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WEEKLY
yolume 11.
Charlotte, N. C., Thursday, August 7,1941.
Number 32.
HITLER MAY HAVE
MADE HIS FATAL
MISTAKE AT LAST
Russia After All Is Likely To Be
Beginning of His Waterloo;
His Difficulties
FOES GATHER STRENGTH
Signs multiply that Hitler, in Rus
sia, may be meeting his Waterloo.
These signs account for the growing
optimism among the highest officials
of this governments They were clear
enough to lead to the dispatch of
Harry Hopkins to Moscow. Their ap
pearance accounts for the willing
ness of Britain and the United States
to deal with Japan in a way that
might precipitate a Pacific war, says
the United States News.
Not that best-informed officials ex
pect Russia to defeat Hitler’s armies.
Instead, their view is that the Ger
mans in weeks ahead probably will
win decisive victories in Russia. These
victories may even result in destruc
tion of the main Russian armies. Vic
tory in the East would relieve vast
German forces for operations in the
West or in the Near East or in North
Africa.
But signs nonetheless are regarded
by this government as encouraging.
The signs include:
First, conclusive evidence that the
German air force lacks the machines
and fuel to conduct large-scale oper
ations on two fronts at. once. Second,
a demonstration that Hitler’s tank-
plane combination can be stopped.
Third, clear evidence that German in
dustry is unable to keep pace in the
fast-moving contest to design and
produce aircraft for the multiplicity
of‘jobs that must be performed.
Fourth, growing evidence that Nazi
leaders are fighting among themselves
over policy and performance.
Furthermore, every day that Hitler
spends in Russia gives Great Britain
one more day to get set for attack.
Each day finds American industry one
day nearer mass production of planes
and ships and guns on a scale that
Hitler cannot hope to match. The
weeks that Hitler is in Russia are
weeks in which the technique is per
fected for clearing the seas of Ger
man submarines. Time is being: given
for American engineers to build a big
new iair and naval base in Northern
Jrelariid. American supplies are reach
ing Africa and the Near East in a
volume that, at the least, will cause
Hitler’s forces to suffer greater loss
es when and if they attack.
Many Lives Lost
Then, too, officials point out that
Hitler promised victory to the Ger
man people for 1940. He minimized
the losses of life to be borne by the
Germans. Now, one year later, cas
ualties in Russia are extremely heavy.
They are to grow heavier before the
«nd. An invasion of England today,
in the opinion of military experts,
would cost a minimum of 1,000,000
German lives and a maximum of sev
eral times that number. The time
when that invasion would be practical
in 1941 is steadily growing shorter.
If postponed until 1942 its chance of
success would be far diminshed or
might even disappear. And all of the
time a rising tempo of air attack up
on German industry will be adding
to the Hitler worries.
Added up, these factors are sug-
^-esting that Hitler is meeting his
Waterloo on the 2,000-miJe battleline
in Russia. They are suggesting that
the picture of a highstrung and jit
tery Hitler that John Cudahy, former
U. S. Ambassador to Belgium, recent
ly brought back fx-om an interview is
the picture of a man who is just be
ginning to make mistakes.
The longer-r,ange situation con
fronting Hitler, as it is sized up by
this Government’s officials, is about
as follows:
,Inv,the air: The four-to-one advant-
age in numerical strength that Ger
many enjoyed over France and Brit
ain one year ago is narrowing rapid
ly. It is doubtful if the advantage is
two to one over Britain at this time,
with tlje British possessing the type
of fighter planes that makes Germ
any’s advantage relatively meaning
less.
Air Force Failing
So long as German planes are oc-
icupied in the fight with Russia, the
British are enjoying command of the
air over the English Channel and
over the coast of France. This is a
demonstration of the fact that Ger
man air strength is not so stupendous
as the American people had been led
to believe. That strength has been
insufficient to destroy the Russian air
force in. six weeks of efl'ort.
American factories are just begin
ning to turn out bombers in import
ant quantities. This means that Ger
man industry, during late autumn and
learly winter, will for the first time
learn of the delays and dislocations
that grow out of large-scale air at
tacks. The American aircraft indus
try supplying Great Britain is the one
aircraft industry outside of effective
bombing range.
On the land HitJer’s panzer divis
ions, operating with air co-operation
are found to have their limitations.
