Newspapers / The Duplin Times (Warsaw, … / Sept. 16, 1949, edition 1 / Page 10
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.'V:.' --.- f. . t , ' S- v J 1 ' ' y t" . : 7 ;! J: Now retired, Hampton Durant Williams, lawyer, legislator, bank er, town official, fanner and citi zen of Duplin County, lives quiet ly at his more than a century-old home in Kenansville. With the at titude of the true philosopher, Mr. Williams observes the world that has grown out of the one he knew as a boy on his father's plantation near Kornegay's Bridge in Smith township, where he was born 72 years ago on July 23, 1877. ' Mr. Williams, whom one might call a "crusading individualist' as well as a "philosopher", believes that the opportunities and the sys tem of government that his genera tion knew was the greatest that the .world Has ever known. Out of it, lie feels, came our wonderful mod- era inventions, electricity, the fly ing machine, radios. In a nation whc- - "pportunities for individual --(.oris are limited, the ma-y i we take for grant ed he..- m Duplin County, and tnrougaoul the world every day would never have been developed. Mr, Williams looks askance at some of the trends in modern govern ment in our country today. He fears that eventually they will lead to limitations of the opportunities of the individual. Forty-nine years ago, in Febru ary 1900, Mr. Williams, who had just graduated in law at the Uni versity of North Carolina, opened an office to practice law in Ken ansville. For many years until he reurea irom the practice of law, , his name stood for integrity and the proper professional conduct of me nun oi an attorney at law in Duplin County. He was schooled In" the public schools of the county and latar went ta Thompson's Preparatory school at Slier City, in Chatham County Paying tribute to a for mer teacher of his. Clay Stanford, and to a man to whom many in Duplin County owe much of their knowledge.TOr. Williams said when he was growing up he learned as much from bis association with Mr. Stanford, as from any other source. At the University of North Carolina where he studied law, he was un - der Prof. James C. McRae. -During , xne years of his active law nrac tice in Kenansville, Mr. Williams nad a large practice in both civil and criminal law. He had his own . jaw nice on the courthouse square. -:- ;' ---r.:?' He is the son of Durant and Eli zaoein nuipatrick) Williams. He traces h.s ancestry back to Richard wmiams, being a great-great anna son of Richard... The" family, trace weir an-estry back to a Williams family in Wales, who came to America in Colonial days. Jacob Williams, preacher, lived in the vi cinity of Kenansville. He was a great-grrndfather of Mr. Williams. He was a Baptist preacher. He e lauiisnea island Creek Baptist uur. Me mined in Rutledge There were nine children in the family! who reached maturity, two died in infancyl Of the family to- "y niy two Mothers are living, WiUie D. Williams at Coral Gables, Fla., and John A. Williams of El liott, 5 .C. Brothers and sisters now deceased: Amos, Barbara E., a, Robert, Annie and Mrs. a V. Gooding. . 1 V of 1905 and 1907 and in the spe cial session of 1908, and again in 1933. He was a member of the electoral college in North Carolina in 1909 when William Jennlnw Bryan was a candidate for the pres idency.. Mr.. Williams has always been a democrat.,;. He was mayor of the town of Kenansville for ten years, and county attorney when the present courthouse was built. He was pres ident of .the bank . of Magnolia, which, though no longer in exist ence, paid off all its depositors when closed. He is a Mason, being a member of the Kenansville lodge and former worshipful master , of the lodge.. He is a member of the Kenansville Methodist church. Mr Williams was married on June 26, 1901 to Miss Erma I. Wil liams, of Kinston. She is the daughter of James Robert and Eliz abeth Purvis Wllliamsi Mrs; Wil liams attended ;reensbord College for Women and the North Carolina College for Women, both at Greens boro. Mr. and Mrs. Wllliamq nova is now married to the flev.