ALLEGHANY
STAR ★TIMES
Published Every Thursday
SPARTA, N. C.
Office in Transou Bldg. opp. Post Office
Telephone 7T
Walter S. Mead, Editor and Publisher
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Entered as Second Class matter at Sparta, N. C.,
Poet Office.
Thursday, May 23, 1940.
“Let There Be Light”
-
f
•di
A Thought for the Thoughtful
The quality of mercy is not strained,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
... It becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the heart of kings,
It is an attribute of God himself.
—.Shakespeare, in Merchant of Venice.
Dollars And Mercy
For the first time since the tragic
days of the World War the American !
people are being asked to contribute to
a Red Cross war relief fund, A mini- ;
mum of $10,000,000 is being sought ;
throughout the country to alleviate the
suffering of Europe’s innocent victims
of war.
As one of the few remaining na
tions enjoying peace and security in a
world of chaos, the United States is in
a position to extend a strong hand of
sympathy. And* if we are to cope with
distress that grows hourly, this must be
done both swiftly and generously. Each
fresh movement of troops lengthens the
shadow of terror, hunger, orphanhood
and homelessness.
Fortunately, mercy is of a flexible
nature. Unlike other forms of human
expression it can be translated into
effective action by dollars and cents, j
Those whose homes lie in the path of
marching armies are in need of pur
chasable succor—the simple necessities
of food, clothing and medical treatment.
The American Red Cross is the
logical channel through which the peo
ple of this country may express their
deep concern for the plight of women,
children and aged in Europe’s war
zones. Through the prompt and effici
ent manner in which the Red Cross has
met the great disasters made by man
and nature, its emblem has become the
emblem of mercy. ✓
Already the American Red Cross
has spent $1,500,000 for the relief of
Europe’s suffering. In doing so, it has
received $800,000 in spontaneous con
tributions; the balance has been taken
from its reserve funds. In addition,
chapter volunteers have produced a
half million articles of clothing and
more than two million surgical dress
ings.
With the invasion of new countries,
overwhelming needs are being reported
daily. They are manifest reasons why a
general appeal must be made to the
nation. It is a challenge sympathetic
Americans should answer promptly and
generously.
Alleghany County’s share of this
ten million dollar relief fund is only
$200, anti surely that amount can be
raised promptly. Alton Thompson of
the Northwestern Bank is County
Treasurer of the Red Cross, while Rev.
Mr. Berry is County Chairman, assisted
by Rev. Mr. Strader. A public meet
ing is to be held Friday at 2 o’clock
in the Court House to discuss the situ
ation and perfect an organization to
raise our quota.
Keeping The Record Straight
For 51 years Alleghany County has
had its newspaper. But the fire of
1933 was very disastrous in that it
destroyed practically all newspaper
files and records. We are now seeking
to gather together what can be found
of old copies of The Star, The Alle
ghany Star, and The Alleghany Times.
We have complete files of The Times
for 1934 and to date. But we lack
the issues of January 6. January 13
and December 28 of 1933. If anyone
can locate copies of those issues we
wish to see them.
Indeed, we seek any old copies of
the three papers named, and also of
those other and more temporary ef
forts in journalism,—the West Caro
lina News, the Blue Ridge Eagle, the
Rattler, and another paper whose name
we have not learned. There may have
been still others, also. Our aim is to
gather up the fragments of newspaper
history in the county; and even though
we may not ever own all the old news
paper copies, we hope to get a list of
what copies are in existence, so that
they can be consulted by future his
torians.
By the kindness of D. C. Shores,
Mr. Gilliam, and several other friends
we have borrowed a number of old
copies of the paper from 1911, 1912,
1926 and 1927. We know of other
issues around the county. An up-to
date binder is being prepared for us
by a book-bindery in Louisville, Ky.,
wherein the old papers we do acquire
can be preserved carefully.
This is one thing in which we
need cooperation from a wide circle
of friends, and we ask every person
who may be interested to search for
old issues of Alleghany County news
papers of any year before 1934. We
want to buy or borrow, or even see, as
many old Alleghany papers as pos
sible.
