PAGE TWO
THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Caiolina
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12. 1956
Southern Pines
North Carolina
“In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a good
paper. We will try to make a little money for all concerned. Where there seems to be an occa
sion to use our influence for the public good we will try to do it. And we will treat everybody
alike.”^ames Boyd, May 23, 1941.
A Call To Work For Peace
It is not often thit a small newspaper has the
privilege of being the first to print a piece of
writing by a great man and a great author. That
is The Pilot’s privilege, this week, in the publi
cation, on page 1, of the letter written by Dr.
Albert Schweitzer to General Marshall. Written
to send birthday greetings to the general, a co
winner with the doctor of the Nobpl Peace
Prize, the letter is far more than the conven
tional congratulation on such an occasion. In
its depth of feeling, its sincerity, the urgency
of its phraseology, there is a message for every
one.
The letter is made especially dramatic, we
feel, in sharpening, as it does, the drama of the
peace presentation to two men of such opposing
lives.
One is the soldier, at the top of his chosen
military profession: a man who has spent most
of his life preparing his country for war and
seeing it through to triumph in two stupendous
conflicts; the other is a man of peace from the
start. He is a philosopher, an authority on the
life of Christ; he is a great musician and a
builder of organs; he is a great doctor and heal
er.
The second man, having spent his life in
scholarship and creative work, now lives in the
depths of Africa, close to nature, giving all his
time and strength to the care of the sick and
suffering. The first man has lived at the
forefront of world affairs; his retirement is re
cent and even now hardly complete. Among his
correspondents, those who continue to seek him
out, are the great in the world of action, of
governmental and military authority.
Keep The Dimes Marehmg ,., And Use Vaceine
The nation enters the current March of Dimes
campaign like some one who is recovering from
an illness but is not yet well.
The darkest days of polio lie behind us. The
future is not wholly bright but all signs point
to steadily clearing weather. The Salk vaccine,
proven effective in a large percentage of cases,
offers immunity to paralytic polio for millions
who have taken or will take the shots. But the
effects of polio in the past—amounting to some
68,000 patients under treatment with March of
Dimes funds at the turn of the year-remain.
Moreover, we must face the fact that more
thousands of persons are destined to get polio,
to all of whom help will be extended without
cost by the National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis. And the needs of the old cases and
the new cases will extend for years to come.
Only four per cent of Americans are vaccinated
against polio as compared to 75 per cent in the
case of diphtheria and 50 per cent of smallpox.
So, in this January of 1956, we urge two-fold
action on the part of our readers: (1) Give as
generously as ever to the March of Dimes:
“Polio isn’t licked yet;’’ and (2) Get started at
once, if not already started, on Salk vaccina
tions for children.
If parents act quickly, there is time now to
get children vaccinated with the first two shots
before the onset of the 1956 polio season. Ac
cording to the latest recommendations of the
National Polio Vaccine Advisory Committee,
the second shot should follow the first at an in
terval of four to six weeks. The increase in in
terval from the formerly recommended two to
four weeks will enable existing supplies of vac
cine to become available for more children.
The North Carolina Polio Advisory Commit
tee, meeting last month at Raleigh, decided that
supplies of vaccine in this state are sufficient
to extend the eligible age group to include all
children from birth through 14 years of age.
The committee recommends that parents avail
themselves of the opportunity to have their
children vaccinated at the earliest possible date.
Through all the dark years of mounting rav
ages by polio, the American people have shown
their faith in the battle against the disease by
their continued support of the March of Dimes.
That support should not now be withdrawn and
the widest possible participation in the Salk
vaccine program should be undertaken.
This Is The Time
Those words at the head of a piece can mean
a good many things. It’s the time to vote; work
for peace; give to the March of Dimes, Red
Cross, Girl Scouts, TB and so ad infinitum.
This week, we’re thinking of the birds.
Birds are important members of our commu
nity. They do a lot for us in the way of policing
up the grounds; they do a lot more in the way
of adding joy to the passing hours. The flash
ing flight of a bluejay against the pines is
enough to start the day right. The cardinal, who
follows after him with the noon sun on his
wings, keeps the good work going and, in late
afternoon, there’s the chewink talking to his
wife in the shrubbery and it’s a good cozy
sound to hear as you draw the curtains.
