Thompson 340322

Cliffside, March 21 — This is the season of Thanksgiving for me and not only for the blossoming of Easter styles – The Easter Parade. The song “Easter Parade” from the Broadway musical production “As Thousands Cheer” will be very fittingly used during the following weeks, no doubt. But your Cliffside contributor is very thankful not to have been seriously hurt while his friends were so painfully injured. I am assured by everyone that their conditions are satisfactorily improving: that they are to be at home within the next few days. An automobile crash is a ghastly thing, take it from me…. I am much grateful to the many Cliffside and out-of-town folk who telephoned, called in person and in some manner lent a cheerful atmosphere. Probably a dozen Spartanburg citizens helped all that was possible. There was the lady who took addresses and did telephone calls. My friend from Caroleen whom I recognize on sight: who took me to the hospital after the others were provided with ambulances. There were Dr. G. O. Moss and Mr. George C. Shuford who drove hurriedly to Spartanburg. I can never forget their services. The following did everything possible to help: Mr. and Mrs. Luther Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Hawkins, Mr. and Mrs. M. Hendrick, Mr. John Tinkler, MR. and MRS. D. C. Colvin, Mr. Broadus Simmons, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Mills, Mr. Shirley White, Mr. Jess Hunnicutt, Rev. J. A. Hunnicutt, Rev. M. L. Stimpson, Mr. Lawrence (Jack) Blanton, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Haynes, Mrs. George C. Shufford, Mrs. C. C. Hicks (Forest City), Mr. and Mrs. Bate Morehead, (Avondale), Mrs. Wells (Spindale). There could not have been a more sincere interest than that manifested in my two friends who were painfully hurt—Ivey Shuford and George Thompson. I naturally feel undeserving that such genuine consideration and kindness has been shown me. I shall strive to merit it

A song, a place, a person: Many of us remember a song in connection with a place or a period. I wonder if you do? “Roses of Picardy” was unforgettably impressed upon me in Hyattsville, Maryland, six years ago. My friend, a baritone, sang it and seemingly from the depths of his soul. The Marcus Shows in a mid-nite performance at the Carolina Theater in Spartanburg made quite a beautiful episode with the number “Trees.” Muslin trees, they were very realistic: Kleig lights originated “moonbeams,” and to the accompaniment of the orchestra and the tenor, a group of probably 50 persons danced. One could not forget the presentation of such a beautiful selection.

Emory Deutche’s “Play, Fiddle, Play,” has been made into a talkie prologue by Ruth Etting-a very pretty voice. I gladly paid admission to again hear this singing. Maybe I’m an apprentice to appreciation. I hope as much. Funny thing: I fell to whistling “Play, Fiddle, Play” and just having four stitches in an upper lip, I learned that my whistler was not in very good trim.

My home town is Cliffside-through future years it shall remain so. I do not think I shall ever refer to it is as the “back yonder” town as do O. O. McIntrye, of Gallipolis, O., and Irvin S. Cobb, of Paducah, Ky. I hope to see it become widely known as an unusual town, which, to me, it is undoubtedly. I arrived in Cliffside just 14 years ago on March 20, at the age of eight. The Cliffside Mills office, which is a centre of our village’s business section, is attractively fronted by the fountain which has stood in snow, ice and sleet for these years. This pleasant landmark has been recently drippingly draped in a coat of ice. With warmer days, though, we watch lazy fish in the pool, which is formed at the fountain’s base. To the North, our Big Ben, the tower clock, stands sentinel—sentinel to the deeds of man. Up the second block of our “Main Street”—the Baptist church. Here is housed the originator of the unsurpassed melody—the organ: and a type of music which thinks for me. To a town of 15,000 people this organ would honor. Yet Cliffside is of but 2,000 people. You see then why I say that is an unusual village: I like the name “village.” It is composed of a fine, considerate, kind, citizenship-blue blood friends.