Will Moore’s dog, Sport, in his
last days was like a punchy pugilist
who refuses to admit, even to him
self, that he is just another stum
ble bum at the'end of the road.
His mother was a chow, and his
father a pit bull from South Caro
lina. Together they gave him an ag
gressive spirit that was still un
quenchable after 15 scrappy years.
New Bernlans got accustomed to
seeing Sport bandaged, or saturat
ed with ointment. It was always a
sure sign that the gallant old gladi
ator had made the mistake of limp
ing forth to the wars again.
Neighborhood canines on King
street respected him because of his
age, but he got no such considera
tion when he ventured elsewhere.
Younger dogs, ranging in breed
from cocker spaniels to German
shepherds, relished the chance to
engage him in combat.
Sport was no match for the an
tagonists that confronted him here,
there, and everywhere. Yet, he
would have died of a broken heart,
if he had been forced to stay at
home and keep the peace.
Getting whipped is no disgrace,
when you put everything you’ve
got into the fray.- And' just be
cause Sport had more scars than
furniture has in a home where
children reign was no sign that he
took his lickings without retaliat
ing.
Admittedly, he was obviously
lacking in judgment when he ab-
^sorbed the punishment that came
ab^rb it he did, deliberately, so
no one ever had occasion to cast
aspersions on his spunk. His weak
ness was of the head, not the
heart.
Besides, there was always the
outside chance that the feeble old
fellow would pull an upset, and
rack up a victory for memory’s
sake. Nobody really expected it,
but it was hoped th^ poetic justice
might bring it about.
At any rate. Sport’s friends in
this ancient town by the Neuse and
Trent, especially those living on
King street, would gladly have
formed an impromptu reception
committee to welcome him back in
his hour of reclaimed glory.
It was not to be, and the inevit
able day came when his brave old
heart stopped ticking, and he left
the ranks of living canines. Sport,
we must admit, wasn’t the best be-
• haved dog in our circle of dog
friends, but he wasn’t really mean.
Like his name implied, fighting to
him was a form of recreation.
Just as the» natural athlete finds
joy in a “contact” sport—such as
the bruising blocking and tackling
in football—Will Moore’s pugnaci
ous pet was happiest when he was
right smack in the middle of a
scrap.
Even in his younger years. Sport
got a rough going over once in
awhile. And like we’ve already
said, the thrashings he endured as
an undaunted elder statesman were
horrible to behold. But it was fun
to him, and the zest remained in
his creaky frame, unsteady legs
and woefully dim eyes until the
last breath was gone from his
body.
Because.Sport and a lot of other
dogs that have been part and par
cel of the local scene were color
ful characters, they won’t be soon
forgotten. This editor, day in and
day out, encounters friends and
strangers alike who pause to com
ment on the fact that “You don’t
look right, without Lucy trotting
along by your side.” To be com
pletely honest, we don’t feel right
either.
Few of us who know Foy Keene
will ever forget “Butch” and the
devotion that existed between the
two, while Pete Draney and
“Bunky” were as closely associated
(Continued on Page 8)
New Bern Public Library
The NEW BERN
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OF
EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA
D liu
VOLUME 4
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1962
NUMBER 44
CUTE AND COLORFUL—New Bern High school’s drill
team, under the capable instructioa of Patsy Finch, is a
snappy, well trained outfit. They’ll perfom at the State
Basketball Tournament in Kinston, and march in the parade
at Wilmington’s Azalea Festival. Local sports fans have
enjoyed their appearance at 'numerous athletic events.
—Photo by John R. Baxter. ,
WAY BACK WHEN—Pictured here, 50 years ago, are
members of the Men’s Fellowship, gathered at the Parish
House of Christ Episcopal church. If you’re a keen observ
er, you may recognize Joe Harper, C. H. Stith, Ernest Dunn,
Willie Griffin, Harold Whitehurst. Vernon Blades, Wil
liam Dunn, F. S. Duffy, Justice Disosway, William Boyd,
Haywood Tooker, J. C. Scales, and the Rev. B. F. Huske.