FRIDAY, JANUARY 11,1957 GLIMPSES OF THE PAST By CAROLYN LLOYD A few random remarks on no subject in particular— In this weather putting on shoes that have been in a cold room all night is like plunging your feet into two buckets of ice water. That alone should be enough to stifle any sighs for«the “good old days” when it was often necessary to break the ice in the washbowl before washing the face. It is enough to make me shudder just to remember the years when we lived in a house with such poor plumbing that the pipes froze if the wind changed. After the freez ing came the bursting; and there are few experiences more frus trating than that of opening the front door to be greeted by water • pouring down the steps from an upstairs bathroom or finding the floor a skating rink in the morn ing. The people who built many of the biases in this section in the “good old days” must have been hearty souls who liked to mop ice water early in the morning, or they would have put in better-protected plumbing systems. Ever notice the people sitting at ringside during the fights on television? There always seem to be at least one aristocratic wom an, looking oddly out of place. With her beautifully-coiffed white hair, her pearls, and her furs, she would be more in character at the opera. She generally turns out, however, to be the most enthusias tic rooter at ringside- She jabs with the fighters and bounces up and down like a teenager at a bas ketball game, joyfully urging the fighters on to mayhem. Sometimes the spectators are more interest ing to watch than the fighters. One newly-arrived citizen will have occasion to be thankful in years to come that his parents do not yield to his older sister in all things. Little Debbie Lancaster of Cary responded to the news that she had a baby brother with, “Is it a girl or a boy?” When assured that it was a boy, she said, “Let’s name him “Gertrude.” Worse things have been done to poor, innocent little children by their parents, of course. Many a boy has had to fight for his honor be cause of a fancy name wished on him by his parents. Teachers are accustomed to having pupils beg them not to reveal the name that must be put on permanent record cards, even though some of the names are perfectly respectable ones. I couldn’t blame one pupil named “Ebenezer Mortimer” for not wanting the full truth revealed to his classmates, 'nor another whose middle name was “Phar oah.” Children naturally have a wicked delight in the distorting of names, and parents often unwit tingly let their offspring in for a great deal of misery by providing their playmates with a name that can be made into material for comedy. At least, little Joseph Lawrence Lancaster, 111, will be| spared having to write “Gertrude” on his enrollment card at school. A cheerful thought for a new year: experts report that groceries will be even higher this year than last. It looks as though rising prices should eliminate some of the need for reducing weight, but it doesn’t seem to work that way. Most of the cheaper foods seem to be the most fattening. Discourag ing, isn’t it. EAST LAKE PERSONALS Mrs. Annie Twiford has return ed to her home after visiting in Manteo, Elizabeth City and Nor , folk. Allison Twiford of Elizabeth City was here Thursday. A. R. Basnight of Norfolk, is visiting his sister, Mrs. Annie Twi ford. Mr. and Mrs. Rockford David son, of Norfolk, spent several days here recently. Mrs. John H. Lee and little son, Johnnie and Mrs. Ben Shannon ■ "JB| VIRGINIA ELECTRIC and POWER COMPANY , WORK RESUMED ON OCRACOKE ROAD AS ; HOLIDAYS CLOSE 1 Ocracoke, January 7.—Work has I been resumed on the Ocracoke Is j land road after a brief Christmas respite. The rough road-bed work is completed as far north as Green I Island Club, which is the present , terminus of the road; marl has j been put on as far north as Par ker’s Hill. Reports have it that a | survey has been made in Pamlico ’ Sound to ascertain the best place for a ferry landing on the Ocra- I coke Island side of Hatteras In let, though it is not assured that a ferry slip will be established along with the completion of the road itself. The Ocracoke Burial Associa tion met on January 4th, and nam ed William Garrish as its 1957 president, Chris Gaskill, vice-pres ident, Mrs. Flora Spencer, secre tary and treasurer. New board members are W. B. Scarborough, Owen Gaskill, and Van H. O’Neal. The Civic Club will meet at the school library next Monday night, January 14th. The Willing Workers Class will meet Tuesday night, January 15th, in the church recreation hall. Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Howard arc enjoying a trip to the mainland with plans to visit various rela tives and friends. Their final des tination was not known to them at the time they left Ocracoke, but they plan to be gone a week or two. Mrs. Flora Spencer, who was hospitalized at Sea Level before Christmas, is back home under medical care. She wishes to express appreciation to the many friends who remembered her during her illness. Bill Gaskill has recently joined the U. S. Coast Guard and has re ported for duty at Cape May Train ing Base. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Gaskill visited relatives and friends in Buxton and Norfolk during the PAGE THREE Christmas holidays. Mr. and Mrs. Donald O’Neal of Wilmington, N. C. and family are visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert O’Neal. Mrs. Marie Womac and Mrs. Nina Williams were flown to Morehead City this past week end for medical diagnosis at Morehead City Hospital. Word has been received from the N. C. Cooperative Extension that Mrs. Callie C. Hardwicke, home development specialist, and several others in extension work will be at Ocracoke School January 24th and 25th to hold an reuphol stery workshop. This project had been planned for October, and had to be postponed at that time. Miss Jean Woodley, home agent of Hyde County, plans to be here also at that time. .. FIGHTS MX COLDS SYMPTOMS AT ONE TIME... IN LESS TIMS I ITS THE PROVEN COLDS MEDICINE TYPEWRITERS ONE FOURTH TO ONE THIRD ORIGINAL COST While -new machines have jumped recently as much as S2O, we can sell you recondi tioned models in top working condition at one fourth to one third original cost, and in some cases for less. TIMES PRINTING CO., Inc. Phone 44 MANTEO, N. C. BELHAVEN Office Phone 382-1