The. Russians, if they do nothing
more, have shown that tank attacks
can be slowed, and even stopped. In
formation in the hands of the United
States Army suggests that this fact
first was demonstrated by Moroccan
troops in France. These troops, really
determined to fight, put out of action
one German armored division in the
battle of France, but received little
or no help from other troops.
This isn’t to say that Hitler’s arm
ies' as they stand today are not in-
MORE ON POGE THREE
Democratic Morale Shows
Improvement All Alons( Line
A new breeze, faint, but unmis
takable, is beginning to fan the
cheeks of freedom loving people
everywhere. This is evident, gays
a Washington dispatch, in the
fact that over the past month
two major war developments have
occurred of far-reaching signifi
cance: the moral of the democra
cies lias greatly improved, while
in the United States the era of
sacrifice has begun.
Democratic morale is bolstered
by the strong fight Russia is put
ting up, so strong that it seems
certain that it surprised the Ger
man armies as much as it sur
prised military prophets of the
democracies themselves. The
British have meanwhile launch
ed an imaginative propaganda
drive in the “V for Victory”
campaign, while the latest raid
on Berlin symbolizes the growing
democratic strength in the air.
Morale in Washington has tak
en a lift by a stronger stand to
ward Japan and the prospective
end of appeasernent there, for
action is always more stimulat
ing than inaction; by the final
appointment of the agency to di
rect economic warfare, under
Vice President Wallace; by the
prospect that the draft law will
be extended, and by the action of
congress and the administration
in coming to grip with taxes and
price controls. The manly apolo
gy of Henry L. Stimson, Secre
tary of War to Senator Burton
K. Wheeler, isolationist Democrat
of Montana, has cleared the air
too, to a noticeable degree, and
produced a better atmosphere in
Washington. It does itiuch to head
off the idea that sincere isolation
ists would be characterized as
“traitors” in a national campaigiji
of abuse, and brings a better feel
ing to the whole situation by its
return to old-fashioned American
fair-play.
These matters, it must be ad
mitted, are very largely impond
erables, and subject to change in
1 other directions. But wars are
frequently won by imponderables
and for the moment the better
all-round feeling in London and
Washington is a matter too sig
nificant not to note.
At the same time, and linked
with this, has come the beginning
of the long-awaited era of sacri
fice in the United States. It was
inevitable that it should come
sooner or later, and it is only now
just beginning. In one sense it is
encouraging, for it means that
America’s war effort is really
taking hold.
In the past week America has
seen sudden, violent economic
changes imperil the jobs of 175,-
000 silk workers, an^ threaten
the work of more than 100,000 au
tomobile workers. A million
draftees who accepted a year’s
army service for the most part
resignedly, now see the term
doubled or made even 115nger. A
mild beginning to gasoline re
striction has occurred in the start
of the new 7-to-7 closing at fill
ing stations on the east coast.
Millions of women face the pros
pect of changes in wearing ap
parel from silk to rayon or cot
ton. In every direction defense
shortages are in prospect or have
already begun, minor at first but
likely to increase. The House
Ways and Means committee has
reported out the, most drastic tax
law in history. Washington is
getting down to grips with pros
pective inflation with new price
curbs, while the Wallace economic
defense agency will ultimately
provide new restrictions and con
trols on business.
Human Interest
AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF SODOM
THREE MEN WILL
RECEIVE HONORS
Broom of Union, Kiker of An
ion and McEeachern of New
Hanover Picked For Tribute
SNUBBING HABIT
IN WASHINGTON
Professional Army Women
Have No Time For Wives
of Non Professional
By F. H. JETER '
Three distingij^hed North Caro
linians who have Inade valuable con
tributions to the farm life of their
State will be honored with Certifi
cates of Meritorious Service in Agri
culture at N. C. State college this
week.
A part of the exercises planned for
Farm and Home Week, the awarding
of these certificates will be one of
the highlights of this annual farm
convention being held this year for
t1ie 38th time.
The honored recipients are: Alex
ander Oldham McEachern, New Han
over county, dairyman, Thos. Jefferson
Winfield Broom, Union county farm
agent, and John Wesley Kiker, Anson
county corn Breeder. The certificates
are one of the highest honors that
can be conferred upon anyone engag
ed in agricultural pursuits.
Dr. J. W. Harrelson, State college
administrative dean,' will present the
awards during the Wednesday night
program. Dr. I. O. Schaub, director
of the Extension service, will read
the citations, describing the reasons
why the three men were chosen to
receive the certificates.