Southern Pines is rated a bird sanctuary, but
this prized designation could mean more than it
does, as a matter of fact. One thing it ought to
mean has to do with eats. And it takes nerve
to mention THAT subject. Of that we are only
too well aware. If bird people are tempestu
ous, cat people are Hurricane Hazel and all her
sisters rolled into one. BUT, just the same: Cat
people or no cat people, here’s the situation:
Cats do kill birds and it seems to us that cat
people ought to try to help out in this situation
and keep their cats from roaming. We realize
that is asking almost the impossible. Kipling’s
cat, who Walked by himself and all places were
alike to him, is only the leader in the age-old,
from-herc.-to-the-moon-long procession of cats
who did and do as they damplease. But still
. . . can something be done to try to restrain the
appetites of the local feline tribe in the matter
of birds?
Could cat-lovers feed their cats so full they
wouldn’t go out hunting? Could they put col
lars on them and nice little bells on the collars?
The latter process would undoubtedly have to
be repeated frequently; even the ordinary cat
would find some means of taking the bell off
or at least wrapping the clapper so it wouldn’t
sound. Just the same, we do believe it ought, or
something ought, to be tried. It’s a very sad
thing to find a little scattering of red feathers,
which was once a spot of gay color in the pines,
or the torn soft grey body of a little Carolina
wren. It’s not always cat-work, but so very
often, it is.
We trust that cat-lovers who are generally
animal-levers and nature-lovers, tco, will do
what they can to restrain the appetites of their
familiars, the tabbies and toms of our communi
ty. As for the poor strays, who are probably re
sponsible for a good deal of the destruction of
birds, would it be possible for the bird people
and the cat people to work together on a
scheme for having them mercifully taken care
of?
They’re Just As Dead
To what extent Moore County should be grat
ified that there were no homicides in the coun^
ty last year, in view-of the fact that 14 persons
were killed in traffic accidents, is debatable.
The zero count op homicides in 1955 was four
less than the murders of 1954, but the traffic toll
of 14 was four more. In terms of human life
snuffed out—on a strictly life for life basis—
that would seem to even the score.
Of course, it is gratifying that residents of
Moore refrained from killing each other in 1955.
Now, as always, the willful'taking of another’s
life is rated the supreme offense, although de
grees of reprehensibility are rAiognized within
the killing category.
None of the 14 persons who died on Moore
County streets and highways last year (two
others were killed in auto accidents on private
property) was, it is presumed, the victim of a
premeditated attempt to kill. Yet the highway
deaths establish the automobile as a weapon far
deadlier than guns that fire or knives that flash,
in anger, around the county. Whatever the in
tent of drivers who collided with other drivers
or sent their own automobiles hurtling off the
road to kill themselves or others, the dead are
just as ^ead as if they had been lined up and
shot in purest malice.
Whether in the role of Homicide or the role
of Highway Fatality—to use the language of the
coroner’s report—Death, garbed in the robes of
Violence, did not pass the county by last year.
BORN TOO SOON
One knows from personal experience what
war means and understands what a future war
would mean as very few can understand it:
When he says it could be, and probably would
be, the end for oiir civilization, he knows what
he is talking about. The other man can envisage
the beauty of peace, the need of peace for suf
fering humanity, the hope of peace, as can few
of us. In his understanding and his practical ap
plication of the message of the love of God, he
has shown to what heights humanity can rise.
In both these men, the respect for the dignity,
for the heroism, for the greatness of mankind
is a vital thing, making their plea for “peace in
our time’’ ahniost like a command. There is the
sound of a bugle in it and there is the solemn
call of a voice speaking from a mount.
It seems to us that there is hardly anything
that could so focus, so light up, the need for
work on this matter of peace as the realiza
tion of the complete agreement of these two
great men cn the over-riding importance of the
question. The humility which both share, as
recipients of the award, lays added emphasis on
the desperate urgency of personal responsibil-
ity. As Dr. Schweitzer writes: “We both of us
know how little we have been able to do for
the coming of peace and we were almost pained
to receive the prize. In working out my talk at
Oslo on the problem of peace I was as if crushed
by this sentiment.’’
For the privilege of publishing Dr. Schweit
zer’s letter, this newspaper is deeply grateful.
Like most other papers, the Pilot is the product
of its community. If this newspaper has been
entrusted with a privilege, it is because of what
lies back of it.
