Thursday, December 31, 2015
High Point Review Recommends These New Year Resolutions, 1914
From
The Review, High Point, N.C., January 15, 1914
New Year Resolutions
New Year resolutions, they say, are generally made to be broken but that does not argue against the fact that it is a good thing to make New Year resolutions. The spirit is broken indeed which cannot once a year resolve to lend itself to bigger and better things and by that very resolve strengthen itself.
Make, then, some resolutions for the New Year.
Resolve to put aside selfishness and work for the good of all.
Resolve to boost for the community.
Resolve to spend your money where you make it.
Resolve to convert mail order fools into home traders.
Resolve to help your own interests and the interests of the entire section by supporting The Review, the only weekly independent newspaper published here in the history of High Point.
Make many resolutions and keep some of them.
New Year Resolutions
New Year resolutions, they say, are generally made to be broken but that does not argue against the fact that it is a good thing to make New Year resolutions. The spirit is broken indeed which cannot once a year resolve to lend itself to bigger and better things and by that very resolve strengthen itself.
Make, then, some resolutions for the New Year.
Resolve to put aside selfishness and work for the good of all.
Resolve to boost for the community.
Resolve to spend your money where you make it.
Resolve to convert mail order fools into home traders.
Resolve to help your own interests and the interests of the entire section by supporting The Review, the only weekly independent newspaper published here in the history of High Point.
Make many resolutions and keep some of them.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Hope for a Brighter Year and an End to the War, and Tennyson's 'Death of the Old Year' to See Out 1917
From
the editorial page of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec. 27, 1917. The war would end in 1918 but the Spanish Flu Pandemic would kill 50 million people worldwide.
New Year
Next Monday night at the stroke of twelve the new year of 1918 will be ushered in. To many, the out-going year is fraught with memories that burn but to vastly many others the year dealt kindly and these latter are loath to see their friend depart.
The world is in the grip of a horrible war. Let us all work and pray to the end that a surcease may be made to it during the approaching 1918.
“Death of the Old Year”
To the editor’s way of thinking, Tennyson’s ‘Death of the Old Year’ is one of the sweetest poems penned. Don’t you think the custom of reading this poem just before the New Year is ushered in is a beautiful one? If you haven’t your copy of Tennyson convenient, just clip this out and next Monday night just before the midnight hour strikes begin reading aloud to your loved ones this tribute to our Old Year, timing yourself so that on the stroke of twelve you will have reached the last half of the last stanza—and can joyfully welcome the ‘new face at the door’ and happily step over the threshold of the New Year.
Full knee deep lies the winter snow,
And the winter winds are wearily sighing:
Toll ye the church-bell sad and slow,
And tread softly and speak low,
For the old year lies a-dying;
Old Year, you must not die;
You came to us so readily,
You lived with us so steadily,
Old Year, you shall not die.
He lieth still; he doth not move;
He will not see the dawn of day.
He hath no other life above.
He have me a friend, and a true, true-love,
And the New Year will take ‘em away,
Old Year, you must not go;
So long as you have been with us,
Such joys as you have seen with us,
Old Year, you shall not go.
He froth’d his bumpers to the brim,
A jollier year we shall not see,
But tho’ his eyes are waxing dim,
And tho’ his foes speak ill of him,
He was a friend to me.
Old Year, you shall not die.
We did so laugh and cry with you,
I’ve half a mind to die with you,
Old Year, if you must die.
He was full of joke and jest,
But all his merry quips are o’er.
To see him die, across the waste
His son and heir doth ride post-haste,
But he’ll be dead before.
Every one for his own.
The night is starry and cold, my friend,
And the New Year blithe and bold, my friend.
Come up to take his own.
How hard he breathes! Over the snow
I heard just now the crowing cock.
The shadows flicker to and fro:
The cricket chirps; the lights burn low;
‘Tis nearly twelve o’clock.
Shake hands before you die,
Old Year, we’ll dearly rue for you.
What is it we can do for you?
Speak out before you die.
His face is growing sharp and thin.
Alack our friend is gone.
Close up his eyes, tie up his chin:
Step from the corpse and let him in
That standeth there alone,
And waiteth at the door.
There’s a new foot on the floor, my friend,
And a new face at the door, my friend,
A new face at the door.
New Year
Next Monday night at the stroke of twelve the new year of 1918 will be ushered in. To many, the out-going year is fraught with memories that burn but to vastly many others the year dealt kindly and these latter are loath to see their friend depart.
The world is in the grip of a horrible war. Let us all work and pray to the end that a surcease may be made to it during the approaching 1918.
“Death of the Old Year”
To the editor’s way of thinking, Tennyson’s ‘Death of the Old Year’ is one of the sweetest poems penned. Don’t you think the custom of reading this poem just before the New Year is ushered in is a beautiful one? If you haven’t your copy of Tennyson convenient, just clip this out and next Monday night just before the midnight hour strikes begin reading aloud to your loved ones this tribute to our Old Year, timing yourself so that on the stroke of twelve you will have reached the last half of the last stanza—and can joyfully welcome the ‘new face at the door’ and happily step over the threshold of the New Year.
Full knee deep lies the winter snow,
And the winter winds are wearily sighing:
Toll ye the church-bell sad and slow,
And tread softly and speak low,
For the old year lies a-dying;
Old Year, you must not die;
You came to us so readily,
You lived with us so steadily,
Old Year, you shall not die.
He lieth still; he doth not move;
He will not see the dawn of day.
He hath no other life above.
He have me a friend, and a true, true-love,
And the New Year will take ‘em away,
Old Year, you must not go;
So long as you have been with us,
Such joys as you have seen with us,
Old Year, you shall not go.
He froth’d his bumpers to the brim,
A jollier year we shall not see,
But tho’ his eyes are waxing dim,
And tho’ his foes speak ill of him,
He was a friend to me.
Old Year, you shall not die.
We did so laugh and cry with you,
I’ve half a mind to die with you,
Old Year, if you must die.
He was full of joke and jest,
But all his merry quips are o’er.
To see him die, across the waste
His son and heir doth ride post-haste,
But he’ll be dead before.
Every one for his own.
The night is starry and cold, my friend,
And the New Year blithe and bold, my friend.
Come up to take his own.
How hard he breathes! Over the snow
I heard just now the crowing cock.
The shadows flicker to and fro:
The cricket chirps; the lights burn low;
‘Tis nearly twelve o’clock.
Shake hands before you die,
Old Year, we’ll dearly rue for you.
What is it we can do for you?
Speak out before you die.
His face is growing sharp and thin.
Alack our friend is gone.
Close up his eyes, tie up his chin:
Step from the corpse and let him in
That standeth there alone,
And waiteth at the door.
There’s a new foot on the floor, my friend,
And a new face at the door, my friend,
A new face at the door.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Bobolink Reports Mangum News in Rockingham Post-Dispatch, 1921
“Mangum
Items,” from the Dec. 1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham
Post-Dispatch.
The Willing Workers held their monthly meeting with Mrs. H.H. Chandler. Mrs. Covington, Home Agent, and Mrs. Thomas of Rockingham were present and made interesting talks. Mrs. Thomas gave demonstrations for Christmas presents.
Mr. and Mrs. David Haywood entertained a few young people most delightfully at a candy-pulling Friday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Poe and children, Inez and Lucille, of Apex, and Miss Flax Andrews of Lumberton spent the Thanksgiving holidays with Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Andrews.
Mr. and Mrs. Hampton LeGrand of Winston visited at the home of his uncle, Mr. W.O. LeGrand last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Godfrey of Spray were week-end guests at the home of her other, Mrs. T.F. Stanback.
Messrs. Davis Haywood and Lewis and Charlie Lisk motored to Charlotte Monday.
Miss Ruth Horne and Mr. Wortz Rogers of Charlotte spent Thanksgiving with Miss Horne’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Horne.
This community is blessed with a real live Epworth League. While the membership is not so very large, yet the members are very much in earnest and readily take part in the meetings with the right spirit. On Thursday evening of last week the League held a most enjoyable Thanksgiving service. The following program was given, with Homer Lisk as leader; Topic “The Goodness of God.”
Song: Joy to the World
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Lee Johnson
Scripture: Psalm 34: 1-10.
Reading “The First Thanksgiving”: Homer Lisk
Reading “A Psalm of Thanksgiving”: Miss Mamie Currie
Reading: Charlie Lisk
Reading: Fred Jarrell
Recitation, “Thanksgiving”: John Robert Jarrell
Talk, “Our National Thanksgiving”: Miss Kate M. Johnson
Sentence Prayer
Quartet, “The Kingdom is Coming”: Homer Lisk, Fred Jarrell, Lee Johnson, Jackie Currie
Just here pencils and Thanksgiving booklets were passed through the audience, with the request that each would write something for which they were thankful. The response to this was most gratifying. As these were read by the president, Lee Johnson, it was seen that there are many causes for thanksgiving.
Next on the program was a hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” As this was being sung, Miss Bertha Lisk, representing the Spirit of Thanksgiving, dressed in white with a crown of Autumn leaves on her head and having a basket of apples and sheaves of corn, emblems of the harvest time, entered. After recounting many of the blessings, chief of which was God’s greatest gift, His Son, the Spirit of Thanksgiving then called upon the representatives from different mission points to come forward. At this time nine young people, representing Poland, China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Serbia, Czheco-Slovakia, Mexico and Cuba came to the front and gave interesting reports from these fields. Next the officers of the League stood in a body and recited together the League pledge. This was followed by the hymn, “Come Ye Thankful.” The meeting closed with the League Benediction.
--Bobolink
The Willing Workers held their monthly meeting with Mrs. H.H. Chandler. Mrs. Covington, Home Agent, and Mrs. Thomas of Rockingham were present and made interesting talks. Mrs. Thomas gave demonstrations for Christmas presents.
Mr. and Mrs. David Haywood entertained a few young people most delightfully at a candy-pulling Friday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Poe and children, Inez and Lucille, of Apex, and Miss Flax Andrews of Lumberton spent the Thanksgiving holidays with Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Andrews.
Mr. and Mrs. Hampton LeGrand of Winston visited at the home of his uncle, Mr. W.O. LeGrand last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Godfrey of Spray were week-end guests at the home of her other, Mrs. T.F. Stanback.
Messrs. Davis Haywood and Lewis and Charlie Lisk motored to Charlotte Monday.
Miss Ruth Horne and Mr. Wortz Rogers of Charlotte spent Thanksgiving with Miss Horne’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Horne.
This community is blessed with a real live Epworth League. While the membership is not so very large, yet the members are very much in earnest and readily take part in the meetings with the right spirit. On Thursday evening of last week the League held a most enjoyable Thanksgiving service. The following program was given, with Homer Lisk as leader; Topic “The Goodness of God.”
Song: Joy to the World
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Lee Johnson
Scripture: Psalm 34: 1-10.
Reading “The First Thanksgiving”: Homer Lisk
Reading “A Psalm of Thanksgiving”: Miss Mamie Currie
Reading: Charlie Lisk
Reading: Fred Jarrell
Recitation, “Thanksgiving”: John Robert Jarrell
Talk, “Our National Thanksgiving”: Miss Kate M. Johnson
Sentence Prayer
Quartet, “The Kingdom is Coming”: Homer Lisk, Fred Jarrell, Lee Johnson, Jackie Currie
Just here pencils and Thanksgiving booklets were passed through the audience, with the request that each would write something for which they were thankful. The response to this was most gratifying. As these were read by the president, Lee Johnson, it was seen that there are many causes for thanksgiving.
Next on the program was a hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.” As this was being sung, Miss Bertha Lisk, representing the Spirit of Thanksgiving, dressed in white with a crown of Autumn leaves on her head and having a basket of apples and sheaves of corn, emblems of the harvest time, entered. After recounting many of the blessings, chief of which was God’s greatest gift, His Son, the Spirit of Thanksgiving then called upon the representatives from different mission points to come forward. At this time nine young people, representing Poland, China, Korea, Japan, Brazil, Serbia, Czheco-Slovakia, Mexico and Cuba came to the front and gave interesting reports from these fields. Next the officers of the League stood in a body and recited together the League pledge. This was followed by the hymn, “Come Ye Thankful.” The meeting closed with the League Benediction.
--Bobolink
Monday, December 28, 2015
News From Across North Carolina, 1921
“N.C.
State News…A Digest of Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and
Things,” from the Dec. 23, 1921, issue of the Elizabeth City Independent.
--Ralph B. Patterson, a Wake Forest freshman whose home is in Fayetteville, was seized in broad daylight last Wednesday morning by eight men masked as Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, who were presumably college students. Patterson was taken to the college gymnasium, hog-tied, bound and gagged and his scalp was blacked with a solution of nitrate of silver.
--J.W. Stout & Co. of Sanford will erect a new school building at Lenoir for $105,000.
--Six Wake Forest students have been expelled for hazing which has occurred during the year.
--John Henry Hensley, a 17-year-old Burlington youth, was killed when he jumped from a truck.
