Newspapers / The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, … / Dec. 10, 1953, edition 1 / Page 2
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? 1 ' When Santa Came To Uncle Noah By CHARLES MERCER * < * WHENEVER. ANYONE asks "What does Christ mas mean to your?" Tm reminded of what Christ mas meant to my great Uncle Noah. Since he is dead and usably to defend himself, it is now safe I to tell what Christinas meant to him. He was, to begin with, an irascible man. By that I mean he refused.to drift with the tide of human events. He called it being independent. But the way my grandmother put it: "If you tell Noah to go north, he'll go south. If you want him to go kouth. just remotely suggest that he go north." On St. Patrick's Day he'd wear an orange tie and on Orangeman's Day he'd wear a green. In his youth he was forcibly restrained from raising a Union Jack on the Fourth of July. In middle age he often wore a straw hat in winter. Vou can readily see that Christmas would be a thorn in the side of such a man. He suffered nobly under its good spirit for about 50 years. Although he came from a .devoutly religious family, he refused to enter <a church. So th^ religious signi ficance of Christmas was quite wasted on him. . Grimly working out his years as an office manager for a railroad, he was filled with anguish by the annual throngs of holiday travelers. A bachelor, he knew no joy in buying gifts for wife or chil dren. Each Christmas for many /ears, however, he ' summoned the moral strength to go to my Grand mother's house for the annual family celebration. He would sit there, glumly chewing on a cigar, only aroused from his mournful meditation on the merriment when he could draw an unwary nephew or niece into argument. Then, one Christmas about 20 years ago, he failed to appear at Grandma's. Eventually the story came out. This is what happened: ? ? * ON CHRISTMAS EVE, Noah suddenly decided he was tired of going to Grandma's. He was dis gusted witth the whole ceremony of Christmas, its joy which he called "forced," its gifts which he called "commercialism". So he locked the door to his small apartment in the rooming house where he lived. He went to bed early and slept late into Christmas morning. He cooked his own breakfast and sat down to read Voltaire, his favorite author, trying to shut out the sounds from downstairs where other rdtomers were exchanging gifts around the land lady's tree. Once someone knocked on his door, but he did not answer. The day crept on and gradually Noah grew more and more restive and irritable. Again someone knocked, and this time Noah shouted, "Go away!" But in a few minutes the knock was repeated and this time Noah angrily tunc open the door, lie faced a small, brown-haired, pleasant woman about 40 years old, who smiled at.biin and said: "Good afternoon. I'm Agnes, the landlady's niece. 1 understand you're ill and I wondered if there was anything I could do." "I'm not sick," said Noah She just smiled at him and said, "You don't look well to me." > "I'm fine!" roared Noah. "Prove it," she said. He gaped at her. "If you're not sick, come downstairs and join the rest of us," Agnes said. "I won't!" . , Agnes looked at him steadily for a long time. Then she said gently, "Of course you will. Come along now or must I lead you by the hand." ' ? ? ? THEN OCCURRED the thing that no one, least of all Noah, ever could explain. He quietly followed her downstairs. He had dinner with her and her aunt. In the course of the afternoon he learned that Agnes was a widow. Everyone could easily understand what he saw in Agnes. But no one could fathom what she saw in him. Still, she must have seen something, for a couple of months later they were married. They took a small apartment and several months later they adopted a small baby boy. CHRISTMAS rolled around again. Agnes and the baby were invited to Grandma's with Noah, of course. Everyone watched him expectantly after they arrived, yes. he'd changed. He was pleasant and smiling ? but still rather quiet. - The gifts were opened amid a