davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
PRACTICAL SCHOOLING

Those who are interested in the promotion
of education in Ashe county have long felt the
need of more practical course of study than
the standard one offered by the state and one
which all students, regardless of what they plan
to do in life, must study and pass before they
can graduate from high school. We are living
in day when almost every self-respectlng
mother and father try to send their children
through high school. And we are also living in
a day when it is an easy thing for ambitious
boy or girl to get through high school.
The rub comes when the said boy or girl is
made to feel that he or she is little better off
to cope with the problems of life after spend
ing four years studying higher arithmetic,
science, and languages. Such studies, no doubt,
have their place in liberal education, but for
many thousands of our high school students
courses in home economics and agriculture
would be more interesting and far more bene-
fetal. When they finished high school, they
would have working knowledge of how to go
about living in this rural county of ours to a
better advantage than their untaught parents
or grandparents. AS our courses now run, our
boys and girls get through school with two
years of Latin, French, Spanish, or German that
they will probably never use and which they
Their geometry and algebra may not be wasted
learning but nine times out of ten a thorough
knowledge of the plain old principles of arith-
metic will be all they will ever use.
Our present county superintendent has argu-
ed with the state in this manner: if the state
can spend one hundred cents on the dollar to
teach French or physics, why can't it spend one
hundred cents on the dollar to teach such prac-
teal subjects as home economics, agriculture,
or even stenography? Our schools are allowed,
with full pay from the state, to hire regular
literary teachers. If there are enough students
and plenty of teachers, home economics teach
er may be hired, but if an agricultural teacher
is assigned, the county has to help foot the bill
At present, the federal government pays one
half of vocational teachers salary, the state
pays one-fourth, and the county pays one
fourth.
Let us not be weary in well doing and keep
ever before the state school commission and
other powers that be the fact that vocational
teachers are necessary and should be regarded
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
COUNTY NURSE

Ashe is exceedingly fortunate in getting the
services of county nurse and when that nurse
is a woman of training and experience and
native mountaineer, our good fortune is
doubled.
Our county is known for its healthful eli
mate and other natural conditions, but often
we neglect many things regarding our physical
well-being that we would be glad not to neglect
if we only had the proper knowledge of what
we are doing. What program Miss Weaver will
work out is yet to be seen, but there is work to
be done and plenty of it. She is capable and our
people are quick and ready to learn Her path
will not be an easy one since it is new and un-
broken, but we feel that we speak for the citi-
zens of the county when we extend Miss Weav-
er cordial welcome and promise our coopera-
ton. She is needed here and we are glad she
has come
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
THE BOND SITUATION

Back in the teens and twenties, Ashe went
on a spending rampage and created debt Of a
million and quarter dollars for the construction
of roads in the county. The people were enthu-
static but ignorant of the consequences of prof
ligate spending Money was cheap and plenti-
full Corn and oats and everything the soil pro-
duced brought good prices. The stock dealers
sold cattle as high as twelve and one-half and
thirteen cents per pound, selling them off of
grass alone.
All this happened during and just after the
World War, but, alas! the table soon turned
and all this merry making went for nothing.
The money was gone, the roads poorly built or
not built at all, and the public began to
realize what dilema they were in. The great
est panic since the creation of man engulfed the
entire country. Ashe county bonds that had
sold for premium began to decline. Land was
assessed outrageously high and taxes became
intolerable and impossible to be paid. Land
dropped in price, and the products of the sill
dropped likewise.
Not man in Ashe county failed to suffer
losses and many went into bankruptcy. Bonds
deprecated until many sold for 80 to 40 cents
on the dollar. The taxpayers could not pay off
the indebtedness. The county has no industries,
no people of any great wealth, and there is
little to rely on but poor, eroded hill land. The
average farmer plows and digs and then reaps
poor rewards at harvest time. After he has
clothed and fed his family, paid his taxes-if he
can-the dollars he has left can be counted on
the fingers of one hand.
Everybody took his losses during the depres-
sion and we see no reason why the bond hold
erS should be favored class at the expense OF
the downtrodden farmer. The farmers here
cannot pay million and a quarter dollars. 1t
seems, from the surface, that these bonds could
be refinanced at something like so cents on the
dollar A man with a thousand-dollar mortgage
or deed of trust would much prefer five hun
dred dollars to nothing.
We know the county has no money and has
little hope of having any with this debt hang
ing over us, but to refnance these bonds at or
near fifty cents on the dollar would instill new
life into us all. We could begin to see daylight
again!
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
IDA VANNOY WILCOX