VACCME
CC/Af/C
Crains of Sand
r
iO\H THE MARCH OF DIMES
BACKED BY SUPREME COURT DECISION
Charm Is Worthy Municipal Goal
Through town planning,
zoning and special ordi
nances, Southern Pines is
much concerned with making
itself as pleasant a place as
possible in which to live—for
the benefit of both visitors
and permanent residents. So
the article below^—taken from
“Horizons,” a publication of
the Associated Institutes of
Government of Pennsylvania
Universities—is of particular
interest here. The many local
residents who have for years
backed efforts to make
Southern Pines a more
charming community will be
gratified to see from this ar
ticle that the Supreme Court
of the United States concurs
in their notion with the
words, “It is within the
power of the legislature to
determine that the communi
ty should be beautiful. . .”
A charming community would
“dehght exceedingly” its own
people, would “attract irresis
tibly” its visitors, if we may so
extend the fiictionary definition
of the verb “to charm.” Is that
bad?
Municipal charm is a composite
quality. It is beauty enhanced by
convenience, spaciousness accom
panied by the effective use of
land, the retention of historical
and cultural heritage blended
with complete and modern serv
ices. Municipal charm is, in short,
livability.
Charm can be—has been—an
economic asset. It has brought
economic well-being to many a
town or region. Wise municipali
ties have protected their attrac
tions; others have lost theirs
through destructive exploitation.
But charm is not only tourist at
traction. Importantly, today, it in
vites good people, good business,
and good industry to come and
stay in the community where
living is pleasant.
Can Be Created
Municipal charm can be crea
ted as well as preserved. In its
creation or retention, local gov
ernment must play a major role.
Town planning is the basic
governmental ingredient in the
creation or enhancement of mu
nicipal charm. The town is stud
ied. Its background, current as
sets, and current liabilities are de
termined and exposed tq critical
review. Existing streets and high
ways, storm and sanitary sewers,
educational and recreational fa
cilities, public and private hous
ing, business and industrial land
use are among the factors survey
ed and reduced to comprehensible
terms.
Based upon these findings and
their analysis, practical goals are
put forth, examined, revised, and
accepted. A comprehensive plan penditures to place and keep pub-
which embraces these goals is i lie installations on the “good
prepared as a guide to current, | looks” side of the community ap-
pearance ledger. Citizens, too, are
supporting local governments
which are invading the once sac
rosanct field of private building
design. A growing number of
towns are seeking to raise the
architectural level of all build
ings by requiring an architectural
review before granting building
permits.
In the exercise of many of these
governmental powers, we have
had to bring graciousness, beauty,
or charm in by the back door.
Courts were for a long time open
ly hostile to the use of the police
power for esthetic purposes. Pub
lic safety, morals, and the general
welfare had to be relied upon for
support for acts that touched on
public amenities. But the courts
have gradually moved up to pub
lic opinion. While not yet ready
in most jurisdictions to uphold
public esthetics as a single basis
for the exercise of the police
power, most courts now accept
esthetics as a supporting factor
for public acts.
short- and long-range decisions.
Tools to implement the plan are
inquired into and put to work.
Zoning Helps
Zoning is a strong tool for mu
nicipal charm when imaginative
ly and creatively applied. Its ap
plication for locating, bounding,
and reserving the best uses of
land for residence, business and
industry is more and more com
mon. Livability, employment op
portunities, and improvement of
the municipal tax base are ob
jectives possible of attainmeid
through sound districting and dis
trict regulations.
Municipal regulations seek
roads which are fitted to the ter
rain, seek layouts which preserve
outstanding individual trees or
groups of trees, seek lots which
are not merely parcels of land,
but are true home sites taking ad-1
vantage of the best qualities of
the tract of land to be developed.
The growth of automobile trav
el and of the percentage of time
devoted to it makes increasingly
evident the need for pleasant
roadsides. Good engineering and
the participation of the landscape
architect in the design stage will
start right on new roads or road
relocations.
Streets Need Trees
Good zoning giyes space at
the sides and protects the trav
eler from billboards at inappro
priate locations. But streets, old
and new, need the green of treqs
or other proper plantings.
Communities, proud of the old
shade that gave charm to their
streets, pioneered in the estab
lishment of shade tree commis
sions. These bodies protect and
care for existing trees; they seek
appropriate plantings of new
trees through education, munici
pal expenditures, and perhaps,
through land subdivision regula
tions.
The charm of open space looms
large in a community’s ability to
“delight exceedingly” its resi
dents and “attract irresistibly”
its visitors.
The modern in-town play
ground is larger and planted to
add both space and beauty to
those who never enter its boun
daries. The stream valley be
comes a park, not only as an
economical storm drainage facil
ity, but also for its preservation
of the contrast of its more rugged
contours to our more disciplined
private development of land.
