Newspapers / Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, … / Aug. 8, 1930, edition 1 / Page 3
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Around Our TOWN Shelby SIDELIGHTS By RENN DRUM. IN A COMMUNICATION to the Charlotte Observer. G. F. Ivey, of HicRtiry, becomes a bit Hied with an article in The Saturday Evening Post which refers to the pioneer settlements In North Carolina and to a region in the State known as •Blank Ankle”. Not having read the article, this eolyum is not inclined to enter a controversy with the Hickory man. However, we do believe that there could be a section in Tarhcelia known as "Blank Ankle", and we do it know that there are certain moun (tain sections in the State where citizens still retain many of the customs and habits of pioneer days. First of all, it is a krjown fact lhat a score or so miles from Shel | by. In the South Mountain region, just a bit west of the highway which links Shelby and Ivey's town of Hickory, there Is a mountain known as “Dirty Ankle". If the Ob server contributor takes exception to a section known as “Blank An kle” what will he say about one known as "Dirty Ankle”, a section not over two or three hours drive * by motor from his home? This de partment has attempted for several years to learn the origin of the name, and has failed, jugs as Tombstones One* statement in the Saturday Evening Post article which the Hickory man objects to is that which says "jugs are used as tomb stones in the Blank Ankle section and the people have never passed the pioneer stage.” There may be some truth in that. This eolyum admits that it has , not seen jug tombstones. Howbeit there is a plausible explanation for that, perhaps wrong and perhaps right. In many mountain and iso lated cemeteries in this State there are few. If any, tombstones. In the remote rural sections the relatives of the departed cling to the custom of keeping living flowers and shrubs about the graves of then departed kin. Often in these ■ graveyards far removed from the modern whirl one sees stone and glass jars on the graves, often at the head and foot of the mounds. These jars were and are used to place flowers in so that water in the jugs may keep them fresh for a time. As the years pass the habit v. of placing flowers in the jugs at in > lervals is forgotten. Gradually the * jugs sink slightly into the mound, and there they remain. Perhaps the visitor from the north who wrote the article was not accustom ed to the practice and tftought the jugs served as tombstones. As to the fact that there are • citizens in the hinterlands of the s State who have not passed the pio Y r.oer stage and retain habits and , customs of the Revolutionary per iod, why go up in the air over that? It isn't anything to be ashamed of. Maude Minnlsh Sutton, the writ er. learned several years ago that folks songs and ballads of the old days could be learned in the moun U tain sections of North Carolina bet * ter than anywhere else. There the * words of the songs are retained just 4 as they were when America was ' first settled. One may stop at a small mountain home, far removed from the main arteries of travel, for a drink of water from a gourd dipper and while there hear oH English words and phrases never ‘ heard any more in what some may call the "civilized” regions. There. * too, the antique hunters have found « the best prizes of their collections. Anyone who doubts these state merits mignt nna it very entertam ing and educational to take a week's Jaunt through these regions with Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Suttle, of Shelby, who have traveled the en tire section building up their re markable collection of antiques Not many months ago a local music store delivered a radio to a , mountain home not so far from the "Dirty Ankle” section referred to above. Three miles was as near as an automobile could get to the home of the purchaser, and a sled with a rope, used in block-and tackle manner, was necessary to get the radio up the mountain slope to the house. Say that there Is no region In North Carolina almost out of touch ’ with the modern world, yet there Is. Nearly every year this paper pub lishes an item about visitors from the mountain section who haven't been to town in a score of years. Shelby to them is a metropolitan city with all the wonders a Shelby man expects to find in New York or Paris. Charlotte is way off at the end of the world. Just this year an old lady from the South Moun tain section was in Shelby for the first time in a half century. She wondered