Kiker, widely-known for a yellow
corn variety which he developed, was
born and raised in Anson county and
has spent his entire life there.
Got Ideas From Indians
Recalling a story of his forefath
ers concerning an Indian chief’s tell
ing early white settlers that people
who ate yellow corn were healthier
than those who ate white corn, the
Anson county farmer set out early
in life to improve a yellow corn that
had been grown for generations in
his family. By careful field selection—
a survival of the fittest—he developed
a corn superior to other local varie
ties. Named fittingly Indian Chief, his
corn was one of the first varieties to
be certified by the North Carolina
Crop Improvement association.
Today this variety is contributing
to the development of hybrid lines of
corn adapted to North Carolina con
ditions. In addition, it is grown in
almost every section of the state.
During his active life as a farm
operator, Kiker has encouraged crop
rotations and legumes and has in
spired his neighbors and friends by
his progressive ideas of farm man
agement. At the same time, he has
co-operated with agricultural research
agencies engaged in the development
of higher-yielding, more nutritious,
and disease and pest-resistant varie
ties of corn.
County Agent
Broom, born in North Carolina and
educated in the public schools of his
home county. Union, has served as
county agent more than 30 years. He
was one of the pioneer agents when
farm demonstration work was started
in North Carolina early in the present
century.
“During this time,” Dr. Schaub
said, “he has been particularly inter
ested in the development of more fer
tile soils as a fundamental basis for
improved farming. Discovering in les-
pedeza a legume ideally suited for
soil improvement under North Caro
lina conditions, he has found a prac
tical method of growing the legume in
crop rotations, and has been working
since 1915 to have lespedeza adopted
by the farmers of North Carolina.
“His leadership has been an inspira-
^ MOK,^ ON PAGE THREE
THE H’ESS MYSTERY
The greatest sensation of the war
was the lighting of Rudolph Hess,
Hitler’s right hand bower, in Scot
land last May. The matter died down
and no explanation has ever been
made that seemed to fit the case. Now
comes a writer;^ former French edi
tor, who gives to the world what
sounds like a reasonable explanation
of the whole matter. His statements
fit in with the ?cnown facts, the fact
that the sensatipn quieted down in a
short while, Hes's is still in the hands
of the English, and the world is for
getting the matter. The writer says
that the English secret service, with
out the knowledge of the government,
designed a plan to get possession of
some impoi’tant German who might be
exchanged for two secret service men
from England captured by the Ger
mans. To do this they pretended that
a revolt in Scotland against the Eng
lish was brewing t\nd needed the aid
of Germany. The plan was to separ
ate Scotland fromf England, murder
Churchill and 4lie jother members of
the government, and join Scotland
with Germany, much after the scheme
in Ireland during the first world war.
The Germans swallowed the bait,
hook, line and sinker and thought it
s« important that nothing less than
one of their biggest men was to be
sent over. Hess was selected. What
happened to him is well known.
BLACK CAT AFTER HITLER
Some enterpi'ising persons in
Pennsylvania are going to get a
black cat across the path of Mr.
Hitler. At least they think it
would be a good thing and pro
pose to try it.'•They are going to
cage the cat and train him some
in addition to his natural witch
ery talents. Then they are going
to get that cat sent over and
carried in attacking airplanes
from time to time till he is cer
tain to have crossed the Hitler
path. Then they will await re
sults. That is a pretty good ex-
ahiple of the way that a lot of
people in America think about
this war. They take it just about
that seriously. ■
By H. E. C. (Red Buck) BRYANT
Washington, Aug. 4.-—The daily
newspapers are full of war news but
they are not covering all the battles;
they are giving the front lines much
space but paying’^ little attention to
the rear, where civil conflicts are rag
ing. ,
Wives of West Point and Annap-.
olis graduates are thrownig down the
gloves to\ the wives of volunteers,
draftees, and other “unfortunates”
who climb from civilian posts to ’
places of distinction in the Array or
Jvlavy. At Belvoir, near Washington,
social lines are drawn.
“You cannot attend our parties if
your husband did not come up thru
the West Point route,” is a warning.
At other camps like regulations are
enforced. '
“We alone are tops,” is the battle
cry.
