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PAGE SIX
“MAMA HAD 38 CHILDREN—
AND DIDN’T KNOW IT"
(From Atlanta Georgian)
Remember the old woman who
lived in a shoe? She had so many
children she didn't know what to do
with them all. But she wasn’t a
u very wine mother because she
spanked them and sent them sup
pcrless to bed. Mrs. Sarah Har
lij.g.on Womack, who lives in Dal
las Texas, has had more children
than most people would know what
to do with, but she doesn't seem to
mind ever though she couldn't
keep r. . k of them all. She thought
ah had 37 children, a fantastic num
ber in itself, as any mother will
agree. But recently she began go
ing ove th *m by name and adding
th ni up, and found to her surprise
that there had been 88.
Whereupon the thirty-second or
so, a little boy, chirped up, "Mama
had 38 children—and didn’t know
it.”
Of course, that’s drawing the line
pretty line, if you ask Mrs. Womack.
What’s one child more or less among
a flock of ones, five sets of twins,
three sets of triplets, one set of j
quadruplets, and one of quintuplets? j
And the mother of them all is a
tfood-iiatured, patient and pleasant
woman horn in Dallas County, Feb
ruary 14, 1886. She has lived in the
.same county ever since. But while
shi ha: n’t traveled much, she has ae
-complished wonders.
The daughter of an Irishman and
(he granddaughter of a Cherokee
Indian squaw, she had a curious
combination of fortitude and be
nevolence from her forbears that
made her able to fill her strange
destiny, which was to bring forth
juid bring up nearly two-score chil
dren. From childhood she worked
in the fields, and this gave her the
physical stamina she was to need.
The week before she was married,
for example, at the age of 14, she
picked a bale of cotton. Of her
early marriage, she says, “I ought to
lutve been spanked.” Soon after
the turn of the century she had a
boy. “From then on I had them
every year,” she says. It was a rare
year that brought only one baby.
She didn’t mind it a bit. Mothers
who complain about the bother of
raising their children get no sym
pathy from Mrs. Womack. In spite
of the way they have multiplied,
she loves all her children and is
proud of them. If she had her life
to re-live, she would do it all over
again. Birth control, she believes,
is all right for those who care for
it; she is happy the way things are.
Of course it was a struggle. Even
thai can be a source of pride, such
as the fact that she never fell into
debt in the face of adversity. “I
was a pretty good manager, I reck
on,” she declares. “I’ve never
bought groceries on credit and have
always been able to pay my house
rent'’
In the complicated and sophisti
cated social life of today, it is un
usual to find a woman with the sim
plicity, benevolence and fecundity
of Mother Earth herself. Mrs. Wo
mack was not embittered even by
the tragedy of losing many of the
children at birth because she could
n’t afford to get a doctor.
In spite of all the handicaps she
experienced, townsmen say, she is in
her way a model mother. One of
the things she is proud of is that
not one of her children ever had
to go to jail. She says she taught
them to work, not to steal. -Many a
rich mother can’t make that boast.
Although Mrs. Womack’s job of
motherhood was carried out on a
scale, the job remains the
same with her as it does with any
body in any day or age. She had to
take care of the thousand and one
chore? of maternity, multiplied in
her case, and in addition was no
slouch at making a living. For
must women it would be too much
of a job to bring 38 children into
the world, let alone do anything else.
M rs. Womack and one of the sons
have been the chief breadwinners
of the family for years. Her hus
band has been disabled by attacks of
typhoid-pneumonia and influenza,
followed by failing eyesight. At
present Mrs. Womack works at the
local WPA sewing room.
Aside from being a good provider,
she has been a good mother in other
respects. All the children were bap
tized when they were small. Mrs.
Womack has belonged to a protest
ant church for a quarter of a cen
tury. Not only is the five-foot six
inch, 174-pound mother healthy in
her own right. She has given her
children excellent bodies so that ex
cept at birth they have never had
medical attention.
