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"VOLUME XXXVII.
fthkW^k
By Ai'thur Brisbaite
' _T 1
THE GRAND CANYON
GAS BOMBS AT HOME
3000 BULLSEYES
MUSHING FOR GOLD
'^This is written with scenery. Or
fmk left the sun is sinking, and Ari
sunset. Come cut here., if yoi
-want to know how it looks. On th<
left the moon is up, paining color a;
"the sun goes down. And from thif
spot you could walk a few feet, thei
. Jump down one mile. This is the grand
Canyon of the Colorado, with its thot
'sands of towers, mountains, forts
peaks of every shape and color rising
up from the canyon's floor one mile
'<iown.
The western horizon is a rim of
gold, the farewell effort and defiance
of the sun, rolling down to China.
And the canyon below is changing
its colors and shadows, obedient to
fading sunlight and growing moonlight.
It would be worth your while
to see that. Shadows and bands of
color a mile high, exposed layers of
old earth that took millions of centuries
to build laid bare by the rushing
waters, each with its color and
fc' character, each an open book to the
Bib; geologist, showing: ex^et agi1 as plainH
iy as you read it in a painted face.
A genuine artist, with aoul, tcm
HK perament and similar things, would
n be sick and probably faint if he
WS ja'ould look up from these
M' Setters, carefully padded with rubK'
Per, to ward the cast and west. Below
HI the pale moon, almost full, the sky Ls
B u dark rose purple. Below the purple
H there is a dark broad band of heavy
} blue. The moon, queer, of heaven,
rides in triumph on a colored throne
as wide as the skySomebody
should warn owners oi
mills in Passaic that they are running
risks. This nation was interested
when as bombs first appeared in the
big war. It will not be pleased to
hear of employers fighting a strike,
legal in character, using gas bomb?
against their work.ers, and turning
heavy streams of bold water on wo
men and children, when tear gas failed
to do the work.
Now the workers have bought twe
thousand gas masks to be ready foi
the next attack, which is not pleas
Iant reading: in this prosperous republic.
We are doing pretty well here,
industrialists are not exactly starving
to death. They should warn those
Passaic idiots against upsetting the
apple cart. Employers have considerably
more to lose than employees in
the game of violence.
A solemn Washington dispatch says
the President and the Cabinet discussed
the Wall Street scare, anc
'"President Coolihge let it be known
that he felt that there was nothing
taking place in the business world
ymptomatic of a letup in the present
prosperity.*'
> The trouble just "'nervous pros
perity" among those of the gambler*
afraid of their own profits.
The revised income tax rate wil
bring hundreds of millions out oi
the income tax proof non-taxable so
rarities, and business will boom mon
Yon read of young American;
going to the dogs via the Charlestox
jasfc and bootleg whiskey. Then Sam
el Mooxfe, seventeen year old cap
tain of the high school rifle team
Newton, Mass., reassures yon witl
his new world's record.
That young gentleman, it sound;
unbelievable, made three thousan<
consecutive bullseyes between eigh
'clock in the morning and five ii
the evening. Neither Charleston no;
premature hootch has ruined tha
young man's nerves.
The world has been much exploT
eo since and before the days of Mar
i co Polo, a ici th. n'oring goes on
L Ten ej:pcdltic; are about to star
I for the polar regions* some to fine
fetal
$l.SO Per Yw BOONE.
Fall Trip in Great
Appalachian World
Col. Fred A. Olds sends the Democrat
the following: story, which will
be of a good deal of interest locally:
If you do not know Prof, and Mrs.
