(WCN - 1/5/1922) 6 STILLS IS TOLL OF MONTH'S RAID IN WAYNE COUNTY

A report made public this week shows that M. E. Ketchum and Clay H. Williams, together with the assistance of county and federal officials, have captured and destroyed six stills in Wayne county during the past month, ranging in capacity from 40 to 65 gallons.

In addition 1850 gallons of mash has been poured out and 35 gallons of moonshine destroyed. One automobile was confiscated.

Five arrests were made and warrants have been issued for three others who have not yet been apprehended.

The above report constitutes the results of the first month's work of the newly-organized prohibition forces in Wayne county which was put into operation when Governor Morgan appointed Ketchum as chief of prohibition activities for Wayne county exclusively.

In commenting on the above Mr. Ketchum expresses confidence that prohibition is gaining ground. "The most difficult obstacle," he says, "is the lack of co-operation on the part of the general public. Many people opposed to liquor traffic will refuse to assist in giving out information which might lead to arrests. This sympathetic attitude of the pubic makes enforcement hard sometimes— but in my opinion this factor is gradually improving, and in three to five years prohibition will be a reality. The government has seldom attempted to enforce a law and failed," Ketchum concluded.

Lack of adequate funds seems to be the chief drawback to prohibition enforcement according to National Prohibition

Commissioner Haynes who, in a statement issued Tuesday, said that fifty million dollars is needed for liquor enforcement next year but that is approximately five times the amount that will be appropriated by congress, the commissioner says.

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(WCN - 1/12/1922) VINSON BUILDING TO BE OCCUPIED BY COURT JAN. 20

The county officials will occupy temporary offices in the Wayne Motor Company's new garage on or about January 20, according to announcement made Monday.

The carpenters are expected to complete their work this week. A judges bench, and the railings necessary to a court room will be put on the second floor, which will serve as a temporary court room. The seats saved from the Baptist church fire on Thanksgiving day will be used in the court room for a while.

Heating and lighting equipment are yet to be installed.

On the third floor are the office rooms. These are practically complete now. Every county official will be located in the new building.

Heretofore the county superintendent's office has been on the second floor of the Wayne County News building and the county agricultural agents office in a building opposite the old court house. The new arrangement will bring all the officials under the same roof, making it more convenient for officials and the public.

Since the burning of the court house on October 2, the county officers have occupied offices scattered over town with the exception of the county clerk whose office in the vault was not destroyed. When the county court takes over the leased garage the county clerk will probably have a working office in the new building but will keep important records in the vault as usual.

The new building has been built by S. J. Vinson and the county court has leased the second and third floors and will pay rent for the use of these until a new court house can be built. Plans for the building of a new court louse are already well underway, according to information available this week.

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(WCN - 1/19/1922) HOT LUNCHES ARE PROVEN SUCCESS IN ONE LOCAL SCHOOL

Hot lunches are served at the Staley school, Ceredo district, under the direction of the teacher, Doris Copley, this being perhaps the first rural school in the county to serve warm lunches every day.

With the winter days comes the time when the school boy or girl must munch a few cold sandwiches for lunch after eating a hurried breakfast. Then follows the long afternoon which develops a gnawing hunger which is usually satisfied with more cold food as soon as the child gets home. When supper time arrives, the child has little appetite.

Is it any surprise then that there is more malnutrition of the boys and girls of the rural schools than those of the city schools where the children go home for lunch? Some health experts claim that 25 to 76 percent of the boys and girls of the rural schools are underweight.

If the mothers and housewives think it is worthwhile to make hot coffee and hot lunches for the men husking corn in the fields, or for those chopping wood, if the farmers think it is a safe precaution to heat water for the stock, cook feed for the hogs and chickens during the cold days, why isn't it worth while then, to provide a warm lunch for the school child?

Miss Copley answered this question by providing a hot lunch for her pupils. Here's the way she does it:

"The pupils and parents were first interested in the project. With their help it has been a success, in every way.

"The equipment consists of an oil stove, a twelve quart preserving kettle, teakettle, two dishpans, garbage pail, peel knives, two tablespoons, two teaspoons, and two forks. A small bookcase serves as a cupboard to hold the dishes and supplies. This equipment was donated by the patrons of the school. Each child brings his own dishes and they, also, are kept in the cupboard.

"The larger girls are divided into teams, two in each team. Two teams work together. The first week team number one cooks and team number two washes the dishes. The second week they change, team number two doing the cooking. At the end of two weeks two more teams take up the work. The cooking team plans the menu a day ahead and the children bring the necessary supplies.

"Because the most nourishing lunches are desired, milk is used as a basis for most of the lunches. Soups, cocoa, and other boiled foods are also served.

"The girls prepare the food at recess and at noon it is ready to serve. The Parent-Teachers Association has cooperated with the school in every way that could be desired."

This is Miss Copley's first school and she is doing good work. She tackles the cut of the ordinary phases of school work and makes them "go."

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(WCN - 1/25/1922) WAYNE BRICK CO. PLANS EXPANSION FOR COMING YEAR

The Wayne brick plant will be greatly expanded and an output of 15,000 of bricks per day is planned for the coming summer, according to an announcement given this newspaper Wednesday of this week. The present, company will reorganize as a stock company in a short while, backed by men of considerable capital and the goal of production next summer is set at four million bricks.

Operation on a large scale will begin about the first of March, it has been announced by the superintendent of the plant, Tilden Maynard. C. H. Whitescarver of Williamson is general superintendent of the plant. The present company is made up of Mr. Whitescarver, C. D . Martin and Frank Adkins, all of Williamson. In the new organization there will be three additional men whose names have not yet been made public. Being centrally located with good shipping facilities, the promoters of the plant are laying plans for permanent expansion.

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(WCN - 2/2/1922) RELATIVE OF LOCAL MAN KILLED IN THEATRE CRASH

When the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D. C. Collapsed at nine o'clock last Saturday night, killing 107 and injuring about 150 others, NANNIE LEE LAMBERT, a cousin of Attorney J. T. Lambert, of Wayne, was killed. Miss Lambert was living at the home of Mrs. Laura Tyree formerly of this county and a sister of the loyal attorney. She had a position in the government lithographing department which she had held for years. Her rooms were near the Knickerbocker theatre and since the heavy snowdrifts made the streets almost impassable she went into this place where a comedy picture play was being run. While the comedy picture was being shown, and the orchestra was playing a lively strain a sharp crack was suddenly heard. A small cloud of snow blew down over the orchestra. Fissures appeared over the length of the 200 foot roof. Then with a tremendous roar, the roof of the concrete and steel crashed down upon the audience. Plaster, concrete and twisted iron beams trapped several hundred people and crushed lifeless more than one hundred who had, a minute before been laughing at the comedy till their sides ached. Three feet of snow had collected on the roof from the snow storm which had blocked the streets of Washington. This is believed to have been the cause of the disaster. A man who escaped with a few injuries tells this story of what happened in the theatre: "In the midst of the roaring were shrieks of cries of women and children and a few shouts of men. There were cries for help, groans and worst of all, moans of those in terrible pain. I can't describe it. I see it all the time, those poor children and men and women crying and groaning there. "There were only a few of us in the balcony. Luckily there weren't more. The balcony gave way and crashed, soon after the ceiling began to fall, on those on the lower floor. They caught the worst. We in they balcony were more fortunate. "1 guess there was a lapse of twenty seconds before the balcony fell. Funny, but it spun around, kind of twisted as its supports gave way, and it swung down on those below. "I don't know how I got out from where I was crouching under a big chunk of plaster that had fallen on me. I really believe it weighed 500 pounds. I think I moved that plaster with my shoulders.

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(WCN - 2/9/1922) GRADED SCHOOL AT FORT GAY IS BURNED TUESDAY

The Fort Gay graded school was destroyed by fire Tuesday night of this week, according to a telegram received by county officials here Wednesday morning. No details were given in the telegram, which was received just before this paper went to press.

The Fort Gay school building was a six-room structure, two additional rooms having been added only a year or so ago. Insurance of $1,000 was carried on the building and $125 on the fixtures. The policy was carried by Scaggs Brothers Insurance Agency of Wayne. This of course does not attempt to cover the loss.

The Fort Gay school is still in session and is not scheduled to close for more than a month yet. The building was found on fire once last year but the blaze was extinguished after a large hole had been burned in the floor.

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(WCN - 2/16/1922) REMOVAL ISSUES DISCUSSED HERE MONDAY EVENING

An enthusiastic meeting was held in the temporary court house auditorium Monday night by the citizens from different sections of the county who are opposed to the removal of the county seat from Wayne to Kenova. The meeting was called at the suggestion of William B. Spurlock, who is chairman of the Taxpayers' Organization opposed the removal.

Mrs. Armilda Ramey, wife of Jas. Ramey of Grant district and former employee of the Wayne County Bank here, was named chairman of Monday night's session. A big and enthusiastic crowd attended. Speeches opposing the court house removal were made by the following persons:

Rev. S. S. Booth, of Wilsons Creek; L. D. Hobbs, of Upper Beech Fork; Rev. J. C. Simpkins, of Toms Creek; Atty. Jno. S. Marcum, of Huntington and D. B. Hardwick of Wayne. All speakers expressed their confidence that the court house will remain in Wayne and it was the general opinion that Kenova will be defeated in the coming election by a majority two or three times as large as in September.

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(WCN - 2/16/1922) PERRY ACQUITTED OF CONNECTION IN COURT HOUSE FIRE

The regular February term of circuit court convened in Wayne Monday. Judge Bland was brief in his instructions to the grand jury, merely insisting that due diligence be given to the fact that the jury represented the state and as such representatives should thoroughly examine every witness with a view to determining violations of the law.

The case of Wayne County Bank against R. C. Taylor was postponed by agreement.

The case of Clyde Crabtree charged with shooting a man named Vaughn in Kenova last year was tried Tuesday and a verdict of "unlawful wounding" was returned. No sentence has yet been passed, pending the motion for appeal.

