VOLUME 40 SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1921 NUMBER 102 OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE CHRISTMAS JOY The Cases Below Have Been Investigated by County Welfare Officer Seven families can be reached from Smithfield. The time for giving is now—Friday and Saturday of this week. Things to be given are things that children need to eat and wear— children between the ages from one month to fifteen years of age. All articles wil be assembled at W. L. Woodall’s Sons store anil from there busy workers will see that they are distributed to the needy homes. All gifts should be in the above mention ed store by noon Saturday, December 24th. It being impossible to reach sever al of the homes into which Santa Claus cannot visit this Christmas, it has been decided to make a direct ap peal to all who wish to help helpless and destitute children to do so by mail. The appeal does not apply to the seven homes mentioned above. This is a good work in which all who read this may take a hand. Let ev ery giver send his or her gifts through the mail or take it to the homes: Opportunity No. 1. Address Box 210, Selma. N. C. Three children, two girls, fifteen and eleven, one boy—three. Would ap preciate Christmas confectionaries andtoys. Opportunity No. 2. Address Mrs. McCoy Pollock, R. F. D. No. 3, Middlesex, N. C. Four chil dren, two boys, eleven and one, two girls—six and four. Would appre ciate Christmas confectionaries. Opportunity Mo. 3. Address Mrs. D. E. Moody, R. F. D. No. 3, Middlesex, N. C. Sesd Christmas toys and confectionaries for a boy of two and a girl of 1 year. Opportunity No. 4. Address Mrs. Robert Edwards, R F. I). No. 1, Pine Level, N. C. oenOj a girl ten years ?'d and two boys 8 and three, Christmas confectionaries and toys. Opportunity No. 5. Address Mrs. J. Y. Allen, R. F. D. No. 2, Four Oaks, N. C. Five chil dren, three girls, twelve, ten and eight, and two boys six and two. Send Christmas confectionaries and toys. Opportunity No. 6. Address Mrs. Nathan Adam Mc Lamb, R. F. D. No. 2, Benson, N. C. Five children, four girls, 12, 8, 4 and 2, and one boy eleven. Send Christ mas confectionaries and toys. Opportunity No. 7. Address Mrs. Sherman Moore, care of Mr. Charlie Adams, R. F. D. No. 1, Benson, N. C. Send a six-year-old girl and one-year-old girl Christmas confectionaries and toys. Opportunity No. 8. Address Mrs. W. G. Pennell, R. F. D. No. 2, Knightdale, N. C. Send Christmas confectionaries and toys to a two-year-old boy and useful ar ticles to a two-months-old baby. Mr. John L. Davis Dead. News reached here Wednesday night that Mr. John L. Davis died un expectedly at his home in Burlington Wednesday evening about six o’clock, lie was rid and his health had not been good for some time and it was realized he could not live long. Mr. Davis came to Smithfield a few years after the Civil war as a school teach er md made this his home for many years. He had charge of the Smith field Academy before Mr. Ira T. Tur lington moved to Smithfield. He did good work here as a school man and was a highly respected citizen. He married a daughter of Mr. B. A. Woodall but she lived only a few years. It will be remembered that their son, Mr. Almond Davis, died at Burlington only a few months ago. The family had been living at Bur lington for twenty-five years or more. They had been quite active in the business life of Burlington. For sev eral years they ran a large furniture store and later Mr. Almond Davis was cashier of one of the leading banks there. Miss Luna Lassiter who teaches at Roanoke Rapids, arrived in the city Wednesday night to spend Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Lassiter. MR. E. L. HINTON TAKES HIS OWN LIFE Mr. Godwin of Cleveland Township Also Commits Suicide For a year or two it has been j known that the health of Mr. Ernest | L. Hinton, of Clayton, has been fail ing and those closest to him knew that he could not live very long. The past fall while so many of his friends were going ahead with business, he was confined to his room unable to get out and do business. This he took very hard and seemed to brood over his ill health. Last Monday he heard of the suicide of Mr. Arthur Godwin and remarked that perhaps he might as well go away the same route. That evening he asked one of his boys for a gun and had him to load it for him and show him as much about how to use it as possible, say ing that he might go hunting some time very soon. The boy really pre pared the gun for the killing but did not know it. Monday night he in sisted that his wife should go to the Baptist