Chapter XXII - Journalism and Literature

Journalism has played a large part in the development of every community "The moulders of public opinion" have left their impress for good or evil whatever "leaden messengers of thought" present the page. Journalism in Fayette County antedates the formation of the State itself.

The first paper printed in Fayette County was known as The Mountain Cove Harbinger and Spiritual Journal, and it was published at Mountain Cove by a colony from New England. Its columns contained long and tedious dissertations on spiritualism. Efforts of the publishers to found such a paper, departing so radically from the established order of early journalism, did not succeed and after a few issues the Harbinger became the first in the Fayette County Newspaper Graveyard. Its birth and demise occurred in 1854.

Journalism in Fayette County has been conducted upon a high plane. For years our county newspapers have standards of excellence worthy of emulation and have done much to herald to the world the latent wealth of our mountains and aid in the orderly and steady development of progress and industrial achievement.

The late General J. W. St. Clair had much to do with establishing journalism in Fayette County. He began the publication of the "Fayette Enterprise" as a Democratic paper at Fayetteville in 1878, and endured the vicissitudes and hardships incident to establishing a paper in a thinly populated county, at times carrying paper on his back from Fayette Station to Fayetteville in order that the Enterprise might be printed on time. A growing law practice compelled General St. Clair to retire from the newspaper business and he was succeeded in the latter part of the 70's by Major H. W. Brazie, who, upon assuming control, changed the name of the publication to "The Industrial World." Thinking that a more prosperous field could be found in the growing railroad town of Hinton, he later moved the publication to that place, but his expectations were not fully realized, for in a short time he

returned to Fayetteville with his paper and it was then known for a time as the "Fayette Free Press." From a sketch in the "History of the Great Kanawha Valley," published by Virgil A. Lewis and John P. Hale in 1891, we learn that W. A. Brazie, then 20 years of age, was editor of the "Free Press," succeeding his father. Young Brazie was at that time the youngest editor in the state. Changing political sentiment at this time caused the paper to become a Republican organ and its name was again changed and it became known as the "Fayette Journal."

Major Brazie, who later became judge of the circuit court, was succeeded by Mr. J. B. Settle, who was one of the Republican stalwarts of his day. The late Attorney J. R. Koontz was the next editor. Some time in the 90's Hon. Geo. C. McIntosh assumed the editorship of the Journal and for more than a decade his trenchant pen did valiant service for the party his paper represented, his editorial utterances being widely read and much copied.

Mr. McIntosh was fortunate in associating with him in the publication of the Journal three men of great ability, one of whom was Mr. C. A. Goddard. Mr. Goddard was a splendid new writer and business executive and was untiring in his labors to make his paper the best in the field. Another of his associates was Mr. E. W. Becker, a master printer, whose mechanical genius was unexcelled, and the third associate was Mr. Herbert Bennett, a printer and machine operator, who has been in the employ of the Journal for more than a quarter of a century.

Differences of opinion as to political policy caused Mr. McIntosh in 1908 to sever his connection with the Journal, which was then owned by Col. Samuel Dixon. Mr. McIntosh then purchased the "Fayette Free Press," about which publication more will be said later. Mr. McIntosh was succeeded as editor of the Journal by Mr. C. A. Goddard, but his editorial tenure at this time was short lived. He was appointed as postmaster of Fayetteville in 1909 and faithfully served in that capacity for a period of five years.

The late T. G. Williams succeeded Mr. Goddard and he in turn was succeeded a few months later by Mr. F. S. Schuster, who is now in the newspaper business in Logan county. Captain E. E. Hood was the next editor, and he remained in charge of the Journal for a little over two years. While a resident of the town he chose for his bride a talented lady in the person of Mrs. Dolly Renick,

and some time later moved to Keyser, Mineral county, where he is now in the newspaper business, publishing both a daily and weekly paper. Capt Hood was succeeded as editor by E. W. Becker, and he, in turn, by William L. Ramsey, the oldest son of Hon. W. H. Ramsey who is now sheriff of the county. Editor Ramsey entered actively into the spirit of journalism, but a brilliant career was suddenly terminated by his untimely death in the fall of 1918, he being one of the first victims of the influenza epidemic which ravaged the country at that time.