Fred Perry, former deputy sheriff charged in connection with the court house fire, was acquitted and found not guilty by a jury late Wednesday afternoon.

The grand jury failed to indict Anderson Dixon, negro who was held over for the grand jury in connection with the court house burning, and his two accusors Julius Muncy and Albert Parsley, were each indicted for purgery as a result of their evidence before the grand jury.

Evidence was submitted in the Westmoreland incorporation case, but judge Bland announced that he would not hand clown a decision in this case until after he had visited Westmoreland and made personal examination of the territory in the proposed incorporation.

Most of the indictments returned by the grand jury this term are for liquor violations. It is expected that the present term of court will come to an end the first or middle of next week.

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(WCN - 2/16/1922) AGED WOMAN PICTURES THE HARDSHIPS OF EARLY DAYS

A visitor at Wayne Court House would perchance notice an aged silver-haired woman going to and from a grocery store, or in summer she might be seen sitting through the hot afternoons in her willow rocker.

There is something about her that causes one to look the second time. One would naturally suppose that here is a woman with an interesting history, one who has seen much of the growth and history of our country at first hand. She has lived almost a century--ninety-three years, to be exact.

Mrs. Amanda Osburn is her name. Throughout her home and neighboring counties she is known as "Aunt Mandy." Her first husband was Col. Joseph Mansfield, whose death came about in a way similar to that of Stonewall Jackson.

"Aunt Mandy" has seen her county, Wayne, formed from Cabell county, and later her state was formed of the western part of Virginia. She has seen the United States in the Mexican war, the Civil War, the Spanish-American war and the World war. She has lived in old Virginia in that aristocratic period before the Civil War. Later she, with her family became an immigrant and came to the "west" where she lived in the wilderness which covered this part of the state. In short, she has seen life from many angles and her keen observation and strong memory make her an authority on the history of the tri-state section. She is something of philosopher, too—but enough of her introduction to you. Hear her story of the tragic death of Col. Mansfield.

"In the spring of '61, Col. Mansfield and I were living in this place then called Trout's Hill, prosperous and happy.

"The war clouds gathered and burst. All was astir in the old town and county. Neighbors suddenly found themselves at war with each other. Family ties were broken.

"My husband received orders to gather troops in Wayne and Cabell counties, and to march them to Barboursville where they were to join other companies being formed in the southern part of the state to support the "Stars and Bars."

"Mansfield soon had a company raised and moved on towards Barboursville. They met some Union men at Skurry's Creek and after a skirmish the Union soldiers fell back.

"Col. Mansfield had to wait for a company of men being raised in Ohio. After waiting for several days my husband decided he would leave his men in camp and ride home one night and see his family—we had four children—before moving on into the south. It was a distance of about twenty-five miles over the hills and he began his ride just about dark.

"He passed several sentries and a mile or two from camp settled down for the long ride thinking he was through the lines.

"When eight or ten miles from camp he was much surprised to see a soldier step out in the road and order him to halt. He thought he was surely out of the southern lines by this time and that this must be a Union man. He spurred up his horse and dashed past the sentry.

"The soldier fired his musket and yelled to his comrade who also shot at him.

"Bending low, Mansfield galloped on. The soldiers mounted and gave chase. About a mile farther they came to a riderless horse standing in the road. My husband was lying there on the ground, shot through the chest and bleeding to death. The men, one of them from the old home town here, saw at once that they had killed their commander, in the darkness neither had recognized the other.

"They carried him back to camp. Mansfield told them to turn the horse loose and Iet him come home. Mansfield died in a short while."

"Aunt Mandy" knows what it means to feed an invading army. Shortly after Col. Mansfield death a small body of troops from Indiana came to Wayne, she said:

"These men came trooping in and ordered me to cook for them. I had no choice but to obey. I didn't mind feeding them for never in my life have I sent anyone away hungry.

"Twice each year my husband always went to Cincinnati and bought a load of supplies and clothes which could not be had closer. I knew when this store ran out there would he no other so I hid the whole lot. These soldiers found them, but to this day I have never been able to figure out how they did it. They took everything.

"A friend sent me a dressed hog a few days before the troops came. I hid that also but they found it and ate it. I got one mess of the ribs from the hog. I tell you this to show how hard it was to keep anything to eat during the war.

"When the soldiers left Wayne they drove a big wagon up to my front door and took everything of value they could lay their hands on. They took my husband's law library which was worth about a thousand dollars. They piled the books in the wagon bed like bricks. There was just enough room for the driver to sit on.

Eighty-nine years ago when Aunt Mandy was a little girl her father left Chesterfield county Virginia to travel overland by wagon to Missouri. After traveling for six weeks they reached a point on the Ohio river near the mouth of Big Sandy. Here they were told that rich farming lands could be bought cheaply on Lick Creek (now Wayne county). The journey to Missouri was abandoned. Her father, John Smith, took the family to Lick Creek where he bought a farm for fifty cents an acre.

She has lived in Logan, Cabell, Boone, and Wayne counties. She moved twenty four times before she was twenty-one years old.

Her father's home used to be the headquarters of the old time trappers, who were more than welcome for the yearns they always told around the fire side. They always brought news of the other settlements with them. And they always left the carcass of a bear or deer, taking the skin with them. The family's meat supply was kept up in this way during the hunting season.

"Aunt Mandy" recalls that panthers and wolves could be heard howling around her pioneer home at nights. Wild turkeys filled the woods and could be heard almost every day gobbling and calling to each other.

Back in the forties the closest store to those living on Lick Creek was at Barboursville. The trip was made on horseback over narrow paths through the woods.

Mrs. Osburn remarks that the rough pioneer days produced strong and sturdy men and women.

"Hot house posies of the human kind were unknown then" she says, "Our forefathers saw to it that we children were not idle too much and we all grew up with strong bodies and a lot of discipline."

Mrs. Osburn takes an active interest in all public affairs. In the campaign of 1920, the first in which women enjoyed the privilege of voting, she opened the fight with a speech in the court house in support of the democratic party. She is heartily opposed to the removal of the court house to Kenova.

She is a remarkable woman, and her life has been spiced with plenty of variety.—Huntington Advertiser.

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(WCN - 3/2/1922) FOES OF REMOVAL ARE NOW LOCATED IN HEADQUARTERS

The Taxpayers Organization, opposing the removal of the court house from Wayne to Kenova, opened headquarters at the county seat Monday of this week. Headquarters are located in the office rooms located between Ramey's Jewelry store and the Wayne Hardware & Furniture Company, and were formerly occupied as the office of the county agricultural agent.

W. B. Spurlock, chairman of the Organization opposing the county seat removal, will be in charge of Headquarters. He has extended a cordial invitation to the general public to visit Headquarters when in town. All of those seeking intelligent facts and information relative to the removal issue are urged to avail themselves of the opportunity of using these offices, Mr. Spurlock says.

Citizens throughout the county opposed to the court house removal are requested to keep in touch with the Taxpayers Organization. The seven weeks between now and the date of the election, April 25th, will be a busy season for both those in favor of relocation and those opposed since the campaign is regarded as a "fight to a finish" and every possible argument will be brought to bear by the respective forces.

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(WCN - 3/2/1922) THE REMOVAL QUESTION - EDITORIAL DISCUSSION - WHY KENOVA?

"How would Fort Gay do for the County Seat? This question is raised by The "Big Sandy News," published in Louisa, Kentucky, in its issue of last week. The Louisa paper continues: "We have been wondering why Fort Gay doesn't get into the fight for the court house site. The moving fever seems to be raging in Wayne county and there is no good reason why Fort Gay should keep out of the scramble."

The suggestion from the Kentucky paper is worth more than a passing consideration by those interested in Wayne County's future. For, after all, is there not as much reason for removing county seat to Fort Gay as to Kenova? Could not Dunlow, East Lynn or Westmoreland advance as many arguments in their behalf as Kenova has set forth in this campaign.

Kenova wants to grow. And Kenova ought to grow. But Kenova has made the mistake of becoming too much engrossed in her own welfare and prosperity, forgetting the 24,000 Wayne countians that do not happen to own property within the corporate limits of that town.

Many citizens throughout the county who openly favored the removal in the first campaign last summer have now come to a realization of the fact that there are certain reasons behind Kenova's boasted philanthropy toward Wayne county.

Yes, the "Big Sandy News" raises a very pertinent question. Why should Kenova assume that she has any more right to being the county seat than Fort Gay—or any other town in the county? People are thinking very seriously along these lines just now.

DECENCY'S REVOLT

If the publicity managers of the removalists keep up their present pace and continue in their indulgence in mud-slinging attacks against everyone opposed to the removal, Kenova will be defeated by the most memorable landslide that ever occurred in our fair county.

The human stomach can be fed with poisons for a certain length of time without any apparent bad results. But when the limit is reached Nature revolts and vomits up the impurities. So it is with the human mind. The average man or woman will countenance a certain amount of propaganda without any apparent protest. But when the propagandists dive to certain depths in search for filth with which to plaster their claims, common decency can be relied upon to assert herself.

Many honest clean-thinking removalists are already expressing their disgust at the depths to which the propoganda-seekers have dived even at this early in the campaign.

This newspaper has no desire to besmirch the good name of the town of Kenova; nor have we any desire to attack the good names of any of the citizens who happen to be identified with the removal movement. If the opposition wants to pursue this policy, we extend to them the privileges of enjoying an open field. For it shall be our aim to simply adhere to sane and sensible reasoning which we think may have some appeal to the average honest and unselfish man or woman.

THE "ARMORED TANK"

In a published article laid before the people during the past week an enthusiastic removalist advises the voters of the fact that the removalist leaders have graduated from the days of ordinary "steam rolling" and that they are going into the campaign with "the big armored tank." He evidently thinks that the "big armored tank" will be an effective weapon which can be used in trampling voters into submission. Personally, we doubt his argument.

