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The NEW BERN
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VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 12,1970
NUMBER 13
June Is the month of roses,
June Is the month of brides, but
when folks get together they talk
about weather, and nothing else
besides.
They don’t talk about birds
that sing in the trees, giving
their best in an effort to please.
And they don’t have much praise
ft>r the havens of blue, where
white fleecy clouds cruise the
long day through.
Flowers go unheeded, no
matter how sweet, their petals
forgotten, though right at our
feet. We pass up the sunsets,
and we’re blind to the dawn,
and even to rainbows, when
showers are gone.
Yes, you’ll probably agree
we’re a stupid lot, greeting
our neighbors with ’’Gosh,
ain’t it hotl” It’s a phrase
we’ll repeat from morning to
night, to friends and to
strangers, to all within sight.
Like so many parrots recit
ing a spiel, there’s Just one
refrain that can merit our
zeal. Of course, we forget as we
squawk about beat, that we
whined for some warmth when
we had snow and sleet.
The fuel bill went soaring,
beyond rhyme or reason, and
you swore there was never a
more wretched season, wintry
breezes, on streets, chilled you
fore and aft, and at home where
you sat there was always a
draft.
Each morning you groaned,
as you crawledoutofbed,wish
ing, this once, you coUld crawl
back instead. You yearned for
a change in the situation, re
placing your goose bumps with
perspiration.
Yet, you ask all New
Bernians who happen your way
the silly question, ’’Ain’t it hot
today?” The query is foolish,
but we can’t get together with
out someone squawking his yap
about weather.
Why even the gossip that’s
usually spread is strlckly
streamlined, or mitirely un
said. Perhapswe’d becooler,
in Dame Nature’s clutch, if the
subject of heat wasn’t harped on
so much.
********
What was happening around
New Bern Just 60 years ago?
For one thing, a fence had been
placed around the excavations
for the new Union passenger de
pot, and in the business section,
poles from which electric lights
would be strung during the Bi
centennial celebration were
being erected.
J. C. Whltty and Co. was ad
vertising Ballon Fly Ttaps, and
Anti Fly Lotion for keeping flies
off of horses and cows. • .R. A.
Nunn had announced as acan-
dldate for the legislature in the
Democratic Primary on Sep
tember 3rd.
H. E.CRa8)Royall,athlspro-
duce store, offered aq>eclfflon
bananas. You could load iq> at
15 cents per dozen... Just as
tasty were the clnamon buns
being sold at Kafer’s Bakery
for 10 cents a dozen.
Charlie McSorely, who made
his own delicious ice cream, let
4t be known to all that he would
make deliveries anywhere in
the city, at the reipdar price
of 35 cents a quart.
Middle Street Market was
kind to the food budget too.
There you coidd get fine corn
ed beef for 12 cents a pound,
eggs for 21 cents a dozen, and
READY TO GO — “Youngest” musician of the New
Bern area is 92-year-oid James H. Harris. He hails
from the Black Jack section of Craven County, and
stole the show at the recent Farm Festival here.
“The only thing prettier than pretty music,” says
Harris, “Is a pretty girl.” Recalling how he courted
his wife, who died a few years ago, the spry and witty
musician says his fiddle did it. “I swooned her with
it,” he explains somewhat immodestly. Harris is the
payy of Anne Marie Boyett of New Bern and Pearlle
Powell of Bridgeton, and has other younguns up Kin
ston way. He makes no bones about being a hopeless
ham. He’ll play at the drop of a hat, and ne’ll drop it.
“What do you mean I’ old?” he argues. “Why my
grandfather lived to be 127.”
(Continued’on .page 6)