| THE BEACON OFFERS SPLENDID OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVERTISERS «-.. —- P PMB n AND The Washington County News I PLYMOUTH EXTENDS A HEARTY WELCOME TO HOMESEEKERS VOL. 40 PLYMOUTH, N.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1929 NO. 19 Shoe Maker With No Feet Plies Humble Trade Supply Needs Family In Plymouth __ 4» “Business must be good as you seem to be in such a happy mood to day,” said a representaive of The Beacon and News to a local shoe re pairer, who was whistling and sing ing alternately, as the reporter en tered his little shop on Water streel to leave some work for him. “Oh, it isn’t rushing me by any means,” he replied, “however, taking everything into consideration I think it is fair as I am making a living.” “Well, if you are getting a plenty to do it is better than a number of workers here are doing,” continued the reporter, “as most of them are pleading hard times in big letters.” “Listen, boy, if I were the kind that always looked on the gloomy side of life, and was itching to find something to complain about, I conic find it every day in the fix I am in, the good natured cobbler replied. The newspapermen sensing a good human interest story, casually settlec down into a proffered chair, and braced himself for hearing another of those hard luck tales that generally iome from the lips of those unfor tunates that have a knack of asking r for alms without mentioning it. “I am a reported for the Beacon and News,” said the chaser of news “Just heard you suggest that you had had a checkered career. Seems there ought to be a good story. Let’s talk some—it might help business in !■ the long run.” “There is nothing interesting in the life of a poor, crippled repairer tc put in the paper, is there?, the shoe maker asked. “Well, you go ahead and tell in your own words the most importaant incidents in your life, and we will let these hard-hearted editors settle the matter as to its news val : ue,” the reportetr replied. “Well, I don’t know how to start as I am not sure that I know exactly what you are after,” the shoemakei : asked. “Begin by telling me when anc where the accident occurred in whicl you were crippled as you mention ir the first of our conversation,” sug gested the reporter for an opening. “It was this way,” be begun. “Aboul seven years ago I was working at i : saw mill down in Duplin county. On* . day I was standing by a log carriage , that carried the logs by the saws ■ when by accident I fell on the car riage just as the sawyer was pulling the lever to carry the logs by the saws, and before he could stop it, both ( of my legs were cut off. “The left leg was cut off below the : knee and the right limb was seyered above the knee. In 10 minutes aftei : the accident occurred I was under the ; attention -of a skilled, physician. After the lapse of a few minutes I was : rushed to a hospital where they gave me good attention. When I was dis . charged several months afterward 1 had artificial limbs so that I could ; hobble along. “Surely during this time you have had some kind of interesting exper ience in providing for a wife and four children as you were handicapped on account of inconvenience in getting around,” asked the reporter. “Of course, want to hear some of them?” the shoe maker asked. “Yes, one or two of the best,” the newspaperman agreed. “Right after getting out of the hospital my wife was taken seriously ill. The doctor said she would have to have an operation. Then I explained my condition pointing out to him that I had no money. He took her to the hospital anyway. I left for Norfolk In quest of a job that a crippled man could do. First off, I had rotten luck. Everything was filled up. “In the meantime my expenses were mounting. My pockets were empty So I called at a news stand and pur chased a Ijpndle of Virginian Pilots oatchs and sold them. >od profit. I had a Vfore long people .e other news boys Fs from me. In a short /I sent my wife $50. ^bother matter that comes to mj ►, lory is that while I was on the comer selling papers a man came a long. and gave me $10. I did not know him at the time. I later found out thal it was the president of the Seaboard National Bank at that time. Soon aft er I came back to North Carolina tc be with my wife. .,v: MERCHANTS TO MEET MONDAY WITH C. OF C. Merchants of this place that are in terested in the organization of a Re tail Merchants Association are urged to be present at the meeting of the chamber of commerce Monday evening as there are matters pertaining to the new organization that will be discuss ed theie in the way of preliminary ac tivities that are essential to-rthe formulating plans. There are a large number of mer chants here that have spoken in the interest of the matter since the ap pearance