Public Buildings
Public buildings and grounds
Who's Going To Yield?
We’ve been wondering about
these, road signs that say:
“YIELD.” How are they jgoing to
affect people?
It looks to us as if the reaction
would be kind of mixed. There
will, for one thing, be quite a few
drivers who have no idea on earth
what the word means. Not every
body has read “The Morte d’Ar-
thur,” let alone Howard Pyle’s
“Knights of The Roundtable.”
They weren’t aU brought up yell
ing: “Yield, th'cu caitiff knight!”
after they’d knocked down the
kid next door. “Yield,” it is our
guess, is a word of mystery to a
good many drivers. And somehow
we doubt many of them will pull
up, at sight of the word on a sign
post, and try to figure it out.
On those, who do know what it
stands for its our guess the word
“yield” will have just the reverse
effect. What Southerner, what
red-blooded Northerner, for that
mattter, is gping to yield—to any
body—ever!
“YIELD!’ say the signs. To
which the Northerner—with red-
blood — snarls “Whaddayamean
‘yield’!”
As for the Southerner, his re-
actioii is instantaneons: the
word is an insult to a Southern
Gentleman. “Yield?” he roars,
“and be called ‘chicken’?”
And both of them step on the
gas.
Show-off Shown Up
Our chewink can lick our cardi
nal.
The redbird puts on a great
shew of fighting spirit, but ex
cept in the presence of sparrows
or anything definitely smaller, he
quits.
The others know it. The spar
rows gang up on him. One takes
him on from the front, engaging
all his attention, while two or
three others go to work on the
seeds behind his back. The first
sparrow backs away from his red
beak and cresty attack. He senses
something behind him, but, too
late! Whenever he turns, off they
go. He rushes to the edge of the
tablej while the first sparrow
happily comes in behind him.
But not so the chewink. When he
lands, with a good hard thud, and
squats down to do his foraging,
the cardinal thinks another think.
The Public
Speaking
The Court Speaks
The record is growing fast of
state and district court decisions
that have a nice word to say
about esthetics. It’s extra special
when the Unitted States Supreme
Court says the nice word. It did
just that in its ruling on Novem
ber 22, 1954, for the constitutional
validity of the District of Colum
bia Redevelopment Act. In the
opinion of the court are these
words:
The concept of the public
welfare is broad and inclu
sive. . . The values it repre
sents are spiritual as well as
physical, esthetic as well as
monetary. It is within the
power of the legislature to
determine that the communi
ty should be beautiful as well
as healthy, spacious as well
as clean, well balanced as
well as carefullly patrolled.
Oh yes! ’Die Supreme Court al
so said elsewhere in the opinion:
Miserable and disreputable
housing conditions may do
more than spread disease and
crime and immorality. . .
They may also be an ugly
sore, a blight on the commu
nity which robs it of charm;
which makes it a place from
which men turn.
If the Supreme Court can link
commimity” and “charm” to
gether without embarrassment.
should heighten communitjr'surely it is permitted of pubRc
charm. There seems every indica-1 officials to say, “Charm is a wor-
tion that people favor public ex- ‘ thy municipal objective.”
Note of Appreciation
To the Editor:
Just a note of appreciation and
thanks that I have for your post
master and community.
On the 1st of January, 1956, my
car ran out of gas about five miles
from Southern Pines. I had gotten
to a gas station and purchased
several gallons and was returning
through Southern Pines when
your Postmaster approached,
stopped and insisted that he drive
me to my “thirsty” car, though
he was not headed in that, direc
tion.
Missed church that morning
because of the car failing to get
into town—through my own
short-sightedness I will readily
admit—but was reminded of an
old lesson which I hope I too can
live up to: “Do unto others as you
would have others do unto you.”
'This note is going to ypu be
cause I to'O; am a printer, having
grown up in a weekly newspaper
and printing shop. I know the val
ue of kindness, to a small com
munity, is without equal, because
it reflects upon the kindness and
warmth of the community toward
out-siders.
This time next year I hope to
be back in the printing field
again where the ink in my veins
can again flow freely.
Thanking you fqr your time
and with my most humble thanks
to your postmaster, I remain—
Sincerely,
JAMES W. KNEPPER, JR.
Lt., US Army, Ft. Bragg
The PILOT
Published Every Thursday by
THE PILOT, Incorporated
Southern Pines, North Carolina
1941—JAMES BOYD—1944
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