The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, May 07, 1948, Image 6
OR. JOHN W. CORBETT
DR. CORBETT IS INTERVIE^'ED
BY .REPORTER FOR llIE STATE
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R. E. Qrlir In Thn ttatO,.
For 65 years Dr. John W, Cor
bett ]>ractice<l medicine In Camden
and Ticinity and today, at 85,
“knocked down by the doctors on
account of my heart” he says, he
llres In his big roomy house on
Lyttleton street. But he Is not Idly
watching the world go by for,
alert and keenly alive to happen-
lass the world over, he has his own
pungent ohservations to make on
things in general.
Pour dally newspapers, three
published in South Carolina and
one in New York, are delivered at
his home and these, with current
magaslnes and frequent talks with
visitors from far and near — for
Camden is a cosmopolitan city —
keep him abreast with develop
ments over the face of the earth.
When a man practices medicine
over half a century in# town the
site of Camden—population was
1,700 when the doctor began his
work there—he becomes much more
than a mere medical practitioner.
He is counselor and friend and
comforter, adviser of youth concern
ing life careers; he steers bewild
ered adolescents into^ safe paths;
and, if a man of kind and under
standing .heart, wields a mighty in
fluence for the wholesome and
right living. Doctor Corbett la a
man of that combination and may
be' that is why citizens speak of
him as Camden’s patron saint and
hold him in warm esteem and af
fection.
The 86 years that hare passed
said, “and I waa tha flrat
here with an automobltok'
“But before I got the bleycle, I
walked a lot, for I was m POo*"
the devil. When I got a call to go
out in the country, I’d go to a
livery stable and get a horse and
make the trip. Sam Lathan and
George Little, who ran the livery
stables, were very considerate to a
young physician beginning his
career.
Medicines chiefly used when
I started out were calomel, quinine"
and opium,” ho said, remarking in
cidentally that about one-half of
lie work was on a charity basis.
Doctors today charge too much,"
he declared emphatically.
“Along in the 1880’s, I recall that
our fees were $2 for day calls and
$5 for night. There came a very
tough year, with poor crops, and
we doctors got together and re
duced our fees to |1.60 for day calls
and.|3 for night.
“I; always figured it was better
not to charge too much and collect
it rather than carry unpaid ac
counts for years. People today are
not more civilized than when I was
a young man,” he said and he add
ed, emphatically, “the nianufactur-
ers of the atom bomb ought to be
blown up.”
The doctor assisted In the or
ganization of the Camden hospital,
ran it for several years, is now
president emeritus. Naturally he
takes a pride i|t the work that in
stitution has done and' is doing.
“Politics? Well, Tm going to
vote the Republican ticket un
less Governor Dewey Is nomb
nsted in Philadelphia.' I can't^
vote for himl rm" hoping Vsn-
denberg of Michigan will be the
nominee.
“I believe In states' rights
and the Individual determina
tion of mind. Under Mr. Tru- *
man a man can't' call his heart
his own.
“Any^government that will let
-John L. Lewis (Mine Work
ers' boss) run over it like, he
has ought to quit
“I kick about things yet I don’t
know how to get relief from things
that ought to be bettered.
"I have never been a Democrat
in spirit since Tillman was elected
and I never was a Jeffersonian
Democrat. I don’t believe every
body should bo allowed to vote —
bin’s dictation; then it muI^ vote
as It pleases.
“I have never believed In prohi
bition, but in free liquor and high
licenses.”
The doctor takes pardonable
pride In bis work for better health
In his coasumal^y. “I'was the first
man In Kmhaw county to take up
work agktost tuberculosis, follow
ing along fte line of Doctor Daw
son of Charleston. I went out and
talked to the Negroes and got them
to screen their windows and leave
them open at night, and thus the
incidence of the disease was les
sened. But there- is a lot of racket
in health work today.
“I practiced much among the
Negroes and some of my best
friends are among the Negroes, and
I am not interested in the civil
rights bill.-
“Now about medicine. I believe
in nature but I’m not a naturopath.
The main object is to repair and
restore' and
to bed and
“Now whMt I waa gradnatad,
well. I
“bugs” were not known and there j
was not a microscope in college.
But education, culture and travel
have brought in 'bugs’ of all kinds.
“Why for ten years.T never steri
lized an Instrument and I never had
any trouble."
“I’ve always qnjoyed life,” he
said. “Now at 86 I spend most of
my time heading, talking, sleeping
and eating.”
Doctor Corbett served as a mem
ber ofr'fEe' Camden council, as Its
intepdent and as its first maytu*
the form of government was
changed, and he Is interested in the
growth of his town.
