The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-13
AIRY TONGUES.


AIRY TONGUES.
This column has been sacred to light touches
of fun and satire. 1t has been opened with
frankest cordially to all contributors, provided
the contributions in no wise touch the man in
charge. His geeful cry has always been
"Give it 'em, gentlemen, Give 'em ladies,
Give it 'em in the neck" and he has laughed
with all, at ALL This week he is away, in Lou
isville. He has intrusted this sheet to this
pen and the day of reckoning is here.
The Colonel's title would fall far short ofhis
command if war were now. In fact, his friends
gave it as his right long ago in Reorganization
of this fact. He entered the war as Conteder-
ate powder monkey and in time was a beardlcss
Lieutenant of Cavalry on Fitzhugh Lees raid
in Pennsylvania. One day, when the regiment
halted in the streets of little town, the young
officers wandering eyes fell upon Northern
girl at an open window. The ColonePs tribute
to beauty to this day is instructive and instan-
taneous. He scarcely knew that his hat was Oft,
and that he was bowling gracefully until the
bcauty's lips began to curl with whitening
scorn. The bugle sounded, but the Colonel,
undismayed, barred his blonde curls again. The
mantle of King Richard fell upon him quick as
thought, and he said with fine effect:
''Thosc lips were made for kissing, lady,
Not for such contempt"
No one who reads this and no one who has
seen the Colonel help a school girl over
muddy crossing, will be surprised to know that
his ancestry leads him straight back through
Colonial Governor of Virginia to Knight of
Queen Elizabeth's Court, gallant, by the
way, who had the honor of losing his head at
the suggestion of her red-haired majesty.
After the war the Colonel went to the Uni
versity of Virginia. Most ofhis fellow students
like himself, had been through the war, and
what q contrast those battle scared youths
must have been to the present generation OF
students. Prof. Minor pays them the tribute
of being the best class he has ever taught and
the explanation doubtless is that feeling they
had already lost much time, they wasted no
more.
Not many years afterwards the Colonel took
up journalism in Louisville, starting at the
bottom on tho Courier-J Journal. He rose rap"
idly to the editorial staff and later became
managing editor. Afterwards he established
the Louisville Evening Post, and when few
years age Mr.. Dorshemcr secured the New
York Star, with the idea of making it the
mouthpiece of the Democratic party, Colonel
Sears was selected as its managing editor.
When that i'll fated paper went to pieces after
its annual custom, the South was beginning to
attract the attention of the commercial world
and Colonel Sears deliberately sought the place
he thought would one day become the manufac-
turing centre of this country. He chose Big
Stone Gap, founded the BIG STONE Posi-, and
he is in o fair way to make it in influence what
it already is in matter, typographical appear
ancc and literary finish-thc leading paper of
the South.
Speaking of cages" did you ever observe
that when somebody's age is alluded to in
conversation it is very difficult to get away
from the subject in good order? The retreat
is generally preciptate, and if anybody is hurt
in the scrimmage, it is 4 wound that time will
not heal. 1t is a happy evidence of the
emancipation of the fair sex that the men are
just as likely as they to show trepidation and
to fy the signal of distress. It's funny, too,
that the one who is embarrassed is the one
who does the most talking and can't let go.
Now it is we'll known to US all, and especially
to Airy Tongues, that our gallant Colonel has
had few moons experience himself, but
among other evidences of juvenility he is still
able to show up large and beautiful blush.
He was talking to very charming young lady
the other evening.
e'You ought to have sat on that fellow who
came up to ask you to dance" said he. "Did
you notice how he put it? ooh, do come and
waltz with me, for the sake of old times. We
can give those yonng people a lesson in dane
ing. Haven't you talked to the Colonel long
enough" Bah! I'm so glad YOU didn't CO.
She: Oh, thank you Colonel, its very pleas
ant here, and besides have on walking shoes
that are too heavy for dancing. Did he say
those young people? Colonel. you never
would have said thing like that"
In his most captivating manner-'fou are
SO delightful and appreciatiye. Do you know |
feel, somehow, as if had known you all my
life"
She made no reply but lifting her eyes
above the Colonel's forehead she let them
rest significantly on his hair, which is just be-
ginning to frost with silver. A stick is never
necessary to score point with the Colonel,
and the effect was instantaneous.
"Why, bless my soul," he stammerod with
embarrassment; "did say my life? / meant
yours, all yours, to be sure" The Coloneps
distress was great. The young lady could
scarcely hide her merriment behind two little
hands.
I The Colonel was going home. Ryan was ~
ing ON the floor watching his master's every
The valise had been packed and
the Colonel was locking a certain drawer in his
writing desk wherein rested o bottle Of ANON