Ida Vannoy Wilcox was born
August Is, 1872, and departed this
life on July %, 1887, at the age of
81 years, IL months, and II days.
She was married to w. M. Wilcox
on September 81, 1891. To this union
nine children were born: Charlie, of
West Jefferson; Plendon, Crab Or
chard, w. Va; Mrs. Mayo Blanton,
Twilds, KY; Claude, deceased; Ed
wards, Switchback, w. Va; Kermit,
Stoclysberry, w. Va; Mrs. Leo
Sykes, Bina; Mrs. Matte Houck,
Todd; and John D., deceased. Twen-
ty-five grandchildren survive; three
brothers: Stokes, John and Elton;
and two sisters: Hattie Mikeal, and
Alvirdia Church.
She professed faith in Christ at
the age of Is and united with the
tony Hill Baptist Church. She later
moved her membership to Laurel
Knob where she remained a faithful
member until death.
She was a devoted Christian, a
good neighbor, a good mother She
was always present when needed to
help with sickness or any sort of
suffering and she will be greatly
missed, but our loss is her eternal
gain. Her labors are over, her suf-
fering is passed, and she is resting
in the great happiness that she de-
serves. "A FRIEND.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
$4,000 Damage in
Forest Fires to State
14,267 Acres of North Carolina Land
Damaged by Fire During Month
of June This Year.

One hundred and sixty-five forest
fires causing total damage of about
$31, 900 and burning over 14,267
acres occurred in June in counties
cooperating with the State in forest
fire control, Chief Forest Fire War
den w. c. Mccormick report this
week. s
Careless smokers, he said, started
81 fires last month, incendiarism,
80; and brush burning, 81. He said
total acreage burned amounted to
nearly 5000 acres more than re-
ported for mat. Damage averaged
$2.11 an acre, he said.
The months total, Mccormick
said, was 1874 fires under Mays
total, "but due to abnormal condi-
tons, the number of acres burned
in June and the average damage
done per acre were both higher than
for the preceding month"
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
Miss Ruth Reeves
Honored at Party

Miss Ruth Reeves, September
bride-elect, was honored at lovely
tea given by Miss Ruth Tugman
Saturday afternoon when around rs
GUEST were entertained from three
to five at the Tugman home.
Mrs. B. B. GRAPHICAL, assisted by
little Misses Elizabeth GRAPHICAL, of
this city, and Dorothy Smith, of
Benson, N. c., served punch on the
side porch to the guests upon their
arrival. They were then ushered in
to the living room where they were
greeted by the hostess, the honoree,
and Mrs. c. B. GRAPHICAL and Mrs.
Blanche Pless. Mrs. A. V. Foote, of
Chicago, Ill, and Mrs John T. Hoyle
served tea and cake from the dining
room which was lighted with can
dies and decorated with summer
flowers. Goodbyes were said to
Mrs. C. B. Price.
Miss Reeves wore shoulder bou-
quet of pink snap-dragon and baby's
breath and miniature corsages were
given each guest by Miss Lenna
Gambill. Each guest registered in
the bridal book which was presided
over by Mrs. R. w. Coward.
During the afternoon, Mrs. Ray
Clark, of Lansing, played a number
of piano solos appropriate to the oc-
casion.
Miss Reeves was presented with
a pair of linen hand towels.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
Two Men to Die in
State Gas Chamber

Reed Coffey, 20, Avery county
white man, and George Exum, %,
Wayne negro, will die in the states
lethal gas chamber in Raleigh Fri
day unless Governor Hoey inter-
veneS.
Six men originally were to have
been executed Friday, but three
appealed to the state Supreme court
and the death sentence of the
fourth, William Jackson, Forsyth
county negro convicted of rape, was
committed Tuesday to life imprison-
ment.
Governor Hoey said Jackson was
accused of criminal attack on a
nine-year-old girl "who made con-
flicting statements about the guilt
of the prisoner"
Coffey was convicted in July,
1886, of the murder of his uncle,
Hardy Coffey, in April, 1886. Exum
was sentenced in December, 1886, to
die for the murder of his wife's
aunt, Obelia Exum.
Paroles Commissioner Edwin Gill
said both these cases were being
studied and that a final decision
would be made later
In a statement Governor Hoey
said the solicitor, trial judge and
foreman of the trial jury had re-
commended communication.
SIN view of the conflicting state
ments made by the prosecutrix,"
the statement said, 81 believe that
it would be unwise to exact the
death penalty. l do not find that the
prisoner is innocent. ] simply, find
that it would be unWise to exact the
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
I1uN
and
KeAneN
By
TROY
ISAIAH
JONES

