The Alleghany News
AND STAR-TIMES
The NEWS established February 16, 1940—
The TIMES, 1925 and The STAR, 1889.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
At Sparta, N. C.
THURSDAY, DEC. 1945
ED M. ANDERSON —-Publisher
JOHN F. REEVES ——-Ass*t. Publisher
Miss EMORYETTA. REEVES_Editor
MRS. ED M. ANDERSON_Associate
SUBSCRIPTION RATES PER YEAR
In County, $1-50 —- Outside County, $2.00
The News is glad to pubish letters, not too
Ions, on matters of general interest. But
such communications must be accompanied
by the real name of the writer, even when
they are to be published under a nom de
plume. __
Entered as second-class matter at the post
office at Sparta, North Carolina, under the
Aet of March 3, 1879.
“If the choice were left to me whether to
have a free press or a free government, I
would choose a free press.”—Thomas Jeffer
son.
Congratulations To The
Merchants
This paper wants to take this occasion
to congratulate the local merchants on their
attractive windows. Many of them have
unusual Christmas gift ideas reflected in
their displays and these are attracting the
public.
It has been said that windows of a store
are comparable to the eyes of a person’s
face. Certainly they attract the public and
window shoppers often come inside.
Many people have commented on the
windows here this season and have pointed
out that they are more attractive than ever
before. These window displays not only
help the individual stores, but the town as
well. Local merchants can be jystly proud
of their windows. If you do not feel like
Christmas, the window scenes will cer
tainly put you in the mood.
Again, we congratulate the merchants
on what they are doing for themselves as
well as the town.
•-0O0
Buy Victory Bonds Now
As the Christmas season approaches
and we are thinking in terms of “Peace on
earth good will toward men,” let us be so
thankful that we have peace that we will
invest more liberally than ever before in
our government, in Victory Bonds.
For while war has ceased we must pay
for the maintenance of peace, good will
toward men. Never in history has there
been such an opportunity as this to invest
in peace. Never in our day have indivi
duals, as a whole, had such a privilege as
everyone has today of helping to pay for
* peace and at the same time invest in the
safest security in the world, the United
States Government.
Christmas shoppers should remember,
too, that when they fail to find what they
really want in the way of big gifts, that a
bond is acceptable to every member of the
family. Employers should also think, of
this.
For the maintenance of “Peace on earth
good will toward men” invest in the gift
of gifts, Victory Bonds, NOW.
-OUU
Hunger And War
General Arnold is concerned with the
possibility of space ships—moving outside
the earth’s atmosphere and capable of
launching atomic bomb rockets on any ene
my. Prime Minister Atlee proposes to in
ter-nationalize all scientific developments,
including the secret of atomic energy. All
of us are interested in universal military
training, and seemingly just about evenly
divided on thin, important question. What
does this all pbint to? To the fact that the
chief concern' of the world’s thinkers and
doers today is just this—is the future to
be a future of Peace or War?
Far be it from us to hazard a pronounce
ment as to how to attain world peace, but
we feel perfectly free to make one state
ment and follow it up with a suggestion.
The statement is this—well fed people do
not make war. The suggestion—that 6ne
of the world’s biggest jobs today is to get
itself well fed.
Immediate post-war measures such as
continuation of financial aid are right and
proper. We should share our surplus with
other peoples who are facing famine. But
let us look beyond the emergency. Let's
give thought to permanent world peace.
The first step in buiding a peace structure
that will endure is to see that the builders
—the workers of the world—share in the
earth’s bounty and abundance.
Certain fortunate sections of the globe
are blessed with relative abundance of
natural resources. Here, in the United
States, for instance. Where these resources
are utilized to yield abundance of life’s
necessities you will find a happy, pros
perous and peace-loving people. To as
sure abundant yields, agriculture, the
world’s basic industry, must be modernized
and mechanized—not still use the tools and
techniques of the middle ages, but equipped
i nrnrliino far anH awav KpvnnH thp STHflll
needs of farm producers themselves.
We do not contend that mechanization
of agriculture will, in itself, automatically
bring about the end of wars. We do con
tend that it is a vitally important first fac
tor in any plan and program to that end.
-0O0
Peacetime Patriots
Patriotism runs high during a war,
when a people is drawn together by the
necessity of meeting a common foe. Then ;
self-interest and prejudices are likely to |
be at their lowest ebb. Then the positive i
characteristics of a country stand out in j
the minds of its citizens, who search for I
the answer to “What are we fighting for?" j
Despite pessimistic reports to the con- t
trary, most servicemen knew why they J
had taken up arms. In the strain of war, |
the people on the home front, too, found
an answer.