--A mistrial was ordered in the case of J.G. Robertson, charged with simple assault on an Ahoskie woman.
--The cornerstone of the William J. Hicks Memorial Hospital at the Oxford Orphanage was laid today.
--There are a total of 533,722 Baptists in the State of North Carolina according to a survey that has just been completed.
--Prohibition officers in Dunn conducted a public destruction of 22 gallons of moonshine they had brought to town from a nearby still.
--An uninsured tobacco barn was destroyed at Bethel by fire. Twenty-one bales of cotton stored in the barn were burned.
--In Columbus county more than four million pounds of tobacco have been signed up for sale next season by the co-operative marketing association.
--Ed. Stancell and wife, two colored people of Wilson, were fleeced of $625 by three other negroes who worked a confidence game on the pair.
--Rev. G.T. Adams, pastor of the Goldsboro Methodist church, fell over a pile of bricks in his back yard and broke his leg.
--James W. Cannon, one of the leading textile manufacturers of the entire South, died at his home in Concord Monday.
--Three desperate hold-ups occurred in Raleigh within an hour and a half one night last week. The total loot taken was a gold watch and about $25 in cash.
--The Carolina Power and Light Company has bought the municipal lighting plant of Dunn. The deal was carried by an overwhelming majority at the hands of the voters.
--The largest road-building program ever undertaken by a community of 35,000, it is estimated will be completed by June 1 in Lenoir county, at a cost of $2,000,000.
--John Tripp, age 68, is on trial at Greenville, charged with being the father of an illegitimate child born to Dora Chauncey, 14-year-girl. Tripp, who is married, denies the charges.
--W.L. Wilkins, cotton buyer on the Wilson market for several years, was found dead in his room in that city. Heart failure is supposed to have been the cause of his death.
--C.J. Kelly, Sanford automobile dealer, was sentenced to five years in the Atlanta Penitentiary and fined $5,000 in U.S. District court in Raleigh, for interstate traffic in stolen automobiles.
--Isaac Hammett of Rutherfordton died after having shot his wife twice, then fired two shots into his own body. Mrs. Hammett is expected to recover. Hammett was crazed by his wife having left him to live with her mother.
--Almo Chichrist of Wagam was instantly killed when the automobile he was driving was struck by an Atlantic Coast line passenger train. The train was wrecked and the fireman and conductor were seriously injured. None of the passengers were injured.
--Miss Carrie Mae Sanders of Burgaw has been declared the winner of the nation-wide contest under the auspices of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, in which a prize of $100 was offered to the high school student submitting the best essay on “Peace.”
--Governor Morrison has pardoned Howard Hill of Guilford county, who was sentenced to two years in State prison in June for simple assault upon a female. The pardon was recommended by the woman herself, her father, her lawyer, and the solicitor.
--North Carolina, during the week beginning January 16, 1922, will be asked to contribute its quota of $35,000 toward the Woodrow Wilson Fundation Fund, to be used as a memorial to the War President and the perpetuation of the Wilson ideals.
--Furman Betts Jr., 7-year-old boy of Raleigh, was led by a strange negro for more than a mile and robbed of a $5 bill, which the negro promised to get changed for the lad, and two express packages containing $200 worth of furs were stolen from an express wagon in Raleigh.
--A thorough survey of the tenant farming situation in North Carolina was provided for by the Board of Agriculture when it adopted a resolution requesting four prominent students of tenancy to co-operate with two members of the State Board of Agriculture in making plans and prosecuting investigations.
--Governor Morrison has offered a reward of $400 for the apprehension of Adam Miller, one of two negroes charged with having made an attack upon a young white married woman at her home near Charlotte. The other negro, Fred Ardrey, was arrested shortly after the attack and is now in jail at Salisbury.
--Ralph B. Patterson, a Wake Forest freshman whose home is in Fayetteville, was seized in broad daylight last Wednesday morning by eight men masked as Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, who were presumably college students. Patterson was taken to the college gymnasium, hog-tied, bound and gagged and his scalp was blacked with a solution of nitrate of silver.
--J.W. Stout & Co. of Sanford will erect a new school building at Lenoir for $105,000.
--Six Wake Forest students have been expelled for hazing which has occurred during the year.
--John Henry Hensley, a 17-year-old Burlington youth, was killed when he jumped from a truck.
--A mistrial was ordered in the case of J.G. Robertson, charged with simple assault on an Ahoskie woman.
--The cornerstone of the William J. Hicks Memorial Hospital at the Oxford Orphanage was laid today.
--There are a total of 533,722 Baptists in the State of North Carolina according to a survey that has just been completed.
--Prohibition officers in Dunn conducted a public destruction of 22 gallons of moonshine they had brought to town from a nearby still.
--An uninsured tobacco barn was destroyed at Bethel by fire. Twenty-one bales of cotton stored in the barn were burned.
--In Columbus county more than four million pounds of tobacco have been signed up for sale next season by the co-operative marketing association.
--Ed. Stancell and wife, two colored people of Wilson, were fleeced of $625 by three other negroes who worked a confidence game on the pair.
--Rev. G.T. Adams, pastor of the Goldsboro Methodist church, fell over a pile of bricks in his back yard and broke his leg.
--James W. Cannon, one of the leading textile manufacturers of the entire South, died at his home in Concord Monday.
--Three desperate hold-ups occurred in Raleigh within an hour and a half one night last week. The total loot taken was a gold watch and about $25 in cash.
--The Carolina Power and Light Company has bought the municipal lighting plant of Dunn. The deal was carried by an overwhelming majority at the hands of the voters.
--The largest road-building program ever undertaken by a community of 35,000, it is estimated will be completed by June 1 in Lenoir county, at a cost of $2,000,000.
--John Tripp, age 68, is on trial at Greenville, charged with being the father of an illegitimate child born to Dora Chauncey, 14-year-girl. Tripp, who is married, denies the charges.
--W.L. Wilkins, cotton buyer on the Wilson market for several years, was found dead in his room in that city. Heart failure is supposed to have been the cause of his death.
--C.J. Kelly, Sanford automobile dealer, was sentenced to five years in the Atlanta Penitentiary and fined $5,000 in U.S. District court in Raleigh, for interstate traffic in stolen automobiles.
--Isaac Hammett of Rutherfordton died after having shot his wife twice, then fired two shots into his own body. Mrs. Hammett is expected to recover. Hammett was crazed by his wife having left him to live with her mother.
--Almo Chichrist of Wagam was instantly killed when the automobile he was driving was struck by an Atlantic Coast line passenger train. The train was wrecked and the fireman and conductor were seriously injured. None of the passengers were injured.
--Miss Carrie Mae Sanders of Burgaw has been declared the winner of the nation-wide contest under the auspices of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, in which a prize of $100 was offered to the high school student submitting the best essay on “Peace.”
--Governor Morrison has pardoned Howard Hill of Guilford county, who was sentenced to two years in State prison in June for simple assault upon a female. The pardon was recommended by the woman herself, her father, her lawyer, and the solicitor.
--North Carolina, during the week beginning January 16, 1922, will be asked to contribute its quota of $35,000 toward the Woodrow Wilson Fundation Fund, to be used as a memorial to the War President and the perpetuation of the Wilson ideals.
--Furman Betts Jr., 7-year-old boy of Raleigh, was led by a strange negro for more than a mile and robbed of a $5 bill, which the negro promised to get changed for the lad, and two express packages containing $200 worth of furs were stolen from an express wagon in Raleigh.
--A thorough survey of the tenant farming situation in North Carolina was provided for by the Board of Agriculture when it adopted a resolution requesting four prominent students of tenancy to co-operate with two members of the State Board of Agriculture in making plans and prosecuting investigations.
--Governor Morrison has offered a reward of $400 for the apprehension of Adam Miller, one of two negroes charged with having made an attack upon a young white married woman at her home near Charlotte. The other negro, Fred Ardrey, was arrested shortly after the attack and is now in jail at Salisbury.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Randolph County Extension Homemaker Clubs Celebrate Christmas, 1984
“Christmas
in Randolph” by Louise Kearns, from the Tar Heel Homemaker, January-March, 1984
THE LAST TOUCH—Louise Kearns, chairman of Christmas in Randolph 1983, puts the finishing touch on the old-fashioned tree decorated by one of the local EHAs.
CHRISTMAS AT HISTORIC SITES—Members of Friendly EHA in Durham County play an important role in Christmas programs at three historic sites in Durham each year. Above, Ouida Currin, kneeling, Doris Hargis, left, and Mable Jeffries decorate the tree at Bennett Place where Gen. Joseph E. Johnson surrendered nearly 90,000 soldiers to Gen. William Sherman. EH decorated the old kitchen and the “big house” in the 1860 theme and on Sunday wore period costumes and served hot apple juice and ginger cookies at the site’s open house. They also assisted Mrs. Jeffries, who works full-time at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, in making cookies and decorating for the farm house’s Christmas open house and made corn shuck dolls in 1790 costumes for display during Christmas at the Stagville Preservation Center.
HOW IT’S DONE—Jewel Rich, left, and Clara Bulla demonstrate candy making during the Randolph County Fall Festival. EH netted $1,500 in their “Granny’s Candy Kitchen” booth.
EH DECORATE CITY’S TREE—Members of Mount Holly EHA in Gaston County were requested by the mayor to decorate the city’s tree of county municipalities for the county History and Art Museum Christmas display. Using handmade items depicting local heritage. Mayor Charles B. Black gave a hand to EH Frances Black, Blanche Talton and Lucy Cloninger, president, in the project.
Draws Thousand to Mall
“Christmas in Randolph 1983” is a lovely memory as we recount Nov. 3 4, and 5 at Randolph Mall. Days in which the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, as their Christmas gift to the community, shared ideas with countless numbers who came by to browse among the trees, the exhibits, and to observe the on-going demonstrations presented for their enjoyment—all with a Homespun flavor and with best wishes for the happiest of “Homespun Christmases!”
A tour with us would have taken you through a Christmas wonderland of doors, trees, tables, walls, windows and settings of a great variety of handmade wreaths, ornaments, garlands, scenes and other decorations of greenery, corn shucks, stenciling, cross stitch, matching clothes and napkins, antique lace, dried flowers, punched tin, Christian symbols, grapevines, creative gift wrappings and many other items and wrappings.
There was something special for children, young people and adults of all ages. Randolph EH spent months preparing for the event, and the warm response from the public made it all worthwhile.
In the sunken area at the center of the mall, five tables were set up for on-going demonstrations for the three days. The demonstrations were wreaths of fresh greenery and bow making; creative gift wrapping; pierced tin; pine cone decorating; and decorating with corn shucks.
Extension Homemakers, acting as hostesses, dressed in long calico skirts, and wearing miniature grapevine wreaths with calico bows for corsages, were on hand at all times to answer questions and give tips.
At each of the two entrances, information tables were set up, where nearly 1,000 persons stopped by to register for a door prize of one handmade ornament from each tree. Of that number, nearly 200 expressed an interest in becoming an Extension Homemaker member.
This was our first experience at the mall, as well as our first time to offer demonstrations. What a challenge! We are grateful to everyone who came and helped to make this a most successful venture!
-=-
Candy Kitchen Popular
“Granny’s Candy Kitchen” has become a tradition at the annual Randolph Fall Festival held each year during the first weekend of October in downtown Asheboro.
The candy kitchen, sponsored by the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, involves hours of pre-preparation in local and county workshops to make peanut brittle, fudge, coconut bon-bons, and pulled mints for the sale. During the two-day festival, approximately 50 EH participated by selling candy and demonstrating how to make peanut brittle.
Randolph EHA Council Mildred Spencer reports that $1,000 of the 1983 proceeds from Granny’s Candy Kitchen was donated to Randolph Hospital for two “Lifeline” units. Lifeline is a personal emergency response program that allows elderly and handicapped persons to live more independently. The remaining $500 proceeds were used by the Randolph County EHA to present the Ninth Biennial “Christmas in Randolph” exhibit which was held at Randolph Mall, November 3-5.
Co-chairmen for the 1983 Granny’s Candy Kitchen were Lela Ann White and Lib Thompson.
THE LAST TOUCH—Louise Kearns, chairman of Christmas in Randolph 1983, puts the finishing touch on the old-fashioned tree decorated by one of the local EHAs.
CHRISTMAS AT HISTORIC SITES—Members of Friendly EHA in Durham County play an important role in Christmas programs at three historic sites in Durham each year. Above, Ouida Currin, kneeling, Doris Hargis, left, and Mable Jeffries decorate the tree at Bennett Place where Gen. Joseph E. Johnson surrendered nearly 90,000 soldiers to Gen. William Sherman. EH decorated the old kitchen and the “big house” in the 1860 theme and on Sunday wore period costumes and served hot apple juice and ginger cookies at the site’s open house. They also assisted Mrs. Jeffries, who works full-time at Duke Homestead State Historic Site, in making cookies and decorating for the farm house’s Christmas open house and made corn shuck dolls in 1790 costumes for display during Christmas at the Stagville Preservation Center.
