West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-12-04

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10 the historic old town. which Tor the last
forty years has been slumbering between
life and death and which has at last
entered new era. The strangers are
now hocking to the Capital OF one OF
the greatest counties from both mineral
and an agricultural standpoint and even
the old residents OF the town are amazed.
to think that a town situated as II Is on the
| beautiful table land Immediately over.
looking the fertile valley of the Cheat. and
surrounded as II is On either side by the
| Alieghany and Briery mountains. forming a
valley on the high lands. the climate and
water OF which is not cqualcd anywhere
within the knowledge OF the writer. would
be almost unnoticed and unsought Tor so
many years.
When the train pulled into the depo, the
| crowd was so immense Tor town OF but
ten hundred Inhabitants Knowing but few
OF the people elbowed my way through
the crowd and with grip in hand started
up the toboggan slide. had not pro
ceeded FAR until met my old friend Lee
Shaw with one leg OF trowsers rolled 10
and with both hands full OF paint buckets
and fair supply OF brushes which showed
| signs OF having seen better days When
| within ten PAGES OF the man that at differ.
| ent periods of his eventful life has been
| reported dying from the effects OF gun shot
wounds received In bate. | shouted hello
old boy. is Il possible that you still live
move aud have being in the world ?"
While the old veteran was surprised al
at my presence he cody sought level
place on which TO deposit his buckets.
after which he Strengthened himself and
assumed the bearing and dignity that
| characteristics those that have met the
shocks OF war. When he greeted me with
| a warm shake Of the hand remarklng that
while he was surprised to meet an old
| timer and friend thlt he had not met for
many years he considered the meeting
| providental. as matters had taken on a
great change in the old town since VIC last
met. that the long looked for boon had at
| last come in sight when | remarked.
what means all this ARA, Of buckets aud
paints7'
Well you see my friend that willie am
not painter by trade. believe In the free
use of the liquid. Nothing like having
ones buildings looking nice and clean when
the buyers come around and they arc now
| thicker than grssshoppers 10 4 dry season
am simply touching up some spots missed
by the painters" DO you really think
the boom has come TO stay ?" well you
are aware that am not one OF those ex.
citable fellows that turn their shirt wrong
side out every time a property changes
hands. am quite conservative along those
lines-to much so to please ever, body H.
town But you are also aware that am
oil Inc q
want to do the square thug aud ! shall
Insist on others doing the same. so loag as
am here below; but in answer to-. your
| question, would say that Il looks to me as
though Kingwood was on the eve OF
great prosperity outpouring. ! think that
about all we lack is the cleaning up OF the
| affairs our town government and better
transportation IA llifies. IL appears 10 bc
| the consensus OF opinion that msDy dollars
Of our public funds has not thus far been
accounted FOR. 1t ~ now nearly a year
since oar ex-TowD Sergeant went out OF
| Office and am creditably informed that as
yet no settlement has been had with him
| by our town officers. Such neglect is
calculated to injure the prospects OF the
town. However we arc relying on Mayor
Ford TO clear all such matters up. II he
does not II viii be taken for granted that
| he Is not the man TO successfully administer
| the affairs OF the sheriffs Office"
At this juncture my inward clock struck
| for twelve and babe my old friend sdicu
and made straight for the jenkins House
where eojoyed a fepast that would do
credit TO any town. After dining I made
general survey Of the beautiful town. It
4 I
say that in my humble Judgment no town
| in the state can knock King~ood out on
cleanliness and Goodness all thai she lacks
Is industries 10 employ labor population.
aud transportation to market her products
and her local government administered to-.
the satisfaction Of her people and in 80
cord with their Intelligence
In passing around Courthouse square &.
was hailed by one Of the living land marks
OF not ouiy Preston county bn, the state
as we'll recognized the voice thar cmi.
mated from a we'll furnished and 90 pulaf
law Office as that Of the Hoo lanes A.
Brown The same bad been ringing In my
ears since 1861 As early as the date nsmed
! had heard Of his cloqucnoe as an orator
and statesman. made haste 10 respond
10 The voice heard ard the invitation cone
in and be seated 50 heartily extended.
had not moro than entered when iho
venerable jurist arose from his Office clair
and gfaspcd my hand. remarking that
while be had not met Tor many years that
he knew me on sight After being com
foriabiy seated IN front Of a glowing CRATE
Ere Mr. Brown at once proceeded 10 re-.
view the history Of the macy Yeas that
had elapsed since our last meeting nina
teiy pointing out many changes that the
country had undergone. as we'll as his own
history. briefly. I sat amazed ri his ne
collection Of 50 much Of the unafittcn
history Of not Only our own commonwealth
bat Of other states. quoting many predic.
tons Of learned statesmen as well ss his
own
Grasping the opportunity ! euquired. how
does itcome that with all our qualifications
and social refinement that you are content
70 simply follow the practice Of your pro.
fessioni' wen that question has been
/ profounded By many OF my friends and ad
mircs You see the unfortunate part Of
the duties Of citizenship is 70 harmonic
ones opinions with those Of the m0lttudcs
You will no doubt remember az the close
Of the civil war the matter Of recon.