Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / May 26, 1925, edition 1 / Page 12
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FIFTY YEARS OF CAROLINA PROGRESS Fifty years ago there wasn’t a solvent bank in North Carolina. Fifty years ago a furniture fac tory was an unknown quantity. What little there was of a lumber industry at that time was represented in small saw mill operations, a few small planing mills here and a few small wood working plants. In those days the furniture that Carolina people had in their homes (and this didn’t amount to a great deal) was made in the north ahd west. Fifty years ago a fine yarn mill in the south was a physical impos sibility. It simply couldn’t be, be cause of “climatic conditions,” and also because of unqualified labor. There 'were a few woolen mills and the wool from the native sheep was sent to the mill aind exchanged for yarn, and mothers of those days knit wool socks for the youngsters. Fifty years ago a pall of poverty hung over the Carolinas. Water pow er was undisturbed by developing agencies. Forest wealth remained in tact. Minerals lay buried as they had been for celnturies. The clay we walk ed upon meant nothing more than “mud.” and no one dreamed of great (plants making wonderful builders’ brick. The quarries of granite slept where nature had placed them at the cveatioh. In those days North Carolina rank ed with New Mexico as the most il literate state in the union. The la borer had little more of earthly goods than the peasant. You could hire a washerwoman for 25 cents per day. You could hire a day laborer for 50 cents and his dinner alnd a day meant 12 hours. Roads were impassable because of deep mud through a greater part of the year. i ne civu war naa lett tne state well nigh bankrupt, but upon the ashes of desolation brave men, with vision, began with crude tools to utilize the raw resources about them. Streams were dammed up and mills and fac tories were started. Cotton mills be gan! to spring into existence. Tanner ies, lumber mills, and then furniture factories, until in this good day smoke stacks raise their heads to the heav ens from almost every hill from Hat teras to the Tennessee line. Six thousand industries add their payrolls to the sum total required to feed a great army of honest Ameri can workers. These workers no logg er eke out a weary day of 12 hours at small pay, but they make good wages, live in good homes, have the best of food on their tables, and send their children to handsome brick schools. Most of them go to their work over fine paved highways in flivvers or big cars. A half century of achievement! Mountains of wealth piled up where once poverty stalked abroad. Devel opments of water power, forest re sources and minerals involving the spending of millions upon millions. And so it comes to pass that Car olina, once pointed to with the fin ger of shame *as the most illiterate an dbaekward of states, has come in to her own, and vies with any state of the Union in any of those pursuits which go to form progress and to make prosperity. Not only have we snatched from New England her supremacy in cot ton manufacture, but only last year our furniture factories turned out more furniture than was made in any other section of the elntire continent. Somebody should write a book oei this story of achievement against heavy odds and this book should be taught in our public schools to ev ery child in the land.—Charlotte Ob server. Smithfield, N. C. May 27, 1925 Dear Friend: We wish to announce the at traction which is to play at Victory Theatre, Smithfield, N. C., W'ednesday 51 ay 27, Mat inee and night. This stupendous production, "Who is to Blame,” featuring Gaston Glass and Constance Binney. Never in the history of subject been offered to you. The reader may not be in the habit of attending theatres, or may have a prejudice against same, but we feel that it is the duty of every mother and father to witness the above attraction. Special Matinee at 3:30 p. m. for ladies only. Evening 7:30 for men only. No children uftder 14 years of age admitted unless accom panied by parents or chaperon. Yours truly. DR. E. D. BALDWIN, All Doctors admitted free. * * Top: Mr. M. N. Holt Mrs. T. J. Lassiter. Bottom: Mr. J. A. Wel