»-1 - # i t I Hage I'wo THE PILOT^Southery Pines. North Carolina Friday. January 9.1953 THE PILOT Published Each Friday by THE PILOT. INCORPORATED Southern Pines, North Carolina 1941—JAMES BOYD, Publisher—1944 KATHARINE BOYD Editor VALERIE NICHOLSON Asst. Editor DAN S. RAY General Manager C. G. COUNCIL ■ Advertising Subscription Rates: One Year $4.00 6 Months $2.00 3 Months $1.00 Entered at the Postoffice at Southern Pines, N. C., as second class mail matter Member National Editorial Association and N. C. Press Association “In taking over The Pilot no changes are con templated. We will try to keep this a good paper. We will try to make a little money for all con cerned. Where there seems to be an occasion to use our influence for the public good we will try to do it. And we will treat everybody alike.” —James Boyd, May 23, 1941. Ambassadors of Good Will Welcome signs were hung out here over the past weekend for the visit of Mr. Puang, gover nor of a province of the Asiatic nation of Thai land. Mr. Puang came from the land of temple bells and white elephants, lotus flowers and rice fields, to the land of the long leaf pine. It must have been quite a change yet he appeared to enjoy being here and certainly he fitted into our life,in the frifendliest way imaginable. The gentleman from Thailand (Siam, in the old geography books), chose to come to South ern Pines, on his six months trip into the west ern world, because of his friendship with Lewis Pate. While Mr. Puang visits here, Lewis is in his country, teaching school in Songkhla, Mr. Puang’s home. Lewis is there on a Fulbright scholarship, while Mr. Puang makes his western tour under the auspices of the U. S. State De partment. Both are engaged in the same mis sion: that of getting acquainted with other parts of the world, getting to know people, carrying friendship and understanding with them and bringing it back when they return, each to his own home. Lewis has learned that white ele phants are rare in Thailand, but the people are charming, friendly, intelligent and, above all, freedom-loving. In fact, Thai means “free” and this nation is the only Asiatic land that has never suffered foreign domination of any sort. Mr. Puang, on his side, as he told us, finds America not in the least like the Hollywood ver sion which, too often, is the only idea of this country that foreigners have. This appears to Us to be about the most prac tical internationalism that could possibly be de vised. We have all known about it, of course, ever since the Fulbright plan of international exchange of students and professors was estab lished, but probably few of us have observed the functioning of the plan at suclT close range or with its exchange feature so dramatically ex emplified. We feel that we may congratulate ourselves on the splendid impression made by our ambas sador of goodwill to Thailand. Our town has been honored to have been chosen to participate actively in the Tate-Puang grand change act, for it is acts such as these that will help to establish peace in the world. That Southern Pines may now consider itself a link in the chairi of inter national friendship and understanding that is being gradually forged across the world is some thing to be proud of. A Good Librarian Southern Pines loses a most valuable public servant in the retirement of Miss Amy Churchill from the post of librarian of the town library. Her devotion to the work and the faithfulness with which she has fulfilled her duties has been outstanding. The reason for Miss Churchill’s retirement lies in the increasing weight of the work itself. Truth to tell, she has literally worked herself out of a job. During the four years that she has held the post, the circulation of books from the library has increased steadily, with more and more people using the library. While this would be due in part to the rise in population of South ern Pines and the surrounding area that draws on the library, a good part, we feel, can be at tributed to the ability and interest of the libra rian. >Iiss Churchill’s report shows 5,000 more books circulated this past year than in 1949, her first year as librarian. Miss Churchill is not a trained librarian; no detailed courses in library administration or reader interest Ite behind her proved worth in this field, but she knows books. She knows them and she loves them and wants others to love them, too, and enjoy them and profit from them. That she knows people as well as books is shown by her skill in fitting the books to the reader and in the way she keeps in touch with the various shut-ins of our town and does their choosing for them. Furthermore, she keeps up with the new books as well as knowing the old ones so well. We cannot, also, forbear men tion of the apple-pie order in which the library was kept, so that it has been an esthetic and house-keeping pleasure, as well as a literary one, to enter that attractive building. Friendly hands, under the direction of the county librarian, Mrs. Dorothy Avery, are fill ing in the gap between Miss Churchill and her successor, now being sought. They^ay rest as sured, we believe, that, in the interim, users of the library will cooperate in every way possible to lighten their efforts during this awkward time. To Miss Churchill, the departing libra rian, we feel the town will wish to join in a heartfelt “thank you and good luck!” Neighbors