THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1959 THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina Page THREE Some Looks At Books By LOCKIE PARKER ■‘I prew UD within an atmos phere of unrelieved poverty, with what Ruth Gordon describes as ‘the dark brown taste of being poor’ forever in my mouth.” So opens the first act, Moss Hart’s FIRST ACT, (Random I House. $5.00) to close with the celebrated young playwright moving his family in to New York from the forlorn three-room , flat in Brooklyn, and, penniless for the last time, stopping at the office of the Music Box 'Theatre where the smiling ticket-man hands him a check for $500. “His smile flashed with the ir idescence of stage jewelry,” (7 writes Hart, as he said: “A year at least. It’s the hottest ticket in town.” Between these two distant points of the emotional compass are some ten years of fierce struggle. Struggle against the al most overwhelming poverty that shadowed the family life but, far more decisive in the end, strug gle to achieve what Hart’s blood jT had craved since first he could re- member anything: life in and with and for the theatre. This is an enthralling story: these ten years of struggle. They stretched through his childhood when, starting work at the age of twelve after school hours, he spent every idle moment reading Theatre Magazine and wishing he could get to BroEKlway for one look, that, he secretly told him self, would be just a starter. By age eighteen he was going to night classes and doing any old ' job' he could get in the day, an ' interval that finally, in a breath taking moment, culminated in his getting a job as office boy in a manager’s office. In the summers he kept the family finances go ing,’ (he was the only one making money) by working as “social di rector” at summer camps in the Catskills,'a series of .establish ments each more dreadful than the last. The lowest ebb of his summers of horror found him without money enough (because the so- called manager had fled with the last payroll) to buy a suit. And here Hart’s amazingly agile mind shows up in its fullest splendor: Because he had nothing to wear evenings, he hit on the idea of turning his lack into part of the entertainment. He raided the camp’s costume trunk and wore a different garb every evening. Playing each part to the hilt, he arranged for the band to give him a fanfare and the right introduc tory music: a cowboy song when he was wearing chaps and two- guns, a fandango when he ap- C peared as a toreador, and so on. The result was tsrrifc. Though the act he w;^s obliged to put on humiliated his sensitive pride to the core, it was received with cheers by the campers. Which only increased Hart’s already rock-bottom estimation of their intelligence and taste. These were agonizing times for Moss Hart, and there were many such during his hard climb up wards. But, then the climax comes and, after months of work man, and agonizing nights dur ing the try-outs of their first pro duction: “Once In A ^Lifetime,” “the final lines of the play were being spoken and then it came— an explosive crash of applause as the curtain fell. ..” From then on, all was roses. Besides being absorbing for the tension and climax of this Ameri can success story, “Act One” is interesting for its descriptions of the life of the theatre. TThe read er is let into the day-to-day pro duction of a play and into Mr. Hart’s views on the theatre from every angle. As his is, besides a witty and engaging mind, a deep ly perceptive one, this is a fas cinating experience. “Act One” thoroughly deserves its current position at the top of the Best Seller List for Non-Fiction. —KLB DIPLOMAT by Charles W, Thayer (Harper $4.50). This book of Charles Thayer’s should go far to offset the unpleasant picture of our Foreign Service given in “The Ugly American.” Mr. Thay er does not say that we have made no mistakes, but by the time that we have read his de scriptions of the training and re sponsibilities of our diplomats, we feel the