FAMILY OF 3 NEEDS OVER * $1,950.00 TO BREAK EVEN Waahington, Dec. 10, — If you’re the wage-earner in the average city family of three peo ple, and you don’t make at least $1.05 an hour, 40 hours a week, the government figure's you will have a rough time breaking even on living costs this year. The Labor Department an nounced that you could just a bout make the grade last year— living “very modestly"—on a net income of $1,950 annually, after taxes—or about $1.0.5 1-2 an hour. But the Bureau of Labor statistics estimates living costs are up 2 per cent now compared with 1944. Basing it* report on a cross section survey of approximately 1,700 consumers in 102 cities, the bureau found that, in 1944, nearly a fourth of all city fam ilies of two or more persons had net incomes of less than $1,950. And, said the bureau, these went into debt or drew on saving* to keep abreast of expenses. On the average, the $1,950 was just enough to cover living expenses, small gifts and con tributions but left nothing tor savings such as war bonds and life insurance premiums. How ever, the bureau said, families in this bracket did buy an average of $168 in war bonds, going into debt or drawing on savings to do so. Half of the familie* and single persons in the nation’s cities had net incomes of less than $2.'00 in 1944—when family incomes reached their highest level in his tory. About one-faith were un der $1,500. Last year’s $1,950 family — which, in 1941, could have got ten along on $1,475—spent an average of barely 22 cents a meal per person and $30 a month for housing, fuel, light and re frigeration. Income, personal property and poll taxes account ed for $119, the bureau said. The report estimated that in half of the families with net in comes of $3,000 to $4,090 a year, at least two person- were wage-earners. It was noted tnat retail ioou prices in cities rose 29 per cent between 1941 and 1944. The bureau figured that sin gle persons, living independent ly covered expenses if their in comes after taxes averaged $ 1 , 150, but had no net savings. About two-fifths - of all single men and women were below that figure last year, it said, and ran into debt. ' Only 12 1-2 per cent of the na tion's wage-earners—single or married—had incomes of $5,000 a year or more after payment ot taxes. The survey fixed the av erage net income in this bracket at $7,634, of which $4,324 went for food, clothing, housing, med ical care and other current con sumption expenses and $2,S50 j represented war bonds, insurance premiums, or other savings. Christmas Dance At Shelby Dec. 27 As a benefit project for its annual scholarship award, the Shelby Junior Chamber of Com merce i, sponsoring a Christmas Dance on Thursday night, De cember 27, at the Armory Audi torium in Shelby. Highlighting the Cleveland Yul e*ide special events, the dance will feature music by Dean Hud son and his nationally-known or chestra. The event will get un derway at 9:30 and both specta tor, as well as dancers will be admitted. Dean Hudson will present his eiMi'e 17 Ipiece band, including lovely Frances Caldwell, known as the Florida songbird. I The Jaycee scholarship award i was established last year when | a fund of $200.00 was set up to be presented to the most deserv ing Shelby High School graduate. Awarded only after thorough in vestigation and based on gr d s, interest and general activities, the scholarship is preseted strict ly to students who need the fund iii order to seek further educa tion. Biggest Holiday Rush on Long Distance Ja Long Distance will be busier than ever this Christmas. So please do not make any but necessary calls on December 24 and 25. SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COM" 'Y incorporated TAKE A VICTORY BOND — IT’S FREE BY BRUCE BARTON I have heard people sigh at word of the Victory Loan Cam paign, and say, "1 suppose I have to buy another bond. But I don t see how 1 can atford it.” This is just like saying, *T suppose 1 really ought to start saving money, but it's an awTul ly expensive thing to do!” The fact is, ot course, that you don't buy bonds. As W. B. Bachman, a Detroit writer, force fully pointed out the other day, the speakers on the radio and the poster artists and the adver ting waiters havie been using the wrong word for four long years. They have been asking the public to do something that i, impossible. You can’t spend money on bonds. Yo® iinyply tak® them. They cost >ou nounng. iViy K bonds are nothing but certifi cates showing that the Baifton familv ha* made a deposit in the I’ S.' Treasury instead of in a hank or a cookie jar. When we take an E bond, we transfer a bank deposit to the safest de pository in the world—the C. b Treasury. v\ e pui ... ; notes and we Re an interest-heal ing note as our deposit slip. TP take a bond -note tbfat word '‘take"—is still a patriotic act. That alone