howe took
r this post again and retainit
until 1773, when he was
lin succeeded by Collet. Howe
ame a justice of the peace in
6, served for a time as baron
the court of exchequer, and
3 elected to the assembly as
ly as 1760. He and his four
thers were each left a plantai
by their father; and he also
I two sisters who were doubts
well provided for. He was
rried to Sarah Grange, daugh- 1
of Thomas Grange, "a respecle
planter on the Upper Cape
ir River", but due to tempera- 1
ntal incompatibility they were
icably separated. Howe on
itember 15, 1772, conveying to
brothers, John and Thomas
inge, as trustees, certain propyl
for her support. There were
ee children by this marriage.
iert Howe was never remar1;
his only son was never mar1,
and so the name of this
lily died with him.
Conflicting views were enterled
of Howe's character. Mc:
in his "Life and Corresponde
of James Iredell" quotes the 1
iracterization of Howe as a
n "whose imagination fascina- 1
, whose repartee overpowered,
I whose conversation was entned
with strains of exquisite 1
llery." Governor Josiah Martin,
ile granting that Howe was a
an of lively parts and good
lerstancing," charged him with
iapplica'.ion of the public
ds during his incumbency as '
imandant of Fort Johnston;
I ventured the opinion in Delber,
1772, that he "was tryto
establish a reputation for
nAdininltf Mnt n
i luuam?tci utiiaj nvi> a uiautable
ambition."
1AIXS HIM A DON JUAN
"hat delightful Scotch "lady of
ility," Janet Schaw, analyzed
ive as a North Carolina Don
in, setting down the following
.racterization in her diary of
>b" Howe, as he was called
0 happened to be the brotheraw
of her sister-in-law: "This
ltleman has the worst charaeyou
ever heard thro' the
ale province. He is however
y like a Gentleman, much
re so than any thing X have
n in the Country. He is deema
horrid .animal, a sort of won-eater
that devours every
ig that comes in his way,
1 that no woman can withnd
him. But be not in pain
your friend, I do assure you
y overrate his merits, and as
im certain it would be in the
ver of mortal women to withnd
him, so am I convinced he
not so voracious as he is reJ
sented. But he has that gen1
polite gallantry, which every
n of good breeding ought to
;e, and when he meets with
>se who receive it as he deseri,
I will, answer it goes no
ther, but if it has particular
ects on apyone, I make not
i least doubt, but he will be
particular as they please, but
it, as they chuse, you know."
QUINCY IS IMPRESSED
losiah Quincy, Jr., friend and
imate of Samuel Adams, visitNorth
Carolina in 1773, and
s evidently greatly impressed
Howe's personality. He de ibes
him as "a most happy
npound of the man of sense,
5 sword, the senate, and the
ck. A truly surprising charaeOn
March 30, 1773, Quincy
led at the home of Cornelius
irnett, whom he described as
ie Samuel Adams of North
, - "iin 'rfi irwiiK-"1, " JIMi&BSiif j$~ 71 lair
dSttltrrtr fotce.pt irr pSifit of fiJrtlin*)-"
lividently, tfK?- most cut-j
npokerr and constructive North
Carolina'- patriots of- that gathering.
in Quincy's opinion, Were
Howe and Harnett, for he records
in his diary: "Robert Howe, s
Esq., Harnett, and. myself made j
the social triumvirate of the
evening, The plan of continental ?
correspondence highly relished, s
much wished for, and resolved fl
Upon, as proper to be pursued."
Elsewhere, the tolerant Quincy, s
who surmsied that the relation i
of Howe's past life would be c
both "moving and ravishing", advances
this opinion of Robert
Howe: "He was formed by na- r
ture and his education to shine t
in the senate and the field?in
the company of philosopher and
the libertine?a favorite of the 1
man of sense and the female (
world. He has faults and vices?
but alas who is without them." J
"AI-PHONSE-AND-OASTON" c
DUEL s
At some later time, I shall relate
the story of Robert Howe 1
as soldier and statesman. Today I
I shall merely mention the caus- c
es which led up to his ludicrous,
"Alphonse-and-Qaston" duel with J
General Christopher Gadsden of a
South Carolina. The latter bitter- a
ly resented being ranked by
Howe troops. McRae, Wheeler,
and Moore are all in error as to i
the causes of the duel, attribut- ]
ing> it to the intemperate criticism
by Gadsden in Georgia in
1777-1778. Unable to endure the humiliation
of serving under a
North Carolinian, Gadsden handed
in his resignation to Howe on T
August 23, 1777. As Congress, to I
whom Howe forwarded Gadsden's
resignation, with equanimity ac- V
cepted it and without comment,
much less protest, Gadsden be- T
came highly incensed and addressed
an open letter of protest to B
the Congress, about September 1, E
1777. This led eventually to the F
duel with Howe, which took place
on May 13, 1778. It was said E
that Howe grazed Gadsden's ear, T
who then fired into the air. A E
?- u?> arrnunt. of the duel
TJ ?? ?
