Now Is The Time
It has aptly been said that every time
Is a good time if we know what to do with
it. And we firmly believe that NOW is the
time to do something about a hospital or
Jaealth center in Alleghany county.
The need is great and with the assis
tance now offered counties by the State
janri Federal governments, we believe this
is the appointed time. Alleghany citizens
are awake to the needs, let’s’ fill these
needs. The problem has been discussed
time and time again and now is the time
lor action.
We must raise our proportion of the
funds; but with the aid of the State and
Federal governments, the amount we raise
will be so greatly increased that, without
too much expenditure or effort on our
part, we can establish an institution that
will mean much to suffering humanity.
'Through it lives may be saved and all of
the people of this county may have the
mecucal care they need.
quering or at least curbing many of the
children’s diseases, we are doing little to
stop one of the greatest of killers, fire.
Some 6,000 children under the age of
five die in home accidents each year. More
than-a third die from burns and scolds—
a larger toll than is exacted by the dread
disease of polio. On top of that, for every
ohilH who is fatally burned, many more
are crippled or disfigured for life.
No child is burned through his own
fault. The blame comes straight home to
parents who, through carelessness or ig
norance or downright inertia, permit the
to be exposed to hazards. The Star
cites some suggestions, made by 4he Na
tional Board of Fire Underwriters, which
should be memorized by every, parent:
1. Never leave children unattended in
'the home, and be sure the sitter is res
ponsible.
± Keep matches, hot liquids, lamps,
etc., out of reach of children.
3. Don’t permit children to play with
bonfires or fireworks. Such amusements
as popcorn roasts should be held under
dose adult supervision.
4. 'Avoid dressing children in highly
inflammable clothing, such as net dresses.
& In case of fire, get children out of the
house, then call the fire department.
if all parents will follow these easy
rules, the horrible toll fire now takes in
the -coin of children’s lives and health
will "be sharply reduced.
* Conservation In Industry
Ordinarily the term “conservation” is
coupled with the activities of public agen
cies when-referring to the natural re
: sources of the country. As a matter of fact,
/ft* normal functioning of business and in»
. jfyfrry m this country has resulted in the
i most; effective form of conservation.
. In a search for efficiency, industry aft
industry has learned to make the ful
lest use of our natural blessings. The in
-.----—
products have evolved a thousand in
genious schemes for the utilization of
every stick of‘wood and scrap of sawdust.
They work constantly to expand and pro
tect the forests.
One of the latest instances can be
seen in the activities of American Forest !
Products, Incorporated, an organization of
the timber industry.' It is experimenting
with an intensive program to educate
woodland owners to the advantages of
guarding their trees and marketing them
wisely to the end that woodland produc
tion will remain abundant. It sho,ws that
the right kind of conservation is good busi
ness.
The combined efforts of the industries
interested in the nation’s natural resources
adds up to a tremendous conservation
movement, a dynamic movement, because
while promoting conservation, they make
available for use countless products for
the benefit of mankind.
-0O0-r
Criticizing A Free Press
The enormous difference between the
Russian and the American ideas of govern
ment is perfectly illustrated by the recent
denunciations of our press by high Soviet
officials, and their demand that restrictive
measures be taken to stop “unfair” cri
ticism of Russia.
The Soviet spokesmen seem to be all
in favor of a “free press”—so long as its
comment agrees with their curious ideas
of right and wrong. In Russia, the press
is “free” to print government-inspired
editorials and official handouts from the
Politburo, the Foreign Office and the
Kremlin. If the slightest deviation from
the party line is found in a Russian news
paper, the usual practice is to send the
editor in charge on a long, voyage from
which there is no returning. •
v The Russians may be perfectly sincere
when they say they cannot understand
American newspapers. This is one of very
few nations left on the face of the earth
where any editor, so long as he stays with
in the laws covering libel and other crimes,-■
can say what he pleases. The Russians
seem to think the growing criticism of
Soviet • actions in our press is the result
of orders from the government. Nothing,
as every American knows, could be further
from the>Jmth. It is, to the contrary, the
simple consequence of the fact that the
majority oi editors believe that the prin- '
cipals underlying U. S. foreign policy arte
correct and inevitable.
