PAGE TWO
THE COASTLAND TIMES
Published Continuously at Manteo, N. C., Since July 4, 1935
The Weekly Journal of the Walter Raleigh Coastland of North Carolina,
Foremost Region of Recreation and Sport, Healthful Living and
Historical Interest On The Atlantic Seaboard
Entered As Second Class Matter At The Postoffice At Manteo, N. C.
Subscription Rates: 1 Year $2.50; 6 Months $1.50; 3 Months SI.OO
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY BY TIMES PRINTING CO., INC., AT
505 LODGE STREET, MANTEO, NORTH CAROLINA
VICTOR MEEKINS, Editor
CATHERINE D. MEEKINS, Secretary-Treasurer
Vol. XX Manteo, N. C\ Friday, May 27, 1955 No. 48
OUR GREAT OPPORTUNITY
(Elizabeth City Independent-Star)
The proposal of Hon. Lindsay Warren, one of North
Carolina’s great men, before a recent meeting of the Pasquo
tank Historical Society in which he suggested a celebration
in 1985 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the land
ing of the English on American soil, should be given the
wholehearted cooperation of every North Carolinian, and
especially those of us here in the Albemarle where this his
tory-making event took place.
Realizing the great potentialities of such a celebration
and the amount of organization and preparation to make it
the huge success the event would call for, Mr. Warren has
suggested that such preparations begin now, 30 years before
the proposed occasion, in order to insure the success it would
deserve. And he is right.
If there are those who are inclned to think the sugges
tion is fantastic, let us remember only that Lindsay Warren
was one of the driving forces behind the movements that
have resulted in the annual Lost Colony presentation at
Roanoke Island, and also the erection of the Wright Memo
rial on Kill Devil Hill; both of which were looked on with
askance when they were first suggested.
Lindsay Warren is a man with great vision, and in the
proposed 400th anniversary celebration he sees, rightly, a
great thing for the State of North Carolina. It would focus
the eyes of the nation and the world on our great state.
In his proposal, Mr. Warren had this to say:
“Commemoration of the first colonization is neither a community
or local privilege. It is a responsibility. The cradle of North Carolina
was the Albemarle section, but this small area was not adequate for the
demands of the growth which followed, extending to the western reach
es of the State. Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, and Perquimans were
the early precincts, but the greatest growth has been in other sections
and especially in the Piedmont. It is therefore apparent that any event
affecting the State which involves the movement of perhaps millions
of visitors into our midst must embrace state-wide study to determine
which locality is the logical spot for such a fair as I visualize. I have
in mind a major effort to show North Carolina to the Nation and in
deed to the world.
“It is certain that our people will not let the earliest English at
tempt to establish a colony on this side of the Atlantic. How much
imagination our successors will evidence is a matter of conjecture, but
we here today realize the importance of the Sir Walter Raleigh Colony
for on account of it, the customs, laws and language of England were
first transplanted and stuck their roots deep in our soil.
“Four hundred years after we have a state that has grown up—a
marvelous part of the Nation with a record of progress, achievement
and constructive thought that has excited the admiration and respect
of the American people. The same leadership that has brought North
Carolina to such a high pinnacle is a type that must get behind a proj
ect of this kind for to make real such a concept, it must have the ac
tive interest and the best thought of our entire citizenship. We must
be certain to grasp now its full potentialities and opportunity, to avoid
the small and insigificant, and to see only the great vistas which chal
lenge the imagination of man. If the proposal has any merit and meets
with your approval, I hope the Governor will take notice of it and will
appoint a commission of outstanding men and women who will serve
voluntarily and who will make a study of its desirability.
“This is one thing I know. North Carolina can have it and do it,
if it wishes.’’
Let us here in the Albemarle take the initiative in
launching this movement, seeking the cooperation of every
other section of the state.
ARE YOU DISCOURAGED?
Remember this: When Abraham Lincoln was a young
man, he ran for the Legislature in Illinois and was badly
swamped.