HOW IT’S DONE—Jewel Rich, left, and Clara Bulla demonstrate candy making during the Randolph County Fall Festival. EH netted $1,500 in their “Granny’s Candy Kitchen” booth.
EH DECORATE CITY’S TREE—Members of Mount Holly EHA in Gaston County were requested by the mayor to decorate the city’s tree of county municipalities for the county History and Art Museum Christmas display. Using handmade items depicting local heritage. Mayor Charles B. Black gave a hand to EH Frances Black, Blanche Talton and Lucy Cloninger, president, in the project.
Draws Thousand to Mall
“Christmas in Randolph 1983” is a lovely memory as we recount Nov. 3 4, and 5 at Randolph Mall. Days in which the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, as their Christmas gift to the community, shared ideas with countless numbers who came by to browse among the trees, the exhibits, and to observe the on-going demonstrations presented for their enjoyment—all with a Homespun flavor and with best wishes for the happiest of “Homespun Christmases!”
A tour with us would have taken you through a Christmas wonderland of doors, trees, tables, walls, windows and settings of a great variety of handmade wreaths, ornaments, garlands, scenes and other decorations of greenery, corn shucks, stenciling, cross stitch, matching clothes and napkins, antique lace, dried flowers, punched tin, Christian symbols, grapevines, creative gift wrappings and many other items and wrappings.
There was something special for children, young people and adults of all ages. Randolph EH spent months preparing for the event, and the warm response from the public made it all worthwhile.
In the sunken area at the center of the mall, five tables were set up for on-going demonstrations for the three days. The demonstrations were wreaths of fresh greenery and bow making; creative gift wrapping; pierced tin; pine cone decorating; and decorating with corn shucks.
Extension Homemakers, acting as hostesses, dressed in long calico skirts, and wearing miniature grapevine wreaths with calico bows for corsages, were on hand at all times to answer questions and give tips.
At each of the two entrances, information tables were set up, where nearly 1,000 persons stopped by to register for a door prize of one handmade ornament from each tree. Of that number, nearly 200 expressed an interest in becoming an Extension Homemaker member.
This was our first experience at the mall, as well as our first time to offer demonstrations. What a challenge! We are grateful to everyone who came and helped to make this a most successful venture!
-=-
Candy Kitchen Popular
“Granny’s Candy Kitchen” has become a tradition at the annual Randolph Fall Festival held each year during the first weekend of October in downtown Asheboro.
The candy kitchen, sponsored by the Randolph County Extension Homemakers, involves hours of pre-preparation in local and county workshops to make peanut brittle, fudge, coconut bon-bons, and pulled mints for the sale. During the two-day festival, approximately 50 EH participated by selling candy and demonstrating how to make peanut brittle.
Randolph EHA Council Mildred Spencer reports that $1,000 of the 1983 proceeds from Granny’s Candy Kitchen was donated to Randolph Hospital for two “Lifeline” units. Lifeline is a personal emergency response program that allows elderly and handicapped persons to live more independently. The remaining $500 proceeds were used by the Randolph County EHA to present the Ninth Biennial “Christmas in Randolph” exhibit which was held at Randolph Mall, November 3-5.
Co-chairmen for the 1983 Granny’s Candy Kitchen were Lela Ann White and Lib Thompson.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Iredell County Grand Jury Condemns Conditions in Its County Home for Poor, 1901
“The
Action of Iredell’s Grand Jury Will Have a Good Influence Elsewhere,” from the
editorial page of The Progressive Farmer,
Dec. 3, 1901
The grand jury in Iredell County doubtless performed a duty of great virtue in condemning their county home. There is no evidence at our command tending to show that Iredell’s provisions for keeping its poor are markedly inferior to those of other counties, but the incident may be fairly interpreted to indicate that this grand jury had a high sense of public duty and a mind to perform it when it condemned a public “arrangement” for the poor which in too many counties is inadequate and niggardly, not to say un-Christian and cruel. The Statesville Landmark well contends that the poor are God’s afflicted as well as the insane and should receive the pitying care of a humane and generous people.
We believe the steps taken by Iredell’s grand jury will have an influence for good beyond the borders of that county.
--Gastonia Gazette
The grand jury in Iredell County doubtless performed a duty of great virtue in condemning their county home. There is no evidence at our command tending to show that Iredell’s provisions for keeping its poor are markedly inferior to those of other counties, but the incident may be fairly interpreted to indicate that this grand jury had a high sense of public duty and a mind to perform it when it condemned a public “arrangement” for the poor which in too many counties is inadequate and niggardly, not to say un-Christian and cruel. The Statesville Landmark well contends that the poor are God’s afflicted as well as the insane and should receive the pitying care of a humane and generous people.
We believe the steps taken by Iredell’s grand jury will have an influence for good beyond the borders of that county.
--Gastonia Gazette
Friday, December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas Postcard
Christmas postcard by Ellen H. Clapsaddle (1865-1934), a popular illustrator and commercial artist from a small farming community in upstate New York. Her holiday illustrations were widely distributed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Doris Strickland of Halifax County Wins Top National Honor, 1949
Doris Strickland of Halifax County, one of North Carolina's nine national 4-H winners, demonstrates pressure canning.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Nine North Carolina Youths Take Home Top Honors at National 4-H Congress in Chicago, December 1949
National 4-H Club Project Winners" from the December, 1949, issue of Extension Farm News, published by the Agricultural Extension Service at N.C. State University.
One of the highest honors that a 4-H club member can receive was recently awarded to nine young Tar heels shown above when they were declared winners in their respective projects at National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. This is a record number of national winners in any one year for North Carolina. Reading from left to right, the winner are, (top row) Margaret Lee Stevens, Wayne County, winner in food preparation; Joan Penland, Clay, recreation and rural arts; Pauline Howe, Gaston, home improvement; (middle row) Wesley Manning, Pitt, farm safety; Evelyn Waugh, Surry, clothing; Ralph Brown, Iredell, health; (bottom row) Carolyn Miller, Iredell, girls' record; Doris Strickland, Halifax, canning; and Nancy Pritchett, Guilford, poultry.
One of the highest honors that a 4-H club member can receive was recently awarded to nine young Tar heels shown above when they were declared winners in their respective projects at National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. This is a record number of national winners in any one year for North Carolina. Reading from left to right, the winner are, (top row) Margaret Lee Stevens, Wayne County, winner in food preparation; Joan Penland, Clay, recreation and rural arts; Pauline Howe, Gaston, home improvement; (middle row) Wesley Manning, Pitt, farm safety; Evelyn Waugh, Surry, clothing; Ralph Brown, Iredell, health; (bottom row) Carolyn Miller, Iredell, girls' record; Doris Strickland, Halifax, canning; and Nancy Pritchett, Guilford, poultry.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Retha Kirby and Fred Smith Die, 1921
“Deaths”
from the Dec. 1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
Baby Dead
Retha Amelia, 11 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Kirby of Entwistle died Tuesday afternoon and the little body was laid to rest Wednesday at Mizpah. The friends of the Kirbys extend their sympathy in the loss of their infant.
Fred H. Smith
Mr. Fred H. Smith died at the Charlotte Sanatorium last Saturday following an operation for kidney trouble. He was unable to withstand the shock and never recovered from the anesthetic. The remains were brought to his home at Steele’s Saturday night and interred Monday at Mizpah by Rev. D.A. Clarke.
Mr. Smith was 31 years old. He was born in Rutherford County and moved to this county 11 years ago. He was married eight years ago to a daughter of Mr. J.W. Hinson, and she with a six-year-old daughter survives. He was operated upon in 1916 for kidney trouble, in 1917 for appendicitis and now this last and fatal operation. He was a steward in the Methodist Church at Steele’s and was a son of Mr. J.H. and Mary E. Smith, who survive.
He was a Woodman and had $1,000 insurance with that order. About two months ago he took out a $1,000 policy with the New York Life Insurance Company, giving his note for the first payment. This payment would have been due next week. And here his family will get payment on a policy the premium of which had not even been paid. A wise provision by this young man.
The family requests the Post-Dispatch to express their thanks to the friends for the kindness shown in their bereavement.
Baby Dead
Retha Amelia, 11 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Kirby of Entwistle died Tuesday afternoon and the little body was laid to rest Wednesday at Mizpah. The friends of the Kirbys extend their sympathy in the loss of their infant.
Fred H. Smith
Mr. Fred H. Smith died at the Charlotte Sanatorium last Saturday following an operation for kidney trouble. He was unable to withstand the shock and never recovered from the anesthetic. The remains were brought to his home at Steele’s Saturday night and interred Monday at Mizpah by Rev. D.A. Clarke.
Mr. Smith was 31 years old. He was born in Rutherford County and moved to this county 11 years ago. He was married eight years ago to a daughter of Mr. J.W. Hinson, and she with a six-year-old daughter survives. He was operated upon in 1916 for kidney trouble, in 1917 for appendicitis and now this last and fatal operation. He was a steward in the Methodist Church at Steele’s and was a son of Mr. J.H. and Mary E. Smith, who survive.
He was a Woodman and had $1,000 insurance with that order. About two months ago he took out a $1,000 policy with the New York Life Insurance Company, giving his note for the first payment. This payment would have been due next week. And here his family will get payment on a policy the premium of which had not even been paid. A wise provision by this young man.
The family requests the Post-Dispatch to express their thanks to the friends for the kindness shown in their bereavement.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Boys' Corn Club and Girls' Tomato Club Kids Earning Money in Durham County, 1914
“The
Boys’ Corn Club Work” from the Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad
Hustler, December 17, 1914
Durham County Boys Make 160 Bushels; Girl Makes $131 on Tomatoes
Durham—The official report of the Boys’ Corn club contest shows that Henry Shaw, the small son of a widowed mother in the southern part of the county, won the first prize with 160 bushels of corn on an acre of land. The second prize was won by Adolphus Ball, with 145 bushels of corn on an acre of land.
Of the 100 or more boys who went into the contest last Spring, 57 reported at the courthouse yesterday.
These 57 boys raised 3,654 bushels of corn on their land, and had an average of 62.21 bushels an acre. The boy. A great deal of interest has been manifested in the work of the club during the past year, and over 150 boys and a score of little girls attended the meeting in the court house.
Even more interesting and probably showing a better record was the report made by Miss Ina Colclough, a little girl of the county, who made a profit of $131.01 off her tenth of an acre of tomatoes. She was one of the dozen girls who sent their reports for the Tomato Club and she won the first prize.
The committee in charge of this work had a prize for every boy and girl who made a report. They secured these from the business men and other individuals of the city and there was not a great deal of difference between the value of the first prize and the last one. They consisted of articles of merchandise which will be especially useful to the farmer boy or girl.
Durham County Boys Make 160 Bushels; Girl Makes $131 on Tomatoes
Durham—The official report of the Boys’ Corn club contest shows that Henry Shaw, the small son of a widowed mother in the southern part of the county, won the first prize with 160 bushels of corn on an acre of land. The second prize was won by Adolphus Ball, with 145 bushels of corn on an acre of land.
Of the 100 or more boys who went into the contest last Spring, 57 reported at the courthouse yesterday.
These 57 boys raised 3,654 bushels of corn on their land, and had an average of 62.21 bushels an acre. The boy. A great deal of interest has been manifested in the work of the club during the past year, and over 150 boys and a score of little girls attended the meeting in the court house.
Even more interesting and probably showing a better record was the report made by Miss Ina Colclough, a little girl of the county, who made a profit of $131.01 off her tenth of an acre of tomatoes. She was one of the dozen girls who sent their reports for the Tomato Club and she won the first prize.
The committee in charge of this work had a prize for every boy and girl who made a report. They secured these from the business men and other individuals of the city and there was not a great deal of difference between the value of the first prize and the last one. They consisted of articles of merchandise which will be especially useful to the farmer boy or girl.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
In Rockingham Superior Court, December 1920
Superior
Court, from the Rockingham Post-Dispatch,
Dec. 9, 1920
The December term of Superior Court lasted two days, but Judge McElroy remained over until tonight to hear motions, etc.
Five divorces were granted—3 to whites and 2 to colored. These were:
Bessie Floyd from Wade Floyd.
L.V. Privett from Sweete Privette.
J.A. Hathcock form Kate Hathcock.
J.B. Thomas from Bessie Thomas.
Lillie Davis from M.C. Davis.
Union Building Inc. vs R.G. Saleeby; ejectment suit from Hamlet. After selecting jury, the case was continued, the defendant to pay the costs up to and including this term.
L.E. Dye vs. Robert Morrison; ejectment. Jury finds in favor of Dye upon peremptory instructions. Defendant appeals.
J.F. Moore vs. J.P. Cooper and W.W. Adcock; foreclosing mortgage on auto and cow. Jury awards full amount of balance due ($285).
Linwood McLaurin vs. Great Falls Mill. Jury awards $500 to plaintiff.
Frank Gillis vs. Luray Mills. Consent judgment for $500.
