Perspective
Clean-up needs community effort
The Hertford Town Council is
?t to be commended for their ef
: forts to improve the visual image
>1 presented by the municipality.
I; The Board has made great
> strides in recent years towards
?! housing improvements in several
- locales through Community De
ll; velopment Block Grants; im
nuisances due to the accumula
tion of junk on the premises.
The owner of these properties
was notified that the Council
would proceed with a lawsuit al
leging the maintenance of a nui
sance if the premises were not
cleaned up to the Board's satisi
faction within 60-days.
Opinion
* provements that are not only
beautifying for the town, but also
improving the quality of life for
the occupants.
The Town also operates an out
standing sanitation department.
Trash pick-up and street clean
ing services are provided fre
quently, aiding the Town in their
presentation of a clean, whole
some atmosphere.
A recent action by the Board
could also make a difference in
the Town's appearance. The
Board decided that certain prop
erties within the municipality's
boundaries were creating public
The accumulation of junk is not
only unsightly; it is deemed by
many to cause a health hazard.
Both of the properties in question
are located at intersections on
Grubb Street and at times the
pile-up of junk obstructs the vi
sion of motorists.
The action that is pending fol
lows numerous personal visits
from town representaties re
questing clean-up of the prop
erties. It was not a hasty decision
by the Board to remedy a long
standing problem.
The owner's time limit ran out
late last week, with no visible im
provements having taken place
at either of the two locations. One
must assume that the person in
question has little or no regard
for the town in which he lives.
Attitutdes such as this cause
more harm than can be imag
ined. If everyone in the commu
nity simply stopped caring about
appearances where would we
be?
It is time for civic pride to be
restored in each of us. Individu
als in this area have much to be
proud of, and one person initiat
ing an act to improve his or her
property can make a difference
in the community. This is a beau
tiful place for visitors, and a
beautiful place in which to live;
but without any effort on the part
of its residents to keep the area
clean and attractive it could be
come just another small town.
We have too much potential here
to just sit back and let it get clut
tered.
We challenge each of you to
take a look at your own property,
and then to roll up your shirt
sleeves and show an effort in
making it more attractive.
it /
; A word about farm caps
There are many things I have
learned over the years that have
contributed to my being able to
cope with a farm man. I thought
that after all this time I finally
?*" had it conquered. I know the dif
ference between a tillivator and
a lelyterra and what that funny
looking thing stashed under the
' back shelter is for. I can also deal
- with bank statements and worry
lines. (I simply disappear on
those days.) But, what I still
have not gotten the hang of yet is
washing farm caps.
"What did you Do to my hat!"
he wailed. "Look at this thing!
Ive Told you not to touch my
caps. Don't ever touch my caps
again!" And he stormed out of
the house with the rather weird
looking thing perched at a jaunty
angle atop a sea of very unruly
curls.
Do not wash a man's farm cap.
?k- This rule is just as important as
showing up at the end of the to
bacco row at precisely 3:00 with
the correct number and type of
soft drinks, and suppressing the
homemaker's urge to attack the
farm shop with mop and broom.
I suppose I deserved it, but I
thought that, at least, this once, it
couldn't hurt. I thought that noth
ing could possibly hurt anything
that looked like it had been
chewed, run over, and marinated
in a grease bucket.
I have been advised that the
only proper way to wash a man's
farm cap is to emerge it in a sink
full of sudsy water and baby
shampoo and gently apply a soft
brush. Afterwards, you simply
place it on the man's head, where
it will air dry and mold itself to
the necessary personalized
shape. As for me, I could care
less how to wash it for I have ab
solutely no intention of ever
touching one again. A man who
has 200 new caps stored in his
closet should be able to part with
one grimy one every year with
out going into a frenzy.
I don't understand all the hoo
pla over farm caps anyhow.
Farmers have to have a summer
cap, a winter cap and something
called a half-and-half cap for the
times in between the times that
they wear their summer and win
ter caps. They cannot possibly
get but so much protection from
the sun, as these caps leave the
ears and neck totally exposed. A
summer cap and a half-and-half
cap have little air holes. Unfortu
nately, the holes also allow in the
rain. Most caps are made of
some kind of vinyl mesh. Imag
ine a farmer of many years ago
trying to give his devoted mule a
decent drink of water in some
thing made of mesh air holes.
There are men in our parts who
have so many caps stored in their
closets that they could open their
own farm supply. These are the
kinds of men who intentionally
wear a green cap into a red cap
dealership for the express pur
pose of quickly obtaining another
new cap. After all, no decent
equipment salesman would dare
allow them to openly flaunt a cap
of the competitor.