-Murrell K. Glover,: Methodist minister of Kenansville,! Also! a-foster daugh ter daughter, Sue Lee, now mar ried and living in Charleston, S. C. It is fitting that this man, who is from pioneer stock and who has done his share to carry on his cen- eration, should live in one of Dup lin's historic old homes. The house built around 1760, faces the court house square, and Kenansvilie's spring, xamed in story and history Surrounding the home is a forty- .ic idrai, ail in the corporate lim its of Kenansville. ', The old home is now being re- van cu. mr. wiiuiams is taking a special pride in rennlrlno h ij home in such a manner that the ana simple, beauty will be preserved, while at the same tunc h win oe made beautiful and i-uuuuriauje io line in.' Over in Smith's townshin ho nn owns the old home place where he was born. The marl pits on the farm are known throughout the county. Mr. Williams commutes al most every dav from Jii Kenansville to his farm in o township. T Mr. Williams has aided Author Sam Byrd in supplying Informa tion for "The Duplin Story", but ne manea the amphitheatre The characters wll lspeak their own lines, Just a year ago, On September 17, ma, plans were started for the production as the central feature of th County Fi-Cenlennlal Cele bration.';'" Bird was encraced for history of his neighboring county! Since July 18 he and Rife have been at Kenansville, residing in the Presbyterian manse, one of the ma ny architectural gems for which the ancient -village is far famed. Women Lend Hand . With them there, assisting with detailed preparation, are Mrs. Rife and Pat Bolam, an English girl who is Byrd's legal ward.' ! Both will nave parts in the play. Pat Will be a "natural" in the rele of Jennifor Carrington, who .with her brother, Tony Carrington, in the drama will inquire of Johnny Lambert, an American chief petty .officer in London all about America, " Byrd will play the part of Lambert. Mrs. Rife has appeared in music al comedies at the Cain Park The atre in Cleveland and received the atrical training at the Cleveland Playhouse. She studied under Lila Robeson of the Metropolitan Opera' The first scene of the play opens in complete darkness. Tha night September 22, 1949, and the place is a London park near the Houses of Parliament. The voice of a tobacco auctioneer is heard. Lights dim up to reveal a fountain with water playing from the top, an unlit street lamp, and the Naval chief petty officer seated by the fountain, staring absently into space. Distant traffic noises may be heard .beyond Lambert's auc tioneering chant, lint mansion, L.. . y ....V with its several hundred Blaves, its fine English furnishings and its hospit able motto: "Who enters this open kate sever comes too early and nev er stayi too late." - -. - - Battle Depicted - The eighth scene changes, to the stage, an open field.: "Somewhere In Duplin County," on a Spring night during 1863, at the headquar ters of Capt. James Kenan and the Duplin Rifles. From the distance on a rolling hillside the first camp fire has been lighted, and troops are singing, "We're Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground. - A sentry brings to Captain Ken an a middle-aged Negro, recognized as Charlie Prince, a slave owned by a DujllB friend,; who. had been caught In a skirmish with the ene my. Humorously the Negro de scribes the fight, wth a frank ad mission that "courage, ain't in my line, cookin's my profeshun.' A loyal Negro woman slave brings the captain his supper, with late reports on bis family's health, while they hear the distant roar of can non. His mother arrives, and as the captain kisses vher goodbye, the campfire is extinguished, the troops fall in", with a wild Rebel yell, and inarch in front of their leader singing, "When Johnny; Comes Marching Home.-' , Kenan mounts his horse and rides off with his men. Suddenly from the darkness there is a blinding flash, an-explo-sion and the piercing wail of a Ne gro woman's voiee. A Story of Defeat The closing scene of the first act transpires on an afternoon in June, 1805, at Liberty Hall. The Negro's wail sets the key for a Negro chor us, whoe voices rise in sorrowful chant from the direction of the terrifying explosion. .. The musi cians file In pilgrimage fashion and turn to watch a procession of tat tered Duplin Confederates return ing from the war. Colonel Tom Kenan tells his father, Major Owen Kenan: "The war has ended. Papa. We have buried our hatred in the belo 'i 1 graves. . . The hearts of my n.cn are too full of sorrow, too fu!l of honor for hatred. The guns have been stacked. Our duty is peace. iv hav? come home to rebuild, to cultivate, to revive our industries. to raise patriots and Christians to take the places of those who are gone. La Liciy,' iu,t ail the fine portions of the play can be mentioned. Nor should they be. Only a few to show the type of production which may be expected. To appreciate its worth and enjoy its entertain ments value to the fullest extent It must be .seen. .' All residents, schools officials and civic clubs of the county are cooperating with the production. For instance, the Lions Club met to build a picket fence. ." Other groups have accepted other assign menu Men through the ;, region are growing beards for roles in the play. irm:H --'?