Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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4 Q 77 uffac QILAAJC V V church and, as is the custom in the Methodist church, naturally moved from one place to another. This constant change of location was, of course, rather hard on little Johnny. Hardly would he form one circle of true friends before he would hear Father has been moved to a larger church in -. Thereupon he would have to leave his friends and meet new ones in another city, never knowing just when he must move again. Of course this sort of thing had its effect on John. He .turned to reading as his best source of amusement and pastime. Mr. Thornton soon saw his son's love of literature and kept him supplied with what he considered good books and magazines. John faithfully read this material, but he also read what he considered to be more interesting. In school John had little trouble making excellent marks. He would systematically do any written work required, but other than that he studied little. It was his great store of knowledge gained from his extensive reading that enabled him to get such high grades easily. His parents were justly proud of their only boy's apparent studious abilities. John took an active part in school activities, no matter where he happened to be. The ease with which he obtained honors in his classes greatly helped to give the confidence which made him a leader everywhere. And though John spent much time working with organizations and thus showed great leadership talents, he made very few close friends until his father gained a permanent posi- tiong but that we shall soon hear of. He continued his reading in spare time, no matter Where he was. He Was, however, wise enough to exercise and keep his body in healthy condition, read- ing or no reading. The Thorntons led such a home life as might be the envy of many a wistful parent. At every meal together a minute prayer service was held. Every evening before the youngest child retired, a ten-minute family group would be held in which a chapter of the Bible would be read and a discussion of the chapter heldg then everyone would join together in asking God for His guidance through the coming day and thanking Him for His help in the past day. Every Sunday you could find the two daughters, the mother, and the brother listening to their father preach and deliver a message of love and hope to the attentive congregation. After Mr. Thornton received a permanent ap- pointment, the Whole family would be found attending church at every service in a sweet and Worshipful group. If the child- . . . Page twenty four

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:nnuuunmuumnmm The Problem Byi Linwood Stevenson HETHER he liked it or C, p WJ' not John had always fl done what he thought ,rf 137' to be right. Of course L6 there wasn't much for 'mm him to do that he didn't want to do. He never had been in bad straits, up until nowg but that is another matter not for our discussion. Before talking about John Thornton much it would only be fair for us to meet him and learn to under- stand him . . . Oh, well, 1et's just lllli ' z: ll 2 rang.. hmmm fiiiiiig .iminsmu nllllllg Us '-1 lvlslpr F31 'WEB Eiiiig -Ufqwmxnl Ii-'EW 1205130 'af if - FUI! H ffffj. l Q gif' , 5 I n I Il I .. -ai, .. ' ' I :4:' 3- yrf I.: ,J , nm .. .... ' V, YQ -r T: 1 :unfit 'af El, ' 1 ' +-'1' -sfeszstz-, , . ! ,S 5' 1 . 2 1 - ' - .v v. , visual-rse.isws- -. up ill -. nu .- ,km -11-, . 1, : LJ.-3 - ,,fjr? .1. .v. 1 :-wfef'rfil..a.r it f?'2.se'!f2Hf' ,- V Jr..a..3Jg,A,,,.' -T A' , 417' ' Ill ll ' ft-' f ff' - vw 1. 1, Av .' 1- f4:-, 'gzjw -1 ll 2-'Lf' 34535 , 41.4. E .lf:'jd?1? ?:' i' .QW ff . - -.--2 -.Lf 5 L,-.21 , -f-was-' gf' -. ,, ? ' '--frf '1f '.. ,g..f.-'Li Lim' ' ' ' . ' - Ti'r '-'ini' '51 , n V ' A A flair H-- ., .... . .... try to understand him and not talk about him. John' father, Mr. Thornton, was born and bred on the Virginia coast, his father alternately fishing and farming for a living. Mr. Thornton's father did not drink or . . . I started to say cuss, but what seaman does not occasionally give way to his temper in words? And the same goes for farmers and fishermen. However, the men working with and for Mr. Thorn- ton's father both drank and cursed. You know for yourself that a boy in an atmosphere of this kind goes one of two ways. He either picks up drinking, gambling and cursing as naturally as a fish swims, or he is overcome by a deep feeling of disgust, which drives him on to make something of himself. Unfor- tunately most such boys turn to the former life if brought up in it. However, the Mr. Thornton in whom we are interested proved to be one of the latter type of men, or this story might never have been written. Mr. Thornton worked his way through several degrees of higher education and finally entered the min- isterial ranks of the Methodist church. Shortly after entering into God's work he fell hard for a beautiful belle of Southern descent as is proven by the fact that not long after she became his wife. It wasn't so terribly long after this happy event that another one took place and John, later to become somewhat like his father let us hope, appeared on the scene. John's father made rapid advancement in the ranks of his lmmmmummmuuunluuuIu1Iunnu111vummnuuIunIII1uummmmmnuuumunnumnu no n Page twenty-three . .

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iam: r ummmumu Page 7 'Y Q gc. S ...................................................................,...,................... ........ ,...,.......,......,....................,..................................,.................................................................,.................... ren should happen to iinish studying a bit early of a winter night they would play one another games, or would sit and discuss some event of interest to the family. The three children were early taught the harm of alcoholic drinks, the effects of tobacco on the body and the reasons why playing cards are objectionable. And such a family spirit! One member could seek advice on any question from the rest. And how they did stick together through thick and thin when father was appointed to his per- manent position as editor of the Advocate and when mother was desperately ill and it was doubtful if she could live! So you see John should be quite a nice fellow. John went through high school and college. The following fall he was planning to enter the ministry. Early in June Mr. Thornton was taken sick. John handled the Advocate for his father during what proved to be Mr. Thornton's last illness. Quickly recovering from the shock of his father's death, John continued as editor of the Advocate . He had by this time gained much recognition from church and civic leaders because of his attempts to expose a racketeer by the name of Big Boss Jim Ringstaif. Ringstaff always managed to be just within the law. John wished to prove him guilty of breaking a law and thus remove one evil influence from the country. Every person agreed that many young fellows were falling under the influence of Big Boss Jim and that John Thornton was doing a noble piece of work. Ringstaif lived in a neighboring city and owned some newspaper concerns. With this influential power under his control he poorly attempted to return the fire of J ohn's Advocate . While in the midst of this attempt the con- ference decided to appoint some older man editor in John's posi- tion. However, such protest was aroused by church and civic officials that he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Advocate And then it was that John became ill. What a time to be- come ill! But his illness wasn't measles, mumps or whooping coughg influenza, tuberculosis or pneumoniag kidney, heart or appendix trouble. His illness was classed under the much mis- used name of love. It could not be helped. Love is no respecter of persons, for whom should he fall in love with but the daughter of the very man most opposing him at the time-the daughter of Big Boss Jim Ringstaff? He had met Elizabeth as representative of a college paper. She was then in her last year of schooling. He fell and so did IuuIIInnmuumununumumumn uunnmummIunanuunIInInunIn1nnnnInnnnnnmunmuuunnun1nnnInnnnnum-nnnunum 1nnIuInnnmnun-:mnnIIumnmmuuuum u twenty-five . .