Our voters are not asleep to the fact that the business, social and religious life of our county has been torn up by the maneuvers of this "big armored tank" during the past twelve months. Consequently the voting populace is not feeling very friendly toward this big political machine, "the big armored tank."

The people of our county are in no humor to be "steam rolled" by Kenova'a "big armored tank." This "tank" is held responsible for much destruction during the past year. It has become known that the tank is commandeered by men who have selfish interests to serve.

Many people were fooled by the tank's maneuvers last campaign. But this time "many" will be changed to "few" on April 25^th.

"Stay in the 'big armored tank' for we will divide the spoils among the faithful" is the command that has been handed down the line.

A few will remain to the end in anticipation of their share of the "spoils." But the rank and file of the citizenry has banded themselves together and declared war on this monster "tank" which has already so well demonstrated its ability to destroy prosperity and peace.

April 25th is the date that has been set for the final engagement. We have implicit faith in the integrity of the people of Wayne county. The "big armored tank's" fate is assured.

REMOVALIST LEADERSHIP

A great statesman once said that he could determine the righteousness of an army's cause by knowing the character of its generals.

For the information of our readers we submit a brief analysis of the leadership of the removalist army organized for the purpose of removing the county seat to Kenova. We believe that even these leaders will admit that we are fair in our conclusions.

Fundamentally there are about five classes of agressive leaders who are giving their best efforts in the campaign to remove the county seat:

FIRST, There are those who live in or near Kenova and who own property whose value they calculate would be enhanced by the county seat’s removal. This class includes, also, certain business interests with personal ambitions to achieve.

SECOND, There are those who have recently "acquired" property, lots or other business interests in Kenova—persons who feel that the removal would add dollars directly to their own pockets. Many of these do not live in or near Kenova; some of them do not even live in Wayne county. This class might also embrace those who plan to move to Kenova or plan to engage in business there.

THIRD. There are those who favor removal because of some personal prejudice or grudge which they hold either against the town of Wayne or some county official. These would sacrifice the welfare of the whole county in order to "get revenge". These would ignore the "beam" in their search for the "mote."

FOURTH, There are those who have been promised "political plums" in return for their services in behalf of the removal. These are more numerous than one would at first suspect; for it is known that the generals have on hand an abundant supply of "promises". They are handed out whenever the occasion demands. These "promises" are of different breeds, stripes and colors; they come wrapped in innocent-looking packages. The promise of a clean administration might appeal to one man, while the hint of more laxity in law enforcement might have more effect with another! The dispensing of promises is a very important role. It is left up to those well versed in this art. So it is those enticed by political "plums" and "promises" that make up the fourth division of this analysis.

FIFTH, There are a few who seems to be endowed with the innate faculty of always being on the opposite side of every public question from their friends and neighbors. These might be designated as the "contrary" ones. But their number is not very numerous, nor their influence very far-reaching. So we'll pass them up with this brief mention.

No, friends, the above classification does not include all of the people who favor removal. The fact is the most populous division is yet to be mentioned. But the above five classifications does pretty accurately include all of the foremost Leaders and Enthusiasts of the Removal forces.

FINALLY, There are a number of good citizens, conscientious and high-minded men and women, who have been influenced by Leaders from one of the five divisions suggested. There are those whose relatives are in the five divisions suggested. There are those who have been fooled into believing the Uptopian prophecies that have been made by the removalists. There are those who at first swallowed all of the insinuous "argument" put forth by the Kenovians without ever investigating for themselves the truth and purity of its content. There are (or were) men and women who based their opinions upon the advise of some person who sought the removal for personal gain.

Not all of the people who favor the removal of the county seat are serving selfish aims. Many of our most upright and loyal citizens voted for the removal in September. They were honest and conscientious in their convictions. But, in our honest opinion, their convictions were founded upon their listening to false prophets. Some did not take the trouble to investigate the untruths that were circulated. Others could not conceive of the thought that a wolfe would adorn himself in sheep's clothing!

Hundreds and hundreds of men and women who voted for the removal before will proudly cast their ballots against re-location on April 25th. Evidence of this awakening is coming from all over the county. A very conservative and fair-minded man who lives in Kenova predicts that there will be three times as many votes against removal in the town of Kenova itself this time as there were in September! There is a notable change of sentiment in a number of important precincts. The Removalists are losing ground. They cannot hope to poll the vote they did in September.

Not for the city of Kenova nor for the whole of Wayne county would this newspaper advocate a cause which we honestly believed to be in opposition to the development and future prosperity of this county. The influence of this journal is not sold to either faction in the county seat removal campaign. We commend sincerity and honesty of purpose and condemn fackery and untrue propoganda, regardless of from where it originates. We hope to be of service to our readers in presenting for their consideration open facts and arguments. We shall not be dogmatic in our own views, but accord to any man or woman the privilege of differing with our policies whenever they believe us to be in error. And it is in this spirit that we offer you the classification given in this article.

We hope it will be of real assistance to you in determining just WHY certain men have declared themselves in favor of the county seat removal.

In other words, laying aside selfish considerations the removal organization would dwindle to zero. Do not accept our conclusions unless your better self advises yeti that we are right. We do not believe there is a single sound reason why the county seat should be removed to Kenova. Our reasons for this belief will be given from time to time. But we strongly recommend that every voter determine his or her stand from the standpoint of what he or she believes to be Just, Honorable and Right. Ask proof for assertions

that are made by ether side. Bear in mind the patriotic allegiance you owe to our dear old county, its traditions and its future. And, in our opinion, when all of this is done by each individual voter the removalists will have been defeated by the molt one-sided score ever registered in any Wayne county election.

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(WCN - 5/4/1922) WAYNE COUNTY AGAIN SCORES AS BEING THE HOME OF THE UNUSUAL BY PRODUCING A BLOOMLESS APPLE

Wayne county has long been famed for unusual happenings and unusual things. And now the county scores again on this point. This county is the home of a variety of seedless apples. Furthermore the tree on which the seedless apple grows never blooms! Sounds like a fairy story. Well it isn't! This extraordinary apple tree is located on the farm of Chapman Salmons on Missouri Branch in Lincoln district. The tree has been bearing for 20 consecutive years. The bud has no petals and no odor. Little apples just push their way out of the bud without ever blooming. County Agent Click advises us that only a half dozen seeds have been found in the apples from this tree during the twenty years it has been in existence. The apple is of medium size good flavor and it keeps well throughout the winter months. Salmons has sold the propagation rights of this tree to the Gold Nursery Company, of Point Pleasant, W. Va. County Agent W. D. Click urges farmers to take good care of healthy, promising apple trees of the seedling (or wild) variety that they may find on their land. He points out that all of the best known apples were first discovered as seedlings, including the Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, etc. Oftentimes an apple tree that "just happens to come up" proves to be more valuable than the whole farm on which it grows.

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(WCN - 5/11/1922) CAPT. FERGUSON SOLD FARM FOR RACE TRACK, BUT DIDN'T KNOW IT

Captain J. M. Ferguson, who celebrated his eighty-eighth birthday by selling the farm home near Ashland, where he has lived for 40 years, has precipitated a storm that bids fair to tear up the entire city--and all unknowingly.

Captain Ferguson is a native of Wayne County and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances here. As a Civil War veteran he has been prominent at many confederate reunions which have been held in this county. He is a brother of the late C. W. Ferguson, known throughout the county as "Uncle Charley."

All his life Captain Ferguson has been opposed to gambling. Yet, when a big real estate man came to him with an offer of $100,000 for his farm and 300 acres, which nestles in the hills of northeastern Kentucky, and now in the corporate limits of Ashland, the old soldier snapped it up.

The secret is this: The real estate man is said to have told the captain that he intended to cut the land up into lots and sell them to accommodate the rapid growth of the town.

Captain Ferguson has been a life-long Methodist and opposed to gambling in any nature--and the Puritanic town of Ashland is now "sitting up to take notice," as the word has gone out that this beautiful farm is to be converted into a race track that will not be second to Churchill Downs at Louisville, Latonia or the Lexington track. The city is stirred from center to circumference, and the ministers in all churches preached last Sunday on the subject, "Shall Ashland Surrender to Race Track Gamblers?".

But it seems the die is cast, for there is nothing that can be done, so far as anyone has been able to discover.

In the meantime, those followers of racing who are jubilant at the prospect are enumerating the cities from which they expect to draw great crowds. They point out that in five minutes, an Ashlander can set foot in three states--West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. They plan to draw crowds from Ashland with its 25,000 inhabitants; from Ironton, whose 15,000 residents live just across the river from West Ashland; from Portsmouth, 30 miles down the river, a city of 50,000; from Huntington and its 50,000; from Wayne county and Charleston, from Point Pleasant, from Parkersburg and from many others situated in the three states.

While all this is being planned by the big horsemen of Kentucky, Captain Ferguson is sitting quietly at home, thinking of the past and explaining how he made his $100,000.

Captain Ferguson was born in Wayne County, West Virginia, and he takes great pride in telling how he made his first money. His first 10 cents was made by gathering a quart of turnip seeds. He had no land to cultivate, so he was given permission by an old farmer to cultivate the corner made by a "stake and rider" fence. Here he planted Irish potatoes, and when they matured he sold them for a dollar. Then he dug 32 pounds of ginseng for which he was paid $4. All this time his mother was his banker. He had about $6 now, and he bought two calves and sold them for $8 and bought a heifer. When the heifer had grown into a cow, he sold her for $12.

Later he found himself the possessor of about $16, and he found a piece of land containing about 120 acres. He borrowed sufficient money from his mother to make up the deficit and bought the land.

When he was 15 years old, he had more than enough money to go to school, and he entered a little academy at Ashland, known as Conductive seminary, where he studied about three months, his earlier education being in the hands of his mother.

At 19 he married to Miss Susan Cannon. They bought a few acres of land and went into housekeeping at the forks of Twelve Pole in West Virginia, and from there, in the spring of 1857, they moved to Lewis County, Kentucky. They moved to Ashland in 1873, buying the farm on which he has lived all these years for $16,000, which he paid in trade and cash.

