davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20
Picture Business
Must Be Adjusted
To New Conditions

Commenting on frequently printed
reports that the motion picture thea
ters throughout the country are doing
an under normal business with result
ant depressing effect on the producing
end Of the industry, William R. Fer
guson, Of Goldwyn, Just returned to
New York after five months intensive
work in the Southern states, said yes
terdays
"My experience with exhibitors has
convinced me that the motion picture
business Is going through a period of
readjustment Just like all other bust
nesses, which doomed during the period
Of prosperity and extravaganza due to
the war. During this period, which
was abnormal, many new and preten-
tious motion picture houses were built
throughout the country. 1t was a time
when tremendous amounts of money
were made by owners of motion picture
theaters. know several proprietors Of
mediocre houses who cleaned up around
a quarter OF q million dollars in q short
period.
There was rush TO build theaters.
AS a result the seating capacity in
| many cities and towns has doubled
within the past year. And there
/ haven't been enough people to fill all
the seats, or even to pay expenses of
the extra theatcrs.
4 i ~ 10
Also, It's true that people haven't
tho money to spend that they had in
the era of bloated earnings. The busi-
ness Is simply returning to normal,
| and the theater manager who has the
goods will survive. That is, the ex-
hibitor who knows his business and Is
able to meet normal business demands
E.will make money Just as hs did before
the war.
People are not 'tirsd' Of going to.
SEQ pictures. Theodore, In which I
was particularly interested, and "The
Old Nest and Dangerous Curve Ahead
were playing to big business. Thee
dora went particularly we'll In Florida
and In the big cities Of the South.
"But where business is split up
among too many theaters Ii isn't sur
prising that some Of them are having
hard struggle to survive.
"Of course, different localities pro-
vide different problems. In some places
the big chain theaters, which offer
vaudeville and pictures OF smaller
admission than the older and smaller
theaters charge for a straight picture
program, have made the shedding hard
for the smaller competitor. 1t looks
very muck as II the smaller man would
have to readjust his prices downward
to do volume business. A movement
in that direction already Is under way.
Stock companies are fourishing in
many places. But r. regard that as
only swing Of the pendulum. Stock
is great favorits now. Some other
form of amusement pictures be
the favorite next. Ny experience and
observations in fifteen states Is that
pictures are staple
Ferguson said that l0-cent theaters
are making money in some cities where
the bigger and more modern and ex-
pensiye theaters are suffering. He also
said that the solid South is fighting
through the adjustment period with
tremendous energy, and that exploita-
ton and advertising In that part of the
country has reached its maximum.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20
Madge Bethany Will PLAY
Opposite tack pscL

Madge Bellamy, who will be seer
shortly in the biggest role of her
screen career in G. Gardner Sullivan's
some One to Love-" will return to
the ince studios at Culver City next
week. Miss Bellamy has been loaned
20 play opposite Jack Pickford In
"Garrison's Finish"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20

Cosmopolitan is rushing work on
THE Face in the Fog IN which Louis
Wolsslm plays the face. Wolheitn
must start on tour ia s.Ths Hairy
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20
Walter HERS Appears
In Romantic Role

Walter HERS, Paramount's plump
comedian, has just announced his en-
gagement to Adah McWilliams, of SYRIA
cuse. He came to New York all the wav
from Hollywood to buy the ring and
viii stop off on his way home to slip
it on Adah's finger.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-20


Blackie Dawson in the picture.
Chester Whitney will direct Elsie Fer
guson in her next picture, which will
be q screen version Of her former stage
play "Outcast."
George Hackathorne has been called
out to Los Angeles to play an important
part In Erich Won Stroheim's big pro-
duction "Merry-G Round" now in the
making at Universal City.
Ward Lascelle will release mind
Over Motor" the Mary Roberts Rine-
hart story which he has just put on
the screen, through Hodkinson. Trixie
Friganza is the star and 1t will be
her first screen appearance.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
BRINGS DEMONSTRATORS
FOR COTTON FARMERS
Spence -HolIoweIl Co. To Have Gov
ernment Demonstration at the
Fair This Week

