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Page TWO THE PILOT—Southern Pines, North Carolina A REMINISCENCE WITH TIMELESS MEANING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1963 ILOT Bicycle: Keystone Of A Boy^s Life Southern Pines North Carolina “In taking over The Pilot no changes are contemplated. We will try to keep this a 8°°^ paper. We will try to make a little money for all concerned. Wherever there seems an occasion to use our influence for the public good we will try o o i . n treat everybody alike.” —■ James Boyd, May 23, 1941. ^ Golf World magazine’s announced in tention of moving from Pinehurst to Southern Pines, pending various legal steps yet to be taken, is welcomed in this community. Golf World has been a lively feature of the closely knit Sandhills resort area since its founding in 1947 by the late Robert E. Harlow who, incidentally occupies a space of special affection in the memory of all newspaper people who have been active hereabouts for more than a decade. As editor and publisher of The Pinehurst Outlook, before and after the Golf World venture began, Mr. Harlow brought a caustic, witty and unique flavor to journalism in this area. Carried on after his death in 1954 by his wife, Mrs. Lillian Harlow, aided by capable people through the years. Golf World has itself become unique among journals of the game, going out weekly Welcome, Golf World! to subscribers over the nation and over seas. To have it going out from Southern Pines in the future will be an immense asset to this town. An interesting aspect of the Golf World project is that its proposed new office and printing plant building will be the first major business project bordering the No. 1 highway parkway, within the city limits. Constructed with access roads, in anticipation of future needs, this strip, from one end of town to the other, can become, with careful and tasteful de velopment, a worthy showcase for the community. We feel that such an in stallation as the Golf World plant, which ties in with and even symbolizes a top local resort attraction, is just the sort of enterprise that should be permitted and encouraged in this parkway-border ing area. So, in advance, welcome. Golf World! With opening of school, boys' bicycles — which have served the call of pleasure all summer — are summoned to the call of duty: a return to the classrooms. Racked out side school buildings, bicy cles, like their owners inside, seem to be sufifering in si lence, resigned to their fate: evidence that, although the quality of life for youngsters changes over the years, bicy cles retain their central sig- niiliaance in a boy's existence. There's nothing like a bike. Getting to the core of this re lationship is the following by J. A. C. Dunn, appearing in The Chapel Hill Weekly: Let’s Do More For The Aging Designation of the Special Week on cheek, replies that so many of our Aging by Governor Sanford for North Carolina, September 15-21, focuses at tention on the older persons in whom Southern Pines should have a particular interest. This approaching observance causes us to wonder whether this community is doing all that it can to welcome, enter tain and show its appreciation to the many “senior citizens” who have chosen Southern Pines for a retirement home or otherwise are spending their later years here. standing up, or walked up, and their tires were about as big around as a hot dog bun. They cost less than English bikes, but they seemed tougher. You could make a habit of dropping an American bike on its side when Every time we suggest that the town council or private organizations might sponsor more activity or opportunity for “senior citizens,” somebody, with tongue Why NOT Delinquent? A national columnist introduces a fascinating idea when he proposes that sociologists, rather than concentrate their studies of juvenile delinquency in the background of children who have been in trouble, investigate families in which all the circumstances would point to a destiny of delinquency for the children, but the boys or girls have turned out to be well-balanced and law-abiding. We all have seen such cases. Why not? Something the same thing is happening in medicine, with added con centration on studying what keeps people well, rather than what makes them sick or cures them when sick. It’s a promising line of investigation. The bicycle used to be the key stone of daily activity, the cog without which all the machinery of summer faltered and halted. Almost everybody had a bicy cle. Some were sleek, lean Eng lish jobs, shiny black or a rich deep green, with gears and hand brakes and oddly shaped seats that reminded you of a hound’s muzzle. Their spokes looked like the wire the orthodontist used on your teeth, and their tires were hardly bigger around than your father’s thumb. Not many in the neighborhood had English bikes. Most people had American bi cycles, which were gaudy and gauche and horn^-handed in com