Following Mr. Ramsey's death, Mr. E. W. Becker again became connected with the Journal from the Fayette Journal Company, and Mr. Becker continued as editor until 1924 when Mr. Becker's interest in the Journal was purchased by Mr. Goddard. Mr. C. A. Goddard, assisted by Mr. E. W. Becker and Mr. Herbert Bennett, is now publishing the paper regularly at the old stand.

In July, 1883, Charles E. Mahan founded the "Fayette Democrat," which he published until 1889 when he severed his connection with the publication and entered the mercantile business at Belva, later returning to Fayetteville as appointed County Clerk, filling a vacancy, and now serving as Assessor. Burl Lewis took charge of the Democrat and conducted it for less than a year. Evidently there was not yet room for for two newspapers in Fayetteville and the plant was then moved to Montgomery and the publication continues Houghton Robson and J. C. Montgomery. Its life in that town was short and it soon ceased to exist.

Two other papers were started in Fayetteville in the early eighties, but both of them were soon out of publication, Mr. Press Hayes of Montgomery founded the "Coal Journal" and sometime later the newspaper plant was sold to Haynes Brother of Ansted, and moved away. Major Theophilus Gaines founded the "West Virginia Republican" and for a time it was published in the lower room of the Old Masonic Hall. Its career was also short lived.

About 1894 Joe F. White founded the "Fayetteville Republican" at Fayetteville, and its publication was continued for three or four years. On its demise, Mr. Joseph E. Phillips, now editor of the "Fayetteville Democrat," founded the "Fayette Free Press." Some time later Messrs. C. R. Summerfield, Sam Hutchison, S. L. Walker

and W. S. Downtain purchased the Free Press and the plant of the defunct Republican, and Mr. Downtain continued as publisher of the paper, having a number of different editors. Of the founders of the Free Press, Mr. Summerfield is a successful [practicing attorney of Fayetteville; Mr. Walker is head of the National Audit Company at Charleston; Mr. Downtain is foreman of the Booten Press, - a large publishing house at Gallipolis, Ohio. Mr. Hutchison has been dead for a number of years. Mr. A. D. Smith, Jr., of Fayetteville, was editor of the Free Press under Mr. Downtain and he was succeeded in 1905 by Mr. J. Alfred Taylor, now a member of Congress, who moved from Alderson, in Greenbrier County, to enter upon his work. In December, 1907, Mr. Downtain sold the Free Press to Chas. Mc. Holliday of Edmond, and Mr. Holliday leased his publication to a brother, D. P. Holliday, now of Oak Hill, and to Mr. Taylor, the two of whom published the paper for more than a year, when they surrendered their lease, and the paper was then leased to Mr. W. L. Starbuck of Gauley Bridge. Mr. Starbuck's tenure of lease was short.

He retained Mr. Taylor as editor, but in June, 1908, Mr. Holliday sold his paper to Hon. Geo. C. McIntosh, who changed it into an Independent Republican paper under the name of Fayette Tribune and Free Press, and the brilliant editorial work of Mr. McIntosh was again resumed. Some time later the Good Government League of Fayette County interested itself in Fayette County Government and the Tribune became the official organ of the League and under its leadership the political fusion battles of the county were carried on. During the editorship of Mr. McIntosh, the Tribune grew in circulation and influence and became the leading paper of the county seat. It was during this time that Mr. McIntosh penned his famous Thanksgiving pæan which was widely copied over the country and treasured as a literary gem.