But with the peace signed, comes the
real test. When the emotionalism of war
is done, and Americans begin picking up j
the threads of their old existence, will they J
forget those things they learned during
the struggle? Will they find now only
their country’s negative characteristics?
Will they feel their patriotic contributions
ill spent in the face of resurging self inter
est and prejudice? |
-0O0
The Art Of Being Cheerful ;
■ ■ ■ V i
The art or perhaps, more aptly said, the
habit of being cheerful is something that
must be cultivated and developed in most |
cases. Yet it is one of the most important |
assets of both social and business life. The j
other day we noticed some signs in a place
of business, which bore this message: |
“Smile today. Tomorrow you may not be
here.” Someone there recognized the im
portance of a smile.
loo many ol us are too apt to let our
feelings reflect in our attitude and man
ner. Sometimes it takes great fortitude to
smile when we feel like doing anything
else except this. In this respect we think
of the late Miss Jennie Todd. For nearly
two years she was a patient in the Ashe
Memorial Hospital and was ill much long
er than that. Never did we see her during
her illness that she was not smiling and in
a cheerful mood. Not only was she cheer
ful about her own condition, but expressed
interest in visitors and was deeply appre
ciative of any thoughtfulness toward her.
Many knew Miss Jennie for other traits of
character. We only learned to know her
after she became ill and during the many
months she was a patient in the hospital.
We never saw a person so critically ill and
yet so cheerful. (The Skyland Post)
BOONE TOBACCO :
MARKET OPENS
--
(Continued trom Page 1)
check the day he brings his to
bacco,M Mr. Coleman pointed out
With the completion of a new
arehouse this sunuper, the ware
waes now have more floor space
ian last year. . The warehouses
Watauga
HONOR VETERANS OF
WORLD WAR H
(Continued from Page 1)
An outstanding success, the
sumptuous dinner included tur
key with all the fixins’. Mem
bers of the Woman’s Club assist
ed in preparing and serving the
meal, as their part in the tribute
to Alleghany's fighting men.
Those sponsoring the dinner in
cluded W. F. Osborne, Jess Mox
ley, J. A. Higgins, R. F. Crouse,
Amos Wagoner, Hardin Bell, D.
F. Sturdivant, R. E. Richardson,
Jesse Me Osborne, W. C. Irwin,
Richardson; and WalUsp J*
PUBLIC URGED TO
BUY XMAS SEALS
(Continued from Page 1)
while 25 cents goes to the state
headquarters for the state hos
pitals and treatments. *
Miss Edwards urged that the,
public co-operate in the drive and;
that every one of the 20,000 Seals
be . sold before December 10,
when the drive ends. t 3
Mother strawberry plants give
much larger yields than June or
September runners, tests of the
AfrifdUnral «*P**r*|
show.
How Our Allies
Observed Yule
Around Globe
Here a. home, the vacant place
at the fireside or Christmas dinner
table need not mean that the absent
one is without friendly participation
in the Joys of the season. Our mil*
lions of American servicemen over
seas in occupied countries or other
places will find Christmas observed
in almost any land in which they
find themselves an<t with a variety
of customs that should be refreshing
to a visitor.
Our soldiers in the Pacific and Fat
East will find the climate the strang
est part of their Christmas day. For
it will be midsummer in most
places. On Pacific islands the G.I.a
will find a surprising amount of
Christmas spirit expressed by the
warm-hearted people.
In the Philippines, for example,
Christmas is one of the loveliest
times of the year and is one of the
oldest traditions of the Filipinos, to
Twins will spend Christmas with
Allies.
whom Christianity was brought in
the 16th century. The celebration
starts with morning masses sev
eral days before December 25. These
are called misa de galle (when the
roosters are beginning to crow). Mu
sic by violins, tambourines and the
organ adds to the impressiveness.
On Christmas Eve the Filipinos
fast before the midnight service—
a very solemn ceremony in palm
filled and lantern-lit churches. The
fast is broken with a Christmas din
ner of ham, stuffed chicken, fruits
and nuts and hot chocolate. Carol
singers go from house to house with
a Belen—a reproduction of the Na
tivity scene and children kiss the
hands of their parents for blessings
—followed, of course, by gifts. Often
the holiday branches are taken from
bamboo trees and every home takes
pride in its colored lanterns of origi
nal patterns.
Firecrackers in China.
Yanks in China will find more red
firecrackers than are usually found
on the Fourth of July in America.
