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editorials A Comment Newspapers are not unlike the people and the communities they serve. Newspapers have ajife; they live and grow according to certain ideals. They Jhave strengths; and they have weaknesscs.-T'hey glory in their successes; and they mark their share of failures. Throughout the vicissitudes of its life, however, a newspaper worthy of its readers' confidence and respect not only strives to report fairly^n conditions as they exist, but also to articulate on affirmation of what they might become Critical to this undertaking is the sole of a newspapers editorial staff. A' competent, disciplined, imaginative editor can, with backing by the paper’s management, craft a publication that serves its readers with integrity and leads them with vision. This vision is in.rare instances that of a single individual. More likely, it is a composite ideal born of editors' and management’s thinking over a period of time. It evolves through discussions of many years, dreams dreamt over a

lifetime.

In any newspaper’s life, the best of editors come, and the best of editors go. They make their contribution and they move on to new challenges. Yet when they move on, the vision ^they had a part in articulating remains and the publication continues to strive toward' those goals which had been many years in the

making.

Plato referred to politics as the art of "soulcrafl." The management of the Cape May County Herald and The Lower Township Lantern trusts that it is engaged in "newspaper-craft,’' the process of developing, building, and refining publications that serve the entire community: Readers, public officials, advertisers, local organization’s. The personnel change; the vision remains. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A valued editor has chosen.to depart and yet the management of The Herald and The Lantern shall strive to continue publishing newspapers worthy of publje confidence and respect, worthy of those highest of journalistic accolades, "fairness" and "integrity," and worthy of what has always been generous and loyal readensupport. Cultural Need— If it is true that there is a cultural vacuum in South Jersey, that the clicking of slot machines and the sounds from the summertime bars have eclipsed the more elevating entertainments, then those who cry for the better things in life have an opportunity to do something about it on Saturday night. That’s when the North Jersey based New ‘Jersey Pops Orchestra makes its debut in South Jersey with a concert at the Wildwood Convention Hall. While the concert is being given for a worthy cause, benefiting the fund drive of the Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, there is anothpr fringe benefit, too, that the culturally minded of Cape May County can receive. Sponsors of the event have indicated tht if there is a good turnout for the Pops Orchestra, A Graceful Lady — Of all the celebrities who have made Cape May County their summer Shangri La, probably none has been more graceful, more charming than'Princcss Grace of Monaco. Grace Kelly, her life snuffed out at the age . of 52 in an automobile accident in her principality, came to Ocean City many times in her youth and had been expected to visit here again in just a few weeks. Shocked Ocean City residents who knew Grace Kelly speak in superlatives when they recall their associations with her. They talk about a warm and comfortable woman, one with charm and, appropriate to her name, one with grace. Those of us who came to know her only on the screen have the same impression. Her patrician qualities emerged even before she forsook the glitter of Hollywood for her marriage to what must now be a crestfallen Prinde

reader's forum -

United States Leads in Wild Flowers

by R. I.oslir C'hrismrr One thing Americans can boast about without being belligerent is the number of their wildflowers. No other country has aity&here near as many as ours. One illustration is not sufficient evidence of that statement but it is part of the proof. There are over a 100 species of goldenrod native to North America — and most of them can be found in our Northeastern states. Ten varieties grow in Cape May Point State Park. In all of Great Britian there is but one native species.

Only a well trained botanist can identify all the goldenrods, but everybody can learn to recognize a few, such as the early goldenrod, Which can bloom nearby as early as the Fourth of July and whose flower heads form a graceful spreading cluster; the sweet goldenrod whose leaves are anise-scented when crushed and which can be dried and used as a tea; the silver goldenrod, almost white flowers on wand-like stems; tHfc Lance-leaved goldenrod with narrow leaves seldom more than 1 4 inch wide, and whose flowers grow in flat-topped clusters; and the most magnificent one of all; the seaside goldenrod, which displays its plume-like, golden yellow flower heads on sturdy stalks sometimes 6 feet tall! Those stalks and their large leaves are smooth and pleasant to touch and hold. THE SEASIDE GOLDENRODgrows along the Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to Florida and blooms in Cape May County from late September far into the Fall, sometimes only a few yards from the ocean's edge, as behind the dunes at Cape May Point, or, more amazingly, in cracks of the concrete along part of Cape May’s beach promenade. It is such a strikingly beautiful plant that Wayside Gardens of Mentor, Ohio, a distinguished horticultural house, used to offer it in its catalogue. Maybe it still does.