The free press is the basis of all other
freedoms. Destruction of the right to criti
cize, to speak one’s mind, must be follow
ed by the destruction of free government,
free enterprise, freedom of religion. The
Soviet press is used as a weapon to turn
the Russian people into mental robots—
and to make every man and woman slav
ishly think alike and repeat the same
phrases. 'The Russians don’t realize it, but
their recent violent denunciations of the
American press are a fine tribute to it-^
and to the system of government which
makes its existence possible.
Taxes And Roads
Nine times out of ten, if you should
ask the average farmer today what tax
absorbs the greater part of his attention
he would say: “Why, the property tax, of
course.” This is true because the property
tax comes directly out of his pocket and
is paid across the counter to the tax col
lector.
There is another tax group, however,
that should have the farmers’ attention:
We refer to special automotive taxes. Just
before the war a highly authoritative sur
vey conducted in all sections of the country
found that gasoline taxes and registration
fees paid by farmers averaged 85 per cent
of their property taxes. In four States—
Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Tenn
essee.
The States now have funds- available
to undertake the most stupendous program
of rural road construction ever seriously
contemplated in our history. The program
will be^paced by the Federal-aid grants for
secondary roads plus State matching
funds for this purpose, which will total
$900,000,000 und^r the terms of the Federal
Aid Highway Act of 1944.
However, the Federal aid projects are
only a part of this vast program. They
can be supplemented by the, bountiful rev
enue already available to the States and
roads not on the Federal aid
-.-..
SPARTA
By NANCY KENNICKELL
Tomorrow night goblins and
spooks will roam all over Alle
ghany county as well as in Spar
ta, when Hallowe’en will once
again be celebrated by the
younger set. Not only will your
bells be ringing, (without
the usual visitors)’ but probably
some will be visited by some of
the gremlins in person.
' High School Carnival
Not only will the king and
queen of Hallowe’en be crowned
at the carnival at hie Sparta high
School tomorrow night but a ba
by contest is being held. In the
upper brackets are little Shir
ley Mitchell and Diana Strauss
in the youngster’s contest and in
the royalty set are Rebecca Mox
ley and Carl Gentry. Probably
voting will reach an all-time
high at the carnival when the
crowd can be easily persuaded
to vote for a favorite. Don’t be
afraid to join in the fun. You
might enjoy it, you know.
Early Sadie Hawkins’ Day
We know about spring “when
a young man’s fancy lightly
turns to thoughts of love,” but
what happens to the male df the
species in October? It may not
be typical of men insgeneral, but
certain Virginia girls in hopes
of rushing Sadie Hawkins day
tried in vain to capture two of
Sparta’s most eligible young
men. If yoft’re ever in a hurry to
evade a pretty lass, the back
door of the bus station is al
ways a good exit, even if you
can’t catch a west bound bus.
' News and The Law
The sheriff and the News re
porter visited several busitiess
establishments 1 on the road to
Roaring Gap recently and al
though all were places of “good
reputation,” some raised eye
brows questioningly. It would
have been an opportunity for
“news at the scene of the crime,”
however, both visitors were
gfiriepdly. Some Sparta business
proprietors who could nob be
fbtfhd'at the respective businesses
were seen on the road to Roar
ing Gap.
From Sparta To Hollywood
If you can wait fifteen or
twenty' years maybe some of
Sparta’s fair lassies will be in the
movies. Already some of the city’s
proud fathers are boasting such.
If you don’t believe us, stop at
one of the uptown service sta
tions and ask the proprietor.
From all reports, he’s telling the
truth.
Dance to Keep Warm
Square dancing is a pretty
strenuous sport but it also can
prove beneficial The girls who
work at the community building
sponsored a dance, Saturday
night in order to raise funds to
employ a janitor for the winter.
