WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
ESTABLISHED IN 1888
IN TOP RANKS OF CAROLINA NON-DAILIES
In 3 years the Democrat has won 14 State Press Assn. Awards, 8 of them
Firsts. This year blue ribbon awards were in General
Excelle-ice, Advertising and Typography
Published for 45 Years by Robert C. Rivers, Sr.
PUBLISHED THURSDAYS BY RIVERS PRINTING COMPANY, INC., OWNER
R. C. RIVERS, JR., Editor and Manager JEAN RIVERS, Associate Editor
RACHEL A. RIVERS, Managing Editor
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NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS—In requesting change of address, it is important to mention the
OLD, as well as the NEW address.
Entered at the postoffice at Boone, N. C., as second class matter, under the act of Congress of
March 3, 1879.
MEMBER NATIONAL NEWSPAPER* ASSOCIATION
NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1968
A Reminder
me unuea states nas every reason
to talk about progress instead of prob
lems. Yet paradoxically, we seem
more preoccupied with problems than
progress.
In a stimulating variation from the
problem theme, a leading spokesman
for the railroad industry recently at
tended a White House ceremony for
the presentation of the first com
memorative medal struck by the U. S.
Mint. This is a prelude to the 100th
anniversary celebration of the comple
tion of the first transcontinental rail
line across the U. S. and the driving of
the final golden spike on May 10, 1869,
near Promontory Summit, Utah.
This centennial celebration is a re
minder that we are a young nation. In
a brief 100 years, we have seen pro
gress that no other nation has ever en
joyed before. Our growth became noth
ing less than meteoric once the rail
linkage between East and West was
forged. And every step of the way the
nation s growin nas Deen accompusnea
by the expansion of our basic medium
of transportation, the railroads.
Admittedly, the rails have their
problems. But, they are overshadowed
by the story of railroad progress. In
the woros of Mr. Thomas M. Good
fellow, president of the Association of
American Railroads, “. . . Even now,
we are looking to an exciting ... fu
ture . . . built upon that historic event
in Utah 100 years ago. Among the
many dreams we’re rapidly converting
into realities is one to make the United
States a land bridge over which inter
national containerized shipments will
move.” This land bridge concept is as
“modern as tomorrow and a meaning
ful approach to the goal of a free flow
of world commerce.”
The year-long observance of the
birth of transcontinental rail service is
a reminder of the great achievements
of our country during the past 100
years.
Foreign Aid That Works
Pioneers of aviation who visualized
the airplane as a medium for pro
moting peaceful commerce between
peoples of ail nations have often been
upqq as quixotic dreamers. But,
'the visions of the aviation pioneers, in.
'spite of wars and worldwide strife, are
developing form and substance in far
greater measure than most people
realize.
Fore exampe, Pan American World
Airways has for many years been play
ing a leading part in assisting foreign
nations to establish modern airline
operations of their own. In answer to
the obvious question of why this
country’s leading international air car
rier would want to help potential com
petitors, Pan Am’s answer is simple:
“To create goodwill among nations.”
Helping to establish goodwill among
nations is the kind of long-term busi
ness foresight that has guided the ac
tions of leaders in the aviation industry
from the beginning. In the opinion of
Pan American, “The establishment of a
sound air transportation system is of
basic importance for the growth of de
veloping countries. Modern air travel.,
in rapidly developing nations such < as>■
Iran has reached'the point where it is
rapidly preempting the carriage of all
classes of passengers beyond urban
areas. It is even more valuable in coun
tries where surface travel is slow and
uncertain because of difficult terrain
or undeveloped facilities. It facilitates
and expedites commercial travel and
the interchange of goods within the
country and, in due course, with other
nations where there is a community
of interest.”
By offering its Technical Assistance
Program to foreign airlines, Pan Am
has been instrumental in raising the
standards of air travel throughout the
world, while at the same time ad
vancing civilization another step closer
to international amity.
Disabled Driver’s Sign
You are driving along the road, and suddenly
your car blows a tire, or you have an accident.
