Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
SHELTON T.. IEtkE.
Ills Early Life and SchoOlbOy
PruuixS.

Correspondence OF the Dispatch)
GATE CITY. VA. August 2S-Seelng
in the Dispatch Of recent date men,
ton Of the name OF Shelton L. Leakc,
who was MISUNDERSTANDING OF Viz
glnia forty years ago. recalls TO mind
many amusing incidents OF his early
life as remembered and related by aged
citizens Leake was born and brought
up on Opossum creek on the south side
OF Scott county. whence he removed to
Nelson county in young manhood. He
received out here such education as the
Irish schoolmasters OF the day. who
were required only to take the students
to the Double Rule of Three" could
give him. At school he was careless
and Indifferent, and appeared very
stupid. In everything he undertook he
had way peculiar 10 himself, and this
disposition frequently brought him into
conflict with the master" who. whatever
other faults he may have possessed, was
never charged with sparing the rod. on
the playground Leake was equally in
different to the restraints OF rules and
regulations. and this got him into many
a nsticuf with his fellow-students.
game at which he soon proved himself
10 be an adept He was lanSuld and
listless. and as a consequence was the
victim of many a rude joke. but he fire.
quently turned the tables on his torment
ors.
HE CRIED SNAKE.
One day at playtime two mlschevous
boys laid a trap for him BY placing a
bucket Of water on top Of the door, so
that when he attempted TO enter the
contents would fan on his head. by
chance Leake overheard their plot ana
determined 10 beat them at their game.
AS they climbed out at the window he
stole around to the other side OF the
house and noiselessly entered. They
looked about for him some time, intend
ing tn send him in on some pretext, but
not finding him. engaged in game OF
marbles. lie waited until they became
absorbed IN the game and then ran 10
the window, yelling, Boys, run In here,
there's a snake in the house. Forget
ting all about their trap they rushed TO
the door and We're drenched with the
contents Of the bucket In their cna-
grin the boys seized him, and he was
giving them a lively tussle when the
teacher entered and put an end 10 the
melee Leake was not punished. but
the other boys were. such incidents
marked the whole progress OF his school
career, yet he acquired wonderful proii-
cheney in his studies, and when he lett
here was reckoned as the best scholar
in the community.
DISTURBED THE MEETING.
One night young man OF the COM
munity was preaching In an old house.
which was well filled with hearers. In
the midst OF the sermon Leake sprang up
with his cap In hand, exclaiming, Boys.
there's a bat In the house" and away
he went, followed BY two or three others.
trampling peoples toes till the winged
worshipper" was brought down. when
Leake quietly resumed his seat and the
minister proceeded.
On muster days when his name was
called he invariably answered, "What?'
In a drawing manner. and no effort OF
the officers could induce him to respond
otherwise.
Yet with all his oddities he was honest
brave. and true. and at the election
which elevated him to the lieutenant
governorship he received every vote Of
his neighborhood.
Cyrus Warde. who was brought I'D In
the same community as Leake. and was
regarded as very dull boy, Is now a
circuit Judge in California, and " q most
brilliant man.
The late Congressman Taulbee. Of
Kentucky. was also born and partially
brought up In Scott county. SO that our
baekwoods county Is not entirely devoid
Of historic associations.