In 1914 Mr. C. A. Goddard's term as postmaster of Fayetteville expired and he at once formed a connection with the Tribune, succeeding Mr. McIntosh as editor, and he purchased the Tribune in 1915. Mr. Goddard resumed the newspaper work with all of his characteristic old-time vigor, and has continued the publication to the present time. In 1924 he purchased the interest of Mr. Becker in the Fayette Journal and the Tribune and the Journal,

Early in 1906 a new Democratic paper was published in Fayette County known as the Fayette Sun, owned by a stock company with William H. Sawyers of Hinton as its first editor. After a few months Mr. Sawyers severed his connection with the paper and was succeeded by Mr. A. P. Smith, who is now in the newspaper business in Webster county. The changes of editorship on the Sun were frequent and we find that Mr. Hayward of Huntington, Mr. J. Kenneth Hullin of New York, Mr. A. D. Smith, Jr., of Fayetteville, and Mr. C. Lee Weymouth, now in the newspaper business in Virginia, were editors prior to July 1908, when Hon. J. Alfred Taylor, formerly of the Free Press, formed a connection with the Sun and assumed editorship and management of the paper. In 1912 the Fayette Sun was purchased by the Jones Brothers of Oak Hill, and Rev. W, P. Hooper, now pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Huntington, was made editor with Mr. Taylor as assistant. Mr. Hooper had been connected with the Tribune as business manager. In May, 1913, the Jones Brothers, who were residents of Oak Hill, decided to move the Sun to that town. Mr. Taylor directed the removal and placement of the plant in the Lewis Block at Oak Hill and then returned to Fayetteville, where on July 1, 1914, he brought out the first number of the present Fayette Democrat, which, at that time, was issued from the office of the Tribune.

Upon Mr. Hooper's entering the ministry in 1914, the Sun was edited for a few months by Mr. W. P. Campbell and then ceased publication, Oak Hill not being ready at that time for a newspaper. The plant was sold to W. A. Cantrill of Charleston, and moved to that city in 1915.

With the suspension of the Fayette Sun, the Fayette Democrat was the only Democratic paper in the county and Mr. Taylor continued as editor until the summer of 1916, when he sold the paper which in the meantime had acquired a plant of its own, to Mr. C. A. Pickett, who continued the paper for several years and until its ownership and management, after some changes, was acquired by Mr. J. E. Phillips, the present editor. A linotype machine and a large press have enabled Mr. Phillips to make some improve-

In 1917 the citizens of Mt. Hope were anxious for the establishment of a paper in that city and J. Alfred Taylor responded to the call, establishing the Mt. Hope leader in that city in June, 1917. After eighteen months he sold the paper to Mr. H. T. Hogg, who conducted it for two or three years before announcing its suspension. Mr. Taylor then took employment with Mr. Becker at Fayetteville and in April, 1920, began the publication of "Pick and Shovel," a Democratic paper, which at this time was being edited and published by his son, J. Alfred Taylor, Jr.

In 1912, during the fusion movement in the county, Mr. W. E. Maddy, now of Charleston, published a Republican paper at Fayetteville for a number of months, which he called the "Searchlight." The Searchlight was discontinued after the election of that year. It was published from the Journal office.

This covers the field of newspaper activity in the town of Fayetteville so far as historians have been able to ascertain.

After the suspension of the Fayette Sun at Oak hill, that town was without a newspaper until 1917, when Mr. Geo. B. Terrell launched the "Oak Hill Advocate" upon the stormy sea of Journalism. It appeared with more or less regularity until 1923 when Mr. Terrell moved the plant to Virginia where he is now engaged in the newspaper business. The next paper to be established in Oak Hill was the "Oak Hill Enterprise" with Mr. Owen J. Barrows of Putnam county, as editor. The Enterprise is independent in its policy and appears to be answering the needs as a newspaper. In 1925, Mr. Barrows sold his paper to Mr. C. A. Pickett, who had been interested with him for some months, and Mr. Pickett now published this paper.

