Page 4A—MIRROR-HERALD—Thursday, April 1, MTT
r
Aycock campaigned for public education
Two famous Tar Heels died during this
week In history.
Charles Brantley Aycock was one of the
state’s most famous governors, serving from
IMl-OS. Known as the “education governor,”
he died on AprU 4,1913, In Birmingham, Ala.,
where he had gone to deliver a speech at the
annual meeting of the Alabama Educatlonsd
Association. At the time he was a candidate
for U. S. Senate.
Aycock, a Democrat, campaigned for
governor on a platform of Improving public
education. He q>ent much of his term
(before the days of Instantaneous state-wide
news coverage) traveling through North
Carolina, making speeches and forming
committees, etc., to sell Ids program to a
citizenry that was far from united In Ita
desire to spend more money on education.
Aycock was successfol, however. In en
couraging both local reforms and In prying
greater appropriations from a parsimonious
legislature. During his term teachers’
%
GD
9MITH
salaries weere doubled, school terms ex
panded, nearly 18,600 new schools were built
and three teachers colleges established
(Appsdachlan State, Western Carolina, and
Bast Csu’oUna shortly after he left office).
-oOo-
IhomsM Dixon, Jr., was probably the most
versatile, famous and ccntroverslal In
dividual ever produced by this state. Yet he
died on April 8, 1946, In Raleigh an almost
forgotten man, described as the "spokesman
for an era that has Img since passed.” He
was 81.
’Ihe son of a Cleveland County Baptist
minister, Dixon was talented, restless and
driven by ambltlwi. (The same holds true for
two brothers and two sistera; all five of the
Dixon children were listed In Who’s Who, an
Incredible feat never again accomplished by
any other American family.)
After early spectacular successes as both
lawyer and minister, Tom Dixon, Jr., turned
to writing, acting and lecturing. Millions of
Amerlcaiu paid to hear him perform and
read his books. Dlxm made and lost several
fortunes and died iwarly penniless.
His most famous work was "The Clan
sman,” now regarded a highly controversial
defense of the KKK In the Reconstruction
Period. After Its huge success as both a novel
and a play, Dixon, considered making It Into
a movie, although neither feature-length
The great human comedy
film or Aims with a plot had over been at
tempted. He Interested a director and
cameraman,, D. W. Oiifflth, and In 1914 the
trall-blazlng movie ‘"rhe Birth of a Nation” »
waa produced. Dixon had an Immense effect ' r
upon the history of motion pictures (the only
major art form developed In the past 100
years) yet today he Is described In con
tradictory terms as "a genius of un
paralleled brllUanco” and ”a racist wlu^
work should never have been produced.”
-oOo-
On AprU 8, 1886, 1100 Union troops under
Ool. Isaac M. Kirby entered the state from
Tennessee for an attsick on Asheville.
On AprU 6 they were defeated In the
Battle of AshevUle by local Ormfederate
militia under Ool. O. W. Clayton. The battle
occurred on ground now occupied by
Ahsevllle-Blltmore College. Earthworks
used by the defenders are sttll In existence.
During the same period Union Oeneral
Stoneman came In from the West and
destroyed war suppUes and military In-'
stallatlons from Salisbury to AshevUle,
which he occupied three weeks after Kirby’s
defeat.
The Poet’s
Corner
’Ihe Mirror-Herald secretary, Blsdne HIU,
tells this story about her spouse.
The Hills recently moved to their new
home on W. Gold St. WhUe they were moving
R€f\DGR Dlt\LOGU€
h’s spring, let’s cleanup
Dear Editor,
The dogwoods are In blossom . . . and
many young couples wlU be placing rings on
each other ^gers, when two shall become
as one In Holy Vows.
Yes, spring Is the most beautiful season of
the year. So get out and enjoy Ood’a great
bwuty. Visit those friends and love ones of
which winter has held back due to the cold
chUly wlnteiy days.
Fix, paint up and shape up. Andlet’s make
Kings Mountain come alive again.
Working together, planning together to
make our City a place In which will be the
envy of adjoining dtles.
Let’s clean up the back lots, side lots, and
the In-lots as to where every one wUl be
proud of our city.
