Evening star., 1940-11-22

s@s FfeHAhh' W II
CORVALLIS stabbed his horses during
the American Revolution, and is a
snug, settled, easy-going commun-
ity with ideas of its own and its
own way of life. .~
Set it down that on one OF the
beaches near Wilmington there is
fine fish pier, built at an estimated
cost of $4,000 by one of the bever-
age magnates of the Carolinas. He
planned to charge fishermen IS
cents apiece for a days fishing. 1t
was his money, but his wife OBJ
jected. So the pier is latticed up
and has stood unused for years.
That's the South. People are people
first and businessmen second.
Three new delicacies are achiev.
ing local distinction. A refugee
from Central Europe has taught
Wilmingtonians how to make cray.
fish soup Of the variety used in
Budapest. Then there's a way Of
steaming fresh shrimps in beer.
with bay and similar spices, which
brings joy to the eyes Of those who
have tasted the dish. Another gas.
tronomic wrinkle is ham from the
hogs in the salt marshes, fattened
on fish instead of acorns. The pork
has a delicate sea food flavor.
Frankly, in the South food Is q
subject far more important to many
persons than politics or even busi-
ness. Liquor is not SO important.
Live Well on S15o Monthly.
Incomes are low, averaged, and
the average is the rule. You can live
quite nicely on $3.50 or 5000 a month.
You can join the country club on
that income and, since there Is only
one club, that means that the ship.
ping clerk and the manager Of the
fertilizer factory and the railway
executives meet on plane Of social
democracy. 1t all makes for a pleas
ant, harmonious sort of life.
The local newspaper is in feud
with the local radio station-refuses
to print program news or otherwise
to recognize its existence. That, too,
is the South.
They tell me that Willkie got
about TOO votes in Wilmington. That
is pretty high for a Republican, al
though the State went for Hoover
in 1928. But the city escaped most
Of the bitterness which ragged in
the Northern States during the re-
cent campaign, and is ready to sit
back and see what happens next
before giving way to joy, sorrow or
Illustration.
The greatest political issue OF the
moment is the fact that sea water
has got into the reservoir, making
the city's water supply family brack.
ish. This Is the spearhead of a drive
to vote out the present municipal
administration and establish the city
manager form Of government. Tho
move is sponsored by the Junior
Chamber of Commerce. It is Cd.
posed by the adherents of the pres
ent city administration.
Wages In Line With Costs.
Wages are low but not out Of line
with living costs. Servants cost IS
a week and board. Hourly wages
start at 80 cents an hour. Much of
the employment Is seasonal, due to
the seasonal nature Of the fertilizer
industry. They say that Georgia
and the Carolinas use half of all
the fertilizer required for the entire
Nation. Reason: Many 40-acre farms
support farm families; the fields
never get a rest and the soft soil
melts under rain.
Nice country, pleasant people, easy
life and once again lots OF good
sea food to be picked out of the
ocean. Northerners who have moved
down there from Cleveland and Chi.
cago say they never want to 20 back
North. They may not make much
money, they tell me. but they and
their families have found happiness
and security in this pleasant old
city on the great sound.
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