Fayetteville had no monopoly of the newspaper business. Other sections of the county, at different times, were proud processors of an "organ" that exploited the advantages of the particular community in which it was published. Some time in the 80's the "Ansted West Virginian" made is bow at Ansted. This paper was published by Fielding M. Starbuck, a photographer and printer, whose plant was located near the site of the Ansted C. & O. station in a building locally known as the Starbuck house. How long the West Virginian existed at Ansted is not known, but most

papers that die do so in the first three years. Ansted did not have another paper until some time in 1890 when Attorney J. R. Koontz, who later moved to Fayetteville, published the "Ansted News" for a short time. In 1917, W. L. Starbuck started the "Ansted Enterprise," but it was short-lived. Mr. Starbuck at the same time established "The Gauley News" at Gauley Bridge, and both papers were conducted by him for a few months, but the venture proved unprofitable and both suspended.

About 1898 the publication of the "West Virginia Herald" was begun at Thurmond. It was an independent Republican paper, financed by the late Thos. G. McKell, who was developing the Loop Creek section of the county. Frederick P. Pfhaler was the first editor and some time later he was succeeded by Cal F. Young, who later succeeded to the editorship of the Journal at Fayetteville. The "Herald" ceased to exist about 1902.

In 1898 publication of the "New River News" was begun at Sewell, With C. A. Hill, not the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad agent at Ronceverte, as editor. The "News" was printed elsewhere but issued at Sewell. The cost of production was too great and its life was short.

About the year 1901, Karl M. Dickson launched the "Mount Hope Independent" at Mount Hope. It lived for a year or so, but finally suspended. The next paper for Mount Hope was the "Leader," established by Mr. Taylor in 1917 and previously referred to. The late Morris W. Carel made an effort to establish a paper in that city in 1922. Illness and a complication with machinery troubles beset the paper from the start and after a few issues ceased to exist. The Times, recently established by C. A. Picket, has suspended publication after publication for five months.

Several efforts were made to found a paper at Montgomery before the "Montgomery News" found its way into the hearts of the people there and became a fixture. The first paper in that town was published in January 1886, and was sponsored by J. C. Chapman, now dead. P. M. (Press) Hayes was editor. After the death of this paper, name unknown, Mr. Hayes acquired the mechanical equipment and launched the "Plain Dealer." which was also short lived. For some years following the death of the "Plain Dealer," Montgomery was without a paper. In 1893 James Ripley, a mute,

yet a splendid newspaper man, founded the "Courier," which ran far beyond the average life of papers of that day. In 1900 Karl Dickson and his father started the "Call," a small paper issued twice a week. It quickly succumbed. In 1902 J. C. Powers, now deceased, issued the "Messenger." If continued for a year or so then followed the others to the limbo of defunct newspaperdom.

Two early attempts to establish newspapers for the colored race in Montgomery soon failed. One of these papers was known as the "Pioneer." by Adolphus Merchant. The other was denominated "The Mountain Eagle," which was published by T. H. Norman and others who had formed a company for that purpose. "The Eagle" failed to soar as its founders hoped and at its death and subsequent sale for a rent bill due to the late Ernest Montgomery, he bid in the plant at forced sale. The plant lay idle for some time, accumulating rent and dust until Mr. Ernest Montgomery, as an experiment more than anything else, decided to begin publication of the "Valley Vindicator." which he did in 1896. Two years later Mr. Montgomery died and his son, Luther S. Montgomery, then a boy of fifteen years, who had been helping in the publication of this paper, succeeded his father as editor and conducted the "Vindicator" until it was merged into the "Montgomery Daily News" in 1903. Montgomery was not yet ready for a daily newspaper and after a fair trial of the daily field Mr. Montgomery gain changed his paper into a weekly. About 1907 Mr. Montgomery sold his paper to the United Mine Workers and under the editorship of a Mr. Sexton, the News, by another name, was continued for a year or so as the official organ of the Mine Workers. In the meantime, Mr. Montgomery had gone to Virginia and entered the newspaper business. Failure of the paper conducted by the Mine Workers necessitated the return of Editor Montgomery to his native city where the News was at once reestablished and where it is again on a safe and solid business foundation. It has the best newspaper equipment in the county and much of the material progress of the city of Montgomery is due to the fact that Editor Montgomery has been untiring in his efforts as a publisher and has stood squarely behind every move for the betterment of his city. Excellent schools, paved streets and substantial business blocks

now stand as monuments to the progress and cooperative spirit of the business men of that city and in all of this the News has played no little part.