greatest respect and sympathy for them. Mr. Thayer, a veteran diplomat, opens his book with a vivid pic ture of the Lebanon crisis in which he took part. He then de scribes the origins of diplomacy, of whiqh the ordinary reader has known little. He describes the dif ferent types of diplomacy prac ticed by each country since the days of Machiavelli. His explan ation of the Russian type makes clear why we have had such diffi culty in dealing with them in conferences. Among the difficulties encoun tered by our Embassy personnel is the demand on their time made by visiting Americans, many of whom feel that because this per sonnel is paid by our government they are there to amuse and en tertain them. The author ends with a plea for the same recogni tion of the diplomatic profession as is accorded the soldier, the scientist or the surgeon. —JANE H. TOWNE, Bookmobile Schedule January 5-8 Tuesday, January 5, Robbins Route: K. C. Maness, 9:30-9:40; Mrs. Janie McNeill, 9:50-10; Mar vin Williams, 10:05-10:15; G. S. Williams, 10:20-10:30; Mrs. Etta Morgan, 10:35-10:45; Mrs. Frances Brewer, 10:50-11; Jam.es Allen, 11:15-11:25; Mrs. Audrey Moore, 11:30-11:40; Miss Beatrice Shef field, 11:50-12; Talc Mine, 12:05- 12:15; Vernon Allen, 12:20-12:25; Wilmer Maness, 1:15-1:30. Wednesday, January 6, Little River Route: James McKay, 9:40- ,9:55; J. R. Blue, 10-10:05; John Baker, 10:10-10:15; George Cam eron, 10:20-10:25; Alex McFay- den, 10:35-10:40; Brooks Store, 10:45-10:50; Kenneth Womack, 10:55-11; Malcolm Blue, 11:05- 11:20; J. W. Smith, 11:25-11:30; D. L. McPherson, 12:20-12:30; J. Rigsbee, 12:40-12:50; Will Hart, 1-1:20; Clara Brooks, 1:25-1:30; Mrs. Mary Pope, 1:40-1:50. Thursday, January 7, Eagle Springs-West End Route: Eagle Springs Post Office, 9:50-10:15; Eagle Springs School, 10:20-11:05; West End Post Office, 11:15-12; L. H. Chessom, 12:05-12:10; John Campbell, 12:15-12:30; A. J. Ban ner, 1:10-1:20; T. L. Branson, 1:25-1:30; W. E. Munn, 1:35-1:50. Friday, January 8, Jackson Springs Route: W. E. Graham, 9:50-10; Jackson Spmgs Post Of fice, 10:05-10:10; James Hicks, 10:20-10:25; Mrs. Betty Stubbs, 10:30-10:40; Mrs. Geneva McLeod, 10:45-10:55; Carl Tucker, 11:05- 11:15; . Mrs. Margaret Smith, 11:25-11:35; Mrs. Edith Stutts, 11:40-11:50; Philip Burroughs, 12:30-12:40; J. W. Blake, 12:45- 1:05; Miss Adele McDonald, 1:10- 1:15; George Hunt, 1:20-1:25; Ed Smith, 1:30-1:40. lnl«nution4l Uniform Sunday School Lenoo* BY DR. KENNETH J. FOREMAN Bible Material: Acta 13. DeTotional Beadlagr: Psalm 96. World Mission Lesson for January 8, 1960 Dr. Foreman ness of a growing child we get a candid view of the family at Reachfar, the local gentry, the doctor, the dominie, the shop keepers and fisherfolk of Ach- craggan and. of course, the Miss Boyds who were silly city folk and Lowlanders at that. We see this community functioning in peace and in war and under mofe poignant stresses that are strict ly local. Miss Duncan, who must be a Highlander herself, gets a won derful flavor out of the Scotch idiom and has given us a gallery of characters whom we can both love and admire, not too common a feature in current novels. MY FRIENDS THE MISS BOYDS by Jane Duncan (Si. Martin's $3.95). I like everything about this book except the title. The Miss Boyds are really just in cidental to the upbringing of Janet Sandison by Tom, the hired man, and her Uncle George on the highland croft of Reachfar. To be sure it was Janet’s grand mother who really commanded the whole clan, and worthy of command she was, but Granny was often a bit austere and re mote, so for confidential conver sations on new situations that a child of nine encountered, Janet depended on Tom and her bache lor uncle, whom she found un failingly helpful. Now make no mistake—this is not a book about a cute child. This is a novel of character and strong Scotch character at that. CINNAMON BUNS b«lie with the famous George Kauf- Seen through the dawning aware 'WE LIKE TO THINK .. During the past year several new industries have come to