The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-08-24
6 LIN P S E S
TIL E PAST
By CAROLYN LLOYD

Dust has gathered in the cor
ners; sprinSled clothes have gone,
unironed; the whole house has an
air of neglect. That is the picture
of many other households, as well
as mine, I expect, as the wielders
of the mop, the broom, and the
iron sit rapt before the television
set taking practical lessons in poll
tics. In addition to being educa-
tional, the t.v. coverage of the
Democratic National Convention
has provided ringside seats for the
rank and file of citizens at an
entertaining spectacle.
Throughout the show have felt
great sympathy for Chairman Sam
Rayburn, who has struggled man
fully to bring order among a
group who seem to have left their
manners at home. If Mr.. Rayburn
has become irritated at times, it
is understandable. 1t seems just
about as difficult for him to get
the delegates to listen to speeches
as it sometimes is for teachers
TO get students to listen to lee
lures, the main difference being
that students, not daring to get
up and mill around, just go to
sleep.
The women viewers of the show
have naturally been interested in
the women delegates and speakers.
The latter, poor things, might just
as well have stayed at home had
it not been for the television au-
dience. Certainly no one on the
floor paid any attention to what
they said, though they did well.
The most entertaining one was the
Hon. Iris Bitch Qove that nancy
from Georgia, who has missed her
calling by not going on the stage.
If the women viewers expected a
fashion show, they have been dis
appointed, for even the better
known women there look much the
same as any fairly well-dressed
women in any small town. AS fur
Their proof that "Judy O'Grady and
the colonies lady are sisters under
the skim, the camera reveals that
congresswomen and the wives of
the great have wrinkles under the
chin and fight the battle of the
bulge even as the housewife in
Beihaven. l have been fascinated
by one unidentified woman on the
speakers platform who has con-
sistently worn around her head
ribbons ending in huge bows that
resemble rabbit ears. Every time
she scurries across the platform
the ears bob conspicuously.
1t isn't over yet. AS l write this,
it is about time for the big hassle
over selecting a vice-presidential
candidate to begin. There goes
another afternoon. Already l
am practically muscle-bound and
crosseyed from sitting and staring.
Poor delegates-they must be
reeling from WEAKNESS and excite
ment, but / envy them. The next
best thing to being there is being
able to see it all; and for me, at
least, it has brought a greater un-
derstanding of what goes on at
political convention. Perhaps The
Boss and DIR. Ralph can fill in
with the behind the scenes activi-
ties when they get home.
Such events as this serve to
make US more conscious of the
wonders of this age in which we
live. Many miles away one of the
greatest shows on earth is going
on; next week another will begin
even farther away, and we can
sit here in our living rooms and
see it all. This generation may
accept it as natural-but to those
who remember the birth of radio
it is another thrilling evidence of
the wonders yet to come. More
personally, it makes me feel a
little better about joining the
great army of installment payers.
The only trouble is that about the
time we get these t.v. sets paid
for someone is going to come up
with something just as essential
to modern living and more expen-
sive, and We'll all be off on the
nstallment road again.
p. S. After writing the above, /
got kick out of recognizing the
Hon. Victor Meekins of Manteo
sitting with the North Carolina
delegation as John Larkin nomi-
mated Gov. Hodges for the vice
presidential candidate. He looked
iignified and a little sleepy
probably the result of Chicago
aight life.