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The NEW BERN
^ ^niUMIID WIIKLY
W’ A. '*#II«AIITOF
NORTH
^'5b
VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1970
NUMBER 15
Yesterday was when the sen
ior citizens who find today's
ungodly music unbearable de
lighted In the loud wallings of
Cab Galloway, and the chirpy
llttte squeak of a voice that
produced Helm Kane's boo-
boop-doops.
Yesterday was when the luck
iest small boys In town were
those whose parents allowed
them to chop their long drawers
off at the knees* That way your
black cotton stockings didn’t
look all lumpy.
Yesterday was when preach
ers denounced bobbed hair as
sinful and likewise lipstick. It
was a losing battle. The aver
age gal figured she'd like to
be more attractive on earth,
and gamble on getting to heaven.
Yesterday was when every
backyard had a ctdcken coop,
and the only way to get clothes
really clean was with boiling
water, Octagon soap, ana a
sturdy wash board. It almost
ate the buttons off.
Yesterday was when any girl
who ordered a ten cent hrlnk,
when her date took her to the
dri^ store, was nothing but a
gold digger. Next day every guy
In town knew about It, and her
prospects for further dates
evaporated.
Yesterday was when the only
male juveniles In town who
owned a pair of swim trunks
were sissies. Everybody dived
off naked as a Jaybird at the
guano dock on East F*rxit
street, or at the Pocamoke In
Riverside.
At least, we called itnaked
as a Jaybird, but to the best of
our knowle^e there's never
been a Jaybird in these parts
you could charge with indecent
exposure. At any rate, “Hair"
and "Old Calcutta" hadnothlng
on us.
Yesterday was when New
Bern's fashion event of the year
was the annual modeling at S.
Coplon and Sons. A three-piece
orchestra from out - of - town
played while the keenest fem
inine pulchritude around prom
enaded the full length of the
store on an elevated walk-way.
Yesterday was when the
average man in New Bern was
happy to own an Inger soli watch.
Of course, Ifyou'workedforthe
railroad, you swore by a Ham
ilton, and Jake Zelgler at Eat
on’s Jewelry Store regulated
it once a month to keep It per
fectly timed. Unfortunately,the
trains weren't that punctural.
Yesterday was when SO cents
got you all the steamed oysters
you could eat at George Bow
den's place on lower Middle
street. The conversation fur
nished by George was for free,
but never dull.
Yesterday was when you
could buy a tasty cantaloup
(that's how WdMter veils It)
for a nickel, peddled at your
door, and a BogueSoundwater
melon for a dime. A whopper
of a watermeloo cost a whole
quarter.
Yesterday was when sex
education wasn't taught In the
publle schools, and certainly
not at home. CurlousUtUeboys
at New Bern’s Central tried to
remedy that by vain attempts to
peep into the Primary build
ing's girls basement. Nobody
c^ed them rest rooms.
Yesterday was when only
the must affluent could afford to
l>ay 15 cents tor a pack of
Camels, Chesterfields, or
(Continued on page' 6)
that were will never be again,
tin
Thlnt
rime and wind, and unrelenting rain
Alone keep vigil with each sagging rafter.
Empty are the rooms that once knew laughter.
In distant days this little house held dreams.
Children's rhyming prayers, and candle gleams;
A searching sun reveals its heartbreak plight.
The dark is kinder, memories bless the night.
-JQMcD.
(Photo by Dr. Bruce Schleln.)