I Went .
UNTO
THOSE HILLS
By J. P. BRADY
This Is going to be one of
those "I went, I saw, I liked"'
sagas, concerning any number
of people, including Macon
County s own, an excellent
dramfc, and it will probably con
tain a moral.
And like all good stories it
begins with once upon a time
So, once upon a time, just
about a year ago to be more
specific, a new-born babe with
a story to tell tried out its
lungs with resounding success
This newcomer, a top drawer
attraction fro.m the start was
named "Unto These Hills", its
story is a down-to-earth en
actment of what the Chero
kee Indians faced in the on
rush of a growing democracy.
Well, little "Unto These Hills"
Saturday night celebrated what
appears to be the first of many
Happy Birthdays, and entered
its second season of tale-telling.
Good plays, like cheese, ripen
with age, , and the Cherokee
story, with a year's maturity
under its belt, is no exception
to the rule.
Following its birth last year
the garnishing of flowery su
perlatives from newspapers and
critics ordinarily would have
swelled the head of Western
North Carolina's newest tourist
booster. However, being a rath
er brainy child with an eye to
the future, "Unto These Hills"
set out to improve itself instead
of relaxing on its laurels. And
improve it did!
Some revision's in the music
? ?nd story department, all to
tl? good we .'.night add, better
ser^fllg, and a will to please a
fickle >ibl); has reserved a
place fd^the drama on the
rocket to ftfne, baring an act of
Congress, course. And the
only jvwslble objection this
county s governing body could
ha? would be the use of red
|r costumes. So, we can assume
that the play is here to stay.
By some weird stroke of fate
(the boss couldn't make it)
this reporter journeyed to the
Cherokee village Friday to cover
a meeting of the Western North
Carolina Associated Communi
ties. I soon found out that I
wasn't far from home. A rather
hefty portion of Franklin, all
beating the heat in the shade,
formed a welcoming party. They
were headed by Franklin's own
mayor, R. M. Dillard, who em
phatically denied that he was
in Cherokee to clean the place
up. In fact, he at one time
1 lived in Cherokee.
Being birds of a feather, the
locals stuck close together,
through dinner, the meetings,
and preview showing of the
drama at the Mountainside
theatre.
Throughout the afternoon
jpersplration reigned and that
night a different kind of mois
iure, Just as wet as the other,
made an unscheduled appear
ance. But that comes later!
Most of those from Franklin
moved a step closer home for
supper by dropping down on
the "midway" and eating at the
Sequoyah restaurant. The res
taurant owner was none other
than S. W. (Sammy) Beck,
Franklin's band director, who
by his own admission serves the
best "10 cent hamburgers In
town for 40 cents". During sup
per . Mr. Beck supervised the
erection of a new sign in front
of his restaurant and calmly
received the news that he had
just become a father.
Nobly restraining from whist
ling at the shorts-clad lady
tourists. who were very much
in evidence (ah Spring!) we
began tile migration to the
Mountainside theatre. (Think
ing back, that whistling could
Jiave been a near fatal move.
My wife was ttlong!) Before
long the amphitheatre was
^packed, the lights dimmed, and
jthe show began.
What a relief to see a show
wlUaout a popcorn eater pursu
it* his fluffy grain in your
earl
Charles Browning, a Franklin
ite who is making quite a name
for himself in theatrics, appear
ed In the role of "White Path"
( and turned in a sterling per
formance. He played the game
role last year and turned in a
/ ( SXS. HO. 1, PACK 13
4-H Dress
Review Set
For Today
Twenty-two 4-H girls have In
dicated they plan to take part
in the county-wide 4-H Dress
Review this afternoon (Thurs
day) at the Agricultural build
ing, Mrs. Barbara B. Hunnlcutt,
assistant home agent, said this
weefc
The show will begin at 2
o'clock. Each entry will be given
a small gift by the assistant
home agent and winners will be
presented ribbons.
The public Is invited to attend
the review.
3 INJURED THIS
WEEK ON MACON
COUNTYROADS
T wo Accidents Reported
On Bryson City Road,
One On Highlands
Three persons were injured in
three automobile accidents on
Macon County highways this
week ? one injury a result of
the highway buckling under
summer heat.
Two of the accidents occur
red on the Bryson City high
way. Saturday afternoon about
2:30 o'clock Mrs. J. R. Pressley,
of Canton, was admitted to a
local hospital for treatment of
head injuries. Her husband told
investigating officers that the
cement buckled in front of his
automobile and he was forced
to swerve to the side of the
road. Frank Bailey, of Franklin,
Route 4, a passenger, was un
injured.