Southern Pines and, by the looks of things, more are on the way. This means more jobs for local folks, more funds circulating in local pockets, more good citizens coming here to live . . . During the past year a dozen or more drives have been held here for funds in"^ support of better health, better education, to alleviate human need . . . During the past year more people have come here to live, attracted by what they hear or have read of the climate, the sports, the pleasant living, the charm of a friendly, attractive community ... News of all this appears regularly in the columns of this newspaper and we like to think that The Pilot lends a hand in such good causes. The Pilot, Inc. Southern Pines, N. C. Enclosed find check or money order to start my sub scription at once. Please send it to the name and ad dress shown below for the period checked; ( ) 1 yr. $4 ( ) 6 mo. $2 ( ) 3 mo. $1 Name : Address City State right ori TOP of the GAS range It’s easy on the new tem perature controlled top burner. Foods can’t bum. Every pan becomes an automatic cooldng utensiL See the new gas ranges PARKER ICE 8i FUEL CO. WI4-1315 Aberdeen join the Switch to LP-GAS If You're Looking For Quality Furniture and Carpet Shop at SPROTT BROS. FORNITUHE CO. Sanford 148 S. Moore St. Nationally Advertised Brands • Drexel • Heritage • Craflique • GlobeParlor • Thomasville Chair Co. • Victorian • Continental • Simmons and Serta Bedding • Lee's Carpets (also many other famous brands) • Chromcraft Dinettes We Invite You To Shop Without Obligation To Buy! Get your Free Parking Meter Nickel from cashier, and re member there's plenty of park ing space on the new— wider Moore St. SPROTT BROS. SANFORD 148 S. Moore St. Telephone 3-6261 and 3-4911 C HARLES Darwin, the famous scientist, is reported to have said, “If I am ever cast adrift on a savage Island, I hope It will be one where Christian missionaries have got there first.” Dr. Pitt Van Dusen during World War n wrote a book called “They Found the Church There,” describ ing some of the many times Al lied troops had been astonished to find Christians in the least likely places. A young paratrooper lost In New Guinea, expecting noth ing better than to be eaten by cannibals, would hear the sound of a familiar Christian hynin, something he used to sing in Sunday school. When he made his way toward the sound, he dis covered not cannibals but ex-can nibals, now changed men because Christ had come to their village. Toa-helds One of the most thrilUng sights this writer has seen in recent years was a book, in fact two books— though he could read neither one! One of these was the first book of any kind printed in one of the M(ao languages (Miao rhymes with a cat’s meow). Some young mission aries, trained in the study of prim itive languages, have for the first time In history put this Mlao lan guage Into writing so that these mountain tribes, living In the bor der-lands between China and Thi- land, can learn to read, and in time read the Bible. This new book Is only a primer, but It Is a kind of toe-hold for the Christian mission aries. The other book is a reprint of the first New Testament ever printed In Korean. Seventy-five years ago, to be a Christian in Korea called for the death penalty. No missionary could go there. But in China this Testament was printed In the Korean language, and smuggled into Korea by the “Christian Underground.” Small Beginnings The story of Christian missions is long, and thrilling. The only peo ple who do not get a thrill out of It are the people who get no thrill out of Christianity Itself. A church member who says, “I believe In Christ but not in missions” is as good as saying “I don’t believe In Christ.” The Christian religion is a missionary religion, which Is to say it Is for all men everjrwhere, it is not ^American,” "white,” “occiden tal” any more than It is Asian, yel low or oriental. Missionaries have gone everywhere, that is to say Into all sorts of places. But what we call foreign missions, or world