lons, Dr. L. D. Wharton, Mr. D. H. Creech. Our Seniors Sometimes vhcn watching for the progress and development of high school students, I am not sure that I can detect any. At times there is a question whether the high school is really educating. Then comes along June. I compare the handsome and beautiful SENIORS with the gawky boys and giggling girls who had entered the eighth grade four years earlier. All doubt disappears. High school is most certainly worth while. Each wonderful class of joyous, aspiring, promising high school graduates proves it. Whether Smithfield is to grow and prosper according to the prophesies of all our good Kiwanians I do not know, but I do have the strongest faith in the future of the Smithfield High School students. There are none finer it. the world. THOS. H. PRANKS, Superintendent. - 1 -- 1 .... ... (By Leo Ennis) One warm afternoon in late May, I was slowly wending my way home ward from a long, tiresome day at the office. Passing a small shop, 1 glanced at a calendar just inside the window and was suddenly reminded that it was the twenty-ininth of the month. Almost time for another pay check—how good that seemed! For though I loved my work for its own sake, I also welcomed renumeration for it. Then like a bolt out of a clear sky another thought made itself clear in my mind—this was the twenty-ninth of May, and surely that was a mile stone in my memory. How on earth could I have forgotten? My own High School graduation! This was 1934—just nine years ago I could have sworn that I’d always remem ber—and now it had almost skipped by me unnoticed. I hurried on homeward, thinking of old pals and classmates, and wonder ing what had become of each one. Opening the door on reaching home, 1 was greeted by my two little nieces, Clara and Rose. Excited over my coming, they both shouted at once. “Oh, auntie, we’re glad you’re here, ‘cause mother's busy and we're so tired of playing alone. Please tell us a story before supper, oh, please.” This was their usual greeting, and I had told them so many that my supply was completely exhausted. Moreover, I was tired and not in the mood for story telling. But just then I had a happy idea—an easy way to entertain them for a few minutes. “Run Clara, and get a bowl of soap suds and we’ll blow bubbles, and that will be more interesting than a story.” I sat by the window with one niece on each side of me. Then against the rainbow colors of the sunset I blew a large bubble. It floated toward the window and I blew another. How beautiful they were—opalescent, iride scent, changing, I could almost see air castles and fairy princesses in them. Another idea—I should tell what I saw in each bubble and that would be a story after all. I blew a bubble and looked. In it I thought I pictured—not a castle and a fairy princess as I thought—but instead a very familiar sight—a /chool room. At the blackboard a dijfhined dark-haired girl was stand ing. She was writing. Explaining what I saw to my nieces, we together tried to make out the words. In a few sec onds we could see that they were French. “And the teacher, children, is an old classmate of mine—Maude Blackman.” “Maude Blackman a French teach er,” I mused. This was indeed excit ing and interesting. I would blow more bubbles and more and more—and perhaps ! could find all my old class mates. I blew again a;nd again—and as if it were a story indeed I peered into the heart of each bubble as a true seer might, and told my eager lis teners what I saw. ‘‘Look, children, with me. I see an opera house—a great audience. On the stage seated at the piano is a slim little girl whose profile is some how very familiar. She is turning this way, and she is smiling at her audi ence. It is Sarah Adams, the “Goat” of the class of ‘25 and our most mu sical member. I started with surprise at what I was seeing, then peered eagerly into another bubble. “See, there’s a foot ball game! No, it’s only a practice, for there’s Worth Boyette giving or ders—my he is swift! His manner of giving orders reminds me of our old coach, Rice. He’s getting them in trim for the championship series.” “Oh, horrors! flere’s a hospital ward—a whole room full of cots. And do you see that dark haired girl in a inurse’s uniform, bending over the man with the Rudolph