wherp they put all the automobiles at night, heard her first radio, and saw her first build ing over two stories high. She wouldn't take a chance on listening to the talkies, but she talked per fect English—so perfect that a modern slang spreader found it hard to understand her conversa tion. Why be ashamed of these people? They're primitive, yes, so.primitive and different from towns boosted by chambers of commerce that they still put honesty and 'tendin’ to one s own business above everything else. There are many things about North Carolina that North Caro linians do not know, and many sec tions they have not visited CONSIDERATE. I'.H? The contribution today come:, from a reader who does not with hold his name, but prefers, if you please, that it not be published. “Say, you Rnunder-aboul lown. here’s another one for the books about Shelby. This city, or town as you please to call it, has one of the most considerate, thoughful bootleggers that I’ve ever encountered. Last week I purchased a pint from him. Tied about the neck of the short ivory short! pint bottle was four packages of Stanback headache powder. No one knows how I appreciated the free package next morning. But isn’t that a new wrinkle for bootleggers—give you a kirk and a headache, and then something for the headache all for a dol dollar?” Bet. the brunettes about. Shelby got all bristled up because it, was just a blonde girl who won the Galveston bathing beauty contest this week. ■ Among other news Items of the day it, is noticed that, wives of Con victs out in Idaho are running for office. In Cleveland county there are usually a couple dozen candi dates every election, but there are 60 convicts put at the gang camp and if the wives of all of them de cide to try. the Idaho stunt next election, the county may have to create a few new offices to take care of ’em. THE SILVER LINING Says another of Shelby's alleged wise-cjBckers who wants to help fill this space: “If Mr. Hoover is feel ing the pinch of these hard times as we are, I bet he will be tickled pink whTn he's nothing but an ex president and can get $2 for every word he writes as docs Calvin ” If as many people are looking for jobs this Fall as appear to be seek ing work now there’ll be no need of importing Eastern Carolina pick aninnies to do the cotton picking in Cleveland county, no matter how big the crop may be. STAND BY, PLEASE: Next week the conductor of this trolley o'type wfll take his annual siesta. But here’s the pleasing por tion of the announcement for readers: The colvum will not vaca tion. W. Speight Beam, the bar rister. will unleash some of his words which would have puzzled Webster and some of his Parisian phrases to fill one colyum. Dewitt Quinn, the apothecary shop pro prietor, will let flow some of his Irish wit to fill another. And the hope is that Parson Hayes will find It convenient to plug up another with his popular after-dinner hu mor. Then It is possible that T. \V. Hamrick, now vacationing: in 'Fris co, will lend a hand. also. And for the time being—Selalii Virginia Senator Calls Tariff Act Vicious One of the most effective wavs of relieving the depressed condition of business and agriculture would be to revise the “vicious” rates of the Grundy tariff act, according to Senator Swanson (above), Democrat, from Virginia. The Senator declared that world mar kets are being steadily closed to American trade. Uhtematlonal -Newsreel.) Wallace. Idaho — Two women whose husbands are serving prison sentences for violating the Federal prohibition laws appeared to have been nominated to succeed their imprisoned mates in county offices here. On the face of primary election returns Mrs. R. E Weniger, wife of the former county sheriff, received the Democratic nomination to suc ceed her husband, Mrs. W. H. Her rick, wife of the former county as sessor, won the Republican nomina tion for assessor, registering a large plurality over the Democratic can didates. Walter Hendrickson, who was ap pointed sheriff after Weniger's res ignation, will oppose Mrs. Weniger in the Fall election. Herrick, who also served as mayor of Wallace, and Weniger were sen tenced to McNeil Island penitenti ary upon being convicted of con spiracy to violate the dry law and collecting fees from bootleggers. The revenue thus obtained was used for municipal purposes. Herrick and Weniger asserted the town was “wet" in sentiment and that the system of collecting fines saved the municipality from finan cial difficulty. * I HE General Electric Refrigerator is not an expense. A in the molt modest