The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1905-06-08
John Fox Jr. and His Books

. some time aud a psrt OF his storic.
are written about this section He
: was born at Stony Point. Bou, bon
Co. Ky. in 1868. his ancestors hay
b ing emigis,ed from Virginia many
years before. lie was always obeai
ent aud was very studious while in
school aud in sports he was always
the leader. In fact. he seemed TO be
a model for his comrades. After
several years Of hard study in the
public schools. he went TO Harvard.
where he graduated ia 1888 At the
sge Of twenty. lie ranked first in
his work, At college AMI in the drs-
matte plays given by hit class Al
ter graduation he decided 60 stuiv
law and attended the "Columbia Law
School" where he studied Tor time.
After much hari work he gave mp
law aud went into Journalism.
While he was sct,ng as reporter
Tor New York paper. his health be
gan 20 decline. At this time, there
was boom in coal lands and the
mining industries % the Cumberland
mountains. whore one Of his brothers
then lived Thinking that change
would be good ior his health. he viz
tied the home II hi, brother. During
his ,tsv ~ ,he mountains he hal
miHv aiveninfe~ ani rxperienc..s I
which ~ .ri-'l him ms>. If mater. I
ial -uiish'e l,r e.pv.
lii fret story. a Mountain e.
r"ra. Appeared ia the Craiuiv Nay d
az'ne 'n 1871 IN this hr ririur. IS b
the ltie and experience Of iich
v"nug man sad a mouutainrcr ei,l. /
The pictures Of the mountains ami
mounisinegfs are superb Thi- frs,
book showed what Mr.. Fox might &C
c"mplish In literary csreer.
Ills second story. a Cumberland
Vendetta" was written in 1895 /
THIS j. a novel interviewer with the
ifue hi-to-y ola Kentucky feud. aud
's one reads 10. he thanks God that
he Is not fusdist, and was never
engaged ia iued. SAYS the Watch.
man, These stories are tempestous-
ly alive. aud sweep the heart strings
with master hand" This book !,
very beautifully illustrated and i
we'll worth the while.
After this. he wrote Hell Fer ssr-
'in." book containing twelve short
stories, which were formerly publi.L-
ell IN harpers Weekly" The Cen.
'nrV Southern. and the Graphic
magazines. lie begins On Hell Fer
sar'sia treek where Rich Harm and ,
hsrvc Hall fail ont over Nance d..
hnrne. sad bahly wound sarh other
with their pistols. all ca account I'd
Vie sh'ver'r lies. for which Abe re
'or'sd 10 his Creator. Then comes
trough The Gap" where the an.
hor himself clubhei nan over the Z
lead with his pistol. Next. "A Trick a
II Trade" IN which Tom Perkins 4
IA learned the ways Of the "Furri- j.
lers" a
Another. "Graysans' B,hv q" o.
,raysoH takes baby. cradle aud an O.
rom the bedtiie Of = very sick moth. \
Q. away mp ia Crackers Neck. snd b
axes care Of j, until she RECEIVERS l.
't'll another. "Cuur,in' GA Cat,hin.r
'h'rh Is very funny aud interesting
"a Message IA she Ssni. " The
enat'f's Last Ira IT," sud Preach -
~ on King lom Come" give vlimn.
's OF the unique customs 81 the
'oon,aiueer. The passing OF Abra
am ohivers. " j. a superb hit Of hs.
Tor. The last is "A Parple Rhode.
endran, touching story OF how
.rayson fell from Bee Rock and kill- ca
himself while hunting for lsho,io oa
'ndfons Those stories are short, eo
lt grophic. giving sketches aud il. ta
sttations true t. American moan Oh
in lie. A.
HIS fifth story. he wrote in 1900 10
Juttenden." which Is Kentucky 10,
Tory Of love aud war /; grew out sta
ms experiences ss newspaper cor The
spondent during the spanish. ine
war. ~,
The following year he wrote &c,
'iaegEsss aud Rhodedcndron' me
i'0n eohesins twelve thrilling stor- pro
}. Tasse short stories contain con
~ interesting par, OF the authors Tic,
e. because each Of them grew on, ito,
some personal experience Of nj. tAs
a. tael
Af'er this. ia zoos he wrote his can
i novel. The Lutte Shepherd Of srp,
ngdom Gone" The "Banner'' a.,,
p. mo serial Tor many years has N
raesed more widespread attention worl
N a vide circle Of readers. North aud
south. IL has msay attractive IL
'lt'es. chief Of which probably n.
s'mPlieiiy and pathos Of his Char mor,
e''. lie has pictured .ymy.atheli- h. &
y BOY liie amoag moagaineers. tin.
~ Blue Grsss College IN the +.
pie days before the xss. class ma,
ing between the mcnntsinesr Or ri
the - If.s1rs.sI -