Mrs. Alice Gibson et al vs. Junior Order. Suing for $500 insurance alleged due her late husband. After plaintiff’s evidence was introduced, the Judge ordered her case non-suited.
The December term of Superior Court lasted two days, but Judge McElroy remained over until tonight to hear motions, etc.
Five divorces were granted—3 to whites and 2 to colored. These were:
Bessie Floyd from Wade Floyd.
L.V. Privett from Sweete Privette.
J.A. Hathcock form Kate Hathcock.
J.B. Thomas from Bessie Thomas.
Lillie Davis from M.C. Davis.
Union Building Inc. vs R.G. Saleeby; ejectment suit from Hamlet. After selecting jury, the case was continued, the defendant to pay the costs up to and including this term.
L.E. Dye vs. Robert Morrison; ejectment. Jury finds in favor of Dye upon peremptory instructions. Defendant appeals.
J.F. Moore vs. J.P. Cooper and W.W. Adcock; foreclosing mortgage on auto and cow. Jury awards full amount of balance due ($285).
Linwood McLaurin vs. Great Falls Mill. Jury awards $500 to plaintiff.
Frank Gillis vs. Luray Mills. Consent judgment for $500.
Mrs. Alice Gibson et al vs. Junior Order. Suing for $500 insurance alleged due her late husband. After plaintiff’s evidence was introduced, the Judge ordered her case non-suited.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Dr. Moorefield Shot By Editor's Son, 1917
From
the Charlotte Medical Journal, 1917
Dr. J.L. Moorefield of Mount Airy was shot at that place on December 23 by Will Johnson, son of the editor of the Mt. Airy News.
The injuries when this news item was dictated were considered very serious—possibly fatally so. Dr. Moorefield has been a resident of Mt. Airy for about a year and employed as a physician for the three furniture factories located in that city. He was originally from Virginia. The cause for the shooting is not known.
Dr. J.L. Moorefield of Mount Airy was shot at that place on December 23 by Will Johnson, son of the editor of the Mt. Airy News.
The injuries when this news item was dictated were considered very serious—possibly fatally so. Dr. Moorefield has been a resident of Mt. Airy for about a year and employed as a physician for the three furniture factories located in that city. He was originally from Virginia. The cause for the shooting is not known.
Friday, December 18, 2015
Sheriff McDonald Stills a Still South of Hamlet, 1921
From
the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec.
22, 1921
Still in Marks Creek might sound like a still was still there; and probably there is. But one particular still IS still. Sheriff McDonald and Deputies Reynolds, Shores and Key broke up a 50-gallon outfit about 4 miles south of Hamlet Tuesday afternoon, together with 250 gallons of beer. The worm was not found. A run had evidently been made two days previous.
Still in Marks Creek might sound like a still was still there; and probably there is. But one particular still IS still. Sheriff McDonald and Deputies Reynolds, Shores and Key broke up a 50-gallon outfit about 4 miles south of Hamlet Tuesday afternoon, together with 250 gallons of beer. The worm was not found. A run had evidently been made two days previous.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Philip Fontaine of Roxboro Grows Havana Tobacco for Cigars in North Carolina, 1901
"Havana
Tobacco in North Carolina” by J.M. Beatty from the Raleigh News and
Observer, as reprinted in The
Progressive Farmer, Dec. 3, 1901
Mr. Philip A. Fontaine Makes a Successful Experiment in Person
Mr. Philip A. Fontaine of Roxboro, who was a visitor in the city last week, is experimenting with the culture of Havana tobacco in this State to see if it can be successfully grown for the manufacture of cigars. Mr. Fontaine brought with him to Raleigh magnificent samples of Havana tobacco, which he grew on his farm near Roxboro. Tobacco manufacturers and experts pronounced its flavor and burning qualities superior to any domestic grown tobacco in this country.
“I believe that Havana tobacco can be grown as successfully in North Carolina as in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and foreign countries,” Mr. Fontaine declared. “I spent 10 months in Cuba and much time in Florida studying the culture of tobacco, with the view of growing this quality of tobacco in North Carolina.
"This year I have made about 400 pounds of Havana tobacco in Person county. The growth of the weed was the same as in Cuba. I secured my seed from Havana. I used a fertilizer composition with the view of developing flavor and burning qualities. It was my own composition and is based on a series of experiments.”
“My hope is that this fine grade of tobacco for the manufacture of cigars may be successfully grown in North Carolina, as I believe it can be. I shall endeavor to get the cooperation of the Board of Agriculture so as to bring the subject before the farmers of the State.”
Mr. Philip A. Fontaine Makes a Successful Experiment in Person
Mr. Philip A. Fontaine of Roxboro, who was a visitor in the city last week, is experimenting with the culture of Havana tobacco in this State to see if it can be successfully grown for the manufacture of cigars. Mr. Fontaine brought with him to Raleigh magnificent samples of Havana tobacco, which he grew on his farm near Roxboro. Tobacco manufacturers and experts pronounced its flavor and burning qualities superior to any domestic grown tobacco in this country.
“I believe that Havana tobacco can be grown as successfully in North Carolina as in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and foreign countries,” Mr. Fontaine declared. “I spent 10 months in Cuba and much time in Florida studying the culture of tobacco, with the view of growing this quality of tobacco in North Carolina.
"This year I have made about 400 pounds of Havana tobacco in Person county. The growth of the weed was the same as in Cuba. I secured my seed from Havana. I used a fertilizer composition with the view of developing flavor and burning qualities. It was my own composition and is based on a series of experiments.”
“My hope is that this fine grade of tobacco for the manufacture of cigars may be successfully grown in North Carolina, as I believe it can be. I shall endeavor to get the cooperation of the Board of Agriculture so as to bring the subject before the farmers of the State.”
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Rohanen School, Crowded with 391 Students in Eight Classrooms, Still Offers Piano and Violin Classes, 1921
From
the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec.
22, 1921.
The Rohanen School now has an enrollment of 391. The eight large class rooms are crowded, and in addition to these, about 40 children are being taught in the auditorium.
A piano has been placed in the building, and Mrs. Purnell, the music teacher, has a large class of piano and violin pupils.
The teachers are entertaining the entire school at a moving picture party this afternoon.
A Christmas program will be presented as a chapel exercise Friday morning, by the pupils.
The school will close for the holidays December 23rd and open January 2nd.
The Rohanen School now has an enrollment of 391. The eight large class rooms are crowded, and in addition to these, about 40 children are being taught in the auditorium.
A piano has been placed in the building, and Mrs. Purnell, the music teacher, has a large class of piano and violin pupils.
The teachers are entertaining the entire school at a moving picture party this afternoon.
A Christmas program will be presented as a chapel exercise Friday morning, by the pupils.
The school will close for the holidays December 23rd and open January 2nd.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Ups and Downs of Charlie Harrison of Elizabeth City, 1919
From
the Dec. 26, 1919 issue of the Elizabeth City Independent
Elizabeth City Boy Only Traveled in the Millionaire Class for a Year or so, But He Flew High While His Wings Held Out
C.W. Harrison of Elizabeth City has had more real ups and downs than are the lot of average mortals. Every now and then Elizabeth City gets strange tales of Charlie Harrison making a fortune overnight at this thing or that. As often comes the news that his fortune has gone. But he always comes back. Just now he seems to be down again, but he will not stay down long. Those who know him will not be surprised to see his sailing into Elizabeth City some fine day in a family-size air plane and spending money like the millionaire he likes to be. The story of Charlie Harrison’s latest failure is entertainly told in the New York Times, issue of Dec. 18, 1919. The Times says:
The rise and fall of Charles W. Harrison, head of Harrison & co., shipping merchants of 120 Broadway, who made a fortune during the first years of the war and lived on a scale according to his income, were revealed yesterday when letters from Harrison, now in Baltimore, admitting that he cannot pay judgments, were put on file in the Supreme Court in one action against him and in another against his wife, Mrs. Lina Pearl Harrison.
Sheriff Knott sent a deputy to seize more than $10,000 worth of house furnishings at 310 West Eighty-sixth St. When he arrived he was notified that Mrs. Harrison, who is a member of the Automobile Club of America, had sublet her home to Mrs. Harry Strauss, and had removed part of her effects to another home at 3 W. Fiftieth Street. At this address the Sheriff learned the goods had been sent to a storage warehouse at 540 West Thirty-eighth St. The Sheriff, who under a writ of seizure granted by Justice Newburger, served a copy in the warehouse owners, which will tie up all the articles here.
The writ of seizure was granted in a suit by George T. Williams of 905 West End Avenue to foreclose on a chattel mortgage given by Mrs. Harrison on her house furnishings as security for the payment of two notes for $7250 given Jan. 2 for loans and payable Jan. 24. The notes were not paid, and when Mrs. Harrison sublet her home and disappeared from sight of her creditors, Mr. Williams decided to foreclose. Mrs. Harrison is said to be in Baltimore with her husband.
The fact that Mr. Harrison was not worried by judgments against him was revealed in a suit by Arnold, Constable & Co. to recover $4,312 for furnishings bought in the Summer of 1918, the most valuable of which was a Kermanshah rug for $2,500. Thomas F. Higgins, credit man, said the goods were bought by Mrs. Harrison but sold on the credit of herself and husband. For this reason a judgment by default was entered against both.
Mr. Higgins testified that Mr. Harrison wrote from Baltimore in June, admitting many promises to pay, but saying these promises were made on prospects that “looked sure at the time but failed to materialize.” He said he “wouldn’t be offended,” if the claim were turned into a judgment, because he couldn’t pay until he had earned the money.
When Mr. Harrison was making a fortune shipping in 1917, he was described as the head of an organization that “ranked among the leaders in the shipping world.” His associates called him Captain Harrison because he was the master of his own ship. He is a native of Elizabeth City, N.C., where he was a ship builder, but came here from Portland, Ore., in 1915 to open a branch of a shipping agency he had conducted there.
He said he personally had done more than $2,000,000 of business for the Alaska Steamship Company in addition to other agencies he had handled. He was President of the Alpha Steamship Company and the Virginia-Carolina Navigation Company. His wife, whom he married in 1902, was Miss Holland of Pocomoke City, Md.
Elizabeth City Boy Only Traveled in the Millionaire Class for a Year or so, But He Flew High While His Wings Held Out
C.W. Harrison of Elizabeth City has had more real ups and downs than are the lot of average mortals. Every now and then Elizabeth City gets strange tales of Charlie Harrison making a fortune overnight at this thing or that. As often comes the news that his fortune has gone. But he always comes back. Just now he seems to be down again, but he will not stay down long. Those who know him will not be surprised to see his sailing into Elizabeth City some fine day in a family-size air plane and spending money like the millionaire he likes to be. The story of Charlie Harrison’s latest failure is entertainly told in the New York Times, issue of Dec. 18, 1919. The Times says:
The rise and fall of Charles W. Harrison, head of Harrison & co., shipping merchants of 120 Broadway, who made a fortune during the first years of the war and lived on a scale according to his income, were revealed yesterday when letters from Harrison, now in Baltimore, admitting that he cannot pay judgments, were put on file in the Supreme Court in one action against him and in another against his wife, Mrs. Lina Pearl Harrison.
Sheriff Knott sent a deputy to seize more than $10,000 worth of house furnishings at 310 West Eighty-sixth St. When he arrived he was notified that Mrs. Harrison, who is a member of the Automobile Club of America, had sublet her home to Mrs. Harry Strauss, and had removed part of her effects to another home at 3 W. Fiftieth Street. At this address the Sheriff learned the goods had been sent to a storage warehouse at 540 West Thirty-eighth St. The Sheriff, who under a writ of seizure granted by Justice Newburger, served a copy in the warehouse owners, which will tie up all the articles here.
The writ of seizure was granted in a suit by George T. Williams of 905 West End Avenue to foreclose on a chattel mortgage given by Mrs. Harrison on her house furnishings as security for the payment of two notes for $7250 given Jan. 2 for loans and payable Jan. 24. The notes were not paid, and when Mrs. Harrison sublet her home and disappeared from sight of her creditors, Mr. Williams decided to foreclose. Mrs. Harrison is said to be in Baltimore with her husband.
The fact that Mr. Harrison was not worried by judgments against him was revealed in a suit by Arnold, Constable & Co. to recover $4,312 for furnishings bought in the Summer of 1918, the most valuable of which was a Kermanshah rug for $2,500. Thomas F. Higgins, credit man, said the goods were bought by Mrs. Harrison but sold on the credit of herself and husband. For this reason a judgment by default was entered against both.
Mr. Higgins testified that Mr. Harrison wrote from Baltimore in June, admitting many promises to pay, but saying these promises were made on prospects that “looked sure at the time but failed to materialize.” He said he “wouldn’t be offended,” if the claim were turned into a judgment, because he couldn’t pay until he had earned the money.