Let’s do a little back bending, and knee
bending, and even a Uttle lending as to where
one neighbor may not have tools to do such,
therefore we can aU work together.
Is that asking too much to have a beautiful
and a clean city?
E. H. PEARSON
Kings Mountain, N. C.
/ know that he is
To the editor, ' -•«- ' ’ ♦ •
'' When I llataii, I hear the VblceiDf fiod — for.
when I hear, I hear the word. And when I
see, I see the light, and when I walk, I walk
with Him, and what I know, I know that I
know. HE IS.
ARTHUR BBLTCUFFE
Kings Mountain
Lieutenant Governor is
against consecutive terms
The Oeneral Assembly has been asked to
sigiport leglslaUcn calling for a referendum
to amend our Cbnstltutlan to enable the
Governor and Lieutenant Governor to
succeed themselves In office, and to be
permitted to serve two ccnsecutlve four-year
terms.
I have made what I believe Is an Intelligent
choice. I shsdl oppose the proposal because
to do otherwise would violate my long
standing beliefs.
I cannot recall the exact times the General
Assembly has considered this matter, but
during my years of serving In the General
Assembly I hhave always voiced otgrosltlon
to gubernatorial succession. This legislation
has usually been considered In committee
and not before the entire membership.
During my campaign for Lieutenant
Governor I did not chsuige that position In
any way — and even though I traveled
thousands of miles and saw thousands of
people — I caimot recall a single person
asking for the succession referendum.
Our forefathers did well In writing our
Constitution — and — recently a blue ribbon
commission went over every part — and the
voters readopted that same constitution with
minor changes on November 8, 1970.
The Oonatltutlan la bigger than any single
Uaue — changing the Constitution Is one of
the most aerloua steps that a people can take.
There la no need for this change — our
present system has served the needs of the
State of North Carolina and has preserved a
good system of balance of power.
We have taken pride In a bicameral
legislature that has Included In Ita mem
bership many of the finest men and women
this State has yet produced — one hundred
seventy who come from the mountains to the
sea — and — this amendment would
materially dilft the power structure away
from them to the Executive Branch of
government with the possibility of one
person serving eight consecutive years as
dUef Executive of our State.
Our leaders have publicized our dlf-
tarences to our sister States — we have said
time and again — “CJood government la a
Habit In North Carolina.”
We have pointed out that under our system
our political power Is reserved to the people
and no one person or position has sufficient
power to dominate government In North
Carolina
I have a fundamental trust In the decision
that has been made by the cltlsens of North
Carolina regarding gubernatorial succession
In the past and I hope the law will remain as
It Is today.
My concept Is rather simple; The
governmental product In North Carolina has
been excellent. Weighed against any other
State In the Union, ours Is the best — I am
proud of the dlfferencea
I would like to say to the members of the
General Assembly, and especially to the
members of the Senate, that I will not at
tempt to pressure anyone Into agreeing with
my position, and I will not be contacting
members regarding their vote, but my office
will always be open to any member who
wishes to discuss the subject.
As you are aware I have been asked to
e)q>ress my views — and — I do so because I
think our'Pmsent system Is better - yes —
I think our present system Is better and I
think our present system reserves more
power to the Individual citizens of North
Carolina
JAMES. C. GREEN
N. C. Lt. Gov.
furniture In and putting the place shipshape,
Scott would take a break raid disappear.
Through the window Elaine spotted her
husband next door. He was talking to a
parrot standing on a perch on the backporch
of the next door neighbor.
This went on for several nights, according
to Elaine.
"I wondered about that bird and the people
who owned It,” Elaine said. “I thought
surely something was wrong. Why would
those people leave an expensive parrot out
an the Ume?”
Scott told Elaine that the parrot couldn’t
Oy away. "There’s a small chain tied around
one leg,” Scott said.
To satisfy her curiosity Elaine and Scott
wandered over one day before dark to get a
real good look at the parrot.
You guessed It. The parrot waa merely a
plastic decoration.
"I wondered why the parrot wouldn’t talk
back to me,” Scott said.
-oOo-
To take the monkey off Scott’s back I’U
recite to you the embsurasslng moments
surrounding my first long distance phone
call.