Twelve of the children are now
living; six of them at the home of
LARGE PART OF WEALTH
OF NATION IS IN EUROPE
Canada ranks first in American
foreign investments with $3,630,000,-
000, but more than 20 per cent of
the nation’s $1 1,000,000,000 stake in
world investments is in Europe, the
department of commerce disclosed
in a recent survey of international
payments for 1937.
The complete statistics for 11)37
of the department nlso shows that
American investors had placed $2,-
662,000,000 in South America, $2,-
372,000,000 in Europe and more
than $880,000,000 in the West In
dies.
QUINTS LOSE THEIR TONSILS
Callander, Ont.—The Dionne quin
tuplets were recovering “splendidly”
today. Dr. Allan R. Dafoe announc
ed, after operations Monday for
removal of their tonsils and ade
noids. “We didn’t tell them what
was going to happen and now I’m
looking forward to hearing them
tell me about it,” he commented.
Dr. Dafoe stressed the need of the
operations and said all the tonsils
were in a diseased state. The fath
er, Oliva Dionne, said that the life
of Emilie, one of the sisters, was in
jeopadry once during the summer
due to a streptococcus infection re
sulting from diseased tonsils. She
was unconscious for 48 hours.
ERNEST CAMP, WELL KNOWN
EDITOR, TO PUBLISH POEMS
Ernest Camp, of Monroe, editor of
the Walton Tribune and Poet Laure
ate of the Georgia Press Association,
has announced his intention of pub
lishing a volume of his poems dur
ing December.
Editor Camp has been writing
poetry a number of years, and many
of his works have received wide ac
claim. National recognition has
been accorded him this year by in
clusion of several of his poems in
national anthologies.
FIRE DESTROYS COURT
HOUSE IN EMANUEL COUNTY
Swainsboro, Ga.—Emanuel coun
ty’s 20-year old court house was de
stroyed by fire Wednesday. Efforts
to check the flames failed, and for
a time other buildings surrounding
the court house square were en
dangered, including the Coleman
and Pierce hotels. Some of the
county records were saved.
“DON’T PASS HIM BY”
(By Helen Loomis Linham)
If you should meet an old, old man,
1 pray you please be kind;
It may be he is lost and ill,
Or does not know his mind.
I pray you ask of him his want,
If he is hungry, cold;
Don’t leave him trembling with the
night,
If he is weak and old.
A smile is sometimes quite enough,
The old are quick to see;
Oh, please be kind to those who are
So near eternity.
I pray, I pray for those so old,
So timid, fearful too;
Oh, do not pass an old, old man,
If he seems needing you.
their parents. Only one boy out of
the three sets of triplets, and a boy
and a girl of the quadruplets, are
alive. The death of the quintuplets
Mrs. Womack blames on the fact
that no doctor was present. Other
wise, she likes to believe, they might
have been alive and famous like the
Dionnes.
Twins run in the family, as a mat
ter of fact, for her mother had a
set, her brother-in-law had another
pair, and a daughter still another.
One of her sons has been the father
of triplets. In all, Mrs. Womack
has been a grandmother 19 times,
and 10 of her grandchildren are
alive.
It’s almost a distinction of its
own not to have been born a twin
in the Womack household. As one
of the boys put it, “I was by my
self, hurrah!”
What does Papa Womack have to
say about it all? “No use to kick
agin it, the Lord sent ’em,” is his
only comment. But many citizens
of Dallas County believe that the
thing that sums up this mother’s
admirable homespun philosophy of
life is her own expression, “I never
have no fusses with nobody, I love
everybody.”
To an all-embracing patience such
as this, 38 children, like all the oth
er trials and tribulations of the
world, are nothing to worry about.
THE JACKSON HERALD, JEFFERSON, GEORGIA
That Dizzy Radio Broad
cast
“Catton’s Comment” says:
“That dizzy radio broadcast which
had half tle country rushing to the
telephone to find out if America
really was being invaded by war
riors from Mars was a sign of the
times in more ways than one.
