davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15

Another group Of people who
lie wounded upon the Jericho
Road today are the unemployed
in every land. There are a good
many millions of them in the u.
S. The Government does some
thing for them as a Good Sa-
marian, but gets cursed in some
quarters or what it does. Maybe
it deserves a, few curses. If
were out of job and down and
out in general, as many of the
unemployed are, I would be
grateful to a Good Samaritan
Government, on the other hand,
I can't tell you where it will end
or how the bills will ever be
paid. I only know I am against
people going hungry and cold
and starving. I am also against
dishonest people and dead beats
who ride the government for
what they can get out of it.
Not only groups of people, but
as always there are many indi-
viduals who lie upon the Jericho
road, bleeding in some respech
or another. Sorrow, loss, trouble
misfortune, sickness, disappointN
ment, defeat. Since there are
a thousand ways in which people
find themselves upon the Jericho
Road, and too often there is no
Good Samaritan to come by.
I am sorry that the modern
word has in SO many ways re-
jected Jesus teaching in the par
able. I cannot say with certain
viction just what a nation should
do about helping another when
to help means going to war.
can't get my thinking altogether
clear on that point. But I be-
lieve there are times when ma
tions should play the good Sa-
marian, and I believe that ma
tons should practise the habit of
being good neighbors. And in
the private relationships of life
all of us have the opportunity
and the duty to &c Good Samari-
tans to our neighbors. In time
and trouble, of sickness, of need
and in other circumstances when
our neighbors need our aid, let
us practice the idea and per-
form the duty that is taught in
this great parable of Jesus.
Not in war and hatred, and
force, but in this parable is to be
found the only real hope for
mankind. i.
Camden, Ala, 9-25-38. 81
The Tabernacle, Charlotte,
N, c., 1O-16-38.
Fri. ESQ A. NJ 9-23-38.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
New Type Farm
Loan For Ashe
Selected Among Six Others
For Nom Commercial Inn
prOvement OF Farms.

w. Bryan Oliver, County RR
Supervisor, Farm Security Adj
ministration, returned Saturday
from a three-days' conference of
the supervisors of the Western
District of the Farm Security Adj
ministration, which was held in
AsheYille.
At this meeting it was an
rounced that Ashe ounty
was one of the six counties in
North Carolina which had been
designated by Secretary of Agri-
culture, Wallace, as a county in
which new type of loan, known
as the non-commercial improve
ment, may be made.
Under this new designation the
county will be used as a demon
stration area for from ten to
twenty farms On which combi-
nation Of loans and grants will
be made for the improvement Of
the soil, farm buildings and farm
homes, and on which a combina-
ton Of enterprises will be work
ed out typical Of small farms.
Applicants selected for these
ten to twenty farms will be ap-
proved by the county committee
from the total number of appli-
cations received. Applicants for
this type of loan may see Mr.,
Oliver in his Office on Saturday
or, Monday mornings.
Mr.. Oliver announced this
week that the local office was
practically through processing
supplementary loans for old Dor
rowers and was now in position
to give more time and attention
to applications from new Dor
roWers. He asks that all families
who will need loans for teams,
tools, seeds, fertilizer and cattle
to apply early in order to avoid
the rushe which always occurs
in the spring.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
.nuN
and
KeAneN
BY
TROY
ISAIAH
JONES

