Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / May 5, 1983, edition 1 / Page 9
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Weekly Perspective Other views F ree enterprise is necessary By JOHN SLEDGB N.C. rim Bum Mmttn America has less than aeven percent at the vorld'i population, yet we are Mid to have over SO percent of the world'i material benefits. The reaaon for this is that so many have worked so hard under a free en terprise system, characterised by a tree market, the profit motive, and individual initiative. A nationwide survey not long ago revealed that less than four percent of Americans believe free enterprise has anything to do with their per tonal freedom. Yet, freedom without self-discipline just won't work. Free people caa get spoiled, demanding more and more (or less and less. Americans need to understand that their real needs are met, supported and financed by businesses and commerce ? not by government. It is absolutely Incredible that Americans nationwide believe the average profit of U.S. business and industry is more than 33 percent. Students think that it is over 48 percent while the real figure is less than five percent. Unfortunately, this Incredible misunderstanding is in creasing rather than decreasing. The politics of buying votes by attacking profits is not in the best interests of our free enterprise system. "Profit" is not a dirty word. Rather it is the very basis of our system ? the most successful ever devised to build a strong prosperous way of life such as we enjoy. We Americans need to be aware of what we have and what we may lose if we forsake our individual and in dependent spirit. Bad news always travels fast When Ann Kent of Perquimans heard what happend to her mother and brother In 1673 (and bad news always travels), she must have gasped in horror and disbelief. Possibly word of the tragedy and its absurd aftermath reached her simultaneously, through whatever traveler could bring report or letter the 500 miles from Portsmouth on Rhode Island. It would have been a mercy if the news had come late, after Ann bore her sixth daughter on May 10, 1673. ? The death of Ann's mother was : terrible enough, but the fate of her . brother was as ridiculous as it was ; atrocious. Such news to Ann at the wrong time could have jeopardized her child's life. . Since moving to Perquimans with ! her husband Thomas Kent over five ; years before, Ann Cornell Kent had probably heard little news from her far-off mother, Rebecca Briggs Cornell. Rebecca Briggs had been baptized in the London parish of St. James Clerkewnell on October 25, 1600. By 1623 she had married Thomas Cornell of Saffron Walden in Essex, and about fifteen years later had come across the ocean to settle in Boston. By 1641, Thomas Cornell had settled among the religious refugees in Portsmouth, and had soon become constable and ensign. His restlessness had reasserted itself, and he had joined the Englishmen permitted by "their high mightinessess' to settle in New Amsterdam. Cornell's stay amont the Dutch had been short lived, for the Indians had massacred part of his family. He had returned to Portsmouth, prospering before his death about 1656. His widow Rebecca might have expected to end her days peacefully, but dissatisfaction dwelt with her. Once Rebecca had been heard to remark, after chasing pigs in her orchard, that she was weak and helpless and thought about stabbing herself to be rid of her trouble. On the night of February 8, 1673, Rebecca sat before the fire smoking her pipe alone. Presently her grandson came to ask whether she would have some milk boiled for supper. Seeing fire on the floor of the dark room, the boy went off to fetch a candle. Soon the whole family discovered a horrible sight: Rebecca, her clothes and body horribly burned. It was obvious the 73-year old Rebecca had nodded off, dropping the pipe which led to her accidental death. However, her brother John Briggs told the authorities, Rebecca ap peared to him in a dream crying, "See how I was burnt with fire." Upon this phantom foolishness was built a charge that Rebecca's son Thomas, the last person to see her alive, had set her on fire. Incredibly, Thomas Cornell was convicted and hanged, in one of the sorriest miscarriages of justice in Rhode Island history, Unfortunately, this was not poor Ann Kent's last family tragedy, for a son-in-law and a grandson would be massacred by Indians along the Neusae in North Carolina some forty years hence. I Posing for prom polaroids. 400th celebration presents opportunity for fun , revenue July 13, 1984 will be a very special day in Perquimans County and for North Carolina. It's a day I am looking forward to with great anticipation and I hope everyone will feel the same. July 13. 