The first thing a man should DO
after he is engaged is to take his
fiancee to the family cemetery and
see if she will be satisfied in the
end.
Roosevelt and Barclay hold par
lev at sea''-Roosevelt seems to like
the sea and spends most of his time
at sea.
The WPA has so many straw
bosses that all the workers are TAX
ing hayfever.
A man said that if you would eat
sulphur that you would live 20
years longer. To say nothing of get
ting ready for the world to come.
Of all the putting on have ever
seen it was a man and a woman
putting on an Austin car.
Democracy is where everybody has
a sense of democracy and nobody
practices it.
A man in England has a nose
seven inches long. That accounts for
his having it in everybody's bust
ness.
Somebody wanted me to make
some cracks about the street fight
Sunday night with the policeman.
was not present but from what l
have heard, I think the gentlemen
did the NUT cracking for me.
The Chinese are eating baked
snakes. Maybe if Eve had given the
snake and the devil roasting and
have stewed the fruit maybe the
world would not have been steWed
up like it is.
The Literary Digest will have to
have credit for saying several
months ago that the court bill was
dead but not buried. I don't think
that the embalmer got around for
long time from the way the stink
had been stirred.
+
The Supreme Court bill was pig
eon-holed along with the buzzard
roost decision.
There is one thing science will not
be able to grow and that is ready
cut watermelon.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05

death penalty in view OF the grave
doubt that has now arisen as to the
prisoners guilt"
Three prisoners, all negroes con-
victed of murder, who obtained exc
cution stays through appeals to the
Supreme court are: Hudson Robin
son, sentenced in Mecklenburg
county in June; and T. j. Jefferson
and Tom Linney, convicted last
June in Forsyth county.
Eighteen men are now on death
row.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05
SATURDAY SPECIALS

Good grade IL yd. wide brown
sheeting, SIC; Best grade IL yd.
wide brown sheeting 91zc; Fast
color yd. wide prints, 1Oc; Ladies'
imported Irish linen suits, close out
price, $2.98; Ladies silk dresses,
$1.98; White oxfords $1.19 to $2.98;
ALI children's white shoes going at
wholesale prices. Buy now and save
at McNEILLS, West Jefferson, N. c.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-08-05

The German word Frau" mean
ing wife, is formed from the words
froh" and "wen"-meaning joy and
woe.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04
SHOW
WITH YOKEL
CAST SUCCESS

BLUE MOUND, ILL.,, UP) - Blue
Mounds Prairie theatre, with its
home-spun actors and its scent ad-
missions, has become a money max
ing proposition.
The enterprise is a WPA expert
ment in rural recreation. Twenty
thousand persons attended this
seasons II performances. Proceeds
paid all current expenses. Accord
ing to officials, it will take only an
other year to repay the village of
300 inhabitants for its share in the
original cost.
The theatre was started in 1884
with an outlay of $16,000-ten per
cent of which was furnished by
Blue Mond citizens. Materials were
donated and the work was done by
men of the community.
The actors and musicians were
chosen from surrounding farms.
More than 400 farm girls, boys, men,
women and even babies took part
in this years program, acting, sing
ing and dancing while their neigh
bors sat out front.
Each night a capacity crowd filled
the rough-heWn tiers of seats. And
the nickels have clinked in so reg
ularly that officials plan to open
the show next spring and continue
until cold weather prevents further
meetings.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04
LandOn Seen as
Glad to Escape
White House Load

NEW YORK. JAN 4. = Governor
Alf Landons reactions to the Nov
ember elections returns may have
been strongly mixed with relief, ac-
cording to a prediction remark he
made during an informal conversa-
tion with Walter Davenport of Col
lier's, and published today for the
first time.
Davenport states it as his belief
that the Kansas governors heart
was not broken November 3. The
belief is based on statement Land
on made to him at luncheon one
day shortly before the election. He
quotes the Republican candidate as
follows:
mo matter who's elected. four
years hence he is going to be one
of the most hated men in America. g"
Because the remark was made in
formally and not in the course of a
regular interview. Davenport did not
use it at the time, he says, but adds
that now that it's all over, guess
it's all right to tell"
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04
CAMPUS DATE
BUREAU GETS
COLD SHOULDER