Hooker
Hooker, May 21. — Monday,
May 20, this community witness
ed one of the most severe hail
storms ever remembered by the
older citizens. The storm lasted
some twenty minutes. The stones
ranged from the size of marbles
op to one and three-quarter inch
es in diameter, and covered the
ground to a depth of one and one
half inches in open fields, drift
ing to several inches against
buildings. All early gardens
fruit, berries and young clover
was completely destroyed. Where
fields were formerly green with
oats they are bare now. Foliage
was stripped from the trees.
Many young chickens were re
ported killed, asphalt roofs were
completely ruined, window panes
were broken in many houses and
some automobile windows were
broken.
Mrs. Mack Johnson is still
seriously ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Harris
went to Galax Sunday night to
hear Evangelist Bob Shuler, of
Los Angeles. They were accomp
anied by Mrs. Hattie Hendrix.
We hear again the click of
horseshoe pitching at the local
store on Saturday afternoons and
bad days. It is a pleasant sound
after a long winter of checker
playing.
The local baseball team has
begun practicing on the Duncan
diamond.
Decoration services’will be held
at Glade Creek Church the first
Sunday in June. All that have
friends and relatives buried here
are invited to come Thursday,
May 30, to help clean the ceme
tery. Also there is a lot of
cleaning that needs to be done
around the building where repair
•work has been done. New win
dows have recently been put in
the church.
Mr. and Mrs. John Henry
l(Jack) Lanins, of Maryland, who
tave been visiting Mr, and Mre.
Lffohn Duncan, returned home
Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Lanius
were recently married. Mrs.
Lanius will be remembered here
as Miss Lucille Moxley, grand
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Duncan.
Little Pine
Little Pine, May 20—Mrs. Ernes
Green, who has been in the hos
pital at North Wilkesboro, has re
turned home, improved.
A large crowd enjoyed the sing
iing at Little Pine Saturday night
! given by the Chestnut Grove
I Choir.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Johnson
!and family spent Friday after
t noon with Mr. Johnson’s mother,
i Mrs. Mack Johnson, who is ser
iiously ill.
Mrs. Nina Andrews spent the
|week with Mr. and Mrs. G. M. j
Greene.
Mr. and Mrs. Andy Brooks of
Bullhead visited relatives here
over the week-end.
Mr. and Mrs. Freid Handy are
building a nice dwelling house for
themselves.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Moxley and
Carl Moxley of Six, W. Va., vis
ited Mrs. Moxley’s mother Mrs.
Reanie Tompkins, for the week
end.
, Rev. Mack Brooks gave an in
teresting talk at Mountain View|
Sunday.
John Murphy celebrated his!
birthday on May 19.
A car license plate and holder j
was found—Owner call at Guy
Collins’ home.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlie Johnson
and family spent Sunday after
noon with Mr. and Mrs. M. T.
Johnson.
Zelma Jean and Altree Greene
spent Saturday night with their
sister Mrs. Reva Wilson.
Mr. and Mrs. Reaves Blevins
visited Mrs. Blevins mother Mrs.
George Johnson, who has been
very ill.
Services will be held at Saddle
Mountain Sunday May 2d.
.••••».......o
Marriages
LANIUS—MOXLEY
A pretty wedding took place
Wednesday at Grace Episcopal
Church, Darlington, Md., the
bride being Miss Lucille Dorothea
Moxley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ellis Leff Moxley, of Darlington,
who was married to John H.
Lanius, Jr., of Pylesville, son of
Mrs. J. Harry Lanius. The cere
mony was performed by the rec
tor of the church, the Rev. Ken
neth Albough.
The bride, who entered on the
arm of her father, was attired
in a navy sheer ensemble with
white accessories and wore a
corsage of talisman roses and
baby breath. Her mother, as
matron of honor, wore a blue
and white ensemble with a cor
sage of small blue fleurdelis and
fern. The wedding march was
played by Mia. Breckenridge
Heaps, of Pylesville, sister of
the groom. John Snodgrass, of
Wilmington, Dela., was best man.
After a short honeymoon the
couple will reside at Pylesville,
Md.
Stratford
Stratford, May 20. — Mrs.
Homer A. Smith and son, Harry,
and daughter, Lois, motored to
Johnson City, Tenn. Saturday to
meet Mr. Smith who spent the
week-end with them there.
Mr. and Mrs. D R. Estep, of
this place and Mrs. G. O. Ed
wards, of Hillsville, Va., visited
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Estep, of
Troutdale Sunday.