parsonage where the mem bers were pounding the preacher. Mrs. Hinton went out a little early and returned home before the pound ing began. He insisted that she go again and meet the folks who assem bled at the parsonage. While she was away the second time he took the gun, and going back to his bed, put the muzzle of it in his mouth and killed himself. The burial took place j in Clayton cemetery Tuesday after noon, the burial service being con ducted by Rev. A. O. Moore, assisted by Rev. A. C. Hamby. This is one of the saddest deaths ever known in Johnston County. He was a useful member of Clayton Baptist church and one of the county’s best and most useful men. He was a man of large business capacity. For many years he had helped to manage the business of J. G. Barbour and Son, and was a very valuable man to them. He was connected with the Cotton mills of the town and the Clayton Oil Mill. Ill health which no doubt affected his mind was the sole cause of his tragic death. At one time he was one of our county commissioners and was wrell known over the county. Thou sands will hear of his untimely death with the greatest sadness. News spread around first of this week that Arthur Godwin, who lived in the western part of Cleveland township, near Mount Zion church, had committed suicide. He was a lit tle above fifty years old and had been in poor health for a year or more. His ill health seemed to affect his mind to some, extent. In his room about 8 o’clock Monday morn ing the fatal step was taken when he killed himself with a breech-loading shot gun. The burial took place Tuesday afternoon at Mount Zion Methodist church. He was a Primi tive Baptist and the funeral was preached by Elder J. A. T. Jones. He is survived by his wife and nine children. He was a brother of Mr. Jap L. Godwin and Mr. E. R. Godwin both of Clayton, and Mr. O. L. God win, of Richmond, Va. Mrs. Pell Benson, Mrs. Ada Honeycutt, Mrs. H. M. Stephenson, are his sisters. He was a son of Mr. Pinkney Godwin. He was an industrious man and had friends wherever he was known. Couldn’t Fool Him. From London Tit-Bits. A private, walking down the street arm-in-arm with his sweetheart, met a sergeant belonging to his regiment. “My sister, sergeant,” said the bashful private, introducing her. “That’s all right, my boy,” said the sergeant, grinning. “She used to be mine." Big Hogs and Plenty of Meat. Last Tuesday Mr. S. V. Pittman, near Micro, killed a hog which weigh ed 781 pounds. This hog was of the big boned Poland China type, named “Giant Guy,” registration number 120465. He measured 7 feet and 3 inches in length and 6 feet and three j inches around. He was 2 years and 10 months old. Mr, Pittman also killed nine other nice hogs which together weighed 2,542 lbs, making a total of 3,332 lbs. i A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE By REV. HOWARD HARTZELL Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. I was looking at the sky one winter evening and could not help wondering how lovely were the stars. It was one of those cold and frosty nights, with the air so clear and everything so calm and still. I could not help won dering how solemn was the evening and how beautiful the stars in their intimate touch with God. Early that uay the sun had been shining brightly untk, tired no doubt, it dipt gently down behind the hills beyond the river. Then twilight came in the trail of the sun. It lingered a little—shivering, cold and shadowy—then drifted into night. And one by one the stars came out, shyly at first, until they gained more courage and took their appointed places in the firmament above. They were lighting all the world. They looked so mirthful, eager, bright and happy. How nice it was to stand awhile and watch them! It was* ust like communing for a time at least, with the « Master-mind that made the star. One simply felt as if one’s^ thoughts had taken wing and bridged the gulf that lies between the noise of earth and the silence cf heavens. Men could not live, if they did not know that the stars were always shining. They could not live if they did not see the hand of God in the firmament of heaven. They could not battle on through life if they did not have the promise that makes them brave and keeps them strong. Be swift to make the stars your friends. God loved the stars. And the stars are always shining with the boundless love of God. Out on the plans of Bethlehem shepherds watched their flock by night. And while they watched, there came to them a wonderful message—the lesson of the stars. The story is old; but it is ever new. It was one of God’s stars