of the article relative to the proposed organization in the Beacon last week. These men are urged to be present at the chamber of commerce meeting so that sufficient interest will be manifested to cause those sponsor ing the idea to continue the plans un til they mature. One of those interested in the or ganization will be there with informa tion received from Willard L. Doweli of Raleigh, secretary of the North Carolina Merchants Association. In a letter received from Mr. Dowell he stated, “that if the merchants are sufficiently interested in the matter tc put forth some efforts, and desire i.t this organization will send a repre sentative to help the Plymouth mer chants organize and explain to therr the functions of such a body.” An organization of this kind has bene talked for some time. At the chamber of commerce meeting nex1 Monday evening it will be definitely decided as to when and where the first meeting will be held. The mattei I will be brought to the attention oj t all the merchants attending. Those in j terested will be visited by a special committee with a petition on which will be signed the names of all the merchants interested in the matter. CLEAR ROAD FROM PANTEGO TO COUNTY LINE Wenona, April 18.—The right of way of the road from the Washing ton county line to Pantego has been cleared, and the grading is now pro ceeding nicely. The road when com pleted will be 40 feet wide, and will be made straight. It will connect Wenona and Pungo with Highway No. 91 at Pantego. “Well, how come you to drift down here in this section of Eastern North Carolina?” queried the newspaper man again in order to lead him fur ther into conversation. “It happened this way,” continued the' shoe mechanic, “when I returned from Virginia I came into contact with persons who advised me to allow the state to train me for some voca tion. I did this. In a short time, I be came a monotype operator. I soon got out of a job in this capacity. “Then I received training as a shoe repairer. Once I lost a job of this kind in Richmond and hunted all over I the city for such a job. Walking so much caused me to have to go to the hospital on account of my feet. This time my expense was borne by the Red Men. After getting able to travel I was sent back to by home in North Carolina. “One day I read of a shop for sale in the News and Observer and in a few days I came over here to buy the plant. This I did. I made a bargain, and I am work again. I appreciate anything anybody gives me, however, I had rather have a job that I can do that I can make an honest living for those depending upon me,” he continued. “Did you make a mistake in your choice of trades and are you satis fied?” asked the inquisitive reporter. “The only and biggest mistake I ever made was when I refused to take out the $ 10,000 accident insurance policy when an agent accosted me ten days before my legs were cut off when 1 had the money to pay the premium in my pocket at the time,” he concluded. “I gotta go,” said the reporter. “Good-bye, hey, what paper did you say that would be in?” he queried. “Friday’s Beacon and News,” the de parting newspaperman replied. Thus ended the conversation be tween George C. West and the writer. EARLY HISTORY LOCAL SCHOOL INTERESTING SCHOOL OBSERVER OF 1925. No record of the origin of Ply mouth school has been kept, but from what can be learned the first school house, a small building consisting of only one room, was built on what i known as “Red Hill” which was about a half mile from the town limits at that time. In 1847, an academy, a two-story building, was erected on the comer of Church and Adams Streets. This building was used until the Civil war, when it was destroyed. For a while there was no school building, but a short term school was taught in different parts of the town, wherever they could find a room. Aft er a period of a few years a schoo building was erected on fourth street It was soon found, however, that the children were crowded and a new and larger building was needed. In 1897 Dr. Hampton, a man who loved his town and desired to con tribute something to it donated a surr of money for the erection of a public school. This building was begun ir. \ 1898, finished in 1901 and used for the first time in 1C02. The name that wac given to this school was Hampton Academy. This was a modem build ing indeed at that time—a two-story brick building of eight ro«>ms. Words cannot express the great good ac complished in this building which was used for about twenty years. How ever, the number of school childrer on roll increased each year, and the building beeflhie ioo erbwded for con venienefi. In 1910 bonds fdr $i25,00( were issued for the erection of a new building. The work on the presenl school was begun in the year 1920. In 1922 