circumstances can afford one. The General Electric Refrigerator hat the money-savin* Monitor Topi * The Monitor Top operates the General Electric Refrigera tor at a cost of but a few cents a day. A cash payment of a very few dollars will put one in your kitchen within forty-eight hours. GENERAL ^ELECTRIC ALL>8TEEt RBPRRflERATOR »M ut nt ibo CrtnttmJ uprogram, krosJtmit epory SgH/rday Lirrrrr •• moatm-u^dr S. ft C artwork. SOUTHERN REFRIGERATIOr Charlotte Distributor r Robert C. Hord .1 PHONE 805 SHELBY, N. C. More People Kill Selves Suicide Increases in Certain Sea sons and Under Certain Conditions Why do people kill themselves? Why do more of them kill them selves In certain seasons of the year than in others, and more in hard times? Giving the fact found by the vital statistics bureau In this State, Miss Nell Battle Lewis ans wers these questions in the Sunday newspapers. In May. 1030, a month of 31 days, there were 30 suicides in North Car olina. approximately oil" a day. In June there were 26. During the first six months of 193(1 more people in this state killed themselves than during any 12 months from 1914 through 1925. If the present suicide rate continues here, the total for this year will be decidedly in excess of that for 1920. the state's largest up to that date, which was 214 cases. The most obvious explana tion of this marked increase in self destruction is the present economic depression. During hard times sui cides always increase. One observes in the suicide sta tistics for North Carolina during the first half of 1930 a feature which has long been consptcious in sta tistics of this kind everywhere, that is, the fact that there is a seasonal increase in this form of death in the late spring and early summer. Thpre were 24 suicides in this state in January of this year, 20 in Feb ruary, 17 in March. 17 in April, with the peak for the year coming in May with 30. followed by 26 In June. The total number is 134 Total of 2,024 Cases From 1914 when statistics of thir, kind were first recorded in North Cai’olina. through June, 1930. there were 2,024 cases of suicide in this state. Of the 1,890 cases recorded from 1914 through 1929 there were 1,658 whites, 229 negroes and three Indians. The yearly average for all races is 118 plus: for the whites, 103 and a fraction; and for the ne groes 14 plus. * Ordeal nr Civilization Suicide is as old as history, per haps older. It seems to be one of the tragic by-products of civiliza tion, and as “the ordeal of civiliza tion" has increased in complexity and strain, suicide also has increas ed. In “Suicide. An Essay on Com parative Statistics.” Henry Morselli says: "The certainty of the figures and regularity of the progressive increase of suicide from the time when statistics were first collected until now is such and so great even in respect to countries different in race, religion and number of In habitants, that it is not possible to explain it otherwise than as an ef fect of that universal and complex influence to which we give the name, Civilization.’’ General Facts Statistics collected during the past 70 years have revealed certain gen eral facts which are true to suicide everywhere. Two of these have al ready been mentioned, the seasonal increase of this form of death each year in late spring and early sum mer, and the greater proportion of men than women who kill them selves. Some writers hold that the seasonal rise is due to physiological changes resulting in low vigor fol lowing what corresponds to a period of hibernatiort. The fact that the number of male suicides is three or four times great er than the number of suicides by women may have two causes, the fact that women In general have greater powers of endurance— though no more courage—than men. and the fact that until recent ly most of the heaviest responsibili ties of life were borne by men. Hence, the new freedom by means of which more and more women are engaging In stress-producing activi ties would suggest a probable event ual increase in the proportion of female suicides: “Hard Times” a Factor Suicide has an economic corres pondence, and the. rate rises during “hard times'' such as the present when unemployment also has In creased During wars the number of suicide t decreases. According to oil" writer, this is due to “the great opportunity for one type or anothrr of war service, the Increased pros perity gntong .wage-earners, and the deflection along more useful lines of the interests of morbidly Introspec tive individuals.” An additional reason for the decline In the suicide