UP & DOWN FARISH STREET

EDITOR'S NOTES: This week we conclude, temporarily, our series on "How to Drive a Car." We will, however, from time to time, refer to certain facets of driving laws and habits that can mean life or death to our citizens of all ages, so stay tuned as we Move on Down the Line!

.............................

YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE ... Driving a vehicle is about 50 percent common sense, and about 50 percent law. We are always happy when we locate a situation where people are doing the right thing in their cars. Here is one such location we found the other day. It was at the busy intersection of Woodrow Wilson Drive and Bailey Avenue. We stated earlier that when cars came to a stop (at a traffic light or a sign) they should maintain at least a full car length between them and the car in front of them.

Well, look at this almost perfect example of that driving law. To see it once was amazing, but we saw it twice more on cars heading north and cars heading west. But, like the old saying, "there's one in every bunch," one car apparently ran the red light. But all in all, we saw a good example of people driving cars the way they should have, and we applaud those drivers!

And now. as we open this discussion on "Driving a Car," here, according to the Mississippi Driver's Manual, are some of the laws pertaining to "your license to drive" in the state.

Persons not eligible for a license in the State of Mississippi... (1) The law prevents the commissioner from issuing you a license (a) if you have not reached the age of 15 years, 6 months, (b) your license has been revoked or suspended, (c) you have been judged insane, (d) you are a habitual drunkard, or are addicted to the use of narcotics, (e) you have a dangerous physical or mental weakness, (f) you have not yet . passed a driver's examination, or (g) if you do not provide proper documentation that you are enrolled in school.

"The Examination" ... It simply means that before you can be issued your first driver's license, you must pass the examination. The examination is designed to answer the following questions about your driving knowledge and abilities:

Do you know the Mississippi traffic laws and the rules of safe driving?

Do you see well enough to drive safely?

Are you able to read and understand the signs used to regulate, warn, and direct traffic on Mississippi roads and highways?

Are you willing to keep your vehicle in safe condition?

Are you a safe and skillful driver?

Do you have any physical or mental handicaps which might interfere with your driving ability?

Do you have the proper attitude toward the rights of pedestrians and other drivers?

NOTE: If you should fail to pass the written or driving test, you cannot repeat it the same day. If you should fail to pass the written examination after three attempts, you must wait 30 days to take it again.

Finally, for this session, we will speak of the "driving test." Be aware of the fact that the driving test is a practical examination of your ability to operate a motor vehicle. It is designed to detect incorrect or dangerous driving habits on your part. Because it determines your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, the driver's test is the most important part on the day of your examination. You must be accompanied by a person who holds a valid driver's license to the assigned testing place. In your driving test you will use the vehicle you arrive in. It is suggested you bring the vehicle you have been practicing in.

The lights, horn, brakes, inspection certificate, and registration of the vehicle will be inspected by the examiner. If the vehicle does not pass this inspection, the driving test will be postponed until you return in a vehicle that meets legal requirements!

More later.

................................

OK ... LISTEN UP ALL YOU MARINES AND EX-MARINES ... who want to return to the scene of your battle, be it in the Philippines ... Guadalcanal ... Iwo Jima ... Gwam ... Saipan ... China ... or if you just want to go back as far as Pearl Harbor ... Honolulu ... or Ford Island, here is your chance to sign up and make the trip. Also you Army guys, if you want to return "on a military tour" to Europe ... example Normandy ... Omaha Beach ... Utah Beach ... Paris ... Germany, look carefully at this poster they sent me to tell you how to sign up ... how and where. You may write to 4600 Duke Street, Suite 420, Alexandria, Virginia 22304-2517 or telephone 703-212-0695 or 800-722-9501. There you have it... get to stepping!

...............

AND NOW WE ENTERTAIN SOME QUESTIONS. The first question is one I have avoided because it seemed like self-praise (to some extent), but the lady who wrote the question called me on the phone and asked why didn't I give her some kind of an answer. Her question was. "Dear Mr. Rundles, I have for a long time wondered why there was nothing named in this town for you. your father, or you wife, or any member of your family? In my opinion the Rundles family has contributed as much, if not more, than any other family, except perhaps the Redmond or McCoy families.

"Anyway, about 20 years ago the Jackson Advocate ran a story about your father, Rev. Rundles, and a religious scholarship fund that was named for him. Do you have a copy of that scholarship notice? Why don't they have Rev. Rundles photo in the Smith Robertson Museum? He helped charter the course for that school's outstanding education program that trained hundreds of Mississippi's black leaders. Please answer me this time.

ANSWER: Well, here for that lady's satisfaction, and for your information, is a reprint of that article which the Jackson Advocate ran in the issue dated June 25-July 1, 1987, along with the photo. Quote ... under the page headed "Religion" and under the article headed "Religious Scholarship Fund Named for James Rundles." Here it is ... "Nashville, Tenn: Dr. James Seale, president of the Internationally renowned Disciples of Christ Historical Society, announced here this week that a scholarship fund has been established honoring the late Rev. James Rundles Sr., who walked his way through the jungles of Africa to a mission school as a boy of 12 to become one of America's finest ministers, businessmen, and educators.

"He died at the early age of 40, on the eve of returning to Africa to realize his dream of education for thousands. The scholarship will afford not only funding for young men seeking to enter the ministry, but those seeking to gain an education to return to Africa and teach, or to teach in America. Researchers on the team that chose Rev. Rundles were amazed at the story of his all too brief life. A life, as one staff member put it, 'that would make a great novel, or a movie.'

