Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Jan. 5, 1922, edition 1 / Page 1
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- 1 . AdferUsing Rates on Request. - DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS' OP BOONE, AND WATAUGA COUNTY. i - VOIXXXIII. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, N. C THURSDAY JANUARY 5, 1922. NO 10 H H iVCYfl P'KYX VY rTxYVCY 15 X. JV J'X. . & 1 A ' - U 0 ffi : The mountains - V (By O: k N. Barker.) ' ' Like, many" othetsUmng in Wilkes -county 'feeing the holi- , day irpproachitTg and hearing the chiUratr talkldg'bouT ' h'ahg-' ting;;ap'her stockings, I had a Strong' ificlinatipn to put my jug iaone end 6f asacfe1, T my" next fa'lneigljcir's in the. other, throW -licross my plow mate and steal silently away to Hunt inCreek.ut 'Bince the revenue officers wilino longer allow me .., toieturn whistling and singing, feejing richer ana Rockafeller, wifliout proving that' m'y1 jugs arer filled with, hoaima'de sor ghom, I persuaded my friend,' C. j.M. Caudill, popular proprie tor I of North Wilkesbbro's lead ing hotel, to take me in his little Ford, bid the .hotel crowd good bye and start to acquaint maself "wih conditions across the Blue Ridge mountains.'. With handkerchiefs on .the ho tel porch still Avavin'g high . good byes, our little Ford shied cau tiosly through; the automobiles alohgthe hard paved street, but when 'it rolled ou t on the' soft country pike, smooth as. a dusty floqr, it sped off from under the citsmoke like a Kentucky steed frojn a long stand in th&.stall as if wtth a Jittte orejRfickefeiler reinjC would go on up and play flying-mfcchiner as - I was now nine o'clock. The unrfwas brightening up from the hazi around the horizonand near- . ingsauze-like clouds that moved mjoonless and high. The land scare billowed off east and west into distant smoke settling is- if from forest fiires, 1 while eight miles ahead; the, Bluo . Ridge mountains irue toittake-- tow ered up in irregular:frm to .the sky.vTbe" homes clear back to the skyne fwere' oozing" smoke up f rontf.thelr stone chimnevs as if fronicovered firesr andjsne dust was "tising along the many con verging roads as if .all the coun try peopfe were coining to town. Aadjtheywefe filling our pike, in wagons, buggies and automo-" biles--some with baskets of eggs, some with buckets of butter, soui; with fcratesj pinpoultry," som' with 'stjpHwoodf sotne with 'crois ties and some with lumber; some driving oxen, some mulef and some horses; so m e withouAds tired from their pre vious night's possum hunts, and some'with tbeir spruced up wives and ebildren;(someM U h ey owne4 both j sides bf the;; road nd atone bounding off and grab bing wieir.blair-eyeaT horses by the bi'idle as if they wished they didn't have either, , .. - " xNosf and then'a hardly bridle wise 'horse, heaiing( our honks, went'in four directions at the same time and nver' stopped un til he-? cleared the right of way. As if to equally distribute fright, occasionally a big truck loaded with lumber came blundring and bouncing ilong.'from' which our Lizzie shot off like a lizzard into thebrMshpr noted up into the corneif of the fence.' In ftihe 5mear.time the-,; moun tains, as iif mistaking ust for Chri stmas, werhanngtheir ; blue fcgreen, an by the-time wo naimyea at ineir iees mey were eo"geousi.Y garpea in nony, . karelj rhododendron, mountain, T sprncs an4 'balsam pines, thru whidvlheif silver streams spar kled for tinsel and their cascades lor oti Sntas down the;chim Vney hern; i',.;,. I'v v Oar"oad now becama a wind' r io2 stiir no through. what seem tree,' and on the ove rhanging ev ergreen boughs I fancied I saw the mountain fairies empty stockings. waiting to be filled. ' Finally reaching the top a low place in the sky at a rustic monqment recently' erected to Daniel Boone we' stopped and looked first at the landscape low-, ering away to the land of. t h e long leaf pines and sweet gun? groves, next turned and scanned what appeared to be the .land of meadow valleys and chestnut and- sugar maple groves then concluded that the monument to the famous old hunter marks the gateway into another world; a world that has been known as the Lost 'Province the Prov ince that is locally known as Watauga, the Watauga to which civilized America has been asked to send missionaries to enlighten the benighted mountain folks. .With our Fo'rd dropped from bailing to faintly simmering, we transferred our money, to our in side pockets, held'admration ser vices over our recently installed though not patented device for locking up our tires, tools and trinkets, mutually pledged re fcaihment from discussing reli gion, politics, moonshine or any thing else that might diminish our safety while among the moun tain folks, then started on un der sunnier skies, through cooler breezes, along clearer streams, looking for a suitable place to eat dinner. Twenty minutes past twelve, rounilirig to the sunny side of a chestnut grove, a warm shelter from the breeze and wa ter close by for our thirsty Ford, we stopped , and took out our lunch' to: eat on the roaa side. WhileMf. Caudill was spreading down a' pape r napkin and load ing it with sandwiches,- cakes and pies, three gentlemen and a shepherd dog, the latter under the belief that he was the whole cheese, CRtne driving a drove of turkeys around the bend. Above the ka ouking, the shepherd's barking and the mens' 'shewing and swaying brushes in the rear. I 'asked them how far it was to Boone. One of tbetn stopped and waited until the noises got fur ther down the road, then replied that it was eight miles. 