First of all, of course, it was an
indication that radio has not yet got
! its signals quite straight on the
j matter of its responsibility to the
| public. Radio seeks to be both an
j entertainment medium and u chan
, nel for news; but to get the two
roles confused in one broadcast is as
: great a blunder as if a newspaper
I editor should hand over his front
page to a gigantic hoax, excusing
j himself on the plea that he had set
an agate paragraph of explanation
back mong the want ads.
“Beyond that, however, the thing
is significant for the light it casts on
the general state of jitters that pre
vails nowadays.
“It is hard to think of any other
time when a stunt like this would
have raised such a rumpus. In ordi
nary itmes an innocent citizen,
taking tys ease by his fireside, would
have recognized these fanatic bulle
tins about mysterous fires, air raids,
hostile armies and so on as the fakes
they so obviously were. He would
have yawned, fluttered the pages of
h:s newspaper, and wondered idly
what those script-writers wouldn’t
think of next.
“And he would have taken that
attitude because he would have
known, without being told, that
those wild stories simply had to be
false. He didn’t live in the kind of
a world where things like that could
happen without warning. The frame
work of world order and civilized
decency was still uncracked.
“But today—well, the citizen
can’t quite be sure. Tell him that a
fleet of bombing planes has sud
denly begun to unload its cargo over
a populous American city and he
will rack his brain trying to ima
gine who could be doing it, and
why; but he will not have the in
stinctive, confident thought: Why,
that simply can’t possibly be true.
“And in that change you can read
the terrible tragic change that has
come over the world we are living
in.
“It is a world from which security
has vanished. You cannot survey it
almly and assure yourself that man
made catastrophes will not appear
vithout warning. You may be able
to feel that as far as America is con
■erned they are highly improbable;
hut the crust civilization built up so
painfully over the savage has crack
ed, and savagery can and does
break through. Those catastrophes
happen, and the world today is in
the situation of a man who, strolling
by a cemtery on Halloween, sudden
ly discovers that he really does not
believe in ghosts.
“Perhaps there is in the world a
more important task than the one of
restoring the old condition of order
“Calling All Americans . .
American Red Cross Roll Call Poster for 1938.
WOMAN MEMBERS IN HOUSE
DECLINE
Washington.—The house will have
four woman members next session
—one less than in the last congress.
Only two of four Democratic con
gresswomen were re-elected in
Tuesday’s election Representative
Mary T. Norton, Democrat, New
Jersey, and Representative Caroline
O’Day, Democrat, New York. Rep
resentatives Virginia Jcnckcs, Demo
crat, Indiana, and Nan Wood Honey
man, Democrut, Oregon, were de
feated.
On the Republican side, Repre
sentative Edith Nourse Rodgers, Re
publican, Massachusetts, will be
joined by Miss Jessie Summer, 39-
year-old county judge from Milford,
111.
AN OLD COUGH REMEDY
Editor Mclntosh of the Albany
Herald has suggested a cough reme
dy that may become too popular,
and coughs may be more prevalent
among his readers who love their
morning dram. He says:
“Memory conjures up a cough
cure of long years ago which was a
wonder in its way. In a quart bot
tle splinters of the fattest pine
lightwood obtainable were dropped.
When the bottle would hold no
more splinters, rye whisky was pour
ed in till the bottle was full, and the
combination was then set aside to
wait for the whisky to draw out of
the fat pine splinters the magical
powers which they were supposed to
contain. What is quite clearly re
called is the impatience of those suf
fering from coughs or colds to give
the highly touted cure a test, and
the eagerness of others, who had no
coughs, to ward off danger by tak
ing liberal doses morning, noon and
night.”
GYPSY MARRIAGE AT DECATUR
Decatur, Ga.—More than fifty
gypsies in colorful costume invaded
the DeKalb County court house
Thursday for a wedding. Justice of
the Peace W. J. Langley performed
the ceremony, which united Maggie
Custer and George Stanko, both 18.
The bride and groom stated that
they were from Chicago, but were
at present living near Chamblee.