"FarmcrS visiting the Fair this
week will have. an opportunity to
learn some things about the boH
wccvil and methods of combating
it." says DIR. l.. $. Blades of Spence
Hofioweli Company of this city.
at has been only short time
since the boil weevil was discovered
in counties where now it has grown
to be Il menace. The boil wcevil
has been discovered in Currituck. in
ChOwan and by next year it will
probably be in Pasquotank.
I'VE are expecting demOnStra-
tor to be at the Fair this week. TO
show the farmers how to combat it.
The Niagara" busters will be dem
onStratrd. We can recall the ;:mc
when the potato bug wa 4 serious
I,cnacp to the potato crops. but thru
the efforts of the farmers in using
insecticides. tie potato bug has been
Kept from doing serious damage.
If we can get the farmers to be-
Gin in time. they will be able 10 ccm-
lat the boI. wcc,il when it makes IL
N prlrancc in tits section. TI% Nia-
CARA busters have been demonstrated
MS the most effective safeguard yet
discovered, and we believe they Will
be- boon to cotton farmers thruout
the district"
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
LOCAL BANKERS HAVE
GREAT NEW YORK TRIP
Three Elizabeth City Bankers at Big
Convention in New York
Last Week

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The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
CHARLIE BACKED 'EM +
ALL OFF THE BOARD
Freckle Face Kid From Proyident
Took the Prize In
WaIkoyer

Charlie Sawyer, 13-year-old son
Mr.. and Mrs. Lem Sawyer. of Pro,
idence Township, won first prize
THE INDEPENDENTS frecki
face boy contest this morning, an
Cephus Sawyer an Elizabeth CID
boy, got second prize.
1t was tame contest. Thirteer
year-old Charlie Sawyer rode thre
miles to town on his bicycle an
planted himself in front of THE IN
DEPENDENT building before min
O'Clock Il. m. He backed everythin
off the board except Cephus. Bo
after boy came up to get into tli
contest, took one look at Cbarli
and beat it. Charlie has more frecE
les than nest of Guinea Hen egg
and shock of red hair to 20 wit,
it.
Charlie got ticket to the Fai
and five dollars in nickeIs and dimei
He may survive the big day ahea
of him if his mother has a good sup
ply of castor oil on hand and dose
him tonight.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY
OF LOST LIFE RAFT?
Did a Ship Go Down and Lose All
Hands or Was Some One
Set bdrift?

The Coast Guard has been unable
10 solve the mystery attached to L
life raft discovered Sept. y. one
quarter 0f Il mile north of Station
Ia at Pea Island The raft WAS
built by the G. ii. Lame Iifcboat Go.
of BrootIyn. y. Y. on Sept. ., 1911.
and will accommodate eight persons.
1t is Ii feet long ard eight feet
wide.
The raft was in good condition
which prccludc> the theory that it
had been uhoat for few years. 1t
is not likely to have been part Of
the equipment of some vessel torpe-
durd during the war. Some ship may
have sunk more recently and all
hands been lost. or it may have come
from some wreck already accounted
for.
During the week ending October
80 the Coast Guard saved II lives,
assisted seven vessels and rendered
assistance in II other eases. This
WAS Il quiet week for the Coast
Guard.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
BUNDY WILL STAY ON i
HIGHWAY COMMISSIO
His Threat To Resign Was Ma
Without Taking Counsel (.
With Bosses Il

o. j.. Bundy. member of the Pa
quotaDk Highway Commission fr}
Mt. Hermon Township. who blew
at the meeting last Tuesday d
threatened to resign. has cooled
and reconsidered. Mr.. Bundy te|
this newspaper that he will not d
sign.
81 got to thinking it over after
left the courthouse" says Mr.. Bu
dy, "and it occurred to me that
could do them more harm from d
inside than / could from the outsid
so | am going to stay with them 4
the end of time" n
Mr.. Bundy did not explain vi
he meant by doing them more Id
on the inside than ont the outsf
or to whom the harm would be dof
He may have had reference TO q
taxpayers of the city and county.
Mr.. Bundy denies that he is
fiuenced in his reconsideration BY
+. Aydlett. He says Mr.. AydIe
has not said Il word to him about
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
INTERESTING SERMON
AT BLACKWELL CHURCH
personal Sacrifice" Is Not COHSid-
cred As 1t Should Be, Says
Or. Thayer.