'With dinner over, we hummed on along the new though, becom ing splendid highway to Boone, a seemingly unpretentious Ath ens in an Alps? where we were informed that a ten mile1 run in any direction, but more especial ly a circuitous one by way of the county high schools, would give us a true insight to the physical, financial and social standing of the whole county., Choosing the latter way and choosing Profess or Smith Hagaman, County Su- Derintendent, to accompany us and interprifc for us their un written mountain language, we hummed on along the Boone Trail ' which, though on a good grade, made "U's" and "S's" all the way. 1 . - . The landscape billowed off be fore us in hills of uniform height to the horizon, nn the western rim of which stood old. Grand father mountain with his head a- b'ove 'timber line, smiling down as parentally and proudly as if all the hills and mountains in the Lost Province 'of Watauga, were his children and grandchildren. The valleys, uniform as ' the hills, were studded with great Stacks - .of timothy. -u hay, from which green carpets of luxuriant orchard grass stretched up the black loam hillsides to the chest nut groves and native forests- On the- highest peaks. ' With eq ua! uniformity, : restfully -appearing homes yaoally painted wbiter stood at the heads of the, brooks and along the. creeks, most of them on beautiful lawns und un der weeping willow or other e qually attractive shade. Whether itwas due to the pure air, the pu re water, or both, -1 cannot say, but everything that moved or had a being around the homes looked peculiarly heal thy, healthy and clean. The ducks and geese paddling and squawk ing in the brooks and creeks looked so clean that I don't be lieve, they could spolll dirt with a dictionary; . The droves of chick ens cackling and crowing on the hillsides looked so clean that their . roosts must have been swept and talcum powdered ev ery morning. The thoroughbred catcle half dozing on the sunny sides of the haystacks looked so clean that one would .think they never stepped off of their carpet of grass, and all in common, from the cats sunning on the door steps to the great flocks of South downs contentedly browsing on the brush high on the hillsides, appeared to be happy in the be- ief that their exemplary lives would bring them back to Wa tauga to live when they died. That evening, with the last sun rays-fading from near-by Rich Mountain's highest peak, we stopped and helloed at the gate of an average home,1 which brout out a gentleman, whose identity shall not reveal for the reason that when the Watau ga people read my accusation I want it to make all of them go to asking, ike Judas Iscariot, Lord is it I?' Let it suffice to say that our request for lodging fell on friend ly ears, and leaving our Ford to be cnauneurea later into a tremendously big barn, we were conducted up a concrete walk "and flight of steps to a broad veranda and along a hall way into a spacious sitting room warmed with a cheerful open fire blazing up over a great sugar maple backlog, well back around which leaned three or four cush- on-seated rockers. A fancy rug too small for the room, left ex posed around it a highly -pojished sugar maple floor, on which the flickers of the fire were starting heir twilight dances A fluffy bed sporting a home-made coun terpane stood back in one cornet and a combination writing desk and bookcase in the other. Two clocks ticked companionably on the mantel, and four or five mot toes and oil paintings hung artis tically around the walls. An old fashioned fire shovel leaned a gainst one jamb, a pair of tongs against the other, and through the cracks in the flames leaping upoverthebig backlog I got glimpse of an old-fashioned pot rack. Well above a walnut center ta ble strewn with mtagazines and farm journals a goldenchandelier was awaiting nightfall to burst into a blaze of electric Jight, while just inside the door a mar ble lavatory with a dipper hang ing '.clo8e by, offered sparkling water gravitated from an icy spring, for only turning a faucet. As was this room, so turned out to be all the others, strictly modern. And even more than strictly modern was the dining room. Its spacious dining table circular in form, had in the cen tera kind of wheel of fortune on which was strung chicken, mutton, ham, eggs, kraut, beans, potatoes, hot biscuit, butter, cheese, preserves, cakes, cus tarda and pies, with