“The duPont development Is a
great thing for Camden and this
section and it will have a wbole-
9ome effect generally,” h% says, as
he thinks of the future growth of
the community he has served so
long and so-well, and which counts
Ouronicle daanfied Ads Get
Surveys Maps
.\
M. C. O’CAIN
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL
CIVIL ENGINEER
Phone 2213
Estimates
niii
a lot of cues. If put among its top citizens,
fed properly will get
'Jlets Wants Speed CW«
Cuts 6 to 10 Times longer
thii oitooo^***** ofco***
WITHOUT HE-8HHj|HHI^
rwivE-iN fflEini
' C. B. BLYTHER, Owner
Located on State Highway 26—Town of La|«g
m.- lyW; =t:'-
over his head have not reduced hlmji think there should be some-sort
to a common denominator ; rather [of qualifications. Here I am, with
they have served to accentuate his some property and Interested in
Individually and he expresses his the community, yet my vote can be
views on things generally with a offset by some one who maybe
blunt frankness altogether refresh- doesn’t care about the community,
ing, and he hedges his statements “i voted against Mr. Tillman, one
not at all. of about 200 in Kershaw county
With his typewriter near his side, that did so.
he was on a chaise lounge in his | ‘<what about Russia? Russia does
living room the other dsy, with s not want to fight. It wants to nsg.
shawl over his legs. “I’ve got to The Russians are mean ensses, Jnst
keep my legs warm on account of half civilized and I don’t think they
this damned rheumatism,” he said, are ready to fight
A little bit about the background j xj hate innovations nnleu I can
of a man whom Camden is proud gee some improvements broogbt
to claim qs a citizen. He was born thereby, and I hate to vote againet
at Cheraw. son of the Rev. W. Bell President Truman, but It is the '
Corbett, a Presbyterl&n minister of best way. We have enough votes
Charleston, and Sara Rlizabeth to dam things up anyhow.
Witherspoon Corbett of York. He “When I was 14 I wore a red
was graduated from the Medical ghlrt with ‘Haskell Guards’ written
College In Charleston, under 21 across the front of It." And he
years of age, studied In clinics in gpoke of the Darlington riots and
New York and at Johns Hopkins In the troublous days In the Tillman
Baltimore and then went to Cam- regime.
den to begin a life of service to the, •<ab to ^education, and I think
people of that community. have made tremendous strides
It was In November, 1886, that jq jt, I don’t believe everybody
he was carried to Miss Reta Me- should go to college. Aftbr some
Willie Bufnett^Camden, a grand- early training. I think there should
daOkhter of WKM. Shannon, whose he a selective dfaft for persons of
death in a duel was instrumental talent. There are more loafers, who
in bringing into being the anti- are college graduates hanging
duelling oath all holders of public oround than you can shake a stick
office now take. ^
“We ought to have duels
now," Doctor Corbett said, as
he spoke of Mr. Shannon. “Peo
ple would be more discreet in
their utterances if they knew
they might be Invited to meet
sorne opponent on the field of
honor. You would not hear of
candidates for office call each
other liars. We did not have it
years ago. The duel would
make gentlemen out of hdoe- '
lera."
“How many babies have 1 de
livered? Well, Pd have to go
through my files to answer that
correctly; ever so often, some one
comes here to look up his birth
certificate."
And then he, talked a little about
his early career as a physician in
•Camden. “I was the first man in
Camden with a ‘safety’ bicycle," he
at.'
“One other thing,' I don’t like
Columbia’s Influence with the leg
islature. The legislature should be
moved out In the country where it
could not be bo subject to Colum-
GAU BLADDER
SUmRiaS rIND CORS FOR MISIRY
DUI TO LACK OF HIALTHY RIU
SMFly R"»fc^ H#r* — Ssttsrsn R*}«Im
(or B»llbUddcr ■uflercr* Uek-
InB b^lthy bil« l« teen today In nnnounc*- ^
ment o( • wonderful preparation which acU
with remarkable effect. Sufferer* with
asonisinB colic, ttomaeh and gallbladder
miMiT du6 to Imck of healthy bile now tell
of remarkable retulta after using this medi
cine which ha* tmaiing power to stimulate
(low o( healthy bile. •ALLUSIN it a v«y
expeTMivt medicine, but connlderinR reiuitB,
the IS.OO it eoiU ia only pennies per doae
CALLUS IN (caution, use only as directed 1
is sold with (ull money hack guarantee b
DsKALB PHARMACY—PHONE 95
Relax and Enjoy Yourself
Get Close to Nature
Outdoors
You’ll get much more out of life
when you equip yourself with good
outdoor furniture.
See Our^ Lawrt or
Beach Chairs
Special $2M
Sixty, Mventy, yos, ovon eighty hours without re-shorpening
is the experienM 'Of operators with the new Warren High
Speed Precision Chain»
This means a very subMontiol money saving eodi year fai
sharpening time alone. ‘
The secret '» the new plow-shaped high speed steel cutting
teeth, developed by Heiiry E Warren, inventor ol the Telechroa
electric dock ond timing devkeL
This choin cuts foster and uses less motive power. Available
only on Lombard choin saws—will fit any L^bord saw now
in use. S— new model we now hove on disploy.