"fcrSonaI SacrIli'' WIS l"'
morning topic ot IN" pastor br'
james IL. Thaycr at Blackwrll Mem
Orial BAPTIST Church Sunday. Dr.
Thayer held the undivided attention
of large gathering. with typical
Thaycr sermon. and the way he IN
troduccd his subject attracted the no.
ticc of the congregation and made
everyone present find some personal
interest in the message.
"Wc often pay too little attention
to personal sacrficC.' said DIR. Tha-
yer. and we are too anxious to get
more than we are willing to return.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
IS IN FAVOR OF
SUNDAY MOVIES
Alderman Jennette Thinks
Good Picture Show on Sun
days Would Help

Alderman w. II. Jennstte,
one of the four who voted for
the recent repeal OF Elizabeth
City's Sunday Blue Law says
he would favor moving pic
lures on Sunday afternoons
as well, for the sake of keep
ing the young people OF the
town out of greater mischief.
"Don't understand me to say that
I would favor such pictures as we
are now accustomed to getting said
Mr.. Jenncttp. "But if it were pos
sblc to get Il Sunday program of un-
uucstionably clean pictures, or even
pictures of an educational nature
only. would favor Sunday movies.
Mr.. Jpnnctte went on TO say: i
have three boys; | can keep better
track of my boys on any day in the
week than Sunday. | voted for the
drug stores to open on Sunday be-
cause ! would rather see my boys III
a drug store on Sunday than have
them follow the usual Sunday gangs
that. frequent side street eating
houses and livery stables. would
feel even better satisfied if my boys
could 60 to good, clean picture
show on Sunday afternoon. where
they could see pictures that would
give them something worth while to
think about"
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
OFFER BONDS
FOR Sale NOV
$500, 900 of 100000 Publ
Utilities Issue To Be i
Sold At Once

The Board of. Aldermen a
a special meeting Monda,
night, Oct. 9, ordered the sal
of $300,000 of the proposed is
sue of $S00,0O0 of public util
ity bonds and advertisements
for bids for these bonds WI
be placed at once.
The ordinance authorizing the Il
suance of these bonds is now in fu
force and effect after having bee
advertised for 30 days.
No interest rate is fixed on u
bonds to be issued. the Alderme
leaving it to the bidders and trusl
ing to luck to get better than 81
per cent. 1t is customary for tlI
interest rate to be fixed ut not higl
er than five per cent.
The Aldermen are Offering ou|
100000 of the proposed issue
$S00,000 to avoid paying interest 4
so much idle money. 1t was poiIl!
ed out at the meeting Monday nigI
that 100000 would be ample to pa
for the engineering work, purchase
new site and begin construction on
new plant, more bonds to be issu1
later when more money is needed.
wirs pointed out that if the city dI
cides to buy the existing public ut
ity plants, that 100000 will prol
ably be enough to close the deal. I
fact. Alderman G. w. Stevens wl
chary about offering exactly S300.OQ
in bonds for sale, because he tlbugj
President Crook of the utilities cod
panies would think that the Bod
had in mind closing with him for {
purchase of the properties il
came back with a 100000 offer.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
STATE AID IN TIME
TO HELP OYSTERMEN
Otherwise the Present Scarcity OF
BivaIves Would Be Serious
Menace to the Industry


Had it not been for tn" thought
fulncSS of the State in planting 2Un.-
600 bushels of shells on the depleted
beds of North Carolina. we people in
this part of the State would be fac
ing serious scarcity among oysters
to-day. The scarcity of bivalveS Is
being kccrly felt right here in Eliza
beth City. where oysters are selling
for TO cents quart. most of them
coming from Virginia dealers. aS
only an occasional load Of North
Carolina oysters can b" Scrapcd to
put on our local markets.
That we are now obliged to buy
our oysters from Virginia i but Il
result of a combination of Circum-
stances and carelcSSnr>S on our
part. 1t is rot many years since
plenty Of oysters could h" Scraped
from the waters of eastern North
Carolina. But there WIS little de-
mand for them in the state at the
time. and the operations "f North
Carolina Oystcrmcn didn't extend far
5cvond an occasional trip for fam
ily'S supply. At that time reStric-
tions affecting every angle OF our
fisheries were few. so Virginia oyS-
tcrmen. shrcwdIy sensing an "ppor-
tunity for some easy money. sent
their vessels down to the gullibIe ma
tivrS and cleaned the beds. year AT
ter year. In this manner tremendous
cargoes of oysters went away from
the state without any restrictions
whatever.
As shipping conditions improved
thruout North Carolina thus making
il easy for the eastern part of the
state to ship to our own inland mar
kcts. there grew an increasing de-
mand for the biyalvcS which offered
our oystcrmeu more money than tn"
Virginians with their heavy costs OF
nncratiou would or could afford to
pav. But when North CaroInIanS
attempted to make the most ot their
opportunities they quickly discovered
that their resources were gone.
And 80 it is that we have to wait
4 couple of years or 50. until our
oysters have had time to grow. The
menace of Virginia Oystermen may
not come to pass any more, but
there are other fishing resources Ill
North Carolina which are not prac-
tically unexpected, and may be tax
on from the hands of our often too
Ietbargic natives. North Carolina
should have the profits from the pick
of it's resources. 1t is well for the
natives to keep an eye on the few
advantages which have been LETT
them. and begin to make the most Oi
these while the making is good. As
has been said before, "A word to the
wise has a silver lining.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
WHY THEY NEVER DID
RECEIVE DIVIDENDS
But We Must Weep Because Stock,
holders Don't Get Something
For Nothing