The couple was showered with large
quantities of rice, and the wedding
procession marched away from the
court house behind an American flag
to which an apple and orange were
attached. The fruit, it was report
ed, symbolized the fact that it war,
a first marriage for both parties.
“The sun will shine after every
storm; there is a solution for every
problem, and the soul’s highest duty
is to be of good cheer.”
and security—but it is hard to ima
gine what the more important task
might be. For that kind of security
is a fundamental of civilization.
Without it, civilization is little more
than a sham.”
INSANE HOSPITAL CONTRACT
AWARDED
Contract for the first unit in a $4,-
000,000 construction program at
Millcdgeville state hospital was
awarded recently by the State De
partment of Welfare.
The contract calls for erection of
an addition to the Jones building,
medical hospital unit of the institu
tion. The contruct, amounting to
$216,379, was awarded to the Claus
sen-Lawrence Construction Com
pany, of Augusta.
Total cost of the building is es
timated at $290,000, of which the
Progress Administration will assist
Public Works Administration is con
tributing 45 per cent. The Works
in a 0 $1,000,000 repair program.
Negotiations are now under way for
further PWA assistance.
Work will start upon PWA ap
proval. The addition will add 150
beds.
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
HOLIDAY EXCURSION FARES
As advance information, Seaboard
Railway announces Christmas Holi
day fares will be in effect between
t all stations on its line.
Fares for travel in coaches will
be approximately lV£c per mile in
each direction and for travel in Pull
man cars 2Vic per mile, in each di
rection (Pullman rate in addition).
Tickets will be sold daily Decem
ber 10th, 1938 to January 1, 1939
inclusive, with final limit on all tick
ets January 10, 1939.
COMPROMISE
The panhandler approached the
hurrying citizen.
“Pardon me, mister,” he said.
“But could you spare me a nickel
for a cup of coffee?”
The citizen paused.
“Nothing doing,” he frowned.
“I’m tired of handing bums nickels
for a cup of coffee.”
The panhandler shrugged.
“Okay, boss,” he compromised.
“I’ll drink tea!” . . .
DOift O’ T "“ M 4jrA I
VO
STOP IT WITH
Alka-Seltzer
Does Headache “slow you
down?” You are a rare ex
ception it it does not.
One or two tablets of ALKA
SELTZER in a glass of water
makes a pleasant alkalizing
solution that usually brings
relief in just a few minutes.
ALKA-SELTZER is also recom
mended for
Gas on Stomach. “Morning
After”, Acid indigestion,
Colds, and Muscular Pains.
You will like the tangy flavor
and the results when you take
Alka-Seltzer. Alka-Seltzer, when
dissolved in water, contains an
analgesic, (Sodium Acetyl-Salicyl
ate). In addition, the alkalizing
agents in Alka-Seltzer help to re
lieve those everyday disor
ders associated with hyper-
Small package 30c fMif
Large package COc jm
Alka-Seltzer
FOR RENT OR SALE
For rent or sale, 39 acres of land,
4-room new house, good barn, in
city limits of Jefferson, on Daniels
ville Road. Apply to Mrs. M. P.
O’Callahan, Atnens, Ga.
H. T. MOBLEY
Agency
LIFE INSURANCE
All approved forms written
to meet every need
Would appreciate an
interview
SHORT PECAN CROP ESTIMATED
FOR ’3B
Washington.—Production of pe
cans in the United States for 1938
was estimated by the Federal Crop
Reporting Board at 47,084,000
pounds.
Last year's crop totaled 76,893,-
000 pounds and the 10-year average
(1927-36) was 61,274,000 pounds.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1838.
From The Cloud®
By ADELAIDE R. KEMP
McClure Newspaper Syndicate,
WNU Service.
VfARTHA drew the old rocker,
w i t h its patchwork cushion,
closer to the window, and in the
fading November light looked with
discouraged eyes at
the ancient black
dress she had spread
across her knees.
The breadths of the
skirt, after a long
united existence,
had parted of one
SHORT
SHORT
STORY
accord. Nothing remained lut the
bit of real lace in the neck to tell
of past splendors.