Many are the stories of snubs ad
ministered. Here in a “democratic”
country one has to marvel at dis
tinctions that would not be tolerated
in Germany or Russia. If a young
man would help build an army post
barrack he must consult one of John
L. Lewis’ or Bill Green’s lieutenants,
and, if he got to work, would have to
pay for the privilege of toiling in a
free country. If the wife of Tom,
Dick, or Harry went to camp to see
her husband she might not be per
mitted to dine with him, if by chance
he sat near the helpmate of a West
Pointer or a Naval Academy gradu
ate.
Battles For the Negroes
While such conditions exist, Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt battles , for
equal rights for the wives of Negro
soldiers. She is Democratic through
and through when it comes to the
race question.
In the August number of the Ladies’
Home Journal, in her spiel, “If You
Ask Me,” she has the following:
“How would you feel if you were
a .colored woman and your sweet
heart had been inducted into the
Army and he was even refused a de
cent seat in a movie house or camp
grounds, because he was a Negro?”
Her answer: “I think if I were a
colored woman and faced the situa
tion which you describe I should feel
deeply resentful. There are many
things in our democracy which are
not as yet democratic, but I think if
I were either a colored soldier or his
sweetheart, I should try to remember
how far my race has come in some
seventy-odd years. The change is vrry
great and, hard as the present seems,
there is much already for which to
be thankful, and the progress will
probably accelerate as time goes on.”
Social equality may be attained be
yond the River Jordan but it has a long
way to go from here.
High and Mighty Lady
I heard the wife of a man who has
climbed high in the service of the
Navy, not via Annapolis, but by hard
knocks and steady and well-aimed per
severance, say that she was insulted
by an old dame who had the honor of
• being the spouse of a mediocre officer,
with a Naval Academy education, paid
for by Uncle Sam. She was ushered
to a seat at a dining table on a gov
ernment boat where the high-and-
M0\\: ON PAGE TWO
REM'EMBER POLA NEGRI
Lisbon newspapers a few weeks ago
made much of the arrival from'France
of a small woman wif h dark hair and
hazel eyes who,leen a great film
Anier-.
icans had hot forgotten her either.
When Pola Negri rej>ched New York
City from Lisbon last week reporters
sought interviews and Ellis Island
employes stayed overtime to get her
autograph. Polish-born, Miss Negri
was detained on Ellis Island because
she had lost her re-entry permit. A
hearing set things right, and the ac
tress, vivacious and fortyish, crossed
over to Manhattan. She had not seen
it in five years. Miss Negri’s greatest
triumps were won in Hollywood. Af
ter acting in German films she went
there in 1922 and starred in “vam
pire” roles. Press agents made much
of her feuds with other actresses, her
cars and jewels, her romances. Her
popularity waned about the time the
talkies came in, but even after her
return to Europe, Hiss Negri’s name
figured in the press. One story .had
it that she was a friend of Adolf Hit
ler. The story annoyed Hiss Negri.
She sued a Paris paper for libel, won
10,000 francs^ in damage. In New
York she was'asked if she planned a
film comeback. That made Miss Negri
angry. “I hate the word comeback,”
she cried. She sai.d, though, that she
would like to act in “a really great
movie.”
RATIONS FOR SOLDIERS
Washington’s soldiers were
suppos,ed to get daily a pound of
meat, pound of flour, pint of milk,
quart of spruce beer, 6.8 ounces
of peas and a small handful of
rice—total cost 9 cents. Each man
cooked his own meal over the
campfire. Hard-tack, a kind of
tough sea biscuit, was army fare
up to, but not including, the
Spanish-American War. The sol
diers were glad to get rid of it
then, though some of us who have
sampled it say it is pretty good.
With that war, fresh potatoes ap
peared on the menu, field kitch
ens came in, and the men no long
er did thedr own cooking. Now it
costs about 40 cents a day to feed
a soldier. He has soup, roast
beef, bread, vegetables, salads,
chocolate cake, and once a week
fried chicken. Boxes from home
supplement this diet, as they did
in the Civil War, when ginger
bread was a favorite item. For
aging has gone out.
'EDISON AT HIS OWN FIRE
Mr. Edison, son of the inventor,
was asked what event in his associa
tion with his father now stood out in
bold relief. “They way he took the
big fire of 1914,” he replied. “It illus
trated to me the amazing manner he
had for meeting calamities, and typi
fied his sportsmanship and ability to
look intQ the future.” The fire on
December 9, 1914, wrecked practically
the entire West Orange plant, caus
ing' damage of about $2,000,000. Edi
son said that, while directing the fire
men, his father ran up to his mother
and asked: “Why don’t you get j^our
friends down here ? It’s a glorious
sight and they’ll never see anything
like it again.” Before the fire was
out, Edison said, his father started
rebuilding plans and had a wrecking
engine clearing up the debris.