He next entered business, failed, and spent seventeen
years of his life paying up the debts of a worthless partner.
He was in love with a beautiful young woman, to whom
he became engaged—then she died.
He then tried to get an appointment to the U. S. Land
Office, but failed.
Entering politics again, he ran for Congress and was
badly defeated. •
He became a candidate for the U. S. Senate and was
badly defeated.
In 1856 he became a candidate for the Vice Presidency
and was again defeated.
In 1858, he was defeated by Douglas.
One failure after another—bad failures—great set
backs. In the face of all these,'he eventually became one of
the country’s greatest men, if not the greatest.
When you think of a series of setbacks like this, does it
make you feel small to become discouraged just because you
think you are having a hard time in life ?
FREEDOM OF UTTERANCE
You tell me that law is above freedom of utterance, and
I reply that you can have no wise laws nor free enforcement
of wise laws unless there is free expression of the wisdom
of the people—and alas, their folly with it. But, if there is
freedom, folly will die of its own poison, and wisdom will
survive. That is the history of the race ....
You say that freedom of utterance is not for time of
stress, and I reply with the sad truth that only in time of
stress is freedom of utterance in danger. No one questions it
in calm days, because it is not needed .... Only when free
utterance is suppressed is it needed, and when it is needed
it is most vital to justice. Peace is good. But, if you are in
terested in peace .through force without free discussion, . . .
your interest in justice is slight.
This nation will survive, this state will prosper, the
ordinary business of life will go forward if only men can
speak in whatever way given them to utter what their
hearts hold—by voice, by postal card, by letter or by press.
Reason never has failed men. Only force and suppression
have made the wrecks in the world. William Allen White.
EDITOR’S DUTY IS TO THE PUBLIC.
(From the Gulfport Guide)
This editor has no personal axe to grind. To his way of
thinking the freedom of the press carries with it a patriotic
duty to battle for the ideals of public decency and good gov
ernment. He has fond contempt for spineless sheets that
mis-call themselves newspapers while lacking the guts to
take a stand on matters of controversy for fear of losing a
few column inches of advertising. As long as he is forunate
koSmED
COTTAGE ROBBERY BITTER
DOSE FOR DR. PECK
To The Editor:
Dear Mr. Meekins: I am writing
to you because I feel, if anyone
can do anything to expose the
thieving and robbing that is done
down there every year—you are
the man to do something about it.
My cottage, “Bedside Manor” is
broken into every year. We built
the cottage five years ago and the
local police apparently are as lax
now as they were then in attempt
ing to stop the thefts that are com
mitted and allowed to continue on
the Dare Beaches. I built our cotv
tage to enjoy and especially for
my wife and our four daughters
so that they could have a nice
home in the summer that is fully
equipped and ready to move into.
As it is we have to hire a small
trailer to attach to our station
wagon because we have to replace
things that are stolen every year.
Mrs. Peck has agreed with me
that it would be better to sell our
place and move to a protected
beach where we could be given
more assurance that we would
have the same house and equip
ment that we had when we closed
up for the winter.
This year the house was stripped
of decorations—l think that has
disgusted Mary more than any
thing—as she said, “I spent hours
finding some of the drapery ma
terial—let alone the trouble of
having them made. Some of the
art objects that were taken can’t
be replaced, especially the water
colors.”
I would like to mention the des
cribable things—perhaps someone
would see them and ‘ recognize
same:
Yellow-flowered moire quilted
bedspread, ruffled seat cover to
match with hassock, large Blenko
glass fish, metal art craft fish of
copper mounted on wood, 6 foot
wide drapery—a charcoal grey de
sign with ships and pirates—char
truse rope design coral colored
denim drapes, flat silver and
chest-service for 8, all fishing
gear, a 15 foot green and Llack
surf fishing rod, and other glass
and boat rods, several fluffy
white rugs, all kitchen knives and
other kitchen ware, large cookie
ceramic holder, shaped like a
train—white percale liners for
double and single beds, fitted
sheets, jeep battery.
