I BOONE
SKETCHES
By J. C R.
CHRISTMAS ON THE WAV
Children wash Uieir ears- a whol<
lot cleaner about this time of year
and '-hey say "yes, ma'am" and "no
sir ' without being told . . . and little
girls dry dishes while little boys carry
in wood . . . and there's little complaining
and fretting and grumbling
. for Old Santa Claus, 'way up at
the North Pole, is listening, listening
all the time . . . making up his mind
as to just who'll get the dolls, the
sleds, the wagons, the candy and suchlike;
A lot of foolish grown-ups look
skeptically on this Santa Claus business
. . . they try to argue that there
am i no sucu annual . . . mat Uiosc
who believe are clinging to the false
traditions of an ignorant age. Wise
guys ... in a pig's eye! Why, Clarabelle.
it's folks like these . . . born in
His image, as 'twas . . . who go
abount the countryside broadcasting
this new-fangled doctrine of infidelity
. . . telling boys and girls and
men and women that there was no
star in the eastern heavens . . . that
there were no wise men . . . that there
was no Christ child in the manger at
Bethlehem . . . that the "first Christmas"
is just another "unreasonable"
legend , . . that man's soul lives only
in the imagination! Blind, stupid,
grasping prophets who seek to rob
the big folks of their only hope. . . .
am! childhood of its Santa Claus! But
despite the bickerings of this lousy
minority . . . there WAS a heavenLorn
child in that lowly crib . . . and
there IS a kind, loving old gentleman
who brings dolls and wagons and
candy and fruits to good little boys
and gills on Christmas morning!
PRISON' WOUKEIl
It's not the intention of this un
noiy one to pass judgment on those
who preach and teach the Christian
religion . . . and seeing as how
we dwell in a transparent tenement,
throwing rocks is another of the
?*very-day pastimes that we indulge
in not hardly any . . . but to save
our lives we cant* help but mention
a strange-looking fellow who drops
in ever so often, soliciting, In rather
peculiar fashion, money and !
stuff! We're taking it for granted i
this perennial visitor is a full- j
fledged, Heaven-called parson . . .
for his card, poorly printed as it |
is, bears an East Tennessee name
with a "Itevcrend" right dab in
front of it! The card, quite incidentally,
is to be read and returned,
as It" we're ... and along
with the cognomen of its bearer
are a couple of verses of Scripture
the first of which tells the reader
that "God so loved the world" . . .
and right down l?elow, in bold letters.
are the words "Prison Worker.
But the Tennessee missionary's
approach Is a thing of rare
technical charm ... he kinda slinks
in before you know he's in the
neighborhood ... he rests his good
eye (one has gone haywire) on the
subject of his "touch" ... he proffers
the card . . . the subject reads
to heart's content . . . he looks
ine good man over . . . the good
man looks floorward ... he returns
the cardboard with dune or
quarter attached . . . not one word
falls from the toothless mouth of
the Reverend ... he slinks away,
quietly as he came! Now the Reverend
never actually asks a fellow ;
for a single thing ... he just don't
talk. In the past few years we
have entertained him frequently
i ... In the alleged capacity of a
Salvationist, minus uniform; in the
cap of a Christian Volunteer, minus
military coat; in the dusty
garb of a wayfaring beggar . . .
and with an unbounded appreciation
for his versatility, and an occasional
hope that maybe a good '
deed was being performed, we have
donated steadily to his varied enterprises.
But the thought of our j
old comrade becoming a "prison
worker" fairly burns the hide off'n
us ... it just don't seem to click!
Of course, there are two kinds of
prison workers . . . voluntary and
enforced ... so we're laying a dime
to a doughnut that the quiet, slinking,
ragged, dirty Tennessean belongs,
on occasion, to the greater
majority . . . his dingy card didn't
say!
LET US RELIEVE YOU!
We like Mr. Roosevelt immensely?
we like his TV A, and AAA, and
HOI.C. and FIDO . . . and dozens and
uoacns or otner bureaus and administrations
that have come into being
since March 4th, 1933 . . . yes, we
voted for Franklin Delano, expect to
do it again, will enjoy doing it again
. and we'll lick the guy wh_> dares
to slander his good name . . . bul
the Administration has certainij
made one little mistake . . just s
little mistake of three letters . .
