'l Ml COT IlfiS!
Published every Friday at
, TRYON
the most populous town In ! ' .
POLK COUNTY 1
The Land o the Sky, . .
North Carolina: -
JEO. B. COBB,
Editor.
Entered at the Tryon, N. C, Postoffice
as second class mail matter
SUBSCRIPTION RATES- :
Payable In' Advance. ' ." v
beTear... .... ... ..1.M
iix Months. 0
iTsree Months
-S
Gommunictitions: intended for publi
co irtTii tniiRt: be siened ,bv the .sender.
nameand addressl ' ' '
I We are not responsible or the opin
io s nr expressions f of our correspon-
A - i,.
dents.
f
Advertising, rates quoted upon Te-
Quest. , - ' . '
: -v''V K-;' "'-'-
Make all checks, drafts, and money
orders pay able .to Vrhe : Polk County
Neve. ' . ' - ' ' , " ' -'
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1914.
, GROW ALFALFA.
Mr. F. H. Hulscher, an extensive
grower of Alfalfa in the South West,
to is at present stopping-in Polk
County, has very kindly contributed
the following 'practical . suggestions
aboct growing alfalfa which we know
our enterprising farmers will be very
glad to read and fcarefully consider
for their own good.
He says: t : - 1 .
"Much interest is" being manifested
production of .Alfalfa through
a, , entire country and for the ben.
efit of our local farmers we give the
following information.
Alfalfa is richer in the fat and bone
producing qualities than any other
food and stock pastured in it give al
most unbelievable returns. . .
Many farmers thoughout the north
ern States have found it difficult to ob
tain a stand and have become discour
aged and made to believe that alfalfa
will not do well on their soil while
the truth is that; many methods were
used. . ' :y ; ,-
Alfalfa will , grow on almost any
kind of soil but it must be well drain
ed as alfalfa will not permit of stand
ing water,'-
A sandy soil or a sandy loam will
produce more and better alfalfa than
a heavy soil. -V 'vs;..
Land that has been cropped for
many years must be specially prepar
ed in order to obtain a perfect stand,
and the best method is to have the soil
analyzed by the state agricultural col
lege which .analysis may . show the
' need of phosphates or lime or both
land then, after adding these to the
soil, sow - a crop of cow peas in the
spring and turn this crop under when
near maturity. In the following Sep
tember, after a few cultivations to
keep the weeds out, sow the seed bv
drilling in tows nine --inches' apart.
The shmild h Inocculated with
the bateria of nitrogen which 'may -be
obtained by applying to the Depart,
tnent of Agriculture at i Washington
stating the amount of seed to be used.
The soil should be planted "not to
exceed one inch deep and by following
the above direction a perfect stand
should be obtained that would endure
a lifetime and need no further atten
t;cn but the harvesting? Alfalfa must
not be pastured the first year but after
that it affords fine pasture, ,f or hogs
?Qd should produce, two v thousand
Pounds per acre. During the last four
eeks before shipping the hogs should
fce finished on corn or preferably on
Peanuts, the hay being first cut and
n the hogs turned in and allowed
root the nuts. ; Hogs produced in
this way should return at least one
Wared and fifty, dollars, per acre.
There are at present one -"and one half
tlUlia acres in alfalfa in the United
States and Kansas has two thirds of
tQe: whole, the balance being disribut
'd throughout the country, nearly
cvery state having some. Theurkeo
fen variety should be -used in-this iec
as itiresists frost vr wlland
oes V require . as. much water, as
other kinds. We advise our farmers
f Invt'&tigate thi3 subject and wlll .be
eaued to advise any one contemplaji
;nG growine alfalfa ' - -
MAJOR 1T3I. E. STEOJiG DIED - '
FRIDAY DECEMBER 2etb; 1918.
After a very short V '-o3 Maj. Wm ,
E. Strong died at his home oil" Melrose
mrcie, irom pneumonia, at tne aavanc.
ed age of 69 years.' 1 ..A k . ;
For. many years. Maj. Strong had
been Notary Public In Tryoa where he
had by absolute accuracy and henesty
in Ms calling of civil engineer, estab
blished a reputation that stands today
a deserving monument td his memory,
more enduring than any granite shaft,
a reputation that will stand as a mod-,
el for young men following the profes
sion for years to come. ,He :.wili be
greatly missed in this' immediate vi
cinity prof esslonally as .well as ' so
cially. He was a member of the Con.
gregational church and an active work
er In welfare work of both church and
Bible teaching. - T ' T
'i He saw service in an Ohio regiment
during'the civil war, being wounded
in. the first skirmish, he ever partici-.
pated; in.. After -a. private funeral ser
vice at the house, interment was at' the
Tryon cemetary, Sunday' afternoon
Dec 29. ' ' i
A CARD OF THANKS.,
. Mrs. Strong and Mrs. Porter desire
to express appreciation for the many
kindnesses shown and messages . re
ceived at the1 time ot Jheir recent af
fliction, : '
HON. WM. J. BRYAN AT 1 RYOX. ,
As Southern train No 10 rolled jh to
Tryon station on Sunday evening, a
few Tryon gentlemen 'were ' on watch
for his honor Wm. J. Bryan who was
to be on that train on his way South.
