’“ T ^ y V •* r v.*
New J3^nm Public I.ibiaZ/
The NEW BERN
IJU
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OP
EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA
5^ Per Copy
since Donald T. Mldyette Is
one ot our favorite New Bern-
lans, we are counting on him
to forgive us for repeating this
story.
Back in the days when the
diminutive Oriental native was
a student at Atlantic Christian
College in Wilson, there was a
Clinton youngster enrolled in
the same school by the name
of Shorty Carter.
As a practical joker, Shorty
had few equals, and he would
go to great lengths to pull a
ridiculous prank. Naturally he
got ideas when a traveling pa
tent-medicine peddler set up
shop at one of Wilson’s corner
drug stores, and starting sell
ing Indian herb juice.
Carter purchased a bottle,
took it to the campus, and left
it on the dresser in his room
for a couple of days. Then
he went back to the salesman,
and proclaimed the wonders
that herb juice had done for
him. “It cured me of every
thing”, drooled Shorty, “it’s
marvelous, simply marvel
ous.”
The juice man, anxious to
capitalize on this bountiful en
thusiasm, asked the student if
he would be willing to sign a
testimonial for use in the lo
cal newspaper. Shortypromptly
agreed, but instead of signing
his own name he signed Don
ald’s.
Next day tha Wilson Times
carried a half page ad, pro
claiming with bold headlines
that apopular Atlantic Christian
youth was simply carried away
with Indian herb juice.
Underneath, in lurid detail,
it told how Don was infested
with just about every ailment
known to man, and got rid of
them all with the very first
bottle. The miracle had to be so,
because Midyette’s name was
signed at the bottom.
Don didn’t see the ad him
self, not right away. A sour
faced biology professor, who
maybe could have used some
sort of tonic himself, did see
the testimonial and called it to
Midyette’s attention on class.
When Donald professed ignor
ance, the professor gave him a
sarcastic going over. Anyone
who knows Midyette’s mild,
peace-loving temperament, can
imagine how embarrased he
was.
As soon as he had the chance,
he headed for the college library
to scrutinize the Wilson Times
and see for himself. Somebody
had already beaten him to the
paper, and had clipped the ad
out.
When at last Mldyette did
lay his hands on a copy of the
Times, he well night blew his
stack. He hurried to the drug
store, but the salesman had
left town and nobody knew from
nothing.
“Maybe I should have sued
somebody,” says the local deal
er In stocks and bonds, “but
I guess It’s just as well that I
didn’t. More than a month later,
after I had cooled off, Shorty
came to me voluntarily and
admitted that he was to blame”.
The gag died a very slow
death. For at least two years
after that, Donald was the tar
get for good natured ribbing by
fellow students, and became
resigned to the nickname of
Herb Juice.
More Important than the kid
ding was the high esteem he was
(Continued On Page 8)
HOME TOWNER—Jo Ann Frank, whose morning show
for women viewers on WNBE-TV has a large following,
is happy to be back in New Bern among the scenes
of her childhood. Poised and relaxed when working in
front of the camera, she is a veteran of all phases of
the broadcasting business. Well read, she has many
hobbies and can easily converse with guests about a
wide variety of subje^
POINTING IT OUT—New Bern’s Harold Spencer is
ready to greet our town’s early risers each morning
with the latest weather data. He has to be wide awake
when he indicates highs and' lows, storms and cold
fronts on the farm show he appears on with another
well known New Bernian, Paul Cox. Like aU weather
men, Harold goofs occasionally, but his forecasts are
usually as accurate as they are complete.