LET US GIVE THANKS
With the close of a year’s harvest, and as we start
upon the winter months, when that which we have garn
ered must stand us in good stead, it is but fitting that
we pause for a few moments on the day*set aside for
that purpose and give thanks to the One who has made
our harvest abundant.
Vass people will not lose sight of the fact that while
our country has passed through a year more or less dis
tressing insofar as labor is concerned, we have yet been
smiled upon beneficently, and sunshine and rain have
been afforded us in sufficient quantities and in proper
proportions to make successful the efforts of those whose
duties keeps them close to the soil. For those who have
been idle through no choice of their own, those who
have labored arei sharing their harvest. And as the
clouds roll away and the workers are once again on a
normal basis, it will be returned in kind. We should be
thankful that drought and tempest has not destroyed,
and that we live in a land big enough, and broad enough
and brainy enough to keep going even when a part of its
people are forced into unemployment.
All over the land there is something to be thankful
for, and here at home we have much. From across the
seas come the same sad stories of suffering which were
being wafted to us one year ago. True, conditions show
an improvement since arms were laid asidei since swords
were beaten back into plowshares. And for this we are
thankful. But even when we compare conditions there
with our harvest at home, we still have cause for thank
fulness. Living always in the hope of a brighter to
morrow, America has gone forward through the year
and today finds herself not only at peace with every other
nation, but the center of a great conference out of which
may come some suggestion which will do away with wars
for all time. Let us be thankful that whatever good
may come from such a gathering America is to have the
fullest measure of credit, since it was suggested by an
American and is being staged on American shores.
So, all in all, one thing measured against another,
we have much to be thankful for. Let us, therefore,
give those thanks in an appropriate way—and let us
not forget to continue strong in our hope that the year
to come will bring to our sister nations across the sea
even more cause for thankfulness than they, too, have
ever had.
Passing Comment
HOG-KILLING TIME
Now that Jack Frost has given the
air a snappy tang, that the leaves
have fallen and overcoats have been
hauled down from their place in the
attic, merchants are having calls for
salt, pepper, sage and lard cans, at
special prices and in larg^e quantities.
To the man or woman reared in
our large cities and who seldom if
ever leave there, this means little or
nothing. But to residents of towns
like Vass it means one of the most
interesting seasons of the year—“hosr-
killing time.” Almost any day now the
kettles are being brought out, fires
Imilt, knives sharpened and all the
men and women folk turn out for the
slaughter. It is an event, a sort of
institution, in most of our rural sec
tions, and while there is much work
connected with it, there is also con
siderable sport, since it serves to
bring together the men and women
of the neighborhood, and they lighten
the work by their laughter, their jok
ing and good-natured fun.
There are a good many things city-
born and city-bred people never have
an opportunity to enjoy—and hog-
killing time is to be numbered among
them. They do not appreciate, either,
the other side of the occasion. They
do not realize that hog-killing time
means a time of stocking up the lard
er for the cold winter months, and
a certain protection against hunger
and worry over a sudden jump in the
price of pork or lard.
IN THE NAME OF CHARITY
Some pretty mean things are done
in this country in the name of chari
ty. We heard of an instance the
other day. It occured in a city not
very many miles from here, and de
velopments show that the party at
the head of a “drive” to raise funds
for a worthy cause was receiving a
per centage of all money subscribed.
Every one who gave a dollar did so
believing that every cent of it would
go to the cause for which it was so
licited. None of them realized at the
time they were giving that they were
being imposed upon.
Thus it is in many of the so-called
charity solicitations—someone is mean
enough and mercenary enough to turn
the affair to their own account. We
have had no such instances right here
in Vass but that does not mean that
we should take ‘ it for granted that
every movement which comes up wear
ing the garb of charity is as honest
as the ones that have gone before.
We do not believe any one here has
ever solicited a dollar for charity and
then kept any part of it. But there
is never any harm, especially in view
of incidents in other sections, in ask
ing exactly how the money solicited
is going to be spent, and who is going
to srpend it. The party who solicits
for charity sliould be in position to
show a clean bill, for in the past few
years many new and clever fakes
have been sprung, and no one can af
ford to.ask for donations for some
thing they are not thoroughly famil
iar with. The present-day sharper
doesn’t draw the line when it comes
to picking people to solicit funds, and
he isn’t the kind to feel badly if he
sends out some perfectly honest per
son to solicit for a fund or scheme that
is not honest.