IT WAS A BIG DEAL
The world’s foremost lender re
cently concluded a major deal.
Federal Loan Administrator
Jesse Jones sat down with Sir
Edward Peacock, representative
MORE ON PAGE THREE —
In the Light of Those Times
•
May God Not Bless America?
(AN EDITORIAL)
Dr. Harold L. Proppe, of the
First Church in Hollywood, Cal
ifornia, seems to be despondent
in the face of a sinful country.
‘(Should God bless America,” he
asks in an article in the “Chris
tian Century Pulpit,” “when
there is a check forged every
3V2 minutes, night and day, in
the United States, when a major
crime is committed every 22 sec
onds in America; when one home
in every four is touched by
crime; when there are 4,000,750
ill the army of the lawless; when
there is one divorce for every
six marriages in the United
States ; when 70 per cent of the
arrests made are due to liquor?
“Should God bless America,” he
$628,000,000 is spent on commer
cial vice; when almost unbeliev
able sums are spent on drugs
and narcotics, lost on commer
cial frauds, or expended for
crime annually? Take a single
instance: it cost ^IjSOOjOOO for
the Government to capture John
Dillinger — besides the lives of
several good men. That one
criminal in four months cost the
government more than our de
nomination gave to missions in
a year.”
We have no way of checking
Bro. Proppe’s figures, but we ob
ject to his argument. There are
lots of bad people in this country,
but in spite of the high sound
ing figures, not all are bad. We
are inclined to think that there
are enough of the not-so-bad
who may with sincerity and con
fidence ask the Lord to bless
America if the request be made
in sincerity and (Earnestness. \^e
cite a c.ertain conversation which
the patriarch Abraham hadfwith
the Lord on one occasion^ as re
counted in the 18th chapter of
Genesis:
“22. And the men turned their
faces from thence, and went to
ward Sodom: but Abraham
stood yet before the Lord.
“23. And Abraham drew near,
and said. Wilt thou also destroy
the righteous with the wicked?’
“24. Peradventure there be
fifty righteous within the city;
wilt thou also destroy and not
spare the place for the fifty
righteous that are therein ?
“25. That be far from thee to
do after this manner, to slay
the righteous with the wicked:
and that the righteous should
be as the wicked, that be far
from thee: Shall not the Judge
of all the earth do right?
“26. And the Lord said. If I
find in Sodom fifty righteous
within the city, then I will spare
all the place for their sakes.
“27. And Abraham answered
and said, Behold now, I have
taken upon me to speak unto
the Lord, which am but dust
and ashes:
“28. Peradventure there shall
lack five of the fifty righteous:
Wilt thou destroy all the city
for lack of five? And he said,
If I find there forty and five, 1
will not destroy it.
“29. And he spake unto him
yet again, and said, Peradven
ture there shall be forty found
there. And he said, I will not do
it for forty’s sake.
“30. And he said unto him,
Oh, let not the Lord be angry,
and I will speak: Peradventure
there shall thirty be found
there. And he said, I will not do
it if I find thirty there.
“31. And he said. Behold now,
I have taken upon me to speak
unto the Lord: Peradventure
there shall be twenty found
there. And h^,,^,aid,- I will not
destroy’ it f;or f-'J^nty’s sake.
“32. And he said. Oh, leL not
the Lord be angry, and I will
speak yet but this once: Perad-
MORE ON PAGE TWO
iTHEYHADABIT
OF EGG NOG ON
CHRISTMAS DAY
It Was 1868 and Capt. Ardrey
Writes Down His Reasons
For Thankfulness
DAIRY CHAMPIONS
Twenty-three 4-H boys and girls
from Mecklenburg attended the 4-H
short course at State College last
week. Hugh Ervin and Dean Basset
won the championship in the dairy
production contest.
Ervin and Bassett are from the
Steele Creek 4-H club. The Meck
lenburg dairy foods team which was
awarded the blue ribbon was made
up of Carolyn Byrd of Hickory Grove
and Nancy Summers of Ramah.
The dairy judging team which plac
ed sixth in the state contests was
made'up of Bob Harris, and Vester
Penniger of Newell, David McCord of
Ramah, and" Billy Tevepaugh of Paw
Creek.
