Kew Bern Public Library
The NEW BERN
'^med weekly
5^ Per ,
VOLUME 5
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1962
NUMBER 5
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Edward R. Murrow, a native Tar
Heel, calls these words of wisdom
by Goethe the “complete” com
mencement speech. We’re passing
them along to the youngsters who
are graduating this year from New
Bern High school and our various
Craven County High schools.
“There are nine requisites for
contented living; health enough to
make work a pleasure; wealth
enough to support your needs;
strength to battle with difficulties
and overcome them; grace enough
to confess your sins and forsake
them; patience enough to toil un
til some good is accomplished;
charity enough to see some good
in your neighbor; love enough to
move you to be useful and helpful
to others; faith enough to make
real the things of God; and hope
enough to remove all anxious fears
concerning the future.”
Speaking of graduates, one of
the most colorful characters our
town ever had, the late Dr. Joseph
R. Latham, graduated from Pante-
go High school as valedictorian of
his class at the age Of 15. He grad
uated from the University of North
Carolina, — and received medical
■training at Jefferson Medical col
lege in Philadelphia. As the young
est applicant, he passed his medi
cal board examinations with the
highest grades.
He' practiced medicine here for
more' than a quarter of a century,
and for, six years served” as Craven
county coroner. He had a mind of
fastly refused to put a City Ucfensl
tag on his automobile because in
his opinion the bear emblazoned
thereon bore no resemblance to
' the animal it was supposed to de
pict.
In our conversations with him,
we quickly learned that he was
well read. He was admittedly some
what eccentric, and you either lik-
I ed him or disliked him. In either
case, your reaction to his person
ality was emphatic. If he were
alive today, he would have some
terse comments to make on cur
rent affairs, and few realistic re
marks for this year’s graduates to
evaluate.
Because the editor of The Mirror
believes implicitly in the ability of
this younger generation to meet
its challenge in a changing world,
we hope every 1962 graduate will
remember that you’re as young as
your hopes and your dreams, and
as old as your doubts and your
fears. Some folks, alas, are old
from the start, and others remain
youthful even in the sunset years.
Franklin E. Jordan has written
words that teenagers and adults
alike can do worse than get ac
quainted with in times like these.
Here they are:
I love America, where truth can
be shouted from the hopsetops, in
stead of whispered in dismal cel
lars hidden from the spies and
dictators.
I love America, where families
can sleep peacefully without fear
of secret seizure and torture in
some foul prison or purged in
blood for political reasons.
I love America, where men are
truly free; not living in fear of
slavery, exile or involuntary servi
tude, while their homes are con
fiscated and loved ones are turned
weeping and sorrowing from their
doors.
I love America, where there are
equal rights for all, and where
people are not forced to hate, per
secute or kill because of religion,
race or creed.
I love America, where little chil
dren are not forced to suffer for
want of bread withheld at the
whim of some despot carrying out
a plan for greater glory.
I love America, where men can
think as they please, and where
thought is not regulated by de-
(Continued on Pago 8)
■>s«
ONCE UPON A TIME—You’ll have to delve far into the
past to remember when this photograph was taken of the
Men’s Bible Class at New Bern’s First Baptist Church. See
if you can pick out Will Dowdy, Gordon Battle, James
Lucas, Congressman Sam M. Brinson, George Hunter, J.
C. (Blind) Johnson, C. A. York, B. F. Hagood, Wardie
Gaskins, Oscar Street, Carlyle Marker, Carlyle Dixon, Lon
nie Skinner, Ralph Hunter Smith, John J. Berry, Marshall
Speight, Sprunt Elliott, Jesse Weatherly, Ed Paul, John
Cuthrell, M. W. Fodrie, and Dick Lancaster.
A HALF CENTURY AGO—This picture, according to a
notation on the back, was made in 1910. If you were a
member of this class and can identify yourself and others,
let us hear from you. The photo was taken at New Bern’s
Central School.