Lest any of the good people shed
tears over the fact that the stock
holders of the Elizabeth City public
utilities companies have never re-
ceivcd any dividends on their stock.
It is probably in order To call atten-
tiun To the fact that these same
stockholders have nothing to lose on
their stock. Their stock never cost
them penny.
There are number of StockhoId-
crS of the elrctri' light, water and
sewerage companies in Elizabeth
City and not one of them ever
paid Il dollar for his stock. Among
the stockholders are T.. II. Williams,
member Of the Board of Alder
men: W. J. Woodley and j. y. y.
Wood. There are others, but this
newspaper doesn't happen to have
their names. These stockholders got
their stock free when they bought
bonds of the companies. being given
Il hundred dollar share of stock with
every hundred dollar bond they
bought. They have received interest
on their bonds. but the companies
have wasted 81 much money in futile
experiments that they couldn't pay
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
THE SILLY AD MAN
HAS BEEN IN TOWN
And Now You Will See His Foolish
Stuff In This Paper

Il. V. G. Smith. the Sillyad man.
visited several of our prominent mcr-
chants last week. Mr.. Smith is the
composer and originator of close to
one thousand silly ads" or adycr-
tising jokes. lie claims his ability
in getting up jokes is due to the War,
a. he was gaSscd in taking part in
it. This gas" says Mr.. Smith. "i>
still coming ont of me in the form
Of these jokes" beginning this
Tuesday and continuing every Tues
day and Friday. we will distribute
some of Mr.. Smiths gas III the way
of Il column of SillyadS in this pa
per. We believe YOU will like this
column of humor, and that you will
actually enjoy advertising made up in
this unique way.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
INDEPENDENT EDITOR
TO SPEAK AT u. OF N.

W. q. Saunders. editor of TIE
INDEPENDENT has received an in
vita,ion to talk to the class i'll jour
naliSm at the University of North
Carolina. Mr.. Saunders has accepted
the invitation and will. at an early
date. tell the future editors, journal
lists and newspaper men Of North
Carolina some of the things he
knows and thinks he knows about
publishing Il weekly newspaper.
The boys ut the University are
enthusiastic readers Of THE INDIE
PENDENT. hundreds of them having
bcromr acquainted with it thru cop
les sent 10 student subscribers from
this part of the State.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
BUILDING TRADES NOW
ARE OVERWORKED HERE
Revival of Building in City Is Adding
to Demand for Supplies for
Other Sections

AS result Of the unusual building
boom in Elizabeth City, orders for
building material are strapping the
local building supply men pretty
hard. according to handlers of build
ing supplies. The condition does not
apply to Elizabeth City alone, but
other towns thruout the section are
using great deal of lumber and
are buying it in this city. Conse-
uuentIy this adds to the demand on
the Elizabeth City mills.
4 great many new homes are be-
ing built in Elizabeth City and a
large number ,Of cid ones are being
remodeIed into modern types. The
largest Improvement perhaps, in any
one residential section is going on in
West Church Street, where several
new homes are in process OF con-
struction, and most Of them compar-
ativcy speaking. are costly ones.
Skilled mechanics are in demand,
and no unemployment among the
capable ones exists in Elizabeth City
to-day. The chief difficulty con-
fronting our local contractors is the
condition resulting from the recent
railroad strike. making it difficult
for builders to get such materials
here as are purchased out of town.
Orders many weeks old are held up
to make way for shipments more ur-
gently necessary.
Local mills have supplied building
materials for homes i'll Raleigh, n.
c. and as far away as the Eastern
Shore of Virginia.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
GRIEVED TO DEATH
OVER BEING JAILED

Cora l.. Spence, J6-ycar-Old col
ored woman of Newland Township,
living about Is miles from town, died
last week after having grieved her
self sick because she was placed i'll
Jail Il day or two during the last
term of Superior Court in this coun-
ty. about three or four weeks ago.
The colored woman was held in
Jail from Tucday to Saturday, hav-
ing been held as witness IN case
in which her daughter Beuna Tenn
pie WAS involved. She couldn't un-
derstand why witness should be
jailed, and the burden of falling into
such disgrace at her age was too
much for her.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
KIWANIANS HAVE LOTS
OF FUN IN HEREFORD
Held Last Bi-MonthIy Meeting In
Sister Town For a
Change