great babble. Finally, when everyone had opened his gifts, Agnes said she had one more for Noah. We watched breathlessly as he opened the package. The silence became oppresive as he slowly took out a summer straw hft. Suddenly he threw back his head and roared with laughter. It was the most tremendous laugh we'd- ever heard. It seemed to fill and shake the house. Then he put on the straw hat and started to talk. He was the most talkative man I ever heard. He wore the straw hat to the table and kept it on and everyone agreed it was the merriest Christ mas ever. ? ? * * . LATE THAT NIGHT as we all left for our homes, several of us paused for Noah and Agnes. They came out the door into the snowy night. Gra/ely Noah handed the baby to Agnes. Taking ofT the straw hat ,he kicked a hole in it and scaled it .away in the snowy darkness. Then, shaking with laughter, he took the baby from Agnes and they walked off into the night. ? l Ney Grave Protected CLEVELAND, X C. <AP( ? Souvenir hunters will no lopger bother the grave of a man who may have been Marshal of France. The gravestone inscription, in Third Creek Presbyterian C e pa e t e r y reads: "Peter Stuart Ney, a native of France and a soldier of The French Revolution under Napoleon Bona parte. Departed this life Nov. 15, 1846 Age 77." Nichel Ney, Marshal of France, ?mm vLi ?HriQ - Jjjjj ^^?^?1 pl^^B; ' ifl ^Bki it i i 4 ^i'- I > ft r^im Hw'^HflP^Y 1 "''I I F^^l oB^^WE'^^k ^J--~ <Qk .;' I _ M i^^aSB)a iv'V% jrm I ??S IFlggiH Ifflam^i Jk^%^-^.) I l ^^K9I IRB^Jih i? ^SiJ^Hfci^ I I ^**31. ?f^s/l || i n c a f I e x ft I Doubly Guaranteed! | Jj?> For care-free, trouble-free porformanco ? wo havo novor Jji sold a floor watch fhah Wyler Incaflox. Wylor 17 jowol wator- |j|. Jj;-j resistant watches from $35.00. Illustrated: Steel back model with 10-K Gold Filled top and gold-flllediexpansion bracelet, m | s49-75 I USE OUR CONVENIENT LAY-AWAY PLAN. f| I KURT GANS / JEWELER IB Successor To E. J. Lilius Si "The Store of Nationally Advertised Brands" ^ Dial GL 6-6087 207 Main Street lj? "St op An d S h o^p In W a y n e s Appeals to U.N. , i ' 40 '* PROFESSOR Walter Hallstein (left). Undersecretary of State for W{est Germany, is Interviewed by a re porter prior to his appearance be fore the United Nations, in New York, to appeal for help in secur ing the release of thousands of German POWs still held in Russia. The Communists released some of the World War II prisoners, but German authorities insist that many are still held. (International) ' Hat Trick" Error Rectified PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Because of a scorekeeping error, rookie Parker MacDonald of the Pitts burgh Hornets in the American Hockey League was deprived of a well-earned "hat trick" (scoring of three goals). The three goals he tallied against the Syracuse War | riors were erraneously given to teammate Johnny McClellan. The error, however, was rectified the next day and MacDonald had his first professional "hat trick" rec ord. ?a two-piano recital by Miss Vir ginia Morley and Livingston Gear hart?until nearly 10:30, and the last guests departed at 11:45. Mrs. Ivy Baker Priest, treasurer of the United States, is on her toe: wheri she gets home no mat ter how late it is or how trying the day has been. She finds her greatest relaxation in dancing. ' First thing she d6es Is tUrti on radio or phonograph and whirl about the room. She's not a bad tap dancer either! ' ?o? Mrs. Arthur Summerfield, wife of the postmaster general, piped up at a ladies' luncheon recently when someone mentioned Swedish ? AmbassadoT Boheman. "He must I hold the lightweight record," she i said. "He first got his diplomatic i uniform 25 years ago. and it still fits him to a tailor's T. He looked ? very handsome in it at the White ; | House reception the other night." About 13 million autos built be fore World War II are still in use in the United States. Four milts du*a m tl the pressure is 41., , ! square inch. 