Valentino face? That’s Pauline Rand. Well she’s hap py, I know, for that’s exactly what she wanted to do.” “Another opera house? Yes, that’s just what I see, and a beautiful girl ■with dark wavy hair is walking down the stage. She is going to sing. Oh, that is Arah Hooks! “And now children, .look closely and see the small girl with curly hair and a smiling face—that’s Rose Grantham dressed in a long white apron and cap. She’s standing in the door of a famous physician’s office. Evede'ntly she is his private nurse.” “In this one I see the interior of a train. There—do you see that man with the Boston bag and the note books on the seat beside him? That is Ben Baker. Judging from appear ances he is a traveling salesman. Here in this one I see another school room. Presiding over her pupils with dignity is Carrie You'ng. She is teach ing History in a “Penny” manner. Another bubble, and this time we have a book—a very popular novel. Do you see the name Marjorie Johns ton? She was editor-in-chief of “The Eagle.” Her genius has reached a very fitting climax. A large enclosed car is approach ing. The “Driver” is Carrie Parrish. She is coming home I suppose and I guess she has been shopping. What has this to do with what she has be come ? As the car passes out of sight I see the name “Driver Co.” on the back and then I know. Here is a lecture room at Harvard. Before the class stands Henry Roy all, a professor of History. This was always his highest ambition. I am abreeably surprised at this; I al ways thought he would be an Eng lish instructor because he used to make our heads swim with his big words. Next is a large sign painted in bril liant colors. Dowln at the left hand corner I see the words “Caudill did it,” and, I am again surprised for I thought John would surely be a far mer. A radio! Someone is flashing the news on a screen as it is sent forth. Look, on the screen we see that Jua nita Woody has become the star bas ketball player of the world aind this is her fifth game. Here we have a newspaper. In it I see that Edna Hildebrand has re signed her position as drawing in structor in Boston and has opened her own studio in New York. There is a great demand for her sketches from life. Another school, just like yours—on ly this is in Raleigh. There they are —two girls who were the quietest in our class. They are Lillie Daughtry and Myra Hill. They are teaching school as they wished to do. Here is the office of the North Carolina Mutual Building and Loan Association at \^ilson. At the desk I see a sleek, bob-haired girl chewing gum. She has a pencil and paper and is making funny little quirls all over the page. This must be shorthand as she—it’s Nolia Gurley—is now pound ing away on a typewriter. Ah, how beautiful! I see a vast stretch of land which is being culti vated and cleared. Many acres of waving wheat a!nd green vegetation can be seen in the distance. But look —over there by that building is Mil lard Stallings and of course he is the owner of it all. What is this gigantic piece of ma chinery? It is all bolts and screws. By its side is a tall, slim man whom I recognize as Willard Lawrence. Judging from appearances he has be come a mechanical engineer. In this bubble I see a large kin dergarten. On the grounds are chil dren playing. In a group of small tots I see Lucy Rhodes and know that she is what she wanted to be, since to teach children was her ambition . Another newspaper. There’s Nell Meacham’s picture. She is in the Ziegfeld’s Follies. She is considered one of the best classic dancers of America, and has gone to Europe in the interest of her profession. Here is something else, very inter esting from the newspaper—‘Miss Mattie Lassiter recently sailed for foreign fields as a missionary’. Npw Clara and Rose, look at the pretty bungalow in this bubble. Isn’t it a dear? I wonder who is the for tunate mistress of this precious little home. L#t’s look in the window. Oh, there’s a group of girls around a tea table a'.nd Irene Page Stevens is pre siding over the table. I guess she’s married and undoubtedly happy by the look on her face. Next—see the Stancil Drug Store. And there’s Lawrence Stancil stand ing in the door. The owner and pro prietor, and boss of the whole thing. He’s smiling as ever and still Law