There were other things—and
we haven’t seen yet all the goods
that are missing. Our family has
only given us the report of the
things they knew were missing.
The thieves broke into a south side
window. At least, this year, they
didn’t break the door down.
We built on Nags Head beach
because we thought it was our sort
of place. We’ve loved our summers
there but can only take so much
and then want to give up and start
again. If the local officials don’t
get busy and give us more for our
taxes they are going to find that,
to put it frankly—Nags Head has
had it. You’ll find other beaches
that have less looting and do more
in every way to encourage visitors
to return.
I don’t know your ideas on the
‘insect situation’ but I could go on
for several paragraphs about what
other beaches have done about
flies and mosquitos.
Very truly yours,
R. DEWITT PECK, M. D.
606 3rd Ave.
Montgomery, W. Va.
May 12, 1955
CAPE HATTERAS DOCTOR
WANTS JAIL AT BUXTON
To The Editor:
This is an answer to the ques
tion in your recent editorial, “Why
spend $5,000 for a jail at Buxton?”
First, let’s examine the need. Even
though it may not be especially
complimentary, we frequently find
dangerous individuals at large in
our midst. There is simply nothing
which we can do about it when the
ferries are not running. The State
Highway Department takes cog
nizance of this fact in refusing to
send a patrolman to Cape Hatteras
until measures are taken for de
tention of offenders.
Not all these individuals are un
ruly drunks either. Regardless of
why they may be dangerous, pro
tection is still necessary. The
cause may be drunkenness, addic
tion, moral degradation, mental
derangement, or any other reason.
Now let us examine the cost
and relative values of such protec
tion. What price tags do we put
on our homes? Our institutions?
Our families, friends, and neigh-
enough to have ink on his hands, he will stay steadfast in
that journalistic faith.
There is this difference between a professional politi
cian and a taxpayer. The taxpayers soon get hot and bother
ed, periodically, and as soon as the contest is over, they cool
off and forget it. The politician doesn't forget. He goes right
on scheming and fighting. They are like termites. The home
owner gets bothered and squirts a little creosote or some
other concoction on the little bugs every year or two or three.
But the termites never sleep—they go on boring in. They
work day and night, 365 days in the year and, just when one
thinks they are conquered, there they are again. That’s why
I have such profound admiration for termites and profes
sional politicians. You can’t help but respect them for their
persistence.
THE COASTLAND TIMES. MANTEO. N. C.
bors? Os what value is law en
forcement to any community?
What are our responsibilities to
these would-be offenders? Many
of them are ill-equipped individ
uals striving desperately for a
place in our competitive society.
These people, living in a civilizqd
and Christian community, are en
titled to protection from them
selves; from the results of their
own misdirected acts. Let’s assume
that Oregon Inlet will be bridged
within the optimistic period of
five years. Would not SI,OOO per
year be a bargain price for the
protection which a jail would af
ford for two thousand citizens, a
few hundred military personnel,
and hundreds of tourists? Would
this expenditure be out of line
with that spent by other law en
forcing agencies or by the U. S.
Coast Guard for similar protection
of life and property?
You propose using the brick
building on the Health Center
grounds. This property was deeded
to Dare County in 1948 by the
War Assets Administration. The
terms of this deed explicitly state
that this property “shall continu
ously be used as and for health
purposes . . . but for no other pur
poses. In event there is a breach
. . . said properties shall revert to
the United States of America.”
Furthermore, the proposed build
ing is almost under the eve of the
hospital building. Certainly none
of us want a jail in this location.
I might add that the Cape Hat
teras Health Center does receive
some tax funds. Last June the
board of county commissioners
very graciously voted to aid the
health center with funds of
$3,000 for the fiscal year be
ginning July 1, 1954. These
additional funds made it pos
sible for the health center to
hire a nurse, a necessity which wc
could not previously afford. We
are more than grateful for these
funds. In return, the County has
been relieved of all payments to
this facility for the case of welfare
patients and indigents. Not one
cent has been paid to this health
center or doctor in the past three
and one half years for such care.