The colored citizens have been particularly unfortunate in the matter of conducting papers in Fayette county. Following the two unsuccessful attempts at Montgomery, another paper was started in connection with the school at Hilltop, but it could not be made to pay. Still later, about 1918, Dr. C. B. Anderson, W. B. Hundley, J. M. Ellis and others started a paper at Macdonald, but it could not gain sufficient foothold to insure life. This effort was followed, some months later, by another paper at the same place, published by a local minister, but upon his transfer to Virginia his paper ceased. Since then no paper on behalf of the colored race has been attempted.

The "personality" of a newspaper is not always made by the writing of its editor. Many citizens of Fayette county, over a period of years, have been more or less regular contributors to our various papers and as such have made our papers greatly read. Probably best known among the list of contributors was Ross Cavendish of Ansted, whose death in 1923, stilled a trenchant pen. Mr. Cavendish was a humorist of ability, with a wide grasp of local matters and of men and measures. In the earlier days Hon. Vernon C. Champe of Montgomery, added to the gayety of newspaper columns by pithy and pathetic accounts of local happenings. C. A. Hill, aged C. & O. agent at Nuttallburg, was often in print in times past, either with poem of merit or with an article on some timely topic. He wrote over the nomdeplume of "Cahill." The late J. A. Sandige, of Hico, who died in the summer of 1925, was a frequent contributor to county papers. His contributions were largely reminiscent, yet occasionally he called attention to political matters in a very interesting manner.

Rev. W. H. Adams, for more than fifty years a minister in the Baptist Church, has been a frequent contributor. His articles have been largely on theological subjects and have been widely read. Mrs. A. D. Moseley of Mount Hope, in addition to contributing much to the papers in years past, is also the author of a book of poems which has received favorable comment.

Mr. J. C. Watkins, who now lives at Kanawha Falls, has made many valuable contributions to the literature of the day over the pen name of "Civicus." His observations have abounded in logic and strong reasoning and the reading public is largely indebted to him.

At the present time Jason W. Campbell is the most prolific of the unattached county correspondents. Mr. Campbell writes a column each week for the "Fayette Tribune" which he calls "The Dogwood Cyclone, edited by Bing Bang Biff," and in this column he expounds his philosophies and calls attention to needed improvements in public schools and other matters. His column is widely read and occasionally draws fire from some other correspondents who take issue with his suggested methods.

Hon. J. W. Blizzard is another frequent contributor. Mr. Blizzard, while now well along in years, has an alert and retentive memory and some splendid articles have come from his pen. The late Col. G. W. Imboden of Ansted, was another man of fearless expression and he was quick to wield his pen in defense f the high principles which characterized his life. Other correspondents who have contributed much to the success of journalism in Fayette county are Messrs. Guy La Tourette, Joe L. Dorsett, Dr. J. E. Hughart, and Mrs. Virgie T. Myles. Mrs. L. W. Nuttall wrote many interesting articles concerning her trip abroad.

In 1922 Editor E. W. Becker made a trip to the Holy Land. His paper, the Journal, published a splendid account of his interesting trip abroad, and many other papers copied from it. He also gave a number of interesting lectures to audiences eager to learn at first hand of the scenes and quaint customs of the East.