-,,y--- J. R. (Bob) Grady, editor of The Duplin Times, has been one of the chief spark-plugs from the begin ning. County Commissioners, head ed by A, C. HaU of Wallace, .as chairman, lajt fall appointed twosr three citizens from each township to aran plans. . . Historical Society Organised inese township represcnattives met and organized the DiidIih County Historical . Society. Their Oflicers are Gilbert E. Alphin, Jr., oi Kenansville, president: m,. John D. Robinson of Wallace, vice president: Mrs. J.-D. SandlinJr., of Beulaville, secretary; Mitchell K. Allen, Jr., of Kenansville, treas urer; L. P, Wells of Route 2. Mount Olive, chalrma nof the fi committee, and G. E. Alphin. chair man of the executive committee.: Some o fthem went to Washing ton recently to invite President Truman to see the play. Whether or not he comes, its succees seems assured, judging from the whole hearted Interest of the entire coun ty. It is slated as a non-profit en terprise, but if there should hscDen to be profits, they will go towards the4 Kenan Memorial Auditorium, already unde construction at Ken- ansvme. The amphitheatre is 'being raD- Idly cleared, parking space is '.ic ing' arranged, the stage has been set.,posters have been distributed rehearsals of players and choirs are under way, and all other preilmin- iry woric Js being elaborately and carefully planned. 1 W - i "CAROLINA JUBILEE" so-call ed theme song of Duplin's Bl-Cen- tennial celebration is now on sale at the following places: Kenans ville Drug Store, C. E. Quinn's Store; Warsaw Drug Storer; Fus- sell Drug Store; Rose Hill- Go w- en's and, Wallace Drug Stores in Wallace; Aarons Pharmacy in Mt. Olive; Beulaville Soda Shoppe in Beulaville; and Turner's Store in Pink Hill. vv,vA yi:-jy't "Carolina Jubilee" was written by J. R. O'Daniel, Tommle Haas and Robert Grady and dedicated to Duplin's celebration. It has been played and sung in all the schools in Duplin and was the theme song for the pageanfs radio broadcast for months. The music sells for 50c per . copy,. Only a limited number of copies are left. Also it will be on sale at the amphitheatre during the showing of "The Duplin Story." " Other music on sale at the Ke nansville Drug Store by Mr. O'-" Daniel and "Mrs. Haas rare "May-, time In Caroline" and "Dreaming Along In My Dream Plane," both songs about North Carolina. ' - You may order any of the above from the Duplin Times.; numbers 50c each. . ' Traffic Directors i $200 to wrto the play aroum. thel uorih Carolina and Duplin County have ... wept over their de voted sons. The sword has settled the quarrel. We arc a united coin try now, Papa. May the blood of Dick Carr and all the others cr- fment forever its bonds," Whi'e he is talking, the choir and. Negro chorus hum, "I Cannot Sing "THE DUPLIN STORY' w (CONTINUED FROM FRONT) - land, Ohio, and the Nashville Cdm mumty Theatre. Last summer he was guest director at the Colcadj University School of in uenver. Works in Courtroom - lit,.,,- . , . vrnue, at unaneston. RifA a. eignea and drew the plans for the vast amphitheatre at Kenansville and Is directing its construction. When he began in Kenansville the difficult task of paintina the seen. ry, tne Duplin County court room was round to bo the only place large enouah for hl rliMnt: eiD(Aun. ... . rz . . ""-"-""ou me counry autnonues are permitung him to use that large hall. To prove the interest ana cooperation of the countv. Su perior Court was held there re cently, while in the rear nf iha n. dltorium Rife worked painting of the Battle of Rockfish. Microphones and-amplifiers Will carry the voices of the actors and accompanying sound effects " r- j 3y to the audience, even V- British commuters and shoppers pass by, all authentic types. Some of them glance curiously at the sailor, then hurry homeward. A newsboy, advertises . his papers. Then s girl of about 13 and her ten-year-old brother enter, -the irt concentrating on the rhythmic strokes of her yo-yo, the lad sus piciously counting each stroke, They stop by the Chief and ask him questions. He says he Is from "the most wonderful place in the world,' and its "Horn of Plenty." Duplin County. ( . ,,, . i t Fryins Pans Make Music Mother puzzled questlonsfollow, and Johnny tells them about Dup lin's ."music in the air," its name honoring a Scotch Lord, its hal, lowed early beginnings, its musical names of places and people, its democratic practices, Its colorful products, its prize cucumbers, its hush puppies, whose grease sterling in frying pans makes music "like Beethoven's," and its luscious bar becue, which he describes as "what they serve in Heaven for Sunday dinner. '.