ROAD MACHINERY COMPANY .
430 Meeting SL Weet Colunbia, S. C.
MONDAY-TUESDAY, MAY 10-11
“Gun Fighter'”
Randolph Scott, B. Britt
News
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12
“Captain Tugboat Annie”
Jane Darnell, Edgar Kennedy
Cartorm, *^Andy Played Hooky”
THURSDAY-FRIDAY, MAY’13.14
“Gallant ]^ss”
Marehall Thompton, G. Tobin
Cartoon
SATURDAY, MAY 16
“Under Nevada Skies”
Roy Rogere—Raleo—Honeymoon Bluet
Soueie Conw Home
•List your suggestion for a naroefo.
the new Drive-In Theater on a slipdj
paper with your name and address!
give to ticket man at Theater. Coat
ends May 15.
Person giving name selected draw$i
awards
SHOWS AT 7:90 and 0:15 P. IL
mUROAO
STRIKE
3
A nai
of
OHIOHS
Union leaders representing less tliah one-tenth of railroad employes
reje^ recommendations of freSident’s Emergency Mard—refuse to *'
negotiate except on their own terms^threaten to paralyze nation hy strike!
yUM of three railroed unioiiB. rep-
Ite Hhan one-tenth of all raJlroad
Tm LkADI
resenting
employees, have called a railroad strike that
would paiidyxe the nation.
’These lea^rs refuse to accept a 15^ cents
an hour wage Increase retroactive to^MlUOT-
ber 1, 1947. This increaae was
by an impiuTial Emergency Board appointed
by President Tnunan.
This increase of ISV^ cents already has been
accepted bjf ^ 19 other railroad xmions. But
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
the Brotherhood of L^motive Firemen and
Enginemen, and the Switchmen’s Union of
North America won’t apeept what more than
90% of all railroad employes have accepted.
They have called a strike to get mbre!
f ’
Unions refuse mles discussion
Certain rules changes demanded by these
union leaders—which would increase wages
still furdier — were recommended by the
Board. But the union leaders want more—
they demand that the railroads put into effect
AIX the changes they asked for, inclndfaig
those the Board felt should be denied.
On top of this, they insist that certain rules
duuiges proposed hy the railroads be with
drawn—hi spite of the fact that the Board
recommended them! These union loaders
have refused to negotiate except open these
arbitrary terma. * \
Creator wage increase not justified
Engineers and firemen are among the hip
est paid of all employes in America, as figures
in the box show. ‘This strike' threat doesn’t
justify giving a greater increaae thm other
railroad workers received.
' Boards art a meani provided
by the iwKray I<ahor Act in tihe pubUe Inter*
avoid atrftaa. The Presiaenfs BoanL
after hearing evidence for S3 days, made
recommendations baaed on all the facts in
the case. The raflroads have accepted these
reconunoidatioos.
‘ ” Who’s to blame?
Although they deplored so large ah extra cost
burden, the railroads accepted the report of
•the Board because they felt it was in tm pub
lic interest to uphold the qphit aiul intent of
the Railway Labor Act
In contrast, fids small froqp
union leadcdrs art attmnpting M W
intent and of the Railway W*'
and dictate uidr own terms.
, They have dictated a perslyztaC
strike.
You will be the vfcthnl
How long win Ae Amaricaa
for the nnoemoentife, aMtn/j,
use of the right'to sMke fasd t
of the obiigadea to .
^Hohr long can tike AaMrkaa .
4 few dictatorial nwisn leodsn Mj
procesaea provided fsr
of dispntes?
Force stildewi.
either fair er bating. Msreyw^ ■
eftea reached when pqnsaal
be held saberdtoato to Ae ^,
welfare. That Is why fito »aAseiiJ
eeptod Ae ■sserieaiiy
tioas. That is aha why <h>.hadw<
Area naioas Aeald isesasidsr
to caO a pwalysiag stiilce.
Here is a comparison
of average annual
earnings w engineers
and fireman for 1981
(pre-war) and 1947.
Alsoshown is what 1947
earnings would have
been uTAe 15^ cents
per hour inermse, of
fered by Ae railroads
and rejected by Ae
union leaders, had
been m affect Arough-
out Ae entire yeer
1947.
Compare these wetes with whet vra aelnl
imm MB ■
•eeaeaaeae*
fmti uaiia
iNOINRRS
Road Freight
(Local and Way)
Road Paaaenger S4tt
Road Frai^t (Throui^) s,t47
' Yard x.74a
FIREMEN
R<^ ^lAt n.7«
(Local am Way)
Road PSssenger S,7SS
Road Freight ijom
-Yard i,Ma
hi*
s.tis
*• a a a •••*•••• y ••••••• • afWwl ^
Railroad wagea computed from Interstate Conuneroe Coimntmfain Btatsmsn*
OUTHEASTERN
railroads
We are
totsOtvAh