You are a handicapped person, or a paraple
gic, who is driving a specially equipped car—
one with hand controls. Youcan’tgetoutand go
for help. You can’t get out and lift the hood, and
you can’t reach the radio antenna to tie a hand
kerchief to it. What do you do?
Help in the form of a special distress signal
for handicapped drivers is now available from
the State Department of Motor Vehicles, Ral
eigh, N. C.—the result of a law passed in the
1967 General Assembly. The bill (H. B. 272) was
introduced by Representative Howard Twiggs of
Vake County, and the idea originated with Dr.
L. L. Schurter, State Medical Consultant, Divi
sion of Vocational Rehabilitation.
A reflectorized sign in the shape of an auto
mobile license plate is issued to each handi
capped driver who requests it. The sign is red
and white, and in the middle is a large H”
for handicapped, it bears the owner’s driver's
license number. In case erf accident, the ’an M
capped driver may display the signal on his car
windshield, or fasten it to a stick and wave it
from the car window.
The sign, which costs $2, may be used only
by the physically handicapped, including per
sons with heart trouble, and it is good for the
owner’s lifetime. If it should be lost or stolen,
a new one may be ordered.—Winston-Salem
Journal.
t
inklings In Ink
BY RACHEL RIVERS
Ours 1* the only husband we know who can
posh a grocery cart at 35 milea an hour, blast
down the aisles without tipping over so much
' as a can of tomato Juice and manage not to
' collide with someone or his beloved ones.
Lost time we got separated on a shopping
trip, we were tracking him down while lugging
an enormous sack of potatoes. That is nodoubt
what gave us the illusion that be traveled at
great speed.
Spying Ms trouser leg near the nut de
partment, we dallied around the cold cuts box,
but hy the time we got to the nut section,
no husband. Certainly strange, we thought.
Did you see him?
The woman said a man matching the de
scription had been loading Ms cart with cans
of dog food. There, we found a teenager who
claimed to lave seen him examining loaves of
brand. At that point, be was rtanored to be in
da vicinity of dry cereals and oatmeal.
It’s not that big a place, we reasoned. The
ticket is to stand still. That’s the way to find
Mm.
Three minutes ground slowly fast end
ended with an ah-hah. There he was, exiting
the laundry detergent aisle and turning the
corner where the cigarettes are displayed.
Got Mm, thought we. And the race was on.
And on. And on. The fourth time we passed
canned milk, our potatoes had tripled in weight.
We half-fainted against the jams-on-special
bin and seriously considered yelling aloud.
But our giant steps around the supermarket
already had attracted too much attention. A
woman with small child eyed us suspiciously
as she passed.
“I already got potatoes,” be said right behind
us, cart piled Ugh.
"Boy, you sure are fast,” we said on the
way to the check-out counter. An older man
turned away, grinning. “You shop real fast,"
we said especially loud.
And the woman at the cash register grinned
too when we said we didn’t bring any money
since we had brought our husband, who had
done Us vanishing act again.
Temporarily?
S'! IX
A&nhy
FROM THE EARLY FILES OF THE DEMOCRAT
Capt. Edmond Jones Of Lenoir
To Make Railroad Speech
Sixty Years Ago
September 10,1908
Capt. Edmund Jones, of Len
oir, will make a railroad speech
in the court house in Boone dur
ing the noon recess of court
Wednesday. Let him have a
good hearing, as this is a sub
ject in which all our people
are most deeply interested*
At the” Annual - meeting ' of
the stock-holders in the Wa
tauga County bank held Tues
day, all of the old directors
were re-elected for the en
suing year, who in turn re
elected N. L. Mast President
and W. C. Coffey vice-presi
dent.
Charles H. Cowles, Republi
can candidate for Congress, is
billed to speak in the court house
in Boone at noon on Tuesday
of court.
The exact date for the Mason
ic picnic in Boone has not yet
been decided upon, but it will
be held not later than the 15th
of October. The various lodges
and others interested, will bear
this in mind and prepare for
the occasion, as sure to come.