Hon. J. Alfred Taylor has not always been confined his writings to his own paper. In 1925 he made a trip to Panama and his experiences in the Republic of Haiti and in the Canal Zone were contributed first to the Tribune, and were widely commented on. Mr. Taylor has also published a large number of prose poems, some of which have found their way into practically every paper in the State.

In addition to our newspapers, religious, educational and fraternal publications have at different times been published in the county, some of which are still existent and filling a very important mission in their chosen fields.

About 1900 the "Free Will Baptist" was launched at Fayetteville with I. N. Huddle as editor, its chief aim being to further the cause of religion and be a shining light to the numbers of that denomination. It was a monthly publication and lived for a couple of years, but the lack of patronage forced it suspension.

Prior to this time the "American Mechanic" was published at Fayetteville for some three or four years. It was the official organ of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics, and was published by J. Alfred Taylor, who was State Secretary of the Order.

A recent religious publication which enjoyed wide circulation and great popularity in Fayette and adjoining counties was the "Methodist Episcopal Messenger," published by Rev. W. R. Eskew at Mount Hope, having been founded in the year 1922. The Messenger was of the magazine type with an average of twenty-four pages each month. Its purpose was to forward the cause of Christianity in an inter-denominational way among the miners of Fayette and Raleigh counties. In 1924 Rev. Eskew was transferred by church to a charge at Staunton, Virginia, and the Messenger was moved to that place where it is still being published.

At the present time there are three religious publications in the county. One of these is the "Progressive Presbyterian," edited by Rev. Charles W. Reed of Montgomery, ably assisted by Miss Mae Legg and Vernon C. Champe as associate editors, and with L. Burke O'Neal as business manager. This little monthly publication is now in its fourth year and is doing much to promote the interests of its work for the Master in the city of Montgomery.

The second religious publication is the "Oak Hill Baptist," a monthly magazine edited by Rev. C. S. Donnelly, pastor of the Oak Hill Baptist Church. This is a well edited publication of sixteen pages or more, and its influence for good is far reaching.

The other religious publication is the "West Virginian," published monthly in the interest of Christian Principles, Mountain State Club, and West Virginia. The West Virginian is edited by Arnold E. Tulloh at Glen Ferris. Rev. C. H. Kelly is Managing Editor, with Mervin Shirey, Sylvia Swisher, Rev. O. E. Stump, and Rev. L. Riggleman as contributing editors, and Beatrice Crandall as circulating manager. The above are the only religious papers published in the county at the present time.

Several monthly publication representing various educational institutions of the county have been published from time to time. The oldest of these perhaps is the New River State Collegian, now in its fourth year and published by the class in journalism of the New River State College at Montgomery. The first number of this paper was called "The Ahwanak," the name being secured by the spelling of Kanawha in reverse order. The Ahwanak was first issued in December, 1920, at which time the New River State College was known as the West Virginia Trade School, and Thomas Dotson was editor in chief. Three editions were published during that year, the last being somewhat on the order of an annual or year book. The name of the paper was then changed and was called "The Pen and Pencil," which name was soon discontinued and the paper is now designated as the "New River State Collegian." It is a large four-page six column paper published bi-weekly during the school year by the class in journalism at the New River State School. Oshel C. Parsons is editor-in-chief at this time. Its slogan is: "All for New River State, All the Time."

During the tenure of office of County Superintendent J. T. Peters, a very readable publication entitled, "The Rural Teacher," was published by him and circulated among the several hundred teachers of the county during the school year. "The School News," published in the interest of the schools of Quinnimont District, is now published by Mr. Peters, who is District Superintendent. The slogan of this spritely publication is, "Quinnimont District to the Front," and it has done much to stimulate interest in educational matters in the district in which it circulates.

Perhaps the youngest of all school papers is "The Siren," which made its first appearance as Vol. I, No. 1, on November 25, 1925. This paper is edited monthly during the school year by the members of the Senior Class of Montgomery High School. Arnold Vickers is editor-in-chief, Lawrence O'Brien, advertising manage, and Charles Newman, sports editor. The Juniors have pledged themselves to assume the management of "The Siren" next year. "The Siren" is a neat and attractive three-column four-page paper which deserves creditable mention.