'Blue Book' Turns Out For White House Dinner By JANE EADS WASHINGTON?It was a busy was ordered executed by Emperor Louis XVIII for losing the battle of Waterloo. Many believe Ney es caped the sentence and fled to America to become Peter Stuart Ney, a Rowan County schoolmaster. Souvenir hunters chipped away much of the Stone. Now the Ney Memorial Association has erected a brick and glass mausoleum over the modest grave. ? :?:??? ? tt- | day for Mrs. Herbert Brownell, wife of the attorney general! The sleek and slender brunet spent tl^e afternoon on the "Hill" listening intently to her husband testify in the Harry Dexter White hearings, then rushed home to don evening clothes to accompany him to the White House dinner for the Su preme Court. Ranking guest at the dinner was Chief Justice Earl Warren. Mrs. Warreji is still in California get ting packed to move to the Capital. The full court was present for the elegant affair, the second state din ner to be given by the Eisenhow ers. Justice William O. Douglas also came alone, but Justice Hugo Black, whose beautiful wife died recently, was accompanied by his young and attractive daughter, Martha Josephine, who is now his official hostess. Three major characters in the controversy over the White case sat down together ? Brownell, FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover and Justice Tom Clark. However, every one is said to have avoided talking shop and enjoyed himself so much that the dinner lasted longer than most similar White House aifairs. The^ guests didn't adjourn to the I East Room for the entertainment From Ray's ? GUARANTEE for Him \>g ^Wi/tG\ SHIRTS with the Guaranteed Airplane Cloth Collar ? ? [YftW white shirts And ? The SAME SHIRT . In Solid Colors h ? Blue (Jx ? Gray ? Tan ? im The Top Dress - Shirt Value At Only AND LOVELY SPORT SHIR1 In a Variety of Fabrics ? Colo and Collar Styles Priced From $2*^5 to GABARDU In a Doze Lovely Col $3.95 and $4.95 SPORT SHIRTS ? "RICHIE" WOOL SHIRTS - $ BOTANY WOOL SHIRTS ? $ Incidentally We Have LOVELY BOTANY WOOL SC In Plain and Argyle Pattern! You Will Find About Everything l< A MAN'S CHRISTMAS AT Ray'S STO f ?muamst:' THE HAPPIEST FAMILY IN HAYWOOD COUNTY GIFTS FOR "HIM" J/T Fountain Pens ? Parker or Sbeaffer $3.75 B Wallets ? Genuine Leather $2.19 _ _ W Pocket Staplers?A practical gift $1.00 up SEE jji Desk Lamps ? Give one V&v \ to your child for studying $3.19 up' Brief Cases ? Perfect for ^ jti school thildren $1.85 up Leather Ring Binders _ $3.98 up Pipe Stands _ 81.98 up ?r Gifts For The .*"7 Camera Fan V Complete Hawkeye jr.. ?AV^SSbB^T Y Flash Outfit __ $13.50 Movie Camera $39.75 Polaroid Camera ? Your Print ? Complete In One Minute $89.50 Flash Attachments ? A necessity for every camera fan $2.95 up Light Meters, Development outfits, and Cameras in all price ranges. I For Everyone ? r ? ' Beautiful Line Of 1 ? '? , CHRISTMAS ' CARDS l^Rfc/x| 12 CARDS 60c U *'f$nb I 26 CARDS ~ $1.00 I 14 PM-Sketched ? I CARDS ^ $1.00 - * v GIFTS FOR "HER" Hand Painted Dishes ^ Fk Finest imported rift ware $1.00 up VI ff . Hanunrrrd Aluminum. Trays and Coaster Hi ft?? "" "" W SEE Wm In all colors and styles $3.00 m _r\ /Sy Beautifully Boxed Stationery ? YA ' ^ Much appreciated and to be LrFMembered by. FIRST Bridie Carda and Accessories ? Everything for the bridge fan. Gifts For The Children with furniture $5.49 Walking Dolls with jwt^n0|L washable hair ... $8.95 Crying Dolls ? Your ^sj, . V daughter will love ^ ^ ^ Electric Baseball Game ? Even your husband Will appreciate it $2.98 Cooper Handicraft Set ? Educational and of lasting value ... - $2.98 Modeling Set ? In all sizes . ' $1.00 up Leather Hobby Kit ? A most useful gift $1.98 Space Cadet Telephones ? The ? newest invention $2.98 They Did Their Chriistmas Shopping At - - - KAISER'S BOOK STORE ? ( i 133 Main St. Waynesrille GL 6-3691 V I |i,;c'^ \ -zL.r. ' I _ 1 The Perfect Gift j A Smith - Corona ^?llMl The *8& W50 S ?j??mmm mmmi^mmmm ' ( f,\y % V T " ? *'' " . . - .*._:? .
The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, N.C.)
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Dec. 10, 1953, edition 1
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