As the train slowed into the station
Mr. Bryan was readily: recognized . at
his car window, and as those asscm-
bled .tiadeenionjUration.hft;pen
his window and with head and arm
out greeted tne assembled few; shook
hands with all and said many - very
pleasant things in greeting them, he
was given Tryon's good - wishes and
booklet and he expressed pleasure at
having had. occasion to .meet'thoso
he did; - -;
A happy exchange of greetings end
ed the interview as the train moved
Off. . - . " :"' '
THE LANIER CLUB'S NEW YEAR
RECEPTION. ,
The New-Year reception of the La
nier club at the Library Thursday af
ternoon was a very sociable gathering
of members, villagers and guests, . the
spirit of universal cordiality as mani
fested by tho ladies in charge seemed
to pervade the entire assemblage of
over one hundred people, resulting in
a most interesting, enjoyable reception.-
,-
, Music charmingly rendered by bur
own Tryon orchestra - enlivened' the
occasion,, and bountiful refreshments
served by a bevy of pretty girls round,
ed out a most complete well planned
and executed ; reception full of good
cheer and happiness as the day cele
brated. - " , ' - . ' . '
:
NEGRO MAKES FARMING PAY.
Starting YVh One Old Horse, Owns
V 10,000 Plantation.
Twenty-two years .. ago Jonas W,
Thompson, a' negro of Marlboro coun
ty, S.'C, began his career as a farmer
by,buying an old horse for $50.75 and
by-renting thirty acres of South, Car.
olina land for 1,400 pounds of lint
cotton. After four ' years of hard
work and close saving he was able .to
buy a mule' for $69 and also 67 acre3
of land. . Then he began Tenting and
working farms which belonged to
other men. ; Gradually he was able to
buy the land- he had ' been renting.
He also found it worth' bis while to
open a commissary. ' . ' .
Now ( Thomas lives In a twelve
room house and' employs on .Ws $f0
000. plantation j thirty-nine ; famlliea,
consisUng. of 189 men wome and
children,. He grows a variety of gar.
der truck and Taises his own horses,
mules, cows', and hogs. He "has re
ceived as much as $11,000 for his cot
alnnfc 400 bales of long
stanle. On an average he has saved
iMftOO.a' year for 1, twenty-two . years.
All that lie now has oa Ws fartn In Wa
own, "directly and indirectly, he af.
flrns.with Justifiable pride.. In a
Eigle -yew-?xe. tad borrowed of onn
local bak and repaid $23,000. . 'Good
creiiV 9 :'THas 6ay, Explains a
4
;
TRYON
.Mr; Stacy Sturges and sister are 'oc
cupying the Bultor house on the Ridge
; Miss lx -B.' Maddox the Home Mis
s)on worker among ' the " mountains,
is announced to speak at the Graded
School building next Sunday morning
at" eleven o'clock.
-iO:-
X
Information recently came to the
News: that: Mr. F. X Bomgarten wlw
has spent many winters in Tryon and
H quite well known here died on Sep
26th 1913 in St. Louis. '
:..s..v: .; :Or : e-n
v'yMrsi: Henry Acker has returned from
a trip to her old i home at FordsvUle;
Ky;,r her i father ;Mr,! Mason 1 4 Jones
came? back, with her and will make his
home here with her this winter, he fa
a hale and ? heartyold gentleman 6f
over 80 "years,- and is much pleased
vrith our Polk County climate. , :.:
' . c. r-:0:" f . ;.
Mr. H. A. McFee of Franklin, N. C.
is guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs?
R. T. McFee- of Godshaw Hill." . -1'
The - popular Lyceum : course of erir
tertainments .will this month ' present
another number date not yet positive'
ty decided upon. -There are four mor
numbers to be given during thisslseai
fon, among which are some very good
combinations. The Four Bostonianai
and The Boston Lyrics are two of.
them, which are best' of - their class
csnd are well known. . , ' V .