parison to the greyhound wiri- retired" folks" are so busy in sports and ness of English bikes. American civic work, in charitable drives and live- bikes had to be ridden up hil s ly downtown street-corner conversations that it is they who could teach the younger generation a thing or two about leading a full, productive and satisfying life. The Southern Pines area is indeed grateful for the contributions of its older dismounting, and there were no residents in many fields. While we shudder at the prospect of a highly organized “Golden Age Club,” with its contrived gayety and intermin ably scheduled events, there would be, we feel, a warm response to some sort of center where older persons could gather for sociability, cards, other games, read ing, music and a cup of coffee. Not all our older people can afford either country club membership or private en tertaining—those two pastimes that speed the hours for many men and women in this area. Completion of the Episcopal Home for the Aging will bring here another con tingent of active older persons who, like everybody else, would welcome the op portunity to get away, now and then, from their living quarters and do some thing different in a different place. We think ample volunteer support would come forward in setting up and running such a center; and that financing would be no great problem if civic clubs, churches and interested individuals all cooperated on the project. The upcoming Week on Aging would be a good time to start the ball rolling. delicate gears or brake cables to jar out of commission. American seats were a little more com fortable, too, and their rear fen ders were strong enough for someone to ride behind you for a short distance. Identification Adults recognized each other by their cars—the makes, the col ors, the license plates. Children recognized each other by their bicycles—the makes, the dents in the fender, the presence or ab sence of a light, and the kind and condition of the handlebar bas ket. Like adults’ furniture, the bi cycle was a social tool. Your standing in the community of the young often depended on how fast you could ride, whether you could pedal all the way up the town’s toughest hill, how well you could ride no-handed, and whether you would let anybody else ride your bike. Social pres tige also depended to a certain extent on whether your bike was equipped with a horn. A bicycle horn made a puny little noise like a miniatiue trumpet impris oned in a trunk, but a boy who could announce his presence without using his voice was con sidered a man of some means. Nobody ever locked a bicycle. The town was too small lor that. You could leave your bicycle overnight at somebody’s house, and when you came back, it would have been carefully moved into the garage or onto a porch to keep the dew off it. Nobody ever took anything from any body else’s bicycle, either. Nobody ever lost a headlight or a handle bar grip, or a towel from the basket (most bikes seemed to come equipped with damp bath ing suits hanging on the handle bars), or anything. There was a sort of unwritten rule that a bi cycle was as sacrosanct as a house. Rode Everywhere For adults, the nice thing about the bicycles was that there was very little necessity lor parental taxiing in the family car. Girls and boys rode bicycles almost everywhere, traveling as much as four or five miles on country roads. Only when the roads were icy in winter was it impossible to use a bicycle. If the roads were clear, it didn’t matter what the temperature was, you rode your bike wherever you went. In win ter the air was freezing, your mittened fingers grew numb, your cheeks and ears stung in the wind, and your toes hurt. In sum mer the road reflected heat up in to your face, and the tar was soft and sticky. You learned where the sticky spots were on all the roads you traveled and avoided them automatically. In the course of five or six years of riding a bicycle on pub lic roads, a boy usuajly became highly skillful. He could ride through or over just about any thing. On a dare, one boy once rode his bike over a thick twelve-foot log that spanned a creek and back again, and never got wet. A boy learned to ride no- handed, to coast with his feet on the handlebars, to ride “sidesad dle,” and to coasterbrake a bike into a 180-degree skid on a gravel driveway without even skinning a knee. Something Changed But somewhere, sometime, for everybody, something changed). You became fifteen and your father started teaching you how to shift gears. Somebody turned sixteen got a driver’s license, and started appearing behind a steer ing wheel. At the same time, a little glimmering of interest in girls developed, and girls and bi cycles did not seem to mix. Tales of adolescent automotive ro mances began to circulate, and suddenly, before you even knew what was happening, a bicycle was anathema, a hateful m-achine requiring distasteful effort. It might have been your best