i, inducement enough for any American. Just as your money in the batik pays for' loans and investments an.1 all the bank's fnanifo d activities so vour money :n the l. S. 1 cea - urv helps to care for the wound ed to end war contracts, . to maintain annies of occupation to bring home returning fighters. prevent inflation. Your bonds brought about the mighty atomic blasts that put a period to this ...lr Your bonds today ai e «e tinning flesh to the bone, of those who survived wounds i prison camp torture—of ! Wam wnght. of Boyington, of know'n thousands of --iiont who played their own gallant part-s in the total defeat of R<1*remember leading the typi il experience of George Lot , hose two arms were shredded v a mortar on the L^rnme front. roni his battalion aid ott was transported -1500 miles i easy stages, by ambulance, •ain and plane. He passed thru tree field dressing stations and ve hospital, in France and ~ng iiid before being returned to ie United States for final treat lent and recopery. aid for the care of all eorge Lott, of this war. And yet you can count on ge back $4 for every $3 you in! So get bonds today—get them uiarly—and -bold onto them, it is about as close as you are dy to come in this life to ing your cake and eating it WEDDING DATE C-'ANGED LEATHERMAN-LEOMiARDTE The wedding of Miss Edna Ruth Leatherman nod Glenn R. Leonhardt has been changed from Saturday, December 22. to Sun day, December 23, at six. o’clock in the Bethphage Lutheran church. The change wa3 made because of a conflict in dates. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will be per formed by Rev. L. S. Miller. iBIED AND BIOCK ED AT FACTORY W&NmiV AND SD/LTSY CHWSLW CORPORATION fop: DODGE Plymouth DDDGE^fe^TRUCKS rM§5^j UNO oTcumiii^lf in jjijiJfgtBSjr1 We Have Available BRAND NEW ENGINES SU ALL NEW PRECISION-MADE PARTS FACTORY ENGINEERED AND INSPECTED Wotu 7/ou. Can Cnjoif POWERFUL, SMOOTH, QUIET ENGINE PERFORMANCE IN YOUR PRESENT VEHICLf Avoid expensive engine' repair* , and lost time—have one of these new engines installed now. I NOTE TO.All REPAIR SHOPS I a/.o w/aW.... ENGINE REBUILDING PARTS PACKAGESJOR YOUR ASSEMBLY All brand new parte, pistons, pins, and rings fitted .Tft valve seets, guides, end eanisheft 0 busMngs Imtelled In oylleder block. Jones Motor Go. Shelby, N. C. Phone 7kj SOCIETY NEWS j ,• j MRS. S. M. BUTLER HOSTESS TO FRIDAY AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB Mrs. S. M. Butler was hostess, to the Friday Afternoon Book Club on Decemeber 12th. at 3: 30 o’clock. The living room was beautifully decorated in snap dragons and miistle oe "X Christ mas wreath and Christmas stock ings hung from the mantel; embers glowed in the fireplace, and a Christmas tree, flanked with red burning tapers, adorned the dining room table. Mrs. J. B. Dellinger, president, presided over the business session duri ig which books were selected for the_ coming year. Mrs. J. W. Payne in a most pleasing manner pre sented the life of Admiral Ernest J. King, the last of the five star admirals and generals whom the club had studied this year, the re tirement of Admiral King fitting ly co-inciding with the conclusion of the year*], programs. Mrs. H. H. Allen gave the life of P. W. Carter, whose pseudonym is Benet, the author of “Old Mrs. 1 Camelot”. Mrs. R. J. Morrison j read two legends of the orefill , of “The Night Before Christmas”. ' Mrs. Victor Stroup presented j each member with a most attrac- , tive Christmas booklet of Friday 1 Afternoon Book Club recipes j with a unique Christmas tree , cover, showing Chjristmaa tree decked with namaes of club mem bers. Each member drew a pre- , sent from under the Christmas tree in the dining room, and a most delightful social hour foll owed. The hostess, assisted by her'daughter, Mrs. Ben R. Rudi sill, served delicious seasonal re freshment, in two courses to the entire club membership; Mrs. H. 1. Alin, J. Ben Dellinger, J. D. ilobbs, R. J- Morrison, Victor Stroup, V/. F. Starnes, D. A. Ru disill, J. W. Payne, C. A. Rudi sill, Mrs. 11. R. Mauney, Sr., and R. C. Sharpe. . CARLTON WOMAN'S CLUB ENTER TAINED AT A BUFFET SUPPER Saturday Evening December 15th at 6:30, the Carlton Wom an', Club enjoyed a delicious three course Turkey Dinner serv ed buffet style. The occasion was the annual Christmas Party, of the Club. The tables were cen tered with poninsettias, large sil-1 ver tipped pine bun’s and sprays of long leaf pine. After dinner the ladies assem bled in the sun parlor where gifts were ^exchanged among club mem bers. This was most enjoyable as names had been drawn at a , previous meeting. The club pre- j sented to Mrs. Stroup and Mrs. j Leonard handsome gifts. Mrs. (Stroup presented each of her Club members with a lovely crys tal vase. Mrs. C. E. McCurry received a gift for having the largest amount of money in her Christmas sav- ^ ings account. The