Sorry to know that the baby boy
of Prof. D. D. Dougherty is
seriously ill with laringitis.
He is thought to be slightly
better at this writing.
State Bank Examiner, Wil
liams, of Raleigh, gave the
Watauga County Bank a call
this week.
Mr. Jeff Rowe and wife, of
Banner Elk, were pleasant call
ers at this office Tuesday.
Thirty-Nine Yearg Ago
September 12,1929
Archie Qualls, Len Hagaman
and A, E. Moretz will leave
this week to enter Wake Forest
College, Mr. Moretz going as
a ministerial student, and will
be accompanied by his wif^.
Miss Mabel Cook left Sunday
morning for Washington, D. C„
where she will study violin.
She is a very talented musician,
having won many prizes in con
test. She was accompanied
from Lenoir by her cousin, Leo
Bowman.
Miss Blanche Blair, who has
spent the last six years in Kan
sas, at the home of her sister,
Mrs. Ella Taylor, is here for
a visit of some weeks to home
folks In Boone and Blowing Rock,
Just now she is a guest at the
home of her sister, Mrs. T. B.
Moore.
The new BaptlstSisiday School
building was opened for the first
time Saturday afternoon at 7:30
o’clock, the occasion being the
Appalachian State Teachers
College student reception.
Mr. R. B. Porter is located
at the Green Inn and is engaged
in conducting special classes in
instruction on violin, band and
orchestra instruments.
Miss Ruth Benfield left Sun
day for Concord, to enter upon
her work there as teacher. Miss
Benfield has been teaching there.
for the past two years.
Fifteen Years Ago
September 10, 1953
Airman First Class Willis
C. “Buck” Robbins who has
been stationed at Fairfax Field,
Kansas City, Kansas, has re
ceived his discharge from ser
vice and is now making his
home here.
Jimmy Holshouser, who has
been spending the summer here
with his parents, will return
this week to Davidson College
where he will resume his stud
ies.
Robert H. Cook of the UjS.
Navy spent several days this
week here with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Cook. He
is to leave Thursday for Cali
fornia where he will be sta
tioned.
Mr. and Mrs. John Greene
erf Meat Camp had as their
guests ’ for the weekend Mr.
and Mrs. Alie Begie anddaugh
ter, Doris, of near Wilmington.
Mr. Bogie is superintendent of
the Orton Plantation. While here
they attended a performance of
“Horn in the West/’
Dr. and Mrs. Lee Reynolds
and children, Marjorie and Bob
hy, returned to their home last
week after spending several
days with relatives in Indiana.
Mr. Howard Brookshire is
improving at Watauga Hospital
after receiving a serious injury
while trying to control a run
away horse on his farm last
week.
Just One Thing
BY CARL GOERCH
With the advent of Spiro
Agnew on the national scene
and Nick Galiafinakis in the
state, we were reminded of
some research we did a num
ber of years ago on our Greek
friends.
The Greeks were holding a
convention in Raleigh at the
time. When an American hard
ware merchant attends a hard
ware convention, or a doctor
attends a doctors’ convention,
or a banker attends a bankers'
convention, in the majori|ty of
instances he goes by himself
and leaves his wife at home.
But the Greeks don’t do that.
When they go to a convention
they bring along Mamma and
all the children, and they have
a grand time of it. Mamina
goes to the women’s auxiliary
meetings and the children go
to the children’s auxiliary meet
ings, and everybody has some,
thing to do.
We've often been impressed
with Greek names. Most of them
sound rather strange to us and
oftentimes it is difficult to pro
nounce and spell them correctly.
In this connection we’ve observ
ed that the names of many
Greeks start with “pappa'’
or “Pappas," and we've won
dered about this. A Greek friend
of ours explained this to us.
When you find a Greek by the
name of Pappageorge, or Pap
pa coul mac, or Pappa John, it
means that he is the descendant
of a priest. “Pappas" is Greek
for priest, and originally there
was a priest by the name of*
George, or John, or Coulmoe,
and he was given the name,
“PappaJohn/’ and his children
took up his name after him.
