The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-06-21
AS WE KNOW HIM.

tudN sum pioNc oHO"i" Nioiih 40 Vhc
of its citizens young man whose
name has scared high over the grand
old mountains. and, catching the ear
of the public, has held it spellbound.
This young man is John Fox, Jr..
author Of 1.-The Kentuckians," "a
Mountain Europa" "a Cumberland
Vendetta" "Hell fer Sartain," DC.
But it is not as the author so much
as the man that we know John Fox.
Jr., as the athletic, broad shouldered
man playing ball on Saturday when
he happens to be in town.
lie is picturesque player Oh the
dusty diamond, in his half golf, half
base ball suit, his muscular arms
barred to the sun, and the opposing
team always fear him.
In fact, Mr. Fox is. better known
as base ball player than as either
writer or an ordinary citizen.
The author walking with bowed
head and hands clasped behind him
deep in thought was scarcely recog
nized, but when the author began to
play base ball, he was greeted on all
sides, to his amusement, with hearty
expressions of interest and good will.
Once, just before base ball game,
member Of the opposing team had
been expressing himself to the effect
that he was very glad John Fox was
not in it.
Did You ever read any Of his
books?" asked a bystander curious
ly.
Books" laughed the boy CON
temptously, "'d like to see book
that fellow wrotel" and he went off
chuckling to himself.
The home of the Foxes is a low,
spreading, shingled cottage with
porch covered with vines and a tennis
court at one side.
Within, the walls are covered with
pictures, while everywhere are books
without number, and magazines and
flowers.
A guitar and a mandolin are in
evidence, and some pretty watercolor
sketches reveal the tastes Of Mr..
FOx's two sisters, Misses Minnie and
Elizabeth.
John Fox, Dr., says he is twenty
eight years Of age. He is not
handsome man-nor "lades' man"
lie is thoroughly masculine.
His smooth haven face and search
ing blush gray eyes behind gold
trimmed glasses, (Which often get
broken in playing tennis or base ball,
his clear cut features and firm chin
give to his face serious expression,
which is belied by his hearty laugh
and pleasant voice and manner.
Both men and women find his per-
Sonality attractive, even fascinating |
at times.
In his delineation of the Mountain
People of Kentucky, his native state,
and of Virginia, his land by adop-
ton, Mr. Fox is at home.
We, who come in contact with his
people, often recognize and wonder
at the genius that can portray so
faithfully the half-pathetic, often
come, wholly serious nature Of these
people of whom he writes.
The incidents in that inimitable
story called "Courtin' on Cutshin"
might easily have occurred almost
within the limits of our own town,
yet we laughed over it as heartily as
it we had not actually seen whole
family cook, eat, sleep, court, marry,
and die in one small room.
The primitive mode of life of these
people, their religion, their peculiar
traits, their superStitions, the msera-
bic drudgery of their lives, in fact,
the whole round of their existence,
and, most of all, their great and
Astounding ignorance is all known to
John Fox, Jr., more than to any
other man.
The County Normal and Exami-
nations were held at this place last ,
summer and miscellaneous crowd of
young people filled the town for a
month and the small grandstand
Town by the river at every base ball
game.
One warm afternoon, one of these
teachers, a rather "soft"
'oung man with big brown eyes and
weak chin, occupied the top seat c
With a very voluble young woman a
'ho talked in a high key and famed Il
erself vigorously. D
The young woman was evidently o
rying to "show OFF, her converse Il
lonal powers to the very great amuse- P
lent of the other occupants of the q
eats.
Finally, she mentioned John Fox,
r., whereupon the young man inquir-
4 whethe>she had read any of his
tories. al
80 yes" gushed the young lady, al
You know, of course. they are all sc
rltten in niger. dialectr' The al
Dung man nodded vaguely. "There al
as one called "A Purple Rhode III