missions, began with the day when two men set out from the city of Antioch headed west. They were the best and ablest men in that church, they were Its associate pastors as we would call them. They had been, so to speak) city missionaries In the metropolis of Antioch. Now the church sent them out. But the church did not send them until they were sure this was the will of the Holy Spirit. The • thought of sending these men came as an inspiration, and the church recognized it as such. So Paul and Barnabas became the first real “foreign missionaries” in history. Targeti World “Go into all the world,” Jesus had said. There Is no “here” or “there” for Christian missions. If an American Christian goes to share Christ with the Koreans, he is a “foreign” missionary; if a Korean comes here for the same purpose he is a “foreign” mission ary too. (That Is one reason why some churches do not speak of “missionaries” home or foreign but of “fraternal workers.”) Preach ing a Gospel sermon to a Spanish- speaking congregation In Texas is “homo” missions; preaching the identical sermon to a congregation in Mexico Is "foreign” missions. Its’ geography that draws the line. There is no line, really. That first “forelgpi missionary” party started by going to the old home of Barna bas himself, where they would have (in our lingo) “connections.” But the world is always the target. Places and countries may be barred to us, for shorter or longer times. But the church sets no limits for itself. Wherever in the world there are people, there the Good News of God is needed, and there Christ’s men will joyfully go. (Based on outlines copyrighted by the Division of Christian Education, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the IT. S. A. Beleased by Conunnnity Press Serrlce.) W. T. McNeill Succumbs At 76 William Thomas McNeill, 76, died at his home, Route 1, Eagle Springs, Friday after an illness of several months. Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Sunday at Union Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Bennie Maness offici ating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Beulah Wallace McNeill; nine daughters, Mrs. Nora Garner of Mount Gilead, Mrs. Thelma Ken nedy of Seagrove, Mrs. Dora Kennedy of Route 1, Robbins, Mrs. Margie Hussey of Route 2, Robbins, Mrs. Rilly Marley and Mrs. Dorothy Brewer of Route 1, Eagle Springs, Mrs. Nettie Rey nolds and Mrs. Lorene Hussey of Robbins and Miss Maxine Mc Neill of the home; five sons, Gar vin of Route 1, Biscoe, Richard of Route 3, Carthage, Clarence of Route 1, Eagle Springs and Paul and Roy of the home; two sisters, Mrs. Betsy Albright of Route 2, Seagrove and Mrs. Rilly Kidd of Bennett; one brother, Causey Mc Neill of Highfalls; 42 grandchil dren and 27 great-grandchildren. “One Twenty-Five S( mth” ^ ANTIQUES 125 South Bennett Street TeL OX 2-8851 Wishes One And All A HAPPY NEW YEAR Go To Church Sunday BETTER PAY Prices paid for picking cotton this year, compared with prices paid a year ago, were higher. The average price for picking 100' pounds of seed cotton in North Carolina was $3.40 this year. Last year, the average price was $3.20. For the nation as a whole, the average price this year was $2.80. Eastman Dillon, Union Securities & Co. Members New York Stock Exchange MacKenzie Building 135 W. New Hampshire Ave. Southern Pines, N. C. Telephone: Southern, Pines OX 5-7311 Complete Investment and Brokerage Facilities Direct Wire to our Main Office in New York A. E. RHINEHART Resident Manager Consultations by appointment on Saturdays Attend The Church of Your Choice Next Sunday THE CHURCH FOR ALL . . . ALL FOR THE CHURCH The Church is ihe greatest factor on carih for the building of character and good citizenship. It is a storehouse of spiritual values. Without a strong Church, neither democracy nor civilization can survive. There are four sound reasons why every person should attend services regularly and support the Church. They are: (1) For his own sake. (2) For his children's sake. (3) For