But a zlt-faced youth at the time, I was
spending a year In Ch'eehbrler Military
School in Lewlsburg, West Virginia.
It waa the rules that all students must
write at least one letter home each week and
If the letter wasn’t written, then you had to
phone to report that all was going (a) well,
(b) lousy or (c) come get me because I’ve
been kicked out.
I dialed home and waited. The operator’s
voice came on the line. “Your call has not
been completed. Please hsuig up and dial
again.”
"I’m sorry,” I apologized. “You see this is
the first time I’ve ever made a long ”
”. . .Your call has not been completed.
Please hang up and dial again....”
“I heard you the first time. Agidn, I’m
sorry. But I’ve never made a long distance
call before,” I said.
TOM
/
) ‘
MclMTYRG
IN THE SPRINGTIME OF HIS LIFE
".. .This la a recording...”
My Zita lit up and I looked around to make
sure no one had overheard this, then I hung
up and walked out Into the compound.
“Did you make your call?” my roommate
asked.
“Sure. There was nothing to It.” With my
chest out I swaggered back to the room and
banged my head against the desk until I was
sure I was vnarter.
-OOO. ■
At least nglthar |3eo|tt’pn(r my.moop^ts
were as bad as the one a very close folend of
mine experienced.
He luul Just stepped out of the shower and
started dolnga dance with his towel. His wife
said, “Don’t parade around the house like
that.”
"Don’t tell me what to do woman,” he
said. “You mess with me and I’ll streak
around the house In the nude.”
“You will not! ”
“Just watch me!”
My friend grinned from ear to ear and
made a dash toward the front door. He never
Intended to follow through. When he got close
to the door he put on the brakes.
He failed to take Into account the small
throw rug lying In front of the door. When his
feet hit the rug he slid right Into the
screendoor, knocked It open and skidded
onto the porch.
My friend’s wife said she rolled In the floor
laughing at him trying to get back Into the
house befwe anyone aaw him.
Jesus carried Hla cross to Calvary
In the distance the hill loomed up.
The sorrow of bitter gall was waiting
To overflow from the redeeming cup.
The pillars of the earth were shaken
God the Father was gjorlf led.
The truth dawned brightly for many
When God’s Son was crucified.
The LUy of The Valley was crushed
I That man may have eternal life.
Ho wore a shanriefui frown of thorns
Bestowed by a world of strife.
Behold the stone Is rolled away
Each heart should sing with delight,
“Halleluiah He has risen! ”
Death passed away with the night.
VIVIAN STEWART BDLTCLIFFE
“TEAR DROPS
It’s raining tear-drops from heaven
When each tear-drop fail’s.
It’s raining tear-drops from heaven after all.
Tear-drops are falling, friends and love one’s call^
It’s raining tear-drops from heaven after all.
When each rain-drop falls.
There’s Dad and Mother, Sister and brother.
(Ml, How we hear them csdl.
Teardrops are falling, friends and love one’s calling
It’s raining teardrops from heaven.
When each raindrop falls.
It’s raining teardrops from heaven after all.
Everette H. Pearsoa
Train exhibit at museum
The locomotive slowed as It rolled under
the bridge and pulled Into the yard, with the
loculed freight cars passing ever more slowly
In review. The brsdceman stepped out with
his lantern swinging, and the smoke from the
stack wafted away from the tralnyard.
mirmeiild
eusLiSMeoaacN
TUeSOAV AND THUesOAV
fAeLANOATKINS
ssaMseees
NOeTN CAROLINA
SRRSS ASSOCIATION
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BARR BLL AUSTIN
ONiirsIMssssw
CLYDR HILL
TIM MIrrsr-HereM N suMIMwd by ObnsrsI
RiMIIAIflS CbmsMr, R. O. Onwsr 7SI, KlSft
m«mMsIii,n.C.,SSISS. evshmsanStdlWrltl twicn
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MSS. SkshS Clast saaMsa saM as Kbiss.ssawilaln,
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ASvanWWs OIraclar Sass
It’s all Imagination. All the action la
Imagination In the minds of viewers at the
new exhibit at the N. C. Museum of History
entitled “Half a (Century of Toy ’Trains.” An
active imagination can give life to the
exhibit of a part of America which la fast
disappearing.
