Is Maycomb a good place to live in?

THE MAYCOMB TRIBUNE

Inside: Jem Finch and Jean Louise Finch spotted in courtroom (Page 12) Tom Robinson's comments (Page 2) Interview with Judge Taylor on the trial (Page 4)		Tom Robinson Sentence: Guilty
		Yesterday evening, after a few hours of an intense court session, Tom Robison was sentenced guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. The session started in noon, with Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff of Maycomb County, testifying. He said that he was called to Mrs. Mayella Ewell's house on the 21st of November, and found Mayella Ewell 'mighty banged up'. Mr. Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson's lawyer, asked if he had called a doctor, and the response was a no. Mr. Bob Ewell, Mrs. Mayella Ewell, testified next. He declared that Tom Robinson was 'ruttin' on my Mayella', and caused a commotion, which warranted five minutes of Judge Taylor's gavel hammering. Mr. Ewell did not call for a doctor too. He was evidently angry of 'tricking lawyers like Atticus Finch', and caused a minor commotion again. Mrs. Mayella Ewell was very shaken when it was her turn to testify, and broke into tears. Apparently she was afraid of Atticus 'doin' me (her) like he done Papa (Mr. Bob Ewell). She too declared that Tom Robinson raped her and beat her up. In response to Mr. Finch's question as to	whether her father ever beaten her, she gave a firm denial. She was obviously frustrated by the state's indecision to sentence Tom Robinson. After a short break, Mr. Tom Robinson testified. According to his testimony, Mayella Ewell kissed him on the cheek, and he did not rape her. He had helped her do some chores as he 'felt sorry for her'. The evidence was gone through after Tom Robinson, the last witness, testified. After this had been done, Atticus gave a speech declaring the simplicity of the case: there had been no medical evidence of Tom Robinson's alleged offence. He urged the jury to be fair, and charge Tom Robinson as a fair equal of the human race. The court was them dismissed for the jury's acquittal After a break, the jury's sentence came out, and Tom Robinson was sentenced guilty to raping Mayella Ewell. The black community was rather unhappy by this sentence.

Which Character would you want to make friends with?

In this novel, I would like to make friends with Mrs. Maudie Atkinson. Throughout the novel, she is the voice of reason, and she sees things from a purely logical point of view. Her views are completely unbiased, and this is extra-ordinary given that Maycomb is polluted by racial discrimination. She has also many good learning points. She is kind, and allows the children to play on her yard. She is optimistic; when her house burned down, she took it as an opportunity to grow more flowers in her garden. She is almost like the female Atticus.

I would like to make friends with her, and find out more about her point of view. I would like to know what her guiding principle is, that allowed her to remain clear of all the discrimination, and see things from a logical point of view. (One other good thing about being her friend: I can eat her cakes; apparently they are the best in Maycomb.J)

In conclusion, Mrs. Maudie has many good points that we can learn from, and by learning from her, we can be a happier person.