ERA! Now this Emergency Reliei
Administration was brought into be
ing for the purpose of satisfying hun
ger, for the purpose of buying shoe!
and stockings and breeches and over
coats for those who didn't have an;
. . for the purpose of creating job:
for the unemployed! But instead o
relieving these ills it has created oth
er ailments . . . there are five hun
dred applicants for every "soft job
offered . . . four ninety-nine of whor
are disappointed! There is bickerini
WAJ
An Ir
VOLUME XLVI. NUMBER 23
ABLNGDON BDRLEY
: MARKET AVERAGES
: $20.85 OPENING DAY;
: I Leal Brines Near Twirp th?- * ?
- ? ,
J of 1933 as Virginia Warehouses!
r, | Open. Many Watauga Farmers DIs- j
I j pose of Crop. Price Paid Bears Out j
] Twenty-Cent Prediction of Market-!
\ ing Experts.
i
, j
| A large number of Watauga County {
I farmers were on hand in Abingdon
j Tuesday, when the warehouses opened
j for the sale of Burley tobacco, and
the day's average turned out to l>e j
$20.85 per hundred, as against a season
average of around 12 cents for
1033.
A good number of baskets of the
Watauga leaf were in the first day's
offerings, and a larger amount of the
weed will go from this section later
in the week. No reports have been
received from the Tennessee markets,
but from Louisville, Ky., comes reports
of an opening average of $19.90.
Growers are elated over the improved
price condition, and the prediction
of tobacco experts of more j
than a 20-ccnt average is being exceeded.
with prospects for an improvement
as the higher grades begin 1
to show up.
The quality of the Watauga crop is
said to be good, and the acreage, despite
reduction agreements of the
AAA, is about in keeping with for- ;
mer years.
AUTO ACCIDENT j
TO Hlf.H rnilRTl:
v vji ** w v m.xf .a. |
I
Dr. Shnckleford of Martinsville Is '
Bound to Superior Court on Charge *
Growing Out of the Death of
Mrs. W. S. Norris.
j
Dr. J. A. Shackleford, resident of j
Martinsville. Va., who allegedly drove
the automobile which instantly killed
Mrs. W. S. Norris of Route 1 as she j
attempted to cross the Boone Trail
Highway, was bound over to the Su- j
pcrior Court by Judge John H. Bingham
at a special term of Recorders
Court last Saturday. Mr. J. C. Hooker
of the same city, a passenger in
the car, was acquitted.
The charges brought against the ,
Virginia physician are for an assault
with deadly weapon, and conflicting <
evidence develops. The speed the ma- *
chine was making at the time of the *
fatal accident is variously reported
at from 40 to 60 miles per hour. The
case wilt be disposed of at the April j
court term.
VALUE CRUCIS NEWS
Mr. and Mrs. Joe C. Mast entertained
at dinner Thanksgiving in honro
of Mr. and Mrs. John Abernethy <
of Lincolnton, the following: Air. and
Airs. R. A. Olsen. Misses Nancv and
Gladys Taylor, Messrs. Frank and
Gilbert Taylor, and Dr. Matheson of
Boone.
Misses Pearl and Grace Mast ac- <
conipanied Miss Virginia and Mr. 1
Robert Shipley to Blacksburg, Va., i
visiting the latters' mother and broth- i
er. While there they attended the V. <
XI. I. and V. P. I. football game. i
Miss Myrtle Caudell, a teacher of i
Seven Springs, is spending the holi- i
day with her fatiier, Mr. George Cau- 1
dill. 'I
On Friday evening Mr. and Mrs.
Aubin Farthing had as dinner guests 1
ill honor of Ray's birthday, the fol- .
lowing: Misses I .aura Farthing,
Gladys Tester, Messrs George and
Wheeler Farthing and Frank Taylor, i
Mr. Gilbert Taylor has returned to
Chapel Hill to resume his studies at
the University of North Carolina after
spending the holidays with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. D Taylor
Miss Beulah Baird left Wednesday
to spend the Thanksgiving holidays
in Richmond, Va., with her sister.
Miss Mary Alice Baird.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Taylor and
Lou Anne spent Saturday night with
home folks en route to Greeneville,
Term.