rate during wars very likely is that many potential, suicides become soldiers and are killed by the ene my faster than, ordinarily they would have killed themselves. Another general feature of suicide Is the fact that the rate Is constant ly higher In cities, especially In very large cities, than in rural com munities. Urban life is more com plex than life In the country, and also it may be true that persons who nre predisposed to suicide tend to congregate In cities. The fact that, in North Carolina during one year (1928) the suicides were di^ vided equally between town and country does not disprove this, first, because there are no very large Cities in this, state; and second, be cause figures for one year only are not comprehensive enough for com parison. Why l>o They Do It? Why do people kill themselves? Apparently, tor a variety of reasons. The newspapers recently carried an account of an old man In Nebraska who killed himself, It was said, be cause of the terrific heat. Soon after the last’ Presidential election a passionate supporter of the Dem ocratic nominee took his own life ostensibly because A1 Smith was not elected. Recent, suicide in South Carolina left a note saying, “To hell with Hoover prosperity!’’ Obviously, the reasons given in these cases were merely secondary. The primary cause was that which underlies the overwhelming ma jority ofTuieides, namely, a psych ological constitution which cannot stand up under stress. The suicide may be definitely Insane, and It es timated that at least a third of them are. ComparlsOffrae^.statistics on insanity in North Carolina with those on suciide in this state should prove interesting. Apparently, the majority of those who kill them selves are persons of neurotic or psychopathic temperament which produces a high degree of instabil ity. "The burden of proof in each individual case rests upon those who claim normality for the sui cide," according to one authority. For one reason or another life, which even for the stoutest-hearted is often “a grim struggle,” becomes too much for the suicide and he re treats from a situation which he feels himself unable to master and takes flight In self-destruction. Eskridge News VOL. 2 AUG. 8, 1930 NO. 22 The honest value and reliabil ity of the Mew Model A Ford Gar is emphasized after the first 25, 000 miles of service. All cars run and perform good while they are new but the quality of materials and workmanship will show up very clearly after 25,000 miles ol continued service. Young Husband: “I can't stand this suspense any longer.” Doctor: “Calm yourself, my dear sir. I’ve brought thousands of babies Into the world and nev er lost a father yet." It is expected that a new car will drive good and operate eco nomically while it is new but the true value of the car is determin ed on the performance, economy and upkeep costs after the fhst 25,000 miles. Mr. J. W. Hartgrove, Shelby N. C„ popular Rural Mail Carrier, has purchased a New Model A Ford Tudor Sedan which he will use on his mail route. Another tribute to the reliability of the Model A Ford as the mail must be delivere devery day regardless of weather or conditions. "1 had a funny sinking feelihg when Jack tried to \tiss n.e " "Hadn't, you ever ocen kissed before?” "Not by a submarine sailor.'’ Auburn stenog: "Why the deuce do I struggle with this piffling job?" Blonde Stenog: "Don't be dis couraged; thlnlt of the mighty oak. It was once a nut like you." We delivered Mr, T. C. Brack-, ett, R-4, Shelby, N. C. a New Model A Ford Town, Sedan. Ask an owner of a Model A Ford of the performance and the economy of his car. All of the large corporations that operate a fleet of cars and trucks heartily endorse the Model A Ford. Swift and Company own and operate 8500 Cars and Trucks and all of them are Model A Fords. Mr. W, A Williams, R-l Lat timore, N. C., is the proud own er of a New Model A Tudor Se dan, ‘‘What time do you get up In the summer?” “As soon as the first ray of the sun comes in at my window.” "Isn’t that rather early?” “No; my room faces the West.” We delivered Mr. John Camp bell, Shelby, N. C , his third Mod el A Ford Tudor Sedan. Mr. Campbell is very enthusiastic over his Model A Fora Car. Your neighbor drives s Model A. Ask him about it. CHAS. L. ESKRIDGE Shc*ll Be Princess Flora Al Asbnry Park Fete Janet Viol* InnOa of Lo* An gles, CaL, will be Prinema Plan, one of Queen TKanie’s lnHw-b waiting, at the thirty-ninth annual national baby parade an Ancnet 27. She i* a rrarfoate of the WeaU lake School for Girls in Berm-ley Hills, Calif. CI*t*raatt«*aI tttmm —1> Census Will Change Congressional Plan As Result of Reapportlonment tin der New Census A'arious States Will !