The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-08-10
PROF. BYRD SPEAKS
TO CATFISH CORNER
CARTWHEEL CLUB
Admonishes Courtesy and Cease
Complaining As Key to Prog
gress and Success.
By MISS PINKIE PERRY
Correspondent


CATFISH CORNER, Aug. L.
When the Cartwheel Club of Cat
fish Corner has Prof. Barkentine
Byrd for speaker, it's usually a
topic of conversation in the COM
munity for several days. Prof.
Byrd. whoris principal of Oakhead
Academy for Boys has been visit
ing his brother. pastor of our
Sanity Sauls church.
Prof. Byrd's topic was 'Scanty
Courtesy and Copious Complain
ing" which he said did more TO
hold back our progress and make
life harder for all of us. He de-
clared these deficiencies to be
prime growing evils of our times.
~ was somewhat amazed, he
said, ''after travelling hundreds of
miles, to find more discourteous
people trying to serve the public
right close home here than any
where else. Some people seem to-
think it a personal insult to be
asked for a little service. It all
goes back to lack of upbringing
at home.
"How nice it would be if our
young people could have courtesy
instilled in them when young, for
it is something one does not ac-
quire later in life after they are
grown up and their pattern of
habits is formed.
Speaking as a teacher, would
say that if one would expect sue
cess in life, the first great thing
to know and practice is courtesy
toward every one and everything.
If one had to dispense with book
learning or courtesy, I would say
the most important to keep is
courtesy. Courtesy is essential to
success in every trade and pro-
fession. A man lacking in book
learning can be a business success
and a leader of men, if he mas
tiers the art of self-restraint and
becomes proficient in the use of
courtesy.
Chow much our young people
are losing in this life, who have
not been taught by the parents,
the value of courtesy, politeness,
thoughtfulness, consideration. How
sad it is that so many young
people grow up thinking that in
science is mark of bravery; that
the smart remark indicates brains.
To the contrary, the first indicates
ignorance, and the latter lack of
brains.
"And as for complaining and
grumbling," he said, 81 know of
no worse drawback among our
people. 1t is a failing that grows
and grows. Our people have come
to abandon effort and action, CO.
operation and unity, and antici-
pate progress by sitting around
and forever complaining about
what isn't being done for them.
With many of them it has reached
the chronic stage. Like other af-
flicted people, they do not realize
the extent of the malady, and the
frightful cost it imposes on the
community. It is a malignant dis
ease, it is contagious, it is infect
ious.
Sometimes l find old friends
whose company l once valued so
greatly are not pleasant any more.
Before l can relax in brief visit,
and begin to enjoy the delight of
seeing them again, in apparent
good health, well-fed and pros
pering, they take the joy out of
life by bombarding me with a lot
of complaint about the misdeeds of
officials toward the community,
how they have been cheated and
robbed of their due.
"One of them complained about
certain officer. / inquired if he
had voted for this man. 4 didn't
go vote my old friend said. Then
WhdC are yOu complaining ADONI
/ asked him. 'Oh, WE'LL he said.
1T wouldn't have done any good
to vote. they'd have fixed it like
they wanted it,
"What can you do with a man
like that. Why didn't he go and
be one of those who fixed things?
Why doesn't he rally to a good
cause, round up some of his neigh
bors and go forth with an intelli-
gent plea courteously presented in
behalf of his community's needs ?
"No my friends, our leadership
is depleted. The old self reliance
and community spirit is dying
each day as we demand more from
others. We must give up this COM
planning, and go forth with court
esy and present our cause and
plead it's merits until all others
are convinced. We are never going
to prove to anyone what we need