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PAGE TWO
THE JACKSON HERALD
$1.50 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
Entered at The Jefferson Post Office
As Second-Class Mail Matter
ALONG THE
Some time ago mention was made in
these columns that the home place of
Squire Jeff Stapler in New Town District
had been in his family nearly a century
and that the new owner is also a member
of his family. Now comes a letter from a
prominent citizen of this county who
wiites:
“Dear Herald:
Since February 22 edition of The Her
ald came I’ve wondered if there’s another
farm in Jackson County been in the fam
ily longer than the farm of H. M. Wat
kins. I noticed the Stapler farm was cred
ited with almost a century. Here’s anoth
er with 129 years.
“The first deed was made to John C.
Watkins in 1816. His baby child, Luke
T. Watkins, kept the home. After the
death of Luke, H. M. and the late Bur
rell Watkins still kept it. For the past sev
en years 11. M.’s oldest son took over to
ikeep the old home. A little over a year
ago George moved in to stay. In this
home have been reared preachers, teach
ers, stewards, deacons, merchants and
farmers.
“The Rev. A. P. Watkins, son of Luke
T. Watkins, and Bishop Willie Watkins,
a grandson, are preachers. The teachers
were school, Bible and music. So far as I
know there’s never been an outlaw in the
family. It can be as truthfully said of the
Lab Luke T. Watkins that he had the re
spect, confidence and friendship of all
the people among whom he lived for he
was the embodiment of truth, honesty,
sincerity and virtue. And the members of
his family are worthy descendants of a
noble sire.
“On tills farm a plot of ground marks
the last resting place of the earlier Wat
kins, having passed on before the Holly
Springs Church was built, Although Dad
dy Luke lived to be 87, his grave is over
at the church.”
The Watkins family is noted for its in
tegrity, sincerity, honesty and piety
wherever members of it are found,
whether in Jackson County or elsewhere.
Fur more than a century in the Holly
Springs community of Jackson County
the name Watkins has been a synonym
for truth and virtue. W. T. Watkins, one
of the ablest Bishops in the Methodist
Church, was born and reared in that lo
cality where obedience to the laws of God
and man is inculcated into the minds and
hearts of the people from the cradle to
the grave. The people in the Holly
Springs community are kind; friendly,
neighborly and peace loving. It is a good
section in which to be reared and educat
ed and to be prepared for the duties and
responsibilities of life.
* * * *
Charges were made that the State Hos
pital at Milledgeville for the mentally
sick is poorly managed; that patients are
underfed, not properly clothed, are lack
ing* in medical attention and some are
cruelly treated. Investigation by the com
mittee from the Legislature revealed that
the institution is lacking in a sufficient
number of physicians because they can
not be obtained, the help is the best that
can be hired, but much of it is inexperi
enced and incompetent and patients are
fed for only 68 cents a day, which should
be increased so they may have all neces
sary vegetables and milk and an all
.around better diet. A program to cost
for reconditioning all state
institutions has been suggested and that
a survey be made at an early date to as
certain the needs of all of them. The At
lanta Constitution has this suggestion:
“While the appointment of a special
legislative committee to investigate con
ditions at state institutions is a splendid
move, we trust Governor Amall will
thoroughly consider all the practicalities
involved before he calls the projected
August session of the General Assembly
to advance plans for a $100,000,000 insti
tutional building program.
“It is our opinion that it would be far
more practical, at this particular time, to
loci: to ways and means of improving
THE JACKSON HERALD, JEFFERSON, GEORGIA
Official Organ of Jackson County
John N. Holder Editor
Mrs. John N. Holder Asso. Editor
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY, GA.
WAY ... .
service conditions in those buildings we
do have rather than launching out on
any extensive new construction pro
gram.”
Dr. Y. H. Yarbrough is the superinten
dent of the hospital and his services have
been lauded by the special committee
and the Governor.
W. F. Bruce of this county has nine
sons, three of whom are in the military
service of our country overseas, one is in
uniform in this country, two are aiding
the war effort by working in plants pro
ducing material and equipment for com
bat, two are engaged in agriculture and
only one son is at home. Mr. Bruce ren
ders any service on the home front of
which he is capable. He was in this office
last week to get some copies of The Her
ald for the son who is now fighting with
the American forces in Germany. This
son feels that everytime he reads a copy
of this paper it is a boost to his determi
nation to help win this war. We hope he
will receive the papers promptly and that
the news he finds in the columns will be
a tonic to his nerves and a strengthening
of his power of endurance.
* * * *
A former student of Martin Institute,
J. C. Flanigan, of Lawrenceville is a con
tributor to the columns of the Lawrence
vile News-Herald. While he was a stu
dent in Martin Institute he made a bril
liant record for scholarship and oratory.
He is also a pleasing and entertaining
writer. In a recent issue of the Lawrence
ville News-Herald he published this
story:
“Silas King used to say that in all his
duties as a minister he was never at his
wit’s end but once. In a neighborhood
where he conducted a revival there lived
a man by the name of Jack Doe, who had
a talent of making everybody hate him.