These services include hospitaliza
tion, doctor’s fees, drugs and sup
plies, nursing care, and home calls.
I say Cape Hatteras does need
a jail. Maybe two jails in one
county would be unusual. Our
peculiar geographic layout is also
unusual. We do not need a penal
institution but only a detention
cell. If having two jails makes
Dare County look too tough, why
not call this cell the Cape Hatteras
Annex.
DR. DONALD W. THARP
Editor’s Note. Dr. Tharp's con
tention implies that the contract
has been breached anyway. The
building is not used for a hospital
when a Lodge uses it. The fact is,
when a building is rented, and rent
collected as is required by the con
tract, this income must be used for
support of the hospital, the reason
for the gift. This editor happened
to be in position to play quite a
part in getting this hospital for
Hatteras Island did many things
to further the cause. Some of the
buildings that came along with the
deal were not .used for the hospital.
They were torn down and sold, and
the proceeds given to the hospital.
Dr. Tharp has zeal for his hospital,
and no doubt glad to write a few
lines on this subject to please some
neighbor. We commend him for his,
service to the people. He is essen
tial. A temporary lock-up might be
a good thing, but if this jail is
built at Buxton. Dr. Tharp and
many others will live to see it en
gender more ill-will for his com
munity than any thing that ever
happened. And right now Buxton
has a difficult task to overcome
the bitterness that came out of a
needless school row. Let’s hope it
dies out and old wounds get heal
ed. It will never be done by throw
ing new fuel on the flames as this
jail scheme will do.
MANTED WOLF PATROL BOY
SCOUTS ATTEND COUNCIL
The Wolf Patrol of Boy Scout
Troop 165 of Manteo, led by Mel
vin Twiddy, Jr., of Manns Harbor,
won a blue ribbon of excellence at
the recent District Camporee at
Camp Perry, Elizabeth City. This
entitled them to attend the Tide
water Council Camporee at Camp
Moonyah, Norfolk, May 21-22.
Members of the patrol attending
were Melvin Twiddy, Jr., Patrol
leader; Ray Midgette, Assistant
Patrol leader; G. G. Bonner 111,
Colon Wayne Wescott, Jimmy Bas
night, Lloyd Wescott, and Billy
Taylor.
They were accompanied to Nor
folk by Gus Hultman of the
National Park Service and Sidney
Shaw, Assistant Scoutmaster.
GLIMPSES
OF
THE PAST
By CAROLYN LLOYD
It was just a cardboard box,
with nothing in its appearance to
mark it as different from thous
ands of others that once contained
cans of peaches or spinach. This
one, though, was full of dreams
and memories; and I suspect that
there is one in every household.
I had tried to get rid of it twice
before when moving; and lately,
on the threshhold of another move
I tried again. Dragging it from
the closet where it had been shov
ed out of sight for five years, I
sat down on the floor with a
was’ebasket handy. Two hours lat
er I was still sitting there and
the basket was still practically
empty. In it were a few old love
letters reluctantly torn to bits. Re
luctantly, not because I still cher
ish any tender sentiments for the
writers, but because I got such
a kick out of re-reading them and
recalling the tender sentiments
they once aroused.. Ah, the thrill
of going to the post office and
finding the longed-for letter. It
was almost better than getting a
letter today with a check enclosed
—almost.
The pictures, though, I could
not bring myself to discard. It
would have been too much like
throwing people in the trash can.
There were likenesses of people
whom I can barely remember and
some of relatives whom 1 have
never seen, but back into the box
they went. There was one big one,
badly blurred, of two little blonde
gills, one distinguished by freckl
es and a huge ribbon hair bow,
the other by her pigeon-toed
stance. My sister and I used to
beg our mother to destroy that
one, but she never would, and nei
ther can I.
