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Published every Thursday by the Franklin Press
At Franklin, North Carolina
VOL. LX1II Number thirteen
WEIMAR JONES - Editor-Publisher I
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A Higih Compliment
117HHX it was decided, at Robbinsville last week,
* * that a venire was needed from another county,
in order to obtain jurors who would render a fair
and impartial verdict in the Boone Carver murder
case, Judge* Donald Phillips turned to Macon for a
panel of citizens from \vhich to draw a jury.
Last year, when another difficult murder case
was to be tried in Jackson county, a different judge
also turned to this county for a special venire. A
little earlier, for still another murder trial, this time
in Cherokee, the court came to Macon for jurors.
And back through the years this county has been a
favorite with superior court judges when special
venires were needed.
These judges Were under no compulsion to se
lect Macon ; they just as easily could have obtained
venires from other counties in this area. Their only
interest was in finding a citizenship from which it
was most likely that 12 persons could be drawn, by
lot, who would be intelligent, fair, and fearlessly
honest.
That North Carolina judges, with the$e consider
ations in mind, so often have thought of Macon is
a high compliment to this county? a compliment
even more impressive because it was an unconscious
one.
Disappearing Prejudices
It is unfortunate that so many good musical com
positions should bear titles that the layman finds
either unpronounceable ? like "Kamarinskaya" ? or
meaningless ? like "Andante Cantabile".
These titles, perhaps more than anything else,
have had a tendency to prejudice most Americans
against the best in music ; that many of us have
suffered from prejudice in the matter of our musical
taste is clearly shown by the fact that, after we
learn something about the meaning of a classical
composition, and have heard it a few times, we be
gin to like it ? even though we previously would
have refused to listen to it, on the ground that it
was "high brow", or "long hair".
Fortunately, much of this prejudice is disappear
ing. Most of us laymen are learning that enjoyment
of music is a matter not only of the appeal to hu
man emotions of such things as harmony and mel
ody, but that we like the familiar.
The radio and the record player, with all their
sins, have done much to. familiarize Americans with
good music. And such organizations as the North
Carolina Symphony Society are doing yoeman serv
ice in the same good cause.
And this community is indebted to the society
for making possible the appearance of the North
Carolina Little Symphony here for two successive
years, despite the fact that the Macon 'County quota
was not reached either year. Appreciation is due,
too, to County Chairman W. W. Sloan and the
many persons who worked with him in the Sym
phony Society membership campaign, and to the
management of the Macon Theatre for making its
auditorium available. .
A Creditable Event
An event which would have done credit to any
community was the fashion show recently staged
by the Frances' shop. The nearly fourscore girls
and young women who took part exhibited talent
and poise in remarkable degree, and the clock-like
way in which the program was handled showed
careful planning and hard work by Mrs. Frances
Higdon and her associates.
Incidentally, the show apparently settled the
long-standing debate about whether men are inter
ested in fashions : for nearly half the audience that
filled the Macon Theatre was male!
Pathetic Poveirty
Easter is a religious celebration, of the triumph
of spirit over matter. Because it is a happy season,
it is natural and proper that the celebrants should
wish to be tastefully and even beautifully clothed.
But to make Easter a day of competition in gaudi:
ness in dress betrays an utter lack of understand:
ing of what the day means. And, one wonders,
doesn't it betray, as well, a rather pathetic poverty
of taste and intellect?
The Story Of The First Easter
AND now when the even was come, because It was the
preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph
of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited,
for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto
Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. And Pilate marvelled if
he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion,
he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And
when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to
Joseph.
And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrap
ped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was
hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the
sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of
Joses beheld where he was laid.
t t t
Now the next day, that followed the day of the prepara
tion, the chief priests and Pharisees c^rne together unto
Pilate, saying,
"Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was
yet alive, 'After three days I will rise again'.
"Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure
until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and
steal him away, and say unto the people, 'Hd is risen from
the dead': so the last error shall be worse than the first."
Pilate said unto them,
"Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye
can."
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the
stone, and setting a watch.
t t t
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and
Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet
spices, that they might come and anoint him.
And very early in the morning the first day of the week,
they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And
they said among themselves, "Who shall roll us away the
stone from the door of the sepulchre?"
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled
away:' for it was very great.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man
sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment;
and they were affrighted. And he said unto them,
"Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was
crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where
they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter
that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him,
as he said unto' you." V
+ T T
Ill
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came
into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all of the
things that were done.
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had
taken counsel, they gave large mon?y unto the soldiers, say
ing,
"Say ye, 'His disciples came by night, and stole him away
while we slept'. And if this come to the governor's ears, we
will persuade him, and secure you."
So they took the money and did as they were taught: and
this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this
day.
f t t
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and
came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the
other disciples did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepul
chre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen
clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went Into the
sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin,
that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes,
but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to
the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed . . . Then the dis
ciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as
she wept, she stopped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head,
and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had
lain. And they say unto her,
"Woman, why weepest thou?" , ,
She said unto them,
"Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not
where they have laid him."
And when she had thtis said, she turned herself back, and
saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus
said unto her,
"Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?"
She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him,
"Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou
hast laid him, and I will take him away."
Jesus saith unto her, "Mary".
' She turned herself, and salth unto him, "Rabboni"; which
is to say, "Master".
t t t
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother
of James, and the women that were with them, which told
these things unto the apostles.
And their words seemed to them as Idle tales, and they
believed them not. . . .
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village
called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore
furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which
had happened.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together
and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
And he said unto them,
"What manner of communications are these that ye have
one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering
said unto him,
"Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not
known the things which are come to pass there In these
days?"
And he said unto them,
"What things?"