The second accident on the
Bryson City stretch happened
Sunday afternoon abput 6 o'clock
Mrs. Logan Allen, Sr., and Mrs.
Sam Bowers, both of Franklin,
were admitted to a local hos
pital for fttatment.. Mrs. Allen
suffered head tojtrtos *nd Mrs.
Bowers was treated for cuts and
bruises. i
The driver of the car, Thom
as Russell Turpln, 30, of Frank
lin and the U. S. Navy, told
officers that he was forced off
the road by an automobile pass
ing another In a curve. Damage
to Mr. Turpln's car, a 1951
Chevrolet, was estimated at 41,
100. He was not injured.
Tuesday evening about 6:30
o'clock Hyman Schlldhouse, a
salesman from Cleveland, Ohio,
lost control of his automobile
on the Highlands road and roll
ed down an embankment into
the mountain stream running at
the side of the highway. The
salesman, although shaken up,
was not injured.
Power Company
President Is Named To
Association Board
Of Trustees
John M. Archer, Jr., president
of the Nantahala Power and
Light company here, was elect
ed tb the board ot trustees of
the Cherokee Historical associa
tion at a meeting in Cherokee
Friday afternoon.
During the day the associa
tion played host to members of
the Western North Carolina
association, which celebrated its
first anniversary at the Choro
kee meeting.
Among those from here who
attended the meetings and an
advance showing of the Chero
kee drama, "Unto These Hills",
were Mr. and Mrs. Henry W.
Cabe, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Whlt
mire, Mr. and Mrs. Robert M.
Dillard, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Reb
er, Paul Russell, and Mr. and
Mrs. Frank B. Duncan.
Lion Birthday Calendars
Now On Sale, Reber Say*
Lion Ted Reber announced
this week that a limited num
ber of community birthday cal
endars have been obtained for
sale to persons who failed to
sign for one when the Lion's
fund-raising campaign was In
progress. '? ?
Calendars may be purchased
at the Western Auto store or
from Mr. Reber for 50 cents.
All pre-purchated calendars
have been distributed or mallei,
he (aid.
'? / ' '
Korea ? and July Fourth
AN OPEN LETTER
To Men in Service
Dear Fellows:
cast Sunday marked the end of a year of war in Korea.
And on next Wednesday the Declaration of Independence
will be 175 years old.
This letter is suggested by those anniversaries. I suspect,
though, that it is prompted, too, by something quite different:
The azalea and the laurel are in bloom on the mountainsides:
and that reminds us at home that this Is the time when
young people usually are going on camping trips, and that it
soon will be time for family reunions. . . .
This is an attempt by one who has a son in Korea to put
on paper some of the things I think most of us back home
feel at this season; to try to say what we would say, if we
could be with you today, and sit down and talk with you.
? ? *
We would tell you, first of all, of course, the news from
home.
We would tell you about the plans for celebrating Inde
pendence Day ? about the usual, typically American greased
pig and greased pole stunts, the baseball games, the dances;
about the crowds that will be pushing and yelling and laugh
ing, as though they hadn't a care In the world; about the big
American flags? ^bought by most business houses in your little
countyseat town for the occasion ? that will be f ying every
where.
We would tell you about the movement* getting under way
here to clean up and beautify towns and countryside in this
naturally beautiful region; that we are setting out to d"
such a good Job of community house cleaning that you wlli
hardly know the place when you come home again.
And we would tell you that the school building program,
for which your community went so heavily In debt a few
years ago, is moving forward; and that we are determined
that what goes on inside the new schools shall b2 as much
Improved as the buildings themselves, so that the boys ani
girls who are coming on shall have better chances than you
had.
* ? ?
As we gave you these bits of news from home, It would be
our hope that you would realize what lh?y mesn to us ? that
these seemingly little things are a part of our e'fort to make
democracy work, to prove that we deserve freedom. In short,
that we, at home, are trying to preserve and mal:e worth
while the things that you, away from home, are trylnj to
save.
We would try to tell you, maybe with a little embarrass
ment, how proud we are of you. But we would add that you
are doing no more than your duty ? a thing to remember, now
and always.
We would tell you how overjoyed we are at the prospect of
peace In Korea. And Just here it probably would be yoq who
would tell us something: Not to be too optimistic; that Korea
almost certainly is only a phase of what may be a long strug
between dictatorship and freedom.
r Aha if #e were entirety honest, we would tell* you that
there have been times when the war in Korea has seenv-d
to us futile and hopeless; that we have been confused by the
long, bitter MacArthur controversy lij Washington; thit we
find it hard to make sense of what is going on in the *orld.
