The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-02-20
through the opening and uses it again. 1t is
likely he will be taking it to bed with him next
winter to keep his feet warm.


An amusing incident occurred few days
ago in which s[r. J. W. Fox, Sr., leading cit
izen of Big Stone Gap and our AESTHETIC MANA
ger Of wood and stream, figured quite promi-
nently. Mr.. Fox has been a teacher himself
and in the pursuit of his profession has tanned
other peoples bad boys as we'll az his own. Tie
still takes great interest in the cause of edu-
cation; and, while indulging in one OF his fit
teen or twenty mile walks, he came to school
house The teacher was quite n tall, lean
looking individual, sicklied over with the pale
cast of thought or fever, and no doubt incal
descendant of the pcdagogue who boosted on
the streets Of Athens that, "Itaugllt Pericles. -
He received Mr.. Fox graciously and asked him
to make some encouraging remarks to the half
dozen lads who are to be the successors OF
Jefferson, Madison and other Virginia patriots
and statesmen. Mr.. Fox observed that one OF
these promising young politicians had his
mouth filled with All uncommonlv large quld OF
tobacco, the juice Of which he squirtcd with
singular accuracy and force at first one object
and then another. Had the stream OF amber
been fired from Winchester rifle it could not
have gone more directly to the target aimed at
"Wcll SIR" saidhc," one of the first things |
would do if | were in your place would be to
stop that filthy practice" and he went on dila-
ting upon the evils of lax discipline in general
and tobacco chewing in particular. AS he
proceeded and became warmed MP in his dis
course. he observed that the flow ofambler was
rapidly increasing, and that there was danger
of such rise of it on the floor as to prevent
his fording it on his exit from the house. First
one Of the lads companions and then the other
came to the rescue of their comradc until the
last one of the six had loaded up and all were
engaged in flooding the aisle.
"TIow would YOU stop it," asked the teacher.
"Wcll SIR" said Mr.. Fox, becoming Jealous
and raising stout cane with which he had
been walking, IF couldn't stop it in any
other way should use this"
Mr. Fox however was forced to retire before
the shower of saliva. and while walking home
unused on the difficulties Of reform movements
and of introducing aesthetic habits in mount
ain school-houscs. 1t was perhaps fortunate
for him and for the foundations of the school
house that the weather was unfayorablc and
that larger number of students were not in
attendance that day.
3Ir. Fox says lie commented on the vulgar
little bows habit in 4 moment Of weakness
that he should have remembered that boys are
not what they were when he taught school and
larraped them. Times have changed. Here
was this little urchin sitting before him, while
he was addressing the school, nudging his
wicked companions, passing around his plug of
tobacco accompanied by various cxpletvcs,
encouraging them i'll their revolt, summoning
them to battle. after he had completed his
organization and the fire opened along the en-
tire line, he turned his dirty face fairly to me, -
said Mr.. Fox, "and when his eyes met mine,
something emboldcncd him to wink. | shall
never forget him. His nose was turned up ut
the end, tiptlted, as il were, As if formed for
roofing rabbits from their holes or perhaps the
result CT biting large apples hastily. 1t
NAV have been natures effort however, to eX-
press the scorn or supcrciliousness of his char
acter. But with all his imperfections Of fea-
turc and dress, he cvidcntl.: had more author
it,, in that school than the teacher, and heseX
erciscd it. We do not often see the qualities
of leadership developed so SOON