Every Day At Christmas time every year the Moore County Welfare department follows the plan of many similar agencies; it sends a list of needy families to the civic organizations interested in providing Christmas cheer. These, in turn, en list the efforts and funds of the community and, as the result of hard work and generous giving, many families who would not otherwise be re membered at this time, receive a basket of good things to eat and toys or clothing for the chil dren. This year there were 43 names on the list re ceived by the VFW, the agency in charge of Christmas giving here. It is good to know that every family was taken care of, with generous supplies of friendly gifts and food. Many of the families on the Welfare depart ment list are in the “extremely needy” classifi cation. There is little doubt that without such giving their Christmases would have been, sad ones, but it is a question if, included in their gratitude for the bountiful Christmas gift, there is not some slight wonderment. They go through the year, put on their meagre farms or in their shanties; tucked away on a back street, eking out a hard existence with the help of wel fare funds, and these funds are, as a rule, very, very slim. Apart from an occasional visit from a field worker or health department nurse, no body pays attention to them so long as they don’t make any trouble, then, all of a sudden, they find themselves thought about and helppd, “Love thy neighbor as thyself” comes miracu lously to life with themselves as the suddenly remembered neighbor. It must be a surprising, not to say bewildering, experience. Better, of course, to remember our neighbors once a year than not at all and infinitely impor tant that at Christmastime we share our bounty with those less fortunate, but it sometimes seems as if the Christmas spirit ought to have greater staying powers. It is true that the taxes we be- grudge to the government help to make the way a little easier for these unfortunates, but what would really help is more personal continued interest in them and their problems. It would help them directly and, indirectly, such show of interest would build .up the morale of our wel fare and health departments, making them feel that their work was recognized as it should be, as important to the community. Too often such departments function seemingly in a vacuum: so long as they don’t ask for too much money, so long as they jog along quietly without any fuss, nobody bothers about them. The pleasant complacent feeling of a good jol) well done at Christmas time should not blind Us to the realization that Christmas comes but once a year but these our neighbors are nearby every day, year in and year out. Like Topsy, Towns Grow Down in Rockingham, they are wrestling with the town limits problem. Rockingham is grow ing fast, as are a good many other towns in this state, and the town government and taxpayers think it is time to extend the limits and take in some of the outlying territory. However, the state law that a majority of the property owners to be affected must be in favor of the move be fore it can be made has the town stymied. Those outside don’t want to come in. *A Rockingham citizen, Mr. Scott Thomas, has apparently gotten irked by the situation. A strong believer in extending the limits, he has decided to take the bull by the horns in a big way and has brought an injunction against the town government forbidding it to furnish water and fire department services to non-residents. A good many towns, including Southern Pines, are in the same situation as Rockingham. The arguments pro* and con extension of town limits seem to parallel each other in all localities. Peo ple living in town and paying sizeable taxes feel they are paying for services enjoyed by many living on the outskirts. Though, in our town, the water rates are double for non-residents and the fire department is, we believe, recompensed for out-of-town services whenever there is a fire, nevertheless the burden for maintenance and’initial costs falls, of course, upon the town taxpayers. Even though some out-of-towners own business property in town, a good many do not and there is little doubt that they enjoy services beyond the amount of their contribu tion. The case for the non-resident is a good one, too. They chose to live outside town because they wanted to own more land, a piece of woods, perhaps, or space for a garden. In other words, they wanted to live in the country. And a good many are not desirous of having garbage col lections, though not many would like to do with-' out water or fire j^rotection. But the fact is, that anyone who buys a place on the edge of town must do it with the realization that the town is going to grow and some day he’s bound to get into this town limits wrestling-match, for better or worse. The case of Rockingham is arousing much comment and it is a fair guess that Mr. Thomas’ injunction hearing will be the focus of attention of every growing town in the state. No. 38 — Do You Know Your Old Southern Pines? ' ■ . -.A life insurance, fire insurance property insurance, liability insur ance, earthquake insurance, tor nado insurance, unemployment compensation, and old age insur ance. On the back of this ancient copperplate of Southern Pines 40 or 50 years ago we find the penciled notation,' “Johnson’s Pharmacy.” We must admit this is a