Page 4—The Perquimans Weekly
Perspectives
Septembers, 1998
The Perquimans Weekly
'1932
119 W. Grubb St., P.O. Box 277, Hertford, N.C. 27944
426-5728
Tim Hobbs, Publisher
, Susan R. Harris, Managing Editor
Shirley Pizzitola, Administrative Assistant
Anzie Ziemba, Account Executive
The Perquimans Weekly (USPS 428-080) is published each Thursday by The Daily
Advance, 216 S. Poindexter St., Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909. Subscription rates are $24.20
per year in-state, $26.40 per year out-of-state, single copy rate 35 cents. Second class
postage paid in Hertford, N.C. 27944. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box
277, Hertford, NC 27944.
Plight of
the pocupine
1»
I read my
mail,
newspa
pers and open
my packages as
I relax on my
sofa each night,
a few feet from
the large fire
place in my
den. Over the
mantle is hung
a beautiful
reproduction of
Fair
Morningstar’s cradle
board which she used to
carry her babies in on her
back, prop beside her as
she worked or hung in a
tree to let the movements
of the breeze rock infants
to sleep. It took years to
find someone capable of
Native American crafting
to copy this ancient heir
loom, for the original was
in shatters beyond even
handling. It is one of my
most prized possession.s
Each time I see this
object, I am especially
taken with the use of por
cupine quills in both its
construction and decora
tion. The animal itself is
equally unique, and a
viable and most curious
part of our world.
There was a time when
the porcupine occupied all
the forested areas of the
country. Today, they are
primarily northern ani
mals. Unfortunately, as a
result of exaggeration and
misrepresentation, the
prejudice against this rela
tively harmless animal
still exists. It’s gnawing
and eating habits often
make it enemies.
The porcupine has not
always been considered a
pest, however. To Indian
tribes it was a precious
resource, even treated
with reverence by some.
Beyond its life-sustaining
function as food, it played
a second important role
for Indians. Its quilly both
in the loose state or as
elaborate quillwork, came
close to serving as a medi
um of exchange.
Porcupine quillwork, like
that on my cradle board, is
an exacting, time-consum
ing craft. The quills were
collected, sorted according
to size, dyed with veg
etable dyes and then
woven into beautiful art
and useful pieces. Most
articles were small, but
the amount of work
required was staggering.
Thus, these pieces were
often traded, as use for
money.
Nature in a Nutshell
Gail Roberson
This animal
feeds on the
bark of trees
in winter.
They are noc
turnal ani
mals. They
give fair warn
ing before
they strike by
clattering
their teeth.
When the
visual and
auditory
warnings fail, it will faU
back on its wave of pun
gent smell. That’s your
last warning. It wiU then
unleash the ultimate
weapon...the quill. More
than 30,000 cover the body.
The tips carry microscop
ic barbs that make
removal difficult once
embedded.
Porcupines have sharp
front claws used for climb
ing and digging. After win
ter gestation, the female
gives birth to one pup in
April or May. They often
chew antlers dropped to
the groundfor the calcium
and other minerals found
in them. Generally, they
are solitary creatures,
though in severe winters
several may share a com
mon den. They are rare
along the Atlantic coast.
I have a naturalist
friend who lives out west
and is accustomed to por
cupines there much like I
am to raccoons here. Her
main problem with them
is that they come up at
nights to constantly chew
the handles of her paddles,
shovels, hoes, rakes and
other wood and leather
items. Porcupines love
salt, and they usually
come around humans
looking for it because of
our salty sweat absorbed
in the handles of these
items. I used to send her
pretty hair clips and other
personal pleasures she
finds hard to get out in her
“Wilde.” One year I sent
her four handles, instead,
after her last letter com
plained of the severe dam
age to her best tools and
the long drive into the
nearest town to find them.
You would have thought
I’d sent her a diamond
ring. She now puts salt
blocks out for the porcu
pines.
The plight of the porcu
pine is sometimes uncer
tain, but one certainty for
real is that this unique
mammal is an expert at
survival.
Letter to the editor policy
The Perquimans Weekly weclomes the opinion of its
readers. Letters should include the name, address and tele
phone number of the writer. Letters without signatures or
telephone numbers will not be printed. Only the name and
city of residence will be published with the letter.