motto for this club is “Not for ourselves, butu others accordinglv before adjournment a cash contribution of $29.00 was made for an unfortunate friend, this amount to be added to a do- | nation from the Men’s Club. Plans were made to visit the County Home in January. This seemed to be a more fitting time to visit there since so many or ganizations go at this season. ! This trip to t'• County Home i# an annual affair with the Club. Each inmate i, remembered with a nice bag of fruit and a small gift. Club members have made many friends among the inmates both white and colored, who al ways anticipate the coming of the Carlton folks. With the singing of Christmas hymns and Carols the party drew to a close. As the concluding song the ever popular ‘,Wh;te Christma, was thoroughly enjoy, ed since the ground was covered with a blanket of new fallen STI°'VMRS. HAROLD McGINNIS Rec. Secretary. Mt. Zion W. M. U. Held Meeting The Mount Zic n W. M. U. held its regular monthly meeting at the home of Misse,. Sally and Alfa Huffman. The Devotional Isaiah 48:1-10 was read by Miss Lethia Ream and prayer was offered by Miss Vassie Lee Hicks. Those taking parts on the program were: Mrs. Hiugh Helms, Mrs. Aileen Fisher, Mies Vassie Lee Hicks, Miss Betty Jane Dedmon, Mrs. A. C. Dedmon, Mrs. M. I/. Beam, Miss Sally Huffman, and Mrs. Tommy McNeely. A song, “O Holy Child of Beth ehem" was sung by the members prayer was said by Rev. J. W Costner. Then a, the Secretary called the roll, the members ex changed gifts. The 'corations were in keeping with the Holi day. Deliciou, refreshment* were served by the hostesses. Soil Conservation NEWS Soma interesting information and data on soil loss measure ments was reported recently from the Southern Piedmont Conuer vation Experiment Station, locat ed at YVatkinville, Georgia. The report showed that soil loss, bas ed on five years of record from cotton grown continuously, on land with seven percent slope (average slope for Gaston Coun ty) in the three summer months —June, July and August—was 64 percent of the year’s tota* soil loss and that during the six spr'ng and summer moo'ha— Mardh through August—was 8-T percent of the year’s total. The report showed erosion from con tinuous cotton was higher in July than any other month. The losses during the six month* fall and winter period, from September through February—represent on ly 13 percent of the year’s ero sion, the period that most far mers think erosion ia most severe, against 87 percent loss of the period March through August. Therefore, spring and summer erosion was nearly seven timet as great as fall and winter er sioti. which indicates that mm f emphasis should be given to soil protection in the summer with mechanical supporting practices, such as terracing, contour row systems and building up the h.u* mus content to meet tnie conat tton. BUY BONDS Cpl. J. C. Hord Home For Christmas Cpl. James C. Hord arrived ^ home last Saturday night to spend the Christmas Holidays with his mother, Mrs. J. O. Hord. Cpl. Hord has been stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas in the hospi tal where he has been receiving treatment. He will report back to Camp Bowie, Texas the 28th. of December. » 7 7i-s-y* AN ALL-STAR REVUE - DEAN- I HUDSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA Featuring seme of the NATIONS GREATEST ARTISTS ' JAYCEE CHRISTMAS DANCE ARMORY—-SHELBY, N. C. Thursday, Dec. 27, 8i30 'Til FIRST METHODIST CHURCH BUILD- 1 ING FUND DATS . NAME, .. ADDRBSS . . Amount $ The above form is prepared for any one wishing to contribute funds to the First Methodist Church here. Fire completely destroyed the handsome building early last Sunday morning. Just clip the form above and send check or money order to the pastor, L. P. Barnett and it i will be applied to the building fund, as they are plan ning on rs-buildpag just as'soon as poshible. Beautiful Diamond Engagement Rings $27.50 TO $200.00 Exquisite Dinner Rings $18.50 TO $62.50 Ladies Birthstone Rings $4.50 Up I LOCKETS with Dia mond Settings— $15.95 Up •GENTS STONE Frings H $20.00 Up Gents Wedding Bands $12.50 Up Boy’s 'Birthstone Rings—Stones For Each Month $12.50 Little Girls Birthstone Rings $5.95 Baby Rings— $1.25 TO $4.5U Baby Lockets and Crosses^ $2.00 TO $5.00 Gents 15-Jewel Watches $33.75 Gents Self-wind Waterproof Shock proof Watches $62.50 Billfolds for every type of users-JLa dies, Gents; and Service Billfolds— $4.50 TO $16.50 All our Billfolds are Guaranteed to be Genuine Skin Leather. 32-Piece Sets China $8.50 to $14.75 Bibles and Testaments 75c to $6 Inkograph Fountain Pens $2.00 COME IN tARLY THIS WEEK AND SELECT YOUR GIFTS. USE JONES’ THREE-WAYS TO PAY C ASH-CREDIT-LA Y - A-WA Y. NOTE: As Our Usual Custom Each Holiday Season, there will be FREE GIFTS AGAIN THIS YEAR. i -/QML ? B£SS£/n£R C/TYAtC. t “The Store Of Honest Service”