His first wife dying some years ago, he married a Mrs. Dickenson of old Virginia. His only surviving children are two daughters, Mrs. ? N. Pollock of Ashland and Mrs. Charles Smith of California.

Captain Ferguson is possibly one of the best known men in Kentucky and West Virginia, as he has attended all Methodist conferences for years. He served in the Civil War on the Confederate side.

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(WCN - 5/11/1922) MONUMENT TO BE BUILT IN MEMORY OF DEAD HEROES

In accordance with a law enacted by the last legislature providing for the erection of suitable memorials for men who gave their lives in the World War, a monument has been ordered to commemorate the memory of Wayne County boys who made the supreme sacrifice while in service.

The monument for Wayne County soldiers will be placed on the courthouse square in Wayne.

The costs of approximately $12,000 is covered by the special levy provided by the legislature.

Rev. W. H. Beale of Wayne is in charge of the erection of the Wayne County monument and announces that he hopes the memorial will be ready for unveiling by July 4th. It is planned that the program for the dedication will include addresses by prominent men in addition to the impressive ceremony which will attend the unveiling.

The name of every Wayne County soldier, sailor, or marine who died while in service during the World War will be inscribed on the monument. So far Rev. Beale has received the named of twenty-nine men who died in service. He believes there are others from Wayne County whose names have not been reported to him. We are publishing herewith a list of the names received so far. If any reader of Wayne County News knows the name of any Wayne County man who died in service whose name is not included in this list, kindly forward the information at once either to this newspaper or to Rev. Beale at Wayne. Our readers are earnestly requested to co-operate with us in order that not a single name may be lacking when the Wayne County Memorial is unveiled. The work of placing the names of the men on the monument will be begun in a few days, which makes it necessary that the information requested be sent in at the earliest possible date. The names of the men received to date who died in World War service are as follows:

Harry Adkins, Fort Gay

Lindsey Adkins, Wayne

Van Bradshaw, Wayne

William Crum, Jr., Crum

William H. Damron, Dunlow

Roy Davis, Lavalette

Emery Dean, Fort Gay

Scott Hamm, Fort Gay

Lee Hooser, Fort Gay

Charlie Johnson, Kenova

Mason H. Keister, Fort Gay

Clyde L. Lester, Fort Gay

Roscoe Lynch, Kenova

Ransom Marcum, Crum

Patrick Milum, Genoa

Thomas Muncy, Ceredo

William S. Napier, East Lynn

William H. Payne, Ceredo

Claude W. Pogue, Ceredo

Merton M. Postle, Ceredo

Wayne Sellards, East Lynn

Thomas P. Smith, Quaker

Charlie A. Stone, Ceredo

Minville Thompson, Fort Gay

Smiley Wellman, Ceredo

Andrew J. Wellman, East Lynn

Kelly Williamson, Dunlow

Otto Jackson, Wayne

Allen Tabor, East Lynn

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(WCN - 5/18/1922) BUFFALO GRADUATION

The Buffalo District High School of this county has secured Judge Harold Ritz of the West Virginia Supreme court to deliver the annual m. next Sunday by Dean L. Bond, held at 10:30 a. m. Monday, May 21st.

The annual sermon to the graduating class will be delivered at 2:30 p. m. next Sunday by Dean L. Boyd, who recently came from Kingsport, Tennessee to assume the pastorate of the Vinson Memorial Church at Westmoreland.

Buffalo High School is one of the most progressive institutions to be found in any rural district of the state. New equipment has recently been added and a new gymnasium built. It is announced by Mrs. Donald Clark, president of the Ceredo District Board of Education plans are now underway for meeting the requirements to convert the Buffalo high school into first rank standing, thus making it possible for students to complete their four years of first class high school work there.

There are thirteen graduates at the Buffalo school this year, whose names are as follows: Madge Staley, Irene Wilkinson, Matilda Scheibelhood, Estelle Harmon, Rosa Harmon, Ruth Plymale, Nettie Merrick, Hazel Chadwick, Willie Perdue, Robert Drown, Guy Mosser, Lawrence Walker and Downing McQuinn.

Preliminary to the commencement exercises the Sophomore Class gave a play on Tuesday evening of this week entitled "Clubbing A Husband." The following students represented characters in the play: Pearl Myrtle, Pearl Chadwick, Crete Pyles, Mabel Nixon, Pauline Plymale, Bertie Hale, Golda Mayo, Maud Plymale, Hope Plymale, Viola Haynie, Blanche Merricks, and Opal Carey.

On Friday evening of this week the members of the senior class will give the play, "My Irish Rose."

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(WCN - 6/8/1922) NEW VINSON MEMORIAL CHURCH IS DEDICATED

Heavy rains and the consequently muddy roads did not prevent scores of people from various sections of Wayne County from attending the dedication of the Vinson Memorial Christian Church in Westmoreland last Sunday.

Possibly not in the history of the county has a church building been more appropriately dedicated to the worship of God than the Vinson Memorial building in Westmoreland. Erected in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel S. Vinson and their two children, Josephine Bromley Vinson and Lynn Boyd Vinson, the Memorial church possessed a very fitting setting for the unusual services which marked its dedication.

Hundreds of people from Wayne county, friends of the Vinson family, assembled in the beautifully furnished auditorium of the new building at eleven o'clock Sunday morning and heard the dedicatory sermon which was preached by Dr. Roger H. Fife, of Indiana.

The new building has been carefully planned to meet the needs of a growing community. The first floor has been arranged to accommodate the Sunday School and various church societies, while the main auditorium on the second floor is given over to church worship.

Following the eleven o'clock service Sunday, luncheon was served to the guests on the spacious lawn of the Vinson homestead, which is just opposite the new church.

The afternoon service was addressed by W. H. Scheffer, Dr. Thomas Martin and J. W. Yoho, pastors of the three Christian churches in Huntington. Services were also held at 8:00 p. m. which were in charge of Rev. Jno. L. Vinson and Dr. Fife.

The formal dedication vows and petitions were conducted by Dean L. Bond, the pastor of the now church, at the afternoon services and were read as follows by the minister and the congregation:

Minister—"Unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, to whom be honor and glory, we now reverently dedicate this house."

Congregation---"And we humbly pray that Thy blessing may rest on it and us, that Thy name may be magnified and we may be consecrated anew to Thy service.

Minister—Here may the word of God be preached that souls may find Christ the all sufficient Savior.

Congregation response—And may the Gospel be so preached that the weary prodigal may return and find rest and forgiveness in the home of the Everlasting Father.

Minister—May the Divine ordinances be observed so faithfully in this house that the truth they symbolize may be stamped upon the hearts of all who come here to bow in adoration to the God Eternal.

Congregation response—Here may we learn to sing with melody in our hearts to God, the Creator and Redeemer of us all.

Minister—In this house may we learn to think and do things that are honorable and pure, and of good report.

Congregation—And may we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, may we put on love which is the bond of perfectness, and be zealous in the work of faith, constant in our labor of love and expectant in our patience of hope, looking for the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in glory.

All together—Thou are worthy, Oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for Thou hsst created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Amen.

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Wayne county has produced few men who have left their personalities more deeply impressed on those who followed after them than Samuel Sperry Vinson, familiarly known to everyone as "Uncle Sam" Vinson. UNCLE SAM VINSON died in 1904 at the age of 71 years. He was a veteran of the Confederate army and after the Civil War became prominent in political circles throughout the Southern part of the State. Possibly no tribute has been paid that more nearly represents the character of this honored pioneer in Wayne county than that "he was never known to turn his back on friend or foe." Uncle Sam Vinson was prominent in civic, business, political and religious affairs. His leadership ability stamped him as a man among men. His memory is held in respectful regard by everyone who appreciates the part that he played in "blazing the trail" in Wayne county, thus making it possible for this commonwealth to assume a place of equal recognition alongside other counties of the State.

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The fact that MARY DAMRON VINSON was known by thousands of friends who never spoke of her as Mrs. Vinson but as "Aunt Polly" is suggestive of the love and respect in which she was held by her acquaintances. "Aunt Polly" Vinson died at her home in Westmoreland only last July. She had reached the age of 85 years. Her death was the passing of a woman of unusual intellect, of a charitable and kind disposition; she was a devout Christian whose daily walks were sufficient evidence of her abiding religious faith. She will long be held affectionately in the memory of the hosts who knew her.

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PASTOR OF NEW CHURCH

Dean L. Bond was recently called to accept the first pastorate of the new Vinson Memorial Christian church. The new pastor came to Westmoreland from Kingsport, Tennessee. In the short time that he has been a resident of Wayne county he has made many friends who hold him in high esteem as a minister and as a public spirited citizen.

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(WCN - 6/8/1922) COMMITTEE TOLD TO BEGIN COURT HOUSE BUILDING

The committee in charge of the building of the new court house at Wayne will in a few days begin the work of removing the debris from the fire in preparation for the foundation of the new building.

An order was entered by the county court in session here Monday authorizing the building committee to proceed with the work of providing the county with a new county seat building.

Some funds are available at present from the General County funds for this work and other money will become available as soon as the August levy is laid. The contract for the new court house building will be advertised to contract shortly after the levying period in order that the contract may be underway this fall.

At present the Vinson garage building is serving the needs of the county offices efficiently, having been arranged to accommodate the public with the least disadvantage until a new building can be erected.

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(WCN - 6/15/1922) HEWLETT CHAPEL ON HURRICANE CREEK DESTROYED BY FLOOD

What appeared to be a near cloud burst, almost or completely demolishing dwellings, churches, stores and shops, occurred on Big Hurricane and Trace Creeks Thursday of last week (6/8/1922).

The flood seems to have broken loose near the headwaters of the two streams east of Fort Gay, and moving in two directions with a terrible force, wrought havoc to everything with which it came in contact.

The wall of water was about four feet high came near catching L. E. Thompson and his small son, only the alertness of Mr. Thompson saved himself and the small boy. But the flood carried away a blacksmith shop and one hundred and fifty dollars worth of tools belonging to Thompson.

