Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
MEYER SYCLE,
iOS E. Broad ST., Next Corner First.
A VOICE FROM THE ToMn.
The Dtckenson County Scribe Sings
a MOurnfuI Dfffy


| DWALE, DICKINSON COUNTY. VA.
FEBRUARY R.-(Special)-Well we have
been literally shut in here for nearly two
weeks, while the great world beyond
moves on regardless of US. We have been
at standstill. hardly knowing whether
the grounding" month february had
arrived or not. And smallpox at Coe-
Durn, tWenty-three miles away, and only
IN light form at that, did 1t all. / shud-
der to think what it would do, were IL
right here in our midst, and of a robust.
vigorous, muscular type
one day we hear that the Coeburnites
are not in the least excited; that they
knock the smallpox around any way
merely regarding it as a weakling; that
there are only two cases there, and that
one or them is almost well, the other get
ing on nicely-but that a young man in
that vicinity is now feeling rather badly.
is looking pale. and is probably develop
ing case of the disease; though to be
frank, the preponderance of evidence
tends to show that he was Tilted by his
best girl. Another day we are grayely
Informed Cby some croaker) that there are
eighteen cases Of the epidemic right in
Coeburn, and that two or three deaths
have resulted from il within a day and
night past, while the doctors predict that
it will be all over Southwest Virginia. 1t
seems to We scribe that such a prediction
is extravagant and uncalled for. II a
doctors opinion carries weight along with
1t, II is q very dangerous assertion. Sup
pose II comes to pass, literally, who will |
be responsible? If II fails to make its
appearance all over the aforesaid section |
OF Southwest Virginia, then a man with |
OnlU on6 n inf
at that, can see the utter extravaganza |
of the assertion.
SHUT OFF FROM THE WORLD.
But 1 started out with the avowed OBJ
ject of telling you that we have had no
communication with the outside world /
through the mails for nearly two weeks
Out thank Gracious, Uncle Sam is going
to move her out) We have not known
what Tom Reed sometimes enormously
called Congress) was doing; neither can
tell positively whether my poems are go
ing TO be accepted by the editors or re-
turned. Brt presume they are using all
due diligo e To get back to me. 1t will
be some littie trouble; but II they do not
gel back 10 me | can write more.
our mail supply comes from Coeburn
via Clintwood but the city dads OF that
place; or other parties not known to ye
scribe-or known. but not mentioned-de-
cided that Uncle Sans servants who car
ried the mails should not enter that
place. and so q number of valiant men,
and true, were placed at various points !
Of access to grapple with the monster
smallpox, should he demand admittance.
Would-be passers were turned back |
rom every side and direction. / have
'peculated and specialized upon the mat
er; but | can't, for the life Of me, make
'ut whether they would protect those in
'ide from the dangers outside, or vice {
'ersa. They would let no one out, neither I
hurst any one pass in. AS we have had {
10 news, etc, which includes letters,
newspapers, and patent medicine circu- y
airs, We were compelled to draw upon our !
wn resources, such as they were. r
IN UNFAMILIAR VOLUME TO HIM. :
have divcd deep into the ancient and =
onorable order Of literature. and hope :
hat 1t will bear It's fruits I'm coming !,
ears. found an old time-worn volume. :
nth the title-page missing. 1t is a very a
are and unique work. 1 have a faint re-
objection of seeing something of the sort
] our Sunday school years agone IL is
iyided into various parts or sections
ne being called Genesis, another Judges. ! Q
mother Deuteronomy, etc. Each section
also sub-divided into chspters. the |
lapters are resub-dvided into verses or /
lntos. l read a story in this book whioh I
realty interested me. The story was Of .
man called Samson. though whether =
Iis was his first or second name. / can't u
H. will briefly relate the more prons;s g
mt incidents Of this story from memory. u
Samson married young lady of a tribe .
lown as the Philstines. He was re- -
Irded as the strongest man, physically. -
all that country I'm which ha liva1 | AZ
ID had his being. BY some means he
Cured the enmity OF his wife's people
lay be his mother-in-iaw was living at
q fimel. and by some tricks of con. | Ia