When Mr. Harrison was making a fortune shipping in 1917, he was described as the head of an organization that “ranked among the leaders in the shipping world.” His associates called him Captain Harrison because he was the master of his own ship. He is a native of Elizabeth City, N.C., where he was a ship builder, but came here from Portland, Ore., in 1915 to open a branch of a shipping agency he had conducted there.
He said he personally had done more than $2,000,000 of business for the Alaska Steamship Company in addition to other agencies he had handled. He was President of the Alpha Steamship Company and the Virginia-Carolina Navigation Company. His wife, whom he married in 1902, was Miss Holland of Pocomoke City, Md.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Legal Tug-of-War Over 2-Year-Old Murray Parish, 1921
From
the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec.
22, 1921.
On Wednesday of last week habeas corpus proceedings were argued before Judge Lane at Carthage by Sedberry & Phillips for 2-year-old Murray Parish and H.H. McLendon for the defendants.
It seems that some time ago the mother of Murray Parish signed papers giving the child to Alton Quick and wife. About two weeks ago while the foster parents were at work in Steele’s Mills, the mother and her second husband drove up where the child was left in the care of Mrs. J.P. Jenkins and took him away, going to Anson county. The Quicks then started an action to recover the child.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Lane issued an interlocutory order where by the child is to remain with the mother until the question can be argued before the Scotland county Clerk of Court as to whether the letter of adoption shall be revoked or allowed to stand.
On Wednesday of last week habeas corpus proceedings were argued before Judge Lane at Carthage by Sedberry & Phillips for 2-year-old Murray Parish and H.H. McLendon for the defendants.
It seems that some time ago the mother of Murray Parish signed papers giving the child to Alton Quick and wife. About two weeks ago while the foster parents were at work in Steele’s Mills, the mother and her second husband drove up where the child was left in the care of Mrs. J.P. Jenkins and took him away, going to Anson county. The Quicks then started an action to recover the child.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Lane issued an interlocutory order where by the child is to remain with the mother until the question can be argued before the Scotland county Clerk of Court as to whether the letter of adoption shall be revoked or allowed to stand.
Remembering Life in High Point, N.C., in 1945
http://www.thepilot.com/pinestrawmag/departments/article_36e08482-6046-11e4-9bf8-001a4bcf6878.html
Charles D. Rodenbough, who grew up in High Point, shares memories of 1945 with readers of Pinestraw Magazine.
Charles D. Rodenbough, who grew up in High Point, shares memories of 1945 with readers of Pinestraw Magazine.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Smallpox in Richmond County; County Health Officer Urges Parents to Get Children Vaccinated, 1921
From
the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec.
22, 1921.
A number of cases of smallpox have been reported in the community, and I advise that every person in the county who has never had the disease nor been successfully vaccinated against smallpox to be vaccinated at once.
According to the State law small pox is not a quarantinable disease, so the only real protection we have against the disease is by having been successfully vaccinated. It is much better to have one sore on the arm that to have the disease and run the risk of losing your life, or have your health impaired by some of the serious complications that so frequently follow the disease.
I urge that every father and mother have their children vaccinated at once.
Respectfully yours, Dr. W.R. McIntosh, County Health Officer
A number of cases of smallpox have been reported in the community, and I advise that every person in the county who has never had the disease nor been successfully vaccinated against smallpox to be vaccinated at once.
According to the State law small pox is not a quarantinable disease, so the only real protection we have against the disease is by having been successfully vaccinated. It is much better to have one sore on the arm that to have the disease and run the risk of losing your life, or have your health impaired by some of the serious complications that so frequently follow the disease.
I urge that every father and mother have their children vaccinated at once.
Respectfully yours, Dr. W.R. McIntosh, County Health Officer
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Was 13-Year-Old Enticed Away From Home or Did She Leave Because She Was Mistreated? 1921
From
the Rockingham Post-Dispatch, Dec.
22, 1921.
Belton Wright was Monday night tried before Squire Alfred Barrett on the charge of enticing Stella Carlisle, 13-year-old girl, away from the home of her father, E.S. Carlisle at Entwistle. It was charged that he carried her last Saturday to the home of his people in Scotland county.
Sedbery & Phillips appeared for Wright, who is 22 years old; and W.R. Jones for the prosecution. The prosecution contended that Wright abducted the girl; while the defense tried to show that the step-mother, brother and father of the young girl treated her so cruelly that the girl went to Wright’s relatives in Scotland county to escape such treatment.
Wright it seems, went with the girl to Scotland Saturday morning, and left her there, returning here that night. Arriving home, the father had him arrested, and now the trial.
Squire Barrett held the decision up until he could hear arguments on Tuesday night. He then bound Wright to Jan. 9th term of Court without any bond—simply on his own recognizance.
Belton Wright was Monday night tried before Squire Alfred Barrett on the charge of enticing Stella Carlisle, 13-year-old girl, away from the home of her father, E.S. Carlisle at Entwistle. It was charged that he carried her last Saturday to the home of his people in Scotland county.
Sedbery & Phillips appeared for Wright, who is 22 years old; and W.R. Jones for the prosecution. The prosecution contended that Wright abducted the girl; while the defense tried to show that the step-mother, brother and father of the young girl treated her so cruelly that the girl went to Wright’s relatives in Scotland county to escape such treatment.
Wright it seems, went with the girl to Scotland Saturday morning, and left her there, returning here that night. Arriving home, the father had him arrested, and now the trial.
Squire Barrett held the decision up until he could hear arguments on Tuesday night. He then bound Wright to Jan. 9th term of Court without any bond—simply on his own recognizance.
Friday, December 11, 2015
'Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things' December 1919
“A
Digest of Everything Worth Knowing About Old North State Folks and Things,” from
the Dec. 26, 1919 issue of the Elizabeth City Independent
--Here then is the way the compulsory school attendance law works in Beaufort county. Two fathers of children within the 8 to 14 years compulsory age limits who refused to send their children to school have been fined $25 apiece in the courts of Washington. The school law will be strictly enforced in Beaufort county, it is announced, and violators will be punished to the limit of the law.
--A recent order by Judge Guion of the Superior Court requires that Jeff Snuggs, Raleigh boy, acquitted of the murder of a Raleigh merchant in the October term of court, must show cause why he should not be taxed with the costs of the case as covering his hospital bill of $117.An effort is now being made to locate Snuggs, which, if unsuccessful, will bring up an interesting point of law as to whether the city of Raleigh or the State should pay his hospital expenses.
--The tobacco market of Kinston, which has just closed for the season, reports a total of more than 3 million pounds of tobacco sold there this year. The market has only been established in that city for two years.
--North Carolina continues to lead the Union in the number of illicit distilleries seized, according to the annual report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919. The total for the State was 814, with 789 for Georgia, 356 for Virginia, and 348 for Alabama. The value of the captured stills in North Carolina was a little over $50,000.
--A donation of $10,000 by Mr. James B. Duke wealthy Durham manufacturer, is intended to provide gifts to superannuate preachers and widows and orphans of deceased preachers of the Methodist church of the State. The money is being given thru Trinity College, and the donation will be supplemented by other moneys now in the hand of the president of the institution which will be used for the same purpose.
--Before closing for the Christmas holidays, the Durham tobacco market passed the 8 million pound mark in the total quantity of the crop sold there since the opening of the season September 15. This is a new high record for that tobacco market.
--Convicts serving time on the Durham county chain gang were given a holiday of four days during the Christmas season, and a big Xmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings were served them. The way of the Durham transgressor does not entirely correspond with the oft-quoted adage.
--The theft of many gallons of milk from front doorsteps in Kinston during the past few days is grounds for the belief that a band of juvenile thieves are at work in that city. Several attempts to break into school buildings, supposedly by purposes of theft, have likewise been made there recently.
--Deferring action for 60 days, the standing committee of the Diocese of North Carolina has taken temporary action upon the case of Rev. B. Marshall Maynard, pastor of the P.E. church at Chapel Hill. Maynard’s resignation has been requested by vote of the vestry of the church, but he has refused to resign on the ground that the vestry does not fairly represent the sentiment of the members of the congregation.
--The extension of Fayetteville’s street car system that will bring Fayetteville in touch with many neighboring towns as well as Camp Bragg is planned for the immediate future. Work on the laying of the rails and the overhead construction of the Camp Bragg line has already begun.
--The biggest single contract yet awarded by the State Highway Commission was let a few days ago, when a bid of $705,000 for the building of the Lenoir county link of the Central Highway, 21 miles long, was accepted by the Commission. Some delay has been caused by the controversy that has arisen in Lenoir over the type of road that was to be built, asphalt finally being decided upon.
--Herbert Newbold, formerly of Elizabeth City, who for some time has been assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank of Raleigh, will on January 1 become vice-president of the Bank of Commerce at High Point. He is spoken of by the Raleigh press as being one of the most experienced young bankers of the State, and he has been both a State bank examiner and a national bank examiner.
--As a most acceptable Christmas gift to men serving terms at State Prison, Governor Bickett issued pardons to 18 of the prisoners, all but two being conditional upon good behavior. The sentences of all life termers were commuted. Prison records of the men pardoned were carefully considered by the Governor before the pardons were issued to them.
--After having served two years of a 20-year sentence for second degree murder, Allen Fie of Haywood County has been granted a conditional pardon by Governor Bickett. Strong doubts are entertained as to Fie’s guilt, and in the Governor’s opinion, the man has been punished sufficiently in any case.
--Tobacco sales at the Rocky Mount tobacco market, which closed recently, amounted to a total of 19,589,402 pounds for the season of 1919, which sold at an average of $51.57 per 100 pounds for the entire crop. A gain of 2,468,381 pounds over the 1918 sales is recorded, with a gain in the average price received of $14.41 per 100 pounds.
--Clyde Hoey, Democratic nominee for Congress from the Ninth District of North Carolina, was elected over his Republican opponent, John M. Morehead, by a considerable majority last week. The contest had more of the real campaign flavor than anything of its kind which has occurred in the State in many years. The election was held to provide a successor for Yates Webb, who has been appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court in western North Carolina.
--Replying to Republican charges of crookedness in the handling of election returns in the Ninth Congressional District, in which Clyde R. Hoey, Democrat, was elected to Congress over his Republican opponent, John M. Morehead, the chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Burke County has demanded that Morehead and his adherents bring specific charges against the men they claim were concerned in the alleged illegality.
--The president of the American Cotton Association, J.S. Wannamaker, in a statement made public last week, says to the cotton growers of the South: “Due to the probability of an early cotton shortage, amounting practically to a world cotton famine, I urge the members of the association to hold their spot cotton. The absolute pressing world demand for cotton has been enormously increases as a result of the World War.”
--Lieut. Belvin W. Maynard of transcontinental air fame has decided to resign his commission in the army aviation service, to resume his ministerial work about January first. He states that he is taking the advice contained in anonymous letter he received recently, which said in substance: “I am now an old man over 80, but when I was a young man an old man told me not to be a fool. Go back to your pulpit and give up your flying and newspaper fame.”
--Here then is the way the compulsory school attendance law works in Beaufort county. Two fathers of children within the 8 to 14 years compulsory age limits who refused to send their children to school have been fined $25 apiece in the courts of Washington. The school law will be strictly enforced in Beaufort county, it is announced, and violators will be punished to the limit of the law.
--A recent order by Judge Guion of the Superior Court requires that Jeff Snuggs, Raleigh boy, acquitted of the murder of a Raleigh merchant in the October term of court, must show cause why he should not be taxed with the costs of the case as covering his hospital bill of $117.An effort is now being made to locate Snuggs, which, if unsuccessful, will bring up an interesting point of law as to whether the city of Raleigh or the State should pay his hospital expenses.
--The tobacco market of Kinston, which has just closed for the season, reports a total of more than 3 million pounds of tobacco sold there this year. The market has only been established in that city for two years.
--North Carolina continues to lead the Union in the number of illicit distilleries seized, according to the annual report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919. The total for the State was 814, with 789 for Georgia, 356 for Virginia, and 348 for Alabama. The value of the captured stills in North Carolina was a little over $50,000.
--A donation of $10,000 by Mr. James B. Duke wealthy Durham manufacturer, is intended to provide gifts to superannuate preachers and widows and orphans of deceased preachers of the Methodist church of the State. The money is being given thru Trinity College, and the donation will be supplemented by other moneys now in the hand of the president of the institution which will be used for the same purpose.
--Before closing for the Christmas holidays, the Durham tobacco market passed the 8 million pound mark in the total quantity of the crop sold there since the opening of the season September 15. This is a new high record for that tobacco market.
--Convicts serving time on the Durham county chain gang were given a holiday of four days during the Christmas season, and a big Xmas dinner with turkey and all the trimmings were served them. The way of the Durham transgressor does not entirely correspond with the oft-quoted adage.
--The theft of many gallons of milk from front doorsteps in Kinston during the past few days is grounds for the belief that a band of juvenile thieves are at work in that city. Several attempts to break into school buildings, supposedly by purposes of theft, have likewise been made there recently.