Chemical companies and ma
chinery manufacturers must
think we farm women are "zit"
when it comes to brains. When
we help shovel out $60 for a gal
lon of pesticide and $50,000 for a
tractor, we are thanked for our
business by the generous dona
tion of two, $2.00 caps. We women
get the cap with the shorter brim
and a fuzzy little ball on top.
This is a public announcement
to all those dealers intending on
doing future business with this
woman's husband: If you cannot
send me a free subscription to
the "How to Save Money When
Buying Machinery" magazine,
you can at least give Me one of
those big old-timey floopy, wide
brimmed straw hats without a
fuzzy little ball on top. Please.
Middleclass: America's backbone
They aren't members of the
country club, seldom read Time
or Newsweek, don't drive Volvos
or send their kids to private
school.
K Few attend church on a regu
&*lar basis, though they believe in
?I'-God and encourage their chil
k-dren to do the same. They aren't
classified as whitecollar workers
and are suspicious of anyone who
wears a tie except for funerals or
school graduations.
They don't have portfolios and
could care less what happens on
Wall Street. After paying taxes
and as many billf. as they can,
there is little foi other things.
They like professional football,
but seldom attend local games.
Few have ever been to a college
game . They care very little for
golf, tennis, or pro basketball.
They love any kind of hunting,
car races, wrestling, shooting
pool, and fishing.
They've got a particular place
in nearly every town where they
can be found enjoying a "cool"
one at the end of a long day.
There is always plenty of conver
sation, and if you listen carefully,
you learn a great deal about the
heart of this nation.
I've sat with them and I've
learned a lot, and I've come to
respect the simple pleasures
these men and women find in life.
It is easy to identify with the
hardships they speak of, and it is
refreshing to share memories
with people who understand
where you are coming from.
To some, they have simple
opinions and a lack of under
standing of issues of importance
to the world. If you listen care
fully, you'll find there is much
wisdom in what they have to say.
Their solutions, often uncompli
cated, would be laughed at by
those who consider themselves to
be at a higher level.
You'll see their ideals and va
lues expressed in the children
they raise. Their kids say "Sir",
learn to work at an early age,
and respect their parents.
These men and women are ig
nored by the political system ex
cept at election time when every
candidate will make a very
strong effort to convince them
they represent their ideals and
needs. But they are seldom
fooled by Mg promises, realizing
election day promises will mean
little to them later on. They have
HUlci import ftir mutt
and most politicians have Utile
respect for them. ?
They respect the police and
support them even though they
are more likely to be convicted if
charged with an infraction, as
they don't have the money to buy
their way out of trouble.
They strongly support Amer
ica and believe this is still the
greatest country in the world.
They were a part of our wars and
did most of the actual fighting. If
asked to do so, they would fight
again. They respect the flag, sup
port an strong military, and be
lieve the Russians can't be
trusted.
Over the years, they have been
referred to in many ways. Most
often, they are labeled as
bluecollar workers or Ameri
can's "middleclass", neither
which is true.
They are, however, caught in
the middle of a changing society.
They've been the backbone of
this nation for years and their at
titudes and values are the
strengths that have built Amer
ica.
How much longer can they sur
vive in a society that ignorea
their needs? Hw rich are able to
protect themselves with theii
dollars while the poor are takec
care of by social programs thai
encourage them to remain poor
It is left to those in the middle to
provide the manpower and taxei
to keep this nation going.
Perhapswe should all stop anc
Pick zucchini hourly for best results
Letters to the Editor
Editor
The Perquimans Weekly,
My daughter recently grad
uated from Perquimans High
School, ranking fourth in her
class. She, too, was exempt from
the academic banquet because of
one exam grade under 85. This
was the second year for her to be
excluded from the honorary
event because her overall aver
age was not considered.
We are very proud of her
achievements, especially since
we are a military family, moving
her from one school to another
where she has to adjust to differ
ent studies and customs.
I did send a letter to the school
board and one to the superinten
dent concerning this matter on
May 12, 1906, but as of this date I
have not received a phone call or
letter from them directly.
I realize this is a past disap
pointment for her but I do regret
that she was awarded this honor
only one of the three years she
was at Perquimans High.
I sincerely hope the overall av
erages of grades will be consid
ered for all students in future
years.
A Concerned Parent
Polly Lovell
Rt. 3,
Hertford, NC 27944
Editor
The Perquimans Weekly,
I would like to bring to your at
tention two facts.
1.) At the end of the soccer sea
son the winning team was
awarded nothing to denote its ef
forts. It received a mug as did all
participants.
