Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / June 6, 1957, edition 1 / Page 9
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Second Section 5& VOLUME LXIXv—No. 4» auga dem< BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NOKTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNK •, 1M7 Veteran Teacher Tells Story Of Long Career (This (tory fu written bgrW. L Winkler. It begmi ia 1MH and endi in 1M0.) I wis born in * log cabin, which was sixteen by twenty met and K was covered with three foot boards that were held in place by poles and heavy stones. The cracks were doted with red clay. The large (ire place served as a means of cooking as well as heating. Than floors were split oat of large pine trees and planed to the best smoothness possible. This home was one long mile back in the heavily wooded forest Here my young mother, who was just eighteen year? my senior, k«pt watch over her offspring as she listened to the howl of the timber wolf and the scream of the wild cat. ' My father cleared the land and grew potatoes, corn, and cabbage. From eating this food and plenty of milk and butter, I and my brother and sister throve nicely. By the age of ten I had learned to read and write. I cannot recall how I learned to read, write, or figure. I entered school at Goose Neck. One's grades w^re determined by the reading book he could read best In such a case I was given a fourth grade book, purchased from the local store. My mother paid for the book with the proceeds of butter and eggs, eggs being ten-cents a dozen and butter ten-cents a pound. This reader was the pride and joy of my life. I would sit for hours at a time, beside the little tin lamp, reading its wonderful stories. It was a new field of inspiration. I often found myself asking the question, "could such wonderful things be true." I, like other boys, attended a part of the four months of school, which was paid for by the county. In April, 1804, for some reason, 1 was all run down, but I still tried to plow in rocky land. Each day my nose would bleed so that I would have to stop my work W. L. WINKLER and go to the houie to rest. , It wu on one of those day* that my father came and said to me, "You muat go to the houae because you are not able to do this work." Pointing my finger, I arose from the plow beam and said, "I have made the last furroit I ever intend to make with thia outfit." Even though I waa only seventeen, my decision was made to become • school teacher. I did not change my decision. My first move was to walk the five miles to the county seat to make arrangements to go to Blue Level High School, which was to begin the first of May and to be taught by the County Superintendent. I gave him my plans for becoming a teacher. Then after liatening to my story, he said. "You go right on and get your clothes and books ready, and I will arrange a boarding place for you. You can pay the tuition of one dollar a month out of your school money." Then he told me that I had only one week to get ready for school. My next move wu to we if I could buy lome clothe* on credit, (or bow long I knew not. All night long I was a restless sleeper. Just what could I promise that I could pay for the clothes? Where could 1 go to buy the clothes with any assurance of paying for them? I finally decided to go to the large country store, which was three mile* away and which was owned by Uncle Jack — God bless his memory! He never turned down a worthy cause or a worthy person. Uncle Jack had known me all my life; so I braced myself for this ordeal of convincing him of my intention to become a teacher. After giving him my plans in as sincere manner as possible, I rested my case. I can still see him now as he put both hands on the counter and bowed his head in silence, as he studied my plea. Suddenly his face become as though he had caught a vision of hope and inspiration. Then he said these word*: "You know that we do not tell goods on a credit. If we did, we could never stay in business; but if you have made up your mind that you want to go to school and become a teacher you can have anything there is in this store." As he said those words, any struggling mountain tx^y would take courage and rejoice in the fact that Uncle Jdke really believed in him. 1 In making my selection of clothes, I was careful not to buy anything I could not use. This was my purchase: one close-bodied coat, one hat, one pair of socks and shoes, two shirts, two pocket handkerchiefs, and enough cloth to make two pairs of blue jeans. Since pants at the store were not sanforized, this gave me serious trouble later on. When Uncle Jack made my bill out, it amounted to (17.85. My! that was some purchase. I gave him a duebill as pay. It took me a long time to carry this bundle the three miles back home. During the remainder of the week, before I wmi to leave for school, my mother made blue jeani. In the tailoring ahe cut one pair two Inches short. This led to tome embarrassment later. However, they were beautiful pants to me. During that weel^ my mother borrowed a valise an* some books. In this valise my clothes and books were neatly packed and made ready for me to leave on Sunday morning. On this beautiful Sunday morning, my brother saddled the old farm horse and handed me the heavily packed valiae which contained all my worldly belongings, except the > thirty-five cents that my mother gave me. My brother walked the