Valley FRONTIERSMAN
Published each Wednesday and Saturday
Palmer, Alaska
Viola Daniels .Editor
Marilyn Rhodes.advertising manager Anchorage area.
No printed material in the Valley Frontiersman may be re
produced except by permission of the editor.
Subscription rates .75c month
Delivered by carrier in Palmer. Mailed to all points in
Alaska and the United States.
Printed in Anchorage plai^^jf Anchorage Daily Times
Writin’ to Teens
By Dick Drabble
ARE YOU SHY?
Stage Struck! That’s another way of saying it. Dan Webster
has a dozen definitions for the word shy; all the way from being
bathful, to throwing a stone. That shows a fellow how varying
the degree of shyness can be.
Are you shy? I remember I was, extremely so, when very
small. To a degree, I still am. When I was about four years old,
my mother often tried to make a living room orator out of me.
You know, the cute little tyke that recites for the company. Not
me, chum!
When I was nine years old, I had a part in the class play at
school; I was to be the old rag man. You know, the character who
goes about the streets collecting old clothes. All I had to do was
walk across stage yelling, “Rags! Any old rags?” I was thrilled
with the part, mostly because I would be dressed in shabby clothes
and not a dress like my schoolmate, Herbie. Then the short line
was ideal.
We rehearsed the play two weeks, then came the big day.
All the parents gathered to see their little dears in action, mine
too. I knew my lines, or line, like I knew my own name. On my
cue I charged on stage like a young heifer; looking out over the
audience I caught the stare of a hundred or more eyes; my knees
weakened, my mind went blank; I was speechless. Finally as
I reached the wing, a voice, high pitched, not mine, rang out in
anguish, “Rags! Any old rags?” as I disappeared off stage. My
mother had stood the strain until the last dimming moment, then
in desperation attempted to prompt me, hoping I’d repeat; she’d
done all right for me, so why should I repeat?
As I grew older my shyness began to hinder me. I was very
poor at competitive games because I was afraid to perform in front
of spectators.
I guess joining the Boy Scouts had as much to do with helping
me win out over my shyness as anything. Here I found I had to do
things before the gang. I soon learned a very practical bit of psy
chology—if a guy is well versed in something he usually isn’t too
timid about doing it in front of audiences; on the other hand, if
he doesn t know a subject very well, he feels embarrassed.
I think everyone has some form of shyness. I doubt if anyone
today would exactly class me as shy, but I do experience a timid
streak now and then. As you observe folks more, you notice that
most of them are shy to some degree. The best formula I know for
overcoming the trait, is first to capitalize on that which you do
.best. When asked to do your stuff get a grip on yourself and go
to it at your best. Remember, everyone is just like you, shy to
some degree. Don’t fear razzing, razz back. That’s all it really
is intended for anyway. If you make a mistake, seize it as an op
portunity for comedy, or cover by making it seem part of the act.
Laugh it off.
Learn all the things popular to the times. Being a wallflower
is only going to keep you back. The world is too full of other
people to worry about you alone.
^f you want to illustrate this stand on a busy street corner
sometime, and watch the folks pass you by. No one, except perhaps
your best pals, or your own family, will stop and ask if you are
coming along. Stand there five minutes, stand there an hour, the
longer you stand, the more people will pass you. Then join in and
walk on against the oncomers; immediately they will give way to
you; you are now making a place for yourself among the others.
4 This is the way of life, chum. Being a wallflower as a kid can
lead to being other things; hermits, for instance. You, and you
alone, will have to overcome your shyness, no one can do it for
you.
If you see someone who is in the same boat you are, try to
help him; by helping him you boost yourself up a notch. It’s O. K.
to avoid that which you absolutely can’t do. If you can’t play first
base, play fielder. If the field is too much for you, remember the
game isn’t worth a hoot without the guy who yells “Throw the
bum out!”
In other words, shop around, find your niche; don’t sit back
and quit.
GRANDMOTHER VISITS
Mrs. Alvin Weill, grandmother
of Alvin Weill of the local ex
periment station, flew north
from North Platte, Neb., last
week to visit her grandson. She
expects to remain here for an
extended visit, while her grand
daughter-in-law is undergoing
surgery at the Valley hospital.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember? Adv.
' « dnesdav, January 14, 1B4«
•-*' %
Extension Worker Here
Miss Marilyn Johnson, home
demonstration agent of the Ex
tension Service, arrived in Palm
er late last week for a stay of
several days. Miss Johnson plans
to visit with Homemakers clubs
of Wasilla and the Valley, and
will schedule a series of sewing
demonstrations and lectures for
the clubs.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember? —Adv.
Hospital
Ins and Outs
New patients admitted to the
Valley hospital this week includ
ed:
Mrs. Claude Carroll, Mrs.
