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VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1970
NUMBER 8
If you see a flying saucer
hovering over Nevir Bern, don't
expect Uncle Sam to take you
seriously. After 22 years of
investigation, at a cost of
several million dollars, the U,
S. Air Force has discontinued
checking out reports of unlden-
tifled flying objects.
We»ve never gotten a glimpse
of one of the things, nor have
we met a ghost face to face
on a dark night. Which doesn't
mean we won't join the believ
ers if It should ever happen.
Real or imaginary, a spook
might not hurt you, but it could
sure make you hurt yourself.
It may surprise you, as it
did us, to learn that Union Bag
and P£y)er Company has been
manufacturing paper bags for
exactly 100 years, and turned
out 606 million as early as
1875. Today, more than 500
bags are produced each year
in the United States for each
man, woman and child living
in this land of ours.
Yesterday was when every
Southern town still had a few
Confederate veterans around.
Feeble reminders of the Lost
Cause, shuffling uncertainly to
ward their waiting grave, they
were accorded special request
by those of younger years.
Much later we thought fleet-
ingly of them when General
Douglas MacArthur, aginghero
of another war, addressed Con
gress and with simple elo
quence said, “Old soldiers nev
er die, they just fade away.”
That's how it was with New
Bern's men in gray. TTiey left
quietly, one by one.
Yesterday was when aU.S.
Senator from North Carolina,
Bob Reynolds of Asheville, ea
gerly Idssed a visiting movie
actress on the Capitol steps,
for the benefit of a news-reel
cameraman.
Then, with atrocious bad
taste aimed at getting votes
back home, he had the gall to
state publicly that the fair young
ladles in our Old North State
could kiss better.
Yesterday was when New
Bernians squawked because the
price of sugar was a nickel
a pound. Of course, moon
shiners bought in quantity and
got it cheaper Yester
day was when the dirtiest eat
ery in town. King Watson's sea
food place down at the Market
Dock, served the tastiest meals
and attracted the largest num
ber of high class customers.
Yesterday was when Five
Points had a fire-bell tower,
to awaken members of the At
lantic and Button companies
who resided at the far end of
town. That was before a steam
whistle you could hear even in
Riverside was put up at the
Water Works, or maybe you
called it the Power Plant.
Yesterday was when Sigmund
Bloomgardt, an elderly Jewish
merchant on Middle Street,
never got caught in a shower,
going to and from his home on
Eden street. Bloomy, a man
nobody disliked, toted his big
black umbrealla, rain or shine.
He didn't get rich, but the Joy
he found in having friends
may have been enough.
Yesterday was when parents
always took the kids along, when
they went calling of a night,
unannounced. Hieir moppets
would listen to grown talk fora
spell, then sprawl on the floor
. . (Continued.Qn page 8)
TO EACH HIS OWN — Everybody finds happiness
doing his or her thing on a pleasant weekend. For
New Bern High school students the top social event
of the season was their Junior-Senior Prom. Photog
rapher Chick Nateiia, who is no ionger in his teens
but would like to be, was there to get this photo
at the exact moment of the ribbon cutting. Chick
was also around, with his camera, when New Bern
had its antique car show, and spotted this witty and
charming couple from Hyde County, appropriately
dressed, in front of an ancient station wagon. Both
the couple and the vehicle have plenty of mileage
left.