pos session for half a dozen years without getting a flat tire, but overnight it became excess bag gage. Your younger brother got it, and if you had no younger brother the bicycle usually end ed its days leaning against the wall of the basement. There the dust dimmed its bright colors, if it were an American bike (Eng lish bikes were always good for second-hand sale). The air slowly seeped out of the tires. Rust gath ered on once shiny handlebars, chain sprocket, and wheel rims. Worth 35 Cents? Wonder how many folks are sending in the SS-bents to the Su- p.srintendent of Documents, Gov ernment Printing Office, Wash ington, D. C., for a copy of “Adult Physical Fitness,” a booklet that “guides both men and women to better physical condition” by spending 15 to 20 minutes a day exercising—according to the As sociated Press story about it— “in their living rooms ” We have been on the verge of sending for the booklet several times, but somehow haven’t had the nerve to take the final step. Once the booklet was in the house, we’d feel obliged to at least look into it and—having no doubt read there that we owe it to our nation to exercise—we’d be faced with daily guilt, if we didn’t go through the paces: something else to worry about. One thing is certain: the living room would never become the ex ercise room at our house. We can visualize the lamps that would be smashed and rugs rumpled and other disasters that would take place if a clumsy middle- aged person started using it for a gymnasium. Moreover, exercise time—with its attendant bangings, crashings and groaning of the victim— would surely manage to coincide with the appearance at the front door of elderly conservative friends, the Fuller Brush man, a representative of the Internal Revenue Service or other equally formidable and disapproving call ers. If somebody’d give us the book let, maybe we’d accept it—but darned if we’ll pay 35 cents to add to life’s existing miseries. Leading Symbol Somebody might come and claim it, but usually the old bi cycle’s career ended when your father finally got around to cleaning out the basement. With the cleaning would go the lead ing symbol of a time you would never miss or even look back on, until years later. Then, the rush ing whir of tires on hot tar and the muffled beep of a prestigious little horn would suddenly leap into the middle of a contem.pla- tive mood, bringing with them a small, solemn sadness in your chest. The Public Speaking Forecast Of Nonsense To Come? In a communication from a Greensboro resident, with which editors of the state are evidently being circularized, there is a forecast, perhaps, of the sort of inane political reasoning with which the voters of North Carolina may be bombarded in the coming year. Ending with an endorsement of Re publican Congressman Charles R. Jonas for governor, the letter introduces this peculiar line of thought to bolster the recommendation: If a Democrat is elected governor next year and if President Kennedy is also re-elected, “that Democratic governor will have to be another prisoner of the Kennedy machine.” But, if a Republican President is named and a Democrat is elected governor. North Carolina will be “left sitting dead in political water.” And then this shocking statement: “ . .. The political facts of life are that a ‘By Their Fruits... If residents of the Southern Pines area could operate the Southern Pines Library entirely through private subscription for many years, as was the case, there should be no doubt now that the $7,500 needed for construction work on this public building, in addition to $25,000 in town bond issue funds, can be raised. We think the sum will be given, quick ly and gladly, to make possible those “extras” that are in keeping with the town’s pride in its library: enlargement of the art gallery, two outdoor reading courts, a well-designed and more efficient central office space and a few other items such as the use of first quality material where a poorer quality, without the extra money, would have sufficed but would not have been in keeping with existing high standards in construction and furnishings. “By their fruits ye shall know them ...” No resident of Southern Pines will begrudge this extra effort to maintain and advance the library to reflect the esteem in which it is held. family, not a party, today runs America— and the South in this sad year of 1963 has seen what that means in public dis turbance, riot and vengeance with a vengeance.” The poisoned blade slipped in above is the benighted notion that the Negro’s national travail has somehow been engineered by the Kennedy administra tion. The fact is that the Negro’s public as sertion of his American heritage and his dignity as a citizen of the United States could no more have been stopped this year than could the coming of summer. It is an historical inevitability whose hour has arrived. Contrary to the absurb insinuation that “public disturbance, riot and