rence. But look at this bubble, kiddies. There’s a sign that reads ‘Carolina Power and Light Company’, and over near the building are two boys that I believe I know. They are Eli Lee and Edwin Turnage. Of course, they CLASS STATISTICS Name CARLTON ADAMS MARVIN ADAMS SARAH ADAMS BEN BAKER MAUDE BLACKMAN SAM BOOKER WORTH BOYETTE JOHN CAUDILL LILLY DAUGHTERY LEO ENNIS ROSE GRANTHAM NOLI A GURLEY EDNA HILDEUBRAND JAMES HILL MYRA HILL ARAH HOOKS MARJORIE JOHNSTON MATTIE LASSITER WILLARD LAWRENCE ELI LEE NELL MEACHAM CARRIE PARRISH PAULINE RAND LUCY RHODES HENRY ROYALL MILLARD STALLINGS LAWRENCE STANCIL IRENE PAGE STEVENS EDWIN TURNAGE THOMAS WATSON I JUANITA WOODY CARRIE YOUNG General Appearance Happy “So-So” Neat “Happy-Go-Lucky” Reserved “Babyish” Fair Good Serious Gypsy-Like Dainty "Don’t Care” Promising Stalwart Prim Attractive Dignified Independent' Awkward Sleepy “Flapperish” Graceful “Tres bien” Trim Commanding Handsome Striking Stylish Mischievous Distinctive Pleasant efficient Aim in Life Talk Learn Latin Musician Teach French Education “Cake-Eater” President F armer Home-maker Man Home Operator Nurse Engineer Teacher To Charm Service Social-Work Engineer Farming To Direct Keep House Nurse Teach Professor Sport Surgeon Society Engineer To Impress Athlete Missionary Always Smiling Studying Chewing Helping Active Rivaling Arguying Apleasant Diligent Posing Adorable Jovial Cheerful The Same Serene Talking Dependable Optimistic Discussing Working Nibisfcr Indifferent Tardy 0 Calm Prompt On Hand Genial Gigglir^ UnusuM' Disagreeing Just Right Willing Chief Virtue Willingness Hardwork Contentment Friendliness Silence Good Lessons Dependability Honesty Disposition Intelligence Sincerity Agreeableness Optimism Kindness Energy Singing Conscientious Pep Enthusiasm Pep (minus) Sympathy Frankm ss Gentle iess Cand'iness Determination P.eadiness , Trust-Worthy Leadership Pliability Courtesy Lovableness Will Power are civil engineers. Now look at this teeny weeny bub ble. I wonder if we can see anything inside. Yes, I see a doctor's office, and I know that he must be quite noted by the streams of people wait ing outside. In the office talking to a patient I discover Sam Booker, who was the class baby, and also one of the most intelligent members of our class.” The little bubble burst and I look ed at the bowl that had been full of suds. It was almost used up. I could not imagine how long I had been blowing these fairy fortune tellers I only knew I had been so interested I had forgotten how late it was. But the children begged for just a few more and so I found the fates of four more of my old school mates. In one bubble larger than the oth ers, I find a crowded court room, with all in it eagerly awaiting the speech of the judge, and when he arises to deliver it—Thomas Watson—what a surprise! Another, and what a beautiful buil ding under construction. Looking closely I am able to see the name of the architect and find to my great sur prise that it is James Hill. Ah, a room in a hotel, and two men sitting across from each other With a table covered with papers and doc uments betweein them. One is Mar vin Adams, a well known merchant in the town of Smithfield and the oth er is Carlton Adams the owner of one of the largest veneer plants in North Carolina. They are great friends and seem to be engaged in an interest ing conversation. There, all the bubbles have van quished, every one of them. But I looked out at the gathering dusk, I sighed happily for my brief glimpse at each dear old pal. The bubbles had vanished, one by one, but inothing could take from me their memories. STREET AND LAWN TREES FRUIT AND NUT TREES Street and landscape work a specialty. Get our prices before you buy. J. VAN LINDLEY NURSERY CO. N. H. & W. H. BARBOUR, Agents Four Oaks, N. C. DR. J. W. WHITEHEAD, DENTIST Office in Hood Building PHONE 297 Successor to Dr. J. T. Underwood DR. J. C. MANN THE WELL KNOWN EYESIGHT SPECIALIST will be at Dr. L- D. Wharton’s Office Smithfield, N. C. EVERY SECOND FRIDAY IN EACH MONTH Reuimeber His Next Visit FRIDAY", JUNE 12 Wholesale Groceries --* r——wm—ii iiiiniim ii i Smithfield, N. C.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 26, 1925, edition 1
12
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