eight miles to the Low River footlog, where Iwas to dismount, take my belongings and head out across the river to Mr. Elvany's, where I was to board during the summer. On my way to this home I was met by one Erahtraa, who was a teacher but was back from high school to "freshen up," as he expressed it. After asking me some questions he said, "You look too thin and weak to carry that load. Let me have that valiae and I will go back to Uncle Elvany's with you." This he did. And during the mile walk, a lasting friendship began and lasted until his death. As we walked up the road, we came in sight of the house where 1 was to live. As I looked at the crowd of young people on the front porch my heart almost sank within me as I thought of the terrible ordeal of being introduced to this group of curiousity seekers. After it was all over and we sat down, I realized that something was wrong from the way they were all looking at me. Presently I casually looked down at my feet. My! Imagine my consternation when I saw that I had put on the short legged pants. There I was with my pants legs six inches above the SHOWS EACH DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 2, 4, 7, AND • O'CLOCK SATURDAY—1 AND 3 O'CLOCK; COMPLETE PROGRAM CHANGE SATURDAY—7 AND • P. M. SUNDAY—3 AND I O'CLOCK ADMISSION: tOe, 35c — FRIDAYS 10c AND 2* Children Under 11 Admitted Free with Paid Adult All Day Friday Appalachian Theatre Thursday, June t THE BIG LAND (in Warner Color): Starring Alan Ladd, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Anthony Caruso Following the Civil War, confederate veteran Alan Ladd and hi* Texas neighbors have no market for the herds. Ladd spark plugs > cattle drive to Missouri, where they are victimized by a villainous cattle buyer. Resultantly. Ladd is estranged from his fellow ranchers and stays behind. After he rehabilitates alcoholic architect O'Brien, the pair join forces to build a new Kansas town with a wheat-cattle empire. This picture is also the screen debut of nine-year-old David Ladd, son of Alan Ladd. Alas: Vista Vision Visits Gibralter. Friday, June 7 LAST OF THE BADMEN (in Deluxe Color and Cinemascope): Starring George Montgomery, James Best, Douglas Kennedy, Keith Laraen. backgrounded in a amalf Colorado town of the 1870's, the action concerns a search to identify and capture the man who heads a band of outlaws. When James Best^is killed, news of his death reaches the Chicago headquarters of the Chandler Detective Agency, for which he had been an agent, investigating stage coach robberies. Another agent, George Montgomery, ia sent to repUce him. To gain the desired information. Montgomery if forced to serve a* the unmasked front man in the robberies. AIm: Down Liberty Road aid BUI Pastors—Cartoon. Saturday, Jane S at 4 aad 1 o'clock WYOMING RENEGADES (in Technicolor): Starring Phil Carey, Gene Evans, Martha Hyer, William Bishop. Just released from his prison term for armed robbery, Carey refuaes Evans' offer to rejoin his bandit gang. Carey's return to town ia greeted with suspicion but with his sweetheart and new friend, Douglaa Kennedy, he sets up a business. Discovering a bandit caaing the bank, Carey warns the sheriff and the receipta are hidden in the jail, but the bandits learn of the switch and get the■ loot. Angry townspeople threaten 'to lynch Carey. Ala*: Five Cartoons aad a Caiedy! I t Saturday, Jane I at 7 and t •'clack SECOND GREATEST SEX a* Cinemascope and Technicolor): Starring Jeanne Crain, George Nader, Kitty Kailen, Keith Andes, Mantle Tan Doren, Bert Lahr. ••*>.% v In 1W0, the men af a Kansas pioneer town are battling with the men of two other townships over poaaeaaion of official raeorda while hair looely wivea and girl frienda work and wait When the weary men' return home, George Nader lets the date for his marriage to Jeanne Crain, bat the latter is disgruntled when he leaves her on their wedding night to continue to fight with the other towns. To get even, the women barricade ' themselves in an abandoned fort and refuse to return to them until the warring parties sLga a pancc treaty. ■ Sunday, June 9 at 3 and 9 o'clock , KETTLES ON OLD MACDONALb'S FARM: Starring Marjorie Main, Parker Fennelly (the new Pa Kettle), Gloria Talbott, John Smith. After the Kettles move to a new farm, they learn that the owner of a nearby lumber company, Roy Barcroft, opposea the marriage of hia daughter, Gloria Talbott, to John Smith because he believes that Gloria ia too money-apoiled and will not make a good .wife. Miaa Main persuades Barcroft to let Gloria work the Kettle's old farm to prove she can take hardships. It ia agreed and the Kettles become her chaperonea. Smith needa money to buy a section of land and they all enter in the contesta of a lumberman's outing and win all the cash prizes. Also: MOM News Monday, June 1* UNTAMED YOUTH: Starring Mamie Van Doren, John Russell, Lorf Nelson, Don Burnett. Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson, sisters who are hitcb-faiking to Lot Angeles, are picked up in the south and aentenced by Lurene Tuttle, local judge, to Jail—or 30 days working on ' a cotton (arm. They pick the latter and soon find that the owner. John Ruaaell, is a tyrant whi ia aecretly married to thfc woman judge and using her to get cheap labor. Deapite the gruelling picking by day, the kida find time to Rock 'n' Roll at night, aa Mamie ainga and Eddie Cochran gives out with Elvis Presley movements. Alas: Society Dog Show—Cartoon. Tursdsy. Jut U THE BUSTER KEATON STORY (in VUUViilon): Starring Donald O'Codnor, Ann Blyth, Rhonda Fleming, Peter Lorre, Jackie Coogan. O'Connor (Keaton.) it the age of seven is a member of hia family's vaudeville troupe ,the laat act on most hilla. Sixteen years later the act ia still at the bottom and Keaton decides to take a fling at motion picture*. He bluffs his war itnto a studio, (eta the attention of Mlas Birth, the casting director, and In time becomes the studio's top comedian. Hia popularity goes to bis head and when sound pictures come into being. Keaton finds that he can't meet MIRTH the new medium, but eventuallr has a comeback. - U , v-; ,'v v-> A PACE IN THE CROWD: Starring North Carolina * own Andy Griffith. Gruenther To Address Press GEN. ALFRED GRUENTHER General Alfred M. Gruenther, former supreme Allied commander in Europe, will address the annual convention' of the North Carolina Press Association at Nags Head of June 20. Announcement that the distinguished soldier and present president of the American Red Cross, will speak to North Carolina publishers and editors was made by Thomas L. Robinson, NCPA president. General Gruenther will speak at an evening dinner meeting on the opening day of the convention. His subject will be "Some Aspects of our Security Program." tops of my number ten shoes. How long I could stand that gazing was the question. Presently someone suggested that we stand around the organ and sing. This was quite a relief as those pants looked better when I was standing. Someone i.sked, "Do you sing?" I replied, "Yes, 1 sing bass." My strong voice was easily adjusted to bass. The song they selected was "Will there be any Stars in My Crown." I was not so sure whether I could win a star part or not. However, 1 turned mt heavy bass voice loose. When we had finished this wonderful song, I received all sorts of compliments. One girl put her I dainty little hand on my shoulder and electrified me to my toes as she said, "You are a wonderful bass singer.'' I had won at least one star. My adjustment was soon to be interrupted by the supper bell. I can still hear that familar voice, which in a few days became a welcome melody. How could I ever go through with this meal? After we were seated, the father bowed his head and proceeded to ask the blessing, which contained more real thankfulness than many sermons. As the serving of the meal proceeded, I gained enough (continued on page four) 1 GONDOLIERS TAKE PLACE OF CABBI^ Picturesque Venice, Art Of Florence, Cradle Of Renaissance Desci By JAM RIVERS Democrat Staff Writer VENICE, ITALY.—There U oniy one Venice, and it U a city which embodies- a unique charm and beauty. Rising from the walen are doaens of ialanda crowded with churchea, palaces, and houaea mirrored in 190 canals. The different sections of the city are linked by picturesque stone bridges and tiny alleyways. Venice'a main street is the Grand Canal, and her cab driver ia the gondolier. The intence traffic of a modern city moves on water, in striking contraat to the antique achitecture. In a gondola we wandered through the canals past the haunts and homes of the doges, beneath Lord Byron's Bridge of Sighs, and past the lovely home of Robert Browning. The gondoliers, wearing beribboned straw hats, snapped at one another in an Italian dialect as their crafts skimmed across the water. The sky and buildings were reflected in • the tea, and wave* lapped against the •tepa and arcbvnyi. Our first stop in Italy will be long remembered. We left Venice for Florence, traveling through the fertile valley of the River Po. We passed through Bologna, the "City of Learning", at the foot of the Apennines. Here is the home of Europe's oldest university, founded in the 12th century. When we arrived in Florence, we found a city with a fascination of its very own. Uncontestably the mo«t beautiful city in Italy, Florence was the cradle of the Renaissance. Here was produced the art of Dante, Michelangelo, Ceeline^etticelle, Leonardo da Vinci, and counties other geniuses. Every corner of the town has centuries of culture behind It, and almost every house has something to say or to show. The modern appearance of the streets is superficialabove the shop fronts still stand the austere walls of 19th century palaces or 13th century towers. AU the bridges over the Arno River, mvc the Ponte Necchio with iu little shop*, were destroyed by the retreating Germans. Reconstruction of the pert few yean, however, hat made much progress. The art work alone. In particular the beautiful statues by Michaelangelo, are worth coming thousands of miles to see. We ■tood in amaiement at the perfect beauty which has been produced from gigantic slabs of solid marble by the patient hands of the masters. We visited the great Duomo, with its Baptisty and Giotto's 14th century Campanile; the churches of Santa Maria Novella, Santa Trinita, San Marsco and it* museum; the Medici-Chapel; and the enchanting Bo boll Gardens, designed in 1950 by Tribolo for Eleanor of Toledo. No city in the world stands higher in the realms of artistic endeavor and accomplishment. We will be in Rome in another two days, and then on to Sorrento and Naples. .
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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June 6, 1957, edition 1
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