R. T. Atwood is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Mabe and
family, of Stratford, and Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Mabe, oif Ga
lax, spent Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. Alex Mabe.
Mr. and Mrs. Brantly Fender
spent Sunday with Mr, and Mrs.
| Mrs. Ed Rizoti
entertained
—at a birthday party, Tuesday,
in honor of her son, Junior, on
his ninth birthday.
Games were played and con
tests were held in the grove. Jo
Ann Phipps won the prize, for
the girls, and Franklin Sturdivant
was the lucky one in the boys’
contest.
After the games the children
went into the dining room where
individual birthday cakes and] ice
cream were served.
The following were present:
Bonnie Sue McMillan, Virginia
Van Crouse, Cecile Smith, Clar
ice and Evelyn Mitchell, Jo Ann
Phipps, Ida Maude Black, Lor
raine Tolbert, Opal Nichols,
Bobby Black, ’ Tommy Burgiss,
Franklin Sturdivant, Joe McMil
lan, R. L. and Junior Tolbert,
Buddy Andrews and Allen Rich
ardson.
Mrs. Rizoti was assisted in en
tertaining by her daughter, Mary.
Chestnut Grove
Chestnut Grove, May 20.—
Chestnut Grove singing choir sang
at Little Pine Church Saturday
night in the presence of a large
congregation. Wayne Edwards,
the choir leader, is planning on
conducting a singing school there
in the near future.
Kyle Rector and little son,
Thomas, and Allen Edwards vis
ited L. M. Brooks Sunday.
Mrs. Letcher Duncan and
daughter Anita, visited at S. L.
Perry’s Friday.
Luther Brooks and son, Har
vey, visited at Allen Edwards
Thursday night.
Walter Higgins and family
spent Sunday at Joe Sparks’
home.
Herbert Hayes, of Coatsville,
Penna., is visiting relatives and
friends in this community.
Rev. A. F. Absher. of White
head, and son, Rev. Alfred Ab
sher, of Kannapolis, were Satur
day evening guests of Mr. and
Mrs. Wayne Edwards.
There will be services at Chest
nut Grove Church Saturday night
and Sunday at 11 o’clock. Every
body is invited.
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Perry and
family visited Letcher Duncan
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Brooks
spent the week-end with Mr. and
Mrs. John Mooney.
Mrs. R. E. Brooks visited Mrs.
Leona Andrews last week.
Miss Ila Mooney spent last
week with her' sister. Mrs. Howard
Brooks.
Rich Hill
Glade Valley P. 0., May 21.—
Everyone in this vicinity was
greatly shocked and saddened by
news of Tom Green’s accident.
All hope for his speedy recovery.
Sunday School was reorganiz
ed at Rich Hill Methodist Church,
May 12. Quite a large crowd
attended the opening. Keep com
ing.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brown,
of near North Wilkesboro, and
Mrs. Brown’s aunt. Sarah Jane
Fender, were visitors at the M. F.
Dickenson home Sunday.
Crops and garden truck are
not doing so well on account of
the dry weather.
Mrs. Connie Johnston was quite
sick a few days last week but
now is somewhat improved’.
M. F. Dickenson, I. G. Edwards
and Clyde Johnson were among
those s>een at the stock sale at
Galax Monday.
Mrs. Ennis Creason visited her
friend, Mrs. W. L. Spurlin, Mon
day night.
George Wagoner. Buster Mur
phy and Edward Andrews were
business callers at Millard Dick
enson’s Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Franklin
were visitors at Harold Lundy’s
home in Independence Sunday.
This community was visited by
a severe hail and rain storm Mon
day. W. L. Spurlin reports dam
age to his dwelling house in
broken windows and torn roof
ing.
C. G. Feader.
Mr. and Mrs. 0?car Richard
son spent Sunday at the home of
H. C. Caudill.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ellison spent
this week with Mr. Ellison’s par
ents near Boone.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Porter and
daughters, Peggy Ann and Fran
ces of Sparta, spent Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Richardson.
Miss Zollie Southers visited
Miss Imogene Richardson Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Richard
son spent Sunday with Mrs. Rich
ardson’s sister, Mrs. Bub Ed
wards, of Sparta.