that led the way to Bethlehem—to the manger of Christ. Wilt Thou grant us our prayer, 0 Heavenly Father! Teach us the lesson of the stars. Teach us to be kind and bright and helpful. Give us an optimistic outlook. This world is still the abode of horrid cruelty; but sins against humanity are no longer con doned, nor are human wrongs allowed to remain un righted. Christ has lodged in the hearts of men a new altruistic spirit. He has awakened new hopes. Before the bright ness of His presence evil things are passing away. With the birth of Christ came the birth of the Christ mas spirit within the hearts of men. And this is the essential thing in Christmas keeping. “Tho Christ in Bethlehem a thousand times be born, If He’s not born in thee, thy soul is still forlorn.” Death of Mrs. Dollie Anne Rose. | On Thursday morning December 1, the Death Angel visited the home of Mr. O. P. Rose, near Selma, and bore the soul of his beloved wife to the spirit world. Mrs. Rose had been in failing health for'a year but had been confined to her room for only two weeks. All was done for her that doctor, friends and loved ones could do but to no avail—none could stay the icy hand of death. She had ac complished her mission on earth an.I God commanded the soul to come up higher. Mrs. Rose was born January 26th, 1862 and died December 1, 1921. She was 59 years, ten months and 6 days old. in the tall of 1880, she was married to Mr. Oscar P. Rose, of near Rains Cross Roads. To this union were born four children, three of whom are liv ing, one son having preceeded her to the grave 31 years ago. When she was 18 years old she joined the Free Will Baptist church at Rains Cross Roads. Here she was a member until about fifteen years ago. Then she moved her membership to Pleasant Plains church and remained a faithful member until her deatr. Her pew was never vacant, when her health permitted her to go. The church has lost a faithful mem ber, the husband a devoted wife, the children a loyal mother, and the com munity a kind friend. May we who are bereaved realize as Paul did that to live is loss, to die is gain.” We feel according to her testimony while on earth that she is resting in peace. She often spoke of being ready and asked the Christians to pray that she might be faithful until the Lord should call. She bore her afflictions with patience realizing that death was near. The funeral services were conduct ed by her pastor, Rev. W. M. Ferrell, in the presence of a large gathering of sorrowing relatives and friends, after which the interment was made in the family cemetery near the home. Mrs. Rose leaves to mourn their loss a brokenhearted husband, two daughters, Mrs. Andrew Batten and Mrs. James Peedin, one son, Mr. Ran som Rose, and a father. A FRIEND. Teachers Leave for Vacation. The following members of Turling ton Graded school fhculty have gone to their respective homes to spend the Christmas holidays: Supt. Thos. H. Franks, Apex; Miss Margaret Newell, Newell; Miss Lillian Maxwell, Calpy so; Miss Ora C. Cansler, Newton; Miss Laura Holt, Bahama; Miss Lucy Lawley, Puckett, Miss.; Miss Marga ret Field, Asheville; Miss' Annie Par ker, Monroe; Miss Hazel West Dover; Miss Margaret Wilson, Wilson’s Mills; Miss Sarah Miller, Mocksville; Miss Madge Kennebte, Chapel Hill; Miss Elsie Sparger, Mount Airy; Miss Janie Lyerly, Hickory; Miss Nettie L. Smoak, Wilkesboro; Miss Lina Woodward, Statesville; Miss Elva Timberlake leaves tomorrow for her home at Timberlake. White Gift Service. At the Methodist church Sunday afternoon, the Sunday school will hold a White Gift service beginning at 4:30 o’clock. The offering will be used for the famine sufferers in Russia and Armenia, and the collec tion at the Stonday School hour in the morning will go for the same purpose, j The public is invited U attend. HEADING MEN IN THE COUNTY MEET HERE Representatives from Each Township Plan for Co-oper ative Selling A meeting of the representative citizens from each of the 17 Town ships in the county was held in Smith field on last Monday, December 19th, to devise plans for the completion of the cooperative sign up in this coun ty before January 1st. About 90 of the leading men in the county were in attendance at this meeting and were at dressed by Mr. Mask, of the State Extension Servic e who explain ed the absolute necessity for quick work to complete th-> sign up hei e and make it equal to ihat of other leading counties of the State. After Mr. Mask’s address which met a reaay response several members spoke briefly on the necessity of form ing a temporary organization ■ through which