Isaac G. Greer of Boone, in the county
of Watauga, you have missed something
worth while. They arc true children
cf the Appalachian world?the
"High Places," and they are the most !
accomplished performers on that most j
venerable musical instrument, the!
dulcimer and singers of the old-time
"ballads." The mountain region is
tlie land of song, for along the coast
singers and but few and musicians
- even fewer. It is no wonder, then,
it. r*
i tuoo uic \*recrs are in great request
- as exponents of tbe music of our
i great-great-groat ancestors. Up in
? the mountains the folks sometimes
% call the ballads, "Lonesome Times/'
j hut wait until you hear the Greets
t give "Black Jack Davy/' "The Ship
I Carpenter/' the real version of the
i "Arkansaw Traveller," or "Ive Got a
, Gal on Sourwood Mountain/' with
: the plaintive notes of the dulcimer
i played by Mrs. Greer as a most distinctive
background for the voice of
her husband.
; This is a sort of introduction to :
! the Greers. It will enable the reader
, to appreciate all the more the plea- ;
sure of a day's pilgrimage with these
? fine folks; a day in the "high places." i
We went out of Boone westward by j
Brushy Fork Cheese Factory, where I
; they make Cheddar chees*, golden in J,
: color and the immense white Swiss j.
cheese, one of which weighs say 125 < i
pounds. There are now three other (
cheese factories in Watauga, one in
! Avery CGunty and one fn Henderson i
county. There were a few years ago ,
.*14 of them all, all cooperative, hut i
nearly all gave up the business be- .
cause the price of milk dropped from j (
i the "war pride" of 22 to25 cents, j j
' But they will he revived. The number j1
A'iOlr? Knt- nit/. mwtaU*.
-f for the same reason. The same thing"]
may he said as to; horse raising, folks]i
-I up there saying "there is no sale for].
> horses."
' Our route led by Vilas and by Val- ,
j 1c Crucis, (the Valley of the ,
Cross) named by the once - bishop
J Ives because of the shape of two val- ;
leys, which intersect. At Valle
Crucis is the hirne of Mrs, Finley
Mast, whoso sister Polly is one of
the most accomplished weavers in
America. The weaving is done in a
c\u*?*ming old log house on the dear
. old looms. One quietly and gladly
; slips back 100 years or more in that ,
lovely place, which is easily one of
the. "show places" in all the south.
At Valle Crucis there is an Episcopal
mission school, where in winter
time there are 25 girl boarders while
1 in riiimmpr llip huildir.c a hntbl
' A church of stone from the spot, is y
in process of erection. There is a con
riderable apple orchard.
We called, in that place, on "Aunt
Sophronia," aged 83, who lives in a
? tiny house, like a picture in a child's
! book. Her spring, which had never
before failed, bad gone "plumb dry."
1 We went "right over a mountain" to
Banner Elk. There are many "Elk"
creeks, and this particular one was
1 named for a pioneer. Banner Elk
though 4000 feet above the sea-level,
I ? in a lovely valley between Grand'
father and Beech mountains, each
I 6000 feet high. The feature of the
I place is the Presbyterian school, the
5 church, hospital aud orphanage. The
water tower is of stone gathered on
- the spot and its lower part is the
? office of the head of affairs, Mr. Edgar
Tufts. Nearly all the buildings
1 are of stone. There are Tennessee and
f Virginia buildings, for a good many
- students come from these states. In
- sight is the Grandfather Orphanage,
under the same management.
At the hotel in the village we fared
J sumptuously, and also saw some par1
ticularly good paintings of rhododen
dron and other flowers, painted by
Miss Lowe, the landlord's daughter,
t She was .selling bags of the fragrant
i "
the Pole again, others to seek new
* lands, and, perhaps, oil, gold, etc.
* Others go in the interest of science.
t In Canada frozen roads are packed!
1 with gold seekers, defying the tern-,
r perature fifty degrees below zero, in j
t a new gold rush; gold seekers mush-1
ing in dog sleds, racing to the new j
strike where "gold is showing over1
- a stretch of country five mi?es in
- , length, with good ground still uhstak*
ed." It wont remain unstaked long: .
t Say "geld" and people move as whon
i -vou cry "fire." .-/..O?