And here’s another thing: as
you know, the "Mac" in Scotch
AFTER ANOTHER
names means “son of.” And
the same is true of the “Fits”
In such names as Fitzgerald
and Fitzpatrick. Well, it seems
that the Greeks have a word
for that, too. Whenever you see
a Greek name that ends In
“oulls'’ or “akis" it means
“son of."
Sign on the back of a Model
T Ford that we passed between
Sanford and Raleigh the other
day;
HIT ME EASY
I’M GETTING OLD
Coming down on one of the
Eastern Air Line planes from
Richmond the other day we
noticed the names of the pilot
and co-pilot stuck up in the
front of the cabin. The pilot’s
name was Young, and the co
pilot’s name was Youngerman.
H. L. Martin of the Raleigh
police force was telling us about
a trip that he and tome friends
made to the western part of the
state recently.
While they were passing
through one town, one member
of the party Jokingly remarked:
“I’ll bet this is one town In
which you won’t find an ABC
store."
Mr. Martin says that another
member pointed to a sign on a
building which they were Just
passing and said: “You’re
wrong; there’s one!’’
The sign read;
A.B.C. DePRIEST
And, on top of that, Mr. Mar
tin told us that he’s willing
to bet that this is the only
name in the United States which
contains the first five letters
of the alphabet in their proper
order. » ■*
KING STREET
BY ROB RIVERS
Summertime . . . la Waning
September is summertime putting away some of her
lush greenery and getting ready to depart the scene
of her fruitful warmth ,. . It is frost flowers showing
along the roadsides and the goldenrods, with their
fleecy canes bringing splotches of vivid color to hedge
row and fence corner ... It is the nervous twittering
of the birds in the shortened daylight, as they sense the
days of their leave-taking are near . . . September is
the time of ripening ... It is fodder in the shock and
the burley tobacco, cut and impaled on up-ended sticks,
drying in the crisp air—like tiny pale tepees . . . It’s
golden pumpkins and red apples, great globs of purp
lish, frosty-looking weed blossoms and the warm breath
of the motors leaving vapor trails in the cool of the
morning . . . September is a fruitful span between hot
days and growing things and fun in the sun and Oc
tober’s gaudy color and the frigid gales of wintertime
. . . September is school again and summer residents
taking their leave . . . It’s the sound of katydids, rasp
ingly telling of things to come and it’s the first house
hold heat when evening’s shadows fall . . . September
is a turning point, an open gate, a time of fulfillment
and the tremulous cadence of the screech owl in the
dead of night.
Harvest Moon
To some, depending on their
way of reckoning, September
brings the harvest moon, which
actually is the full moon which
lights the fields and the forests
at the time of the golden har
vest . . . Astronomically, the
harvest moon is the full moon
nearest ot the autumnal equi
nox, which is September 23 . ..
A lot of people, however, who
live close to nature and her
mathematical certainties, are
more apt to regard the next
full moon as the authentic har
vest moon—that is, the full moon
that occurs about the middle
of October ... At this season
the path of the moon passes
closely above and below the
horizon at the time erf the moon’s
fullness, causing it to rise
nearly at sunset for several
nights in succession . .. Thus
the harvest moon extends the
usual twilight time and gives
the farmers, it is said, more
time to complete their harvest
ing before the arrival of frigid
weather . . . After the harvest
moon will come the hunter’s
moon, to coincide with the open
ing off the hunting season at the
end of the harvest, when the
possums are ripe, the hound
dogs in good fettle, the sound
of the hunter’s horn echoes in
the hills and a wisp of blue
smoke trails away from the
chimney pot.
Cherished Reader
Writes
We enjoyed the following let
ter:
“Dear Mr. Rivers: I am hap
py to send you a check for re
newal for my subscription to
the Democrat for the sixty
seventh or sixty-eighth year
.. . You may have someone who
has been a subscriber longer,
but not one who has enjoyed
It more than I have ... All
good wishes to you and your
family . .. Sincerely, Mrs.I.S.