>*e. Gain Washington — Dividing up 43ft seats in the House of Representa tives so each State will have an 'e'fttiitable share of members on the basis) of its 1(1.10 population occupied Kperts of the census bureau. The secretary of commerce has been directed by Congress to sub mit on the first dRy of the Decem ber session of a compilation of the population of the States and the number of members to which each is entitled under the method known as “major fractions.” That method, roughly, applies the principle of counting as a unit, any remainder more than half and the dropping of a remainder of less than one-half. Twenty-Six Seats Involved Application of this method to the first complete preliminary census figures indicated today 26 seats would be affected in the coming reapportiohment Twenty States probably will lose one or more mem bers. Ten States are expected to gain the 26 seats. Legislatures in the, States affected will have to re arrange their congressional districts before the election of 1932. The first actual census total, which still is subject to final re Here’s A Touch Of Some Real Tragedy Birmingham, Ala.—D. T. H. Wllllam!i was completing a cae sarian operation In a hospital here last wrek. Turning suddenly to Dr. R. M. Coston, he, gasped. "Doctor, take rare of my patient,” and fell dead upon the floor. Dr. Coaton completed the op eration without delay and later In the day the mother and her newly born daughter were re ported as "doing well.” vision by the census bureau. Showed r(-apportionment figures somewhat different from those calculated by tho House census committee before reapportlonmrnt taw was adopted. More Praise Given Cleveland Officials _ Rutherford County News. Mr. A. E. Cline, chairman of the board of county commissioners of Cleveland county announced last week that every Item of expense Cleveland county has will be pub lished monthly. Mr. Cline and his board are to be highly commended for tills move. The taxpayers have a right, to know where their money goes and what It goes Tor. There should be no “secrets” In operating a government, whether It be city, county or state and we commend the example of Cleveland to the other counties of the state. If people knew just where their money went, they should be willing to pay their I axes promptly, vm 2V2 Cents in the Dollar Not Wall Street's idea of money making Why has A4P more customers than any other grocer on earth? . . . “It sells for cash at the lowest price possible,” answers The Business Week, a magazine that studies, business methods. And why are A & P’s prices so low? ... “It buys direct from original producers, and makes every known short cut in distribution,” says .The Busi ness Week. Then, not satisfied with other people’s say-so, Business Week digs into the official records of A & P's sales and profits, and by a simple sum in arithmetic gets the rest of the story—namely, that A * P keeps only 2/2 cents of every dollar taken over its counter. “Two-and-a-half cents profit is not Wall Street’s idea of something to capitalize,” says Busi ness Week, explaining Wall Street’s complete sepa ration from so large a business enterprise as A & P. But it is A & P’s idea of fair treatment of the housewife. OTHER A & P. NEWS ON PAGE EIGHT 0™T ATLANTIC & PACIFIC M«re than a Million and a Half see it the very first day THE EIGHT AS Bilik BUILDS R Over 1,500,000 people visited Buick showrooms on Saturday, July 26, to see The Eight as Buick Builds It... the greatest reception ever accorded an eight cylinder car. s Bona fide orders for these new Buick Eights totaled 7000 before the car was presented—a greater volume of business than any single month's sales of any other Eight* ever built. And within the first five days, this record volume of orders had doubled. e There are four series, in four price ranges, including one series priced fully $200 lower than last year’s Buick Six. It is the world’s lowest prieed Valve-in Head Straight Eight! BUICK MOTOR COMPANY, FLINT, MICHIGAN Division of Central Motare Corporatien CANADIAN FACTORIES • M.LAXJGHlIN-BinCK. OSHAVA. ONTARIO FOUR SERIES TH35T MogUtraHon fifty* by R.. L. Polk «uf Company J. LAWRENCE LACKEY Dealer Shelby, N. C WHE!f BETTER AUTOMOBILE* ARB BUILT . , . BUICK WILL BP|I,P T»*M
Shelby Daily Star (Shelby, N.C.)
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Aug. 8, 1930, edition 1
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