REFLECT ON THIS
We want residents of Vass and vi
cinity to read the following from the
editorial column of the State Journal,
printed at Columbus, O., and then we
want them to sit down and reflect
upon it for a few moments:
“There is no more important force
for good in the community than the
newspaper. In the smaller communi
ties the weekly paper has a relation
to the public that is very close and
important. In that community there
is no other agency that contributes
more, year after year, than the week
ly paper, no other agency more faith
ful in the proper discharge of that
duty, even at the sacrifice of material,
advantage and important income. It
is the historian of the community, the
friend of all, a supporter of the rght
and an active opponent of the wrong.
It applies the wholesomeness of light
and publicity to public affairs and rep
resents the best thought of the public.
It has a claim on the community, a
claim despite the fact that often it-
may not be recognized. It should be
in every home, every week. It can be
made a stronger force for good just
in proportion to the support it has
from the public.”
Land posters for sale at The Pilot
oflice; 25c per dozen
HALF^OLES
You Furnish the Leather
and We Put it On for
35c. We Use the Best
Grade of Leather and do
the Work for $1.00.
Vass Electric Shoe Shop
A. G. EDWARDS, Prop’r
SAVE
What You’ve Got!
YOUR PROPERTY
YOUR INCOME
INSURE IT
DO rr NOW
D. A. McLAUCHLIN, Agent
VASS, N. C.
Fire Insurance Life Insurance
TOMBSTONES
AND
MONUMENTS
For all such, see
H. A. MATTHEWS
' VASS, N. C.
Represents ETOWA MARBLE AND
GRANITE WORKS, Atlanta, Ga.
FINE SUITS j;22i
M a de-T* o - Or d e r ^ p, ^
See our 400 elegant new fabrics. We have
every choice creation of leading woolen
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OVERCOATS $23il5?
You can buy your celebrated tailoring at
remarkably reasonable prices. . We give
you a suit or overcoat cut to your inches
in size and tailored to your ideas of style
at prices that will positively surprise you.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Come in and see our remarkabe values.
You positively can’t beat them. Order
your Thanksgiving clothes now. We will
make the clothes at once or hold them 5
or 6 weeks.
t
Gunter’s Store
Local Dealer
H. M. Marks & Company
Oldest Tailors in Existence - - CHICAGO
A TRIP y
I
By J. V. S
We now leave Ro
next stop off is at the
in Va., where we re
the seven wonders of t
claim it is 300 feet
ravine, which is calle
up to the arch of th
is rock all the way,
is abo*ut as high on t
which the public road
on either side. If on
night they would n
were crossing on a
ing over the edge f
large trees look like
far down at the b
curiosity is just abo
the hill side where a
gushes out, runs a fe
goes back in a hole;
Lost River and runs
no one knows where
We now take No.
train the Norfolk a
erates, and continue
West. We have pa
Blue Ridge Mountai
way has bee^ consid
see in the distance
ghany Mountains,
which the Blue Ridg
mountains. As we
the border of West
ahead as the engine i
curves and we see
mountain, seemingly
we wonder how we
but the engine is on
lows up a ravine al
miles we follow a
one side and then ac
tain side is most
us and if a rock sho
top it would smas’
told that they kee
track in wet spells
land slide comes do
As we pass on an
ing ceases entirely,
pass a small cabin o
mountain with the
house on the gro
enough under the fr
horseback. Possibl
seen a half acre of
house on the side of
steep one could pitc
the chimney. What
to live in, possibly
next neighbor, who
about the same w
small station occas'
come to Bluefield,
is crowded in betw
sides, and here we
and next pass throu
fields of W. Va.
(Conti
DODGING
Another reason
so often to miscarr
this country is the
good and useful ci
jury duty. Men of
on our juries can
more money at th
the state is able to
length of time ser
a result too many
sit in judgment ge
cause men of bette
to serve. So we h
diets in many insta
jury,duty. Servin
possible for you to
duty as paying yo
what yoxi can to
of the community,
state, the country