The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-01-23
DOWN
TO
EARTH
BY
CARLTON
MORRIS
Editor. The index
Gotesville, N. c.
FRIENDS ARE WONDERFUL
IF YOU, HAVE NO MONEY

This fellow Harry Golden seems
to be making quite a name for HIM
self. A friend of mine writes from
Cincinnati and advises me to get
over to Charlotte and meet him.
Thinks it will help me, but I'm
afraid I'll never make the trip for
/ could never write as he does and
l am sure l would never make a
good confidence man. Golden says
he drinks a fifth of liquor a day
and have reached this age with
out ever tasting the stuff and it is
a pretty hard job to teach an old
dog new tricks. Not that am much
of dog.
Golden did get around to writing
a beautiful editorial one time about
this old country boy for which l am
duly appreciative and. so help me,
I'll get around to reading his book
if ole ever becomes available in
the Gates County Library. l could
never afford the purchase price so
I'll have to read it for free. AS a
matter of fact, l have standing
agreement with the librarian, Miss
Lucy Costen in Gatesville, where
by she renews all books that |
have out as she knows l can't af-
ford to pay late charges.
Another old friend, Ben Dixon
MacNeill has produced a master
piece in his "Hatterasman" and
am ashamed to admit that l
haven't read it either. l had a pref
ty wonderful letter from him the
other day in which he accused this
old ountry editor of having his
feet rooted deeply in the good
earth. Now, that is just about the
best compliment l received in 1858
and l intend to keep them rooted
right there, though there are peo-
pie who claim that a setting hen
gathers no feathers on her under
side. Not that am much of set
ting hen. And / will read. "The
Hatterasman" for those who have
read it sing it's praises to high
heaven. If we could just arrange
one more day and have eight days
to the week, l do believe / could
read more, but with the labor stu
alton what it is and everyone
shouting for a 80 hour week, Pm
afraid we're going to lose a day
and that would be the end Of all
country editors.
Last Time saw Ben Dixon
MacNeill, he got on me right
sharply about some of my writing.
l had written something about an
incident that occurred "after din
ner." He said l was trying to go
hi-hat or something and that |
knew that the incident occurred af-
ter supper. Country people, he
said, ate dinner at midday and sup
per at night. He was exactly right
and l knew it and believe it or not,
those few words taught me les
son / have never forgotten. From
that day to this have tried to
write naturally and few people
claim that / have had a little sue
cess at it.
AS a matter of fact, if we'll
wishers can influence me, should
do alright in short order. Another
friend, George S. FIGHTER of Port
Myers, Fla, is urging me along
with might and main. George is
one of the top feature writers in
the country. At the present time
he writes almost exclusively for
Readers Digest. He says that RID
is so great that you never try to
analyze them, you just accept
them and once you have been ac-
cepted by them, you sort Of lose
your taste for writing for anyone
else.
l am afraid Georges efforts in
my behalf are doomed to failure.
for it is Herculean task TO get
an Eastern North Carolinian up
off his natural reclining place, even
when you would make something
out Of him. But it is pretty Won
derful thing to have friends, espec-
tally when you do not have money.
and MANY nights / go to bed and
luil myself to sleep with a real big
warm place around my heart as
think Of the many friends | have.
They in turn never learn that you
can't make a silk purse out Of a
snsu,S car. Not TINT nm ,aa,,ch az