The NEW BERN
FUBLISHID WIIKI.Y
IN THI MAKT OP
iTisTl™ X
CAROLINA
VOLUME 13
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1970
NUMBER 20
. - • - - - • - - -
Yesterday was when New
Bern's masculine small fry
learned to smoke by furtively
picking up cigarette butts of
questionable origin along the
curb, and sneaking under a va
cant house to puff away.
Yesterday was when New
Bern's eating places had no
sanitation requirements, 'ihe
best boiled crabs in town were
spread out on old newspapers
at Bertha Dixon's place, near
old Trent River bridge.
Yesterday was when starry-
eyed moppets read the books of
Horatio Alger, Jr., anddream-
ed of graduating from rags to
riches through plain hard work.
Some of them made it too,
without overthrowing the estab
lishment.
Yesterday was when folks
headed for Dad Carter's
when they craved apintofwhlte
lightning. Naturally his stock
came from North Harlowe, and
your Innards sizzled like bacon
frying when it went down.
Yesterday was when W. B.
Smith kept bad luck away from
his Cash Feed House on lower
Middle Street with a stea^ly
replenished cr(^ of black cats.
It was easier to raise cats than
attract customers, but he did
both.
Yesterday was when your
phonograph wasn't being put to
good use if your record collec
tion didn't Include several se
lections by Ruth Ettlng. Her top
rendition was Shine on Har
vest Moon, although Nora Bayes
made the tune famous on Broad
way.
You had to have sometblngby
John McCormack too, and that
something was apt to be Call
Me Back Pal of Mine. How
ever, no one ever challenged
Gene Austin's popularity. Blue
Heaven, Melancholy Baby,
But I Do You Know I Do and
a flock of others made him a-
millionaire. He later lost It
all.
Yesterday was when Green
River, a lime soda, sold big
here, and another bottled drink,
this one chocolate with the im
probable name of Mavis, did
likewise. This was before kids
clamored for small cans of
grapefruit Juice called Sil
ver Nip.
Yesterday was when Tom
Mix himself came to New Bern
In one of the sure nuff circuses
that use to play our town. Ju
veniles drooled, but oldsters
remembering Buffalo BiU's
visit many moons earlier
weren't too Impressed.
Yesterday was when Royston
Blandford, who many not re
call the Incident, went Yankee
Doodle one better by riding a
mule to Central School and
on the campus when his Senior
Class observed Children's Day.
Superintendent H. B. Smith, a
man of great serlousness,fadl-
ed to see the humor In It.
Yesterday was when no one In
the Union Point neighborhood
caUed "Tatey*' Meadows Sara,
"Dooley"Whltty John, '^oot"
Hall Charles, "Sheenlgh" Mc-
Sorley Gene, "Burrh" Davis
EUzabeUi, or "Buzz" Mitchell
Thomas. Some of us, remem
bering them fondly from child
hood, cling to the nicknames.
Yesterday was when the Stork
had to memorize the street
address ofevery family In town,
or almost every family. Now,
all he has to Imow Is how to
get to Craven County hos-
. ; ^Contteued,on pege. f)■
SEEING IS BELIEVING—Skeptics who thought elght-
year-old Kenny Morris was Imagining things when he
described the birth of Shepy’s 12 puppies In last
week’s Mirror can’t deny this proof. Kenny, his six-
year-old sister Kathy, and Shepy all smile happily for
Chick Natella’s camera. Chick, a photograpnic ex
pert who seldom admits- defeat, found himself no
match for a dozen meandering adventurers who alter
nately roamed and scrambled for a spot to nurse.
He finally spied a tub in the Morris yard, and managed
to keep part of the litter temporarily contained there
in until he could record the scene on film. Since
Kenny’s father is running for political office, we prom
ise equai space to any other candidate whose dog
proves Jst as prolific. But do Chick Natella a favor
and Ine up some otHbr photographer. Either that, or
provide tranquilizers.