opinion

Nummy-Fleece Connection Led to the Extended Season

(ED. NOTE: Impressionable children should not be per rnitted to read this column.) By TOM PORC H Of the thousands of residents and vac *:ione> s who enjoy the Cape May County area, only a few have ever bothered to learn anything about its history. Ask the average person if he has ever heard of "King Nummy" and he is apt to reply that he thinks it is either the name of a frozen-custard stand on the Wiidwood Boardwalk, or maybe it is the name of the dentist who discovered Novacaine. These guesses would be wrong, of course N'ummy was the chief of the Lenni-Lenape Indian Nation, who were the original inhabitants of this area. King Nummy was a short, obese man who ruled his tribe with an iron hand He wasn't born a king; he became one through his own initiative. Jake all men who are saddled at birth with a ridiculous name. Nummy s life could have gone in one of two directions - either he could have wallowed in misery because of the silly name he carried; or. he could have overcome the handicap and risen to greatness Nummy chose the latter course WHEN Nt'.MMY WAS a chubby little child, the other Indian children would chant incessantly, ctfuga. rovuflu. schagticoke wantagh " (Nummy. NummyToig fat >m. tummy"), and then when he grew up to be a young buck he would sometimes take on a little too much firewater at a party and the other bucks would yell, "cayuga. cayuga, cunqstota kennebunk" ("Nummy. Nummy. big fat rumrrty") Nummy accepted these torments with a stoic attitude well befitting an Indian until One night at the General Tribal Assembly, our hero made his move He drew himself up Jo his full height — five feet, one inch - and shouted author's translation) "I want all of you to know that I am fed up to here with this tummy and rumm> routine 1 w ill stand for no more of it; furthermore I ha\e an announcment to make From this moment on I am the supreme ruler of the entire Lenni-Lenape Indian Nation" Are there any questions or comments'' ( The easuing silence was eerie and prolonged It got to be almost unbearable untint was broken by a rather addledlooking brave who wasrelutchmg a fire water jug. He said. "wyano immakafee massapeakqua' 'The opossum is very bashful in the springtime

"What in the h - has that got to do with anything?" yelled Nummy. "Drag that idiot under the bushes until he sobers up!" A SHORT TIME LATER, on a beautiful spring day, an event occurred thpt changed the history of the Jersey Shore forever. A seedy looking pirate ship drifted up close to the beach. It was indeed a sorry looking craft; it's sails were patched with old long johns and other rags ; the scuppers were bilgeing all over the barnacles. The ship was commanded by one Captain Fleece, a short, obese man who ruled his ship with an iron hand. He was also the mast unsucessful pirate in maritime history. He was coming off of a string of 86 attenpts at boarding . other ships, and he had been badly repulsed all 86 times - usually being forced to give up his own pieces-of-eight to his intended victims. Captain Fleece called for his longboat and went ashore, where he was warmly greeted by King Nummy. The two of them seemed to "hit.it off" right away. This was probably due to the things they had in common (short, obese, iron hand etc.) They became inseparable pals; the king put the captain up in one of his lodges which were scattered all over the beach; and, in return, the captain taught King Nummy to speak English. THE TWO FRIENDS were sitting on a log on the beach on a very hot day in July. The beach was crowded with fun-loving indians. who were running in and out of the water, shouting at each other; rubbing bear-droppings on their sand-flea bites, and enjoying themselves in general. Every onece in a while a very tiny child would run back from the ocean yelling "king bonzie masakequi!" ("PopPop, I saw a craaab! ") "Nummy. who are these people?" asked the captain. "They are Mohawks. They come from the land of average size mountains. They rent my lodges for two months every summer. They pay me with wampum — usually turkey feathers." "King Nummy. how would you like to have me as a partner?" "Nummy replied. "I'd love it, old boy. Welcome aboard." The word "aboard" brought back some painful memories for Captain Fleece, but he brushed them aside. "Here are my thoughts." he said. "This place is getting very crowded, right? Space is at a premium. Land values are about to sky-rocket. Let's get all of your young bucks out here and lift these lodges on top of each other. We'll

Thousands of Dying Caterpillars; We're Expected to Live This Way?