Rambo, Mountain City, Term,”
MRS. RAMBO who left Boone
before our time, was a friend
of our ancestors and was reared
here . . . She is a daughter of
the late Capt. Thomas J. Cof
fey, who will be remembered
by some of our older people as
one of the pioneer business and
agricultural leaders of the re
gion and an officer in the Civil
War . . , Mrs. Rambo writes
flawlessly with a fairly fine
pointed pen and we look forward
to hearing from such a loyal
friend .. . Incidentally we won
der if there are others who have
read the Democrat so long ...
We used to have quite a few
who had read the first copy
ever to come from the old
Washington hand press, but
since the years have multiplied
we haven’t heard that comment
for a long time ... We thank
you sincerely Mrs. Rambo for
your many generous compli
ments over the years and you
shall always have the best wish
es of the Riverses.
Accelerated
Travel On Way
The passing line* are being
constructed on 321 below Blow
ing Bock, »o that traffic on tba
busy southern artery can more
more easily . . . The Boone
Thoroughfare Plan, which is
the widening of Faculty and
Risers Streets by the State to
nuke a part at a proposed by
pass, Is going forward, with
the promise at allerlatlng soma
at the congestion la downtown
Boone ... These projects were
made possible by Governor
Moore last winter with money
from the Highway surplus fund,
as was that allotted for con
struction of passing lanes on
421 east, up to Deep Gap from
the Harris Bridge . . , This,
according to official word, can
not be let until after the first
of the year . , . The 421 pro
ject will also do a lot toward
making access to Boone easier
... In this city where the State
spends such gigantic sums on
the University, it's of extreme
importance that the primary ar
teries into the community keep
up with our spectacular growth.
Uncle
Pinkney
HI S PAL AVERIN’S
Bug Hook urn opened the ses
sion at the country store Sat
urday night by announcing Am
erica was gitting took over by
■the humbugs. What brung it to
mind, said Bug, was this piece
he had saw in the papers where
31 brands of licker was tested
fer taste and when they got
through the testers said they
wasn’t much difference in any
of the brands except the price.
Bug went on to say he knowed
this feller that bought one bot
tle of high price licker onct, and
ever since he just buys the
cheapest brand and keeps the
high price bottle poured full.
Clem Webster was agreed
with Bug, said a heap of what
we call progress in this country
today wasn’t nothing but folks
trying to keep up with the
Joneses. Fer instant, he said, if
they was to list hot dogs in a
foreign language in some of
them fancy eating places folks
would pay $4 apiece fer ’em.
Ed Ek>olittle, that refused to
cross the New Frontier and was
agin the Great Society, claimed
it all got started with the New
Deal. Ed said it was along about
that time when they quit put
ting watch pockets and suspend
er buttons on pants and we had
gone downhill ever since.
Zeke Grubb allowed as how
we got to look at these matters
with a little charity in our
heart, that different people has
different tastes. That's the rea
son, said Zeke, they make choc
olate and vaniller. They was
tastes fer eating and tastes fer
clothes and cars and everthir*;
else, was the way Zeke put it.
Yeh, said Ed sarkastic, he
special liked the taste of them
judges that give first prize in a
skulpture show in New York
and found out later some col
lege students had welded pieces
of a wrecked car together and
made it fer a joke.
Josh Clodhopper, that usual
don't say much at the meetings,
butted In to say we wasn't sit
ting nothing done at the session
and he was In favor of changing
the subject.
Personal, Mister Editor, I
ain't Interested In nothing but tbs
taste you eat with and the other
tastes folk* has got can work
tbelrselfs out. I don't care If
tome folks pay $4 fer a hot dag
with a new name, but that don't
mean I got to like maynase on
them store boughton breed slic
es you can hold ig> to the light
and read the newspaper through.
I reckon the worst taste I’ve
heard lately was that woman
driver passing out from the
neat on account of keeping bar
ear winders rolled up tight dur
ing the August hot spell so's
her neighbors would think she
< bad air conditioning.
Yours truly,
UNCLE PINK