The subject matter should be of interest to the communi
ty, not a personal gripe. Letters may be edited .for clarity
and space limitations.
Submit your letters to The Perquimans Weekly, P.O. Box
277, Hertford, N.C. 27944, or drop them off at our office at
199 W. Grubb Street. Call 426-5728 for more information.
Finding fault
T he other
night after
supper my
best friend Jim,
and I were as
usual solving the
world’s problems.
Also as usual
the issues as to
the cause of the
drastic increase
in juvenile delin
quency and over
all moral decay
came up. In our
regular manner, we battled
around numerous explana
tions but made no compre
hensive determinative con
clusions.
Therefore, I decided to
embark upon a journey to
once and for all conclusive
ly find that elusive and rare
animal called “fault.” The
next morning I got up at 5
a.m., ate a hearty breakfast,
put on hiking boots and
began my long quest in
search of “fault.” The first
candidate I happened upon
was “The Government.”
“Sir I said, as you know, the
moral condition of our soci
ety is becoming intolerable.
Are you at fault?” “Why cer
tainly not young man,” the
government said with res
olute indignity. “Without
the government the poor
ignorant masses would
surely perish. We must pro
tect them from such danger
ous things as public affir-
View from the Bench
District fourt Judge Edgar Barnes
mations of
faith and alle
giance to God
and even
parental sov
ereignty. And
of course we
can’t in any
way violate
anyone’s right
to be immoral,
why that
would be
unconstitu
tional.” “Oh,”
I said, “sorry to have both
ered you.”
Next I ran into “The
School System.” “Sir, I
asked, rather cautiously, I
am looking for who is “at
fault” for the declining
state of our society. “Are you
the one?” “Certainly not my
arrogant fellow. Wdiy we
can’t teach morality and
ethics in school. These are
virtues and therefore deriv
atives of religion and this
could cause the government
to censure us, or worse at
least one parent out of 5,000
might complain or sue on
the basis that we are warp
ing their children by
putting such ludicrous
notions in their head as
respect for authority, chari
ty, integrity, divinity and
patriotism. And of course
everyone knows that right
and wrong are such gray
areas.” “I’m sorry,” I mum
bled, “how could I be so
c.
foolish.” I journeyed on.
Next, I encountered “The
Church.” “Ma’am,” I said,
“I know you are probably
aware that many of our
younger generation are
replete of healthy social and
moral attributes. Would you
by any chance be “at fault?”
“WHiy my gracious no,” she
protested. Although “the
word” is clear as to our role
of promoting Godly princi
ples in our society, we sure
ly must be careful to stay in
our place or the govern
ment will take away our tax
exempt status. And of
coiurse, notwithstanding
what Proverbs, Psalms or
The New Testament pro
claims, to boldly stand up
for Godliness, we would
have to become politically
active and politics don’t
belong in the church,
right?” “Oh,” I said, “my
mistake sorry to have both
ered you.”
Next I ran into “The
Parents.” “Sir and madam I
am perplexed by the
immor^ity and confusion
exhibited by many youth
today. Would you by any
chance be “at fault?” “Us,
why absolutely not. Don’t
you know how difficult it is
to honor our marriage vows
and commit our lives to
raising children in this age?
We can't discipline our chil
dren, it might damage then-
psych and even if we did.
Dodging bullets
I t’s fair to
say we all
knew
there was a
hiurricane lurk
ing somewhere
around last
week, but all-in-
all, I think we
have to admit
we dodged a
bullet here in
Perquimans
County one _____
more time.
It looked for a while as if
nothing could stop Bonnie
from blowing us into the
river, but one more time we
got a reprieve. The storm
crept upon us slowly, mak
ing us crazy with anticipa
tion, then moved on after
stopping just long enough
to turn back as if to say,
“Ha,ha,ha. Gotcha!” as she
unleashed her worst winds
Thursday night.
We’ve been so lucky for
so long. WTien we see news
reports of those people left
homeless, those people left
without electricity for days
on end, those people who
lost a loved one, then it
should hit home just how
Ramblin’with Susan
Susan Harris
fortunate and
blessed we’ve
been here over
the past few
years.
But we must
not let down our
guard. I agree
that it’s a real
pain to drag
everything into
the garage or
shed when a
storm is predict
ed. It’s not fun
trying to find batteries or
water in the hm:ricane-buy-
ing frenzies, or standing in
long lines as everyone else
does the same thing. It is,
however, the smartest thing
to do when a storm threat
ens.