Part of the collection of an avid model
train collector, the train exhibit depicts all
kinds of equipment from locomotives to
passenger and freight cvs, standard gauge
to smaller sizes, as well as bridges, city
stations and power stations. Prominently
displayed are the very rare blue No. 710
Pullman cars, the Lionel 700 locomotive and
tender and the Lionel Hiawatha locomotive
and tender.
The rare pieces on exhibit range In value
from the 1940 power station, valued at about
140 upward to the reproduction live steam
Beggs locomotive and tender (ca. 1888-84)
valued at many hundred of doUara.
These trains are very much like the ones
your father or grandfather received for
Christmas, and sdterward, for many years
were seen chugging around the base of the
Christmas tree, John Ellington, museum
administrator, said. They have been put
away In atUcs untU a general cleaning bringa
them out. ’This Is when they reach a.
collector’s hand, or sometimes the Museum •
of History.
The museum restores and preserves these
Items for present and future North
Carolinians to enjoy, Ellington pointed out.
The History Museum’s present collection
Includes a few commercial toy trains and
also many scale models. Sometimes,
Ellington explained, terms for “toy” trsdns
and "scale model" trains are In
terchangeable, but often not.
Dr. Leon Jordan, one of the many Raleigh
collectors, labels train collecting a
“fascinating hobby.”
More than 176 years of America are
wrapped up In trains,” he pointed out. For
Instance, the first passenger service was
Initiated In the late 1830s or esu’ly I080e and
the first person to be fatally Injured in a
passenger train accident was a North
OLToUnlan. James C. Stedman a Raleigh
Jeweler, was killed on Nov. 11, 1888, In an
accident at Hlghtown, N. J.
Also, Dr. Jordan continued, the historic
Ralelgft and Gaston Railroad roundhouse
was located behind the Seaboard Building
(now being moved with the advancement of
state government construction In Raleigh).
Excavation for the parking lot In 1068 un
covered a rust-encrusted wheel which la
generally attributed to a part of the Raleigh
end Gaston Railroad, dating from the 1870s.
The 80-lnch wheel, along with a railroad
connecting link and pin, an original railroad
Be, and lead seals used for doors of freight
cars, all from Frankllnton, have been
donated to the Museum of History.
The Raleigh and Gaston Railroad had a
brief but bright existence. It was RAG lines
which saw the first locomotive puff Into
Raleigh In March 1840. The engine was the
biggest of Its kind, named ‘”romado” for Its
“fiery speed.”
By coincidence, the present Capitol was
completed that year and a Joint three-day
celebration waa held, beginning on June 10,
1840. The festivities attracted people from as
far away as Virginia.
Unfortunately, following euch an
auspicious welcome, the Raleigh and Gaston
fell Into financial difficulties and passed into
stote control In the 1870s with the rolling
stock going to the Seaboard and Roanoke
Railroad.
Dr. Jordan, a collector alnce childhood.
Insists the toys are “everything In
miniature.” He explained that before World
War n an “electric train” was one of the
biggest toys a chUd could get for Christmas.
The craftsmen took great pride In their
work.
During hundreds of hours of collecting. Dr.
Jordan has talked to builders of the trains
who, he said, “made toys with the same
sincerity of purpose as thooe (peiqile)
building rockets to the moon”
He went on to explain that three major
United States toy makers turned out trains
during the first half of this century, Including
Lionel, American Flyer and Ives. ’Ihe pre-
Worid War II trains are the moat valuable to
moM collectors now. Dr, Jordan explained,
since, after the war, metal parts were
repUced by leas durable plasUc, and craft
smanship declined steadily through the
1060s.
Some of the trains In the current exhibit
are ecale models, complete with miniature
couplers like those used on fuU-slae equip
ment. Others are “toys” - scale models, but
with Ughter weight .."toy” couplers. Some
are restored, others au'e reproductions, and
still others are In original condition.
Dr. Jordan expecta his collection, too, to
eventuaUy wind up In the museum. He
hopes, too, that others will be encouraged to'
give their no longer needed toy trains to the
museum so that mountlesa Nortli
OaroUnlans to come may enjoy the
fascinating hobby of railroading and history
combined.
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