Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-26
Barnwell. S. C.. October Is, 1902.

odIuWell, .. u. oClODeE 70, lsSSS
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Some one asked you about Charles
Fox, the novelist. You correctly located
the man as John Fox, Jr. Allow me to say
that since 1883 John Fox has been Iiv-
ing In Big Stone Gap. Va, and it is there
in that. the most unique. town in Vir-
ginia. that he has made his rep
utation as writer OF fiction. Tho
scenes of most Of his short stories are
laid In Virginia, and many OF his char
acters are well-knowu men of southwest
Virginia, among them Joseph Builitt.
General Ayers, Tate Irving or. IT,. D.
5. Wentz. In his most beautiful story.
THE Purple Rhodendron.'' he immortal
lied former Richmonder OF prominence.
The Ke1tuckians' and "Crittenden'' ara
his longest stories. and the scenes OF
both are laid in Kentucky. He'll Fer
Sartin," THE Purple Rhodendron." ''Tha
Senator, "A Mountain Europa, and
others of his dialect stories. are written
about that wilderness. partly In Virginia
and partly in Kentucky. destined to be
the Pittsburg district of the South. His
latest volume is entitled Bluegrass and
Rhodendron." and is. TO me. the most IN
teresting Of all of his works, for the
stories are almost all true to the condt-
tons Of southwest Virginia and Ken
lucky and some Of them are simply mar
rations Of real events.
A Charming Man.
Personally. John Fox is a charming
man. He comes of one of the best Blue
grass families, and is one OF seven bro
theirs who graduated from Harvard. His
early training was under Charles A.
,ho nd af
cur best young writer's. Fox is a per-
sonal friend of r. H. Daviess. and stood
up with him. at his marriage. James
Lane Allen and Thomas Nelson Page
are both devoted to him. and both have
visited him at his home at Big Stone Gap.
Fox graduated under James Lane Allen
| IN one of the Kentucky colleges in which
Allen was a professor, and it was from
him that he drew much of his inspiration.
| Fox is we'll known in literary circles in
| Washington, New York, and Boston, az
we'll as most all of the northern cities.
| His popularity is great among his thou
sands Of friends, and women run mad
| over him.
AII-Round Good Fellow.
| AT home, he is at home in every sense
of the word. He Is a member OF the Big
Stone Gap Ball team. and is the best
| player on it. He is a good golfer, a mag
nificent swimmer, the BEST fisherman in
southwest Virginia (save Josh Buliittl.
| a superb horseman and dead shot. He
! has an excellent voice. and sings the
| primitive songs Of the mountaineer In q
manner to delight one who knows how
! it should be done. AT whist he is an ex-
pert. In fact. in all of the accomplish
ments of those many things that go to
make up an American of the best type.
| MIR. Fox excells. To day he is easily one
! Of the most interesting figures ana
strongest characters in the South
TO Rival PittsburE.
Big Stone Gap is one Of the oldest towns
| in southwest Virginia. Twelve years ago
| it was established by the descendants OF
| those same brave Virginians who one
| hundred and twenty-five years ago fought
| their way over the mountains OF Virginia
| and Kentucky, and through the wilderness
of the Cumberland. to found the grand
| est State west of the Alieghanies-ken.
lucky The Foxes, the Clays, the Nc,
| Dowells, the Bullitts. the Paynes. the
| Hardness, the Irvines. the Critterdeus
laid tho cornerstone, and they were
Joined by the best blood in eastern Viz
ginia. There they have built a town
which will some day rival Pittsburg. To-
day it is one of the beSt-known towns OF
that section.
People Stylish.
It would surprise you 10 kno" thaC ehe
people of Big Stone Gap have the GUS
toms of Louisville and Richmond. Ihere
you will find people dining at Z. with ewes
ming dress; cards. receptions. and city
!amusements and recreations prevail, and
have prevailed since the beginning
The scenery is beautiful beyond descrtp>
ton. and some day the mountains theret
abouts will ba fullsof pleasure-seekers.
Please pardon this rambling and hur>
riedly-wristeu letter. which was suggest.
ed by the fact that John Fox, Jr. one OF
the best-known Virginia writer's, and the
best delineator of mountain life that Ane-
RIGA has produced. is almost unknown IN
Richmond; and this proves the DrovesS'
"a prophet
Truly and sincerely.
| W. H. JONES.