"OWED" to the Shovel Handle
Little shovel handle, If l 60 to
sleep,
After the shovel goes over three
inches deep,
would be accused OF working
too hard
And before I could wake, would
be fired.
So little shovel handle, try to
keep me awake,
1 ein't working much, but things
are all Jake
Things in Washington have been
okeyed-
AS long as you keep me awake,
I amt afraid.
X
Some of these days to sleep may
go,
Then they will take my shovel
and give me hoe,
Then around stumps I sure will
have to dig
And if I 60 to sleep, up will be
jig.
Little shovel handle, you have
done your best.
Please don't fall down and please
let me rest
The election is over and l am not
quite at ease
Shovel handle, won't you stand
up-won't you please!
A good shovel handle is the best
the Devil ever had
And to lean on and to sleep on
she amt so bad.
But some of these days it will
soon be over
And I'll feel like a pig put out
of clover.
But it won't do to groan or even
grunt,
For some day a new job I will
have to hunt.
Just how far off it is hard to see,
History repeats itself, they all
tell me.
"WPA continues to bear down
on relief rolls"-Headline. The
first time I know that a shovel
handle was called "Relief Roll"
JON ES
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
LET'S WORK FOR PROGRESS

Ashe county officers elected by Substan-
tial majorities on November 8, were in
Quoted into office last week and have set
tied down to the performance of their re-
spective duties, as servants of the people.
Two great political parties fought hard
fights and later fused over alleged fouls,
but now that the smoke of battle has
cleared away, let's forget political preju-
dices and all feelings of bitterness that may
have been engendered during the cam
paigns and Immediately after the combat
and again unite in the great task OF build
ing a better Ashe county.
Democrats won by an average majority
of 11O5 and the state board of elections,
after hearing the petitions of complaint
filed by the Republicans, upheld the origi-
nal official count Of the county board of
elections.
Of course we think there were too many
absentee ballots cast, but it was an unus-
ually bad day for an election and it was
difficult for people to get out. Due to the
widespread misuse and rumors of abuse
of the absentee law throughout the state
of North Carolina, it seems inevitable that
it will and should be amended or repealed
during the next session of legislature.
All of Ashe county's new office-holders
are well experienced in the duties and re-
sponsibilities of their respective positions
and Ira T. Johnston and w. B. Austin have
both served in the state legislature. This
is Ed Millers second term as sheriff; j. D.
Stansberry's and DR.. B. E. Reeves num-
erous terms as clerk of superior court and
coroner; L. P. Coward, as register of Deeds
Nelson Severt, as surveyor; j. F. Scott, r.
B. Brown and J. E. Oliver, have all served
efficiently before in their different Offices
Most of these men were born and raised
in Ashe and they are keenly interested in
it and in it's welfare. They should and no
doubt do realize that the positions given to
them are places of public trust and that the
people are looking to them for honest and
efficient service and progressive leadership
and they have pledged to give such service.
Unfortunately or fortunately everybody
cannot win and somebody has to lose.
The election is over and now is the time for
everyone who is interested in the welfare
of his country to put his shoulder to the
Wheel
Ashe is great county. 1t has unlimited
resources and future possibilities for
growth and development along many lines.
By working together for the good of the
whole, we can accomplish in this county al
most anything that we undertake to do.
Let's dedicate ourselves to progress-to'
improving our schools and roads, to in
creasing our economic wealth by practic-
ing better methods of farming, by the ex-
pansion of the dairy industry, by advertis-
ing this section, by attracting more tourists
business, by getting more industry and by
countless other things.
Let's do our part towards building big
ger and better Ashe county of tomorrow!
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
Several Ashe County Citizens.
Heard Radio Sermon And
Requested Reprint.
(By Rev. r. C. Kennedy,
Camden, Ala.)

