Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-07-05
CHICAGO
The Late Judge KELLY.

uColy ucii'cIcu III Illo MetnOulSt
church on tho occasion of Prof. Geo
O. Pcery's commencement, and it
will not soon be forgotten by the
Tazewell people who heard it; it will
be treasured as henrt.rnemeuto of
one who with his bright and spark
: ling little speeches entertained us
oftcner than any other-one of whom
we had tho right TO be proud, for
both ut home aud abroad ouf reputa.
ton was safe in his hands. Safe, DO
: cause in brains and culture he was
= the flower Of our valley; no society
, TOO intellectual and well bred for
him. he was distinguished man in
: any company. His clean cut Grccian
profile, the splendid promise Of his
: eyes, his suave and courteous man
, ncr, and his fac conversational abiii.
ty attracted attention to him whcr-
evor he went. To the stranger with
in our gates we cannot show his like
again.
On tho other hand, Judge Kelly
was proud of Tazcwell and her PEG.
pie Ho wan running over with 10
Cal pride-of sort that was catch
ing. He made others share it with
him. Frequently have we seen his
face knit with controlled emotion and
his eyes fill with tears while speak
ing of some local interest dear to
him. This patriotic devotion to home
institutions, to everything local, was
uppermost in all of his public utter
ancos. Let tho people of Tazowell
mark how he loved them. On one
occasion distinguished Methodist
minister, whose homo was III East.
ern Virginiu, i'll n commencement al
dress delivered before one of tbs
schools here, took the liberty of crit
. icising some of our peculiarities OF
speech. When he had finished Judge
Kelly was called to the platform to
award n medal He was met by a
look OF anxious expectancy from the
audience, as much MS to say: Nov
rub him over tho coals-we can de
: pond on you And it is needless to
say that we were amply avenged
Just what caused the tilt we cannot
recall, but of one thing we arc quite
suro--tho "eas' frerginian7 was sor-
t ry that ho spoke. Thus many times
the sharp edge of his wit fell upon
an offender. He knew when and
> where to strike, and he Sent hts m
row homo with the force and direct
ness of an Indian bowman. But i,
, was always done in spirit Of hearty
, bonhomic that left the enemy in n
good hurlor, though baflled,
While Judge Kelly wds unsurpass.
! cd in this section in point of brief
impromptu talks, his gifts us a
speaker did not by any means stop
there. Of naturally retiring dispo
sition, he never seemed to aspire to
= notoriety as an orator, but that il
was in him to have attained eminence
as one, no one will question who
heard tho Masonic address delivered
by him at Tip Top some years ago
1t is estimated that fifteen hundred
: people were present and that. not one
o left during the two hours he occupi
ed the platform. 1'he address was
prepared the evening before it was
delivered. None but an orator Of
$ the purcst and noblest type coult
). have held the attention of such III
l. audience for two hours in the oper
VI air on festal occasion.
d But superior as was his intellect
It we believe that it was excelled by the
d kindness of his heart. He had ge
II NAL smile and happy salutation fol-
e everybody. He loved the company O.
IS little children, and they were won by
It his frank open heartedness and his
1t simplicity of manner. Ho was always
70 ready with word of encouragement
+, Tor the young men OF the community
e. who deserved it. His administration
: AS county judge goes far to prove
OF that lie was their sincere vol
to wishcr, one OF their best friends.
to Much more could be said Justly
e and truthfully of Judge Kelly; ia
IN deed, many of his good qualities have
Is not here been touched upon, but this
IS only fine irihnIa or <,,.. r:l -