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The Johnstonian-Sun
Amateur Hour Draws
Big Crowd To Selma
teurs Draw Immense Crowd
Lone Star Quartet and Ama
to Selma—The Program Was
Broadcast Over WPTF From
9 to 10 P, M._H. H, Lowry
Delivers Address of Welcome.
_ Hundreds of people from all sec
tions of Johnston county turned out
Saturday night to see and hear the
famous Lone Star Quartet, heard
daily over WPTF, and fourteen
groups of amateurs. The program,
lasting for an hour, was broadcast
over WPTF, with Announcer Phil
Ellis, as master of ceremonies.
_ The first prize, a $25.00 War Sav
ings Bond, was won by the Midnight
Strollers, Willie Christian and Lloyd
McLeod, of Durham.
Second prize went to the Selma
Trio, composed of Ruby Price, Doro
thy Matters and Agnes Turner.
The Morris family, consisting of
Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Morris and
daughters, Elsie and E. J., were win
ners of the third prize.
Others taking part on the pro-
g^ram were the Stephenson Sisters;
Thomasson Sisters;
Woodall Brothers; the Parrish Fami
ly; Benson Juniors, and Corbett Gos
pel Singers.
Before sundown Saturday, people
began pouring in to the Selma high
school auditorium to be sure of a seat.
Long before the program got under
way the large auditorium was packed
while hundreds on the outside were
unable to get inside the building. The
Editor of this paper arrived sometime
before the program to start, but was
unable to get a seat or even standing-
room. It was one of the largest
crowds ever seen in this town and
the crowd stayed until late that night.
The drug stores here did a land-office
business.
The following are a few excerpts
from the radio address by H. H.
Lo-wry, of The Johnstonian-Sun,
Saturday night over WPTF Raleigh:
“We are happy to greet you tonight
from the High School Auditorium in
Selma, North Carolina, where hun
dreds have assembled for the purpose
of hearing the famous Lone Star
Quartet and their large number of
amateurs who are competing for the
prizes offered by the famous guests.
“Selma regards the Lone Star
Quartet, heard daily over WPTF as
one of the best singing groups in
America and Selma feels greatly in
debted to one of its native sons, Dr.
William Howard Carter, minister of
the Tabernacle Church in Goldsboro
who arranged to bring this group to
his home town. We too are happy that
all of North Carolina can join with
us by means of radio in this com
munity Song Festival and amateur
hour.
“Selma is located in one of the
largest agricultural Counties in East
ern Carolina. It is here that farmers
and mill workers meet to buy and sell
and to greet each other with that
friendly greeting so well known in
this cosmopolitan community.
“Selma’s Mayor, B. A. Henry, and
the Town commissioners as well as
every business and professional man
in this community feel very grateful
to WPTF as well as the Lone Star
Quartet in bringing this recognition
to our community and in sending as
the announcer for this program the
well known Phill Ellis, regarded by
Selma people as one of the best an
nouncers in the South.
“To the entire group of visitors as
well as those who have come to see
and hear, we want you to know that
we are happy that you came and we
trust that you will come againt to the
BIG LITTLE TOWN IN EASTERN
NORTH CAROLINA The Town
where everybody is somebody.”
Former Johnston Man
Died In Wilson Saturday
Was Brother of C. P. Harper,
Prominent Selma Druggist
For Many Years,
W. C. Harper, who was born and
reared in Johnston county and who
lived within a mile of Smithfield until
some time after his' marriage, when
he moved to Wilson, died in a Wilson
hospital Saturday after an illness of
some time. He was 72 years old.
Funeral services were conducted
Sunday afternoon at five o’clock at
the First Christian church conducted
by Rev. T. T. Swearinger, pastor of
the church, and Dr. H. S. Hilley,
president of Atlantic Christian Col’
lege.
Mr. Harper was the son of the late
Dr. and Mrs. J. J. Harper. Dr. Harper
was the second president of A. C.
College, Wilson, and Mr. Harper al
ways had an inetrest in the college.
He was an elder in the Christian
church and a prominent churchman.
He was active in the state and Wil
son Junior Order, and was treasurer
of the Wilson Jr. O. U. A. M. chapter
at his death. He held a number of
important committee posts in the
state organization as well in the last
decade. For the past 12 years he was
statistician at the Wilson county cot
ton gin.