A birthday party of unusual interest
was given at the home of Mr. and
airs. u. if . raasi in nonor 01 Mrs.
I Leona Mast and Mrs. John Abernethy.
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Lund of
New Jersey presented the turkey and
cake. About twenty guests enjoyed
the delightful occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. N. O. Smoak and two
1 children of Wilkesboro were guests
1 Sunday in the home of Mr. and Mrs.
1 M. W. Beach.
' and growling and swearin' someone
i has been favored more than somebody
. else by the guv'mint . . . relief famr
ilies quarrel over the cutting-up of
- drought cattle . . . they just can't
- seem to get the cuts they desire . .
s and food orders are "too small for
- a fellow to live on" in many cases
f . . . and they're "givin' the Dimmys
crats all the good jobs, while we'uns
f can't get a thing to do!" It's just
- one racket after another, one patch
r of trouble following t'other! Relief,
" they call it, but it's caused more loss
n lof sleep in Watauga, ten to one, than
g the panic itself!
AUG
tdependent Weekly News
BOONK. WATAUGA CC
Pictured Most Often
, \ I V Wm
wk\ v.-.
if \ \
-New York*?Six. years ago Miss
Grace Moore (above) came down
to New York from a Canadian
girls' school and started in modeling.
Now she ranks first as Manhattan's
most photographed model.
SECOND PAYMENT
IS MADE AT BANK
||9,000 Distributed to Depositors of
Watauga County Hank. Interest Included
to date. Keport Greatly
Accelerated Business.
A second dividend of ten per cent,
s being distributed this week to holders
of preferred stock in the Watauga
County Bank, representing deposts
booked before its reopening. The
lurreht payment is in the amount of
>20,000, and together with this
nnount goes forth $9,000, representng
interest due stockholders to date.
(V few weeks ago a dividend of ?40,)00
was distributed.
Mr. G. P. Hagaman, the cashier,
isks that all who have not received
heir checks call and get them as
;ariy as possible. At the same time
le calls attention to the marked increase
in business since the opening
>f the bank. More than ?190,000 is
low on deposit, he says, and new accounts
are being opened regularly.
The improved condition, brought
about largely on account of the Federal
guarantee of deposits, has dissipated
the fear of banking which
some people entertained following
lie presidential holiday.
DATHS GIVEN TO
NEW OFFICIALS
Only Two Inducted Into Office Who
l>o Not Succeed Themselves. Dr.
Love New Coroner, While Swift
Succeeds Greer as Legislator.
Watauga County's new officials,
elected as a result of the voting on
November 6th, took over the reins of
government Monday. All of those to
vhom the oath was administered succeed
themselves with the exception
:>f Dr. Jack Love who went in as Coroner
in the place of Dr. J. B. Hagaman,
and Dean Swift, who succeeds
Roby T- Greer as Representative in
the Legislature.
Those sworn in are: Dean Swift, as
Representative; John H. Bingham, as
Judge of the Recorders Court; Austin
E. South, Clerk of the Superior Court;
A. Y. Howell, Sheriff; Roby Vines.
Surveyor; Mi3S Helen Underdown,
Register of Deeds; Dr. Jack Love,
Coroner; Eller McNeil, \V. F. Miller
and C. T. Billings, Commissioners.
Six Wataugans to Get
Farm Census Posts
Six Watauga countians are to be
appointed as enumerators for the agricultural
census, beginning January
1st, according to advices coming from
Washington Saturday. It is revealed
that the enumerators will be required
to work about twenty days in gathering
the farm data, and they will
work under G. F. McAlister of Mount
Pleasant, who is slated for supervisor
of the Ninth District.
Under the arrangement, Ashe wil
be allowed 12 enumerators. Caldwel
6, and Alleghany 4, mentioning onlj
the nearest counties of the Nintt
District.
HOME ECONOMICS DEPT. TO
SPONSOR BAZAAR SATURDAY
The Home Economics Departmen
of the High School will sponsor s
bazaar to be held Saturday afternoon
December 8, 3:00 o'clock, in the lobb;
of the Critcher Hotel.
Toys, cakes, and attractive Christ
mas novelties will be on display. Sev
eral donations have been made by th
merchants and other citizens of th
town. Prices are very reasonable an
everyone is invited. Orders will b
taken if supply should be exhaustet
Proceeds will be used for the irti
provement of the Home Economic
Department.