Other schools have issued year books at various times which claim a part in the journalistic efforts of the county. "The Mons

Spei," a year book, was edited by the class of Nineteen Nineteen, of the Mount Hope High School, when C. H. Martin (now President of N. R. S. C.) was principal, Robert Carter being editor-in-chief.

Interest in journalism among the student body of the county is accentuated by the knowledge that a Department of Journalism has been established at the New River State College, where a two-year course is given. This department is presided over by Prof. Ivan C. Waterbury, an expert by virtue of years of practical newspaper, magazine, and literary work, with years of teaching experience. In this course the theory of linotype, monotype and press work is taught and students are familiarized with type and its various sizes. There is a special drill in headline writing. Thorough practice is given in all the steps from the time news is gathered from its sources, organized, and put into copy to its final presentation to the public.

Fayette county has furnished inspiration for the literary efforts of quite a number who have never resided within the borders of the county. Thomas Dunn English, author of the celebrated poem, "Ben Bolt," lived for a time in Fayette and contributed a poem, "Gauley River," which is a classic.

Col. Beuhring H. Jones, of the Sixteenth Regiment, Virginia Confederate Infantry, was a resident of Fayette county and it was while confined as a military prisoner on Johnson's Island, in Lake Erie, that he wrote much of a book published in Baltimore in 1868 which he called "The Sunny Island." or "Prison Prose and Poetry." Col. Jones also published another book, having for its subject Rev. William G. Margrave, a colporteur, and worthy Baptist minister who was famous in his day and who traveled of the Greenbrier, New River and Kanawha Valleys for thirty-five years.

Rev, Quincy A. Wheat, the first pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Ansted, was an author and journalist. While serving as pastor of this church from 1875 to 1877, he edited and published a Methodist paper know as "The Leaflet," Which was a four-page weekly publication. Rev. Wheat is also the author of a book entitled "Travel on an Old Road Out of Old Ruts,"

which was published in 1905. This book is an expository companion to "The Chronological Charts" by the same author.

Captain William N. Page, for many years manager of the Gauley Mountain Coal Company at Ansted, has recently issued a little book of verse, entitled "A Fossil Fern and Other Poems." This book was published in 1925. It contains a number of delightful poems of philosophical, historical and narrative nature.

"New Hope," or "The Rescue" is the title of a clever bit of frontier fiction by an unknown writer, which was published in 1845. The scene was laid in Fayette county, the first chapter beginning, "At Kanawha Falls, on a fine morning in October, 1798 ***." This book is said to be the best work in early fiction of the Trans-Alleghany region.

Henry Howe, of New Haven, Connecticut, published a book in 1846 entitled, "Virginia: Its History and Antiquities." Fayette was then a county of Virginia, and a portion of the book is devoted to it, as well as to the other thirty-one counties of the state at that time.

From the contemplation of the dead past to the living present brings us to the latest bit of fiction, "Deep in the Hearts of Men." Its plot, laid in "the mining town of Wenby located on a branch of railroad and two miles distant from Hawks Nest," makes the scene of the story at Ansted. The author, Mary E. Waller, probably passed through Fayette county and impressed with the picturesque scenery of this section, chose it as the starting for a story of deep interest in which she reveals herself as a close student of human nature and a skillful constructor of plots. It is a story of a man's coming into spiritual light out of darkness. There is no local coloring and only the familiar description of locality makes the book appear to be local in aspect. This book was published in 1924.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (Written July 4, 1900)
Let patriot fires glow bright this day;
	Rekindled be our country's flame,
Our National Day, the glorious Fourth
	That bore us freedom, glory, fame,
Loved Sunny South, great, mighty North,
	One nation grand in deed and name.