Surviving are his wife; three
daughters. Miss Annie Harper of
Raleigh, Mrs. Vernon Wiggs of Selma,
and Mrs. Carl Ousley of Siler City;
two sisters, Mrs. R, B. Whitley of
Wendell and Miss Myrtle Harper of
Wilson; tw-o brothers, Clarence Har
per of Selma, and James Harper of
Wilson, and two grandchildren.
Pine Level Visited By
$42,000 Fire Yesterday
Mrs. Clyde Pilkingt on
Gets $500 From Brother
Tells Her To Invest the- Money
c" Lr Bonds—Will
Send Her $50 A Month During
Duration of War.
The American Flag Association some time ago sent out
the following poem, written by Joseph K. Colton, editor of
the Gardner (Mass.) News;
THE AMERICAN FLAG
Chairman Levinson
Makes Announcement
I would like to announce that ab
sentee application blanks are now
available for those in the United
States Armed Services and others
who expect .to be absent from the
county on election day, and I shall
be glad to supply any interested per
son with the necessary application
blank for an absentee vote. These
applications for absentees MUST NOT
'ie mailed or delivered to me before
October 4 as, under the law, applica
tions CANNOT be received before
that date and if any are received by
me before then I am not allowed to
issue an absentee ballot based upon
such application. All applicants for
absentee ballots are requested to hold
the applications until October 4 and
mail or deliver the same to me at
•that itme or as soon thereafter as
possible.
The registration books will be open
in the hands of the registrars of the
various precincts on October 10 and
will remain open through October 24.
Anyone expecting to be absent from
the county during that period and not
now regisered may register with me
in Benson or Smithfield any time be
fore October 10.
L. L. LEVINSON, Chairman
County Board of Elections
It’s the happiness of children,
It’s the handclasp of a friend.
It’s the magic of the mountains.
It’s the rivers and the sea.
It’s tolerance and courage,
It’s a people brave and free.
It’s the kindly deeds of neighbors,
It’s forgetting race and creed,
It’s the good works done together,
It’s a hand for one in need ;
It’s a lookout’s lonely vigil,
It’s a worker at his trade.
It’s a haven for the outcast.
It’s a stout heart undismayed,
It’s the sunlight and the starlight.
It’s the rainbow in the skies.
It’s humanity triumphant.
It’s the grandest flag that flies.
It’s the sun of California
It‘s the rugged coast of Maine,
It’s the pines of Carolina,
It’s the covered wagon train.
It’s a bugle call at Yorktown,
It’s a clipper in-Mie bay.
It’s a rustic bridge at Concord,
It’s a soldier lad away.
It’s a country’s shining glory.
It’s red, white and heaven’s blue.
It’s an emblem and a beacon.
It’s the banner of the true.
It’s the prarie and the forest.
It’s the hunter’s lonely camp.
It’s a homestead on a hilltop.
It’s a housewife’s evening lamp.
It’s the joy of good companions.
It’s a pleasant evening’s end.
Pib^ington of Smith-
neld, Route 2, received $500 last
week from her brother. Corporal
John M. Rose, with instructions .to
*^^® in United States
War Bonds. Corporal Rose wrote Mrs.
Pukmgton that he would send her $50
per month during the duration of the
war to be invested in bonds.
Corporal . Rose is in Uncle Sam’s
armed forces in Iceland where he has
been fo rabout one year. He is a son
of Mr. and Mrs. K. T. Rose of Rae-
ford, N. C., and a grandson of Mrs.
A. J. Rose of Selma.
In his letter ,to Mrs. Pilkington,
Corporal Rost told her that the
Northern Lights in Iceland are very
beautiful, but .that he would give all
the Northern Lights over there for
just one glimpse of the Carolina
moon.
Selma Fire Department Called
to Scene of Conflagration Eai*-
ly Wednesday Morning—Loss
Estimated At $45,000 When
Cotton Warehouse of W. B.
Oliver & Sons Burned.