vengeance” is a result of the Kennedy family’s rule in Washington (since when have Con gress, the Supreme Court and the Con stitution been abolished?), it is clear to anybody who thinks at all about the matter that the Administration’s recogni- ion of the legitimacy of Negro aspirations and the Administration’s willingness to intervene on behalf of law, order and the national pride (as at the Universities of Mississippi and Alabama) have pre vented untold chaos. The very fact that Negro grievances have been acknowledged by President Kennedy (and with remarkable courage and compassion, by Governor Sanford) has been the single most stabilizing factor of the whole long season of racial dis content. If North Carolina voters send Republi cans into office, in either Washington or Raleigh, under the illusion that what the Greensboro man refers to as “public disturbance, riot and vengeance” will stop because the Kennedy family and the Sanford administration have been eliminated, they will be treated to a dreadful surprise. If Mr. Jonas has aspirations to be seated honorably in Raleigh, he had bet ter make some effort to control volunteer weasel word wielders who flood the mail, no matter how sincerely, on his behalf. American Negro Has Reason To Be Proud Washington, D. C. August 28, 1963 To the Editor: In my opinion, the American Negro has reason to be very proud of himself today. Not only has he demonstrated in the South against extreme provocation and violence by whites, that he will not be stampeded into similar acts, but he has now shown he has the courage, the wisdom and the responsibility to organize the largest mass demonstration ever carried out in the United States. Those white people who con tinue to insist that the Negro cannot conduct himself undet duress, that he does not have the intelligence to organize and con trol his race, and that he will not be responsible when given the opportunity to act otherwis.3, ought now to have serious second thoughts. We ar.s seeing the Negro emerge as a race embodying those American principles of dig nity and independence which we whites have so long cherished for ourselves. There should be no question in anyone’s mind, after the demonstration in Washing ton today, that the American Ne gro is an equal to the American white in ways that count; that somehow, in spite of the lynch- ings, in spite of the arrogance and the mistreatment over the years, the hatred and harass ment, the Negro has survived, has grown and now stands forth, not as a man who will force his way, no matter what, not as a man who will allow himself to be used and inspired by com munism, but as an American who believes in America and will be as good an example as any of us of what is best in America. All of us have reason to be proud of what happened in Washington, August 28, 1963. JAMES BOYD munity. Consideration should be given to the steady growth of our local hospital (St. Joseph’s) for the last few years in number of daily patients and the early success of the Clinic at its present site. Since an offer of land has been made near St. Joseph’s Hospital and there is a possibility of federal and state funds to con struct a new building, every ef fort should be made by all in terested citizens of Southern Pines to keep the Mental Health Clinic in our town. We should let our individual feelings be known immediately to the members of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Clinic and others who may be influential in keeping the Clinic in Southern Pines. FELTON J. CAPEL Southern Pines Southern Pines Best Place For Mental Clinic To the Editor; May I say that I heartily agree with your recent editorial regard ing the location of the Moore County Mental Health Clinic. It was my privilege to have been associated with the Moore County Mental Health Association from its inception. It was only through the support of the citizens of Southern Pines, both in member ship and financial assistance, that it has been possible to organize and maintain the Mental Health Association and the Mental Health Clinic. Southern Pines is unquestion ably the geographic center of the population of Moore County and, for this reason alone, the Mental Health Clinic should not be moved from Southern Pines. JOHN S. RUGGLES Southern Pines Mental Health Clinic Should Be Kept Here To the Editor: I wish to voice my complete agreement with the editorial which appeared in the August 22 edition of The Piiot regarding the removal of the Mental Health Clinic from its present site near St. Joseph’s Hospital. It would be most regrettable in any situation lor us to lose any facility from our town and especi ally one that was basically found ed and is presently staffed by people of the Southern Pines com- Americans Should Speak For Freedom. Equality To the Editor: A recent letter to The Pilot (August 22) stated that “. . . the USSR has broken fifty of fifty- two major treaties or agreements with the United