new one on us, nor do we recognize the building. Either it does not exist any more, or it is completely disguised in a re modeled version. Wonder if some of our “Old Timers” won’t fiU us in on this old-time drugstore—where it was, when it existed, who was the proprietor, etc. My business is so governed that it is no easy, matter to find out who owns it. I am inspected, ex pected, suspected, disrespected, re jected, dejected, examined, re examined, informed, required, summoned, and compelled until I provide an inexhaustible supply of m.oney for every known hee'd, desire or hope of the human race. Simply because I refuse to do nate to scmething or other, I am boycotted, talked about, lied about, held up, laid down, and robbed until I am almost ruined. I can tell you honestly, that ex cept for a miracle, that happened, I could not enclose this check. The wolf that comes to my door, nowadays, just had pups in my kitchen, I sold them and HERE IS ■niE MONEY. Grains of Sand We’re happy to have informa tion to pass on to our readers this week concerning our Old Picture No. 37 in our January 2 issue, showing the Red Cross float in an Arm.istice Day parade of the early 1920s. The battlefield scene cn the truck, we learn, features Dr. J. S. come soon and stay a long time. iruCK, we learn, leaiures ; — - - , Milliken in his World War 1 uni-i Burke about their troubles find- form, just as he had looked when'iug the way when they were here he came back from the wars not last winter. Seems they were m- so long before; a young veteran named Morris, or Morrison, as thei^®!®®' ^*1 _ _ _ no VioH rn Tin c iro it casualty; and as Red Cross nurses. Miss Dorothy Slutz, Miss Betty Lee and Miss Ada Crosby. They were volunteer members of Southern Pines’ very young It will take time to catch up with the many, many friends Elizabeth has here, not to mention learn the changes since she lived here dur- lief and charitable institutions in the city, including the Salvation Army, Community Chest, Red Cross, Purple Cross, double-cross. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, as well as a way station for wayward girls. ing the war! Speaking of changes, we heard the other day from Stan and Ruth be early as they had to 'make it a short evening. So the Vales stepped up the dinner hour, then waited another hour while their guests were driving round and For my own safety, I am re quired to carry health insurance. Dr*. NbbI ahd McLaai VETERINAHIANS Southern Pines. N. C. FOR RESULTS USE THE PI LOT’S classified COLUMN. and new Red Cross chapter. Miss round through the pinewoods Crosby was the sister of Mr. I looking for the familiar entrance! Eddy, the photographer, who liv-j drive, now tucked away behind ed here for many years and was-the new Dahman cottages and back for a visit just last month. Charlie Kcquet s home. .It wasn t For the identifications we are in- until the Burkes gave up and went debted to Mrs. Garland Pierce, to the Stevens and telephoned, the former Dorothy Stutz, one of to ask where in H. . . the Va es several persons who have recog- were, that they got their bearings ■V W. J. STRATTON CO. SALES SERVICE ANTENNAE INSTALLATION TV and RADIO REPAIR Phone Day 2-4652 Night 2-6934# 2-7571 nized themselves in the series oi old cuts. No. 38, of course, wasn’t nearly so old as most of the pictures in the series. It will take a real old- and finally arrived for a belated meal. Another Christmas card greeter who never fails to remember timer to help us on this week’s fiends is Catherine Pierson Ditt- picture above. Denver, Col. Many families have individual ways of observing Christmas which, through annual repetition, becom.e traditions. . . With added pleasure and meaning through the years Catherine sends sketches of a lovely cabin in the Rockies and always a month-by-mcnth calen dar, each month with its strength ening and uplifting messages of quotations from the,great think One New England family we good, heard of, through their relatives does, and we r^ always espe- Christmas Over That Playwright Kaufmann should have been put off the air because he -made that remark about “one commercial without a Silent Night in it,” or words to that effect, seems pretty silly, to say the least. And how was the radio com pany to know, when the complaints came in, how many other people may have let out a cheer for the man who had the courage to speak out, even jokingly, against the endless use of that beautiful carol in the tiresome and sometimes irreverent commercializing of the Christmas spirit? The lack of feeling about these things is troublesome. What sadder sight is there, for instance, than that, seen in many a yard this past week, of a Christmas tree thrown out on the trash heap? Whisps of tarnished tinsel cling to its branches, whose needles, dry and faded, cover the ground. Its proud top, so lately crowned with the flashing star, sags down, bowed in lonely misery. We ought to do better by our trees. To have all that radiant beauty end up in the trash can seems altogether wrong, and those looking for hidden meanings might well see here a cynical symbol of the end'of the Christmas spirit. A gay bonfire on Old Christmas would be the thing, but how is that possible in this civilized day and age! So the Christmas tree goes out with the trash and, up in the big city, the man who voiced a good-natured protest against the exploitation