Page Four
THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C.
Friday, January 3, 1964
THE NEW BERN MIRROR
Published Every Friday at 510 Jefferson Avenue
New Bern, N. C., by the Sole Owner
J. GASKILL McDANIEL
Editor and Publisher
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
One Year $2.50 Six Months $1.25
Entered as second-class mail at New Bern April 4, 1958,
under the act of March 3, 1879.
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
“So teach us to number our days that we may
apply our hearts unto wisdom.” No newspaper editor
wrote these lines. You’ll find them in the Bible, and
they still make a mighty good yardstick for those
who annually formulate New Year resolutions.
Also in the Bible, if we remember rightly, you’ll
find this reminder for folks who spoil the present
by regretting the past and dreading the future. “Suffi
cient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
With the two passages to serve as a guide, all New
Bernians should be able to do better, and live happier.
They may or may not reap more of things material,
but blessings less tangible can bring inner satisfaction
that should never be minimized.
No thinking New Bernian wants to live like the
grasshopper. Strictly a playboy, he has no thought
of the morrow and is an easy victim when Jack Frost
arrives to lay him low. Yet, who wants to be like the
pessimistic and woefully greedy squirrel, storing far
more food than he’ll ever have use for?
As best we can, in the New Year, we need to strike
a happy medium. However, this much must be said
for the grasshopper, he does his utmost to enjoy each
day to the fullest. Very few humans live each golden
moment as it comes. More often than not, we mark
time in anticipation of what we want to happen in a
brighter tomorrow.
Far be it from The Mirror to belittle hope for
something better. Without hope the world would be a
dreary place indeed. But squandering the present on
wishful thinking merely deprives us of what we already
have within our grasp.
Tomorrow, if we live to see it, will consist of
24 unlived hours — just like today. Rich or poor, young
or old, each of us will have those same 24 hours. Being
creatures of habit, the odds are great that we will
follow a worn pattern in utilizing the minutes that
tick away during our wakefulness. Only a few of us
will change from what we have been.
Resolutions made for the New Year will be
broken, but that doesn’t mean we have to wait until
Next Year’s to do something about it. What we ought
to do, it seems to The Mirror, is pick up the pieces,
put them back together, and; have another go at it.
Each new day, if we see fit, can be a New Year
in itself. As a matter of fact, if we tackle one resolution
at a time instead of loading ourselves down with a
bunglesome bundle of good intentions, we might get
better results.
Meanwhile, we won’t have to venture into outer
space on the first available rocket to enjoy the ad
venture of mortal existence. All about us are wonders
to behold, and new worlds to conquer. They may not
make headlines, but that’s because we editors are
guilty too of taking the miracles right here on earth
for granted.
Bounce out of bed early, for a change, and thrill
to the splendor of a Carolina dawn as it breaks over
me Neuse. Marvel at the magic of a sunset on the upper
Trent, a tree etched against the gathering dusk, and
the rhyming prayer of a little child.
Listen quietly to the music of the masters—lose
yourself in the pages of a book. Smile, and say good
morning to a stranger — visit someone who is sick
of body or sick at heart.
Do a small favor for somebody who will never
have occasion to do a favor for you in return. Spend
a few moments in an empty church, eat an evening
meal by candlelight — hear a bit of choice gossip
without passing it along to add to the evil of what mav
or may not be.
Living each day as if it will be your last on earth
is good. Better still, remember the old lady who said
“I treat others as if this will be THEIR last day on
earth.” She had the answer for us all.
Essotane Gas Service
BOTTLE AND BULK
NO INSTALLATION CHARGES
SCOTT GAS CO.
221 Middle Street
Service That Satisfies
Historical
Gleanings
—By—
ELIZABETH MOORE
Village Verses
THE BRYAN HOME
Chapter 4
The home of Judge Henry
Ravenscroft Bryan at 407 East
Front Street has been the home
of five generations of Bryans.