coffee and two kinds of milk on the side 'for the askinar. none of which had ever so much as beard of a tin can or a paper sack. It was one kind of wheel of fortune that I could not tarn without winning, It made no difference where it stopped, I had five for one star ing me in the face. I shall riot pretend to say that I found all the homes in Watauga as.modern as this one-no; "the poor ye have with you alway' and the poor live in poor houses, but I found a higher per cent in what I call sweet homes -than I have found in any other county in the state. What I found true of homes I found true of schools. Truly, one reflects the other. In speak ing of them. I shall not try. to dodge the fact that "as in the Superintendent so in the schools Nevertheless I can give Profess -Hagaman only passing credit for the high rating of these. True, he has been polished through his life -long association with the Wa tauga soil. True, he measures four square to the top 6f his call ing, and then some. True he stands in the front ranks of that sterling type of' manhood that pillars and pilots every move ment that contributes toward a greater America; but it is not in any superintendent to begin where he began and in the brief period of six years bring all the logscboolhonses but one up to modern frames or bricks, add from one to three teachers to fully half the schools and raise the annual . school fund from about $18,000 to ' near $52,000, without giving greatest credit to the school patrons. ' In appreciation of his educa tional leadership be has been ap pointed Superintendent of Pub lic Weifaand hisestimable wife county nurse. I suppose they will later goJnto training for resident andjVice-President of the United States, but speaking candidly, the highest honors that can be conferred upon any man is the general custodianship of the youth of his native county. True, the work is hard and the responsibilities great, but it is a field in which -we. make all our great people. On our way home we again stopped at the' Boone monu ment in the gap crossing the Blue Ridge, and first taking a fare well look at cloudy headed old Grandfather mountain, I turned and scanned the landscape low ering off under thickening haze to the sandy plains and on to the sea every inch of which will ev er be sweet to me-lhen admit ted that there had been a cross ing of names with Jacob and E- saw, and that the term "Lost Province" ought to be applied to the plains country, Speaking most candidly, it will- be the dawning of a brighter day when we open our eyes to the fact that the Southern moun tains are our American Land of Canaan. Of course, I shall not object to sending them missiona ries to .them, but it will bo the survival of thr fittest when Wa tauca sends a few to the flat countrv to help us restore our boasted though evanescing ' Sou them hospitality" and bring us to see that if we pattern after the mountain people we will have fewer reasons for wanting to go to a olace like Watauga to live when we die. A Good Modeling Material. It la often very difficult to keep child confined to the house amused. But with a modeling material with which they can make animala, beads, etc., they can be kept amused ror houra, Take four tablespoonfuls cornstarch, elaht tablespoonfuls salt and eight tablespoonfuls boiling, water. Mix the dry Ingredients and pour on the boiling water, ntlrrlng until the mixture Is soft Put on the Are and stir until it forma a soft ball, then remove from the stove and stir for ten mluutes. A little color may be added. . Wrap in oiled paper when not In se to keep from harden- Inf.- ' NORTH CAROLINA MOURNS PASSING OF WAR GOVERNOR homai Walter Blckett Din of Stroki of Paralysis. Burial it Louisburg Thomas Walter Bickett died at 9:15 last Thursday morning. He did not regain conscious ness after suffering a stroke of paralysis shortly before nine o' clock Wednesday night. That day he was inhis law office, work ed in his garden in the afternoon and prepared supper for himself and Mrs. Bickett, who herself ill, watched at his bedside all night. His body laid in state in the apitol until 11 o'clock Friday when funeral was held in Christ Episcopal Church. -Interment was at Louisburg in Franklin county. North Carolina truly mourns tho loss of this noble son who so successfully piloted the ship of state through the great world war crisis. He was a statesman, peace maker, progressive leader, an ideal christian citizen, add it may be long before we see his ike. What more could we say of anyone, than that in all the word implies "he was a man"? ADVERTISE WHEN BUSINESS IS BAD: (By John Buford Brock.) It is sad, but nevertheless true, ttiat when business begins to get bad there are so many organiza tions that think the first thing or them to do is to stop their adn vertising. Much like a terrapin, when he sees danger approaching, pulls his head into his shell and stimu- ates death in order that no one may molest him and the danger may be avoided, Rain or flood will not avail in opening