in a South Carolina newspaper, M
reached Major John Andre, a
British soldier, charming man, S
ready wit, and gifted versifier. T
He immediately wrote and pub- A
lished an account in verse of the
duel. The lines are written to be V
sung to the tune of "Yankee
Doodle." The duel was fought on Is
the land of one Percy, north of
Cannonsboro. Colonel Bernard V
Elliott was Gadsden's second, A
while General Charles Cotsworth
Pinckney served as Howe's sec- S
ond. Below follows Andre's poetical
parody, of date September
1, 1778. The duel was generally
regarded as amusingly chivalric, ti
of a type of outmoded Southern o
Don Quixotism. After the duel, 0
Colonel Elliott said he was "glad v
to see so much honor in the gen- h
erals." Andre's verses describe a
the duel with such ironic accur- acy
that they can scarcely be
termed a parody.
It was on Mr. Percy's land,
At Squire Rugeley's corner,
Great H. and G. met, sword in
hand,
Upon a point of honor.
G. went before, with Colonel E., 1
Together in a carriage,
On horseback, followed H. and P.,
As if to steal a marriage. j
Dn chosen ground they now J
alight, j
For battle duly harnessed. j
A shady place and out of sight, j
It showed they were in earnest. )
They met, and in the usual way, J
With hat in hand saluted, )
Which was, no doubt, to show
how they,
Like gentlemen, disputed. )
I
And then they both together )
made, j
This honest declaration,? j
That they came there by honor j
led, j
And not by inclination. j
That is, they fought, 'twas not j
because j
Of rancor, spite or passion, j
But only to obey the laws j
Of custom and the fashion. j
The pistols, then, before their j
eyeB, )
Were fairly primed and loaded; j
H. wished and so did G. likewise, j
The custom was exploded. j
)
But, as they now had gone so far )
In such a bloody business,
For action straight they both
prepared, j
With mutual forgiveness. J
I
But, lest their courage should ex- )
ceed )
The bounds of moderation, j
Between the seconds 'twas agreed )
To fix them each a station. !
t
The distance stepped by Colonel j
P '
i
'Twas only eight short paces;
Now, Gentlemen, said Colonel E.,
Be sure to keep your places.
Quoth H. to G., sir, please to fire, !
Quoth G., no, pray begin, sir;
And, truly we must need admire
The temper they were in sir. j
We'll fire both at once, said H., j
And so they both presented; i
No answer was returned by G., j
Bht silence, sir, consented. j
They paused awhile, these gallant j
foes, j
By turns, politely grinning. )
Till, after many cons and pros., |
H. made a brisk beginning.
' . .'I
^
- NOT EXflCl
If you've never heard John Shannon's piano
10I0 on the famous Rachmaninoff's "Prelude:
'ou're missing something. It can best be described
is "Thunder on the Keyboard.' . . . It's said that
hoe salesmen rire cleaning up in Italy. They ore
piling track shoes to II Duee and his legions to
peed their retreats . . . Men who play the races
isually put more money 011 a horses nose than -.j
in their wives backs ...
Johnnie Simmons, lightweight champ in tho
lovice division, was the first Southport entrant
o ever win a bout in the Wilmington Golden
Jloves. His brother, Rothy, was the only other
ocal entered this year . . . Bandleader Larry
Linton signed up last week with BMI for three
'ears. He is the second member to desert ASCAP
lui-ing their fight. Bing Crosby has refused to
ing any BMI's and sticks to the old public donain
tunes, though he seems to be tiring of it . .
Jremen Fuipless, Southport movie mogul, is j
ashing in on his carpentry experience. He has ,
oined the throng of daily commuters who work <
it Holly Ridge. He still handles the odds and ends
ind advertising for the Amuzu, but his assistant, 1
tobert Johnson, grinds the cameras. His theatre j
s showing Scatter Jane Withers in "Golden 1
loots" tonite, with Buddy Rogers (Mr. Mary ;
PickfordY and Katherine Aldridge ... (
[. missed his mark, but not his V)/\T ?1
aim' 15UL1
he shot was well directed, _ __ _ _ _ _
t saved them both from hurt VI M| || 11
and shame, UV/llV/V/Li
/hat more could be expected. i _____
WINN'
'hen, G., to show he meont no Thg county "Wide
haim, declamation contesl
lut hated jars and jangles,
[is pistol fired across his arms, Iast Thursday. Co
'rom H? almost at angles. all five high schoo
ty were entered.
[. now was called upon by G., medal was won by
o fire another shot, sir, ly Robbins of Be
fe smiled, and after that, quoth declamation medal.
he, P.-T.