; - . .'irtr,j
lgr_
WATAUGA COUNTY. NORTH CA
AN APPRECIATION
The Comrades Sunday School class.
of the M. E. Church wishes to express
its thanks and appreciation to
the public who so kindly assisted us
in coins: bevond thn irn?1 3n /.??
cent campaign to raise money to finish
our Sunday School room in the
dome.
balsam fascicles, to raise funds to
care for children in the orphanage in
which there are 66.
We next took a passing took at
Cranberry, the iron mine which was
reopened September 1, after several!
years' idleness. The finest ore comes
from this mine, hut it seems the1
world was overstocked with it. No |
county in all the state suffered more j
than Avery from the long and fierce
drought of 1925. It looked really like
a dead world. The heat was also phenomenal
for that region. The streams
were pitifully shrunken, springs dry.
trees on the mountain sides, particularly
where their roots were near j
masses of rock, had died by the hundreds.
It was like a land of despair,
yet 4000 feet above sea level, for that
is the average of the entire county.
The writer saw the dead and dying
trees, literally by thousands, in other
sections of the mountains also.
We took in part of the Asheville
Bristol highway, a costly one, made of
possible by an immense amount of j
blasting, fir it lies in a world of I
stone, sometimes so white as to be |
nearly blinding. At Nowland, the [
county seat, (the highest in the j
south) we found a wide stretch of :
territory with its once splendid for-1
est cut away ; a cut-over region, with I
no end of stumps. We wanted to go j
to Crossnore, but the wy was block- \
ed by the blasting for the new high- I
way, so we headed for Linville town, |
where. in the flat valley we saw some J
gtjrccn grass, restful to the eyes, after j
the withered sort we had been seeing. !
The Linville River was very low and j
?cs i'.st its wonted charm. We atop-j
ped at McRae's hou^e, under the u A- j
irery peak'* of Gnndfather mountain, |
ind 5280 feet high, and looked for j
flowers. Most wtro gone but the snow j
queen's lace persisted. (Some of the j
mountaineers call this flower "Bee
Houses.") We found some fine ferns j
in wnll nlurfn; I
The route lay along: th'? Yonahloa-!
see section of the highway, 17 miles
toward Blowing Rook. None of the
streams crossed by this road were
flowing except one; the latter near
that queer rock known as the "devils
forefinger." We tarried a little Ht
the Rock house, inhabited at certain
seasons by the natives who gather
galax leaves, make baskets and distill
oil from the bark of the birch i
trees. These folks strip bark in many j
cases so completely as to kill these j
fine trees. Looking up from the road- j
vay one saw one-of the three peaks of
Grandfather, with its fringe of dark |
balsam (fir). The highway was all the ;
way over -1000 feet at least above sea!
level; at some places a mile (5280 ]
feet.) Beside it was the Gragg house, I
with legs of chestnut trees of great;
size. In older days it was a wayside
inn. Further along was Blue Ridge
Adventist church, and then came the
stately mansion, facing Grandfather
of Elliott Daingerfield, Faycttcville
bom and bred, a noted artist. He has
been in poor health a couple of years.
We reached Blowing Rock, where
high as it is, 4000 feet, the trees
were dying. The dust of the highway
was as fine as flour. We dropped ot
Boone beside the usually attractive
prong of New River but it had shrunk
until it was a puny brook. In the J
meadows in which Boone (3000 t'eet)
lies we saw the scarlet mint, called
there "Beebalm/* the high white
spikes of the black cohas'n. like silver
spires; the Joe Pye weed with its big
purple flower masses called the queen
of the Meadow" there; queen's lace,
white, pink and brown; the life plant,
called there "Jackscrew," out of
which a much advertised patent medicine
is made.'
We reached the conclusion that
Mrs. Nature would have done well to
let our Blue Ridge (the oldest of all
mountain ranges) stay at least 20,000
feet high, so as to catch the
clouds. We also decided that if the
glaciers had extended to North Carolina,
instead of stopping at Maryland
we would have plenty of real lakes.
Wc further agreed that it is queer
there has been so little use of the
abundant, stone in housebuilding.