, The" city fire, ladders and truck ar
rived this week and now a voluntee?
fire company will be' organized at oncp
to handle : the " apparatus. Two com
panles may be organized, one for th'i
ladders and one for the chemical, en-
rlne -as they are two separate and die.
tmttuhbdii-; pfrtghtin
ATKINS-MORAN.
On Wednesday morning at the Epis
copal, church in Tryon, Nil C., Miss
Catherine AJ Moran, of Tryon and
Rev. J. N. Atkins of ShullsMlIs, N.
C, were married by Bishop Horner,
assisted by 'Rector Bowne, after . the
ceremony a wedding breakfast was
served at Oak Hall at which a dozen
or more guests participated. '!
-I-
LYNN.
The revival meetings hcTe still pro
gress, Miss Maddox . is an - interesting,
speaker. Have ' you heard her.
:0:' ; "j - - ' .
The Tryon Hosiery. Co.; will start
their plant Jan. 3rd, after two weeks'
stop.
: -p.
J. H. Jones of Lynn' is putting a
small stock . of ' groceiea in Tryon at
the Williamc market stand.
r:0: :
T. L. Rhodes . of . Campobello has
moved his familyto the Posey house.
:0: : . V
The school will start Monday on
the "Spring term. ;
:0;-
There . has " been two electric lights
installed on the macadam road and is
a great help. - '
:0:
Rev. Mr. Rankin filled his regular
appointment here Sunday night.
.y, :- - : - . - 7 - ' .
- "V.-",-, -'i.""' -' ;;' -' .' 1
GREEN RIYER.
J-- . . - Z'
Mrs. Frank Coxe and Miss Maude
with their guest, Miss Reaves, spent
the holidays in Asheville.
Mrs. C E. Gray from Rutherfordton
J spent the week-end with her mother,
Mrs. M. A. Camp. - .
Misses Julia and Lucy Abrams, Mar
garet Brian and Howard Brian , are ' at
heme from Saluda Seminary on : their
vacation. -. T '
; Miss Elizabeth Camp is at home for
the week on her vacation. Miss Camp
is, teaching the Green river school at
Poors Ford.' " ' . -
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Spurting, a
! daughter.
.Miss Winnie Moore is home from
the hospital We are glad. to see her
recovered
fair share of my success." New Yoik
Herald.. " - -
. ; ' : SAND-CLAY ROADS.
" Mecklenburg was the pioneer coun
ty In the use of the macadam but it
has been left to a number of other
counties to blaze the way In the use
ot the top-soil or the sand-clay type
of road. 'The latter has proved to be
cot only cheaper but more durable in
that it resists the action of the; auto-1
mobile and at the same time is more'
easily repaired when breaks occur in
its surface for any cause. Gaston'
has built many miles of elegant sand-;
clay or top.soil road, such as the well-!
known New Hope road extending out
of Gastonia, and also Cleveland looun
ty. Rutherford has" built some of this
road and also Cabarrus and Union.
Anson has not been backward nor has
Richmond. It is safe assertion that
three-fourths of the road construction
i nthe State at this time is of the top
soil vahey, with practically litle U
9-ny lixucadarh going down, save in
those counties where macadam work
bas been done, and where it is absoi
lutely necessary to continue it fv the
- , ....
Quanty Versus Quality.
mi . "5 .
mere is - only one tendency that
mifiut oe reierrea to in connection
with this article and that is the pos
sible desire on the part of some com
missioners to sacrifice durability and
diligence and cost of construction to
mileage. In other words, that quan
tity may be sacrificed to quality. Th
flaying out of the road is a mostv ei.
sentiar detail and should be done by
a thoroughly capable and experienced
engineer. No grade should be allow-
fSiL'W, - tn4jeveni3bj&JJ
should be tolerated only in exception
al cases. f The old . adage '' that thjj
clain is no. stronger than at its weak'
est link is rue also, of roads. The
hauling capacity of a team is frequen
ly cut in, half by reason of one severe
grade in an otherwise fine stretch of
road, mayre 20 miles in length
CONVICTS ON ROADS.
;
Doctor Prat Speaks Before Aniericati
Road Builders' Association..
The practicability of using convicts
in the . construction of public roads
was discussed at today's session of the
American Road Builders' Association.