Churches Demolished

Hewlett Chapel M. E. Church near the head of Hurricane was torn from its foundation, and completely destroyed and the Spruce Lick Baptist Church was also turned from its foundation, but did not suffer such damage as the Hewlett Chapel.

Many gardens and small crops on the low lands were entirely washed away. The store of Pearl Toney on Hurricane was done considerable damage and a barn belonging to Lindsey Thompson had one end torn away.

On the Trace side of the divide, great damage to crops was also suffered. It is said that the water stood about four feet in the dwelling of Wiley Queen near Echo; W. Va.

Citizens of this section estimate the total damage at several hundred dollars, it being impossible to make an accurate tabulation of the damage.

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(WCN - 6/29/1922) GROUNDS BROKEN FOR NEW CHURCH ON SITE OF OLD

Ground was broken for the building of the new Baptist church in Wayne on Monday afternoon of this week. It will be recalled that the old church building was destroyed by fire seven months ago.

The breaking of the ground for the new building Monday was attended by an appropriate ceremony. Following the singing of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", prayer was offered by Rev. W. H. Beale, pastor of the local Methodist church. A scripture lesson was read and then those assembled were led in prayer by Rev. A. W. Damron, pastor of the Baptist church here. The work of excavating for the foundation was then begun by the men present. The new building will be located on the same site where the old church was burned last November. The former church had been built in 1886 and Chas. E. Walker was the only person present Monday who was a member of the local congregation at the time the first building was erected.

The new church building will be a commodious brick structure, the plans of which have been prepared by P.T. Smith, an architect of Huntington. The plans include modernly arranged Sunday Srhool class rooms for the first floor. A basement will also be constructed to take care of the overflow of crowds at large meetings and convention sessions. The various Sunday school classes will be provided with separate compartments, in keeping with the late church buildings.

Several months ago a campaign was inaugurated for the purpose of raising funds for the new building but so far there has been forthcoming only sufficient money to insure the successful starting of the building. The finance committee announces that the campaign will be continued and extends the invitation to the general public to contribute toward the new church home. The local Baptist church congregation will continue to hold services on the first floor of the Vinson building until the church is completed.

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(WCN - 7/6/1922) FIRST ROADS OF COUNTY MADE BY BUFFALO TRAILS

BY J. ROY FULLER

(Written for Wayne County News)

Centuries ego the buffalo and deer were the road builders of this country. Winding through the forests from feeding place to spring or river they always chose the best route. They avoided steep grades, and wound around the hills. The Indians in going from valley to valley followed the paths made by the animals. Thus the "Trails" grew.

With the coming of the white man the bison and the Redskins were pushed westward. The trails were now trodden by the founders of the commonwealth, the winners of the west.

The population grew, Ox-carts and sleds became plentiful. Packhorses were everywhere. Then the trail reached the dignity of "haul-roads," a term which is self-explanatory.

Another lapse of time passes, and a few of the most aggressive traders and farmers have wagons and buggies. The roads must be raised a great deal higher, in point of grade and construction, for "our county and state is coming right along—and the roads mustn't hold her back," quoth the more public spirited citizens. So a better sort of dirt road was made, a network being extended over this and the other counties of the state some two or three generations ago.

These road builders, however, hold good grade in as little regard as the bison did a straight line. They charged a steep hill point-blank, and in many cases wavered neither to the left nor the right until the summit was reached. Many of these early roads, long since abandoned, can be traced through Wayne county.

Civilization was making rapid strides, the road construction goes hand in hand with civilization. The wealth of the state, mineral and farm lands, was developed. The people progressed in education, the automobile was produced, and with the introduction of the automobile the best road possible is none too good for the rural districts, no matter how isolated.

For several years West Virginia has been building good roads, and is rapidly bringing them to a point worthy of her standing in the Union.

Improvements In The County

Wayne county is receiving inestimable benefits from this great rood building program of the state, in addition to her own efforts towards building up the road system.

The state highway through the county will put the farmer of central or upper Wayne county within an hour or two hours drive of city markets. He will receive higher prices for his produce, and new marketing possibilities will be opened for him. By truck the county merchant can carry his merchandise quickly and conveniently.

Men who have interests some distance from their homes will be brought in constant touch with their work by means of the year-round roads.

With the improvement of the road system the schools will grow. The one-room schools will follow the trails and haul-roads, will become material for fire-side tales. The consolidated schools will grow as the modern roads grow, and both will eventually cover the county.

One of the big projects now under way in the inter-county program, is the building of the Charleston-Logan trail. As in most cases, this road has some interesting associations a the pioneer days. For instance:

Daniel Boone, for whom Boone county is named, hunted and surveyed over the Logan trail. Engineers belonging to George Washington's surveying parties ran patent boundaries along its trace. Many spots can yet be identified as the camping grounds for these early adventurers.

But a decade later, the beginning of construction of railways up Guyan valley and the Coal river gave life in Boone and Logan counties a new impetus. The demand for a passable vehicle road into the mountains steadily increased. Five years ago the project took actual form. Today its completion is a matter of another constructing season.

This road will pass through the hearts of Boone and Logan counties. Tributary to Tributary roads will tap the edges of Lincoln, Raleigh, Wyoming and Mingo counties. All of this territory is rich beyond knowledge with coal, timber, oil and natural gas. In Logan county alone there are 45,000 people and capital invested to the amount of more than $30,000,000, The other counties are in proportion with population and wealth.

As the road stands now it is completed at both ends and for a stretch in the middle. But until it is linked together the road will be of service to no one. However, the road has such a start that another summer will see it completed.

Tug River Highway

The proposed Tug river highway, connecting Cabell county, Wayne, Mingo, McDowell and Mercer counties will be another road of historic significance. And, also, much of the Tug River road will be built over the old trails which were first traveled by buffaloes.

In point of years it has not been so long ago that buffaloes built the only roads in West Virginia; but in point of development and progress we are today a long way from the crude beginnings of our first highway system. And the future holds even greater things in store—since advancement will be much faster in the next few years than in the past.

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(WCN - 7/6/1922) 71 YEARS OLD, HAS BEEN PRACTICING LAW FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS; STILL A REGULAR VISITOR AT WAYNE BAR.

JUDGE JOHN S. MARCUM

To have attained the age of three score and ten and yet have preserved the vigor of youth is a goal that is seldom reached by any man. But this statement can be truthfully be said of Judge John St. Clair Marcum, veteran attorney who is always a prominent figure in Wayne county circuit courts.

The name of "John S. Marcum" is known in practically every household in Wayne county; he has at one time or another been the legal representative of a good percent of our population. His reputation as a criminal lawyer is by no means confined to this county, since he is regarded throughout the State as an eminently successful attorney. His services in the Matewan trials at Williamson last year attracted even more than State-wide attention. Judge Marcum is a native Wayne countian, having been born and reared here. Some years ago he moved to Huntington where he now resides, but he still has an active interest in Wayne county affairs. He is 71 years of age, having been born in 1851; he was ten years old at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was admitted to the bar in 1875 and has practiced in the Southern West Virginia courts for 47 years. In the '80's he was twice elected prosecuting attorney of Wayne county. During his extended career Judge Marcum never had a client sentenced to death, which is regarded as an unequaled record in the annals of law in West Virginia since Marcum has spent practcally his entire life in the practice of criminal law. Judge Marcum has been practicing law longer than any other attorney at the Wayne bar and is always in attendance at the local courts.

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(WCN - 7/13/1922) Wayne Man Breaks Coal Records In Logan Field

Jerry Dunn, a former citizen of Butler district this county, broke all records for loading coal in the Logan field last week when he shoveled 1,457 tons for the Standard Island Creek Coal Company in the short period of two weeks.

Dunn's extraordinary coal loading feat came about as a result of a contest put on by the coal operators in the Logan field. His nearest competitor fell 69 tons short of the record made by the former Wayne countian.

Coal loaders in the Logan field are paid 71 cents a mine car. Dunn loaded 469 mine cars in the two weeks which gave him a pay check amounting to $332.99. This is at the rate of $665.08 a month, or $7,991.76 a year—a salary which compares favorably with that of the chief executives in the offices of numerous coal companies in Logan.

In addition to his pay check Dunn received a bonus check for his record and was also the recipient of several dollars in prizes and wagers.

Dunn is a native of Butler district, but he has also lived on Newcomb Creek in Stonewall district. He was at one time employed in the East Lynn coal field of this county. Following his record contest, he returned for a brief visit with relatives here.

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(WCN - 7/20/1922) IMPORTANT ROAD TO BE FINISHED WITHIN 6 WEEKS

Material is being assembled this week for the completion of the unfinished portion of the Stringer, Lockwood & Stringer contract on the Wayne-Fort Gay road. The original contract was defaulted and the completion of the work has been taken over by Wayne Construction Company who plan to start the grade and shovel work next week. It will require some six or eight weeks to complete the job, according to county engineer H. O. Wiles. The heavy grade work has already been done by the original contractors, but there are approximately three miles to work over.

The unfinished part of this road makes necessary a winding detour from the Alfred Ferguson farm to Echo. The completion of the road will give a direct class "A" grade from Fort Gay via Wayne into Huntington.

Smith Bridge Work

Work is being carried on for the early completion of Smith bridge across Twelve Pole near the Mouth of Wolfe. It is planned to open the bridge to travel by August 1st to 10th. The completion of this link of road will eliminate the present detour on the Wayne-Huntington road and give a direct route into fourteenth street West Huntington via Haynies Branch and Harveytown.

Camp Creek Surfacing

About two miles of the road from the mouth of Camp Creek toward Huntington has been hard surfaced. The cement on this road must "set" twenty-one days before it is opened to traffic. With the completion of this road to Hodges the sixteenth street road via Mt. Union will also be available to traffic between Huntington and Wayne County.