The state champion dairy produc
tion teaTn demonstrated, “Silos and
Silage in Producing Milk,” and now
are eligible to attend the national
dairy meeting in Memphis, Tenn, in
the fall.
JULY TRAFFIC TOLL
Charlotte’s traffic toll continued
to rise during July with 62 persons
injured and one killed in 128 acci
dents, according to George Stone,
record clerk at city police headquar
ters.
The number compared with last
July’s 31 injuries and one death in
120 accidents.
During the first seven months of
this year, reports show, there were
15 traffic fatalities within the city
limits and 319 injuries, compared
■w'ith last year’s 13 fatalities, 282 in
juries during the same period.
He does not contemplate having a
great deal to do at once except to get
prepared for what ever may later
be needed. *
Mr. Burnside’s picture shows him
to be a handsome young man and ac
cording to the fashion of the times,
cleanly shaved. He probably never
sad an example of the once famous
sideburns—whiskers which fashion
able gentlemen grew. This style of
whisker adornment presented a clear
chin and upper lip, but oh my, what
a flowing mane of side whiskers were
cultivated. General Burnside, one of
Lincoln’s generals whom he could not
get much results from, wore whiskers
and from him the name was taken—
Burnsides, then changed to sideburns.
PADLOCKED RESIDENCE
Judge Burgwyn, holding superior
court, has shown considerable in
terest in the liquor situation in Char
lotte and has used some strong
language about the reputation of
Charlotte in that respect., Tuesday,
at the instance of Solicitor Carpenter,
the Judge issued an order to padlock
the place of G. P. Ferguson, 2101
Concord road, pretty near in the city
The order was executed by the Sheriff
at six o’clock Tuesday. Officers stated
that the place was so attractive that
at times the traffic to it was some
thing wonderful.
HOSIERY WORKERS WILLING
With their jobs and their sense of
security falling to pieces about them
—temporarily at. least—because the
United States and Japan were at odds
and because there is to be no more
Japanese silk for the hosiery mills,
a group of hosiery mill workers met
at 1130 Elizabeth avenue Saturday
afternoon and unanimously adopted
a resolution declaring their faith in
the action of the President in the Jap
anese crisis.
The meeting room was packed and
jammed, said Cedric Stallings, presi
dent of Branch 107 of the American
Federation of Hosiery Workers, which
was described as made up of approxi
mately 1,000 workers in the Hudson,
Larkwood, Nebel, and Finer hosiery
mills of Charlotte and the Knit Pro
ducts and Hatch mills of Belmont.
MR. BURNSID'E CHAIRMAN
Mr. J. E. Burnside, Jr., president
of the Auto Finance Company of the
Carolinas, has been appointed by
. Gov. Broughton as chairman of the
' Mecklenburg Defense Council. Mr.
Norman A. Cooke resigned.
Mr. Burnside will assume his du
ties with energy as they arise, and
will ask the aid of all civic agencies.
SURVEY SCHOOL NEEDS
Organization of the recently - ap
pointed joint city-county committee,
which will make a survey of physical
needs in the city and county school
systems, was effected, and the survey
will begin soon.
This study, designed to determine
what is needed in the way of new
buildings, additions to present build
ings, and the provision of physical
equipment generally should begin
within 30 days, it was argued, and
belief was voiced that the survey can
be completed in 60 days.
Sid Y. McAden, chairman of the
board of county commissioners, con
vened the session, in the commission
ers’ room in the county courthouse,
at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon,
and presided until Richard E. Thigpen
was elected chairman of the commit
tee. During the remainder of the
meeting Mr. Thigpen presided.
J. Caldwell McDonald was elected
vice chairman of the committee, the
personnel of which is as follows:
County Commissioners J. Caldwell
McDonald and Fred Hamilton, coun
ty school board members Richard G.
Eubanks and B. D. Funderburk, and
City School Board Members Marshall
E. Lake and Richard E. Thigpen. Ex
cept for Mr. Lake, who was out of
the city, all copimittee members were
present. County School Superinten
dent John C. Lockhart and City
School Superintendent Harry P.
MORE ON POGE THREE
THE DAY^ BY DAY EVENTS
By H. E. C. (Red Buck) BRYANT
Captain William E. Ardrey, in his
diary Christmas Day, 1868, said:
“The day is clear, and cold; the sun
shines brightly, and the sky is as
cloudless as a summer morning. Great
jubilee with the freedmen, perfectly
happy and contented, a few of them
making contracts for another year.