I understand that Coach Earl
Willis spoke with the head of the
Rec. Dept. and was given an ex
planation to the effect that the
league was too small, included
with Elizabeth City or Edenton,
or some kind of mum bo jumbo
that amounted to no reason at all.
These are kids... running, kick
ing and playing their hearts out
to be the best in their field.. .and
what do they get for it.. .from the
county, nothing.. from their par
ents, who paid their entry fee,
coached the teams, transported
to and from games supported
them in every way they
could... They got a trophy. Paid
for, ordered, and delivered by
their parents. It is indeed a sad
thing that their parents had to
chip in and buy tropies for them.
If the county cannot afford rec
ognition for winning efforts per
haps the county should not spon
sor the teams.
2) As a business firm in Hert
ford we approached the Rec
Dept. concerning an order for
shirts or any sports supplies or
equipment.
We called by phone, we went
up there to talk with them (but
she was never there) We wrote a
letter and hand delivered it. We
got no answer from. any of our
efforts to reach her. On June 4,
1988 we got up with Carol Stan
ley, only to learn that the shirts
had been ordered. I went up to
talk with her as to why we were
not even considered and was
told.. "I just did business with the
smae sports company that I al
ways deal with." I told her that I
felt she should have at least con
sidered us since it was money
given by sponsors in this county.
Last year we did the T-Ball
shirts. Only because a sponsor
requested it and after Mayor Cox
spoke with Howard Williams
about spending money out of
town.
The fact that our shirts were of
equal quality, faster service, and
costs less has no bearing on the
case apparently.
To Carol, I say, Perhaps you
would be happier working and
getting your money from the
county in which you spend it. To
the Rec. Dept. I say, get with it.
If you are going to use us, don't
abuse us by lack of recognition
for the small or large things in
life.
To the County Commissioners,
the Town of Hertford Commis
sioners, the Mayor and who
mever; if you are going to play
the game, get some ground rules
established. Stop taking our
money and spending it else
where. This town is in bad need
of business. We cannot survive if
you won't help us.
Margaret A. Stowe
P.O. Box 563
Hertford, NC 27944
White joined in missionary work
When traveling friend Pa
tience Brayton visited the
Quaker meetings in Perquimans
County in February 1772, she im
planted or reinforced an idea in
the mind of the Clerk of the
Monthly Meeting, Josiah White.
Half a year past the age of
twenty-one, Josiah lived near
Newby's Bridge on the upper
Perquimans River. He re
sponded to Brayton's menage by
becoming her temporary com
panion for the next leg of her mis
sionary journey.
Josiah had to put traveling out
of his mind for a while, however,
? so he swiftly returned home to
> complete his courtship of Sarah
? Newby, whom be married the fol
lowing October.
i Raising thirteen children and
t managing mora than a thousand
acres and several slaves kept Jo
> siah at home for many years. So,
k too, did his increasing impor
tance among the Quakers. In 1776
I he was Clerk of North .Carolina
yearly Meeting, jit a time whan
Josiah freed his slaves. County
authorities, however, sold some
of them back into slavery,
thereby frustrating Friends' ef
forts at emancipation.
Such problems with slavery
may have been one of the mat
ters Josiah White carried with
him when his real chance to
travel finally came.
On March 4, 1797, Josiah went
before Piney Woods Monthly
Meeting and "in a weighty man
ner laid before this meeting his
prospect accompanying our
Friend Richard Jordan on a reli
gious visit to some of the north
ern states." The Meeting ap
proved his proposal and
furnished him with credentials
declaring his position as an elder
in good esteem.
A full year later Josiah pro
duced reports from meetings he
had visited: Rahway, New Jer
sey; Purchase, New York; In
dian Spring, Maryland; Black
water, Virginia; New Bedford,
Massachusetts; Baltimore; and
Philadelphia. The Quakers of
Perquimans received the news of
Josiah's missionary journey with
"satisfaction and comfort." Jo
siah had at last fulfilled a call re
ceived a quarter of a century ear
lier.
THE
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
' Established In 1932
Published Each Thursday By The Dally Advance. Elizabeth City, N.C.
Second Class Postage Paid at Hertford. N.C. 27944 USPS 428-080
Jmm B. Williams
I ft "'to 1 _ .
Carat A. O'Naal Oabbk T. Stalling
Adwrtiltag Manaftr Circultion Manager
ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Ill-County Out-Of-County
*9.00 '10.00
119 West Grubb Street
P.O. Box 277
Hertford, N.C. 27944
North Carolina Praes Association
Notional Newspaper Associatior
North Corolina Aseoctotlon of Community Newspopert