Many Women Help
With Surgical Bandag es
Mrs. Walter Price, chairman of
■the Selma Surgical Dressings De
partment, reports that the work is
being carried on in a very satisfacto
ry manner. The room, beginning next
week, will be open only on Wednesday
and Thursday. The hours will be
from 9:00 a. m. to 12:00 noon, from
Member “Flying Tigers”
Selma Kiwanis Speaker
Blackout For Entire
State Next Tuesday
Johnston county will experience a
practice blackout Tuesday, September
29, along with the other counties of
North Carolina.
Durward Creech, county coordinator
of civilian defense, warned Monday
that every person in the county, those
living in rural districts as well as
those in the towns, should be on the
alert and prepared to blackout any
time during the hours from 7 until 11
p. m. on .the 29th.
There will be only a 15-minute
warning for the blackout, which will
last for 45 minutes, Creech said. This
warning will consist of a single Army
flash, which will be “witt.”
Johnston county civilian defense
workers attended a statewide meeting
in Raleigh last Thursday to receive
instructions regarding the blackout.
Among the Johnstonians at the meet
ing were J. R. Pool, chairman of the
county civilian defense organization.
Coordinator Creech; Theron Johnson,
chief air raid warden of Smithfield;
Chief Warden, Wilbur Perkins of
Selma; Mayor Barney Henry of Selma
Selma Presbyterians
To Worship Sunday
There will be preaching services at
the Selma Presbyterian church Sun
day, September 27, conducted by the
Rev. Mr. Hager, of Keysville, ,Va.
Preaching at 11 o’clock a. m., and at
8 o’clock p. m.
All members of .the church are
especially invited to hear Mr. Hagar,
as he may be a prospective minister
for this field.
Mr. Hagar will preach at White
Oak, near Kenly, Sunday afternoon.
Local Theatre To
Sell U. S. War Bonds
The Selma Theatre wishes it to be
known that it has been authorized to
issue War Bonds for the United
States Government. For your conven
ience you may leave your name at
the theatre box office, go in to see
the show as a guest of the house, and
after you have seen the show your
bond will be made out and waiting
for you. This service offered by the
theatre will eliminate any waiting or
standing in line on the part of the
purchaser of the bonds.
and representatives from other towns
as well.
Mayor Henry and local air raid
wardens will give last minute in
structions to members of their or
ganizations.
The Selma Kiwanis club had as
guest speaker on last Thursday even
ing Joseph Peedin, who recently re
turned to the United States from
Burma, China, where he was with the
“Flying Tigers,” a voluntary group of
American soldiers who went to China
about ten months ago to help work
on the Japs.
The speaker was introduced by
Program Chairman Dr. E. N. Booker,
who reminded the club that Peedin
was a former Selma boy who en
tered Uncle Sam’s Army several
months prior to the beginning of
the war. He is a son of Mrs. Joseph
Peedin and the late Mr. Peedin of
Selma; but Mrs. Peedin is now a resi
dent of Smithfield.
On September 7, 1942, young
Peedin was married to Miss Clyde
Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.
W. Morris, of Cary, formerly of
Johnston county. Other guests of the
club who accompanied the speaker
were his mother and his attractive
young bride.
Peedin told many of his experiences
while in China. He said he had travel
ed the Burma Road across China, and
that, besides being very crooked, this
road is a very rough, one-way road
that winds through the mountains like
a folding scroll. The speaker said the
Chinese were ver.y ignorant, and do
their principal fighting by snipe
shooting and hand-to-hand fighting,
who know but little about mechanized
warfare. Peedin said his job was to
help keep the planes in good flying
condition, but .that he went up with
the Tigers on several occasions and
got a bird’s-eye view of the Burma
Road and other parts of China. He
said the Japs were good air fighters
and that .they have some very good
planes which they handle well.
One of the most difficult problems
to face the American fighters in
China, Peedin said, is to find pure
drinking w'ater, due .to the' fact that
there is so much lead in the ground
that often, what looks to be a fine
spring of water will poison an
American just as though he had .taken
a dose of arsenic of lead. The princi
pal article of food among the native
Chinese is rice, he said. Following his
talk, he was asked many questions
about his stay in the Burma section,
which he answered quite freely.
Peedin. brought with him a large
American Legion Aux.
Met Last Friday P. M.
The September meeting of Selma
Unit No. 141 of .the American Legion
Auxiliary was' held at the Legion
building on Friday afternoon, Sep
tember 18, with Mesdames J. T.