Continued from Recent Issue)
Since July 1886 Spain has been
lying upon the Jericho road. I
was always a sympathizer with
the loyalist in that conflict, even
to- the extent of contributing
money to hospital and refugee
funds. But I don't suppose it
makes much difference which
side your sympathy is with, in
so far as admitting that Spain is
upon the Jericho road. To me
it seems that she is there, struck
down by Italian, German and
Moorish robbers, while England
also has knife in her back. It
is not my purpose to make an
allegory of the parable of the
Good Samaritan as a matter of
act it is not an allegory, with
every detail corresponding to
some definite point in another set
of circumstances. 1t is simply
parable. So, in the case of Spain
I don't know who might be iden-
titled as the Priest and Levite,
England, or France, or
the U. S. or all three. We have
refused to sell arms to the Span
ish government, when it's most
desperate need has been arms.
Loyalist Spain is on the Jericho
road, though not yet completely
down.. There is no Good Samari-
tan, except perhaps Russia.
And there is China, since July,
1887, on the Jericho road. Mill
tarized Japan struck China. No
one knows how many people died
in China since July, 1887, but the
figure is likely above 100000,
perhaps more than 100000. I'm
der the impact of warfare many
have died in battle, many limo
cent people have died in the
bombing Of cities. About 3O,000,-
600 people I. have read have en-
igrated to escape the brutality Of
Japan domination, and the sense
less, bloody contest contrlves
again, the only good Samaritan
China has had has been Russia.
Possibly England also has helped
little under cover. The U. S.
has probably aided Japan more
than it's neutrality act, leaving 1t
possible for both nations to buy
war material here. Japan being
the weather., has been able to
buy more. China is on the Jeri-
cho road in the hands of thieves
and robbers, and there has been
no full-hedged Good Samaritan
to come along yet, though Rur-
STA has lent some aid.
And there is Austria, beset up
on the Jericho road this year,
and now lying down with Ger
many, the Lion and the Lamb to-
gether, the lamb inside the lion.
And now there is Czechoslo-
vakia, on the Jericho road. Mean
while England and France, the
Priest and the Levite, pass by on
the other side. No, they do not
exactly pass by. They pause to
aid the murderous robbers. 1t
is O course not a simple matter
for England or France. In deal
ing with an inhuman beast like
Hitler it is hard to know what
! to do. Is it better to give him
what he wants, to partition a
small country like Czechoslo-
vakia, or to precipitate general
European war-what would you
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
Kennedy Delivers A Timely
Sermon, 1.-THE Jericho Road"

dc if the matter were in your
hands for decision? Would you
say, anything is better than
war, therefore let us partition
this little democratic country. It
is an evil thing but war would be
Hitler must be stopped before he
becomes too strong. His word is
no good. Give him what he
wants in Czechoslovakia and
next month he will want some
thing else. We would like to see
the Beast stepped but all of us
shudder at the thought of war.
It is not simple matter, still one
cannot avoid the feeling that
England and France have proved
treacherous friends to the little
democracy, Czechoslovakia. One
cannot help but feel that they
have sold it down the river for
nothing, and sometimes one won
ders if the most dangerous man
in the world today is, not Hitler,
nor Mussolini nor Stain, but
the Prime Minister of perfdious
albion-N'eville Chamblain. At
any rate Czechoslovakia is lying
upon the Jericho road today,
among German, Polish and Hun
garian thieves, with England and
France, the priest and Levite,
aiding the thieves.
Democracy itself is down and
bleeding upon the Jericho road.
Woodrow Wilson said that we en-
tered the War to save Democracy,
yet there is less of it in the world
today than when we entered the
war and it continues to lose
ground. Even in our own coun-
try are enemies of Democracy.
Some peope, out of their bitter
hatred of Mr.. Roosevelt accuse
him of being a dictator. The
charge is absurd, in view of GER
tain recent elections in which the
people in certain States defeated
his candidates. AS long as you
can go to the polls and defy Mr..
Roosevelt's wishes with your vote
there is little sense in calling him
a dictator. On the other hand
there are those who say that the
wealthy prOpertied people of the
country would like to get rid of
democracy and install a dictator
friendly to their interests. I am
Inclined to believe there is more
truth in this charge than in the
other.
But, however it be, Democracy
is not in good condition in the
world.
It is steadily retreating in Eur
ope before the dictators and not
fourishing anywhere. In the
world at large it is lying upon
the Jericho Road and in bleed
ing condition.
Certain racial groups, too, are
bleeding upon the Jericho Road.
The negro has been there for a
long time, and is likely to stay.
More spectacularly, the Jews are
upon the Jericho Road at present.
Their plight in Germany under
the brutal fist Of Hitler is one OF
the most tragic things in mod
ern history, or, indeed, in all his
tory. But in Hungary, Poland,
Bulgaria and other nations they
also suffer, and recently the
Italian buffoon, Mussolini, has
become Jews-conscious and has
issued restrictive orders against
them. The U. S. and France and
England have in a moderate way
attempted to play the Good Sa-
marian, but have hardly touched
the hem of the garment in finding
a solution of the problem.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
SCHOOLS TO CLOSE
FOR XMAS NEXT WK.