the building was completed and school work was begun in Sep tember of the same year. The new school is built of brick and steel and reinforced concrete and it is three stories high, including the basement On the basement floor are the furnace motors and fans to furnish heat and air, also the laboratories, lunch room, domestic science department anc shower bath equipment. On the second floor are fhe offices, library and eight class rooms, with a wide corridor the full length of the building. On the third floor is a large auditorium, dressing rooms, and four class rooms, each having its own cloak room and all necessary equip ment. Standard high school work was be gun in this building and was the only standard high school in Washington County until 1925. Since the new school building has been in use the students have taken part in triangle debates, football, basketball, baseball games, and many other things that formerly they did not have opportun ity to take a part. The larger school ground now makes possible an ath letic field. Students should be proud to say that, at this time, they have as nice a school as there is in eastern North Carolina. ENTERTAIN SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR CLASSES Mackeys, April 18.—Miss Evelyn and Herbert Chesson entertained the sophomore and junior classes of Mackeys High School at their home Friday evening. Rook, Krokinole and old fashioned games were played also a contest was enjoyed. The prize was won by Miss Frances Everett. Ice cream and cake were served. Those attending were: Misses Evelyn Ches son, Margaret Davenport, Fannie and Elsie Chesson, Louise Ainsley, Maria Patrick, Florida Collins, Audrey Pat rick, Connie Stilman, Elizabeth Ches son, Nellie Alexander and Mildred Ballance, Messrs. Edison Knowles, Au mack and Frances Everett, Herbert Chesson, Robert Patrick, Mercer Still man, Bradley Forbes, Ross Chesson and Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Chesson. WOMAN’S SHOP IN NEW STORE BUILDING Removal of the Woman’s Shop ctock from the previous business establish ment on Washington street near Car starphen’s Smoke Shop into a store on Water street formerly occupied by C. J. Norman took place this week. All the customers of Mrs. Edison Swain, the proprietor, are urged to continue their patronage with her on Water street as the new building is large tf»d commodious and her stock will more than likely be increased. BEACON AND NEWS SOLD LEE ROY HARRIS When dreams come true Eleven years ago when Let Roy Harris was 12 years of age he began work in the office of the Roanokt Beacon. At the age of 23 years he i; owner of the plant and publisher oi the paper . This is a fulfillment of his dream. In 1917, Lee Roy Harris, began newspaper work in Washington coun ty and has continued it in this county and state, including three months study of typography in New York, contiuously for 11 years. A part of this desire was realized when he came back to Plymouth and joined the class of 1926. With the co operation of J. V/. Norman, superin tendent of city schools, at that time, and the class, he established the School Observer, an organ that is r. credit to any high school, On October 19, 1928, a step of his dream became a reality when the first edition of the Washington Coun ty News appeared. Last Tuesday the final step in his dream came true when he acquired the Washington County News and the Roanoke Bea con. Both are combined into one paper consisting variously of 4, 6 and 8 pages. I There is a possibility of a news 5 paper in Plymouth serving Washing . ton county as a whole in a beneficial ; manner to the readers, advertisers . and publishers. This is the ambition , of the Beacon and News. It wants to . =erve. Any criticism from its readers . VvHi be appreciated. ) The personnel of the combined pa , pers will be composed of Lee Roy Harris as publisher: Walter II. Para more, editor; aiid Bill Arps, printers I “Devil”. Eight or more paid cor , respondents will cover the news hap , penings in all sections of the county. [ Mr. Paramore who has been with the Beacon for the last two or more , years will continue in a promoted ca i pacity as editor instead of as associate editor in the past. In addition to Mr. Paramore’s duties with the local [ paper he is correspondent for the News and Observer, Raleigh; Ledger Dispatch, Norfolk; Virginian Pilot, Norfolk; Daily Advance, Elizabeth City. He is representative for the United Press, of Atlanta, Ga., pos sibly second to the great Associated Press news gathering organization. Also he conducts a weekly depart ment in The Iindependent, of Eliza beth City, a paper which has a larg er cidculation than any other weekly newspaper in North Carolina, on “In teresting People I Have Met.” The policy of the Roanoke Beacon and the New® will be only slightly changed, if it is changed at all. No special changes are necessary in the general character of news carried in the papers. It may be said that the papers will cater to a better and more organized system for collection of news and for preparing it for publi cation. The Beacon and News respects the wishes of its readers. HOLD JOINT MEETING OF LEGION AND AUXILIARY Columbia, April 18.