The whites are at home, quietly at
tending to their stock,
“Mr. Robert C. Bell and his wife,
Mollie, had egg nog and dinner for
the two families.
“Tomorrow we have an egg nog and
a dinner for them.”
“My family had good health during
the year—our doctor’s bill only f5.
“I am justice of the peace for
Providence township, and one of the
stewards for the Pineville circuit of
the Methodist Episcopal church.”
G'rad'ually but regularly Captain
Ardrey improved his financial con
dition. The products of his farm at
the end of 1865 had a total value of
.?1,155.00 and by the end of 1868 they
had increased to $1,753.65. He added
a new crop now and then, and en
larged his acreage for wheat, oats,
and other grains. In 1868 he produc
ed 50 gallons of molassaes, valued at
$40.00.
“Providence has smiled propitiously
lipon us the first four years as a
family,” said he. “No deaths, no bad
sickness, no evil fate has overtaken
us.”
In March 1869 he stated: “Mag’s
(Mrs.. Ardrey’s) prospects for chick
ens are very promising; she is tak
ing a great deal of interest in them
and her garden. She set her old goose.
She has 54 young chickens and four
hens setting.
“The old goose hatched four gos
lings.”
“April 23,” he added, “we commenc
ed planting cotton.
“.June ^0, went to town with James
Cunningham.”
Mr. Cunningham was called “Big
Jim” Cunningham; he was a power
ful man, and raised a family of in
teresting children.
“As a child I used tO see a hand
some s;on, Robert, pass our home
every Sunday morning on his way to
Providence church, riding a beauti
ful horse. The ten miles and return
did not bother him, and he looked just
like he had stepped out of a band
' box in a new suit of clothes with hat
and shoes to match. Robert never
married. He had several brothers, Ed,
John, Ben and Walter Cunningham,
and three or more sisters, Mrs. T. 0.
Ross, Mrs. Harvey McGinn, and Miss
Dora Cunningham, I recall.
July 4, 1869, the diary continues:
“This is the anniversary of our Na
tional Independence but patriotism
is at a low ebb in the South, too low
for any public demonstrations.”
Horses were horses and mules
mules in those good old days before
the motor car came to disturb their
reign.
July 12: “Mr. (R. CJ.) Bell return
ing from Charlotte, driving grandpa’s
horse, met with accident. Horse be
came frightened at the train, and ran
off and broke Mr. Bell’s leg. Sad ac-J
cident for him. Mr, Bell’s mule ran
off with John White and bruised him
badly, his leg caught in the chain,
and he was dragged 100 yards.
Troubles coming in clusters in that
family. Drs. Williamson, Kell and Mc-
Ilwaine attending Mr. Bell.”
Christmas Day 1869: “Raining all
day; very quiet at home, no egg nog;
dull and gloomy. The young people
are crazy over parties. Farmers and
freedmen very slow making contracts.
The year closes with brighter pros
pects than ever since we have been
housekeeping. An agreeable and
pleasant family. A good wife, and tWo
bright and promising little boys, Jim
mie and Willie. An all-wise God,
abounding in mercy, and goodness.,
has helped oas on with health and
strength, and good seasons far more
than we deserve, 'and to Him we
give thaks.
“Corn, bacon, wheat, lard and mo
lasses enough to do us, with 14 bales
of cottoQ and our stock of horses,
cattle, hogs and so forth. No family
misfortunes of any kind. *
“God be praised!”
Here is the way Captain Ardrey
summed up his crop products for
1869:
14 bales of cotton $1321.24
500 bushels of corn 500,00
75 bushels of potatoes 60.00
1,100 pounds of pork 140.00
62 bushels of wheat 125.00
11 dozen oats 40.00
10 loads of hay 60.00
65 gallons of molasses 50.00
40 bushels of peas 30.00
One bull, sold 30.00
One cow, sold 25.00
Total : $2,391.24
Pleasant Grove camp meeting was
never neglected by the Ardreys and
connections; every year they were
there, generally in tents. In August
1871 they were with Dr. Robert M.
Miller of Charlotte, and heard many
good sermons.
I used to ride to Pleasant Grove
from home, but never, until I read af
ter Captain Ardery, realized the seri
ous side of it. It was more or less a
(picnic for me, and a chance for a good
horse race or two. The Ardery ac
counts lists the speakers, the texts,
' MORE ON PAGE TWO