Several speakers agreed that inmate3
of prisons should be so employed, both
from .moral and economical stand
points. Joseph Hyde Pratt, State ge.
clogist of North Carolina," introduced
the subject of conv ict labor in a paper
in which he advocated that prisoners
in penitentiaries be divided into three
classes and that they be given an op
portunity by good conduct, to reach the
first class. He favored the employ
ment of prisoners in the construction
of public roads: "Let the convicts
build the roads," and the roads will
rebuild; the; convicts." 'lr0Zt'
.. Rev. Frank Moore,1 superintendent
of the State Reformatory at Rah way.
N. J., opposed the project
"I do not believe it is fair to com.
pel the prisoners ; to work outside,"
he said. "Some men would regard
employment as prisoners in the pub
lic view as to . humiliating that the
harmful - effrct might never be over
come.' v "
"I also am opposed to any State ex
ploiting convicts or making money out
of their labor. When a State exploits
the ' convict, it makes a permanent
criminal out of him."
' Doctor Pratt's paper was endorsed
by P. St J. Wilson, State Highway
Commissioner of Virginia, and to?
Samuel Hill, of : Seattle, president of.
the Road Builders Association
POLK'S COTTON CROP
. , 1912 1913.
There .viz 1,675 bales of cotton
ginned in Polk county from the crop
or 1913, prior to Dec. 13, as compar
ed with 3,399 bales ginned prior to Dec
13th, 1912, an increase of 276 bales in
1913..;. ;
; Most of all the ", other beautiful
things in life comes by twos and
thnes, by dozens and hundreds. Plen
ty or rosea,. stars, Euntete, rainbows',
brothers and sistere aunts and . cou
sins, but only one mother in all tiw
wide' world. Kate Douglas .Wiggin.
OUR SCHOOLS.
M
Polk County Superintendent,
E W. S. Cobb, Colnmbns, N. C.
THREE METHODS OF TEACHING
READING. .
In teaching reading there are just
tvo ends to be sought: (1) to make
the learner automatic and quick in the
recognition of word and letter forms
and values; (2) to secure his interest
in the content, the spiritual element,
of the printed forms. Under the first
Is included the mechanics of reading
distinct and clear articulation and
correct pronunciation, as well as skill
In instant interpretation of words and
letters. In the second i involved the
cnaracter-growth of the learner, his
introduction to an enjoyment of truth,
goodness, beautyy as seen by others
and expresseci by them in the worlds
literature.
Both these aims must be kept stead
ily in view by the primary teacher;
for, although the pupils ability to re
cognize, promptly and accurately,
printed and written words, is the niaia
thing to secure at first, yet at the
earne time this recognition is greatly
facilitated by the. feeling of interest
aroused by the content of the words.
Learning to read cannot, therefore, be
a purely mechanical process, even in
the first lesson; if it were, then any.
arrangement of words would serve, in
the first exercises, without reference
to ,the sense or nonsense expressed.
But it is becoming more and more
clear that from the very beginning the
words used to make a reading exer
cise for learners must express thought
or interest to them.s . s
, The two ends of. primary reading
the mechanical and the spiritual are
auxins tne cniia to convert nis ear-vo-cabularyInto
; an -eye-vocabulary,-;
that is the best method ; by which the
learner may come to see in printed
and written words the same meanings
that these words carry when spoken. -When
the pupil enters school at six
years, of age, he already. has a vocab
ulary, which he understands and uses
fr eely. of f rom 500 to 1000 words de
pending on his home environment
But these -words re recognized only
through the ear,, as they are spoken,
and they constitute, therefore, an ear
vccabulary. The. first aim of the
teacher is to enable the child quickly
and . accurately to get the meaning of
these words through the eye. This
fundamental and essential aim seems
sometimes to be lost sight of, even
when the right ways'of reaching it are
used. l-'' ;';.."
The usual ways of teaching primary
reading are either synthetic or analy
tic. It seems to me plain that time
spent in attempting. to. bring the pupil
into the .new world of reading along
the synthetic road alone, must result
in great loss of time. But along this
road, almost all teachers are trying to
lead their pupils.
The synthetic method has : two
formsroW'tne Old aT b c, grind; the
other the phonic method. The latter
is the better of the two, because it
teaches j , the sounds of the leters
their vocal values, and thus enables a
well drilled pupil to pronounce with
considerable readiness, as soon as he
sees them, written and printed words
which he has not before seen. The a,
b, c, method teachds only the names
of the letters, and leaves the learner
to get the different sounds by any
lucky chance he can. - r x -'y"
',It would be a waste of space to dis.
cuss the teaching of the alphabet as , a
way of teaching- reading, except as a
matter of pedagogical history, were it
not "for the regretable; fact that there
arL teachers in Polk county today who
do not attempt to use any other way.,
Briefly the a, b, c, method begins
by teaching the; child his' letters and
after he learns them at sight he Is
drilled upon spelling combinations of
them in syllables, as sub, ab ; u-b, ub ;
etc. When this' sort of thing has gone
on for some time,, the learner is sup
posed to be able, to spell monosylla
bics words, such as cat; rat, bat and
tie next step' after that is' to read.