up thatl shell. He will stay inside there until Ithe warm sun on bis back informs him that all is fair out side and thst there is little dan- ger of his losing a head by look ing around for something to cat. On the other hand there are many men who have found that their business was stimulated and progressive when business with the neighbor was very poor. There are the men who adver tise to the public to BUY NOW. There are certain necessities of ife that cannot be dissensed with and it is one sure bet that out of several business houses having commodities for which there is a demand, the one who advertises his good3 regularly and system atically will draw trade from the houses who have neglected to keep the trade informed that they were still in business. . Advertise to remind your cli ents tat you are still in b usiness, even if you do not want to adver tise for more business. The old customers will wander into the advertised path. And why shoul dn't they? You or I are customers of each other. We are looking for places to trade, and the places for tra ding is done by otherpeople. This fact is one grand advertisement for the busy store. Unless the new or small place advertises the advantage in trading elsewhere it I's 'only 'reasonable to assume that he is not going to get . much of the trade. If the smaller place? advertise, as many of them do continuously and regularly remind their cus tomers of the service,1 the sav ings and the pleasantness recei ved there, and the other places do not advertise, it is shown ev ery day that trade shifts to;tha advertised places. ':. . i ... ..v .' i...V.'; - ,:''', ''. BIG DEVELOPMENT . FOR BLOWING ROCK Lizard Tufts IntirwW In .Kii Aluander Planning liarnisats , (Lenoir News-Topic) There is promise of big devel opment at Blowing Rock for the new year. It is reported here -that Leonard Tufts ' of Boston, the man who is responsible f o r -the development at Pinehurst and the surrounding section into a world-famed winter resort, has been financially interested at Biowing Rock in a bote! project to be built during the present year. The superintendent of -Mr; Tuft's Pinehurst propeVtyspent" several days at Blowing Rock du ring the past month. The report here of Mr. Tufts becoming fi nancially interested hv; Blowing Rock hotel property is accepted as a promise of great develop ment within the next few sea sons. It is believed tha through him;hundreds of wealthy-men from the north and east will also become interested. r. Last year Mr. W. L Alexan der had plans drawn for a 15Q room hotel to be built adjoining the May view Club House, The construction of the hotel was, de layed last season. However, ac cording to Mr. Alexander's friends heref theJy3iBlPfll.b.e begun at an early date and it is hoped to have it -completed- -to take care of part of the coming summer' business. The new ho-' tal will have 150 bed rooms, and every room will have a private bath. This building will be thor oughly modern. The rustic effect will be carried out in the archi tecture, theout9ideof the buil ding being made of bark so as to harmonize with the Club House. . A moving picture theater is be ing planned by W. L. Alexan der and J. G. Ballew, a local druggist. This theater will be readiT for the, coming season. rhe theater will be constructed along the ame nlanthat all of the cottages ancPc) ulr House on the Mayview property have been built. Mr. Alexander also plans to build several new cottages and to enlarge the child's hospital, 'Work has already begun on the golf course on the Mayview Park property. The course is being built under the direction of Rob" ert Ross, one of the most cele brated golf course builders in the United States. This course will be completed and ready for the noxt season. Ironing Board Cover. Cut and hem a piece of unbleached muslin, about four inches wider and longer than your Ironing board, so that it laps over aout two Inches under the board. Then crochet an edge of six chain and fasten, and so on tmtU you have edged the entire piece. Lay the cloth on the board, turn over and lace it with a stout card or tape, the same as you would lace a shoe using, however, ooly about every fosrtji loop. The cover can be easily removed mad washed. IclverMling 'yTOr' eStffblTsh-r ment is like advertising a brandj of goods, hosiery or soft drink,' specraltyTThe'custo'merallrfor the advertised specialty. He pat ronizes the advertised store. ; In bad times your business ; is going to follow the signs of ; the times unless you throw an I f. extra effort in the work and find ' ; the features which can be adver- ; tised, then advertise them. . (Copyright applied for.) " rw . Dr. E. U.43jyd, EYE EAR NOSE AND THROAT x GLASSES FITTED : Rooms 300 and 301 Unaka and' CUT . National Bank BulWiat .y? T:, JOHNSON uITY, ; ' ; Hi- '' 1 M 4 '.v,V :-j '' L S7
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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Jan. 5, 1922, edition 1
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