The central high schools in
Ashe county are expected to
close next Wednesday, Dec
ember FL, and remain closed
until Monday, January 2, for
the Christmas holidays, while
many of the one. and two
teacher schools may not close
before Thursday of Friday,
Supt. J. B. Hash stated this
week.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-12-15
FUNCTIONS OF A NEWSPAPER

FUNCTIONS OF "A NEVSFAfEN
What is a newspaper? What do we ex-
pect of a newspaper? What part does it
play in the lives of men, in the welfare OF
community, of a nation?
Frequently we hear the expression, this
is a good paper" or "this is sorry paper.
Why? On what basis or standards do we
base those conclusions?
Printed on a large metal plaque on the
wall of the Chicago Tribune, which claims
to be the ''world's greatest newspaper,
is the following apt definition of a news
paper-"A newspaper is an institution de-
veloped by modern civilization to present
the news of the day, to foster commerce
and industry, to inform and lead public
opinion and to furnish that check upon
government that no constitution has ever
been able to PROVIDE
There we have something concrete
a newspaper is modern, it's an lnstltu-
ton of public trust whose major function
is to present the news of the day-to in
form, to lead and to safeguard democracy.
And how significant that last statement is.
The very backbone of democracy is free
press. It is the heart of Americanlsm,
along with freedom of speech" and free
dom to worship God according to the die
tates of our own conscience. The first
thing any dictator does is to get control OF
the press so that the public will only know
what he wants them to know. A free press
stands for individual freedom and ability
of newspaper to serve is dependent upon
that freedom. Yes, the freedom of the press
is one of the cornerstones of Americanlsm.
AS Thomas Jefferson said, ''if the choice
were left to me whether to have free
press or a free government, would choose
a free press.
And now what are some more SPECIFIC
functions of newspaper? newspaper
is the daily or weekly history OF COM
munity, state or nation. 1t is the mouth
piece of the community, state or nation
It is a record of the activities of it's people
their joys and sorrows successes and
failures, births and deaths-plainly, fairly
and accurately presented, without fear or
favor. A newspaper that only prints the
good things that happen, is not much more
:: than lust a bulletin board and is only half
of paper. =
The most valuable asset of any paper is
!: it's reputation of telling the truth. Often
times bad things happen to people who are
friends of those on the paper and they
( deeply regret those incidents, but real
newspaper cannot show favoritism.
: A good newspaper never prints gossip
:: and scandal nor does it do anything to
; wrong or defame persons character, but
when court action is taken, when the pub
lie interest and welfare is involved, it be-
comes a newspapers duty to print the
news.
In the presentation of sordid news,
good newspaper does not, for the sake OF
good taste and moral decency, if nothing
more, play up such news in sensational
manner. But it prints the news for the
moral uplift of the community.
A good newspaper is vehicle upon
which all progressive movements are
launched. Community leadership is one
of the chief functions of any paper that
really serves.
A good newspaper should have spinal
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-02

