Thursday, July 25, 1901
IN OLD SCHOOL DAYS
There is an old field schoolteacher in this county, who is still in the business, who will no doubt remember this incident when he reads it as one of his many experiences in which he did not shine.
The trouble all arose because the teacher did not know the definition of the word “tether,” which means to fasten an animal with a rope to limit its range. One little crippled boy, six years old, had been taught, for a speech, a problem in an old arithmetic book which had been set in rhyme. The boy got up and said his little piece:
“In a wide meadow all covered with grass,
I took a long rope to tether my ass:
How long must the rope be that in feeding all round,
The beast may graze over an acre of ground?”
The teacher immediately slapped the little boy over for having said something he couldn’t understand. One of the grown girls in a back seat, with whom the child was a favorite, jumped to her feet with her eyes blazing and shaking her fist at the schoolteacher said,
“You’re no gentleman! And if you come out here, I can give you the biggest licking you ever got in your life.”
The teacher did not respond and the incident closed.
But whenever the scholars of that school congregate, they tell the tale anew and it will probably outlive all the participants.
DROWNING AT BUCKEYE
Joe Hannah, the 10-year-old son of Jus. J. Hannah, of Buck’s Run, was drowned while bathing in the Greenbrier River last Sunday, at Buckeye.
He, with his brother, Ira Hannah, and Will Kinnison went to the “Swimming pool” above John Buckley’s to bathe. Ira and Will could barely swim, but Joe was unable to swim a stroke. They took a horse in with them, but the horse seemed unable to swim for some reason or other, probably because of a tight rein, and Joe got into water 10 feet deep. The other boys were not able to rescue him, and he drowned. He was badly crippled, having a badly deformed arm.
The body was recovered immediately, and the burial took place at the Buckley graveyard Monday afternoon.
SEQUEL TO A STRANGE SUIT
Mention was made some weeks ago about the suit Robert l. Raines, of Randolph County, brought against his former sweetheart, Mrs. Jacob Montony, when the lady, whose maiden name was Lambert, married the other man, an occurrence so common in the annals of courtship that it occasioned no comment. Raines brought a suit for $25 against the lady for jewelry, ice cream and oysters, the love in that manly bosom having turned to gall and bitterness. The court that it was appealed to dismissed it.
Last week Raines met Jacob Lambert, a brother of the lady, and they had a fight over the suit. Raines hit Lambert over the head with a stick of stove wood, and the latter is now lying at the point of death.
A DEDICTION
On Sunday, July 14th, the Alexander Memorial Church at Driftwood, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. The Rev. J. M. Sloan, of Alderson, preached a very appropriate sermon on the text, “That thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God…”
There were present about 400 people, perfect order was maintained and the debt of $125 was almost liquidated. There is about $15 to be raised yet…
There was a most sumptuous dinner on the ground prepared by the good people of Driftwood and vicinity. There was sufficient provision to have bountifully fed 1,000 people. The dedication of this comfortable building for worship marks, we believe, a new era in the intellectual, moral and spiritual progress of this community.
PROPOSED FIRE COMPANY
A fireman of 10 years’ experience said the other day that if the town of Marlinton had a fire engine it could reach any part of the town with a hose without any further water supply than the streams which run through the towns…
Acting upon this, it is proposed that all able-bodied men of the town who will volunteer to become members of a fire company meet and form a fire company at the schoolhouse next Saturday evening after supper.
The number must be not less than 20 nor more than 64. A writing stating the formation of the company signed by the members, must be recorded in the county clerk’s office. The law compels you to attend every fire in the village…
At first Marlinton may not be able to purchase an engine, but a bucket brigade with proper management, with a fire alarm and ladders, would be some protection, and if the town does not get a supply of water under pressure, an engine may be procured which will furnish water from the natural sources of supply…
LOBELIA
Good morning, Mr. Editor, fine growing weather at present.
Married at the home of the bride, July 19th, Mr. Start Morrison and Miss Mary Deane. The bride is the youngest daughter of Will-iam Deane and is a highly accomplished young lady. The groom is a son of the late James Morrison and a hardworking and prosperous farmer.
Clownie Hull got badly crippled on his way from the courthouse the day of the fourth, struggling to keep up with a girl who got badly frightened at him and ran clear away.
Russ McCoy has given up all hopes of getting a wife and is talking of selling out and going west.
Cain Kennison says that pop is proper stuff for loafers.
Frank Bruggy threw his hat and went straight up – it’s a boy.
DIED
Cameron Herold, the son of Mrs. H. A. Overholt by her first marriage, died at the home of his mother in Academy July 10, 1901 after several months of sickness, aged about 24 years. He was a printer by trade, learning the business in this office while it was under the management of J. E. Campbell. He spent most of his working life in Covington on the Alleghany Sentinel. He was a young man of good habits and disposition and was very much beloved. The burial took place at Hillsboro.
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At Dunmore: July 10th, Laban Wilfong’s child; July 12th; Forrest Warwick’s child; July 15th, Noah Hoover’s child; July 21st, Capt. Ashford; G. D. Oliver’s child; and Madison Mullinax’s child.