Many distinguished New Ber
nians lived In the home In Co-
onlal times and prior to the
time Judge Bryan purchased It,
Including, Colonel Joseph
Leech, Honorable Isaac Ed
wards, and Thomas CUfford
Howe, Esquire, who was the
second husband of Elizabeth
Wilson Spalght, daughter of Ma
dame Mary Vail Jones Wilson
Moore. Thomas Clifford Howe
served his community in many
outstanding capacities and later
the story of the Howe family
will appear.
Judge Henry Ravenscroft
Bryan was born March 8, 1836
In New Bern, He married In New
Bern Miss Mary Biddle Nor-
cott.
Judge Bryan was an honor
graduate of the University of
North Carolina In 1856. He open
ed his office In New Bern and
began a career marked by suc
cess and devotion to the com
mon good.
He was counsel for the At
lantic and North Carolina Rail
road Company, City attorney,
and In 1890 a member of the
Superior Court of North Caro
lina, This position he held un
til 1907 when he resigned be
cause of advancing age.
He was one time mayor of
New Bern, Director of the North
Carolina penitentiary, and In
1880 a Democratic presidential
elector. In 1860 he bought the
old Spalght Plantation stretch
ing from the Trent River to the
Neuse River, bordering Brice’s
Creek.
For fifty years. Judge Bryan
was a vestryman of Christ Epis
copal Church In New Bern, He
died In 1919. In recognition of
his character and services the
Legislature adopted a resolu
tion of respect and tribute.
Mary BlddleNorcottwasborn
March 11, 1841, In Greenville,
N. C„ the daughter of John
and Sarah Frances (Biddle)
Norcott. She was the author of
ECHOES FROM THE PAST and
A GRANDMOTHER’S RECOL
LECTIONS OF DIXIE, both of
which are delightful contri
butions not only to her family,
but to the community and State
as well.
There are many distinguished
Bryan descendants, not only In
the State of North Carolina, but
In many other States an abroad.
In a recent conversation with
Mr. H. Bryan Duffy, a grand
son of Judge Bryan, whose home
Is at 413 East Front Street, he
stated that a portion of his
home had been the old dining
room to the large home for-
ON A COLD MORNING
Winter is a landlord grim—
Grasping and intent;
Painting icy signs in vain
On vacant nest for rent.
There are no housing problems now.
Deserted are the trees;
For birds are wise and journey south
Before the first big freeze.
They have no worry over fuel.
And how much they can get;
As basking under balmy skies.
They sing without regret.
And though they travel miles and miles,
A map is never needed;
Or if they fly a bit too fast.
No cop says that they speeded.
When winter comes with frigid hands.
And song birds southward wing;
I envy them, and shiver,
’Til they fly back home in spring.
—JGMcD.
merly occupied by the family
of Judge Bryan; that it had
been moved some years ago
from that site to the present
location, and additional rooms
added for his dwelling.
Mrs. Isable Bryan Jordan,
daughter of JudgeHenryR.Bry
an, said the dining room stood
directly back of the large house,
and behind that was a kitchen
built partly of brick and part
ly of boards, making It a two
story structure, with rooms
above the large family kitchen,
which had a Are place at each
end.
One end was used for cook
ing and the other was used for
ironing; there was a pump just
out side the door and a duck
pond. Also there was a dungeon
where the large turkeys were
kept locked up during the holi
day seasons, to protect them
from being carted away.
The yard was filled with tall
shade trees and other attrac
tions for children to play, and It
was often filled with young vis
itors to the Bryan children,
Alas, If this elegant old home
could speak. It could tell many
fascinating stories, Interesting
to both young and old,
♦*******
(Thanks to Mrs. Isabel Bryan
Jordan, Mr. H. Bryan Duffy of
New Bern, Miss Alice Noble of
Chapel, N, c,; Mr. Blckham
Christian of Shreveport, La,;
and the records of the late Mrs.
Frances Bryan Claypoole),
* «*****:«,
For picture, see The New
Bern Mirror, November 1,1963;
and for first three chapters, see
The New Bern Mirror, No
vember 1, 8, 15, 1963,
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