Thompson 340523

Cliffside, May 23 — A letter from last week’s mail. “Ann Observer,” Rutherfordton, writes: “May I take this opportunity to thank you for you contribution to the pleasure and happiness of the children in this vicinity. Along with the fine column by Aunt Betty you have done much to amuse the little ones. The way you put your whole self into your childish writings deserves the hearty commendation of the reading public. By the way of suggestion, Mr. Thompson, it would be nice if you would turn some of your attention to the older folk and give them the benefit of some of your ardent labor. Not that you wouldn’t be missed in the realm of children’s entertainers, but that should be left to others. Please understand that I have no right to suggest to you and that it is only because of much discussion that I am doing so, and if it is your pleasure and ambition to confine your work to this type, then here’s to you and may your tribe decrease. Since I have gone so far as to suggest a change in your type of work may I point some reasons for asking the change? In the first place most of the adults in this section who are old enough to read a newspaper have been to Charlotte at least once and the more fortunate have been to Spartanburg at some time in their lives and still further those who have been extremely lucky have attended some of the attractions at the Romina Theater, therefore you can see Mr. Thompson, most of the reading public have made, or care to make their own observations as to some of the things you have treated with a note of finality. In the next place, if you could manage to get that typewriter, with which you are so strangely enmeshed, rigged up so that you could make horizontal lines, crossing at various degrees with the multiplicity of “I’s,” you might have a greater following among the Chinese element of this section. In other words can’t we have a dimunition [diminution] in your egotistic manner? Then in the last place it would appear to most persons of more mature years that a young man of your standing would have a typewriter fixation and most of us would suppose that you had long since laid aside your toys and stopped annoying your mother with your habitual desire to play in the lavatory with the rubber drain plug. One would hardly think a person of your tender years had indulged life so freely. Tweet! Tweet! You make us swoon!

What if Oh! Oh! McIntyre knew you admired him to the extent you do? Otherwise, Mr. Thompson, from what I can hear of General Public, your column is quite a success.”

A brick-bat from the kindergarten! Mr. Editor, I’ll try to bear up one more week

John Tinkler, formerly on the teaching staff of the Cliffside High school personnel, became affiliated with Cliffside Mills in the Cliffside office some few months ago. Tinkler is a young fellow who has proved himself to be an asset to the community. He has assisted for several years in a Sunday school of the town in acting as a teacher. In a good sportsman spirit, he is a supporter of local baseball, football, basketball, and tennis teams. He is a tennis enthusiast. At present he himself is playing baseball with the Cliffside Mills team. The continued work of Tinkler toward the benefit of the community is commendable. I was suddenly brought to this realization when last week a villager made a statement that “John Tinkler is a gentleman.” Just as abruptly as that. Though a statement of few words, it is one of fact and one that goes straight in meaning. Tinkler is a gentleman, he is lending his every effort to assist in the well being of the youth of Cliffside. Never more true was the statement made of any man—it is the life he lives before youngsters that is striking. To those of you who probably have not fully recognized his work in the village, ladies and gentlemen, this column introduces, John Tinkler!

A glimpse of the village: It is noon in the village. Factory whistles are blowing. People are scurrying across busy corners and especially is the “village center” swarmed with traffic. The village folk are hurrying to dinner, for to them it is always “dinner”… they pass bits of conversation about the evening plans of entertainment—and so to work. And the village lazes into the afternoon.

It was this writer’s pleasure and honor, recently, to meet Aunt Betty, who writes the “Children Conner” for this newspaper. She is interesting; her singing is real talent. Through Aunt Betty, the children of this section enjoy a unique feature; parents should express their appreciation to Aunt Betty for her good work. We are confident that the parents do recognize and appreciate the unusual work of Aunt Betty, originator of the “Children’s Corner.”