—The American Legion held a regular monthly meet ing Mom.ay night with the members of its auxiliary as invited guests. The business meeting was presid ed over by Commander F. E. Cahoon. Chaplin Roy L. Litchfield had charge of the installation ceremonies. After which a very delightful social hour was enjoyed. During this time several talks of interest weie made and Dr. Johnson, who acted as host served very delicious cherry cake, ice cream and grape juice. The following were present from the Auxiliary: Mesdames Jessie Holmes, Percy Selby, K. K. Yerby, C. B. Mc Keel, F. E. Cohoon, T. K. Yerby, W. H. McCless, E. Godwin, T. W. Arm strong, James Davenport, W. S. Cara wan,, Misses Sabra and Martha Sykes. Most of the members of the Legion were present for the occasion. GIRLS’ CIRCLE MEETS WITH MISS GLADYS KEMP Tire girls’ circle of the Missionary Society of the Christian Church met with Miss Gladys Kemp Tuesday evening with about ten present. Mrs. P. H. Darden was elected to serve as advisor in the place of Mrs. C. T, Robbins. The next meeting will be held with Miss Neva Liverman on the second Tuesday evening in May. R. P. Walker and Louis Horton were in Norfolk during the week end. Third Ward Center Of Bitter Struggle City Election Fight BAPTIST FOLKS MEET TODAY IN WILLI AMSTON Delegates from Plymouth will at tend the regional meeting cf tne Baptist Young People's Union that will open in Wiliiamston today for a two-day session. Three hundred young Baptist peo ple are expected to at.end tn<3 event. Wiliiamston pastors have been advised from headquarteis to prepa e for the en‘ertainment overnight of about half this number, it is expected that man> will drive home af.er the meeting in the evening. Dr. Francis P. Gaines, president of ! Wake Forest College, is the prin I cipal speaker for the occasion. His 1 address is scheduled for Friday nigm ! in the Baptist Church. I The first session will be celled t | order Friday afternoon at 3 O’clock. ' Routine matters will be arranged in 1 connection with the perfection of the organization at the first session. Pre liminary exercises will be disposed ol in a hurry at the evening session in order to allow Dr. Gaines more time. Registration ueieg„toa will take placd in thg vestibule of the ehureb as they fentdri Assignment to hC'rfifis to w'hitlh they were assigned to spend the night. > Wiliiamston Bapiists are in quite a qU&ndry as to where they will obtain sleeping quarters of the influx oi young folk. Many outsiders have join ed in the endeavor to provide com forts for the young folk by offering their homes. Those that stay ovei night will be furnished with bed and breakfast. Other places including cafes and restaurants are preparing for the event. * •*: s. MRS. C. W. SNELL HOSTESS Pleasant Grove, April 18.—Mrs. C. W. Snell entertained the Ladies Aid society of Pleasant Grove at he home Wednesday afternoon with Mrs. J. C. Tarkenton presiding. Miss Mattie Wynne of Cape Charles, Va., lead the devotional reading, followed by pray er. Miss Myrtle Tarkenton rendered the secretary’s report and minutes of the last meeting. Mrs. C. W. Snell read the financial report, stating that a donation of some window drapery had been made to the parsonage, and some repair work done to the church, leaving in the treasury enough money to com mence the general repair work on the church while donations are still being solicited. A collection of several was reported and made note of. Among the largest collection was $107.50 re ported by Mrs. J. C. Tarkenton. One new member was added to the roll at this meeting. Mrs. Effie W. Gurkin. A very pleasant social hour was enjoyed, after which a delicious course of home made ice cream and chocolate cake was served. Three vis itors were present: Mrs. Effie W. Gur kin, Miss Mattie Wynne and Mrs. Era Chesson. The next meeting will be with Mrs. W. B. Chesson. -'"‘srifc AUTO MANUFACTURERS USE THE RAILROADS VERY MUCH Striking evidence of the heavy de mands made annually on the railroads by automobile manufacturers came to light yesterday with the announce ment of C. R. Scharff, general traffic director of Chevrolet Motor Company, that the company’s freight bill for 1928, representing inbound and out bound shipments for 16 domestic plants, totalled more than $46,000,000. This was an increase of more than $11,000,000 over the 1927 bill. In making th