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VOLUME 11
NEW BERN, N. C„ FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1968
NUMBER 19
Periodically, for the benefit
of new readers, It Is explained
that this column's title comes
from Alice In Wonderland. None
of the characters discovered
by fair Alice when she ventured
through the mirror, startling
though they were, surpassed
those we have known In New
Bern.
Emmie Gaskill has to be In
cluded In the lot. Far beyond
her alloted span of years she
kept right on working, and only
a terminal malady that no hum
an could have coped with took
her out of circulation in her
final days.
She threatened to be as dur
able as the wondeful one-horse
shay, and we much prefer to
remember her that way. Emmie
was one of those rare individ
uals who can be strongly opin
ionated without being obnoxious.
An unfaltering sense of humor,
punctuated by frequent quips,
made her pleasant to be around.
It has been said many times
that no one loves a bill collec
tor, but Emmie collected a huge
pile of bills duringher prolong
ed life and managed to remain
popular. You might hate to part
with your money, but you didn't
blame her for the anguish you
experienced.
Retirement was a dirty word
in Emmie's book, and she de
tested inactivity. It may well
be that she kept going as long
. as she did on sheer momentum.
Those associated with her in
business can't recall she ever
complained of feeling bad, and
this acceptance of physical dis -
comfort mortals usually fret
over remained steadfast during
her last illness.
The marker on her grave will
indicate she was 90 when she
died, but she was 90 years
young. A f ew month s before her
89th birthday she was still
working regularly, and would
have punched anyone in the
nose who tired to favor her be
cause of her age.
Asa florist, Emmie loved all
flowers but her preference was
red carnations. The manage
ment and employees of the shop
that bears her name saw to it
that a blanket of crimson netals
covered her casket and the fam
ily provided a red-carnation
pillow.
As Janie Smith, who operates
the florist concern with her son,
Carlton, says, "Miss Emmie
sure did go away from her in
a blaze of glory." Emmie would
have appreciated the carna
tions, and would have laughed
at the remark by someone as
outspoken as she always was.
Emmie was a gal with an in
stant answer to everything.
Once a man came in to Inquire
about the price of a ceramic
dog in the shop's window, and
was told it was seven dollars.
"I can buy a live dog for that,"
he remarked in consternation.
"That's right," she agreed,
"but you'll have to feed it."
Likely as not, the man ended
up buying the ceramic dug. Even
if he didn't Emmie had pointed
out a pertinent a^ect of the dif
ference between real and make
believe canines.
Emmie was never one to be
impressed pompous individ
uals. On one occasion a uni
formed gent from Cherry Point
entered the place and said,"I'm
Commander So And So." With
out batting an eye, she replied,
(Conttnued on page 8)
WE BUILD THEM—Every town seeks more industry,
but don’t overlook what our community already has.
Ideally located at the junction of the Neuse and Trent,
the State’s first Capital is a logical spot for boat con
struction, and here you see trim pleasure craft fash
ioned ^ local business operations, the Hatteras
Yacht Company and New Bern Shipyards. The Hat
teras creation is the one with the flag flying at the
stern. Our town, from its very be^nning has been
the birthplace of water vehicles large and small.
Years ago, the Meadows clan had marine railways
here, and later, Barbour Boat Works, given impetus
by World War II contracts, grew to its present size.
Competition is keen among boat makers, but New
Bep s firms go all out to put quality on the market,
and yachts from here are seen everywhere in America,
including the West Coast.—Photos by Billy Benners!