But, as we talked, other wars would come to mind, and un
doubtedly one of us would recall that almost every American
war, At the time seemed futile and hopeless. Then, as we dis
cussed the MacArthur hearing, I think we finally would ngree
as to What the row was all about ? not whether we should be
fighting in Korea, but how that wai' sho<i'd be w^ed.
And gradually I think it would occur to both of us that there
is a connection between the war In Korea and the Declara
tion of Independence.
Because today's struggle, like World Wars 1 and 2 ? yes, and
like that long and seemingly hopeless war that started 175
years ago ? Is over Just one thing; Whether men shall be
ruled or whether they shall be free.
And so, as we ^talked on, I believe at last It would dawn
upon us that the war In Korea is only the Immediate reason
you are in uniform; that the real reason Is something deeper
and much closer home; that we are fighting not chiefly for
Korea or the Koreans, but for the rights and the freedoms
and the principles that Hancock, Jefferson, Franklin and those
other young daredevils demanded when they set their signa
tures to that revolutionary document, back In 1776.
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Those words, so familiar to us all, have a new meaning in
today's world. For what does a life maan. who has any liberty',
how can anyone pursue happiness, In the ever-expanding area
under the Kremlin dictatorship?
And as we left you, to come back home, I believe surely an
other phrase from the Declaration would occur to us, and
send us hurrying back to our work at home ?
?r. . , we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our.
Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
Weimar Jones.
Bradleys
Hold Family Reunion
A Bradley tamlly reunion, the
first since 1947, was held over
the week-end at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Bradley,
Franklin, Route 3.
All of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley's
nine children were present at
the gathering. All of their
grandchildren also were present,
with the exception of Sgt. Billy
J. Gibson, who Is In Korea, and
Jimmy Bradley, of Winston
Salem. ? ,
Others present were Mr. and
Mrs. Carl V. Bradley and two
sons, of Claremont, Calif., Mr.
and Mrs.' Ralph Bradley, Mr.
and Mrs. Hargrave Parrlsh and
two sons, of Franklin, Route 3,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Qlbson and
three daughters, of Franklin,
Route 4, Mr. and Mrs. Troy L.
Bradley and son, Mr. and Mrs.
A. F. Cook and son, Mr. and
Mrs. Connette Johnson and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Verlln
Bradley and two sons, and Miss
Betty Bradley, all of Wlnston
Balem,
The Rev. A. Rufus Morgan
Is Awarded Fellowship
For His Work In Macon
The Rev. A. Rufus' Morgan,
rector of the Episcopal church
here, for his work among rural
mountain people, was awarded
a world fellowship at the 37th
meeting of the National Rural
Workers Fellowship of the Epis
copal church held in Pennsyl
vania . Friday, it has been learn
ed.
WU1 Hold Bible School
Commencement Sunday
Commencement exercises for
the vacation Bible school being
held at the Franklin Presby
terian church will be held at
7:30 o'clock Sunday evening at
the church.
Each class will present a rep
resentative part of its work, and
awards will be made. ?
The two-week school ended
it* first week with an enroll
ment of BO, including the eight
teachers.
MINER'S GROUP
HEARS PRAISE
FROM GEOLOGIST
Y ancey Miner'* Behind
Local Association,
President Says
Sixty-five member* of the
Miner's association Friday night
heard Robert F. Lawrence, fed
eral geologist for the southeast
ern region, compliment their
organization on the advance
ment it has made lince It was
formed in April.
Referring to the organization's
rapidly expanding program, Mr.
Lawrence said far more will be
accomplished as soon as the
organization's domestic mica
program gets under way and
membership grows.
The regional geologist and a
crew of co-workers from Knox
vllle, Tenn. spent last week in
th s area inspecting mining
properties.
Du.ing the meeting Roy H.
Fouts, secretary, reported that
a membership drive during the I
week had swelled the organlza- i
tion'j total paid membership to
331, A number Qf other ntfrier$,
the seeretary said, indicated
that they planned to Join later.
Mr. Lawrence also answered
a number of questions In re
gard to applying for govern
ment loans for exploration pur
poses. He said it was his belief
that the June 30 deadline for
lean applications wq^ld fee ex
tended ?inee a number Qf peo
ple have nQt learned of the
program whioh only was started
in April.
Yates Bennett, president of
the Yancey County miner'*
unit, pledged the support o. his 1
group and thanked members of
the local organization for In- '
viting his group to affiliate with
the association.
Treasurer of the Yancey unit,
C. F. Connor, spoke briefly en
the lnternatlgnal Situation
which has stimulated the |ov
ernment's intent in a domest
ic mica pi of ram He pointed
oet- that mica imports from In
dia have been discontinued
maslng It necessary to find a
new source of supply for de
fense needs.