Watauga had a killing frost May
26, thi.i year. It then had the drought.
e; r. : : y ar no doubr., it will he
as usual?like a garden.
ROI.INA. tHtlRSdAY MARCH 18.
DEEP CAP &R??2?S
? ;
A rural free delivery riuri* service
will start oat from Deep Gap postoffice
beginning: on the first day1 of
May next. Every one on the proposed
route should certify to the postman
ler of said postolfiee by April the
20th or earlier that they will place a
box on the route if you wish to be
served. Let's cooperate to the limit
and make this route a successful one j
from every standpoint. It is badly j
needed as it covers a territory far
remote from a postofiice.
Mr. Jason Mo ret 7. has been indisposed
for some time, but at this writ- )
ing; is much improved, being able to ;
stir out again.
The two lots purchased by Mr. A.
G. Miller in Fiorida are in the town
of Panama City, on the beautiful St.
Andrews Bay. The writer had occa
sion to visit this place while in that
state. The scenery is grand and the
Gulf of Mexico is only two miles distant
with a beautiful villa on the
front.
The trip written up in the Democrat
by Mr. S. C. Eggers was much
enjoyed by the writer. He depicted
the scenes in a most graphic manner
so much that it seemed that the reade
was one of the party. Your article
sure was a treat, Mr. Eggers.
It is reported that a revival meet- !
ing is now going on at the Gap Creek
Baptist Church. There has been so
much talk of a revival at this church
for so long and put off from time
to time that we do not know that it
has started, but this is the current
report.
The city detective from Atlanta,!
Georgia, and two others were in this j
section and from the information re- J
ceived it is believed they are in quest ]
of a fugitive from justice down that
way.
it seems that justice, like the mills
of God, grind slowly, but the last 1
court at Wilkesboro made the way ofJ
the whisky transgressor seem hard.
One 1\ fertdnnt near the lijie of ourj
own county was made to pay $800.00
fine, and got a suspended sentence
in the bargain.
He no doubt sold lots of the vile
stuff to Watauga boys in his hey day.
More courts like this is what we wantJudge
Shaw is a real judge and doses
out his medicine in large doses.
The weather has been rather cold
here. At this writing it is still snowing
March is coming in like a lion
and perhaps will go out like a lamb. .
Everybody seems to be having- more
or less.cold and it keeps our people
hustling to keep wood and build fires
Mrs. Cordia Wellborn visited at the
home of Alfred Watson last Sunday. ;
The Watson sisters have set out j
some frost proof cabbage. It seems j
.rather cool here for setting out cabbage,
but there was an error and the
plant company shipped the plants ear
flier than they were needed. Another
j TIMES HAVE CHANGE
rr
YESTERDAY ?
i
Today
-.m
WVTi
1926. S Cts. Copy
BLOWING ROCK ITEMS
There was an old time square
dance at the Watauga Inn on last g
Thursday night, given in honor of 111. ;
Alfred Mordecai and a!? of the young' j
people enjoyed themselves very much j
and the music war. wonderful made by g
Messrs -I. M. Foster and Mr. Denys i
Loudevmilk. 1 c
Mr. G. M. Sudderth went to ICnox-; t
ville last Thursday and purchased a I
handsome new Franklin car.
Mrs. W. L. Alexander and two a
children are visiting Mr. and Mrs. T. t
H. Coffey for a few days. 1
Balnhardt-Seagle Hardware Co. has! \
rented the T. C. Robbing building and j i
are going to put an up-to-date hard- \
ware store here, which will open in j t
the next thirty days.
The Southern Bell Telephone Co., , i
have their engineers arranging for the j
Duuaiug: 01 their lines to Blowin . c
Rock. I c
Mrs. Pruffit who has been teaching j *
at the Blowing Rock graded schooi! t
resigned her position last Fliday to ! I
join her husband who is in the real j
estate business at Asheville. t
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Klutz J
a baby boy on Sunday evening. c
Mr. N. C. Greene made a business
trip to Lenoir Monday.