A young man living near by had long
been under conviction and a seeker, but
could not get through. Brother King un
dertook to instruct him. He told the
young man that he must love God more
than the world, forgive all his enemies
and spend his time in bringing his mind
to a perfect state of forgivness towards
everybody. After a little reflection, the
young man said: ‘Well, Brother King,
I have made up my mind to go to hell,
for I can never forgive old Jack Doe nor
love God better than my sweetheart, Pol
ly Horton.’ ”
Each week after The Herald goes to
press there comes to this office for a
paper an old woman whose steps are very
slow and whose body seems frail and
feeble. Every one in the office under
stands that the “good soul” must have a
copy of the paper without charge.
week she did not make her weekly visit.
All in the office missed her and decided
she must be ill. So, sure enough, Thurs
day morning a gentleman came to the of
fice and said the good old woman is con
fined to her bed. He said, “She told me
to come over and get her paper. She gets
much enjoyment and pleasure each week
in reading it and she appreciates your
kindness to her.” Sometimes a little serv
ice brings great joy and happiness. Then
how glad we should be to have the oppor
tunity to serve.
* * * *
It is now claimed that Hitler is very
mad with Japan because that country did
not declare war on Russia. Hitler, it is
said, now vows that Japan proved a trai
tor to Germany. He claims that if Japan
had declared war on Russia the entire
big army of Stalin would not have con
centrated every effort against Germany,
but its forces would have been divided in
combat with Germany and Japan and
the German Army could have stopped
Russia. It seems to us that Germany"is
doomed to certain defeat whether Japan
declared war on Russia or not. Russia is
a valuable asset against Germany, but the
American, British and part of the Rus
sian Army can crush the German Army.
To defeat Germany has not been an easy
task. It is expensive in money and human
lives, but victory will be achieved.
* * * *
Worth Wilkes of Brockton came into
The Herald office Friday morning and
said to the writer, “Come and ride with
me.” He is an officer of the law and it
has ever been the writer’s purpose and
desire to cooperate with public officials.
As soon as we were in his'car and the
doors were closed he headed towards
Brockton. Just after crossing the concrete
bridge over Curry’s Creek he said, “We
will go one route and come back anoth
er.” We did not stop until we reached his
chicken barn located near his dwelling
on the W. T. Stevens old home place at
Brockton. Worth presented a show 7 on
which the eyes enjoy to look. He *has
eight thousand nine-week-old broilers,
all in one house, 265 feet long and 26
feet wide. The house is divided into four
sections, each one containing two thou
sand chickens, all of which seemed to be
very busy eating, drinking water, walk
ing about and talking in brood vernacu
lar. All will be ready for market in two
weeks, when they are 11 weeks old. It
costs Mr. Wilkes S7O per day to feed
them. A hydrant is located in the build
ing in the midst of the chickens. Through
rural electrification, he pumps water
from his w 7 ell into the brood house. Mr.
Wilkes devotes all his time towards the
care of his chickens. He has no row 7 crop
ACADEMY
Pvt. Frank Thompson is at home
on furlough. He seems to be almost
recovered from critical wounds re
ceived in the Battle of France. He
has asked to be sent back but must
undergo another slight operation for
the removal of a shell splinter be
fore being sent back to the front. He
won a distinguished service badge
for shooting an enemy sniper and
rescuing two wounded comrades
from heavy enemy fire before be
ing wounded by enemy shell fire.
J. P. Benton, Sr., was visiting in
Gainesville Sunday.
Mrs. B. A. Thompson visited her
mother, Mrs. Seabolt, near Com
merpe Sautrday.
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Underwood
and children visited relatives at Tal
mo Sunday.
It seems all are going to put
forth the best efforts this year to
grow a good garden and other truck
crops to supply the family needs
and for canning to meet the in
creased food demands.
Not so many present at Sunday
School last Sunday, but all were
interested in making our school bet
ter. The singing was excellent. We
had two or three new ones present.
Hope to have many more soon.
Mr. and Mrs. Thurmond Griffeth
and G. R. Griffeth visited at the
home of J. P. Benton and Mr. and
Mrs. Terrell Benton Sunday.
A. E. Yonce visited at the home
of his mother, Mrs. John Yonce,
Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Oliver N were
recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde
Elrod at Pendergrass.
ORR’S
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Massey vis
ited in Milledgeville during the
week-end, guests of their son, Mr.
Ford Massey. Pvt. Vester Massey
of Camp Wheeler was also to be
with them during the week-end.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris and chil
dren spent the week-end at Buford,
guests of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Walker
and were accompanied home by
Miss Ellene Walker, who is visit
ing here.
Miss Lounett Wier spent Satur
day night and Sunday with Misses
Mary and Mozelle Massey.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Webb, Mr.
and Mrs. Dee Marlow and family,
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sikes and Mr.
and Mrs. Julian Jackson and chil
dren were guests Sunday at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Lang
ford.