Hughes, E. G. Hobbs and Miss Ma
mie Bailey as joint hostesses. The
meeting was opened in regfflar order
by the president, Mrs. W. L. Ether
idge. Committees for the new year
were appointed, as follows:
Finance—Mrs. E. G. Hobbs, Mrs.
B. A. Henry, Mrs. A. Z. Thompson,
Mrs. C. B. Pulghum, Mrs. Ed Creech.
Membership—Mts. W. L. Stanfield,
Mrs. Hunter Price.
Publicity—Mrs. C. A. Bailey.
Junior Activities—Mrs. W. D. Per
kins, Mrs. John Jeffreys.
Sick and Cheer—Mrs. N. A. Branch,
Mrs. J. T. Hughes.
Poppy—Mrs. C. E. Kornegay, Mrs.
W. D. Perkins, Miss Myrtle Bailey.
Welfare—Miss Julia Grant, Mrs.
John Jeffreys.
Gold Star—^Mrs. B. S. Spragins.
Americanism—Mrs. E. B. Creech.
Music—Mrs. E. N. Booker.
Entertainment For Boys in Ser
vice—Mrs. J. T. Hughes, Mrs. B. A.
Henry.
The president urged all Auxiliary
members to give their full coopera
tion to the Red Cross in making Sur
gical _ dressings. Mrs. J. T. Hughes,
District Committeewoman, announc
ed that .the 3rd Area meeting would
be held in Siler City on October 13.
A new membelv Mrs. Lehman
Barnes, was welcomed into the Aux
iliary.
During the social hour, a contest
was held, and a prize awarded the
winner, Mrs. C. A. Bailey. The host
esses served refreshments.
00 p. m. to 5:00 p. m., and from
;30 p. m. .to 10:00 p. m. This will
give everyone a- chance' to set aside
some part of these two days to do
his part in the war effort.
The Selma room has completed
1800 dressings.
Princeton had about 30 ladies who
were eager to do some Red Cross
work. They were given 1800 dressings
to do, and under the supervision of
Mrs. Jackson, completed the dress
ings in one week.
Mrs. W. T. Woodard, Jr., has al
ready received the October quota,
which is 9,000 4x4 bandages and
6,200 4x8 bandages. This will certain
ly give every lady in Johnston coun-
•ty an opportunity to do her part.
The following ladies have helped
with the surgical dressings in Selma
so far:
Mrs. W. P. Aycock, Mrs. W. H.
Call, Mrs. C. M. Daly, Mrs. J. V.
Dean, Mrs. J. C. Diehl, Mrs. DuBose,
Mrs. A. R. Driver, Mrs. H. C. Den
ning, Mrs. Rudolph Howell. Mrs. J.
T. Hughes. Miss Annie Hood Hughes,
Mrs. C. E. Kornegay, Mrs. Dick
Lewis, Mrs. Linwood Mayer, Mrs. W.
R. Smith, Mrs. Walter Price, Mrs.
Paul Starling, Mrs. Norman Screws,
Mrs. Geo. D. Vick, Mrs. W. T. Wood
ard, Jr., Mrs. Macon Williams, Mrs.
Sam Wood, Mrs. G. H. Younger.
From Pine Level: Mrs. B. Oliver,
Mrs. Graham Parker and Miss Mary
Edwards. ■
The Selma Fire Department was
called to Pine Level early Wednes
day morning to help fight one of the
worst fires that .town has had in a
long time. The fire, which was of un
known origin, broke out in the cotton
storage warehouse of W. B. Oliver &
Sons, and practically destroyed .the
warehouse and several hundred bales
of cotton.
The loss, partially covered by in
surance, was estimated at $45,000.
M. A. Webb, manager of a gin,
which was nearby, discovered the fire
around dawn and both Smithfield and
Selma fire companies were called .to
aid in fighting the flames. Water had
to be hauled to the fire trucks from
local wells and dwellings to augment
that carried by .the trucks. The fire
companies could not extinguish the
flames, but saved the adjacent build
ings.
It is thought probable that the fire
was in one of the new bales recently
stored and gradually burned through
and spread before it was discovered.
Mr. Oliver stated that .there were
an estimated 347 bales of cotton, all
burned or damaged, and several tons
of seed damaged.