--Deferring action for 60 days, the standing committee of the Diocese of North Carolina has taken temporary action upon the case of Rev. B. Marshall Maynard, pastor of the P.E. church at Chapel Hill. Maynard’s resignation has been requested by vote of the vestry of the church, but he has refused to resign on the ground that the vestry does not fairly represent the sentiment of the members of the congregation.
--The extension of Fayetteville’s street car system that will bring Fayetteville in touch with many neighboring towns as well as Camp Bragg is planned for the immediate future. Work on the laying of the rails and the overhead construction of the Camp Bragg line has already begun.
--The biggest single contract yet awarded by the State Highway Commission was let a few days ago, when a bid of $705,000 for the building of the Lenoir county link of the Central Highway, 21 miles long, was accepted by the Commission. Some delay has been caused by the controversy that has arisen in Lenoir over the type of road that was to be built, asphalt finally being decided upon.
--Herbert Newbold, formerly of Elizabeth City, who for some time has been assistant cashier of the Merchants National Bank of Raleigh, will on January 1 become vice-president of the Bank of Commerce at High Point. He is spoken of by the Raleigh press as being one of the most experienced young bankers of the State, and he has been both a State bank examiner and a national bank examiner.
--As a most acceptable Christmas gift to men serving terms at State Prison, Governor Bickett issued pardons to 18 of the prisoners, all but two being conditional upon good behavior. The sentences of all life termers were commuted. Prison records of the men pardoned were carefully considered by the Governor before the pardons were issued to them.
--After having served two years of a 20-year sentence for second degree murder, Allen Fie of Haywood County has been granted a conditional pardon by Governor Bickett. Strong doubts are entertained as to Fie’s guilt, and in the Governor’s opinion, the man has been punished sufficiently in any case.
--Tobacco sales at the Rocky Mount tobacco market, which closed recently, amounted to a total of 19,589,402 pounds for the season of 1919, which sold at an average of $51.57 per 100 pounds for the entire crop. A gain of 2,468,381 pounds over the 1918 sales is recorded, with a gain in the average price received of $14.41 per 100 pounds.
--Clyde Hoey, Democratic nominee for Congress from the Ninth District of North Carolina, was elected over his Republican opponent, John M. Morehead, by a considerable majority last week. The contest had more of the real campaign flavor than anything of its kind which has occurred in the State in many years. The election was held to provide a successor for Yates Webb, who has been appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court in western North Carolina.
--Replying to Republican charges of crookedness in the handling of election returns in the Ninth Congressional District, in which Clyde R. Hoey, Democrat, was elected to Congress over his Republican opponent, John M. Morehead, the chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Burke County has demanded that Morehead and his adherents bring specific charges against the men they claim were concerned in the alleged illegality.
--The president of the American Cotton Association, J.S. Wannamaker, in a statement made public last week, says to the cotton growers of the South: “Due to the probability of an early cotton shortage, amounting practically to a world cotton famine, I urge the members of the association to hold their spot cotton. The absolute pressing world demand for cotton has been enormously increases as a result of the World War.”
--Lieut. Belvin W. Maynard of transcontinental air fame has decided to resign his commission in the army aviation service, to resume his ministerial work about January first. He states that he is taking the advice contained in anonymous letter he received recently, which said in substance: “I am now an old man over 80, but when I was a young man an old man told me not to be a fool. Go back to your pulpit and give up your flying and newspaper fame.”
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Tom Dawkins Was Crazy Drunk Sunday Night, 1921
“Liquor
at Work,” from the Dec. 1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
A man’s brain beclouded by whiskey is in condition for most anything a drunken man’s fancy might dictate. Tom Dawkins was crazy drunk Sunday night at the home of Tebe Shepherd, and as a result he was cut with a knife by young Jim Shepherd. Squire Mullis Tuesday tried Tom and fined him $5 and costs for being drunk and disorderly, and bound him to Court under $100 bond for selling while drunk a Coca Cola bottle half full of whiskey to a negro.
A man’s brain beclouded by whiskey is in condition for most anything a drunken man’s fancy might dictate. Tom Dawkins was crazy drunk Sunday night at the home of Tebe Shepherd, and as a result he was cut with a knife by young Jim Shepherd. Squire Mullis Tuesday tried Tom and fined him $5 and costs for being drunk and disorderly, and bound him to Court under $100 bond for selling while drunk a Coca Cola bottle half full of whiskey to a negro.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Buying on Time Has Ruined Many a Cotton Grower, 1901
“Harry
Farmer’s Talk” from The Progressive Farmer, Dec. 10, 1901
Mr. D.L. Gore’s article of Nov. 5th was calculated to put some of us to thinking along new lines. When we notice the difference between the cash and the credit systems, we ought to study out some plan to avoid buying so much on time. This has been the ruin of our cotton growers in the South. Someone is ready to say that it makes the merchants rich. This is a mistake. They have to pay high for their goods and there is always more or less loss. Many farmers get more off their farms than many country merchants make who seem to do a large business. If you want to see how many make money at this business, just notice and see the number that fail. If 5 per cent succeed, 95 per cent will fail. So that the number is too small for any one ot base any hopes on making wealth that way. It not only ruins the merchants who engage in the business, but it will ruin 75 per cent of the farmers.
Many farmers throw away more on their farms that some merchants require to live on. When you count the cost of what you use when you make it at home, it will not appear very large, but just try to buy it on 6 to 8 months’ time and see what it would amount to. Let me itemize a few articles and compare the difference in price and then we can draw our own conclusions.
Any many other things in proportion. Now we figure on these prices and find that we pay about 40 per cent. Now if we buy to the amount of $140 and only make cotton enough to pay $106, we are in debt $34, and must either sell our corn or something else to pay the debt or get the merchant to carry it over to next year, which is frequently done. Suppose we do this for three years; then we must give a mortgage on our land. After this comes the sale of our home, and then we become renters or move away to work at something else for a living. Now if we are compelled to have help, it is far better to borrow money and pay the interest than to buy goods at high prices on crop time. When you borrow money you should be very careful how you buy. Do not buy any more than you can possibly help. In some parts of Georgia the farmers borrow money at 8 per cent per annum to buy fertilizers and supplies. The banks furnish the money, but do not lend directly to the farmers, but have some of the directors to take the farmers’ notes secured by mortgage and deposit these in the banks as collateral. The farmers pay the cost of executing the papers, which never exceeds $1, and often not more than 50 cents. It is said that the farmers who follow this plan are very prosperous.
If changing the laws of the State will help farmers, then let us have the change. While farmers are in trouble on account of short crops, it is a good time to do some hard thinking and prepare for the future.
Mr. D.L. Gore’s article of Nov. 5th was calculated to put some of us to thinking along new lines. When we notice the difference between the cash and the credit systems, we ought to study out some plan to avoid buying so much on time. This has been the ruin of our cotton growers in the South. Someone is ready to say that it makes the merchants rich. This is a mistake. They have to pay high for their goods and there is always more or less loss. Many farmers get more off their farms than many country merchants make who seem to do a large business. If you want to see how many make money at this business, just notice and see the number that fail. If 5 per cent succeed, 95 per cent will fail. So that the number is too small for any one ot base any hopes on making wealth that way. It not only ruins the merchants who engage in the business, but it will ruin 75 per cent of the farmers.
Many farmers throw away more on their farms that some merchants require to live on. When you count the cost of what you use when you make it at home, it will not appear very large, but just try to buy it on 6 to 8 months’ time and see what it would amount to. Let me itemize a few articles and compare the difference in price and then we can draw our own conclusions.
|
|
Cash |
Credit |
|
Meat |
.09 |
.12 ½ |
|
Corn |
.75 |
1.25 |
|
Lard |
.10 |
.15 |
|
Flour |
4.50 |
6.50 |
|
Soap |
.03 ½ |
.05 |
|
Lye |
.08 1/3 |
.10 |
|
Matches |
.10 |
.12 |
|
Coffee |
.10 |
.15 |
|
Sugar |
.06 |
.08 1/3 |
|
Guano |
19.00 |
25.00 |
|
Clothing |
2.50 |
5.00 |
|
Notions |
1.00 |
3.00 |
Any many other things in proportion. Now we figure on these prices and find that we pay about 40 per cent. Now if we buy to the amount of $140 and only make cotton enough to pay $106, we are in debt $34, and must either sell our corn or something else to pay the debt or get the merchant to carry it over to next year, which is frequently done. Suppose we do this for three years; then we must give a mortgage on our land. After this comes the sale of our home, and then we become renters or move away to work at something else for a living. Now if we are compelled to have help, it is far better to borrow money and pay the interest than to buy goods at high prices on crop time. When you borrow money you should be very careful how you buy. Do not buy any more than you can possibly help. In some parts of Georgia the farmers borrow money at 8 per cent per annum to buy fertilizers and supplies. The banks furnish the money, but do not lend directly to the farmers, but have some of the directors to take the farmers’ notes secured by mortgage and deposit these in the banks as collateral. The farmers pay the cost of executing the papers, which never exceeds $1, and often not more than 50 cents. It is said that the farmers who follow this plan are very prosperous.
If changing the laws of the State will help farmers, then let us have the change. While farmers are in trouble on account of short crops, it is a good time to do some hard thinking and prepare for the future.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Reddick Property, Mules, Wagon and Buggy to Being Auctioned Off the Day After Christmas, 1921
Dec.
1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
Under and by virtue of an order of the Superior Court of Richmond County, in an action therein pending entitled “B.F. Palmer et al vs W.R. Reddick and Minnie Reddick, his wife,” the undersigned commissioner will offer for sale at public auction for cash at the court house door in Rockingham, N.C., on Monday, Dec. 26th, 1921, at 12 o’clock, the following described real and personal property.
Beginning at a rock pile and runs S. 2, E. 32.50 chains; thence S. 32 W. 8.50 chains to the creek; thence down the various courses of said creek to a red oak, Leak’s Corner; thence N. 18, E. 36.52 chains to a sweet gum near the spring; thence N. 70, W. 31.50 chains t the beginning, containing 133 acres, more or less, save and excepting 2 acres within said boundaries conveyed to Calvin Robbins by A.J. Goodman and wife, and 50 acres convey to Mike Reddick by W.R. Reddick and wife, said 52 acres is not conveyed or intended to be conveyed by this deed. See Richmond County Records Book No. 70 at page 225. The number of acres conveyed by this deed is 81.
One black horse mule, about six years old, named Jerry; 1 red horse mule about ten years old, named Allen; one black mare about six years old, named Fanny; one two-horse Nisson wagon; one Barber buggy.
This the 21st day of November, 1921
Ozmer L. Henry, Commissioner
Under and by virtue of an order of the Superior Court of Richmond County, in an action therein pending entitled “B.F. Palmer et al vs W.R. Reddick and Minnie Reddick, his wife,” the undersigned commissioner will offer for sale at public auction for cash at the court house door in Rockingham, N.C., on Monday, Dec. 26th, 1921, at 12 o’clock, the following described real and personal property.
Beginning at a rock pile and runs S. 2, E. 32.50 chains; thence S. 32 W. 8.50 chains to the creek; thence down the various courses of said creek to a red oak, Leak’s Corner; thence N. 18, E. 36.52 chains to a sweet gum near the spring; thence N. 70, W. 31.50 chains t the beginning, containing 133 acres, more or less, save and excepting 2 acres within said boundaries conveyed to Calvin Robbins by A.J. Goodman and wife, and 50 acres convey to Mike Reddick by W.R. Reddick and wife, said 52 acres is not conveyed or intended to be conveyed by this deed. See Richmond County Records Book No. 70 at page 225. The number of acres conveyed by this deed is 81.
One black horse mule, about six years old, named Jerry; 1 red horse mule about ten years old, named Allen; one black mare about six years old, named Fanny; one two-horse Nisson wagon; one Barber buggy.
This the 21st day of November, 1921
Ozmer L. Henry, Commissioner
Monday, December 7, 2015
December 7, 1941--A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
On Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed a joint session of Congress. Congress voted to declare war on the Japanese later that day.
FDR addresses Congress. Behind him are Vice President Henry A. Wallace (left) and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. The man in uniform is FDR's son James.
James Roosevelt would receive the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism while serving in the Marine Corps. "The Navy Cross is presented to James Roosevelt, Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as second in command of the Second Marine Raider Battalion against enemy Japanese armed forces on Makin island. Risking his own life over and above the ordinary call of duty, Major Roosevelt continually exposed himself to intense machine-gun and sniper fire to ensure effective control of operations from the command post. As a result of his successful maintenance of communications with his supporting vessels, two enemy surface ships, whose presence was reported, were destroyed by gun fire. Later during evacuation, he displayed exemplary courage in personally rescuing three men from drowning in the heavy surf. His gallant conduct and his inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
County Home Inmates Remembered at Thanksgiving, 1921
"Infirm
Remembered,” from the Dec. 1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham
Post-Dispatch.