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THE BOTANICALname of the seaside goldenrod is solidago sempervirens, solidago being the name of the genus, sempervirens that of the species. Solidago is derived from the Latin “solidare” which means to make whole, the plant being named in an earlier time when it was used for 'medical purposes such as treating wounds, sore throats, and colic pains. The Goldenrods are useless for those and other ills. But they are also relatively, guiltless of causing the discomfort of the allergic rhinitis commonly called “hay fever." That condition is mainly the result of wind-pollinated plants such as the common ragweed and great ragweed whose lighter-weight pollen granules remain suspended in the air for long periods of/time. Goldenrods are insect-pollinated and insect-pollinated plants are not common causes of "hay fever". Of course there are exceptions, but exception is the rule in nature. If the goldenrod is undeservedly disliked by pollen-sensitive people it is popular enough to be the state flower of Alabama, Kentucky and Nebraska. (R. Leslie Chrismer of Cape May is a retired pharmacist and former newspaperman.)

A Reply

it will return next summer for a series of concerts in South Jersey, especially in Cape May County. That would be an important milestone in the cultural history of this growing county. Except in the summer when band concerts proliferate from Ocean City to Cape May,, culture virtually.vanishes in Cape May County in the Off season.' There is little drama. Whatever musical offerings exist emanate from churches. The rist of the cultural spectrum takes a winter vacation. Saturday’s Pops Concert by the 40-member orchestra could be the impetus for a cultural boon in Cape May County. The opportunity is there. Now it is up to the people who want culture here to show their support. If ever a prestigious event deserves such support, this one does.

Rainier. Who canjgrget the elegance that came through in fi]ms~\vith such leading men as Cary Grant, Jametf Stewart, Gary Cooper and Bing Crosby? Onlthe screen, Grace Kelly was the epitome of w&manhood, a mould that was difficult to match. Her death follows within a short time the demise of another supCrstar, Ingrid Bergman, who possessed similar classical qualities in her younger days. Miss Bergman, of course, had a more controversial career for awhile, but this did not negate the affection that many fans had for her when she emerged on the film scene. Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergrhan. both gone. An era with which many of us can associate' seems to be passing^ They shall be sadly missed.

By James R. Hurley Recently a letter appeared in your publication signed by Henry Ricci, Democratic chairman, Cumberland County, criticizing me for a vote in the Senate. In response, please note that Ricci’s letter represents politics as usual. Also note that he was an unsuccessful candidate for the New Jersey Assembly last fall and thus his letter is tainted with sour grapes. Second and more important, I don’t think Ricci knows or understands the legislative process. The vote he criticized was on a resolution destined to fail. His Democrat colleagues put up a resolution to over-ride the line-item veto of Governor Kean. They knew in advance the funds were not there because the Democrat-controlled appropriations committee cut the budget. The democrats deliberately voted for a budget item without having the money to pay for it. That’s irresponsible. I will vote to restore items cut from the budget when the money is available. I believe that's what my constituents Elected me to do, vote responsibly. (James R. Hurley Is a state senator from this district.)

''S' fit CAPE MAY 11 1 f -V furalc PnblUliH Every Wedi»e«Uy By . P O Box* TV 8e«wvr CwpwU— Avtow, NJ Jacob Schaad Jr. Managing Editor Bonnie Reina General Manager A Advertising Coordinator ,ParrcUKopp Publisher I Wowov* Con> \WI All rlghtt All propefty lot fh* *«4>r* con Ian ft ol th.% pubiKOlmn tholl bo th# pcopocty of *ho toowovo Cofp No port horool moy bo coproduced wltboui prior written convent DEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday - 3 p.m. Classified Advertising Friday - 3 p.m. I W7-3312 For News Or Advertising InformaMotTl NeHber perUrlpotlng adverthirrc nor Ibe pvblkhrr* of the HKHAI.I) AND LANTERN will be rrvponilblr or liable for mNInformatkm, mlcprlnu. typographical error*, elc.. In any hi*ue. The editor reserve* Ihe rlghl In edit any leller or article* lobmltled for pobllca•""LANTER1I" — : X y~ Publlthed Everv Wedne*da\ Rt P 0*Box 484 The Sea wave Corporation Cold Spring. N J OQ04