A DE
paper?Established in the
UNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURI
|VANISHING POLlT
BOOKS MAY BRING
ON COUR T ACTION
Ilaleigh Newspaper Learns that Grand
Jury Investigation Appears Likely
on Account of Missing Books in
ftoone and Cove Creek Precincts.
Saturday was Deadline and Books
Were Not Forthcoming.
TO. r?oi?i?vW AT/.??
, - ?v avcu^u ncv.'o turn vjuaei vci
has learned from capital city sources
that "grand jury investigation of the
mystery of the missing poll books Tn
two precinct3 of Watauga County appears
likely." Allegations say that
I the books disappeared on election
I night. November 6th, and representatives
of both sides of the political
j fence, in a dispute over the results
of the voting, have indicated ignorance
concerning the whereabouts of
the records referred to.
Raymond Maxwell, secretary of the
State Board of Elections, "Monday notified
W. A. Lucas of Wilson, who
served as chairman of the board at
last week's meeting, that his office
had been informed the missing poll
books could not be located. At the
meeting last Tuesday, when disputing
partisans journeyed to Raleigh
to appear before the State Board,
warning was given that the books
must be produped by last Saturday
noon, at the same time threatening
to refer the matter to the prosecuting
attorney of this district.
No Further Developments
The deadline passed, without further
developments, the books of Cove
Creek and Boone precincts apparently
having never been found. It was
pointed out by the State officials
that under the law the registrars are
held responsible for the delivery of
the poll books to the clerk of the
| court. Austin E. South, clerk, said
the Boone and Cove Creek books
were never delivered to him.
At the same time, the Republicans
asked for a recount, charging that
a number of persons were voted illegally,
and that other illegal ballots
were cast. They claimed the results
of the election, won by the Democrats
by a narrow margin, would be
changed if the State Board investigate.
I.
R. S. Swift, chairman of the local
election board, declined to make a
public statement, through The Democrat
this4 week.
Red Cross Roll Call Is
Largest in Many Years
Mrs. Herman Eggers, local roll call
chairman for the American Red
Crcss? announces that, on the basis
of reports received from workers,
the quota of two hundred memberships
is likely to be. exceeded in the
current drive. An unusual response
from students and faculty members
at Appalachian State Teachers College
has carried the receipts far beyond
those of past years, and a num
ui.-i ui ^uiiuiiumiira, including mowing
Rock have not yet sent in theii
reports. Following is a list of mem
berships reported since last week:
Boone: Aubrey L. Eggers, Ralpl
Winkler, Wade Brown, James Coun
cill, Watt Gragg, S. C. Eggers, Mrs
James Carter, Rob Rivers, and Jin
Rivers.
Boone High School: Grace Gray
bcal, Laurie Stewart, and Annie Rut!
German.
Cove Creek: Roy Ellison, Jennii
Love, George Farthing.
Appalacnian State Teachers Col
lege: Lily Dale, Beverly Fowler, Ev
elyn Caudle, Virginia Wary, Jame:
Monroe Downum. Herman R. Eggers
Leonard Eury, Katherine Harwell
Mrs. D. C. Redmond, Ida Belle Led
better, A. J. Greene, Mrs. Lillie B
Hardin, Jennie Todd, Mrs. Emm;
Moore, Lona Moretz, J. D. Rankii
V. C. Howell. Cora LcMay, Nanc
Lewis, J. Harold Wolfe, Carolyn Wea
ver, Kenneth Barrs, Vera Isenhoui
, Elizabeth Shipman, Garnette Ship
man, Antonius Antonakos, Dr. B. I
. Dougherty: Appalachian Litcrar
, Society, $1.25; Dynician Societ;
! $22.00; Vernician Society, $7.50; Tha
[ lian Society, $15.00: Philaretian Sc
. | ciety, $9.50.
RAPID PROGRESS
! IN SPECIAL TERiV
r
, More Than Thirty Cases Dis;>osed o
in Judge Sinclair's Court by Wednesday
Afternoon. Lawyers Expect
Calendar to Be Cleared.
r
Judge N. A. Sinclair of Fayettevil!
t is presiding at the special term c
i Watauga Superior Court for the trii
i, of civil ca3es, which convened Moi
j' day, and rapid progress is being mac
toward clearing away an accumulate
- calendar of near 70 cases.