Coming to work in a cold build
ing is not one of the things
“working girls” enjoy.
Conservation
Farming News
H. E. Singletary and
T. R. Greene
Page Evans, of the Vox com
munity, was assisted last week
by the Soil Conservation Service
in getting two of his crop fields
sampled for soil analysis. Page
also plans to use a strip cropping
system on one of his larger fields.
Reid Fender, also of Vox com
munity, is realizing some very
good grazing for his dairy cows
from his fielft of ladino clover,
seeded in his corn last summer.
Reid finds that this clover also,
becomes thicker as it remains
on the land and becomes a real
soil saver too.
Lee Joines ami his son are
planning to get all of the crop]
land under a strip cropping sys
tem as soon as possible. The Soil
Conervation Service will assist
in laying off the liape for plow
ing. Earl Lee, who operates Mr.
Joines’ farm and who is a veteran
has done a very good job of
farming this summer. He seeded,
ladino clover in his corn at the
last cultivation and has Ja good
growth now.
P. H. Thompson, of the Sparta
Planning * ^
-
) vShA P'< m — 1 j
if . — —. . ..." . —
The Everyday
• Counselor
Bev. Herbert Spaugh, D. D.
Hallowe’en is almost here, and
with it comes the time for gay
festivities, pumpkins and skele
tons, donuts and cider and—sad
to say, vandalism!
Hallowe’en originated with the
Druids, an ancient Celtic reli
gious order. The Druids believed
that on the night of October 31,
Samhain, the Lord of Death, cal
led together the souls of all
those who died during the past
year. The sinful souls were con
fined in the bodies of goblins,
spirits and other spooks, toe
Druids believed. The goblins and
spooks were supposed to prac
tice all sorts ,of devilish pranks,
unless they were controlled. So,
as a means of protection the
Druids lit huge bonfires to fright
en away the evil spirits.
Each Druid community had an
altar that was kept burning for
the protection of toe inhabitant’s.
On Hallowe’en these fires were
extinguished and re-lighted. The
villagers carried home glowing
embers from the altar to kindle
fires on their own hearthstones.
Although toe Druids abandon
ed the religious ceremony when
they were indqptrinated with
Christianity, traces of the old ri
tuals remained for many years.
Thus we have the evil witches,
the fortunes and spookiness on
Hallowe’en.
Tne Romans added the harvest
festival idea to our observance
of Hollowe-’en. During the Middle
Ages other ideas were added, and
the custom arose on All Hallow’s
Eve, the night before All Saints
Day, November 1, that the witches
and goblins were supposed to be
abroad at their work, because
they would not have opportunity
on the holy festival of All Saints
Day.
All these ideas are wrapped
up in the American celebration
of Hollowe’en. Pumpkins, corn
stalks, apples, donuts and cider
—these are all traditionally .A
mericah and traditionally Hal
lowe’en. The spookiness has like
wise remained. Along with it has
come a relatively modern idea of
carrying off gates, hiding rakes,
breaking lights, ringing door
bells, and damaging property.
This has brought Hallowe’en into
disrepute and has prompted
civic-minded men and women to
put into practice the saying of
Saint Paul, “Be not overcome
more acres and using lime and
fertilizer. He will increase his
grazing. He plans to have the
Soil Conservation Service take
soil samples and have them an
alyzed to find out the needs of
his soil.
Farmers who have a good
stand of grass and clover, rye or
rye grass on their corn land, or
land which would be bare dur
ing the winter, will conserve
many tons of soil during the win
with evil, but overcome evil with
good.” Thoughtful parents and
leaders of young people have
realized that party-planning is'
the simplest solution to Hallow-1
e’«n vandalism. Spooks and
witches can appear at parties, in
dulge in games, amid decorations
with pumpkins and skeletons, I
and a good time can be had byj
all. All of this takes a little time
and effort on the part of thought-1
ful adults, but it’s worth the
price in character training and
also in property protection.