Mr. Rohey Adams of Boone was
inBlowing Rock Monday and told Mr.
G. M. Suddorth that he came up to j
the bank to renew Mr. Groundhogs t
note, that he had asked for three j *]
weeks more time, and we hope Mr. j I;
Adams and the groundhog will bring j Y
u.N better weather if they have any- rL
thing to do with the weather. \
BEAVER DAM DOTS j a
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Math-1 n
cson a baby boy. j I
Mr. Charles Winebargcr who had | [
his house burned up .some time ago. i
has moved to the Abel Winebargerj^
place. r
Dave Henson, who owned the Chas \
gr | *
Swift place on the head of Beaver
Dang sold out to Ray Carrie. ^
Chicken raising seems to he the v
order of the day now.
Mr. Jethro Wilson who has bceu
sick for some time is some improved.
Mr. Milton Henson who lived in West
Virginia died and was brought hack here
for burial and his widow moved
her things up to Miss Puttie Henson
in a house nearby.
There has been a new store crec- *
ted on Peter Cable's place. <
Mrs. Wilburn Reese has just re- <
turned from a visit in. Tennessee. *
Rev. ft. C. Eggers filled his rcgu- i
hir appointment at upper Beaver Dam I:
.Saturday and Sunday.
Rev. W. Swift was unable to fill '
his appointment at Timber Ridge on Saturday
and Sunday.
order will be made to take the place 2
of those that arrived too soon.
D
>j?y. ~
at
NUMBER SO.
COVE CREEK. ITEMS
Cove Creek won two basket ball
rames from the Sutherland High on
last Wednesday. The games were
layed on the local court.
The regular monthly tests were
riven last week, there being but one
no re month of school. The atoenlance
has been good and it is hoped
hat this months record will not Jell
>elow the average.
Mr. 5r. A. Adams has been elected
is pastor of the Cove Creek Church.
>ince Mr. Adams left Watauga, he
las lived in ItutherfordtoD. There
vill be services next Saturday nomng
at 11, at which time Mr. Adams
vill announce his decision regarding
he call to the pastorate.
Henry Mast is at home from Fiorda.
An a recent meeting of the local
committee the present faculty was rv
?iected for the next year, vrvhk owe
exception. Mrs. J. P. Horton having
esigned to take work in the Danacr
2lk School with her husbandMr.
Jordan Billings was elected for
he additional high school teacher and
flrs. Hattie Swift Johnson for the va
ancv in the grades
HODGES GAP ITEMS
Do you know that over $10,000 of
eal estate has changed hands during
he last two months at Hodgoe Gap.
Che latest transaction was handled
?y Smith and Gragg of Boone, they
taving purchased John Green's farm
\t a handsome price. Just watch
Vutt and you will See where to place
our money where it will bring you
i quick dividend. Also Bill Sturgil
>urchased 20 acres. Mr. P. C. Wike
md Monroe Gragg purchase*! from
lill Sturgill the old store building
n Hodges Gap and putting in goods,
n addition to this and various nlhor
issets we have a dog kennel, t hicken
anch, corn mill and hospitality gaore.
The latest import, i^ that they are
irogresrtirig fine on Gnimblen? HVr'nvay
iending into Hodge.- Gap.
BOONE BAPTIST CHURCH
10 a. m. Sunday School
11 a. m. and 7 :3Q p. m., worsfoip.
6:30 p. m., B. Y. P. Us
Sunday School was off a little.
Sunday, 178 being present The mens
lass took the loud over the women.
?ome out Sunday. Cold weather does
lot keep you away from your business.
Why let it keep you away ftrom
,-cur church.
"Why Do Christians Have ho Suf
:er?" is the subject of the payor's
sermon Sunday morning.
The Wo mens Missionary Society
mvrr their enteral businecs meeting
Monday at 2:30 p. m. Ail the ?m>ers
are asked to be present.
By A.B. CHAPIN
?