of the loveliest of Christmas songs, goes off the air. Not much we* can do to give our trees a fitting end, but at least we hope Mr. Kaufmann and his talent for merriment will not be lost to us because of such a foolish misinterpretation of a well-meant action. here, consists of a father, mother and three children two, four and six years old. . . Since the birth of the first child it has been the custom of the parents on Christ mas Eve to set up the traditional tree, and at the same time, on the mantel, the Christmas scene, with the Manger on the right-hand end, the three Wise Men on the left. Beginning Christmas morning, the three Wise Men are moved a little each day—approximately one-twelfth of the distance to ward the Manger and tlje Holy Child. This brings them all together on “Old Christmas,” Twelfth Night—or, in the old form by which it is called by this family. Kings Day. . .‘On this day the children receive their real Christ mas gifts, as distinguished from the goodies and “stocking gifts” of December 25. This beautiful tradition accom- pishes several things. . . It teach es the true Christmas story in clear and simple fashion even the tiniest children can understand. . . They learn patience in waiting, the meaning of Christmas giving . . . Last but by no means least it relieves the confusion of Christ mas day. Does anyone else have a Christ mas custom, interesting and dif ferent, they will let us share with our readers? We’d be happy to do cially grateful to Catherine and her warm and lasting remem-, brance. so. News of Southern Pines friends continues to drift in as Christmas card messages are re-read. One that brought pleased anticipation was the card fromi Elizabeth Whit- tall. writing fromi Nassau. “This will be the last Christmas greet ing with palm trees on it,” she says, and goes on to tell that her husband, Guy, is retiring from his position with the Shell Oil com pany within a few months, and is to establish the Whit- tall hearth and home in the United States. Though Guy is English, he has lived here a good deal and the'children. Penny and Vreeland, grew up here and have been going to school and college in America during these last years when their parents were running the oil business in Bermuda and Nassau. Guy and-Elizabeth plan to leave before long and make a leisurely trip UD by csf from Florida, drop ping in -to see friends en route. THE COUNTRY BOOKSHOP PINEBLUFF, N. C. 1 Block East, 2% Blocks South of Stoplight L. V. O’CALLAGHAN PLUMBING & HEATING SHEET METAL WORK Telephone 5341 Eisenhower, as might have been expected, led the list of “mcst admired living men” conducted last month by the American In stitute of Public Opinion (Gallup poll). New names in the top 10 were Adlai Stevenson, iri fifth place, and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen of the Catholic church in eighth. Also, it may surprise some folks to learn, fourth place was occu pied by Harry S. Truman, down just one notch from the position he has held for the past three years. The entire list of 10 held some surprises for us, and maybe for you too. The question asked was, “What man living anywhere in ithe world do you most admire?” The leaders: 1, Eisenhower; 2, MacArthur; Winston Churchill; 4, Harry S. Truman; 5, Adlai Stevenson; 6, Pope Pius; 7, Her bert Hoover; 8, Bishop Sheen; 9, Albert Einstein; 10, Robert A. Taft. In 1951 Eisenhower was also! the leader, followed by Mac-1 Arthur, Truman and Churchill. In 1950 MacArthur led, with Eisenhower, Truman and Church ill coming next. HEARING AIDS AUDICON $74.50 — $88.50 Approved by the American Medical Association Hearing Aid Batteries, Cords, Service. Your own custom made ear mold made by us. Trained consultant. Come in with your problem. Ask for Lou Culbreth. SOUTHERIt PINES PHARMACY Phone 2-5321 WORLD INSURANCE COMPANY LIFE—HEALTH—ACCIDENT—FUNERAL HOSPITALIZATION and POLIO INSURANCE Phone 2-7401 LLOYD T. CLARK. Special Agent Happy birthday next week, Martha Aden! There’ll be a candle in the window for you next Fri day night. Don’t forget. Contributed—a sad complaint; Dear Sirs: In reply to your request to send a check, I wish to inform you that the present condition of my bank account makes it almost impos sible. My shattered financial con dition is due to Federal laws, State laws. County laws, brother- in-laws, sister-in-laws, and out laws. Through these laws, I am com pelled to pay a business tax, head tax, school tax, gas tax, and ligh+ tax, water tax, income tax, food tax, furniture tax and excise tax I am required to get a business li cense, car license, operator’s li cense, not to mention a marriage license, plus a dog license. I am also required to contribute to every society and organization which the genius of man is cap able of bringing to life. to ADEN SCHOOL OF DANCE Old VFW Clubroom N. E. Broad St.. Straka Bldg. Ballet : Tap : Acrobatic Ballroom Phone 2-8224 Graves Mutual Insurance Agency HENRY L. GRAVES GLADYS D. GRAVES 1^3 Professional Building LIFE and FIRE INSURANCE REAL ESTATE LOANS P. O. Box 290 FHA and Direct Southern Pir.es. N. C. Phone 2-2201 yill^ 111 LU cn cfUlC ni xxx Southern Pines, says Elizabeth, women’s relief, the unemployed will be a goal. Lpt’s hope they 1 relief, and the gold-diggers’ re- HAVE YOUR CLO'IiHES> CLEANED D. C. jfeNSEN Where Cleaning an^ Prices Are Better!

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