Carl Buchanan, speaking In
behalf of Jackson County min
ers, said his county was looking
to the association for leader
ship and would need its as
sistance.
A representative of Armstrong
Brothers In Atlanta, Qa., Archie
Chapman, spoke briefly on the
Importance of the association's
v.ork In a community.
DEACONS WILL MEET
Deacons of Macon County
Baptist churches plan to meet
at the Holly Springs Baptist
church tomorrow (Friday) night,
It has been announced. Sapper
will ,be served at 7 o'clock and
a program is scheduled to fol
low.
HONEYCUTT TO PREACH
The Rev. W. Jackson Honey
cutt, superintendent- of the
Wayrtesvlll'e Methodist district,
whi preach at the morning eerv
Ice Sunday at the Franklin
Methodist church.
Files A Detainer For Leavenworth
Prisoner Wanted Here For Robbery;
Partner Is Serving Time For Crime
Solicitor Thad P. Bryson, Jr.
announced- this week that he la
filing a detainer tar a man serv
ing a term In Leavenworth pris
on who is wahtdd here In con
nection- with a '1646 robbery
spree in Highlands.
Another man, who'siood trial
here, is now serving a 25-year
sentence tor hit put In the
robberies.
The Levean worth prisoner,
who escaped from the Swain
County jail In August, 1948, Just
three days before he was to go
on trial In Macon County su
perior court, was apprehended
in Little Rock, Ark., In Novem
ber, 1948, and consequently was
sentenced to prison by federal
authorities for mall robbery.
The wily robber, James Floyd
Phllpot, alias F. L. Phillips, and
Bern Garland, were picked up
July 24, 1948 by Highway Pa
trolman Pritchard Smith, Jr.,
and following an Investigation
were charged with the July 10
break-Ins at Doyle's Self-Serv
ice grocery. Potts grocery, High
lands High school and theatre.
Warrants were also Issued
charging them with pomwton
of burglary tools and carrying
concealed weapons. Both of the
men's wives who were with
them were arrested but later
were released when officers
found they were not aware of
their husband's second story
activities.
The man who slipped the pair
the freedom-making saw blades
Is still serving his sentence.
Phllpot and Garland were
placed In the Bryson City Jail,
pending trial, but three days
before court convened here,
aided by a confederate who
slipped them hacksaw blades,
they sawed their way to free
dom.
The 22-year-old Garland soon
after was caught In Cincinnati,
Ohio, and was returned here
for trial at the December, 1M8
term of court.
The youthful Oartwd's trial
created quite a stir In Macon
County. He told the court he
had been misled by the older
Phllpot, who retained him as a
chauffeur on a salary of $75
a week. Judge George B. Pat
ton, presiding, sentenced the de
fendant to St ywn.
"Biggest And Best"
Fourth Is Planned
This country's celebration of
its 175th year of Independence
should be a smashing success if
Macon County's plans for the
Fourth of July are any indica
tion.
Ironically, the Fourth will be
celebrated right on the heels of
another anniversary marking a
fight for freedom. The war in
Korea was a year old last week.
With an early start this year.
Independence Day planners
have gone all-out to provide a
full day of festivities for cele
brants and they hope this yea.
will prove to be the "biggest
and best" Fourth yet.
Merrymaking will begin at 10
a. m. with a king-size parade
complete with floats. Immedi
ately after the parade festivi
ties will resume at Franklin
High athletic ileld where two
beauty contests and field events
for boys and girls and men and
women are planned. A b&seoaii
game at 3 o'clock between
Franklin and Lavonia, Ga. will
keep folks in the spirit o. things
until the Veterans of Foreign
Whs square dance gets unde
way at the Franklin airport at
8:30 o'clock.
A greasy pole with $5 on its
top and cash prizes and mer
chandise for field event win
ners should provide the incen
tive te keep ''everyone in there
tfylng", committeemen pointed
Out And a greasy pig, donat
ed by Lee Poindexter and
Down's Feed and Qrocery, will
teat the grappling skill of any
one doairing to catch the elus
ive porker.
Interest in the beauty con
test mounted this week follow
ing the disclosure that 14 local
businesses plan to enter a con
testant. A special float for con
testant! u being arranged. All
flfl# entered in the oontest are
asked to meet Tuesday night at
t o'clock at the chamber of
eonyperoe building to assist in
decorating the beauty chariot.
WlftMr of the contest will be
crowned "Queen of the Fourth/'
at the V. F. W. square dance
that night, and will be award
ed a |1B cash prise. Runnerup
will be given $10.
Floats entered In the parade
will be judged on the basis of
originality. Decorating costs :
cannot exceed )3. Cash prizes
are to be awarded to winning 1
entries.