About thirty cases had been dl
e posed of by Wednesday afternoon ar
e one barrister of long standing sa;
d that he has never seen a court pe
e form with such precision and di
i. patch. Lawyers expect that the e:
i- tire docket will have been disposed
s before the end of the allotted tv
i weeks.
:moc
; Year Eighteen Eighty-Ei
3DAY, DECEMBER 6. 1934
Mrs. Councill Passes
Her 102nd Birthday
W$mMaslii?' 11
,TT?
! Mrs. Alice Councill, Hickory's l?eI
loved old lady, passed lier one hundred
and second milestone Saturday
(December 1) by receiving' intimate
friends and members of her
family. Mrs. Councill was born at
Sumter, S. but has been making
her home at Hickory for a
number of years. She is a widow of
the late Dr. ?l. B. Councill, resided
in Boone for more than sixty years,
and is the oldest living alumnae of
Salem College. She is unusually active
for one of her years, 'rid regularly
spends the summer.' with a
grandson, Donald J. Hoyden, at
Blowing Rock.
DOTSON NAMED AS
HIGH SCHOOL HEAL
Member of Faculty and Graduate o
Teachers College Succeeds Guy H.
llill as Principal. Action Taken
at Meeting Monday Evening.
Prof. Roy Dotson was chosen prin
cipal of the Boone High School ti
succeed Guv K. Hill, resigned, at i
iiti^tsiig ui iuc uciii junooi commit
tee Monday evening.
Mr. Dotson, who has already take
over his new duties, has been a mem
ber of the faculty of the High School
and done some work in the colleg
since he received his B. S. degre
there about two years ago. He hai
taught in the county schools for |
number of years before graduatinj
from college, and has the distinctioi
and pleasure of receiving his degTe
at the same time similar honors wer
conferred on a son and daughter. IT
is now doing special work at intei
1 vals at Duke University preparator
to a Master's degree. He is eminent
!ly qualified t ofill the position in th
!; me School.
Mr. Hill has moved to Mount Air
where he will be engaged in the sal
of automobile accessories.
DOUGHTONREADY
TO STUDY TAXE!
\
Ways and Means Chairman Arrive
1 at Capital to Begin Work With 8|>e
rial Committee. Favors Bonus
a Payment to Needy Veterans.
Washington. D. C. Representath
Robert L. Doughton arrived in Was!
g ing Tuesday and will join a sped
, committee of the Ways and Meai
Committee, of which he is chair ma
* in a study of tax matters. Mr. Doug
, ton said there will be no increase
^ taxes, unless it should become "abs
J lutely necessary" to provide additio
J a! revenue for the Treasury.
_ Mr. Doughton said he would co
. fcr with President Roosevelt and Sc
(* retary of the Treasury Morgenth;
5 shortly to get their views as to wh
*' they thought will be needed to n
. the Federal machinery during t
^ next fiscal year, and then his coi
t_ mittee would shape its program a
cordingly.
Mr. Doughton will be here un
the week before Christmas in conne
tion with his work with the sped
committee on taxation, and other ro
Itine departmental work connect
with his office.
Asked as to his position on t
(f cash payment of the bonus, Dought
saiii he would like to see a pi
worked out for paying the veterai
especially the needy ones.
le FARM QUESTION
,f When should manure be applied
!l the garden plot?
l_ Answer: Manure is best applied c
|e ring the fall and winter months. <
!(j soils of average fertility about I
two-horse loads should be broadcj
s. to the acre and plowed under as sc
1(j as possible. This fall or winter pic
ing not only keeps all plant nutriei
r. in the soil, but it also aids in 1
3. destruction of insect pest3 and ph
n- diseases by exposing them to the fr
of zing weather. If manure is ap{>l
to in the spring or summer it slio
be in a well-rotted condition.
SSSsSSOH wjf. ?MBS;v f/?3sj % i-4 :"< V- '?IE?gW
RAT
ight
J1.50 PER Y&AK
Ifarmersaskfor
j COUNTY AGENT AT
: BO. D MEETING
' ???>? f'A*-.-ifetgTjtSaff i .'.rtWftgfr 4-!:.