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Blevins
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wiley
Delp and family, of Galax, and
Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Myers, of
Stratford, spent Sunday with
Mrs. Dora Musgrove near Wal
nut Branch Church.
Accident records show that 1,
210,200 persons were injured in
motor vehicle accidents in the
country last year.
Mt. Zion
Piney Creek P. O., May 20—
Mack Woodie and his mother
Mrs. Mattie Woodie of Piney
Creek visited Gord. Roupe Sun
day. Mr. Roupe has been ill for
some time.
Mrs. Nettie Teague of Wilkes
boro is spending sometime with
her sister Mrs. R. M. Pugh. Mrs.
Pugh continues ill.
Sunday morning May 19, Mr.
and Mrs. J. H. Taylor, Mr. and
Mrs. Albert Young and two
children Joe Albert and Linda
Taylor of Grant, Va., and Dr.
and Mrs. C. F. Taylor of Char
lotte came to the home of Mrs.
Mary Cox and prepared dinner
on the lawn under the large
beech trees. The dinner was
served picnic fashion. Mrs. Mary
Cox, J. Ray Cox and Georgia
Cox were invited to dine with
them. Mrs. H. J. Taylor is the
daughter of Mrs. Mary Cox.
Later in the afternoon the vis
itors returned home, going by to
see Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Shep
herd.
Mrs. W. F. Pugh, Mrs. T. E.
Pugh and Mrs. Mack Woodie vis
ited Mrs. R. M. Pugh, Sunday
afternoon.
Miss Betty Mae Wagoner of
Piney Creek spent last Wednes
day with Logene Pugh.
Louise Perry, Jean Absher,
Mary Lou Grubb and Logene
Pugh visited Edna Rae Smith j
Saturday afternoon.
Dave Ross and son Harley of I
Furches were in this comumnity
Saturday.
T. E. Pugh, son Fred, Paul
Cox and Mrs. W. S. Church
made a business trip to West
Jefferson Saturday.
Jesse and Dean Cox of Piney
Creek spent the week-end with
their sister, Miss Georgia Cox.
Mrs. S. E. Smith of this com
munity attended the W. M. U.,
meeting at Scottville last Tues
day May 14. The talks given
by Mrs. E. C. James of Elkin,
Mrs. A. 0. Joines of Sparta,
Miss Mary Currin of Raleigh
and Miss Turner, a recent grad
uate, of Louisville, Kentucky, and
a number of others were greatly
enjoyed by all; dinner was serv
ed picnic fashion on a table pre
pared in the yard for the occa
sion,
Mrs. Mattie #Smith and daugh
ter Edna Rae 'and little Barbara
Sue Evans were dinner guests of
Mrs, S. E. Smith. Other guests in
the afternoon were Mrs. Sallie
Absher and daughter Jean.
Mrs. Emma Absher is visiting
her daughter Mrs. Ed Trivett of
West Jefferson.
W. E. Maxwell and daughter
Mrs. Walter Johnson* and little
son, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ray
Maxwell all of Sparta visited W.
F. Pugh’s home Thursday even
ing. Other guests were Mrs.
Dora Douglas and Mrs. S. E.
Smith.
Ross Bateman is visiting rela
tives in Ohio and Detroit, Mich.
W. R. Jones of West Jeffer
son visited Mr. and Mrs. Hallie
Douglas last week.
Eugene Black and daughter
Fairy Lee of Topia, spent Sun
day with relatives in this com
munity.
Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Pugh and
family, H. C. Smith and Lee
Black visited at W. F. Pugh’s
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Clay Smith spent
Wednesday with Mr. and Mrs.
W. F. Pugh.
On Sunday May 19, a num
ber of relatives and friends met
at the home of Ir. and Mrs.
Robert Cleary of the Mt. Zion
community, and set a birthday
dinner for Mr. Cleary.
Topia
Topia, May 20—Mrs. Lula
Pugh is ill.
Mrs. Mattie Phipps is able to
be out again.
Rev. E. E. Wyatt, Piney
Creek, spent the week-end with
Rev. and Mrs. L. Blevins.
Miss Virginia Caudill, Piney
Creek, was a guest of Misses Lu
cille and Thelma Black, Satur
day night.
Miss Mozelle Blevins, Dublin,
Va., is visiting her mother, Mrs.