- No wonder that pitiful thousands
bate grown up without cvat comirir
into the rightful heritage of enjoyment
of good reading, when they -had to
travel toward it along so torturous
cad torturing Toad. t , -.-The
method is uninteresting be
catise there is nothing In a letter, a
COLUMBUS.
Mr. "Gurtis Shields of St. George, S.'
" -A.
C, isVhere spending Xmas with his
parents. - N
Miss May Mills. is visiting relatives
in Spartanburg this week." .
Mr. ? Herman . Walker- is visitinsr
friends in Greens creek this week. I
Mr.iYates Arledge who Is attending
college atWake J. Forestalso sister.
Miss: Minnie whevhv teaching at Forest
City, is spending the holidays V with,
their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Ax-
lcdge.J '
Miss Hattie Jackson of Spartan
burg spent Xmas day with her par
ents. here. - ,
Sheriff Lynch Hill and family are5
spending their Xmas
ton. : ,
in Rutherford-
Mr. Pat Hampton of Atlanta, was in
town Sunday, visiting. v
Mr. L. H. Cloud is, making prepara
tions to. move in the Hampton store
building.,- v : . .
Attorney J. E. Shipman and family
of Hendersonville. are here visiting
friends this week. ' "
Mrs. J. R. Smith who"lia3 been sick
with lagrippe for some time is slowly
improving. ' : "
Borned to Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Cloud
Dec. 18th, 3 girl. .
Miss Ola Mills of Spartanburg spent
the 25th here with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. K T. Mills.. 'J
Mr. Grover Hutcherson of-Washing-ton..'C.
spent a few days here with
Ms4pentsftrX nd,,Mrs.araes
Hutcherson, returning Saturday. ... .
Misses Ada and Ola . Walker were,
given a very pleasant surprise by
the young people nexe Friday night,
when they came all unexpected to- be
entertained. Nevertheless everybody
seemed , to have a good time. Mrs.
Eli Shields and Son Curtis made
some very fine music on the piano
and violin which was greatly enjoyed
by alt Those, present were Misses
Bessie, Ethel, Mattie Lee, and Johnie
Mae Jackson, . Marie Burgess, Odessa
Mills, Minnie Arledge and Corieaii
Shields;, Messrs. Yates and Roy; Ar
ledge,' Austin and Edgar 1 Newman,
John Gilbert," Marion Mills, Frank
Elliott and 'E. BB. Cloud. .
mere symbol, to touch a childs ex
perience and so to quicken his ' cur-
iosity. The letters are meaningless
to him, they ha,ve no content and car
ry no idea. . , ' -
The method is unnatural genericaL
ly, because the childs naturaL proc
esses are analytic; specifically, be.
fhHd pvftf learned to talk h
VW U k Vf V- - .. -
naming his letters first, and reading
aloud is simply talking from the print
ed page. . ... ... f , . . ;.--.
Finally it is a ivaato of time and
energy, of time because in the ; tlmo
used in learning the alphabet and to
drawl dullythe spelling senseless
syllables and; disconnected words the
child could learn to read; of energy,
because whatever the child is forced
to do without interest dissipates en-.
niinil does nol learn to read, after all,
by the alphabet plan. For example,
when. he has named the letters c-a-t '
u - n-rAor ha rantiot ; unaided.
pronounce the combination, for there
Is nothing in the names of the letters
IVilv entrjroct , What, the
UXCli. UUU1U uusmui; ""f5C3M" "
... ... . . - - y- r, - " . :. - -
words vocal value is. , ' .
. Another synthetic plan teaches the
sounds of the letters first, instead of
their names, and drills the learner on
the sounds and their symbols' until
he can readily , pronounce . familiar
words. ' But the same objections ap
ply to thls as to the a, b, c method,
and withj nearly equal force, altho
more interesting. The fondamental
objectionto mese xww iueuiuo v.
they are synthetic' Unless the teach
ing be very skillful, the child taught
by either plan wfllbe api?do but
littte more, during the first year, than
half call, half spell tho woras m mo.
primer-and that -Is not only reading,
but makes learning to read , more dif
ficult than It pondT otherwise? bo.
4t shall discuss the analytic method
E. W. S. COBB) Co. Supt Ed. ' .
,. -t--:X J