Thompson 350403

Cliffside, April 3 – Cliffside has never been a “typed” mill village. It has not conformed to the general idea of rows of houses, same color, drab, and no life of the better side. Cliffside is not that; it has the better side. It is seen in the flowers, lawns, hedges, and what they are reading, what they go to see and hear. It was pleasant to see the enthusiastic group at the Guilford College Choir evening. This group will be reading Delineator and Esquire, listening to the music of Victor Herbert. And to be sure the type who read Ace-High, smoke Golden Grain and listen to Crazy Crystal programs are abundantly in evidence. And, this is not said in sarcasm but is an observation.

It occurs to me that big town folk are ignorant, actually of the small town doings. As much so as Elmer when he goes to town and leaves his spoon in the coffee. Big town folk have been seen to laugh at the small town antics, it is ignorance in not understanding the peculiar situation of small towns.

EASTER: In the window here of Mills Drug Store is a colonial gentlemen—a rabbit. He sports lace cuffs and lace jabot. His swagger cane gets your eye. And take a look at his high hat. He wears “tails” exceptionally well and his trousers are cut to perfection. Grand Easter idea.

With milady on the arm and striding the avenue we were whistling Rubinstein’s “Melody In F” in fast tempo. It’s a good tune to stride with. Try striding with it sometime. I admit putting in clipped improvisations, which are original, and slipping in a fox trot step or two as we rounded the corner. That D. A. R. lady glanced about with a “howjudo.”

Few of those things: Few railroad crossing accidents are heard of now… Saturday night grocery store odors.. ”One More Spring”, the late movie and spring is here—a freshman hurrying up a Carolina street in white shoes, plus 4’s and a daffodil yellow sweater…Maybe can down enough modesty to bring out white shoes by Easter Parade time.

“Mardi Gras,” the tune lingers, beautiful melody; I remember it as sang by the tenor as accompaniment to eight fan dancers of the club Cascades revue. This show has played Spartanburg and Charlotte, probably Asheville. “Stardust,” still holds as a favorite with us. Leo  Reisman  and his orchestra played it a night last week. The most classic and lovable rendition ever heard of this number was some months ago in a radio broadcast from Chicago’s Palmer House. It was played by the Palmer House String Ensemble. Friday evening we barely had a radio glimpse of Arthur Tracy, The Street Singer in a Cincinnati broadcast—barely heard his last number. A number of Cliffside people favor his singing.

By radio, from Chicago: A harp playing, “Sophisticated Lady.” Need more be said.

This picture can be called a Good Show: “Lives of A Bengal Lancer.”

In a near by town a radio announcer carefully told of the excellent food down at a certain restaurant, of the special plates and attractive dinner offers. He explained the nominal priced meals, courtesy and the sanitary service arrangement—in fact it would have been an almost perfect place, to eat; then he said: “The next number will be “I Should Have Known Better.”

Something to remember: “Courage in the affairs of men. Humility before things of God.”