1984 is the 400th an niversary of the English colonization of America. The celebration of our English heritage will begin on that day. Former U.S. Senator Sam Ervin has said that this was one of history's greatest events ? that the English settled this country and not the Spanish ? that we inherited English traditions of government and not the Spanish. Anyway, the four year event promises much celebration and many exciting events that hopefully, will awaken and rekindle interest and appreciation for America's history. Serving as a kick-off for Perquimans' part in the celebration was a public forum, held Sunday afternoon at the Courthouse. Two main events were discussed for Perquimans County ? a statewide Quaker meeting in 1964 to be held at the Newbold White House. This will com memorate the first Quaker meeting held in Perquimans County. Quakers from throughout the state and country will come into Perquimans County for the event. A baseball camp, tentatively scheduled in August 1984 at Camp Cale, will feature Jim "Catfish" Hunter as an instructor and will attract youth from all over North Carolina. North Carolina legislators have been invited to gather at the Newbold-White House to enact legislation to commemorate the early state government meetings held at the house. Captitalizing on our waterfront was an idea presented at the meeting. Also suggested was an outdoor historical drama at Missing Mill Park. The statewide celebration will feature a cruise across the ocean, led by Governor James Hunt, to Plymouth, England, where a plaque will be erected in honor of the 400th. A visit from England's royal family to Dare County is ex pected. Although the Queen has declined, it is speculated that the royal visitor will be either Prin cess Diana or Prince Andrew. The 400th is definitely going to be a big deal and the Perquimans committee, in charge of planning and organizing events, hopes that the community will get involved in a big way. It's going to take a lot of people and a lot of organization in order to make it successful. All civic groups, churches and agencies have been encouraged to get involved ? total involvement of the community is going to be important. And if we plan well and get organized, hopefully Perquimans County can cash in on the tourists, the publicity, the excitement, and the spirit of the 400th anniversary celebration of our English heritage. Looking back 20 YEARS AGO By VIRGINIA WHITE TRANSEAU HERTFORD VOTERS TO HAVE NINE CANDIDATES SEEKING OFFICE IN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON APRIL ?: Hertford voter* will have a election of nine candidates to choose from when they go to the polls here on Monday, April 29, to select a mayor and four com missioners. Candidates seeking office are: V.N. Darden, seeking re election to the mayor's office and opposing him is Emmett Landing. For the four seats as Town Com missioners W.A. (BUly) White and Henry C. Sullivan both seeking re election on the board. Other can didates are John Beers. Willie F. Ainaley, J.W. Dillon, Erie Haste, Jr., aadC.C. Winslow. FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS ATTRACTS CAPACITY CROWD IN COURT HOUSE SATURDAY: "Perquimans First One Hundred Years", a historical drama, was presented Saturday night to an over flow crowd at the Perquimans County Court House. The drama was a series of tableaux, based on old records and documents found in the Court House, such as the first deed on record in Carolina, that of the sale of land to George Durant by Kilcocanen, King of the Yeopim Indians in March, lttl. Other scenes included the first Justice of the Peace Commission and Apprentice Bond, a land grant from the eight Lords Proprietors to William Barcllff, the first suit in a Court of Chancellery. THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY i # Published Every Thursday By Advance Publ., Elizabeth City Vol T. Short Editor Jdne.B. Williams Advertising Manager Pat Mansfield Circulation Manager NEWS AND ADVERTISING DEADLINE 5t00 P.M. MONDAY Subscription RatMt Om Year ? 