-v;!:A''fv -; .;-." t. : . i, The Faison market is next seen through the eyes of the homesick officer and the children, as. the lights center on a facsimile repro duction at the center of the stage, The boy asks about American In dians. Johnny tells also nbout Henry McCulloch, , who came up the North East Cape Fear River in 1755. : In that scene the pioneer landowner is welcomed ; by cos tumed townspeople and ehildren in period clothes dance for hint. Not luce tne customary battle scenes, tne Battle or kockiish is portrayed. Johnny Informs his young listeners about George Wash ington and the Revolutionary War, wor'nlr.g up to te slavi ry question the Old Songs." As he finishes. voice from the chorus chants, "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory." The chorus, the choir and the people gathered In front of Liberty Hall sing "The Battle Hymn of the Re public." Llchter Sid ; Act 2 begins with a lighter touch) a, political barbecue in. 1908 during me heated Taft-Bryan campaign, and Duplin's participation , with Third Political Party. There are a brass band, a square dance avid political speeches replete with typ ical numor of that unique era, ' commencement exercises at James Sprunt Institute in Kenans ville on May 10, 1910, are re-en acted, with the graduation address and some of the descendants tak ing the parts of their fathers anl grandfathers. - A later stage scene is in 1917 at the railroad station at Warsaw when World War I soldiers left t fight in the conflict "to make the world safe for .Democracy." The train comes dn.Vwith modern light ing effects, j The name of .one of the soldier characters is Charles R. Gavin, who in the real war was killed overseas on November 10, 1918, the day before the Armistice. Th local American Legion Post is named for him. ' Relatives and friends have? provided the play wright with actual descriptions, so uiat ne ana other characters n the drama may be depicted Just as ac curately as possible. Story Includes Present Day Era To conclude the performance. there is an Inspiring patriotic and religious scene about the American Flag, tracing the unity of England and the United States,; ' and th principles, for which the - Star Spangled Banner has stood through the years and will continue to stand in the future, The background for this scene Is unusually impressive. It portrays a oeautuui stained glass window in a cathedral or church, representing const on a rainbow. The action is suppoced td be on V-J-6unday. in Duplin County during 1945. A minister delivers an inspirational address. -- M-. " vvv The: stained glass window was designed by Stephen Bridget and would grace any church. : Bridges bad an early amhltlon to be ade .signer for the stage. Most of his life, except for the war years, how ever, has been spent in stained glass shops. As a soldier, he made windows from beer bottle bottoms for a regimental chapel in New Gui nea.. He is Jiow viewing medieval windows in (France and .England, and upon his return this month will be associated with the Rambusch Studios in New York. He is cdtior of the Stained Glass Quarterly. published by the Stained Glass As sociation of America. His wlm' ws are in si :.Ari- ' ! r-'-chawl, ;s , r EARL WHITAKER . ; Patrolman of Warsaw Depends on Enthusiasm We have no money, no union. perhaps no talent, though we hope the play will develoD talent that will take Duplin County to Broad- i way," says Sam Byrd. "But we d-i nave entnusiasm. L,ots of enthus iasm. And enthusiasm is the great est asset in the world. We'll put it over with our enthusiasm.' Speaking of his purpose in writ ing history soiifferently from the w,iy it has usually been written, he declares, "The play is not a nar rative, nor should it be retrospec tive. It is real action. A drama is history in the making. Most peo ple don't write a book "or a drama or a hir.troy. They write about a book or about a drama or about an historical event. "History is more exciting in the making than in the reading, to I have written to portray history as it is being viewed or reviewed. The telling of hisotry can be made Just as interesting as at