My high school memory bcok
was next. How foolish, I thought,
to hang on to this thing; yet at
the end of a half hour, when I
had once again been a silly teen
ager, back into the box it went.
As a teacher, it will do me good
to get it out once a year and re
member me.
Near the bottom of the pile
was a beautiful diary with a cover
of rose leather, a little gold lock
and key, and my name engraved
in gold. I didn’t linger there, how
ever, for the pages had long since
been ripped out and burned. Once,
years ago, after a narrow brush
with death, I realized that my fam
ily would never have been able to
resist the temptation to read that
diary. It contained nothing lurid
or sensational, but I just didn’t
like the idea of anyone’s reading
my girlish effusions, even if 1
were beyond blushing.
There were old programs, col
lege notebooks, corsage ribbons—
oh, a fascinating lot of junk. And
so the box was closed again, nearly
as full as at the start of the ses
sion. Heavens, why did I keep the
box my first watch came in?) It
was brought to a new house and
poses anew the problem of find
ing a hiding place. The contents
wouldn’t be worth a dime to any
one else, but the value to me can
not be measured in dollars. Any
other old sentimentalists around
these days?
MANTEO GIRLS RECEIVE
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
Miss Patricia Baum of Manteo
and Miss Mary Meekins of Colum
bia, who makes her home in Man
teo during the summer months,
arrived home this week from
Greensboro College, Greensboro,
where they were freshmen during
the past school year, each with an
honor scholarship of SIOO. Miss
Baum, who is a music major, won
her scholarship on the basis of her
grades. Miss Meekins, who is
majoring in primary education, re
ceived hers for outstanding work
in freshman English.
I Required K? 15
■ Reading Cj
I for .A-dr 2 *
I Smart /
I Shoppers k [rjrf
Y\|T V
I The smartest shoppers al
ways use the Classified
Pages of their telephone
directory. And the reason
i is a simple one ... because
• nearly every product and
| every service is listed in
alphabetical order ... so
easy to find and so depend
able, too
The Norfolk & Carolina
Telephone & Telegraph Co.
Manteo - Elizabeth City - Hertford
Edenton - Sunbury
( OTHER EDITORS j
A MINISTER SPEAKS OUT
FOR HiGHWAY SAFETY
By REV. J. L. WALTER MQOSE,
Minister,
Gatesville Baptist Church
Human life is sacred. It is not
something to trifle with, or to
treat as if it was of no conse
quence. It owes its origin to divine
creation and its destiny to divine
guidance. Although we may not al
ways recognize it, the concept of
the sacredness of human life is
woven into the very warp and woof
of our institutional life.
Our government is founded
upon this principle. It is dedicated
to the protection of the lives and
rights of its citizens. A man is
not to be enslaved by his fellows,
deprived of his ‘inalienable
rights,” or treated unjustly, be
cause he is created in the image of
God. He does not exist for the
state, but the state exists for him.
It is a simple recognition that
human life is sacred.
The school is cognizant of the
same principle. It does not attempt
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to coerce and pour the child into
a particular mould. Rather, it at
tempts to develop the native
abilities and talents of individual
children so that they may come in
to their rightful heritage. This is
true because the school recog
nizes the sacredness of human
life.
Perhaps we can see the concept
illustrated more clearly in the
field of medicine. The doctor is
dedicated to the task of saving hu-;.,
man life. There may be no hop«B
but he does not falter. He
tinues his ministrations to the
very end. He knows that he is deal
ing with something sacred.
Now, I think there is a correla
tion between safety on our high
ways and the concept of the sac
redness of human life. A driver’s
permit is not a license to play
loose and careless with the lives of
people. It is the recognition that
we are capable of handling a car,
but it cannot supply the necessary
concern for the protection and
preservation of life. That concern
will be supplied only if we believe
that life is sacred; and, therefore,
is to be protected by the efforts of
every person.
L 955