NEW BERN-CRAVEN COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The NEW BERN
VOLUME 9
NEW BERN, N. C„ FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1967
"^WIIKLY
Consider yourself an average
New Bernlan if you've found
that purchasing a greeting card
for someone else to send Is al
most always a big mistake.
Never again will we run such
an errand for a relative or
friend. Few things differ as
widely In tills life as the pref
erences aU of us have for a
“certain kind” of card to mall
an ailing acquaintance or a loved
one bereaved by death.
Sorting through the many
messages displayed on a card
rack, we try to find just the
right thing. Quite often It Isn't
there, although tiie variety of
sentimental lines seems end
less.
If you lean toward the con
servative In expressing your af
fection, concern or distress,
you don't want something
“mushy” or “gooey.” And even
if the message doesn't spread
It on too thickly, you shy away
from a card that Is excessively
decorated.
Surprisingly, cards that are
simple and In Reminds of some
of us show good taste are few
and far between. Since tills Is the
case, and greeting manufactur
ers are In business to make
money, it Is rather clear that
the majority of purchasers pre
fer something with glowing ad
jectives and an ornate overdone
cover.
Most of us are awkward In
expressing condolences face to
face, and no less awkward In
extending sympathy from a dis
tance through the medium of a
card. Instinctively, we realize
that this or that printed mes
sage just doesn’t sound right.
Inasmuch as this Is the prob
lem confronting us when we
shop for our own cards, you
can Imagine the pickle someone
else Is In when we assign tiie
chore to them. The results,
except in rare lnstance.s, are
unsatisfactory.
And, after all is said and
done, we’re apt to totally over
look the fact that picking out a
card that will find a responsive
chord In the heart of the reci
pient is more Important than
choosing something we would
prefer to receive under simi
lar circumstances.
For example. It may be that
you couldn’t care less for hum
orous cards, and we use the
term humorous advisedly, but
intend to mall a “get well’'
missive to an acquaintance who
appreciates something silly
rather than serious.
Regardless of your own
squeamishness about being flip
pant at such a time as this,
you probably will do the rl^t
thing If you settle for a card
that ajiproaches the situation
wittily.
Several years ago we called
on a friend who was recovering
from a serious Illness In a lo
cal hospital. Far from lielng
shallow, he could l)e classified
as a deep thinker and rather
religious, the sort of person
who ordinarily wouldn’t attract
a get well written In a lighter
vein.
So what was the first thing
he did, when we entered his
room? Pushing a stack of ser
ious cards to one side, he hand
ed us a couple of cards that
were as silly and wacky as any
you'll ever see.
It hurt his Innards to laugh,
but laugh he did, and he was still
(Continued on Page 8)
n,EAN SWliHI' Lila l)au«lieily, a IS-yoaroUl Now
Horn High School .studonl, i.s much too pretty to ride
a hroom through Iho skio.s. Enthusiastic about push
ing for a neator and more immaculate city, she thinks
that such u woa()on against litter can be put to better
iKso. For ail of its national awards, the State’s first
Capital still loaves a lot to bo desired when it comes
to cleanliness, and it will take the cooperative efforts
of all New Bernians to make the town worthy of its
reputation. Follow the lead of Dame Nature, who goes
all out for a brighter Soringtime. and tidy up your
premises. Getting rid of unsightly blemishes that mar
your surroundings will give you a lift, eliminate health
hazards, and make everyone else in town a little
happier. What else could vou ask for?—^Photo
Billy Benners.