Mrs. Hope Harris was calling Sat
urday at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Thompson.
Mr. and Mrs. Luther Freeman
and Misses Martha Jean, Sarah and
Ola Grace were visiting here Sun
day.
Messrs. Charlie Wier and Nathan
Williamson spent Saturday in Ath
ens.
Miss Reba Freeman visited Miss
Jeannette Hanson Sunday.
Mrs. A. G. Parks was among the
recent guests at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Bill Langford.
INVEST IN WAR BONDS!
on his farm, but sows it in grain which is
luxuriant, as he has made the land rich
with domestic fertilizer obtained from
his poultry barn.
* * # *
Mr. Wilkes is not the only .citizen of
that community who is in the poultry
business, as it was the writers pleasure to
visit Charlie Redd and Mays Venable,
both of whom are engaged in the poultry
industry. Mr. Redd has 1,800 three weeks
old and Mays A. Venable has 2,400 11
vreeks old. In addition to chickens, Mays
Venable is a merchant and farmer. He
said, “Brockton community has a number
of people who are in the poultry business
which is a revenue producing undertak
ing. This community is receiving financi
al benefits that it would not enjoy with
out this new industry.” Mr. Wilkes said,
“If conditions are favorable a net reve
nue of 15 cents per chicken should be
realized. One person can produce much
more feeding chickens than he can farm
ing, which makes it enticing. However,
it is a job which requires seven days in
every week to perform. One of the good
assets of this business is making rich the
land with domestic fertilizer.”
The writer enjoyed this unexpected
and brief visit to these men, who are en
gaged in anew and apparently successful
industry. It is >the writers sincere and
earnest wish that each person so engag
ed in this splendid community succeed
beyond his most sanguine expectations.
LIVING ON A STAR
In youth we are told to “hitch our wagon to a star,’' and in times of
difficulty we are admonished to “reach unto the stars,’’ Philosopher Wil
ferd A. Peterson reminds us. And always, always the stars have been far
up in the heavens millions of miles away, and hopelessly unattainable—
just as the impossible things we would achieve, and the perfect ideals we
would realize.
And through all our lives we have been living right on a star! The
materials and tools with which we might achieve the impossible, and
the endowments with which we might make life glorious, are close at
hand. We are virtually surrounded by infinite potentialities. We need
not attempt to read our destiny in the stars; our destiny depends on how
we live on this star!
The consciousness that we are living on a star should make men lift
up their minds from the mire of hate, revenge, discord, and war. Our
star is a heavenly body, and it behooves all its inhabitants to make it
livable.
THE URGE TO SERVE
One good result has come out of the various political proposals for
state medicine in the United States. All over the country plans are being
launched to provide the public with prepaid medical care. A typical plan
allows individual subscribers with incomes of up to SI,BOO a yeaC to
pay 52 cents a month, a husband and wife $1.12, and a family with an
income up to $2,500, two dollars for surgical operations, the treatment
of fractures and dislocations and pre-natal and post-natal maternal care.
While this plan covers the most serious of family medical problems,
it does not cover ordinary sickness. A plan to do that and give the work
er or other insured a chance to have the diagnostic and therapeutic serv
ice at the lowest possible cost, will be a logical development.
American medicine is rendering not only a patriotic service, but a
public service from which all citizens are benefiting. Given new fields
to conquer in the way of prepaid medical plans, ’‘American medicine is
approaching a level of public service without precedent.
THE SEASONS
A wise old man, who had lived buoyantly through fourscore years,
was asked, “Which is the happiest season of life?” He replied thoughtful
ly, “When spring comes, and in the soft air the buds are breaking on the
trees, and they are covered with blossoms, I think, how beautiful is
spring! And when the summer comes, and covers the trees and bushes
with heavy foliage, and singing birds mingle with the branches, I think,
how beautiful is summer! When autumn loads them with golden fruit,
and their leaves bear the gorgeous tint of frost, I think, how beautiful is
Autumn! And when it is sore winter, and there is neither foliage nor
fruit, then when I look up throught the leafless branches and see, as I
can see in no other season, the shining stars of heaven, I think, how beau
tiful is the winter of life!”
MAIN STREET
It dosen't matter where it lies;
Its vivid lights may blind our eyes,
Or it may be a narrow way,
That only knows the gleam of day.
It dosen’t matter if it seems
A pathway builded out of dreams,
Or if it is a sombre place
Without a leavening of grace.
Its buildings may stand tall and slim
Against the smokescreens farthest rim,
Or it may boast a general store,
A post office, and nothing more.
Great crowds may pass—the high, the lowly—
Or just one person, moving slowly,
May wander by wee, meager shops,
Toward the dim verge where Main Street stops.
.But—be its pavements white or brown,
Be it in village, city, town—
The place of which we are a part
Owns Main Street as its pulsing heart!
—MARGARET SANGSTER
THURSDAY. MARCH 29, 1945