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PUBLISHED WEEKLY
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VOLUME 16
NEW BERN, N. C. 28560, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1973
NUMBER 31
Periodically, for thejbenefit of
new readers, it is explained that
this column’s title comes from
Alice In Wonderland. None of
the characters discovered by
fair Alice when she ventured
through the mirror, startling
though they were, surpassed
those we have known in New
Bern.
Emmie Gaskill has to be
included in the lot. Far beyond
her alloted span of years she
kept right on working, and only
a terminal malady that no
human could have coped with
took her out of circulation in her
final days.
She threatoied to be as
durable as the wonderful one-
horse shay, and we much prefer
to remember her that way.
Emmie was one of those rare
individuals who can be strongly
opinionated without being
obnoxious. An unflatering sense
of humor, punctuated by
frequent quips, made, her
pleasant to be around.
It has been said many times
that no one loves a bUl collector,
but Emmie collected a huge pUe
of bills during her prolonged life
and managed to remain
popular. You might hate to part
with your money, but you didn’t
blame her for the anguish you
eiqierienced.
Retirement was a dirty word
in Emmie’s book, and she
detested inactivity. It^nay well
be that she kept going as long as
she did on sheer momentum.
Those associated with her in
business can’t recall she ever
complained of feeling bad, and
this acceptance of phsycial
discomfort mortals usually fret
over remained steadfast during
her last illness.
The marker on her grave will
indicate she was 90 when she
died, but she was 90 years
young. A few months before her
89th birthday she was still
working regiiarly, and would
have pinched anyone in the
nose who tried to favor her
because of her age.
As a florist, Emmie loved all
flowers but her preference was
red carnations. The
management and employees of
the shop that bears her name
saw to it that a blanket of
crimson petals covered her
casket and the family provided
a red-carnation pillow.
As Janie Smith, who operates
the florist concern with her
son, Carlton, says, "Miss
Emmie sure dttd go away in a
blaze of glory.’’ Emmie would
have appreciated the car
nations, and would have
'laughed at the remark by
someone as outspoken as she
always was.
Emmie was a gal with an
instant answer to everything.
Once a man came in to inquire
about the price of a ceramic dog
in the shop’s window, and was
told it was seven dollars. 'T can
buy a live dog for that,’’ he
remarked in consternation.
"That’s right,’’ she agreed,
"but you’ll have to feed it.’’
Likely as not, the man ended up
buying the ceramic dog. Even if
(Continued on page 8)
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In The Land Of Enchanting Waters.
—Photos by Billy Benners.