PITTSBURGH. Jan. 4. U.P)-Two
Carnegie Tech students hopefully
attempted revival of the collegiate
date bureau" this year-but their
campus mates weren't interested.
And now the bureau may be closed.
Clay Yurdin and Leonard Fem
blatt established the bureau in the
hope it would be an improvement
on the blind date" idea. Two
weeks passed and only one student
"a shy, 6-footer from the engi-
neering school-applied for a date.
One of the accoutrements of the
bureau was an application blank
on which students could list the
type of companions they desired.
1t listed the usual questions of
name, address, phone number and
led into interroations like these:
Have you an icebox in your
home-with focd?"
do you smoke-drink?"
Have you read any good books
lately?"
DO you wear glasses?"
Yurdin and Fainblatt hoped the
bureau would bring about a better
social lin on the campus.
1--WE thought they would appre-
ciate a campus bureau of this
kind they said
But most students passed it by,
obviously satisfied with the status
quo.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04
ART BANNED
AT MARRIAGE
SLIP BUREAU

SAN FRANCISCO, U.P)-Herman
A. Van der Zee, county clerk of
San Francisco county, applied to
county officials here for permission
to make the marriage license bureau
more artistic by having "lot of
cupids chasing each other around
the walls in murals."
Al j. Walcott. marriage license
clerk, voiced strenuous objections,
however.
We've got enough art here al
ready" he said. I'VE have one
cupid with bow and arrows. We've
got picture of the three martyred
presidents, and some calendars-one
with a bride on it and one with an
advertisement for mems hats-what
more do you want?"
well" said Van der Zee, 1--WE
should have murals depicting love.
courtship and marriage
"And a divorce court at the end
with Cupid shooting a gin bottle.
to represent the gin-marriage law"
retorted Walcott.
So the marriage license bureau
was opened here without murals.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION
Department of the Interior, General
Land Office at Los Angeles, Cali
fornia, December IA, 1886.

Department of the Interior, General
Land Office at Los Angeles, Cali
fornia, December IA, 1886.
NOTICE is hereby given that
CLARE WAYNE MACARTHUR, of
Coyote Wells, via Plaster City, Cal
eXico, who, on November 18, 1880,
made Homestead Entry, No. 048842,
for
S12NWH; Lots 4, S, 6, Section 4,
Township 16H S., Range 10 E.,
S.. B. Meridian,
has filed notice of intention to make
final three year Proof, to establish
claim into the land above described,
before United States Commissioner,
at San Diego, Calf, on the 21st day
of January, 1897
Claimant names as witnesses:
d. A. Robertson, of Box 1891, Yu-
ma Ariz.
D. H. Stephens, of Seeley, Calf.
Robert Elliott, of Plaster City,
Calf
j. Campbell, of CO County Farm,
Ell Centro, Calf.
PAUL B. WITMER,
Commissioner or Register.
Non coal;
Withdrawn by Elk. Order of Nov.
26 1884. D15-22-29 J5-12
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04

NO. IIEO0
In the Superior Court of the State
of California, In and For the
City and County of San Francisco.
In the Matter of the Guardianship
of the Person and Estate of
PHEBE HUNTER,
an incompetent person.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the undersigned, c. M
HUNTER, Guardian of the person
and estate of PTIEBE HUNTER, an
incompetent person, will sell at
private sale to the highest bidder,
upon the terms and conditions here
matter mentioned, and subject to
confirmation by the Superior Court
of the State of California, in and
for the City and County of San
Francisco. on or after Wednesday,
the 18th day of January 1887, all the
right, title and estate of said in
competent person in and to that
certain lot. piece or parcel of land,
situated, lying and being in the
County of Imperial, State of Cali
bfornia. and particularly described as
follows, to-wit:
An undivided one-half interest
in and to Tract Ninety-siX (96D,
Township Thirteen Q3) South,
Range Fourteen 14 East, San
Bernardino Base and Meridian.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
SALE:
CASH in lawful money of the
United States; ten per cent 1095)
of the purchase price to be paid at
the time of sale; balance on con-
firmation of sale.
All bids or offers must be in
writing and may be left at the
office of R. l.. Hustled, 2595 Mis-
sion ST., San Francisco. California
Attorney for said Guardian, or may
be left with said Guardian, at the
address of his said Attorney, at 1895
Mission St, San Francisco, Cali.
fornia, or may be filed in the office
of the Clerk of the Superior Court
of the State of California in and for
the City and County of San Fran
cisco, which is the place to which
return of said sale must be made at
any time after the first publica-
tion of. this notice and before the
making of said sale.
Dated December %, 1886.
c. M HUNTER.
Guardian of the person and estate
of Pheber Hunter, an incompetent
person.
r. L. HUSTED.
Attorney for said Guardian, 2595
Mission CT San FranciScn Calf
D28-J10 Inc.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04