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(WCN - 7/20/1922) Wayne County Woman Is 71 Years Old And Has Taught For Half A Century

Arabella Copley, of Fort Gay, Route 2, has been a teacher in Wayne county schools for half a century. And despite the fact that she is now 71 years of age, Miss Copley is still an enthusiastic worker. She taught a successful term last year. In view of these unusual facts, the editor of this paper wrote Miss Copley a letter last week requesting her to write an article for the Institute issue of Wayne County News. She very graciously agreed and below we are glad to publish her unusually interesting contribution,—Editor's Note

BY ARABELLA COPLEY

I am seventy-one years old and have taught school 50 years. I never went to school but very little after I was ten years old. I went one term to Mr. Frank Chapman and part of a term to Prof. McClure. They were both splendid teachers. My parents were anxious to give their children an education but the Civil war came up and interfered with the schools, then my mother died and I had the care of the family. Most of my studying has been done at home. The greatest desire of my life was to get a good education, but I failed—not through any fault of my own. All these years I have felt the need of better training. I often think how much more good I could have done had I been better prepared.

I was sixteen years old when I taught my first school at the mouth of Dragg, fifty-five years ago in a large, old, log Methodist church. Instead of comfortable seats and desks that the pupils have now, we had rough hewn logs resting on rocks against the walls, to sit on. We had no black boards, pencils or tablets, and very few books. A few children had slates; and among the older teachers, woe be on the child caught making pictures on the slates!

I called the pupils in by rapping on the outside of the door with a switch. I had no certificate and only a verbal contract with the trustees. In a few weeks the County Superintendent visited my school, walked up in the pulpit and sat down by me, picked up an old elementary spelling book, asked me a few questions, gave me some good advice, then wrote out a second grade certificate and gave me. We only had a term of four months and would probably not get all of our meager salary in a year. All of the schools I think in those days were taught in churches.

One cold, rainy day, old Bobby Hagar, Methodist preacher came in to fill his appointment. He preached to us and when he knelt down to pray a wet hungry hound sat in the door and howled dolefully.

He gave us a scolding because there were not more of us there and went on to the next appointment.

John Marcum taught the first school in Cassville. I'm talking of old times now, and he was simply John Marcum then, not Judge. If I remember right he taught in a back room of an old store house, and his pupils sat around on benches without any desks of any kind. Now they are planning to build a brick of some seven or eight rooms with all the modern conveniences at Fort Gay. They will have a splendid corps of teachers and a principal that all will be proud of. You will wonder when you pass at play time where all of the children came from.

Some of the noteworthy developments since I first began teaching are the uniform examinations, which gives each teacher equal justice; free text books, which gives the poor child an opportunity to get an education; the graded schools that do so much to encourage the pupils to climb higher educationally, and the well equipped, comfortable houses; but the best of all advancements are our efficient, enthusiastic, well trained teachers. I hope the young teachers as well as the old will always remember they are going out to train the rising generation for good citizens and that they will always set an example of truth, honesty, and industry before their pupils for it is only by example we can really teach those virtues.

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(WCN - 8/24/1922) WORK IS STARTED ON LOCAL CHURCH

The new Baptist church at Wayne was begun early this week, and when completed this will be one of the best equipped churches in the county.

The building to replace the frame building burned on Thanksgiving morning of last year, is to be of brick with ground floor dimensions fifty by seventy feet. Besides the large assembly room there will be six Sunday school class rooms, and a study. The total cost is estimated at near $10,000.00.

A few hour after the burning of the old church the leaders of the congregation met and organized the drive for new church building funds. That afternoon it was announced that more than $1200 had been subscribed, and the subscriptions steadily increased. The citizens of Wayne and neighboring sections responded in such a manner that the committee was enabled to soon go ahead with the preliminary work.

The Wayne Baptist congregation is one of the oldest in the county, having been formed in 1840. About the time of the Civil War the congregation met at the "Mt. Miriah" church, and later occupied the old church building Old Pleasant, near here.

A few survivors of the church of these early days are left, including Aunt Amanda Osborn, perhaps the oldest member of the original church.

The church drive was put over largely through the efforts of Joe Newman, Charles Walker and Chapman Allen, leaders in the local church.

The building was designed by Mahler and Smith of Huntington.

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(WCN - 8/31/1922) PLANS COMPLETE FOR HIGH SCHOOL OPENING MONDAY

Plans are nearing completion for the opening of the new Wayne county high school at Wayne on next Monday, September 11th. Already a number of students from various parts of the county have made application for admittance and it is stated the enrollment will be sufficient to insure a highly successful term.

The work of remodeling the building on the high school site to accomodate the students until the new school building is erected is going forward and will be ready for occupancy by next Monday. Seats, books, laboratory equipment etc., have been ordered and are expected to arrive in time for the opening.

First and second year high school courses will be offered this year; third year work will be added next year and beginning year after next a full four year course will be given. All students of the county who have completed their eighth grade work are eligible to enter the high school this year.

C. T. Hatcher, principal of the county high school, addresses the following announcement to prospective students:

"The Wayne county high school will be open to all eligible students on September 11th. We are looking for a large enrollment the first day. We would strongly urge all students to be on hand for the opening day if possible in order to benefit by an even start with the whole school.

"The question of rooms and board has been taken up with the people of Wayne, and we can assure you that arrangements will be made to take care of everyone at a reasonable cost. Please make your needs along this line known at the earliest possible date.

"Parents, as well as students, should bear in mind that an investment in a high school education is one of the most lasting and profitable that can be made in life. High school training is becoming more and more essential all the time. With the opening of the county high school, where no tuition is charged, the opportunity is afforded for high school training at a very nominal cost.

"Our course of study (which complies in every way with the State requirements) is sufficiently differentiated to meet the needs of all our boys and girls who may want to enter this year. A modern school should offer such courses as will be of the greatest value to the greatest number of students. The new county high school will offer such courses.

Sincerely yours,

C. T. HATCHER.

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(WCN - 10/12/1922) James Bandits Escaped To Wayne County After Thrilling Bank Robbery

Among the many tales of pioneer life in Wayne county is the story of the escape of Jesse James, the bandit, through this county in 1875 after his "gang" had robbed the Huntington bank. There are still people living here who recall the "heroes of dime novels" as they made their get-away from Huntington, which was then a town instead of a city.

When the James "gang" were making their escape from Huntington toward Kentucky, they stopped over in the town of Wayne (then Trout's Hill) and ate dinner with Aunt Lizzie Christian in the old house which formerly stood on the Northwest corner of theFrizzelle square. While here they talked with the citizens but not until the next day did the people of the town discover that they had entertained the noted "Jesse James" crew that were in those days well known in the yellow back novels. From Wayne they went up Toms Creek and down Whites Creek to the Kentucky State line.

The 47th anniversary of the robbery of the Huntington National Bank by Jesse James and his co-hosts causes pioneer citizens of Huntington to recall some of the interesting details of the bank hold-up.

It was Huntington's first big robbery and the story as told by John H. Sanborn, D. I. Smith who was sheriff at that time, and Gene Salmon deputy clerk of county court, reads more like one of the tales of Jesse and Frank James and his gang, printed in one of the yellow backed dime novels of 25 years ago.

Mr. Salmon, by a coincidence, wrote the commitment papers which sent Miller under the name of Webb to the state's prison for fourteen years, and seven years later, as clerk in the secretary of state's office, when the capitol was in Wheeling, he wrote Governor Jackson's pardon of the bank robber.

On September 15, 1875, the robber quartette appeared at noon at a black smith shop owned by Mr. Sanborn's father. Hitching their horses, members of the gang approached the bank. One entered the store operated by Lindsay T. Powell, ordered Powell andDr. S. J. Unseld to sit down and remain silent. One bandit stood outside the bank, two others entered.

Robert T. Oney, cashier, cowed at the point of two guns, gave up $10,252. Leisurely, the bandits left, mounted their horses and trotted out 12th street and fifth avenue. Reaching that point they flourished their guns, fired a fusilade of shots in the air and spurred their horses and trotted their horses past 5th and Ninth street and thence out 8th street road toward Four Pole.

Sheriff Smith organized a posse. He was joined by Thos. Garland, James Elkins and Mrs. Sanborn's father. Other posses were formed each striving to head off the robbers. The chase lay through Wayne county and into Kentucky at White's Creek.

The chase grew so hot the bandit gang divided, James and Younger swinging to the north and McDaniel and Miller continuing over the original route to the Cumberland mountains of Tennessee. The loot was divided. A rendezvous in northern Texas was decided upon.

James and Younger won clear but Miller and McDaniel, crossing thru Bell county, Kentucky, had a skimism with the Dillon boys who thought they were horse thieves and McDaniel was killed. Miller continued his wild ride into Fentress county, Tenn. His horse lost a shoe and while the animal was being shod the sheriff of that county found Miller bending over the animal's hoof in front of a blacksmith shop.

Cashier Oney went to Fentress county and identified Miller and recovered $4,200 found on the robber. The remaining $6,000 disappeared with James and Younger.

Judge Evermont Ward sentenced Miller, who, after conviction said other members of the gang came from Missouri but his home was in Kentucky. The robbers first met in Wheeling with a view of robbing a bank there. Then it was planned to rob a B. & 0. train, next the gang went to Charleston by way of Point Pleasant by the Kanawha river, blocked a speedy getaway there. Then the gang came te Huntington, staged the robbery and made a getaway—on horseback.

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(WCN - 10/12/1922) STILL IS 14TH TO BE FOUND IN SAME TERRITORY

A copper moonshine still was brought to Wayne Wednesday noon by County Prohibition officers M. E. Ketchum and Clay H. Williams. The still was captured on Buffalo Creek. J. F. Cooper was arrested and was bound over to answer a grand jury indictment by Justice of the Peace, Boyd Adkins. He was released on $2,000 bond. Ketchum and Williams have gone back to the Buffalo Creek country with the intention of making more arrests.