Joseph Loyer, Miss Alice Mer
ritt of Lazy Mountain, Joanne
Frank, Mrs. Harry Duff, Jimmy
Secondchief, Wayne McDonald,
La Verne Lindsey, Mrs. Irvin Plitt
and William Barnhat.
Patients dismissed from the
hospital during the week were:
Mrs. Hollis Smith, Mrs. Don
ald Wren and baby son of Dil
lingham, and Joanne Frank.
Lutheran Aid
Plans Food Sale,
Elects Officers
^ Members of the Ladies’ Aid of
St. John’s Lutheran church
elected new officers and plan
ned a food sale at the January
meeting held last Wednesday at
the home of Mrs. Carl Meiers.
The food sale will be held at
the Trading Post on Jan. 17. The
sale is to open at 10 a.m. Cas
serole dishes and salads, as well
as home-baked cakes, cookies,
pies and rolls, will be included
[ on the food sale counters.
Officers elected at the
Wednesday meeting included:
Mrs. Les Ray, president; Mrs.
A1 Brooks, vice-president; Mrs.
Robert Wendt, secretary-trea
surer.
I New Coffee Shop
Opens This Week
The long-awaited opening of
the North Palmer Coffee Shop
will become a reality within the
next few days, it was announced
this week by Mrs. Ed Johns,
proprietor. It still is impossible
to announce an exact opening
date, she said, but she expects
to begin serving dinners by the
weekend.
Mrs. Johns plans to serve
home-cooked meals every week
day evening and through the
day on Sunday. The Coffee Shop
will feature home-baked pies
and cakes, and will include foun
tain specialties as well.
The opening of the North Pal
mer Coffee Shop first was
scheduled for the week of the
fair last September. However,
material shortages have delayed
completion of the shop and in
stallation of kitchen equipment
until this time.
Infant Is Baptized
Annette Crousore, infant
daughter of Mrs. Gloria Crou
sore, Palmer, was baptized at St.
Michael’s church in Palmer this
week. Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Bruckbauer were godparents at
the ceremony.
New Releases
YOUR RED WAGON
(Jackie Paris Trio)
BOIP! BOIP!
(Slim Gaillard Trio)
I FEEL SO SMOOCHIE
(Lena Horne)
BREAD AND BUTTER
WOMAN
(Sy Oliver)
Open evenings Until 8 o'clock
The
RECORD SHOP
423 "D" Street
Mail Orders to Box 1717
ANCHORAGE. ALASKA
A Line 0’ Rhyme
The Lure of Alaska
I’m a man who is just a stranger 4
Who never could learn to play;
Just a thread of an education,
A few years of college life
Almost a year with a beautiful wife.
Then disgusted with life unnatural
Spurred on with the curse to go
I have quitted my home in Pennsylvania
For the land of the midnight sun and snow.
The lure of Alaska has me
The land where you die if you fail,
Alaska and its fabled fortunes,
The land of the endless trail;
Alaska and its lonely silences
The land of the bitter cold;
Alaska, the land of lost ambitions
Alaska, the land of the Gold.
Years spent in travelling Alaska
Now grey-haired with cheeks of tan
Beaten but still unconquered
Flat broke but still a man.
Digging, sinking and panning
Trying to locate the pay,
Each day a fresh disappointment
Yet hoping to find it next day.
Valdez, Fairbanks. Palmer and Nome
All of these places I’ve roamed
But forever my mind wanders back
To the place that was my home.
Oh, I’ll still live in a trying way
111 scorn the things that are tame,
If all seems lost I’ll still fight on’
Forever I’ll play the game.
It’s seldom I value the things that are
What I crave I’ll never gain,
Yet forever I’ll try till the day I die
Only then to feel I’ve lived in vain.
—Anonymous.
Bad Weather and Icy Streets Cause Both
Sickness and Accidents
®e ready to meet any emergency
For hospitalization or health and accident insurance
SEE LOU HENKE
Why Don’t YOU Come and See Me at
My New Location Across the Tracks?
VALLEY BARBER SHOP
__DARYL MEEKS, Prop.
We’re now doing business at our new location at
the corner of Valley street and the Glenn highway.
DROP IN AND SEE US THERE. WE NOW HAVE SURPLUS
ITEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION ON OUR SHELVES
Palmer Surplus and
Secondhand Store
Drop in and See Us
at the
Alpine Inn
At Sutton
Mile 61 Glenn Highway
Cabins, meals, cocktail bar, liquor store for your iwnTtilwis.
A cozy place with a friendly atmosphere.
O'NEILL & SONS
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gulbranson, Managers
Remember, the Alpine Inn—3 miles from Jonesrille.
OPEN 24 HOURS
For Reservations
Call Long Distance
Theatre —Mon., Wed., Fri., 8 p. m.