4-H Girls^ War Motto:
“Make and Mend for V”
Sgt. William H. Thorne
Pays This Office Visit
Selma Boy Finds Back
From Watch In Crash
Bobby Ellis, of Selma , exhibited
to us the back from a gold wrist
watch Monday, which he said re
found near- .the crater made by the
U. S. bomber plane near Wilson’s
Mills some time ago. He found this
piece of watch the day following the
crash he told us.
selection of photographic views taken
while in China, which he exhibited .to
club members.
Sgt. William H. Thorne, of the
677th School Squadron, Lynn Field,
Bainbridge,- Georgia, spent the week
end with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. W. Thorne, on Selma Route 1.
While here Sergeant Thorne paid a
very pleasant call 'at the office of
The Johnstonian-Sun. He returned to
camp Saturday.
Mr. J. W. Thorne, father of Sgt.
Thorne, was in town Saturday to see
his son off. Another son of Mr.
Thorne, Pvt. Howard P. Thorne, is
somewhere in the south Pacific.
Four-H Club girls in this State are
all out for their wartime motto to
Make and Mend for Victory” by
turning their old knockabouts in
clothing into knockouts. In Sihort, they
are being patriotic by salvaging
everything in their wardrobes to
eliminate buying anything made with
or from vital war materials which
they can get along without, to help
win the peace.
They are learning to make their
old clothes look like new through a
thimbleful of dressmakers’ alteration
and restyling tricks — such as the
lengthening or shortening of hems or
sleeves in dresses, skirts, and coats;'
eliminating “bagginess” at the back,
taking in waists, and reclaiming used
wool garments. So that time will be
used to best advantage in war work,
however, the clubsters are consider
ing the following points before alter
ing and restyling a garment: Is the
original fabric good enough to sur
vive the change?.Is the color becom
ing — if not, can it be dyed? Is the
style adaptable to the change?
The girls are receiving training in
establishing a “second front” with
their old ga^-ments in connection with
the National 4-H Clothing Achieve
ment contest, in which the Spool Cot
ton Company is cooperating with the
Extension Service in stimulating in
terest by providing county. State and
national awards for outstanding ac
complishments, exhibits, and demon
strations of the participant’s handi
work.
Recognitions for superior work by
the clothing achievement clubsters in- ,
elude gold medals for county winners,
and all-expense trips to the 21st Na-
■tional 4-H Club Congress to be held
in Chicago, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, for State
honor recipients. Twelve college schol
arships of $200 each will be presented
to a blue award group comprising
two winners from each of the four
extension sections and four at large.
Well Known Colored
Woman Passes Here
Mrs. Laura J. A. King, prominent
in educational and civic life of John
ston county, passed away at her late
residence here at 3 o’clock this morn
ing. For years Mrs. King served as
Jeanes Supervisor of Negro Schools
of Johnston County, during which
time schools were consolidated and
funds raised for adequate buildings.
She was the proud possessor of a
medal awarded her for her efforts in
securing from Negro citizens more
than a thousand , dollars which was
used for the erection of .the Johnston
County Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at St.
John A. M. E. Church, Sunday after
noon at 3 o’clock.
Mrs. Albert Batten Gets
Letter From Son^ James
Mrs. Albert T. Batten, of Selma,
was in the office of The Johnstonian-
Sun Monday and showed us a letter
she had just received from her son,
Tech. James T. Batten, written some
where in Africa on September ~8th.
James wrote his mother that he had
changed address since writing her
last, but that he liked it much better
where he was now located. Said they
had a nice camp and a fairly good
town to go to. He -wrote her “'We are
doing an important job and it is a
military seefet, but I am in a safe
place and getting along fine.”
Selma People Hear
From Son In Pacific
The old-fashioned girl who used to
be on the “square” has been super
seded by girls ^ho are on the “bias”
—you know—“Buy us this”—Buy us
that.”
Mr. Jesse M. Reeves of Selma, re
ceived a telegram Monday from San
Diego, California, dated September
20, which reads as follows:
“Dear Folks, Just left Jesse. He is
okey and in good health. He said to
give you his love. Tell all his friends
hello.”
The above telegram was from a
friend of Cpl. Jesse 0. Reeves, of
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse M. Reeves of
Selma, who is in the armed forces
some where in the Pacific.
w