To The Editor: Woodland: Beautiful colors Birds, rabbits, chipmunks, red-tailed hawks.' Peace and tranquility This is what we thought our life would be like when we had our house built nine years ago. on the Sheridan Tract ^ in Erma For the first three or four years we did have it all. But then THEY CAME Ugly, creepy, fuzzy, hairy gypsy moth caterpillars Perhaps they would live up to their name and their stay would be temporary. Fat chance! They've been here for at least five years now, despite the half-hearted efforts of the state and county spraying • » programs. Last year our area was forgotten when it was time for the State Environmental Commission to inspect for egg masses. After many complainLs to Lower Township, we finally did get sprayed, but too late - the caterpillars were already in cocoons. f htriiii v Lantern^ L. ■ r.O. Boa 430 Copo May Cowt How—. N.J. 00310 Joseph R. Zelnik Editor Bonnie Reina General Manager Gary L. Rudy Advertising Director John Dunwoody Special Promotions Director Parrel! Kopp Publisher S.O.O.. Co.p 1965 Afl f *(. o- *(*•*<. •*. ... S«o.o.» C «p Uopo- ,4* - |)KAI>L|XES News & Photos IT Thursday Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. Classified Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. 465-5055 For News or Advertising Information JH£X.rw ,kr •** '•» J | CAPE MAY fmalft-Utspatcfl \ fay By TW Stmx Cm y— lit— C**» CmuX M— ■ **. * ■> — »»• >/

THIS YEAR, we were told by the township, things would be different. Just as the egg masses were hatching in midApril, our neighborhood received the letters from the township. They informed us that we would be part of the state aerial spraying program, but this year, instead of spraying with Sevin. the bacterial agent BT would be used. (As long as it works, who cares?) May 1 : The caterpillars are about 4-34 of an inch long. Where is the spray?" May ll: (5:30a.m.): The caterpillars are now at least an inch long, but here comes the crop duster We watch out the window and think "better late than never." May 11 : ( 7 p.m. ) ; There is not much evidence of spray on the car and we don't see any dead caterpillars. Maybe it will take a little longer'' May 12: (7 p.m.): We still don't see any dead caterpillars. but there seems to be a lot of live ones on the house. Were they there before? May 13: (7 a.m.): The house is literally covered with caterpillars. We hose some down, thinking that they are

& . m Art by Sam Kunccvfch King Nummy — He Changed History A stack them about four lodges high. Then we'll make another stack and push it against the first stack. Then we'll..." "I'VE GOT IT, captain; what a splendid idea!" "There's more," said the captain, "We stop renting out the lodges. Now each Mohawk must buy his own lodge." "How much will each lodge cost?" "1,309.456 turkey feathers." "Oh. no." chuckled King Nummy. "no Mohavfe is that rich." "No problem. We'll give them years to pay it off, and. the greatest inducement of all is the low down payment. They can move right in by paying the first monthly installment. which will be one lousy turkey feather." "How much is the second monthly payment?" "72,456 turkey feathers. The third month, 145.756 feathers and so on." "It really 'balloons' doesn't it?" "Yep." ON A DAY in early September the two partners were again sitting on their favorite log on the beach. It was the last day of the summer season and the Mohawks were loading their luggage on their wive's backs in preparation for their long trek home. There was a certain urgency in their movements, as they were trying to beat the 11A.M. check-out time, and, also, they had been hearing rumors (Page 63 Please) . JJ; Caterpillars Cover Campbell House dead but they are still moving and still climbing back up our house. I call the township to see if we were really sprayed. The response: No one told the township that the BT would cause this reaction in the caterpillars. May 13. (3:30 p.m.): The children can't get in the front door without first sweeping the caterpillars off. May 13: (6 p.m.) The house is now covered with thousands. Dying we are told, but not yet dead. The Department of Agriculture in Trenton says that with BT the caterpillars will take about five days to die Are we really expected to live this way? • Page 63 Please)

i " — wHzzznx — I ED NOTE: Columnist Joe