The Ellaville Sun Friday, July 30, 1937 No. 5 MASONS BEGIN TO LAY BRICK AS ACTIVITY IS SPEEDED ON GYMNASIUM Workmen began to lay brick Thursday as construction of the Schley County High School gymnasium (is) moving along rapidly. All foundation work was completed Wednesday night and an army of brick masons began work yesterday. AIR MAIL WEEK OBSERVANCE SET Postmaster Hart Cites Service Postmaster J.H. Hart stressed advantages of air mail service Thursday in urging Ellaville and Schley County citizens to take part in the "Air Mail Week" campaign which has been fixed for the week of August 9-16. Hart pointed out that observance of the special week will enable citizens to take closer notice of the benefits of the service. A record will be kept of all pieces of air mail dispatched from Ellaville during the week, and will be forwarded to postal authorities at Washington, D.C. Governor E.D. Rivers has proclaimed the week as "Air Mail Week" throughout the state. "KITTY" RIGSBY, SCHLEY'S BLIND CORONER, ADVISES "NEVER WORRY" No need of getting the blues just because you are blind. That's the way U.H. (Kitty) Rigsby of Ellaville, Schley County's blind coroner and one of her most beloved characters, accepts his loss of sight. "There's nothing I can do about it," he explains, "so there isn't any use of ever worrying about it." Instead of complaining about his ill fortune, "Kitty" goes about things in a different manner--"doing the best I can"--and it pays big dividends. Mr. Rigsby says his eyes were weak for a long, long time, but he retained sight in one eye until six or seven years ago. Now, he asserts, he can tell when the sun is shining, and can see a faint blurr for street lights at night, but these blurs are sufficient to help guide him about. A person gets some recompense for being sightless in development of keener other faculties, "Kitty" maintains. Ability to judge distances contributes a lot toward getting him by. Not limited to the usual ability of being able to go about town with a cane as a companion, Mr. Rigsby knows where everybody in the county lives, and can guide a total stranger through out its confines. And always route him the shortest way. The coroner has an uncanny faculty of remembering numbers and dates. Several years ago "Kitty" represented a sewing machine company in this territory, and sales were good, serial numbers ran so high they equaled New Deal spending money figures. He says he didn't set down the numbers, although he sometimes sold several during a week, but when checking up time came he could recall them accurately. Dates? Well he came here to live July 15, 1915. And he can name dates of countless deaths, elections, and major events in the lives of his people. Another date. He has a birthday Saturday, and will be 59. "Kitty" quotes an old acquaintance in saying this, age is "older than good." He was born in Buena Vista and later moved to Talbotton for a number of years. He takes an avid interest in politics, all affairs of the day. Has a knack of making many friends and holding them. Sometimes he goes fishing over to Flint River. Always he is cheerful. Mr. Rigsby is serving his third term and in his thirteenth year as coroner of Schley County. He held the office four years, skipped a term, and ran a third time last year, being elected. The coroner doesn't have many cases in Schley County, because almost everybody respects the laws prohibiting murder, and fatal accidents are few. But "Kitty" had a Hair lifting experience several years ago. He was called out to Ebenezer district to probe the death of a negro. And somebody cut the telephone wire so he couldn't get through to call town. "And me and the n----- had to spend the whole night alone in the house." Mr. Rigsby remembers getting a rope, tying the feet of the slain man. Why, asked a friend? "Well in case he had "come to" I could have outrun him to the next house with his feet tied." Then he went out to the wood pile, got materials and kindled a fire, found some eggs in the kitchen and boiled them over the fireplace, and finally morning came. OUT OF THE PAST Fifty Years Ago (1887) The young men of LaCross have formed a debating society, excluding girls from membership. Mrs. Wiggins, widow of the late R.F. Wiggins, died at her home last Saturday morning. She has left a large family of children (all grown) and many lament her death. Rev. Mr. Cawood has closed a three-day meeting at the Baptist Church. Work on the Buena Vista and Ellaville railway line from LaCross to Americus is progressing nicely. Next Saturday will be payday and the hands who are taking the hot sun will then receive their rewards. The colored excursion to Ellaville last Saturday was a success. Twenty-Five Years Ago (1912) The Democratic Executive Committee met this week to formulate plans for conducting the Schley County Democratic Primary August 21. Concord school district voted 30 to 12 in favor of levying school tax. Hon. Ed McMichael of Buena Vista delivered a stirring address advocating the levy in an address at the school house several days before the voting. The Womans Christian Temperance Union held its regular meeting at the Methodist church Monday afternoon. Dr. J.R. Jordan sold the Lester Place, nine miles south of Ellaville on Americus highway, to Sam Clegg and Lee Allen of Americus. The farm contained 250 acres and was sold for $30 an acre, it was said. ADVERTISEMENT Light at Your Fingertips! Don't Delay Any Longer About Installing That Electrical Fixture P.T. STREETMAN General House Wiring Expert Work on Anything Electrical at a Price You Can Afford to Pay Phone 59 Ellaville WILSONS AND STRANGE'S ENTERTAIN WITH BARBECUE Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Strange and Dr. and Mrs. T.W. Wilson entertained with an enjoyable barbecue Friday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Strange. At the noon hour in the cool of the beautiful shade trees in the back yard, the following guests assembled to enjoy a bounteous spread of delicious food: Dr. and Mrs. G.W. Fickling of Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Fickling and children, Billy and Virginia Fickling of Macon, Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Johnson and son, Tom Johnson of Tignall, Ga., Miss Sara Wilson of Sheffield, Ala., Mrs. W.B. Wilson, Misses Helen and Willie B. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Wilson and son Walter Wilson, Mr. Lawson Wilson of Tifton, Mr. Arthur Hill, Dr. and Mrs. T.W. Wilson, Tom and Suzanne Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. r.H. Strange, Misses Martha Strange and Juliette Strange. YOUNGER SET ENJOYS MCMATH MILL PICNIC The members of the younger set enjoyed a picnic at McMath's Mill on Thursday night. Swimming and a bounteous spread of delicious food were enjoyed by Misses Sara Etta Williams, Louise McNeal, Myra Lowry, Frances Lowry, Virginia Rainey, Margaret Battle and Henrietta Morrison; Messrs. George Morrison of Washington, D.C., John Lightner, Hugh Morrison, Buddie Battle, Byron Hill, Paul Tondee and Joe Ellis. FRANCINE MIDDLETON HONORED WITH PARTY Mrs. Raymond Middleton complimented her daughter, Francine on her third anniversary with a lovely birthday party Friday afternoon. The little guests assembled at the Kozy Kitchen and were presented favors. Seated around the dining table centered with the beautiful birthday cake, the guests were served with ice cream and cake. Francine received many lovely rememberances. Those present were Tommie Rainey, Wilson Avary, Martha Jane Manning, Barbara Smith, Mary Frances McNeal, Bob Hill, Jimmie Sue Hart, Larry McLeod, Shirley Tondee, Richard and Rowland Brooks, Collins and Madison Sullivan, Patricia Barnes, Billy Kinmble and Betty Jean Groover of Miami Beach, Florida. Mrs. E.W. Groover of Miami Beach, Fla. assisted Mrs. Middleton in entertaining. HONOR VISITORS WITH SPEND THE DAY PARTY Mrs. Addie Munro and Mrs. R.W. Edwards complimented the McCrory's house guests with an enjoyable spend-the-day party Saturday. At the noon hour covers were laid for seventeen guests. On Monday night Mrs. W.A. Murray entertained with a picnic at King's Pond. The guest list included: Prof. I.E. McKellar and Mrs. McKellar and Addie Lee McKellar of Macon, Mr. and Mrs. Harold McCrory and sons, Charlie Harold, Richard Lee, William Gilbert and James Robert and Mary Sue McCrory of Chicago, Ill., Mrs. C.R. McCrory, Mr. Clarence McCrory, Dr. and Mrs. T.W. Wilson, Tom and Suzanne Wilson, Roney Jordan, Carl Hobbs, Woodrow Daniel, Mrs. R.W. Edwards, Mrs. Addie Munro, Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Mauldin, Joanna Mauldin, Mrs. W.A. Murray and Edward Murray. end # 5