The still taken Wednesday was the fourteenth copper still that has been captured within a radius of five miles of Buffalo Creek, according to the prohibition officers. Tho most elaborately equipped stills that have been taken in the county have been found in this section. With the assistance of the citizens there, the officers say they are conducting a general clean-up of all liquor-making apparatus.

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(WCN - 10/19/1922) ADKINS GETS SIX YEARS FOR ALIFF KILLING IN JULY

JOHN ADKINS, Long Branch farmer boy, from the lower Beech Fork section, near the Wayne-Cabell line, was sentenced to serve the next six years of his life in the state penitentiary by common pleas court in Huntington on Tuesday. Adkins was found guilty of second degree murder, for the shooting of Charley Ailiff, a neighbor. Adkins was eighteen years of age and Aliff 21.

The shooting occurred last July. The youths met in the road and the shooting followed, and was said by the prosecution to have come as the result of a dispute over some moonshine liquor. Adkins pleaded self defense. Both boys were well known to a number of people in Wayne county.

"It is not often that I make any remarks after a case has been tried," Judge Matthews said, when young Adkins stood before him.

"Yet this is another of the constantly recuring cases in which moonshine whiskey and only moonshine whiskey seems to be at the bottom of a tragedy.

"Your neighbor is dead at your hand and you are facing years in the penitentiary, chiefly because, I am convinced, of moonshine whiskey.

"I will welcome the day when the people of this country come to realize that the law forbids dallying with this product. Until that time, deaths and murders will continue to result.

"Now, John, the jury has recommended leniency in your case. The law does not compel me to do so, but I will follow their best judgment. The judgment of this court is that you be confined in the state penitentiary for six years. This is almost the minimum sentence. I could have sentenced you to five years, and I could also have sentenced you to fifteen years. Good behavior will free you in about five years from now."

The prisoner said nothing. Accompanied by his aged and toil-bent father, Wayman Adkins, and a deputy sheriff he was escorted toward the county jail.

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(WCN - 10/26/1922) FORMER E. LYNN MAN WILL PATENT LATE INVENTION

William P. Mankin, of Crites, Logan county, and formerly a well known resident of East Lynn, this county, has invented and applied for patent on an electric Ferris Rotary Rasp for trimming horses feet. The rasp will be used for putting horses feet in good shape before nailing the shoes on.

Mr. Mankin announces that his new invention will prepare a horse's foot ready for the shoe in one minute. The new appliance is run by a 110 volt motor attached to the current in an ordinary light socket. Mr. Mankin has been running an electric substation for more than a year, which provides power for a big mining operation. During this time he has spent his spare time working on the rasp for which he has applied for patent.

If his invention succeeds as he hopes, Mr. Mankin believes that it will revolutionize horse shoeing and will be adopted in every black-smith shop where electric power is available.

Mr. Mankin was a school teacher in this county for many years and is known well to most of the people in Stonewall district, as well as to many others throughout the county. His old friends here are hoping he will succeed with the new invention. Mr. Mankin's wife is a sister of Mrs. C. W. Tabor of East Lynn.

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(WCN - 11/16/1922) NEW HUNTINGTON ROAD IS OPENED TO TRAFFIC NOW

Last Sunday was a memorable day in the road building history of Wayne county, for on this date the newly constructed Huntington-Lavalette hard road was first opened to traffic.

The completion of this new road places the town of Wayne within less than an hour's distance of Huntington. The road leaves Huntington at Eighth street, crossing Ritter hill to Hodges, near the Wayne-Cabell line and then runs with Camp Creek to the mouth of that stream, near Lavalette. The hard sufacing of this road is one of the best examples of modern highway construction to be found in the State. At the mouth of Camp the road connects with the Twelve Pole class A road, which is in excellent condition.

The scenery along this new Wayne County highway is unsurpassed anywhere. And with the extension of this road into Lincoln district to the Mingo county line, Wayne county can truthfully advertise The Tug River Highway as the most beautiful automobile drive in West Virginia. The Wayne-Fort Gay road is a part of the same system and the grade work has been completed on this sector, thus placing Butler district within easy automobile distance of Huntington.

The Tug River Highway, running through Wayne county, will afford a thoroughfare from the Virginia line all the way across the Southern counties of West Virginia to the Ohio river at Huntington.

All those parts of the Tug River highway not completed will be contracted for the first of January, 1923, according to W. S. Rosenheim, secretary of the Williamson chamber of commerce.

Lincoln district, Wayne county voted for a bond issue in August to provide for the most important "missing link" in the highway referred to. The bonds have been issued and sold and more than half the engineering work done for this strip of thirty-five miles of roadway. This project will likely be completed in a year.

In June the state road commissioner let to contract for twelve miles of road on Pigeon Creek, Mingo county.

These two projects (Pigeon Creek and Lincoln district) will cost about $700,000.

There are three more projects totaling eighteen miles to be provider for—eight miles in Mingo county, eight miles in Huff Creek district, Wyoming county, and two miles in McDowell county.

Mr. Rosenheim says he believes the Mingo and Wyoming projects will be provided for by the first of the year.

The Tug River highway extending from Bluefield to Huntington by way of Welch and Williamson and Wayne will be about 175 miles in length. Those active in its promotion believe it will be one of the most extensively used highways in the country soon after it is opened. It completion will be an event of real interest to motorists, in half a dozen states.

It is also announced that the new Huntington-Charleston road will be opened to traffic on Saturday of this week, thus placing Wayne county on a ....................................missing..............

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(WCN - 11/23/1922) CRUM-MARROWBONE ROAD TO BE AWARDED DECEMBER 19TH

There have been two important developments in Wayne County's road building program during the past week:

FIRST, The State Road Commission awarded the contract for the Echo-Fleming road for the sum of $151,800.00. The successful bidders on this project was the Hatfield Construction Company, of Huntington. The contract calls for the grading and drainage of nine miles of road branching off from the Wayne-Fort Gay road just above Echo and extend up the right fork of Twelve Pole.

SECOND, Announcement is made by the State Road Commission that two important projects in Wayne county will be let to contract on December 19th. The first of these is the grading and draining of the Crum-Marrowbone road, a distance of five and one-half miles. This is the first section of the road let under the provisions of the recent Lincoln district bond issue. A certified check of $4,000.00 is required to accompany each bid. The second of the local contracts to be awarded December 19th is a bridge at Echo, across Twelve Pole creek. The contract will be let for a 120 foot steel truss superstructure and concrete substructures.

The above announcements indicate decisive steps toward the completion of the Tug River Highway by the State Road Commission. Dr. W. S. Rosenheim, aggressive secretary of the Williamson chamber of commerce, was instrumental in interesting the State Road Commission in this important highway across the Southern counties of the State and he is keeping in close touch with every development. He assures those interested that the road will be completed in the shortest possible time to be consistent with good and substantial construction

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(WCN - 11/23/1922) PROGRESS SHOWN BY WHITES CREEK CHICKEN RAISERS

The lower Whites Creek section of the county is becoming one of the most progressive poultry-raising areas in the county, according to county agricultural agent Click. A number of People around Cyrus are making chicken raising a profitable business. New poultry houses have been built in this section and houses have been remodeled to give warm roosts and additional scratch room. A number of raisers here are culling their flocks closely before putting them into winter quarters. The chickens that are kept over are put on a good laying feed. This mixture is being used to advantage: A dry mash of 100 pounds made up of 50 pounds of ground oats and 50 pounds of corn meal; to this is added bran and 25 to 30 pounds of beef scraps or tankage. If plenty of milk is available the meat scraps or tankage may be left out, according to the county agent. Poultry raisers are advised that skimmed milk should become sour before being fed to the flock. This keeps them in better health. The dry mash described above is kept before the chickens at all times by many chicken raisers in this county. And this is supplemented with a scratch feed, which is given once a day, made up of equal quantities of shelled corn and oats. Oyster shell, wood ashes or some form of mineral food is a very important diet for chickens experts explain, since the egg shell is made from this substance. Free access to water is another point that is receiving more careful attention in this county, the agent says. There are numerous paying flocks of chickens in the county but the community around Cyrus and lower Whites Creek is one of the most progressive poultry sections.

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(WCN - 11/23/1922) WILLIAMSON TO CELEBRATE NEW ROAD BY FEAST

The annual banquet of the Williamson Chamber of Commerce, will be held December 5^th, will be in the nature of a celebration over the progress that has been made in securing the Tug River Highway across Southern West Virginia. S. S. Rosenheim, secretary of the Williamson Chamber says that the annual banquet will be a general "get together affair" and further announces that guests from Bluefield, Welch, Crum, Kermit, Huntington, Wayne and other towns along the proposed Highway. Co-incident with the announcement of the banquet is the publication of a news story telling of a new five story hotel which is soon to be erected to Williamson at a cost of approximately $200,000. The new hotel will be built by Mr. C. F. Vaughan, proprietor of the Vaughan Hotel, on his property on Second avenue just west of the court house. The lots have a frontage on Second avenue and are 100 feet deep. They are occupied at present by the Vaughan annex and the old Methodist church edifice. The new structure will have approximately 125 rooms and will be of the most approved construction. The cost, exclusive of the ground and furnishings will be approximately $200, 000. For the past several years a number of hotel projects have been under consideration but none were carried to a successful conclusion until the present one was undertaken. It is stated that plans for the new hotel, which will be of five stories, will be in the hands of the contractor within sixty days.

