The Ellaville Sun Friday, September 8, 1939 No. 10 SCHLEY SLANTS by Raymond Duncan HALE AND HEARTY AT 85 Mrs. Susie Larkin reached her 85th birthday Wednesday, enjoying the same good health which has marked her long life. Other birthday greetings to Marilu Colquitt, Sept. 4th; Miss Martha Snipes, 5th; Mrs. Johnnie Grant, Phenix City, Ala., 8th. "ODD" BIRTHDATES MAKE BIRTHDAY ODDITY An interesting birthday oddity was discovered in the C.T. Rainey family the other day. Each of the six members of the family reaches an age bearing an odd number--and the year, 1939, falls on an odd number, too. Beginning with Tommy, who is five, the coincidence is carried through to his grandmother, Mrs. John Royal, who will be 71. Other members of the family are Mr. and Mrs. Rainey and their daughters, Miss Virginia Rainey and Mrs. Fred Payne of Ideal. FINIS ALLMON JOINS WILSON'S Friends are welcoming Finis Allmon to T.W. Wilson's drug store. Finis has succeeded Dixon Hogg, who leaves in two weeks for North Georgia College in Dahlonega. Graduated from Ellaville school in 1938, Allmon has attended Americus Business College. He is the son of Mrs. and Mrs. Frank Allmon. A NEW HIGH MARK FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS SUBSCRIPTIONS A new high mark has been established in the number of teachers and students who have subscribed to The Sun before leaving. There is a special offer to teachers and students of only $1.25 for nine months. IT'S COTTON PICKING TIME It's cotton pickin' time in south Georgia. Picking is the only institution to withstand the advance of modernity on the harvest of the farmers' chief money crop. The hum of the motor trucks is fast replacing the creak of wagon wheels as the gathered fruit moves to the gin and, there, electricity has superseded the old steam boiler system. But a bended back and alert fingers still are required for picking. And the negro pickers have held fast to the custom which makes the season most glamorous to the outsider--their forefathers' example of lightening their labor with song. The "lead singer" usually starts chanting and the music swells as each darky joins in. The average worker picks less than 200 pounds a day, but exceptional ones far surpass this figure. Moving swiftly and tirelessly, some gather from 300 to 400 pounds a day. Bare cases of an average of as high as 450 pounds a day for a month have been reported. Why the sharp difference? SOME ARE "BORN" PICKERS Veteran farmers say industry is the chief reason. Some just "don't try" as hard as others. Then some are gifted, being "born" pickers. They are speedier of movement and stronger of the back. And there is the element of pride. A certain type of picker exerts extreme effort just to show the world how much he can pick, and for the joy of doing so. The better pickers, the ones who take to the fields at "day bust" with the aim of heavy poundage, get down on their knees and crawl, carrying two rows at a time. Another satisfactory and popular method is for two fairly evenly matched workers to carry three rows--each has one for himself with the middle being a "drag row." LITTLE SCHEMES TO ENCOURAGE SPEEDIER PICKING Some farmers devise little schemes to encourage speedier picking. Some used to assign members of his force a "task," that is, instruct each picker to weigh in a specified number of pounds a week, say 500, and allow him to have at leisure whatever daylight hours remained in the week. It brought results. Harvest time means big Saturday afternoons and nights in rural Georgia. Trade reaches its peak of the year and everybody joins the rush, but the negroes are the most colorful. They desert the cotton fields to flood the streets, renew old acquaintances and buy--toy harmonicas and scarlet handkerchiefs and loud-colored dresse. And when the shadows drop they eat the sort of supper they had been hoping to eat "nex cotton pickin' time," oil sausage and johnny cakes and soda pop. NOT UNTIL THE COW GOES DRY The mistress of the farmhouse looked up sadly after reading a letter from a relative who had begged her to come for a long visit. Then she said: "And just to think I can't go until the cow goes dry!" AND "GOOD GIRLS GO TO PARIS" For suggesting this item, which will stir the sympathy of everyone who has to stay home and tend the stock and the chickens, Mrs. J.L. Duncan is given the week's award of two guest tickets to the Rylander Theatre. Manager I.T. Taylor is showing "Good Girls Go To Paris" with Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas Monday and Tuesday. Keep on the alert for some unusual incident which you feel might be suitable for this column. A pair of passes are given away each week. LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS Citation--Notice to Debtors And Creditors Georgia, Schley County All creditors of the Estate of Arthur Hill, late of Schley county, deceased, are hereby notified to render their demands to the undersigned according to law, and all persons indebted to said estate are required to make immediate payment to me. This September 4th, 1939. William A. Fickling 564 Mulbery St., Executor of the estate of Arthur Hill, deceased. ADMINISTRATORS SALE Georgia, Schley County Pursuant to an order of the court of ordinary of said county, granted at the September term, 1939, of said court, there will be sold before the court house door of said county, on October 3rd, 1939, at public outcry, between the legal hours of sale, to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property belonging to the estate of M.D. Herring, deceased. One house and lot in the City of Ellaville, Schley county, Georgia, known as the Van Arsdale house and lot, bounded north by H.W. Hogg's land; east by Alexander Lumber Company's lot; south by a street of alley; and west by J.H. Stevens' lot. Said property to be sold for the purpose of distribution among the heirs at law, and the payment of debts, of M.D. Herring, deceased. Said property also to be sold subject to a rent lease held by Mrs. Van Arsdale tenant now in possession. This 4th day of September, 1939 Chas. D. Carter, Administrator Estate of M.D. Herring SOUTHWESTERN NAMES DORMITORY FOR COLLUM President Peyton Jacob of Georgia Southwestern college announced Thursday a 30-room boys' dormitory there had been named Collum Hall in honor of the late J.M. Collum of Schley county who was the first president of the Americus institution. After having headed the Schley county school system for a long period, Mr. Collum became president of the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical College in January and held that post until he resigned in 1921. The dormitory, located on the south end of the campus, was erected in 1934 at a cost of $32,000. 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1914) Charles R. McCrory was formally nominated as senator from the 13th district at a convention held here. Delegates from Schley, Sumter and Macon counties attended. Mr. McCrory delivered an address of acceptance. Fine enrollment was reported at opening exercises of Charles F. Crisp Institute August 28. Many patrons attended the program which included talks by Mrs. E.R. Jordan, principal; E.L. Bridges, C.R. McCrory, A.S. Rainey and A.A. Arrington. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Webb announce the birth of a son, Sunday at the City Hospital in Americus. He weighed eight pounds and has been named James Channell Webb. end # 10