States. . .” Then, last week, another read er asked in a letter for a list of the fifty-two treaties the August 22 writer had in mind, apparent ly questioning that there had ever been such a pumber of agreements, made or broken. I will let the writer of the first letter speak for himself, if he chooses, but the background of the issue should also be exam ined in good faith. Surely know ledge is the point of departure of faith, and faith is the true basis of understanding. First, let us recognize that there are some things that are unnegotiable and unequivocal. One thing is the “faith of our fathers”—the principle upon which our Peoples Democratic Republic was founded: that faith in GOD gives dignity and purpose to the individual. Now it just happens that our nation is menaced by those hold ing another view—based on faith in MEN. We call them Commu nists. A positive and righteous indig nation is called for, because America has the answer. Our pro letarian irevolution is working and will achieve social justice. Communism exploits a vacuum where there is no dialectic and the issues are not joined. The true Communist considers that he cannot lose; the end of life to him is death—that which ceases to be. The wall, the void, nothingness is the quietus of the restless squirming of the humna organism which refuses to con form to his scientific system. Len in said: “We do not believe in eternal morality and will expose all the fables about morality.” Hence we should not be shock ed to discover the iniquity of their breaking or making mora toriums as they see fit. Their big bomb testing is more a psycho logical weapon for they are after our minds—not our bodies. They wage war with material aims. In waging peace we should not appeal to the belly of man kind but to the spirit, for other- wis.3 we are purveyors of their materialism. They charge us with violation of the Yalta and Potsdam Agree ments. Are we so supine and guilt-ridden that we accept their option to take the initiative? Instead of shoring up and de fending, let all Americans speak out for our glorious principle of freedom and equality. When the contest with Com munism, or any other foolish no tion, is engaged on these terms, nothing but truth shall prevail. We are strong because we pos sess the truth. Our system of government is based on the low est common multiple, the partici pating citizen. 'Die Communist system is based on the lowest common denominator, the spine less citizen. Let America speak out. D. A. DREXEL Southern Pines Fundamental Opening an important-looking letter from “Governor’s Office— Raleigh” a recent morning, we were faced with the resounding line, “STATEMENT BY GOVER NOR TERRY SANFORD.” Continuing, we encountered language that led us to believe that a truly momentous pro nouncement was to be made: “In the increasingly complex society in which we live,” the statement said, “and in a tim.e when man is making voyages down under the Arctic ice and upward toward the stars them selves. . .” (This really is something com ing, we thought, and read on.) “. . . And in an age of nuclear bombs, and automated machines and surrealist art and sophisti cated systems. . .” (Wow! It must be bigger news than the resignation of Bert Ben nett as Democratic Party chair man!) “It is appropriate that we pause to consider the fundamentals of our way of life. . . “Fundamentals like corn bread.” Thud. So that’s it: A proclama tion of '‘Corn Bread V7eek in North Carolina,” October 7-13. GRAINS is a corn bread boost er. We think it’s great to have Corn Bread Week. But next time, Governor, don’t let us down quite so hard in making your procla mation. Meeting Ground The Seaboard Air Line Rail road Employees Golf Association which had its annual tournament at Pinehurst over the weekend is composed of both management and labor. The tourney, for in stance, was won by a fireman from Jacksonville, Fla. What, an inquiring reporter asked an official, would have happened to the tournament if .the recent proposed railroad strike had gone into effect, in stead of being called off? “Nothing,” was the reply. “Nothing would have stopped us getting together for this tourna ment.” Could golf be the key to rail road labor-management peace? THE PILOT Published Every Thursday by THE PILOT, Incorporated Southern Pines, North Carolina 1941—JAMES BOYD—1944 Katharine Boyd C. Benedict Dan S. Ray C. G. Council Bessie C. Smith Editor Associate Editor Gen. Mgr. Advertising Advertising Mary Scott Newton Business Mary Evelyn de Nissoff Society Composing Room Dixie B. Ray, Michael Valen, Thomas Mattocks, J. E. Pate, Sr., Charles Weatherspoon, Clyde Phipps. Subscription Rates Moore County One Year $4.00 Outside Moore County One Year $5.00 Second-class Postage paid at Southern Pines, N. C. Member National Editorial Assn, and N. C. Press Assn. 6h t'ii a c< a
The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.)
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