Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-08-03
THURSDAY, AUGUST s. 1899.
ASTOUNDING VANITY.

ASTOUNDING VANITY.
Vanity in some persons is sometimes,
but rarely, pardonable; in others it is pit
liable; and with others it is reprehensible.
Persons with great ability and high moral
worth are now and then seen, momen-
tarily, exhibiting streak of vanity; and
because of their superior mental and
moral attainmenis their one human weak
ness is tolerated. Then,we meet with per-
sons who suffer from some physical or
mental deformity, and who seem to take
a delight in showing or disclosing their
deformity to others. This is an evidence
of mental weakness and is pitlable.
Again, we come in contact with or hear
of men whose mental and moral natrles
are totally depraved, who vauntingly pre-
sent themselves to the public gaze and ap-
pear to be happy in shocking the morals en-
sibilities of good men. This is diabolical
The Chattanooga (Tenn.) Daily Times,
of the Goth ult., contains an extensive
write-up of Bris tol, Tenn.-Va. The article
is deliberately illustrated with halftone
cuts of the colleges, banks, post office
building, court houses, industries and
some Of the conspicuous men of the city.
Among the latter we find a picture of the
clerks office in the court house on the
Virginia side, with James A. Stone, clerk of
the Hastings Court, seated at his desk,
seemingly, iii profound study. Hanging
on the wall of the Office is the picture Of
William j. Bryan,to which picture Stone s
back is turned. Bryan is looking down,
either frowningly or smiingly, we are I'M
able to determine which. upon the distin-
guished (?) citizen of Bristol. With his
hat tilted back, cigar in his mouth, with
an open book before him (perhaps a regis
tration book Stone presents the appear.
ancc of one in a profound study and Of
extreme qualification with his thoughts.
One cannot look at the man i'll the
picture without being impressed with his
altitude, and without feeling profound
curiosity to know his thoughts, and what
he was doing when the camera gave to
the world SUCH work of art 1t may be
that the book before him is padded reg
istration book, and that he is lost in adj
mira,ion of the skiilul hand that has pro-
duced it. 1t may be that lie was at the
time preparing that list of new voters, as
registrar Of Bristol, which he was unable
to pos! until nine o'clock at night and
which was torn down before daylight the
next morning. 1t may be that he is think
ing of the scheme which he helped to work
in getting Watkins and Harris two color
ed mem to run as assistants to Rhea in
the race for Congress. 1t may be that he
is preparing list of repeaters, or calculat-
ing how many voters can be brought over
from the Tennessee side and utilized on
the Virginia side on election day. Or it
may be that he is thinking out how he
can skip that sixteenth juryman.
1t is said by Mr.. Stones biographer that
he (Stone) sent Mr.. Bryan one of his
photographs and that the "boy orator"
sent him very complimentary letter of
appreciation. This may have aroused Mr..
Stones vanity to such an extent that he
was willing to have bis picture and his
brief record put in the Chattanooga Times
at so much line.
The biographer further says: ellis
work has been felt over the district as an
organizer, no one knowing it better than
his opponents, some of whom attribute a
goodly share of Gen. Walkers defeat to
him." Yes, his work was felt (see record
in contested election case of Walker vs..
Rhea.) We know all about his work.
That is why the mans vanity astounds US.