ated fundamentally with the coun-
ell for industrial progress.
The. economic graph as the new
year begins is at the highest point
since the start of the depression,
and in many respects the present
situation is considered far better
than in the boom days of 1929.
Chief problems confronting the
President in his second term have
to do with enactment Of social
legislation along lines Of laws
which either have court or are be-
ing subjected to strenuous legal
attack.
NRA Discussion Revived
Increasing sentiment has been
manifest during recent weeks for
a return of a modified form of
NRA which would accomplish the
general objectiveS of the invali-
dated recovery act, and revival of
government control of crop pro-
duction in some manner similar to
the old AAA which the supreme
court declared unconstitutional.
Mr.. Roosevelt has remained 81
lent on the question of amending
the Constitution to give the gov
ernment wider powers to regulate
business, labor and agriculture.
Several such measures will be pre-
sented in congress, but the conSen-
sus is that no concerted support
will be forthcoming unless, and
until, Mr.. Roosevelt gives the
word
The Presidents health is de-
scribed as excellent as he begins
his second term, despite the rigors
of his many campaign trips. His
recent voyage to the peace confer
ence in Buenos Aires was believed
to have provided the President
with the relaxation and rest ne
cessary to counteract the effects
of a strenuous year.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04


President Roosevelt a boon which
he valued above all others-re-
election for a second term by a
majority SO overwhelming that it
gave undoubted public approval to
the first four years of his admin
istTation.
The President looks forward to
this year and the three succeed
ing years as providing an oppor-
tunity to consolidate accomplish
ments of his New Deal.
Only one note of sadness-death
of his trusted friend and body
guard, Gus Gennerich-marred the
happiness of the brief executive
. he enjoyed the year-end holi-
season with his family.
Contrast With 1886
Although it ended in personal
and political triumph, 1886 began
inauspiciously' for President Roose-
velt. Roosevelt stock was low in
the first two months of the year.
Opposition to policies and prac-
tices of the New Deal was at
crest.
Pre-campaign attacks on MI.
Roosevelt and his administration
were climaXed late in January
when his old friend and political
ally, former Gov. Alfred E. Smith,
classified the administration in a
speech before the American Lib
eCty League dinner here.
Seemingly from that moment on,
1,n
in the ascendancy. 1t blazed with
greatest brilliance when, in No.
vember Mr.. Roosevelt was re-
elected with 523 electoral votes to s
for Gov. Alfred M. Landon.
lossibly even more gratifying to
- President than the electoral
vote count was the fact that he
was polled some 100000 more
popular votes in 1886 than when
elected in 1882, despite a hard and
concerted attack on his admin
stration waged by Republicans and
anti-NeW Deal Democrats.
On Jan. 20, Mr.. Roosevelt will be
inaugurated for his second term.
With election animoSities for
the most part forgotten, in tradi-
tlonal American manner there
have been increasing indications
of an era of better feeling between
the government and business.
Industrial leaders have eXhib-
tied an inclination to go along"
with the President in his efforts
to promote recovery and better
the lot of the little fellow" More
than $80,Q00,000,000 in Capitalized
industry was represented at the
recent Council for Industrial Co
operation sponsored by Maj. George
l.. Berry, the Presidents coordina-
tor for industrial cooperation.
Oganized labor, always favor
able TO Mr.. Roosevelt, now backs
his policies almost 100 per cent.
Asumers' organizations COOPER
Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-04

HAVE FIRST
MARITAL SPAT

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. T. UP) -
Elaine Barrie. Brooklyn SCHOOLGIRL
who married John Barrymore after
chasing him across the country, to-
day admitted she had her first spat
with the middle-aged actor but de-
MED they were separated.
The girl reported she had not
seen the actor since New Years
eve when he stalked out Of a Holly
wood night club in typical Barry
more style