To. truly, I cannot, sir. The Bolivia P.-'
regular meeting
uch honor did they both display, A very interesting
hey highly were commended. program was give]
,nd thus, in short, this gallant RHYTHM
fray, Rhythm bands a
,'ithout mischance was ended. ed in the first foui
elementary school
To fresh dispute, we may sup- first composition v,
pose, will learn is "Ama
/ill e'er by them be started: "BASHFUL
.nd now the chiefs, no longer "Bashful Bobby"
foes. sented by the jut
hook hands, and so they parted, day night, Feb.
o'clock.
TAX BILL PASSES j G. C. Hickman
RALEIGH ? North Carolina's ' of Bashful Bobby,
ax bill, designed to raise a rec- bashful in the beg
rd-shatterine- sum of $163,600,-1 the play progresse;
00 during the next biennlum, go to the extrer
ran unanimous approval in the direction. He com<
ouse of representatives today, elusion that he is
nd was sent to the senate. man in the beginni
1
<
WITH
HYPODI
Th'e State Port Pilot L
To Bolster C
Without the artificial aid of c
cut-price and other lure offer
The State Port Pilot keeps
circulation.
s
(
j It has attracted its readers
( publishing a complete, interef
! liable news and informative 1
has attracted an audience of I
and intelligent families. The}
[ Port Pilot for what it is . .
L
| newspaper.
THE STATE I
With More Than 1,15(
f
w*
WEDNESDAY, FEBEm^ H
1Y NEWS -^1
Storekeepers in Southport anu aloHTiT"^ Bf
> *AfJUte i? iffr
have lost the services of Fratik Ricks Hp
bread man who has been working out HP
mlngton. Frank is now working on ^ Hw
route . . . The music of Charlie Sprak fit
becoming the best liked 011 the air. fSn NEi
national network and has wowed cu ;t?ia.,. " " BS
great Glen Island Casino where he is ,1 ** Hl?
0 piftviftg \. MR/,
second consecutive stand, and his st-iv " Hvt
y " ( U11J^ir
into months. This is the spot thjt mj,v r H
Miller famous and though Charlie Is aliwr B
the publicity will put him in the public ;h"' H&*
V.Vv
he belongs. gfe'
Hunters made their final raid- on ,,;ji[ HB
Saturday and practieallv everv 9K
- "Ho rjji, IK
sniff was on the trail. B?
We learned recently thai Hill ('ouitna K
been transferred from Clinton to Walla(l> Mr
though he and Gwyn still maintain their 1Pi,:....'
in the former city . . . Major Baxter Dun -. Bf
distressed about the article in last week's p^ JBg
about Mrs. Yaskell winning a casii f,|
the Paul Sullivan program. "'Mr. Yaskeli ' BE
now received her check for $10.00 front Mr j.
livan.' You know the old boy's habits. Ten .r 33k
Fifteen pound bass every time he gocS f ,i,j. Bg
tnd now taking everything in sight. Chain i JR.
aver on Bald Head!" 9K
f Tf A I hilt. Vrtii u/i 11 c.?.. r,,... i. HB
VIIA
V lr\ is changed later. BB
Xiril/Q Elizabeth Eabo,, piati the ^ Eg
IsEiWlJ of Hele?. Bob's sweetheart & B|
_ does everything to made Bob pro. hI
ER pose, but you'll be surprised l? I
recitation and she gets what she has waited :v M
t was held here | for seven years! Hg
ntestants from Harry, played by Ar.iell Paiter gB
Is in the coun- seems to be the right kind o( ftp Hi
The recitation low to have around in the civ BE
Southport. Bil- of such circumstances, until Bs- OS
ilivia won the causes him trouble. K>
The play will cause many BS
A. laughs, and will furnish a nig H
T. A. held its evening of entertainment. H
Monday night. VALENTINE PROGRAM S
Founders Day The sixth grade gave a vnr ^g
n. interesting Valentine chapel pro- H
BAND gram last Friday. The student Eg
re being form- body seem to enjoy it very much. Eg
r grades of the It was divided into two parts. M
this week. The The first being a Valentine play IgE
hich the bands and the second included a mm- |B
ryllis". ber of songs which were | H
BOBBY" and members of the sixth an* tb|
' will be pre- acted the parts. H
tior class Fri- H
21, at eight PLAN AXIS DRIVE B
ROME -Fascist commentators K
plays the part declared tonight that an Axis H|
and he is very diplomatic offensive is "in full Eg
tinning, but as development throughout the .Med- H
s, he seems to iterranean and the Balkans'' now Q
ne in another that Spain and Italy have ^g
ts to the con- ed a new accord and it is tin- H
i not a ladies derstood, have infot mod France H
ng of the play, of their decisions. B
*
t
OUT 11
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