And they said unto him,
"Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet
mighty in deed and word before Ood and all the people:
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be
condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted
that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and
beside all this, today is the third day since these things were
done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us
astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when
they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had
also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepul
chre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him
they saw not.'-'
Then he said unto them,
"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things,
and to enter into his glory?"
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded
unto them In all the scriptures the things concerning him
self.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went:
and he made as though he would have gone further. But they
constrained him, saying,
"Abide with us: for it Is toward evening, and the day is
far spent."
And he went in to tarry with them. And It came to pass,
as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it,
and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened,
and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
t t 4
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were as
sembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the
midst, and saith unto them,
"Peace be unto you "
And. when he had so said, he showed them his hands and
his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the
Lord. . . .
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not
with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore
said unto him,
"We have seen the Lord."
But he said unto them,
"Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my
hand into his side, I will not believe."
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and
Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut,
and stood in the midst, and said,
"Peace be unto you."
Then saith he to Thomas,
"Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it Into my side: and be not
faithless, but believing."
And Thomas answered and said unto him,
"My Lord and my God."
t t t
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted
up his hands, and blessed them. And It came to pass, while
he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up
into heaven.
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with
great Joy. . . .
LETTERS
NEED $1,000,000 FOR SCHOOLS
Dear Mr. Editor,
The recent acts of the Board of Education and County
Commissioners are a noble beginning and I am sure will have
a happy ending.
Macon County needs a million dollars worth of schools;
that would be about one-fortieth of the actual wealth of Ma
con County. If we invest a million dollars in good school build
ings, well located, we have paid the first Installment on a full
dress suit for Macon County.
Certainly it will cost a million dollars. But it will cost far
more if we do not. Given a million dollar school system now,
and Macon County will receive ten million dollars in benefits
in 20 or 30 years from now. The benefits to the human race?
which should be the main aim of this program? only God can
value.
How hard will this be to pay? That all depends on how will
ing we are to pay, X will venture to say there will be more
money spent for soft drinks, cigarettes, cigars, and beer in
Macon County in 20 years than this program will cost.
What are we going to do? Are we going to dilly-dally, shadow
box, give lip service, or shall we invest some of this war wealth
we have accumulated in humanity? In the last six years our
wealth has doubled at least twice. I don't care how honest
you have got yours, it's the price of the blood of our boys who
did or did not come back. I know we were right and I am glad
we won. But are we going to get lazy and indifferent in this
new-found wealth, or shall we use it as God would have us
use it, promote Christianity and civilization. God gave man
many advantages. Two-thirds of the necessities of life are
free; for air and water are two-thirds of our existence. Surely
with God giving us so much, we will not deny the corning
generations a good school system.
I know the present program is not enough, but let us all
work together to complete this program. With a good school
system Macon County will be well dressed.
Now I leave htm there, well dressed. I shall leave It to a
future citizenship that shall grow up under a better system
than we have had to give the old boy a hair cut and shave,
and keep him properly bathed. Then he will be impatient to
go and share the progress of our land.
Now, Mr. Editor, allow me a few words on roads. Where Is
that God-given democracy our boys fought to defend? Where
Is it? Is it a government that will tax a people and then deny
the same people the thing that they are paying taxes to pro
mote?
Nantahala has been exploited. Our gas taxes have been placed
some where, we know not where. Our forests have been de
pleted, and the share that we should have received for com
munity roads has all been placed in the general fund. The
road that we voted bonds and cooperated with the Forest serv
ice to build Is now worn out. Roads, yes, we need them. Where?
From boundary line to boundary line of our township. I am
not blaming the boys here In Macon County. I think the fault
U In the lyitem, If Justice U properly distributed, I In
a unit system of roads, but under this system, the units? tens,
and sometimes the hundreds? come to Nantahala; the thous
ands, ten thousands and millions go somewhere else.
Mr. Editor, your editorial on "A Matter of Duty" was the
best. The voters of Macon County should pick a man for the
legislature who Is more interested in the welfare of the people
than he would be in cutting someone's throat, or feathering
his own nest.
Thank you for your patience.
Yours,
Flats, N. C., WEIMER COCHRAN.
March 8, 1948.
The Little Symphony
An Inspiration And a Challenge
The North Carolina Little Symphony orchestra, in Its pre
sentation here March 15 of two well-planned and beautiful
programs, gave Macon County food for thought and happy
memories enough to carry us through another year until Its
return.
In the afternoon concert to the children, Dr. and Mrs. Swalln
showed a great sympathetic understanding of children in their
explanatory talks and demonstration of the different instru
ments of the orchestra.
Each number of the program was enthusiastically received,
and the rapt attention of the hundreds of children from the
various schools of the county was ample proof of their interest,
as well as a tribute to the performers.
The evening concert opened with the traditional symphonic
number, Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, and the audience show
ed its appreciation of this type of music by Its attentive sil
ence throughout the complete performance.
The deep, yearning, heart-breaking strains of the muted
violins in Sibelius' "Valse Triste" held the audience so spell
bound that for a moment they seemed to feel it would be
sacrilege to applaud.
But the rhythmic appeal of Cole Porter's "Begin the Be
gulne" brought thunderous applause.
The conductor and performers alike must have felt the
sympathetic attention of the audience? for their performance
was perfection itself, and the attention and appreciation or
the audience was all that could be desired.
In answer to continued applause of Strauss' beloved "Blue
Danube" waltz, Dr. Swalln returned and gave as an encore
a delightful fantasy, "Fairy Tale", by Komzak.
This writer sincerely hopes that the pleasure given by this
delightful program will Inspire the people of Macon County
to redouble their efforts In the next year to gain double the
number of memberships In the Symphony Society, thereby
showing our faith In the continuation of that which is good.
? W. T. J.