The worst thing we can
ever do is let down our
guard. We all know about
Newton’s laws and the law
of averages. One day, there
will be no fronts from the
west or north to save us
from the full wrath of a hur
ricane’s fury. One day we’re
very likely to get the fuU
force of one of these power
ful storms. And the best
way to protect our lives and
property is to continue to
prepare for that one storm
that comes sailing down the
river.
Can you believe it’s
September already? Good
grief! Where did the sum
mer go?
Don’t forget the Indian
Summer Festival is set for
Sept. 19 in downtown
Hertford.
Many people are fond of
the festival, and the
Hertford Downtown
Merchants Association has
worked really hard to orga
nize its first fall fest. This
year’s edition will be a little
different, possibly a little
smaller, with no streets to
cross to get to the kids’
pavilion. It should be like a
real county fair.
There are still booths
available for the day.
Anyone interested should
contact Mary White at The
Wishing WeU for crafts and
displays, and Frankie
Eason at Hertford Cafe for
food.
The downtown businesses
are working hard to save the
festival. If we want a festival,
we must support them.
the government might
allege abuse. Furthermore
we only got divorced
because it was in our chil
dren’s best interest, it
wasn’t just for oiur own hap
piness or anything.
Everyone knows kids are
resilient, they’ll get over it,
right?” “Thanks anyway I
said, despondently.
“Goodbye.”
Finally I returned home
exhausted and discouraged.
Before I went to bed I went
into my five-year old sons
room to kiss him goodnight.
“Son,” I asked, you
haven’t seen whose “at
fault” today have you?” “No
daddy, he innocently
replied, what does he look
like?” “I’m not sure son.”
“Daddy does he look like
you?” “Oh I’m sure he
wouldn’t look like me son.”
“Daddy, why do you want to
find him?” “Because he
isn’t making this world a
very good place for you to
grow up in son.” “Daddy if
you never find this “fault
person,” does that mean I’m
going to have to grow up in
a bad world no matter
what?” At that, I looked in
the mirror, stopped looking
for “whose at fault,” grew a
new backbone, rolled up my
sleeves and said, “no son
not if the light of one candle
can make a difference.”
God save this State and
this Honorable Court.
Court’s adjourned.
Your elected representa
tives need to hear from
you. Here are their address
es for your convenience.
U.S. Senate
Hon. Jesse Helms
403 Dirkson Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Telephone: 1-202-224-6342
(Washington); 1-856-4630
(Raleigh)
Hon. Lauch Faircloth
716 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Telephone: 1-202-224-3154
(Washington); 1-856-4401
(Raleigh)
U.S. House
Hon. Eva Clayton
2440Rayburn Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: 1-202-225-3101
(Washington); 1-753-3082
(Littleton)
Hon. Walter B. Jones Jr.
214 Cannon House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C., 20515
Telephone: 1-202-225-3415
(Washington)
1-919-753-2549 (Farmville)
N.C. Senate
Hon. Marc Basnight
State Senate, Legislative Bldg.
Raleigh, N.C. 27601
Telephone: 1-919-733-6854
(Raleigh); 1-473-3474 (Manteo)
N.C. House
Hon. William Cuipepper
House of Representatives
Legislative Bldg.
Raleigh, N.C. 27611
Telephone: 1-919-733-5802
Hon. William C. Owens Jr.
House of Representatives,
Legislative Bldg.,
Raleigh, N.C. 27611
Telephone: 1-919-733-5878
(Raleigh)
1-919-335-1850 (Elizabeth City)
Hertford Mayor
John G. Beers
P.O. Box 32.
Hertford, N.C. 27944
Telephone: 426-7805 (City Hall)
Winfall Mayor
Fred Yates
P.O. Box 275
Winfall, N.C. 27985
Telephone: 426-5015 (City Hall)
Perquimans
Commissioners
Charles H. Ward, Chairman
Perquimans County Courthouse
Hertford, N.C. 27944
Telephone: 426-8484 (county
manager’s office)
Perquimans School Board
Wallace Nelson, Chairman
Perquimans County Schools
Administration Building
Edenton Road Street
Hertford, N.C. 27944
Telephone: 426-5741 (central
office)