the time it oc curred, if the listener is -made to feel tha the is a part of it. A Personal Story - Of course, under the surface, we want to call attention to the out standing record Duplin County has written through its two centuries and to the real contributions it hat made in every war in which our country has been engaged. , But, more than that, we are, endeavoring to depict the lives of its . citizens, their every day bravery and their human interest' affairs. ; "If I can just bring to the stage those heart-warming days, . those days of struggle and hardship, mix ed wth laughter and gaiety, when our forefahten built Dup'in Coun ty when the beginnings and devel opment of Sarecta, Kenansville, Faison, Calypso, Warsaw Magno lia Rose Hill, Wallace, Beulaville and all the places in between were laid, I will be satisfied, r U 'And if I can re-enact the spirit of a pioneering people to show to those. of the present . generation why they should be proud of their wumy ana ineir predecessors, u i can show to our neighbors some of the things that took place in the growth of Duplin County I will feel that I have-shown what took place in each and every county, in spirit at least, from the 4ays long before the Revolution down until this pres ent day. If I can just do this in some successful way, I think that our efforts this year will not have been in vain. . " :; "One of my chief alms Is make people like history, especially the tory of .their own region an1 of their own - ancestors. If Uls, my new method of presenting history works well,, and my friends here believe that it wUl, It will serve first to prove that history can be taught interestingly, not Just mere chronology of dates or a dull dull naming of outstanding men, but a moving, living spirit of his torical drama and second, it should set a pattern and example for all other counties to follow, if they chooser, for Dpulin is typical of all areas and each and every county has a great background that should be studied and appreciated as a stimulus for even greater progress in the present and inspiration for future advance." f ( " MRS. h. K. ALDERMAN of Rose Hill. Pianist for "The Du plin Story" Choir...... y f -'.IF - .a - ? -''I ' "I I k r I V I JOSEPH COKER, JR." Patrolman of Kenansville Mrs. N. Y. Pickett have an inter esting display in the large window of L. M. Sanderson's store. It is attractively arranged and is worth going to Magnolia to see. Miss Macy Cox fell in line and has a display in her store window. ' She has several items, mors than 200 years old; a little chair made by her great grandfather Cox, and a bed spread made by her grandmother Carroll; a beautiful quilt made by her .mother; Mrs? J, W; Cox about 95 years ago; spinning wheel and cards. Also many other things of Interest. Among them there is a beautiful white dress made by her self for Miss Minnie Lee Herring's graduation at James Sprunt Insti tute forty years ago. The dress will be loaned-to Kenansville for dis play for a few days. Miss Mlnni we was born and raised in the home now owned by Ben Stroud and never went to any school other than James Sprunt. J. L. CLes") WILLIAMS Kenansville Post Master. Sponsor f the street dances and" a director of "The Duplin Story" square dance. Mayor of Kenansville, to extend a cordial invitation to the people of Duplin County and our friends everywhere to visit our Town for the showing of "The Duplin Story" on September 22nd, 23rd and 24th. It is the desire and aim of all the ' people in Kenansville to make your visit a pleasant one and you may ¬ be assured that a hearty welcome awaits you. We, the people of Kenansville, are as proud of the historic yester- ' years of our County as we are de termined to mould for It a glorious future. Come to - Kenansville on either September 22nd, 23fd or , 24th and see past in review through The Duplin Story" the two hun dred years of our County's glorious past. . .. ,;.; -.v.., ! In the name of the people of Kenansville, N. C ' rBrinsqrijiff Says Welcome it gives me great pleasure; as ON DOXSCORS H.C.tlf GilWArS Injured thru Sept 12 this yr. 6,979 . Injured thru Sept 12 ,1948 4,979' A. C. L SCHEDULE CIIAIIGE J EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER ' 13l TEAINNo.49 .Arrive Warsaw 115 AM Leave Warsaw 11:40 AM ;& TRAIN No. 48 25 J , 11' . 1 Arrive Warsaw 4:50 PM ijfei Leave Warsaw - 4:55 PM 1$
The Duplin Times (Warsaw, N.C.)
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Sept. 16, 1949, edition 1
10
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