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(WCN - 12/7/1922) 2 KILLED WHEN ENGINE EXPLODES IN KENOVA YARD

The boiler of a locomotive at the Norfolk find Western roundhouse in Kenova exploded early Thursday morning, almost instantly killing two men who were tending it and injuring another employee. The dead are ELBERT SAUNDERS, 23, colored, a water-watcher, rear 1403 Third Avenue, Huntington, and PERCY JOHNSON, colored, a boiler tender, residence 1700 block, Huntington. Both were married. John Duke, colored, 1710 Eighth avenue Huntington, a hostler, escaped with minor bruises, cuts about the face and a fractured nose. Residents of Kenova were awakened by the terrific explosion, which occurred shortly before three o'clock in the morning. The locomotive was of the model known as "Type W" and was use as a yard engine. It was sitting on one of a number of spur tracks a few yards north of the round house and Saunders and Johnson were repairing it for the day's duties. Duke was sitting on the cab of another engine on a parallel track, while his two companions were in the cab of the "Type W" preparing to turn additional water into her boiler. The manner in which the explosion occurred officials said, must certainly have been that the boilers had been allowed to go dry, or very nearly dry of water, and than the two victims were either ignorant of this fact, or decided to chance it. They turned a jet of water onto the super-heated crown sheet of the boiler, it is believed, and the sudden expansion of the water into steam shook that section of the town. The boiler and cab of the locomotive left their trucks, rose into the air and hurdled more than two hundred feet through space. About midway in its flight the cab was twisted loose from the boiler and one of the two negroes was thrown out. A mass of twisted wreckage which had been the boiler, landed in an abandoned pig sty about 200 feet from where the explosion occurred. Nearby landed the cab, and near it was found the body of one of the victims. The body of the other was picked up closer to the explosion scene.

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(WCN - 12/7/1922) WAYNE M. E. CHURCH TO HAVE MODERN BUILDING

The Wayne Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is now arranging to erect a new building on the site of the present structure. The new building will be made of brick and arranged to accommodate all phases of Sunday School and church work. The following committee has been named to secure necessary funds and arrange the plans for the new building which it is said will be underway in the spring: Barbara A. Burgess, chairman, Lillian Ferguson, secretary, Mrs. T. B. McClure, treasurer, C. W. Ferguson, S. J. Vinson, Basil S. Burgess, F. W. Terrill and B. G. Chapman

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(WCN - 12/14/1922) REMORSE WAS PENALTY FOR KILLING HIS BEST FRIEND

Naugatuck, W. Va., Dec. 13.—Little Eva's adoration of Uncle Tom never surpassed, nor probably equalled, that of Leonard Hayes, four years old, for old John Johnson, a negro of this place. Yet Johnson is now serving time as the result of his shooting of his fond admirer. It was purely accidental and probably the most heartbreaking touch to the said affair is the mental effect the tragedy has had on the old man, who broods and moans and breathes his regret that he ever was foolish enough to carry a gun.

Every time "Old John," as he was fondly termed by the Hayes family, also colored, appeared at the home the children would clamber on to his knee and demand that he tell stories of the past that would lead way back to the dark days of slavery. The old fellow never was a slave, but he had a great imagination and knew what would please the children.

One morning recently he called as usual and the mother was busy dressing the children. She suggested that "Old John" put Leonard's shoes on him.

"Come heah, boy, an' Ah'll attend to you all's feet," he said good naturedly.

As he did so, the old darky started to seat himself on a kitchen chair. Then, like a flash of lightning, a flame spat forth as the trigger of the revolver he carried caught on something in his pocket and the bullet tore thru the little fellow's abdomen. Piercing shrieks followed as Leonard writhed in agony and died.

When trooper Hawks of the West Virginia state police arrived on the scene "Old John" was sobbing his heart out over the body of his little admirer. He didn't care where the trooper took him, and didn't demur when charged with murder. He wanted to die.

The trooper took the old man before Squire M. F. Meek, who heard his pitiful tale. Everyone connected with the affair corroborated the old man's story of affection for the dead boy, and it was a matter of minutes to discuss the murder charge. But "Old John" hadn't a license to carry a gun. He merely did it because others did, and he hasn't an enemy in the world, his friends say. The law is relentless against men who carry firearms and "Old John" is now serving 60 days, and was also fined $50 for his breach, but his mental punishment is the greatest.

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(WCN - 12/14/1922) CURNUTTE TELLS ABOUT CHARM OF NEW MEXICO LIFE

From
R. L. CURNUTTE
Breece, New Mexico

To my friends and readers of Wayne County News:

I am very thankful to the editor, that I can reach so many of you his Home-Coming Edition.

I left Wayne county in 1904, moved to Kanawha county, lived there thirteen years, then moved to New Mexico, my present home.

Now my friends, just visit us out here and when you sit in my "Placita" with your feet on a Navajo rug, your knitting in an Apache basket, your child interpreting the conversation to ask for Agua (water,) flowers in Olgas, fruit in Hopi plaques, a Navajo necklace around your neck and your hostess wearing moccasins, ask yourself if all that would be true?

In Oskosh, Michigan or Rodink, Miss., of course it wouldn't be true. But it is here. At a bridge party in Baltimore some time ago, a young lady, who had observed a visitor from this "Wild Land" of ours for some time, finally voiced the feeling of the whole party when she asked "what do you do in New Mexico?"

It was a question hard to answer off-hand, but some meditation makes it clear. What we do is very different indeed from what they do in other parts of the land.

We are American and feel and act American, but to our credit, be it said, we have consciously or unconsciously enriched our lives with the beauty and grace of the two civilizations that proceeded us here, the Indians and the Spanish.

Ten to one there are a dozen dishes in your daily menu, borrowed from a some old Swinish dame's recipe book.

Our children learn first the soft, musical Spanish words where the English words are difficult. Our Eastern visitors frequently ask us to interpret the Indian and Spanish words we use so glibly.

What they ask, is, "Pasino," what does ''Estufa" mean, why do you sometimes say "Kivi" for the same thing.

You can easily see the Indian and Spanish influence in the food you eat. Do you have Atols for breakfast? Torillas or Saparillas for lunch? Can you make the spiced Mexican chocolates? Do you have Enchilida feeds and tamale suppers? They were all originated in this part of the country.

You have perhaps seen the clothes of the well dressed woman, especially the ones that like and dare to get away with the unusual. Many of them are adopted from Mexican and Spanish designs.

The graceful Pueble dress, the velvet jacket of the Navajo, the gorgeous Spanish shawls and mantles! We have a wealth in New Mexico, which, in many ways, we are just beginning to realize.

We live among the Pagan, Medieval, and the Modern and from it all we are making a new and distinctive culture of our own.

I am coming back to Wayne county on a visit in the near future, and sincerely hope I will meet a host of old friends and relatives, and that I will find them doing well and enjoying excellent health.

I have no intention at this writing to change my residence, as this country offers much greater opportunities than any of the Eastern states.

With kindest regards to the Editor and all readers of Wayne County News, I am,

Sincerely yours,

R. L. CURNUTTE

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(WCN - 12/21/1922) CHILDHOOD DAYS HERE ARE FRESH IN HER MEMORY

From
MRS. E. J. BRADSHAW
(Nee Miss Laura Marshall)
12409 Rockingham Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio

Not until I received your suggestion that perhaps some of the readers of Wayne County News might be interested in something from some of the old residents of that locality, who had long since moved to other parts, had it ever occurred to me that perhaps except for a few relatives still there, anyone would be even remotely interested concerning my whereabouts and general welfare. You know this is a busy world and human nature is prone to forgetfulness.

It has been some eighteen years or so since I moved away from Wayne, which seems a very long time indeed. Needless to say many strange and wonderful things have happened during that time and many experiences both pleasant and the reverse have fallen to my lot.

I have tried to acquire the happy faculty of retaining in my memory only the more pleasant and agreeable ones. However, memory is a strange and tricky thing and cannot always be relied upon. Many things we would like to cherish in our memory, slip away from us and can be recalled but vaguely, if at all. While others we would fain forget and erase forever from our thoughts, persists in bobbing up to disconcert us at the most unexpected times.

I like best to remember my lighthearted, carefree, girlhood days, and the many happy hours spent in tramping and roaming over the wooded hills and rocky valleys around Wayne, and fishing and wading barefooted in the cool refreshing waters of Twelve Pole Creek. I don't just remember the exact weight and dimensions of the largest fish I ever caught in Old Twelve Pole, but I am sure it must have seemed a very huge one to me then.

Since leaving Wayne, my residence has been in Ohio, the past eight years of which has been spent in Cleveland, my present home. Cleveland is a wonderful city in many respects. The educational advantages here being second to none. The graded and high schools rank with the best, while there are several colleges and other institutions of higher learning situated here, and in near by cities.

Numerous beautiful parks and pleasure grounds, equipped with all the facilities for out-door sports, afford on opportunity for exercise and recreation so dear to the hearts and so essential to the health and happiness of the city resident. Children's play grounds abound everywhere, interspersed here and there all over the city.

The bathing beaches along the Lake front afford a refreshing past-time during the hot slimmer months. Yes, it does get rather warm here in summer, although there is usually an invigorating breeze from the Lake, to take some of the sting out of the sun's rays. This same breeze also has a sting to it in the winter time, which causes me to long for the more sheltered places so numerous in Wayne county.

Cleveland also has a very fine street car system, although the famous "3 cent fare" of which we used to boast is a thing of the past and perhaps gone forever. Like all large industrial centers, Cleveland has a very cosmopolitan population. People here are of every race and creed and social plane. This is one of the features I dislike most.

Only about one third of the school children are of Native born parentage. New York has been called the "Great Melting Pot," but I think in proportion to population it has nothing on Cleveland in this respect. Another thing that is a sore spot to all Clevelander's is the abominable Union Station. However, we hope to have a new one within the next hundred years or so.

We have a new auditorium, completed last spring, which is the finest in the world. One, or both of the next Big Party Conventions are expected to be held here.

Being a native born West Virginian, it is but natural for me to hold a fond remembrance for the scenes and friends of my early childhood, and often a yearning comes over me to go back to those old scenes and old friends for a brief period, a longing almost irresistible in its intensity, but my interests and happiness lie in my present surroundings, my home, my husband and my children, and here I am content to stay.

It seems that I haven't written half that I intended to, and could go on writing by the hour, but feel that your time and space may be limited, so I will close by wishing for Wayne County News and my old friends in Wayne county a full measure of success and happiness.

Sincerely yours,

MRS. E. J. BRADSHAW.

(Nee Laura Marshall)