Those planning to take part
in the parade are asked to meet
at the east side of the post
office at 9:30 o'clock. Order of
march is the Fran Klin band,
American Legion post, Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, Veterans
of Foreign Wars post, and
floats.
A feature of the field events
will be an "old fashioned" bath
ing beauty contest in wmi.ii
women will model the bathing
attire of yesteryear. Mrs. Orace
O'Mohundro, in charge of the
contest, requests all entries to
meet with her at the chamber
Of commerce building Tuesday
night at 8 o'clock to assist with
the "old fashioned" float.
Field events for boys and men
Include a sack race, potato
race, three-legged race fat
man's race, 100 yard dash fur
boys over 14 years, 50 yard
dash lor boys under 14, wheel
barrow race, bear wa king race,
baseball throw tor distance,
basketball throw for distance.
Prizes will also be given to the
oldest man and the tallest jntv
Girls' and women's events plan
ned are 50 yard dash for girts
over 15, 50 yard dash for girls
under 15, potato ^ race, Wgh
kicking slipper contest, married
woman's race, husband and
wife relay, basketball throw for
distance, wheelbarrow race bear
walking race, and priaes will be
awarded to the oldest and tall
est lady. -
Following are some oi ine
prizes being donated by local
merchants : (Fourth
pointed out that a number of
merchants have not yet ^een
contacted and said additional
prizes probably will be added
later.) Baldwin's market, car
ton of cigarettes; Belk's Depart
ment store, boy's sport shirt
and a pair of girl's blue jeans;
Perry's Drug store, flashlight.
Franklin 5 and 10, lamp; Bow
er's Department store, ladles
blouse; Macon County Supply,
harmonica; Macon theatre,
eight free tickets; Sossamons
Furniture store, card table,
Jamison's Jewelery, boys' {***"
et watch, Macon Furniture
company, lawn tab>; _
shop, pair of lad.es hose.
Reeves Hardware store, $2.au
merchandise; Carolina Phar
macy pound box of candy.
Western Auto store telescope
fishing rod; Franklin Hard
ware, Duncan-Brlggs fly rod
reel- Bryant Furniture store,
lamp; Angel's Drug ; store . foun
tain pen; Townsends cafe, car
ton of cigarettes; Children s
shop, sun suit; Crisp's, studio,
two roUs of 620 ?Un; Blumen
thal's, sport shirt;
cafe, cigarette lighters/Theatre
grill, two pipes; Franklin Press,
one free subscription; DWe
Home store, box of candy , Bank
of Franklin, five silver dollars.
Burrell Motor coihpany, plastic
garment bag and han8ers,
eagle's cafe, $1 dinner; Frances
Shop, copper flower
Planners for the Fourth are
?oresentatlves r> anous Frank
lin organizations. Committee*
are as iollows: organization: w.
U. Crawford, cl^-rman. P?T
mond Lowe, Wayne Proffltt,
Harry Corbln, He.man ^naa.r!.,
Mrs. Tom Jenkins, Miss A~ie
McGee, end Mrs. I toward : -i
aid. Parade: W. V
verUslng; Norma.; *
Bob Sloan. Ba. e -
James Plaine and i-3 ?
Planning is uii-er "
vision of B. L. iv-c^u-mary,
chairman o the chanue. of
commerce July 4 conui-iutJ.
Clean-up
Campaign Here Begins To
Show Results
With two town employes as
signed full-time to the Job, the
Franklin clean-up this week be
gan to show results.
At the Intersection of Maple
street and the Murphy highway,
a clean-up Job has been done
that also eliminated a traffic
hazard. A fence, overgrown with
vines, which obscured motor
ists' vision, has been removed,
and other tidying up has been ?
done at that spot.
The rubbish on the Baptist
church lot, at the corner of
West Main and Porter streets,
has been hauled away, ?nd
Howard Stewart, it is under
stood, will use his bulldozer to
level the dirt recently placed on
the lot in preparation for even
tually building a church there.
The Weather
Temperature* and precipitation for (fee
poet seven day*, and the low tempera two
jreaterday, as recorded at the Coweeta
xrriment station.
High Low Pet
Wednesday 78 61
Thursday 85 55 .SI
Friday 87 58
Saturday ..... 89 58 .25
Sunday - 89 < 59
Monday .: 89 59
Tuesday ..... 85 58 .08
Wednesday 57 .49
Franklin BainlaU
(A. nwM to " StilM far TV A)
Wednesday, none; Thursday.
.01; Friday, none; Saturday, .81;
Sunday, none; Monday, none,
Wednesday, .80.