Until the Ides of "seventy-six,"
	Our fathers honored Britain's King,
And humbly begged a free man's right,
	Ignoble tyrant's praise did sing,
But on this day, our proud birth-right,
	Monarchs renounced in everything.

And tyrants hate this glorious day
	Immortal made by Jefferson
And Hancock's bold stroke;
	With grand accord the deed was done
That freed us from King George's yoke,
	Blessed be God, with Washington.

Loud rang the peals of Freedom's Bell
	Tolling the birth of Liberty
Inspiring love for our own land,
	Our civic pride, a Nation free,
Conceptions noble, actions grand,
	Colonial fraternity.

THE PATRIOTS
Round freedom's banner circled then,
	Men who dared to do and die,
Emulation in each breast
	Freedom's flag to float on high,
To thwart for aye their King's behest,
	Immortalize the Fourth of July

Responding then to Country's call
	Each man a sovereign and a host
Preferring death to slavery,
	A hero grand at every post,
Scorning King and tyranny
	Our noble sires, their offspring's boast.

Not they alone whose names are great
	Are worthy of undying fame,
On history's page, in Epic strain
	There is no fonder, prouder name
Than Patriot for his country slain
	Oh, Country's love, immortal flame.

Nor honor less the great whose names
	Emblasoned bright on history' scroll,
Immortal hero, Washington
	And legions on our country's roll,
Gates, Lincoln, Green, Lee, Marion,
	if less to fame, of noble soul.

THE BLUE
Yea honor sons of these brave sires,
	Who bled to keep our country one,
Their fathers fought to make it free
	And they have deeds of valor done
To give it immortality -
	The proudest land beneath the sun.

THE GRAY
Nor fail to honor them who wore
	A fratricidal weapon brave
Defending what they thought was right
	Their fireside and their fathers' grave;
Though vanquished yet sublime in fight,
	For country's love their lives they gave.

No prouder names than Sherman, Grant,
	Are gilded on the roll of Fame,
Where these honored e'er will be
	With kindred pride nor sense of shame
Brave "Stonewall" Jackson, Robert Lee,
	Immortals in their country's name.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Yea give a Roman Triumph proud
	To sons of Blue and Gray who stand,
Exponents of true liberty
	In an oppressed down troden land
For Cuban Liberty e'er will be
	Fit trophy to their heart and hand.

THE TROOPS IN PHILLIPINES
Do not overlook our Orient,
	Our brethren in the Nadir World,
Advancing true enlightenment,
	"Old Glory" Heavenward now unfurled.
These on a mission God hath sent,
	A beam of light on darkness hurled.

THE CITIZEN
Yet more than martial hero brave
	Due honor pay the working man
Whose brawn or brain or tongue or pen
	Doth grasp the Earth, old Ocean span,
Life's battle win for sons of men
	There is no nobler, greater man.

Then celebrate July the Fourth
	With patriotic psalm divine
Let every freeman now rejoice
	This is OUR COUNTRY, Yours and Mine
Of native birth or alien's choice
	A country blessed by Hand Divine,
	Rejoice, my countrymen, rejoice.

	- Charles Hill

Sixty seconds make a minute - tiny little things; and yet they form the months and years that speed on lightning wings. Most people want to do big things and for a chance they wait, but years pile up and soon they find, alas, it is too late. I hope, my friends, you'll never try to do some big thing by and by - the chance may never come. It is the little things that mount and make a great big sum. In living out your life, with a smile, and doing so, make life worth while.

You are weavers who work at a loom and the warp and the woof is the life of the child we give to you to teach how to live and send it forth to the strife. You are the builders who patiently toil and the

building grows greater each day and stands as a temple that none can despoil because of your work with the clay. You are threshers who stand at the mill and winnow the chaff from the grain and you increase the yield of the harvest field - no matter the toil or pain. The deeds that you do and the thoughts you impart live on in the minds where they're placed, and at the end of a life well spent they will stand for you as a monument that can never be defaced.