PUBLISHID WBBKLY
IN THI HIART OP
^ IA8TIRN NORTH
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1970
NUMBER 16
Every ttme we make a half
hearted stab at cleaning out
our Jumbled files we come
across forgotten keepseakes.
The latest discovery Is a photo
graph of Marie Dressier, per
sonally autographed and sent
us years ago after a com-
pUmmitary reference to her
in print.
She didn’t need praise ftom
a small-town writer, but great
lady that she was, she took
time out to express her grat
itude. Only days before she
had been presented an Oscar
for her title role In “Emma”
by the Motion Plcutre Academy.
No other actress even came
close that year.
However, most New Bernians
50 or over probably remember
her best as Tugboat Annie in the
film of the same name. Co-
starring with Wallace Beery,
she altonately made audiences
laugh and weep in a waynoone
had done since Charlie Chap
lin displayed his genius with
Jackie Coogan in “Hie Kid.”
Marie Dressier was a re
markable woman ,and herphl-
iosophy was summed up in
something she said in her last
years. “K isn’t how old you
are,’’ she reasoned, “buthow
you are old.’’ The remark has
been quoted countless times
since, and Solomon couldn’t
have said it better.
Even in her younger days, as
a buxom comedienne who took
Broadway by storm, she was
hardly the Cinderella type.
However, her comeback as a
top ranked screen star, long
after her stage career ended,
has to be one of the most In
spiring stories in the annals of
show business.
Here in New Bern, any movie
starring Marie Dressier meant
a full house at the Masonic The
atre. Like a number of other
great perfwmers, among them
Lionel Barrymore, she had
personality so dominant and
unique that it dwarfed any role
she played.
Deep down she never lost the
urge to clown. Once, In Holly
wood, when a handsome young
man danced with her at a spe
cial function, she inquired as
to his profession. “I’m a Naval
surgeon,’’ he informed her
somewhat pompously. “My
goodness,’’ comment^ Marie
with feigned astonishment,
“how you doctors do special
ize!’’
***«**««
John Kleran, who hunted at
Camp Bryan east of New Bern
some years ago, is possibly the
most intellectual individual to
visit our section. He made his
livelihood as sports editor of
the New York Times, before
retirement, but is a recognized
authority on more than a 100
subjects.
Ife tells the story of a travel
er who saw an old man at the
door of a cabin in the Blue Ridge
Mountains, and asked, “Have
you lived here all your life?’’
The old man squinted at the
stranger, and replied patient
ly, “Notylt.”
Kleran’s love of the great
outdoors knows no bounds,
and for him it holds charm cm
days less appreciative mortals
consider disagreeable* “Bad
weather always looks much
worse through a window.’’ he
says.
One morqlng this week, while
checking to see if Hie cucumber
(Continued on page 2)
ALMOST UNANIMOUS--These happy girls, cruising doesn’t disturb him at all. He is concentratina. as
on the Neuse at Camp Seafarer east of New Bern, every skipper should, on his duties at the helm. Sea-
wouldn t have trouble staging a full fledged mutiny, farer and Camp Sea Gull are nationally famous for
The skipper of their trim vessel is the only male on their excellence. '
board. So many members of the opposite sex around
MADE IT OFFICIAL —- Here you see Governor Bob
Scott presenting the certificate to Commander How
ard E. Greene of Charlotte, United States Power
Squadrons District 27, that proclaimed June 28
through July 4 SAFE BOATING WEEK. New Bern
members of Cape Lookout Squadron, headed by Cliff
Forrest, have worked tirelessly since 1960 to teach
smaii-boat handling to more than 3,000. Don Deich
mann has been a moving force In the ^^ade.