“I can’t ever wear it to church
again,” she murmured and her face
wore an expression of despair.
To Martha church was as much a
habit as brushing her hair or wash
ing her face. Yet she might just
as well wish for an automobile as
the price of anew gown.
The clock on the mantel struck
five. Martha lifted her eyes and
looked down the darkening road.
Here and there on the hills a farm
house dotted the landscape. Not far
away rose the spire of the little
church. Suddenly she uttered an
exclamation. From out of the sky,
as it seemed to her, with a noise
like the discharge of fireworks, a
huge airplane was wending its way
downwards. After a series of cir
cles, like a bird with enormous
wings, it landed almost at her very
door.
To say that Martha was startled
would have been putting it mildly.
Never in all the fifty-odd years of
her existence had she experienced
such a shock. The old silk dress
slipped from her lap unnoticed as
she rose hurriedly and crossed the
kitchen to the door. By the time her
trembling fingers had opened it the
great bird-like thing lay quiet.
A curious looking figure had
jumped lightly to the ground.,
Martha felt a momentary inclination
to slam the door and shut out such
an apparition, but innate hospital
ity won. The approaching figure
had by this time removed a pair of
goggles and unfastened the side flaps
of his helmet, displaying a most re
assuring bronzed young face and
eyes blue as the sky from which he
seemed to have come.
“I hope I haven’t frightened you
half to death,” he said, a pleas
ant smile displaying the whitest
teeth.
“I heard you coming. You
wouldn’t had to knock,” Martha
answered. She was recovering
somewhat from her nervousness. “I
never seen one of them things be
fore, only in pictures. Goodness, I
should think they’d scare the birds
something awful.”
The young man laughed heartily.
“Well, I’m wondering as long as
I’*n here at your very door if you
could give me a bite of supper and
a bed for the night. A cup of tea
and some bread and butter would
be plenty. I’d like to tinker on the
old plane a little before it really
gets dark. But I wouldn’t want to
put you out any,” he added.
Martha nodded. This was the
biggest adventure she ever hoped to
experience in her life.
“You get your tinkering done. It’s
getting dark fast,” she answered.
“And I’ll get supper.”
That was a memorable evening
for Martha. The young aviator told
her of adventures above the clouds
in distant countries during the war
that fairly exhausted the strength
of her imagination. Everything else
was forgotten. The old silk dress
remained a crumpled heap on the
floor. It might have remained there
until the next morning had her com
pany not gone to the window for
one last look at his airplane. There
was a sound of ripping as his shoe
caught in the folds. He stooped
quickly and picked it up.
“Oh,” he exclaimed, “just look
what I’ve done now.”
“My goodness,” said Martha,
shamefacedly, “if my old dress
hasn’t been lying there ever since
you came. I was seeing if I couldn’t
mend it once more for church.”
“Well I’ve finished it sure enough
with that great foot of mine. I’m
awfully sorry.”
In the bright sunshine of the fol
lowing morning Martha said good
by to her unexpected guest.
“Don’t forget, Aunt Martha,” he
said, holding her hand for a mo
ment, “I’m coming back in April
on my honeymoon. I’ll give you a
good trip then above the clouds.
Only you must teach my wife how
to make sugared doughnuts.”
“Guess you don’t get me off terra
cotta,” ejaculated Martha, shaking
her head energetically. “But I’ll be
watching the sky every day when
spring comes for you and your
bride.”
A few moments later and her
company had made a noisy fare
well. Nothing could be seen but
a mere speck in the distance.
There were tears in Martha’s eyes
as she watched out the window
wistfully. Then for the first time
she saw a white envelope lying on
top of the old silk dress. She
opened it hastily. Two slips of
paper fell out. On one was writ
ten:
“Dear Aunt Martha—The enclosed
is for anew Sunday-go-to-meeting
dress. I’ll bring a better one from
New York in the spring.
“Your nephew from the clouds.”
The other slip was a check for $25.