library provides funds sufficient for expenditure of only 61 cents per person, sch said.
 Miss Barrett repeated her belief that the city should have several branch libraries, at least six such, 1n additional sections of the city, the North End, Fairlawn, Hopeville, West Side hill, Bunker Hill and Overlook. She said that the public had come to believe that the orgi- nal fund provided by MT. Bronson was adequate for all time but that this has not proved to be the case and further sums will be necessary to maintain the library on its pres ent basis, caring for the enlarge ments whuch the growth of the city makes imperative.
 William s. Jones, John G. Gil- martin and E. Vincent Maloney were reelected to the executive com- mittee of the board.
 Other members of the committee ara the officers; president, Bernard H. Fitzpatrick; secretary, John L.. Gaffney, and treasurer, Edwin C.. Northrop.
 Those present at the meeting in cluded the officers, MT. Jones, MT. Maloney, John Elton, Frederick s. Chase, John A. Coe and Miss Ed3th c. Camp.
 Report of the Librarian To the Board of Agents of the SilaS
 Bronson Library:
 The close of the year 1897 marks the roth anniversary of the death of Silas Bronson, which occurred in the city of New York on November 24th, 1867. By his last will and testa- ment he bequeathed to the city of Waterbury the sum of two hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of establishing library for the com- men use of all the inhabitants of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-02
Librarian

LIDFarlan
 ditional branch libraries have been opened in other thickly pop ulated or outlying sections of the city. Many Waterbury children still get their library books from these school boxes which are sent out to each grade of every school which is not within walking dis tance of the central library or one of the three existing branch librar- ies. This system is at best but poor substitute for a we'll equipped branch library. Stated in the simplest terms, it means: 8 box of about 50 books for 40 children with a 15 minute period once a week for selecting book from this box. Such method of book distribution seems to have little in common with library building housing collection where chil- dren may browse at will, with a chance of choosing books suited to their individual development in- stead of to their school grade. Nor does it foster the library habit" for few children associate this box of books with a public library. In addition it makes no provision for the adult readers in a given con- munity.
 Central Library
 The central library is now 43 years old ITiftnor. yyoa if c nounced quite inadequate for the rendering of efficient library service. I should like to quote from 8 para graph of the 1922 report of Miss Helen Sperry:
 Unfortunately our work has reached the limit of its expansion in the present building, such de- partments as we have been ham, pered by lack of money for new books, and by lack of space, and tending to fall into chaos. We need more room everywhere"
 This is still our cry today. Perhaps I can demonstrate how much more inadequate the central building has become during the past fifteen years. Viewed as a whole the ground floor area of this forty year old building is very little larger than the inner courtyard of the city hall, and has only about one-half the ground floor area of the Chase companies office building, across the street. (See supplementary sketch No. D.. The storage bookstack wing which comprises nearly 50 per cent of the total area, would in modern public library building be located under ground. The public service are of this ol dbuilding is therefore but half what it would seem to be. What other Waterbury building of the 1890's or even early 1900's, are still considered usable today? A Y. M. c. A. built in 1873 was superseded Southern New England Telephone by a new building in 1883. The old building on Leavenworth street, built in 1914, was abandoned and a new building erected in 1881. I think there is not one bank build ing of the 189O's doing duty today.
 Departments
 Tn addition, modern public li- braries of today are department alized and buildings so planned that the eight or ten most used depart ments are grouped around central point on the main floor. For ex- ample: eight well lighted. heated, ventilated, attractive rooms will house collections of biography, his tory, travel, literature, and popu- lar library, philosophy and religion, economics and business, science and industry. (See supplementary sketch No. 9. Other less used departments,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-02
JUSTINE JOHNSTON
 OBTAINS DIVORCE
Former Waterbury Stock Co. Actress Given De-
 cree in California

A marriage of 18 years, involving a former Waterbury stock company star, is on the rocks judging by news reports from Los Angeles Mon- day of this city. Mrs. Walter Wanger the former Justine Johnston, brought divorce suit on that day against her husband, the we'll known movie director.
 Prior to the filing of the suit Monday Mrs. Wanger had sailed for South America. She charged mental cruelty in the divorce brief.
 Justine Johnton appeared for a few brief weeks in Waterbury mu- sical and dramatic stock at the out set of her stage career. She had achieved some Broadway fame when she came to Waterbury for stage training through the medium of