"Rundles was bom on the Western Coast of Africa in Schiffelin, Liberia, where at the age of nine he sought out and found the mission school headed by Dr. Jacob Kenoly, an American black man who spent his life seeking out the brightest young minds in Africa who would be sent to America for education. Then after a period of time, return to Africa as leaders in either business, education, or the ministry.

"Kenoly called young Rundles 'a bright and scholarly lad who seems to have a touch of genius about him.' Kenoly noted that 'we never knew his African name, so we called him James Rundles. We heard many times rumors that he came from royal African blood. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Sarah Harvey, a news editor of the Mississippi Enterprise in Jackson, wrote of him having royal blood after some research she did through the church and papers she uncovered, as well as personal talks with Rev. Rundles when he pas-tared the Farish Street Christian Church, and served as principal of the Martin Elementary School, also located in Jackson.

"Aside from founding the first minister's alliance in the southern area, he was one of the leaders of the first cooperative effort by black Mississippians, where the Peoples Mercantile Company was founded for that purpose. One fascinating element of young Rundles coming to America was the cause of some anxious moments on the part of Jacob Kenoly when he tells that Rundles boarded the wrong ship, and for a time was lost somewhere in France. It seemed, according to Kenoly, that divine providence intervened and Rundles finally-landed in New York.

"During his ministry here, it was noted that Rundles frequently was a touring speaking for Dr. Lawrence C. Jones, late head and founder of Piney Woods School. Dr. Jones stated once that, 'I love that man like a son.' The little known side of Rev. James Isaiah Rundles' life is the fact that he was a builder-contractor and many of Jackson's finest homes were built by his company. On the occasion of his death, he left, aside from his wife, Mrs. Bertha King Rundles, four sons and a daughter, James Jr., Samuel, Paul, Joel, and Ruth Rundles Easterling."

NEXT QUESTION, from Hallie Jones of Vicksburg, MS: "Mr. Rundles, I know you don't remember me, but I grew up right across the street from you all in your Monument Street home at 317 East Monument. Our name was Funches. I read your column in the Advocate every chance I get. My question is, I remember a near legendary school teacher named Mrs. Bettie Marino who used to be one of your father's teachers down at the Martin School in South Jackson. The amazing thing about her was the fact that she walked from her home around the corner from us on Lamar Street (it was Grayson Street then) to the Martin School every morning and walked home every evening. I moved to Vicksburg with my husband years ago, but somebody tells me that Mrs. Marino's house is still standing in the same spot. Is it?

ANSWER: it certainly is! See photo here.

QUESTION (speaking of homes): John P. Stacey of Port Gibson writes, "Dear Jim Rundles, someone told me that some years ago you showed a photo of Dr. McCoy's first home on Rose Street in West Jackson. I mean Dr. McCoy who led the NAACP for many years and had his home on Rose Street shot into by the Klan. Is that house still there?"

ANSWER: Yes, as we stated regarding Mrs. Bettie Marino's house, yes it is. See photo.

ANOTHER QUESTION (where buildings are concerned), from one of the waitresses at Picadilly's restaurant in the Medical Mall on Woodrow Wilson: "Mr. Rundles, I went to Tougaloo College for two years then my mother became ill and I had to stay home and take care of her. However, I remember how impressed I was with the famed Woodworth Chapel where civil rights workers held their sessions, and where many famous people spoke an taught, on occasion, from the rostrum. You ran a photo of it once and I lost the paper. Can you run another picture of Woodworth Chapel? I had the honor or shaking hands with former Tougaloo president, the late George Owens, in that building one day!"

ANSWER: Again, we are always happy to share photos of those areas where the greatest contributions were spawned. While there's much more to be done, we cannot afford to forget the sources of our high inspirations!

FINAL QUESTION for this week comes from Hanging Moss Road: Dear Jim, I am a musician and as such I love good music, especially good singing. I recall hearing Jackson native Dorothy Moore on occasion, but I have yet to see her given proper recognition. After all, she has sung all over the country and brought fame to Jackson as a music loving and producing spot in the nation. Why have we no plaudits for Dorothy Moore?"

ANSWER: We have. You must have missed her when she was grand marshal of the Martin Luther King parade a few years ago. She also has her name cemented on the Farish Street Walk of Fame outside the Alamo Theater!

.....................

AND NOW ... A BIRTHDAY OR TWO. This week we proudly celebrate the birthday of Dr. C.B. Powell, a man who turned dreams into wealth and stirred the imagination and actions of a number of African Americans who followed his example. A lot of people owe their lives to him because it was Dr. Powell who became one of the nation's leading X-ray specialists. The photo sketch we present here states that "Dr. C.B. Powell was one of the nation's richest blacks. A publisher. Xray specialist, civic leader, business entrepreneur and humanitarian. He left nearly three million dollars to his alma mater Howard University (Washington. D.C.). He was bom in Newport News. Virginia. At age 15 he was an orderly in a Long Island (New York) hospital. After working his way through college, he graduated from Howard University with a medical degree (1920) and became the first black X-ray specialist. He opened his own laboratory.

"His best customer, a Dr. P.H.M. Savory, turned out to be his business partner. In 1934. they took over the Victory Life Insurance Company (Chicago). In 1936, he acquired the troubled Amsterdam Newspaper (Harlem) for $5,000. He sold it for $2 million in 1971. He had a variety of successful businesses. He was the first black boxing commissioner of New York, having been appointed by Gov. Thomas E. Dewey in 1943, and reappointed in January 1946."

............................

WEEKLY QUOTATION: "Oftentimes silence is more eloquent, than words."

- Carlyle

By Jim Rundles

Jackson Advocate Feature Historian