On Thanksgiving Day the aged and infirm at the County Home were bounteously remembered by the following, who sent fruits, etc., to gladden the hearts of those unfortunates: the King’s Daughters of Rockingham; the Elizabeth Jones class of Hamlet Methodist church; boxes jointly from the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches of Hamlet; and fruits, etc., from the St. Stephens A.M.E. colored church of Hamlet.
Mr. H.G. McLean, in charge of the Home, wishes to give this public acknowledgment of the gifts. There are now in the Home 20 inmates—8 of whom are white and 12 colored.
On Thanksgiving Day the aged and infirm at the County Home were bounteously remembered by the following, who sent fruits, etc., to gladden the hearts of those unfortunates: the King’s Daughters of Rockingham; the Elizabeth Jones class of Hamlet Methodist church; boxes jointly from the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches of Hamlet; and fruits, etc., from the St. Stephens A.M.E. colored church of Hamlet.
Mr. H.G. McLean, in charge of the Home, wishes to give this public acknowledgment of the gifts. There are now in the Home 20 inmates—8 of whom are white and 12 colored.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
White School Children to Receive Free Dental Care, 1921
"Montgomery
Dental Work,” from the Dec. 1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
As noted two weeks ago in the Post-Dispatch, a dental clinic for white school children of Richmond County will be held beginning early in January and continuing for at least two months.
Such a clinic is now being held in Montgomery County. Dr. F.R. Wilkins is doing the work. He visits the various schools. At Ether School two weeks ago he spent one week and treated 80 children between the ages of 6 and 12.
As noted two weeks ago in the Post-Dispatch, a dental clinic for white school children of Richmond County will be held beginning early in January and continuing for at least two months.
Such a clinic is now being held in Montgomery County. Dr. F.R. Wilkins is doing the work. He visits the various schools. At Ether School two weeks ago he spent one week and treated 80 children between the ages of 6 and 12.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Mary Clodfelter Reports High Point Route 4 News, Dec. 9, 1920
Mary
A. Clodfelter’s High Point Route 4 News from the High Point Review, Thursday, Dec. 9, 1920
Conrad Wyer’s dog was run over and killed by an automobile driven by a son of Mr. Horace Hayworth of near this city.
Minnie Wyer and Janie Clodfelter visited R.M. Clodfelter’s on last Sunday.
The writer has been asked why the news from this route does not appear regularly. (The news last week reached us too late for that issue but appears this week. We try to get all the news in if it reaches us on time—Editor.)
Early Hine of Wallburg and Mrs. Treva Cook were happily married just before Thanksgiving. Also Mr. Royford Murphy of near Bethany and Miss Lillie Reed of near Bethany.
Miss Lou Hine, who has been sick for the past three years, is some better at this writing.
D.E. Clodfelter was in High Point Saturday on business.
Alf Clinard is building an addition to his dwelling. Homer Motsinger of High Point is the contractor.
Wilmer Clodfelter is staying with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Y.C. Weavil.
Mr. Lafayette McGhee called in to see the writer and family Saturday of last week, which was an enjoyable event.
Mrs. D.W. Wyer, who has been on a visit to her son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Wyer, has returned to her home.
Aldine Moore is the proud father of 12 boys, none of them over two years apart. Who can beat it. Mr. Moore is bookkeeper at Gorrell Warehouse.
Messrs. L.F. and D.E. Clodfelter and Charlie Hines, Robert Smith and son Percy, Master Oakus, Edward and Richard Clodfelter all went hunting Thanksgiving Day and brought back four cotton tails.
The writer spent Thanksgiving evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lute Weavil who lately had the misfortune to lose their home by fire. We carried some needed things for the home like many others had done.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reed while en route to Winston last week had a break down, an axle to their Ford going bad, which cost $50 for repairs.
A northbound auto broke down on the road last week carrying, it is said, 60 gallons of liquor. Autos are doing more damage than any other one thing.
The writer called to see her brother, L.D. Wyer, Thanksgiving and found him much better.
Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Clodfelter were in High Point Saturday shopping and came back in the rain.
Mr. and Mrs. Mack Clodfelter are all smiles—it’s a girl.
There was preaching at Friedland Church Thanksgiving. The proceeds went to the Woman’s Home of Winston, largely maintained by the Moravians.
Conrad Wyer’s dog was run over and killed by an automobile driven by a son of Mr. Horace Hayworth of near this city.
Minnie Wyer and Janie Clodfelter visited R.M. Clodfelter’s on last Sunday.
The writer has been asked why the news from this route does not appear regularly. (The news last week reached us too late for that issue but appears this week. We try to get all the news in if it reaches us on time—Editor.)
Early Hine of Wallburg and Mrs. Treva Cook were happily married just before Thanksgiving. Also Mr. Royford Murphy of near Bethany and Miss Lillie Reed of near Bethany.
Miss Lou Hine, who has been sick for the past three years, is some better at this writing.
D.E. Clodfelter was in High Point Saturday on business.
Alf Clinard is building an addition to his dwelling. Homer Motsinger of High Point is the contractor.
Wilmer Clodfelter is staying with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Y.C. Weavil.
Mr. Lafayette McGhee called in to see the writer and family Saturday of last week, which was an enjoyable event.
Mrs. D.W. Wyer, who has been on a visit to her son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Wyer, has returned to her home.
Aldine Moore is the proud father of 12 boys, none of them over two years apart. Who can beat it. Mr. Moore is bookkeeper at Gorrell Warehouse.
Messrs. L.F. and D.E. Clodfelter and Charlie Hines, Robert Smith and son Percy, Master Oakus, Edward and Richard Clodfelter all went hunting Thanksgiving Day and brought back four cotton tails.
The writer spent Thanksgiving evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lute Weavil who lately had the misfortune to lose their home by fire. We carried some needed things for the home like many others had done.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reed while en route to Winston last week had a break down, an axle to their Ford going bad, which cost $50 for repairs.
A northbound auto broke down on the road last week carrying, it is said, 60 gallons of liquor. Autos are doing more damage than any other one thing.
The writer called to see her brother, L.D. Wyer, Thanksgiving and found him much better.
Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Clodfelter were in High Point Saturday shopping and came back in the rain.
Mr. and Mrs. Mack Clodfelter are all smiles—it’s a girl.
There was preaching at Friedland Church Thanksgiving. The proceeds went to the Woman’s Home of Winston, largely maintained by the Moravians.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
4,350 People Killed and 12,750 Injured Because Drivers Fail to 'Stop, Look and Listen' 1921
Dec.
1, 1921, issue of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
During the four-year period ending last December 31st, there were 4,350 persons killed and 12,750 injured in accidents at railroad crossings. The automobilist ignores the fact that a train running 60 miles an hour goes 88 feet in one second and can not be stopped in less than a quarter of a mile. The automobilist can easily and quickly stop his car, and look and listen, and failure to take this plain precaution is in itself reckless. But how many of our Richmond County drivers really heed the signs of “stop, look and listen?”
During the four-year period ending last December 31st, there were 4,350 persons killed and 12,750 injured in accidents at railroad crossings. The automobilist ignores the fact that a train running 60 miles an hour goes 88 feet in one second and can not be stopped in less than a quarter of a mile. The automobilist can easily and quickly stop his car, and look and listen, and failure to take this plain precaution is in itself reckless. But how many of our Richmond County drivers really heed the signs of “stop, look and listen?”
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
We Need State Legislation to Protect Boll Weevil-Eating Partridges, 1921
Originally
published in the Wadesboro paper and then reprinted in the Dec. 1, 1921, issue
of the Rockingham Post-Dispatch.
This from last week’s issue of the Wadesboro paper: “Mr. W.T. Treadaway reports that his cat brought in a partridge a few days ago, and when the bird’s craw was examined it was found to contain 12 boll weevils.”
And one hears just such reports on every side. The pot hunters very naturally ridicule the idea of boll weevils being eaten by partridges, but the vast majority of opinion is that weevils do form a good meal for such birds. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will pass an act restricting the killing of quail in Richmond County.
This from last week’s issue of the Wadesboro paper: “Mr. W.T. Treadaway reports that his cat brought in a partridge a few days ago, and when the bird’s craw was examined it was found to contain 12 boll weevils.”
And one hears just such reports on every side. The pot hunters very naturally ridicule the idea of boll weevils being eaten by partridges, but the vast majority of opinion is that weevils do form a good meal for such birds. It is to be hoped that the Legislature will pass an act restricting the killing of quail in Richmond County.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Ellerbe School News, Dec. 1, 1922
“Ellerbe
School News” from the Rockingham Post Dispatch, Dec. 1, 1922
Mr. I.R. Sides and sister, Miss Sallie Mae, went to Elon College Thanksgiving to witness the Elon-Guilford college football game. Mr. Sides was formerly on the varsity team.
Mrs. A.K. McDonald and little daughter Lucy Katherine of Star are visiting Mrs. McDonalds’ sister, Mrs. B.B. Farlow.
Mr. J.B. Ingram of Sanford spent Monday in town.
Mr. Clifford Hall motored to Asheboro last Saturday where he stayed until Sunday night with his mother.
Misses Alma and Mary Braswell of Monroe spent Thanksgiving Day with their cousin Miss Ruby Price near town.
One of the students in high school wrote a theme on a mule and a duck.
A mule has two feet to kick with; two feet to stand on and two wings on the side of his head. He’s got a mighty forward way of suddenly startling backward way of suddenly starting forward.
Professor Pete Smith has resigned his position as chemistry teacher.
“Puny-Six,” “Hoe-Handle Red” and “Mule” were sorely disappointed Thanksgiving night.
Royal Bennett killed a rabbit Thanksgiving.
Squire Bennett Covington is preparing for winter. He has let his hair grow out.
We imagine that the bone-yard station is closed. Duck-legged Benson has quit driving the old gray mare.
The teachers sent as delegates from Ellerbe High School to the Teachers’ Assembly in Raleigh last week were Prof. Mitchel and Misses Capella Capel and Ethel Proffit.
Mr. Reid Auman spent Thanksgiving holidays in Greensboro.
Master Harold Bennett and Miss Ernestine Bennett spent Thanksgiving Day with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.B. O’Brien.
Miss Nan C. McCullers returned Sunday night after spending the holidays at her home in
Garner.
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bennett gave a Thanksgiving dinner last Wednesday in honor of Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Bridges, who will leave in December for Newton, where they will make their home.
Miss Jessie Suggs returned Monday to Greensboro where she attends school at the Greensboro High School, after spending the holidays at her home near town.
Miss Mildred Williams has returned home after spending the week-end in Blenheim, S.C., with relatives.
Mr. I.R. Sides and sister, Miss Sallie Mae, went to Elon College Thanksgiving to witness the Elon-Guilford college football game. Mr. Sides was formerly on the varsity team.
Mrs. A.K. McDonald and little daughter Lucy Katherine of Star are visiting Mrs. McDonalds’ sister, Mrs. B.B. Farlow.
Mr. J.B. Ingram of Sanford spent Monday in town.
Mr. Clifford Hall motored to Asheboro last Saturday where he stayed until Sunday night with his mother.
Misses Alma and Mary Braswell of Monroe spent Thanksgiving Day with their cousin Miss Ruby Price near town.
One of the students in high school wrote a theme on a mule and a duck.
A mule has two feet to kick with; two feet to stand on and two wings on the side of his head. He’s got a mighty forward way of suddenly startling backward way of suddenly starting forward.
Professor Pete Smith has resigned his position as chemistry teacher.
“Puny-Six,” “Hoe-Handle Red” and “Mule” were sorely disappointed Thanksgiving night.
Royal Bennett killed a rabbit Thanksgiving.
Squire Bennett Covington is preparing for winter. He has let his hair grow out.
We imagine that the bone-yard station is closed. Duck-legged Benson has quit driving the old gray mare.
The teachers sent as delegates from Ellerbe High School to the Teachers’ Assembly in Raleigh last week were Prof. Mitchel and Misses Capella Capel and Ethel Proffit.
Mr. Reid Auman spent Thanksgiving holidays in Greensboro.
Master Harold Bennett and Miss Ernestine Bennett spent Thanksgiving Day with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.B. O’Brien.
Miss Nan C. McCullers returned Sunday night after spending the holidays at her home in
Garner.
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bennett gave a Thanksgiving dinner last Wednesday in honor of Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Bridges, who will leave in December for Newton, where they will make their home.
Miss Jessie Suggs returned Monday to Greensboro where she attends school at the Greensboro High School, after spending the holidays at her home near town.
Miss Mildred Williams has returned home after spending the week-end in Blenheim, S.C., with relatives.