The Kiwanis Club of Elizabeth
City held their regular bimonthly
meeting ut Hertford last Friday
night. instead of at home. and some
fifty Kiwanians made the journey by
automobiles to the metropolis of Per-
quimans.
The report is that most generous
and hearty welcome was accorded the
visiting sclubmen by the Chamber of
Commerce and citizens Of Hcrtford.
The supper was held in the School
auditorium: over 100 men were pres
cnt. 1t was Il sumptuOus repast
served by the Welfare Club cOm-
pOsed of Hertford'S leading ladies'.
Even monOgraphed silverware and
initiated linen were used Mt this
splendid banquet.
ParSOn Myers opened the meeting
and the regular club business was
attended to. The invocation was Of
fered by Rev. Rhoads of the Baptist
Church of Hertford After the sing
ing of ".Amcrica' and few an
nouncements made in Parson Myers
concise and snappy fashion, the
meeting was turned over to the pro-
gram committee directed by c. II.
hn fan
and good cheer started in fine style.
That fellow Grant (anOther par
SOM in response TO the toast Glad
TO see you Kiwanians." made every
body feel welcome. He ran the en-
tire gammet of language symbolic of
several fraternities and concluded
with so mote it be-"
Kiwanian +. +. Aydlett respond
ed to Grants welcome.
Then qucstionaire was put forth
and answered by Il fortune teller:
"Why Daddy Norman was bald
headed?" "As IL banker he dealt in
over drafts" "Why Jim Stallings
was so corpulcnt for his size?" "Be-
cause he worked for gas company"
"What advise would you give to
young men past the age of sixty as
to matrimony?' ASK Sheriff Bray"
"Why has Walter Wood never mar
ricd!' Because it costs more to
keep two than one"
Kiwanian John Saliba in his own
profound and original manner re-
Sponded to the toast "Why / am d
Kiwanian.'
Mrs. Nuremberg of Hertford rem
dcred two vocal selections accompan-
led by Miss Blanchard also of Hert-
ford. These artists added greatly
to the enjoyment Of the occasion.
The oath required of the preach
ers present was Il side splitting cpl
Sode,
a lying contest entered into by j.
p. Kramer, Guy Newby, George Lit
tie and Geo. +. Major resulted in Il
tie, which was decided by Joe Kra-
mer and Geo. Major, with sleeves
rolled up. drawing from a box an
ice-cod bottle of beer.
The program concluded with the
singing of "Ho for Carolina" the HI
wanians giving three cheers for
Hertford and the Hertfordians three
times three cheers for the Kiwanians
of Elizabeth City.
All agreed it was IN occasion and
a program long to be remembered.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
NOTHING DRY ABOUT
THIS COURT DOCKET

-. 81,
''..'' '"'"'"S "''' '"'
.'''' ""' 'a''Uoar o' Tue ''' ., -
'9'' 0"r" this week. one "o"iU
n"s that "" would have no need
',,''1' 'o"'' ".'' ~. 8
q. '.'.''..'u r'S"''''''iS
'.-' "' ''S'' ''>'S 'H s"' ';,,a
'"''. ,n.o
" '"' pr'n'Oi''ou ",''
'' '"'''."''~ "i the postal la"S' % cns
vi '"' '''7 49, .-,.
". '"' ''' '''' i"''e"S VI '
D. ''''''"'>'
"' "''>' interesting ''''"7 :
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
DIR. TEMPLEMAN PACKING
HIS CHUHCH EVERY SUNDAY

An unusually large attendance has
been favoring DR.. Samuel Ii. Tenn
pleman. the new pastor of the First
BAPTIST Church. DIR. Templeman
preached Sunday morning on the top
ic. AN Everlasting Priest and
again Sunday evening on The Seven
Steps of Il Mans Fall Both these
sermons were strong and forcetul'
and were heard with rapt avidity.
The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1922-10-10
WILL AWARD AUTO IN
CONTEST TOMORROW

All guesses in the automobile cod
test staged by the AlbemarIe Fal
Association must be turned in not Il
ter than Wednesday, Oct. IL. A nun
Der between one and 5000 has bee
placed in a sealed envelope ar|
placed under lock and key in 4 ban
vault. All guesses as to the luck
number must be turned in to-nighI
The purchaser guessing the luck
number or the number nearest to
will be presented with a Ford coup,