Belle Blevins.
Paul and Chris Randow, who
spent last week with friends and
relatives in this community, have
returned to their home in Mary
land.
Dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs.
Linville Blevins, Sunday, were
Rev. E. E. Wyatt, Piney Creek,
Mr. and Mrs. Thurmond Fitzger
ald and children, Mrs. C. D.
Blevins and children, W. R. Pugh
and T. J. Taylor.
Mrs. Geneva Blevins visited
Mrs. Maude Miller, Piney Creek,
Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Moxley
and daughter, Lorene, visited Mr.
and Mrs. P. C. Edwards, Sunday
afternoon.
A number of neighbors and
friends gathered at the hortie
of Rev. L. Blevins, Saturday ev
ening, for the preaching service,
which was conducted by Rev.
Calvin Childres, Piney Creek.
Rev. E. E. Wyatt also made an
interesting talk.
Fred Jones has returned to
Maryland, where he holds a po
sition.
BninmiiinmuiuniiiMnimim»immMHiiiiiiiiniiiii»f»l
Travel
0»
Around the Rim of
Good Old U. S. A.
Through Oregon To
Mt. Rainier Park
After covering a few miles
more we came to Gold Hill,
thence to Grants Pass, and then
we followed Rouge River for a
long way,—a very beautiful drive,
and a fisherman’s paradise, where
wild life is abundant, and where
we saw our first deer scampering
out through the big trees. Pro
ceeding on we came to Roseburg
where we spent another night,
amid western hospitality. Next
morning found us in the lovely
Umpque Valley, and then on up
to Cottage Grove. From here we
headed for Eugene, where the
University of Oregon is located.
The campus and buildings are
very beautiful. Continuing, we
crossed the Willamette river at
Harrisburg and rolled on through
Albany to the state capital of
Salem.
Here the magnificent new capi
tal building was very much worth
while for a stop and visit. We
next came to Oregon City, one
of the oldest cities in the state,
where falls of the Willamette
River furnish power for large
paper and woolen mills. Our next
important stop was Portland,
Oregon’s metropolis, the Rose
City, It is located in a beautiful
setting, near the junction of two
rivers, the Columbia and Willa
mette, with five snow-capped
mountain peaks visible in the
background, Mt. Hood being most
picturesque of all. The annual
Rose Festival is held each year
in June, and I was told that it is
just as beautiful as the Pasa
dena Rose Parade. Leaving this
city of Roses we crossed the broad
Columbia River to Vancouver,
the oldest town in the state of
Washington. There were lots of
things I wanted to see in this
historic city, chiefly the Van
couver Barracks on the site of
Old Fort Vancouver, built by the
Hudson Bay Company, and a
ride along the Evergreen High
way through the Columbia River
Gorge to see the Bonneville Dam,
a gigantic power and navigation
project that is creating a deep
lake over fifty miles long.
From Vancouver we went on to
Kelso, famous for its smelt fish
ing. Continuing we passed
through Castle Rock, Louis and
Clark State Park, and Jackson
State Park to Mary’s Corner, and
Chehalis. We really saw some
very beautiful evergreens through
these parks, the gigantic trees
with their lacey green foliage,
really delight and feed one’s
fancy. I have always loved trees,
and that is why I suppose this
drive up the Pacific coast was
such a treat to me. Such natural
beauties I have never seen before
in any forest, as I saw on this
trip up through Northern Cali
fornia to Seattle.
We had dinner in Olympia,
Washington State capital at the
southern tip of Puget Sound. We
saw the tablet in the New Capi
tal Park, marking the terminus
of the Old Oregon Trail.
Leaving Olympia we drove near
the Nisqually Indian Reservation
and up past Fort Lewis to
Tacoma, an industrial city on
Commencement Bay and gateway
to Mt. Rainier National Park.
■0
Qihiimhiiiiiiiiii.mil.tall.
| Alleghany—
Oddities
by Frances Wrench
It is a beautiful idea to make
two blades of grass grow where
one grew before. And indeed,
perhaps it can be done, and is
done, often. But to have two
trees growing in a single spot
should' be strange even to Bob
Ripley. And yet, that is what
Alleghany can display.
