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Regional Library |RN NORTH
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2C560
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VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1970
NUMBER 18
New Bernlanswhowereatthe
University of North Carolina
while Thomas Wolfe was a stu
dent there probably remember
that he was frequently seen
scribbling In a notebook.
The Asheville giant continued
the habit after he became an In
ternationally praised literary
figure, as the result of two nov
els published during his life
time-
“Look Homeward Angel”
and “Of Time and the River"
reveal much of the turmoil
that forever remained within
Wolfe. His many notebooks,
detailing random thoughts and
even the most rlvial incidents
in his life, disclose a great deal
more.
The rangy mountaineer was
a man of strong feelings. He
left behind him, when he died
prematurely, a number of un-
malled letters written in rage.
Having gotten the bitter venom
out of his system, itls apparent
that he was content to let it end
there-
It is, perhaps, safe to say that
no writer, important or unim
portant, ever jotted down as
complete play-by-play account
of his own life as Wolfe did.
His every move, his every no
tion, and every who and what
was recorded in one of those
notebooks.
As one reviewer points out,
even when he went to a party
where he hated to be present,
he made a list of all the
guests there and preserved it.
In Hollywood, when he became
famous, he wrote down the
name of every person he met,
stars and extras alike-
Strange and anguished indeed
was Thomas Wolfe, but what a
way he had with words. Charles
Laughton, who ranks high
among the actors of our time,
classed portions of the author's
writings with the phrasing of
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,
and delighted in reciting them.
If you’ve read his novels,
read them again. If you’ve
never read them, do so. Every
North Carolinian owes It to
himself to become acquainted
with the literary works of a
fellow Tar Heel who was some
thing of a genius, but as deep
ly saturated with human frailty
as mortals far less talented.
Last weekend the editor of
The Mirror received a copy
of an anonymous letter ad
dressed to “Mr. L. B. Pate,
Chairman, Board of Trustees,
Craven County hospital. It was
signed, A CONCERNED CIT
IZEN.
It was noted at the bottom
of the typewritten letter that
copies were also sent to the
State Bureau of Investigation,
The Sun-Journal, WCH-TV,
WHIT, WRNB, and the Ra
leigh News and Observer.
We gave the letter the waste
basket treatment given all
anonymous letters that come
to us, whether we approve or
disapprove of the contents of
the communication sent us. The
only CONCERNED CITIZEN
we’re concerned about Is one
who has the courage to slgnhls
name to any letter he writes.
We feel sure that the author
of the anonymous letter refer
red to will read this column and
all other portions of The Mirror
this week, hoping to see In print
what he wrote. We are most
(Conttaued on page 8)