Monday, November 30, 2015
People Also Served Overseas in World War I in the YMCA, 1917
“Million Letters in the Mail Today
Bearing Magic Words ‘With the Colors’” from the Nov. 8, 1917 issue of the French Broad Hustler
Keynote of the Splendid Work the Y.M.C.A. Does Among Our Men in Uniform Is Keeping Them in Touch With the Folks at Home….Stamped with Stars and Stripes and Red Triangle…Multifarious Ways in Which the Association Appeals to Your Boy, Your Neighbor’s Boy, or Some Boy You Know and Love….Creates a Helpful Environment in Cantonment, on Way Overseas, in Front Line Trench and Beyond…First to Aid as He Comes Tottering Back….Give Your Share of the $35,000,000 Required to Accomplish This “Last Evidence That Somebody Cares”
It was evening on the broad Hempstead Plain, Long Island, where the Rainbow division was spending its last night before embarking for France. It had been raining hard in the afternoon—a cold, steady autumn downpour—and there was nothing to suggest the rainbow in the outward aspects of the camp. Lines and lines of sodden canvas housed 27,000 men, gathered from 27 different states. The ground was dotted with pools and quagmires. Under th wet canvas it was damp and cold with a penetrating chill. Lit by flickering candles, the tents were far from cheerful shelter for a man’s last night in his native land.
But there were seven big tents where electric lights, numbers and friendliness made the night pleasant. In each of these a soldier was strumming on a piano; others were reading books and magazines; hundreds were writing letters home. Behind the raised counter at one end three or four young men were busy passing out notepaper and envelopes, selling stamps and weighing parcels, which the men were sending home. One of the soldiers said to me as I stood in the tent used chiefly by men from Iowa: “We came all the way here from Des Moines, and we were mighty lonely. Then we found this Y.M.C.A. on the job, and it’s been a home and more than a home to us. It gave us what we wanted when we needed it most. We’ll never forget it. The boys’ best friend is the Y.M.C.A.
These were the tents of the Y.M.C.A. On that last night in America the association was serving the soldiers in the best of all ways—giving them an opportunity to write home. One previous nights they had enjoyed boxing bouts, movies, concerts, dramatics and a score of healthy entertainments as well as religious meetings. But on this last night home ties were strongest. And perhaps that is the keynote of the splendid work the Y.M.C.A. is doing among our men in uniform—keeping them in touch with home.
If every thinking citizen could see with his or her own eyes something of the actual work being done for our men by the association there would be no question of the Y.M.C.A. having to appeal to the public for money. Rather than let this essential work falter for an instant, rich men would sell their motorcars, poor men would forego coveted possessions or even necessities. The work must go on, because there is no one thing that contributes so much to the spirit and efficiency of the troops. The Y.M.C.A. is working night and day to help the government win this war. And every penny that is given to aid the work is a direct assistance to the health, happiness and strength of your boy and mine.
There are Y.M.C.A. dugouts right behind the front line trenches, where the soldiers can get hot drinks, crackers and other comforts at all hours.
Over 2,000 men who have been rejected on account of physical disability have been able to get into the British army by reason of the physical work of the British Y.M.C.A.
A fleet of motor cars leaves the big Y.M.C.A. headquarters in London at midnight every night to pick up soldiers who are wandering about the streets without any wholesome lodging in which to spend the night. These cars are operated by Englishwomen of position and refinement, who report that they never meet any discourtesy at the hands of the soldiers. The importance of this service can be estimated by the fact that at least 50,000 soldiers are on leave in London every week. Over half of these sleep in Y.M.C.A. beds every night.
In each of the draft camps the Y.M.C.A. has 10 secretaries engaged in educational work. The association is seeing to it that every man who cannot speak English is taught to do so. In many of the camps the association has a singing director who is teaching the men to sing the popular and martial airs that do so much to keep up their spirits.
Of 64 Y.M.C.A. men at Camp Dix only three are being paid full salaries. In all the camps the majority of the Y.M.C.A. men have left lucrative positions to do this work simply because its appeal is irresistible to any red-blooded man. Harry Lauder, the famous Scotch singer and comedian, now in his farewell concert tour in the United States, is giving all his spare time to the service of the association and is singing to the soldiers at all the camps he can reach.
In one of the draft camps the Y.M.C.A. is supervising athletics on 120 playing fields, providing full athletic equipment. The winners of the inter-regimental games will play the champions of the other camps.
One of the greatest services rendered by the association is the making out of money orders by which the men can send their pay home to their families. In some of the big camps the Y.M.C.A. is providing banking facilities for the men as well.
Your town mayor, your pastor, your school superintendent will know who is the treasurer for the campaign committee in your county or town. Otherwise send a check or money order to Cleveland H. Dodge, treasurer, 124 East 28th Street, New York City.
Only sacrificial giving by millions of givers will make possible the continuance of this vast work for American soldiers and for those of our allies.
Keynote of the Splendid Work the Y.M.C.A. Does Among Our Men in Uniform Is Keeping Them in Touch With the Folks at Home….Stamped with Stars and Stripes and Red Triangle…Multifarious Ways in Which the Association Appeals to Your Boy, Your Neighbor’s Boy, or Some Boy You Know and Love….Creates a Helpful Environment in Cantonment, on Way Overseas, in Front Line Trench and Beyond…First to Aid as He Comes Tottering Back….Give Your Share of the $35,000,000 Required to Accomplish This “Last Evidence That Somebody Cares”
It was evening on the broad Hempstead Plain, Long Island, where the Rainbow division was spending its last night before embarking for France. It had been raining hard in the afternoon—a cold, steady autumn downpour—and there was nothing to suggest the rainbow in the outward aspects of the camp. Lines and lines of sodden canvas housed 27,000 men, gathered from 27 different states. The ground was dotted with pools and quagmires. Under th wet canvas it was damp and cold with a penetrating chill. Lit by flickering candles, the tents were far from cheerful shelter for a man’s last night in his native land.
But there were seven big tents where electric lights, numbers and friendliness made the night pleasant. In each of these a soldier was strumming on a piano; others were reading books and magazines; hundreds were writing letters home. Behind the raised counter at one end three or four young men were busy passing out notepaper and envelopes, selling stamps and weighing parcels, which the men were sending home. One of the soldiers said to me as I stood in the tent used chiefly by men from Iowa: “We came all the way here from Des Moines, and we were mighty lonely. Then we found this Y.M.C.A. on the job, and it’s been a home and more than a home to us. It gave us what we wanted when we needed it most. We’ll never forget it. The boys’ best friend is the Y.M.C.A.
Fine,
Clean-Cut, Upstanding Fellows
How close those benches were packed with men, bending over the long tables
absorbed in their writing! What an appeal to the sympathies those great groups
of soldiers make! Fine, clean-cut, upstanding fellows, some of them mere boys,
one thinks immediately of the sacrifice they have made for the rest of us and
how precious they are to some one back home. Somewhere, in far off farm or
village or city street, there are parents or brothers or wives who would give
all they possess for one glimpse of those sunburned faces as you and I see them
on their last night before going across. And it was with a throb of the heart
that I watched them, bent over their letter paper, in one after another of
those seven big tents.These were the tents of the Y.M.C.A. On that last night in America the association was serving the soldiers in the best of all ways—giving them an opportunity to write home. One previous nights they had enjoyed boxing bouts, movies, concerts, dramatics and a score of healthy entertainments as well as religious meetings. But on this last night home ties were strongest. And perhaps that is the keynote of the splendid work the Y.M.C.A. is doing among our men in uniform—keeping them in touch with home.
Magic
Words, “With the Colors”
In these times there are some letters that mean more to us than any we have
ever read before. They are written on sheets of paper stamped with the Stars
and Stripes and the red triangle of the Y.M.C.A., and they bear the magic
words, “With the Colors.” There are many more than a million such letters in
the mails now while you read this. Perhaps one at least is on its way to you.
Each one of our 16 cantonments, where the new national army is being trained,
is using more than a million sheets of this paper every month. In the draft
army alone that means 16,000,000 filaments of love every month reaching out
from the great encampment where the men are being trained into the greatest
army this nation has ever dreamed and binding them to the hearts at home.
Multiply that by thinking of all the other places where Uncle Sam has men with
the flag—in navy yards, on the high seas, in arsenals and officers’ training
camps and “Over There” in France. In all these places men are writing home.
Those unassuming little sheets of notepaper gladden millions of hearts a day.
They transfer more love from one part of the world to anther than statistics
can express. Statistics are pretty poor anyway when it comes to reckoning in
terms of love and human tenderness. Let’s put it this way: That the Y.M.C.A. is
the biggest express company the world has ever seen, and the parcels it is
handling are the loves and devotions of human beings.
World’s
Best Loved Trademark
This ware has made us think hard and fast. Your boy or your neighbor’s boy
or some boy you know and love has been called to do his share in the job of
policing the world for democracy and human liberty. Is it any comfort to you to
know wherever his duty may call him your boy will have a friend that will serve
him in body, mind and soul? Are you glad to know that this friend will place
books and magazines at his disposal, organize classes to teach him whatever he
wants to learn, give him a pocket testament and invite him to join religious
meetings of the faith that he was brought up in? Did you realize that the
association provides athletic equipment for his favorite games, teaches him
games if he knows none and holds concerts, lectures, movies, Bible classes,
dramatic entertainments and every kind of wholesome amusement to keep him
interested? Are you glad to know that this friend will go with him overseas,
help to shield him from a score of difficult and dangerous temptations and
follow him right up to the front line trench and beyond it? The last contact
the soldier has with this life he loves so well is a cup of tea given him by
the Y.M.C.A. free just before he goes “over the top” to a hand to hand struggle
with the enemy. And as he comes tottering back from No Man’s Land, wounded, but
strong enough and plucky enough to keep on his feet, even before his wounds are
dressed the Y.M.C.A. is waiting for him with tea and sweet chocolate, the great
comforts of the man in the trenches. Do you wonder that the Red Triangle is
called “the best loved trademark in the world?” One soldier in France has
called it “the last evidence that anybody cares.”If every thinking citizen could see with his or her own eyes something of the actual work being done for our men by the association there would be no question of the Y.M.C.A. having to appeal to the public for money. Rather than let this essential work falter for an instant, rich men would sell their motorcars, poor men would forego coveted possessions or even necessities. The work must go on, because there is no one thing that contributes so much to the spirit and efficiency of the troops. The Y.M.C.A. is working night and day to help the government win this war. And every penny that is given to aid the work is a direct assistance to the health, happiness and strength of your boy and mine.
Snapshots
of Kaleidoscopic Work
In all the big cities in France where our men pass through in large numbers,
the Y.M.C.A. is operating hostels, where they can get beds and meals at a
minimum cost. In London, the American Y.M.C.A. has erected a large building for
our soldiers and a clubhouse for American officers.There are Y.M.C.A. dugouts right behind the front line trenches, where the soldiers can get hot drinks, crackers and other comforts at all hours.
Over 2,000 men who have been rejected on account of physical disability have been able to get into the British army by reason of the physical work of the British Y.M.C.A.
A fleet of motor cars leaves the big Y.M.C.A. headquarters in London at midnight every night to pick up soldiers who are wandering about the streets without any wholesome lodging in which to spend the night. These cars are operated by Englishwomen of position and refinement, who report that they never meet any discourtesy at the hands of the soldiers. The importance of this service can be estimated by the fact that at least 50,000 soldiers are on leave in London every week. Over half of these sleep in Y.M.C.A. beds every night.
Entertainment
on Vast Scale
The Y.M.C.A. has erected a big auditorium, seating 3,000, in each of the big
draft camps, and huge chautauqua tents, seating 2,500 in the other encampments.
The association is running a 22-week entertainment circuit among the camps and
is paying 16 companies of entertainers, who are traveling to 30 camps
performing before the men.In each of the draft camps the Y.M.C.A. has 10 secretaries engaged in educational work. The association is seeing to it that every man who cannot speak English is taught to do so. In many of the camps the association has a singing director who is teaching the men to sing the popular and martial airs that do so much to keep up their spirits.
Of 64 Y.M.C.A. men at Camp Dix only three are being paid full salaries. In all the camps the majority of the Y.M.C.A. men have left lucrative positions to do this work simply because its appeal is irresistible to any red-blooded man. Harry Lauder, the famous Scotch singer and comedian, now in his farewell concert tour in the United States, is giving all his spare time to the service of the association and is singing to the soldiers at all the camps he can reach.
In one of the draft camps the Y.M.C.A. is supervising athletics on 120 playing fields, providing full athletic equipment. The winners of the inter-regimental games will play the champions of the other camps.
One of the greatest services rendered by the association is the making out of money orders by which the men can send their pay home to their families. In some of the big camps the Y.M.C.A. is providing banking facilities for the men as well.
Do
Your Bit With a Tenner
This month (November) the Y.M.C.A. must raise $35,000,000 to carry on its
work among our soldiers and their allies until next July. Of this $35,000,000
about $24,000,000 will be spent on the work with our own troops, or about $10
for every man in Uncle Sam’s uniform. If everybody who has received letters
from soldiers and sailors were to contribute $10 the task would be easy. Are
your boy’s health and happiness and clean soul worth $10 to you?Your town mayor, your pastor, your school superintendent will know who is the treasurer for the campaign committee in your county or town. Otherwise send a check or money order to Cleveland H. Dodge, treasurer, 124 East 28th Street, New York City.
Only sacrificial giving by millions of givers will make possible the continuance of this vast work for American soldiers and for those of our allies.
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