7.50 in county ? *8.50 out of county P.O. Box 277 Hertford, N.C. 27944 Facing South a syndicated column voices of tradition in a chanuinu reuion GRETHEL, Ky. - "I've been tailed a wild woman because of the risks I've taken, but, never a wonder woman," commented Eula Hall as she accepted an award from the Wonder Woman Foundation in New York City in November, 1962. The cash award was one of IS given to women over 40 who possess the courage, compassion and in dependence of the comic book character. Eula Hall received the award for her work as the founder and super visor of a public health clinic in the isolated and impoverished Mud Creek area of Floyd County, Ken tucky, where she has long worked for better human services. Born a retired coal miner's daughter in neighboring Pike County, Eula Hall hired out as a teenager to families in need of help. "I got the reputation for knowing how to take care of babies and women," Mrs. Hall recalls. At IT, she married McKlaely Hall. The marriage proved full of strife and sorrow. "My first huataat turned out to be an akufeeUc, very violent aad abusive to me aai our children," she relates. "When he threatened us, I would go to the neighbors for help aad protection. That's the reason I feel I owe the community my life." As their five children were growing people Into her home far a small fee from the state. She was becoming aware of the area's desperate need for health care, and also for ordinary people to take more control over their lives. During the War on Poverty in the 196Q's she and other Mud Creek citizens organized around such issues as better roads, school lunches and flood prevention. "But health care was always my baby because I'd seen so much suffering," Mrs. Hall emphasizes. The Mud Creek Clinic got its start after the Eastern Kentucky Welfare Rights organization conducted a door-to-door survey in the hills and hollows and found that one person in ten needed health care and couldn't get it. They found quite a few people who had never seen a doctor in their Uvea. There were complications of pregnancy, infection and disease from polluted wells. Black lung, diabetes and hypertension were going untreated. "I made up my vlnd we would have an answer for all thoee people," Mrs. Hall says. "After raising %l,4M through rummage tales and donations, a grassroots group rented a small frame house and got two doctors from Our Lady of the Way Hospital in Martrin to come out twice a week to see patients on a sliding-fee basis. Within * year, the place was too small, and Buls Han moved ent of her U-room house so the clinic could use R. By 1N1, the building had been divided into 19 rooms. It had a dental unit, a mobile lung-testing unit and 20,000 patient records. "But all that went up in flames last summer,' recalls Mrs. Hall. "The night of June IS I got a call that the clinic was on fire. By the time we got there, nothing could be saved. I went back home and thought about the destruction and I just had to cry. I talked it over with my husband Bascom (no relation to McKinley Hall, who had died some eight years back). We decided we would have a Mud Creek Clinic. The next morning, the Hall's had a phon^ hooked up on a willow tree near the still-smoldering building. The medical staff saw 20 patients that day. "You can't just tell people you're sorry, to come back later." Arrangements were made for the clinic to move into the local elementary school for the summer. Equipment was loaned and donated. Patients and local people rallied for the initial fund-raising. Today the Mud Creek Clinic is going strong in temporary trailers in a location oa Kentucky highway *79. A new cinderblock and concrete clinic with more services for the community it on the drawing board. Mrs. Hall hope* to provide dental care again at well aa X-ray facilities and a room (or meetings and classes. Eventually she wants to have a "desperately needed" shelter for "I've fought hard for a place where patients can be treated as people," Eula Ha! states. "It has to be ac cepted that health care is needed and not a privilege. Do we really care about people? If we don't, it's society that's going to suffer! " DOROTHY HAI L PEDDLE freelance Racine. WI FACING SOUTH welcomes readers' comments and writers' contributions. Write P.O. Box 531, Durham, NC 27702. Letters The PERQUIMANS WEEKLY welcomes the opinion of its readers. We print letters to the editor on subjects of local, state, national and international in terest. Letters should be limited to 300 350 words and should include the name, address and telephone number of the writer. Only the name and address will be published with the letter. The subject matter should be of interest to the community, not a personal gripe. Letters may be edited by our news staff for clarity and space limitations. Mail letters to: The Perquimans Weekly. P.O. Box 177. Hertford. N.C. 27914. or drop them off at our offices at Cour thouse Square.
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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May 5, 1983, edition 1
9
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