They are usually hung in festoons
over store counters. No Chinese cele
brates anything without firecrack
ers. The Christian Chinese have
learned to love the carols of their
new faith, and sing them with Chi
nese words, as they exchange gifts
around the tree. With so many G.I.s
in China this year, Christmas will
be a major festival.
In India, particularly in the large
cities, American boys will find
Christmas customs like their own,
observed by European residents.
In Australia and New Zealand, a
white Christmas is unknown, but the
customs are the same as in snowy
American and English areas. While
roast beef, turkey, plum pudding
and mince pie are the substantial
Christmas dinner much in the Eng
lish tradition, the meal will be eaten
on a warm summery day. Instead
of poinsettias and green Christmas
wreaths, the holiday blooms "down
under” are pure white Christmas
lilies, gladioli and delphiniums.
Allied troops still in the Middle
East may find themselves near Beth- :
lehem. Last Christmas many Amer
ican boys from the Mediterranean
made pilgrimages to the holy places
and many left in that area may plan
similar trips this year. If so, they
may attend impressive services held
by the Eastern Orthodox church on
the Latin Christmas, beginning at
U o’clock on Chriatmaa Eve. The
patriarch cornea from Jerusalem
with a troop of cavalry and ecclesi
astic guards in gorgeous array. At
the reading of the goapel the people
leave the church and follow the cler
gy along a rock-hewn passage to the
grotto of the Nativity. There a wax
en image of the Infant is laid on the
site said to be that of the manger.
In Europe many af our soldiers
will worship in some of the oldest
cathedrals on the continent At St
Petek's in Rome, at Notre Dame in
Paris and at other historic shrines
st Christianity solemn and impres
sive services will usher in the day.
In Belgium, the Santa Claus part
of Christmas will have passed by
December SS. for their St Nicholas
Day is IP days before that date.
The old saint rides a white horse
in Belgium, instead of driving a rein
deer and the children leave hay in
the horse tp eat
the goad saint
‘Good Will Toward Men’
I Traditions and Customs Are *|
Bequeathed by Ancient World I
Early Christiana did not celebrate the birthday of Christ. It was not
until the Fourth century that December 25 came to be accepted as the
presumed anniversary of the great event In that year Pope Gregory
V set this day officially. His intention was partly to absorb the old
pagan festival of the returning sun (the winter solstice on December 22)
in a Christian feast A number of pagan celebrations were overlapped
In this manner during the first centuries of Christianity. j
In Great Britain, for instance, the “Lord of Misrule” led the frolicking,
parading, and carol singing. This period of pranks and general foolish
ness is supposed to have descended from the Saturnalia of pagan Rome.
Only a few Britons now follow this jolly old custom.
Nativity Plays.
The Santa Claus tradition represents the combining of a number of
widely differing relics of old superstitions and beliefs. The northern Euro
peans in pre-Christian times believed in a spirit
of woods and fields who had to be placated now
and then, or he would ruin the harvests. This
being, was known in Norway as the “Nisse,” and
by various names in other Scandinavian countries.
It is still a custom in rural regions for children
to set out porridge and beer on Christmas Eve to
please the Nisse. He is merging, however, with
the popular figure of Santa Claus.
In Britain the character known as "Father
Christmas” is supposed to be a Christian version
of this ancient spirit of the fields. The Dutch
Sinter Klass, or St. Nicholas, is still recognizable
as the good bishop of Myra in Dutch plays, but
he too is being absorbed in the more popular ver
sion of Santa Claus, the fat, red-coated little man with the big bag of
presents. This idea of Santa Claus is a south German interpretation. In
other parts of Germany the dispenser of gifts is “Dame Bertha.” The
custom of hanging up stockings comes from Italy.
Switzerland has developed the custom of parading from house to house
and singing carols in a picturesque way. Costumes are remarkable.
Young men and women wear headdresses repre
senting houses, ships, mountains, and so forth.
Huge sleigh bells tinkle from their waists and
shoulders. These Swiss carolers also have a pe
culiar dance used only on Chrismas Eve. In
Switzerland, as in other southern European coun
tries, the gifts are brought to good children, not
by Santa Claus, but by the Christ Child, who comes
from the North Pole in a fairy sleigh.
In many German villages an old man with a
small drum marches about the house after the
Christmas dinner, leading a procession. His drum
is to frighen away any witches who might have
come into the house during the year. He Anally
reaches the last room where the Christmas tree
Mexican Christmas.