Being fore-warned is being
fore-armed. Are you going to
have a Hallowe’en party, or are
you going to let your children
and young people go out and in
dulge in vandalism and property
destriction? Hallowe’en natural
ly calls young people together.
Let them have a good time at it
with clean sport and respect for
other people’s property.
A good Hallowe’en party is one
antidote to juvenile delinquency.
ing a rainy spell to visit with
Jack Walters—one of these “all
round farmers” you hear about.
Bein’ county agent for the
State College Agricultural Ex
tension Service, Charley knew
Mr. Walters pretty well, t was
tellin’ the agent before we got
there that since it was cold and
rainy, we’d most likely find- the
farmer sittin’ around the house.
“No,” says Charley, “I believe
you’re wrong there Cousin. Jack’s!
like a lot of us —he gets mighty j
fidgety when he’s confined too]
close.”
Sure enough, we found the
friendly farmer out in his to
bacco barn, puttering around
with packing up his tobacco
sticks and cleaning things up in
general '
“Maidin’ room to put tools and
machinery in under the shelter”
Jack says, after we’d had a very
casual introduction. “I'm one who
believes in wearin’ em out — in
stead of lettin’ em rust an’ rot.
When we got around to talkin’
about the balanced farming prin
ciples at work on
farm, he skid he
get along wii __
Racer nassed the
that Jack has one of
istered Jersey cows in tae counv,.
, In the soring. Jack seeded a
Library Notes
By CARRIE H. JONES
Do you know that the reascfll
horses can sleep while standing
is because their legs are provi- \
ded with muscular mechanisms'
that cause them to “lock” and
permits them to completely rest?
7-That a crow does not fly
in a straight line as is commonly
believed, but the honey bee does
fly in an almost direct line back
to its hive.
-That both the Pacific and
toe Caribbean Sea, which is re
garded as part of the North At
lantic, can be seen on a clear day
from the summit of Mount Izaru
in Costa Rica?
-That the last British King
to take active part in battle was
George II, King of Great Britain
from 1727 to 1760. He led his
army against the French and
won tie battle.
— — —That William Henry*,
Harrison, ninth President of the ’
U. S., was the first President to
die in office? He was in offi^U
only one month.
— — —Th^t Hallowe’en meaiw
“Hold Eve,” a time set apart to
honor the memory of all saints?
— — —That Richard Hallibur
ton, a famous American author,
disappeared aboard a Chinese
ship in the Pacific in March
1939?
*-t—That the County Library
has several new mystery stories
that are very appropriate for this
Hallowe’en week end?
Topia News
Mr. and Mrs. Beecher Sword
and children, of Cedar Bluff, Va.,
spent Saturday night with P.
C. Edwards.
Miss Sarah Blevins was dinner
guest of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
V. Blevins, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Moxley, Mr.
and Mrs Sidney Sturgill visitdBt
in the home of Mr. Lee BladF
Sunday. Mr. Black is seriously
ilL
Mrs. Mary Vaught, Crumpler,
is spending a few days with Mr.
and Mrs. Robert V. Blevins.
Those visiting Mr. and Mrs.
Eugene Black, Sunday were Mr.
Tyre Spicer, Mr. and Mrs. George
Baldwin and daughter, of Mar
ion, Va. '
Mrs. Belle Blevins visited Mrs.
Effie Fields, Sunday.
I learned that Jack also takes a
lot of pride in his sow. “Just can’t
get along without my hogsl Is
the way he put it. He admitted
he’d.made some money on hogs
this year, besides providing meat
for his table.
The rain was about to atop as
we got around to leaving J«fc
to his work. When we were dajQi
the road a bit, the agent told me:
“Cousin, now there’s a farmer
who doesn’t believe in depend
ing on tobacco alone. He’s a good
tobacco grwer all right, and his
sales on the warehouse floor this
year provisd it. But you-*
that Jack wouldn’t be
without his milk cow
mjgyi