On one of the, hills near Sparta
is a dead locust tree. At one
time it was alive and serving its
purpose as a living thing. It
came to its end. And now. from
out the bop of the old dead locust
has sprung a mahogany tree that
is alive and thriving, with its
roots running down through the
very center of the old dead locust
trunk. So, two trees in one spot.
We plan to show a picture of
these two trees in one spot soon.
Another Oddity is where sev
eral tree? are growing out of a
rock, a? will be, described in an
other sketch.
! Mind Your Mind
| by James Watson, M. D.
| Division of Mental Hygiene
| State Welfare Department
5
QjunMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiMiiiimiMiiiiiMiiiniiiiiiig
The requests for suitable books
and pamphlets dealing with “Men
tal Health” come from three main
groups.
I wonder if you are familiar
with the pamphlets published by
the Government’s Children’s Bu
reau? If not, write to the
Superintendent of Documents,
Washington, D. C., for a list of
the publications of the Children’s
Bureau, which will be sent you
free. In it you will find listed
pamphlets dealing with almost
every problem arising in the rais
ing of children. These pamphlets
cost 5c or 10c each. Parents
have particularly praised the
pamphlets entitled “Are You
Training Your Child To Be
Happy?” “The Child From One
To Six,” and “Guiding The Ado
lescent.” And there are hundreds
of other good ones.
You should also get the list of
publications of the National Com
mittee for Mental Hygiene, 50
West 50th Street, New York City.
In it you will find listed many
useful pamphlets, some of which
are free. I would like especially
to mention “Some Undesirable
Habits and Suggestions as to
Treatment” by Dr. Taft 15c.
Many parents have found this
helpful.
Among books I would recom
mend “Everyday Problems of the
Everyday Child” by Dr. Douglas
A. Thom. This book is written
in simple style by an eminent
physician and covers every prob
lem likely to arise in the life of
a child. It costs $2.50 and is
published by the Appleton Cen
tury Co., of New York, but it is
probably in your town or school
library.
aB
BOV {SCOUTS u
VOF AMERICA
U.'iiU . —s . ^
Ever since the first public meet
ing of Boy Scouts in the Sparta
Methodist Church, Friday night,
February 23, definite steps havd
been taken each Week toward
perfecting the organization and
training the boys in Scout activi
ties. A charter has been received
from the national and parent
organization, and the eight boys
who comprise the troop are
working toward a trip to North
Wilkesboro to be inducted into
the next higher rank than they
now hold. Uniforms are being
acquired; a flag and staff are
one of their proud possessions; a
number—53—is the official num
ber; Arza Richardson is the
patrol leader, under Scoutmaster
Odell Andrews and Assistant Rob
ert Andrews; and red is the
troop color. “R. C.” Mitchell is
scribe.
The boys’ trip to F- ies one
Saturday night, to a Scout
demonstration, was not only a
lot of fun but an inspiration to
press on toward Scout perfection.
At present Troop 53 consists
of eight boys, and as two of
them are carrying on a very in
teresting activity right here in
Sparta, it is thought a sketch of
it will be interesting.
Billy Carol’s Lab
Speaking of hidden treasures,
Billy Carol has a chemistry labo
ratory in his mother’s plant cel
lar. A very exclusive lab it is—
both because the owners, Billy
Carol Choate and James Hardin
wish it that way, and also be
cause entrance to it is so diffi
cult (one lowers himself in.
through the roof).
After one has entered, an array'
of beakers, test tubes, and other
paraphernalia greet the eye. There
are gas burners, a syphon pump,
a miniature chemistry library, gas
generators, mortar and pestle, fire
extinguishers, running water from
a force pump which the boys fix
ed up. There are all kinds of
acids, over 100 different chemi
cals, a first-aid kit, and also a
microscope.
Billy and James carry on their
experiments on the town rats—
some of them coming from the
barber shop. (Their complaint is
that the rats coming from the
barber shop are too close-shaven).
The experiments include the
making of gunpowder, nitro
glycerin, a gas mask, and. study
ing all kinds of chemical re
actions.
Privacy while they work is
guaranteed both by the entrance
and by cardboard-covered win
dow panes.
On the wall hang Dr. Leff’s
medical saddle-bags, hang-over
from the days when he answered
bis calls on horse back.
Lewis Wagoner, we understand,
bas started a similar small labo
ratory for himself.