Mexican Christmas Eve is a pretty combination of the religious and
the festive observance. There is a dance in every village until midnifrt. i
At the stroke of twelve the musicians play a mystical sacred melody,
and everyone converges in front of the "nacimlento,” or crib represents-1
tion. Then the oldest woman present picks UP the image et the Christ
Child and marches slowly to the church, followed by all the villagers.
They enter the church for the midnight mass. When this is over, the
dancing and revelry, complete with fireworks, recommences, and lasts |
until dawn.
Members of the Orthodox Greek church, who cling to the old style cal- '
endar. celebrate Christ’s birthday on January 6. Many people in Greece.
Serbia, Romania and other Balkan state*, a* well
as many Russian*, belong to the Orthodox church.
Their Christmas feast traditionally begins with a
bowl of “Icutya," which is a combination of wheat,
honey, ground poppy seed and pecans. Mushroom
soup, fruit, fish and nuts are also served. A small
layer of hay is spread under the table cloth to ,
show humility for Christ's birth in a stable. Polish
people also follow this last custom.
So every country and every district often has’
Its own special ways of keeping Christmas. The
United States, being composed of people from ev
erywhere, has received customs from every peo
ple, and has adopted those it liked, and altered
them to tt the American style. So it has been
with Santa Claus, the Christinas tree, holly and mistletoe, the Christmas
plays and carols, the luscious menu*—everythin* has been gladly taken '
over, with thanks to the many nations and peoples that have bequeathed
them to us.
Soldiers who enlist or reenlist!
n the Regular Army are grant*
■d reenlistment furlough* of from
10-90 days, depending on the
length of previous service.
Coastal Bermuda grass is one
of the moat promising new forage
plants for North . Carolina. It
produces practically no seed and
lias to be increased by planting!
stoions.
Recent experiment station stud
ies indicate that careful baking
time, followed by prompt serving,
is important for saving vitamin
C in Irish potatoes. Overbaking
results in considerable loss of the
vitamin.
One of the chief reasons why
adapted hybrid corns out yield
the open pollinated varieties is
Wilkes Leader
Dies Suddenly
D. J. Carter Succumbs To
Heart Attack At His Home
Friday Night
North Wilkesboro—Daniel J.
Carter, Jr., prominent in church
and civic organizations and co
publisher of the Journal-Patriot,
died Friday night at his home on
Kensington Avenue. He had
been in ill health for the past
several years.
Born at Burnsville in Yancey
bounty, son of Daniel J. and Op
aelia McGimpsey Carter, he
would have been 63 years of age
bad he lived until December 10.
When in early manhood, Mr.
Carter entered the printing busi
ness. working for several years in
\sheville, shortly after coming
nere in 1911, he opened the Car
ter Printing Company. In 1917,
Mr. Carter established the Wilkes
Journal with Foy A. Vause as
-o-r>ublisher. Later, this paper ™
was changed to Carter's Weekly,
and was edited by Judge Frank
Carter of Asheville. In 1924, he
sold his interest in the Wilkes
Journal to Julius C. Hubbard and
continued to operate his printing
Diant. In 1932, a new corporation
was formed here under the name
af Carter-Kubbard Publishing
Co., of which he was president at
the time of his death.
Mr. Carter was a member of the
North Wilkesboro Masonic Lodge
and also the Royal Arch Chapter,
a member of the local lodge of
Knights of Pythias, chairman of
the city board of education, and
elder in the First' Presbyterian
Church, past president and mem
ber of the Kiwanis Club. For
many years he was a director in
the North Wilkesboro Building
and Loan Association, and also a
member of the advisory board of
the proposed Y. M. C. A.
He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Hattie Lewis Carter; one
daughter, Mrs. Jane Carter, and
two sisters, Misses Cornelia and
Ophelia Carter of Charlotte.
Funeralservice was held at
the First Presbyterian Church,
Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
The pastor. Rev. Watt Cooper,
assisted by Rev. Louis J. Yelan
jian, were in charge. Burial fol
lowed in Greenwood Cemetery.
Active pallbearers were elders of
the church.
/ _1__
Before 1935 most soybean oil
was used in soaps, paints, and
varnishes. Today it finds a wide
variety of uses but largely for
edible products.
Classified Ads
FOR SALE; ”33 Pontiac with
five good tires. First class con
dition. Fred Tedder, People’s
Store, Highway 21, Sparta, N. C.
12-6-ltp
WANTED—Married man to
'operate service station on com
mission basis Good opportunity
for-the right mah. If you, drink,
.don’t apply. Address Nq. 10.
jAUaghany New* Sparta,