the sake of his community and nation. (4) For the sake of the Church itself, which needs his moral and materia) support. Plan to go to church regularly and read your Bible daily. Day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Book Chapter Psalms 90 Psalms 77 Philippiahs 2 John 13 Psalms 1 Ephesians 5 Romans 9 1-2 J3-14 12-13 10-12 1-3 1-2 35-39 Come January first, you’re going to get a present ... a glorious present of 365 bright, uncluttered days. What you do with them is largely up to you. Each day of the year is now a blank page in the notebook of your life — and only you can fill it. Don’t clutter up the first page by making a lot of useless resolutions. Instead — spend that time by going to church. Turn to God the first day of the year, and stay with Him. Put your faith in Him, and in His church. With His help, you can make this year the finest one you’ve ever lived. Copyright 1959. Knitter Adv. Service. Streaburg- Va- FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH New York Are. at Sonth Ashe Bt. Maynard Mangaai, Minister Bible School. 9:46 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. Training Union, 6:30 p.m. Evening: Wor ship. 7:30 p.m. Youth Fellowship, 8:30 p.m. Scout Troop 224, Monday, 7:30 p.m.; mid-week worship, Wednesday 7:30 p.m.; choir practice Wednesday 8:15 p.m. Missionary meeting;, first and third Tiles* days. 8 p.m. Church and family suppers, second Thursday, 7 pjn. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH New Hampshire Avenne Sunday Service, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 11 a.m. Wednesday Service, 8 p.m. Reading; Room in Church Building open Wednesday, 2-4 p.m. MANLY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. Malcolm Anderton, Pastor Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Serr- ice 11 a.m. Women of the Church meeting, 8 p.m., second Tues. Mid-week service on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal, Wednesday. 8:15 p.m^ Men of the Church meeting;, 8 p.m. fourth Wednesday. METHODIST CHURCH Midland Road Robert C. Mooney, Jr., Minister Church School 9:45 A. M. Worship Service 11:00 A. M. Youth Fellowship 6:30 P. M. Junior Fellowship 6:30 P. M. WSCS meets each third Monday at 8 P. M. Methodist Men meet each third Thurs day at 6:80 P. M. Choir Rehearsal each Wednesday at 7:30 P. M. ST. ANTHONY’S CATHOLIC Vermont Ave. at Ashe Sunday Masses: 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Dally Mass 8:10 a.m. Holy Day Masses. 7 ft 9 a.m.; Confusions, Saturday, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.; 7 :30 to 8 p.m. Men’s Club Meetings: Ist ft 8rd Fridays 8 p.m. Women’s Club meetings: 1st Monday, 8 p.m. Boy Scout Troop No. 873, Tuesday eve ning 7:30 p.m. Girl Scout Troop No. 118, Monday, 8 p.m. THE CHURCH OP WIDE FELLOWSHIP (Congregational) Cor. Bennett and New Hampshire Carl E. Wallace^ Minister Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Worship Service, 11 a.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m.. Pilgrim Fellowship (Young People). Sunday, 8:00 p.m.. The Forum. / brownson^mImorial church (Presbyterian) Cheves K. Ligon, Miniift<>r Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship serv ice, 11 a.m. Women of the (3hnreh cneet- »ng, 8 p.m. Monday following third Sunday, Youth Fellowships meet at 7 o’clock each Sunday evening. Mid-week service, Wednesday, 7:16 pan. EMMANUEL CHURCH (Episcopal) East Massachusetts Ave« Martin Caldwell, Rector Holy Communion, 8 a.m. (First Sundays and Holy Days, 8 a.m. and H a.m.) Family Service, 9:30 a.m. Church School. 10 a.m. Morning Service, 11 a.m. Young PeopledService League, 6 p.m. Holy Communion, Wednesdays and Holy Days, 16 a.m. and ^iday, 9:80. Saturday—6 p.m. Penance. —This Space Donaled in the Interest of the Churches by— CLARi; & pRADSHAW JACKSON MOTORS. Inc. “ JRD SANDHILL DRUG CO. SHA’W PAINT & WALLPAPER CO MODERN MARKET W. E. Blue UNITED TELEPHONE CO. Your FORD Dealer McNEILL'S SERVICE STATION Gidf Service PERKINSON'S. Inc. Jeweler A & P TEA CO.