Newspapers / The New Bern Mirror … / Oct. 22, 1971, edition 1 / Page 1
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Yesterday was whra kids in Uie grammar grades at New s Central &ho(d presented the ^elM operetta Pandora, unlike the average amateur production, an aspect of this one Parents, pupils and friends who attended couldn’t believe their eyes when Pandora’s legendary box, located in the center of the stage, was untied, and all of the world’s imps of evil scrambled out. The box was hardly big enough to hold a single juvenile devil, much less the seven that emerged. How the deception Was accomplished is no more noteworthy than the decision on the part of Suporintendent H. B. Smith that made it possible. Smith, a conscientious man, had, as we saw it then and see it now, one glaring weakness. He considered school, from the moment you stepped on campus until you left the grounds that afternoon, a deadly serious business. Somewhere along die line he failed to learn, or had forgotten, that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Apparently, it never occurred to him ttot laughter in childhood is as important as mastering the alphabet. Granting that almost all school officials are viewed with a certain amount of animosity, especially when they demand discipline, his image went far beyond that. Sad to say, he was both feared and despised. Looking back, we realize that he wasn’t really mean, or to be exact no meaner than most mortals, including a lot of us who laufdi more in a week than he probably laughed in his extended lifetime. We say these things about Smith, not to tarnish him long after death, but to emirihasize how much he stepped out of character when plans were made for the aforementioned presentation of Pandora. Like all school opcarettas and plays, its afternoon and evening performances were scheduled for Moses Griffin audiUwium. Woefully inadequate, throu^ no fault of Mr. Smith, it was a dreary place with atrocious seats. As we recaU, nothing broke the monotony of the din^ walls except a grim portrait of bearded Moses Griffin, and sli^thr more cheerful p^rait of equally bearded General Robert E. Lee. There wasn’t a vestige of scenery on the stage, unless you would so classify the heavy cardboard wall at the back that Uotted out a row of windows, and other pieces of cardboard at the left and right wings. Tlie oniy way that performers could get back stage was to come through the same door that the audience filed through. Once behind the curtain you were trapped for the duration, with no rest room. Imagine as many as fifty kids crowded together for at least an hour in one of life’s most ex citing moments, without benefit of plumbing, and you can un derstand at this late date soine ('«Hilinued on page N> il(rn-(Eratu»n (Uditnlg ^ The NEW BERN Picsiont'.]. Li’orary 400 Johnson Jt* rc\.' Bern TC 2o^60 uy ^ NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1971 PUBLISHED WIIKLY IN THE HEART OP ■ASTERN NORTH CAROLINA 5^ Por Copy SORRY-Duke, Carolina, State Md Wake Forest all had a chance to sign New Bern s Jeff Stocks to an athletic grant in aid. They pass^ him up, and have lived to regret it. Although a sophomore, he is already starring at defensive end for the aemson Tigers, and played a major role in handing Duke’s Blue Devils a 3-0 defeat in Norfolk’s Oyster Bowl. Against rugged Georgia Tech, he made 10 individual tackles. Gemson almost let him get away too, despite his AU-East flection as a New Bern Hi^ school great. Jeff was the last player given a grant in aid at the South Carolina school prior to the 1970 season.
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Oct. 22, 1971, edition 1
1
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