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While Zora Styron Kopp (still
charming and vivacious) was in
town during recent days, flie two
of us got nostalgic and recall
ed a locally produced movie
that cast her in the role of
heroine.
Mostly we talked about the
hero, David Johnson, who in
our mutual opinion was by far
the handsomest male this vill
age on the Neuse and Trent
could lay claim to in the first
half of tills century.
David, too pretty to be a
man but too rugged to be fem
inine, was the pilot on Callie
McCarthy’s Ghent trolley.
Nickels in those days were
harder to come by than a half
dollar is now, but dozens of
New Bern girls scraped them
up with considerable frequen
cy and Invested in a glorious
ride on Johnson’s street car.
As best this editor can re
member, thenagnlficentmotor-
man was consistently gracious
to one and all, but remained
astoundingdy uiqierturbed by
the adoration heaped upon him.
Naturally, the fair sex drooled
all the more at this exaspera
ting turn of events.
We regret to report, for Mir
ror readers of younger years
and shorter memories, that the
-story had an uhbappy-ending.
"'David didn't- saleot tils Urld^
frotp the palpitating pack, wd
in due season depaftkf to'live
in Norfolk or some other place.
What a pity, not only for the
self-broken hearts he bad inno
cently left in his wake, but for
Callie McCarthy, whose trol
ley fares on the Qient run fell
off immediately.
But for the fact Qiat a David
Johnson comes along just once
in a lifetime, we might still
have street cars bouncing on
Spencer Avenue and Pollock,
Middle and Craven Streets,
not to mention Metcalf, New,
Queen and Bern Streets.
It is always pleasant to have
favorite former New Bernians
like Zora Styron Kopp (she
has lived in New York for
years) come back home for a
visit. She has a wonderful zest
for life, a keen smise of humor,
and is as genuinely friendly as
a stray puppy on a deserted
thorou^are.
Speaking of friendly people,
any list compiled in New Bern
would have to include Pug Cum
mings. If you’ve ever wonder
ed how he got Utat nickname,
the answer is it was the first
word he learned to say as a
toddler.
Bing Crosby’s case was much
the same. V^en the crooner
fired an imaginary blast from
his toy pistol while he was just
so high, he cound’t say, "Bang.’ ’
Instead it came out "Bing” and
Bing it has been ever since.
One of the most unusual nick
names we can recall in our town
was saddled on Donald (Boy
Blue) Stallings, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Durham Stallings. Even
when he graduated from child
hood and became a big and
strong lineman on the New Bern
High school eleven, he remain
ed Boy Blue to those who grew
up with him.
Charles Craven, in his Mon
day column for the Raleigh
News and Observer, expressed
the thoughts of alt of us who
knew Bernard (Bernie) West.
The Old Reliable’s assistant
State editor was fatally injured
(Continued on page 3)
LIVING IT UP—You can’t blame a fellow celebrating
u- « . *» Road, shares the festivities with his brother,
his very first birthday, if he dives into his cake in a three year old Dale, Jr., who is somewhat daintier,
manner that Emily Post wouldn’t approve of. David Can it be that David has already devoured his candle?
Stroud, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Stroud of 305 Ca- —Photo by Eunice Wray.
A REGAL SMILE—Karen Hancock, who recently be
gan her Miss New Bern reign, beams brighter than
the brilliant October sun as she opens the IwS Craven
County Fair. She is the charming daughter of Aider-
man and Mrs. Durwood Hancock. New Bern’s Junior
Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annuai Fair, as
well as the Pageant that determines New Bern’s entry
for the Miss North Caroiina contest. Karen is looking
forward to the big event.
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