{'ommLsffl^gfrs Not Unfriendly to
I'rupo&jjsnlmit Fiml Difficulty in
Proviife ; ? ror Salary. Fanners from
Elevo!t?g?vhshlps of County Gather
audit J^ic Will lie Settled Next
Friday* J3 rin Meeting Saturday.
! 1
Memtx^nS^f the Watauga Agricultural
Boi* ^ representing all but. two
of the Ghinfty's thirteen townships,
crowded the rooms of the County
-?? ?-i - _j.i - |
N^uuiiauisiuiicis a>:/.oiiua.y, imploring
them to employ a county farm demonstration
agent. The request came
as the result of a resolution passed
at the last regular meeting of the
farmers, at which time they went
on record as unanimously favoring
the farm agent proposal.
Tiie meeting with the commissioners
took the form of a sort of round
table discussion, anu farmers from
every section voiced their approval
of the demonstration agent, many
even asking the officials to raise the
tax levy in order to meet the added
expense. This it appeared officially
impossible to do, since the fiscal year
ends next July and the levy is already
made and being collected. Mr.
J. R. McRary of the State College
Extension Service was with the farmers
and suggested that at times it
was necessary for an individual or a
government to borrow money in order
to make a paying investment, and
his remarks found ready agreement
among the agrarians.
Billings and McNeil Approve
Chairman Eller McNeil said he approved
the employment of a farm
agent as did Mr. Coy Billings, hut
indicated that they had thus far been
| unable to figure out the salary end
" of the deal, with no chance of raising
the tax levy until next summer,
f Mr. W. F. Miller, the third member
of the board, being absent, it was
agreed that the matter would be
finally decided at a special commissioners
meeting December 14th, and I
_ later it was announced that the farm
ry board would meet at the courthouse
^ on the following day, the 15th; at 1
_ o'clock.
Farmers appearing before the
board indicated a sentiment in their
roanootivi* sontinric i\f mAi-A { ????
Ir per cent In favor of a farm, agent,
e and are very anxious that a man be
o put on the job not later than the
j first of the year.
= Tubercular Seal Sale
e Begins in Watauga
C
Mrs. Stanley Harris, county chairman
of the Tubercular Christmas
y Seal campaign, announces that the
stamps are now on sale in Watauga
e and urges local people to support this
nation-wide enterprise. Nineteen, thiry
ty-four marks the fiftieth anniverle
sary of the organized fight on tuberculosis
in the United States, and the
Christmas seal this year bears the
picture of the small Adirondacks cottage
in which Treudeau began this
^ great work.
SMrs. Harris has not completed her
organization, but states that stamps
i will be on sale in practically all counts
ty schools. Seventy-five per cent of
the fund raised will be Kept in Watauga
for the treatment of destitute
tubercular patients.
;e METHODIST BAZAAR
h- The annual bazaar, sponsored by
al tlie missionary circles of the Metho-?o
ni. 1- '? * ....
j uis>u .uiratcii, win oe neici in tiie ba.sen,
| merit of the church on Thursday, I>eh-:
cember 6th, from 3 until 6 p. m.
in Handmade articles of embroidery,
o- i crochet, etc., also home-made candy
n- and cake will be offered for sale.
This is a good opportunity to select
n- gifts for Christmas, and an invitajc
tion is extended to everyone to atau
tend.
| CHRISTMAS 8
tCn | ADVERTISING j|
a] Holly leaves are beginning
u- ?5 to adorn the advertisements
efj gjj carried in the local newspaper
and Christmas offerings
he will te extensively featured jfe
Ari in TViA UdrYi rvf<rot **?
an i tjs The publishers are anxious
is, that business men co-operate Sft
>? fully in the preparation of jtjj
gS material for this edition, and iff
jyj prepare copy as rapidly as ^8
to SC possible. Decorative materiIs
als, layouts, cuts; etc., are
In- lis? supplied, but it will be neces- JK
On sarJr for much of the copy to jg
;en *Sj be in the bands of the print- $?
ist S? ers during the present week M
ion in order that the vast amount 0Z
iw M ?f additional work may be >j?
nts accomplished on time. Comthe
W plete co-operation with the
int v? solicitor will be appreciated A
ee- and will enure to mutual ad- iff
ied S& vantage. ?5
UW