Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-11-18
SCHOOL COMMUNICATION.
PROF. N. E. COOPER, PRrN. OrroMAl
HIGH SCHOOL.

PROF. N. E. COOPER, PRrN. OTTOMAN
HIGH SCHOOL,
DEAR SiR:-I wish to set you right in
reference to the talk | had with one of
the school trustees short time before
my article came out in the CITIZEN on
November 4th.
My article was written and sent in or
the 18th day of October, 1910, but owing
to lack of space. l suppose, was no,
published until November 9TH. l don'i
ask you to take my word for this, bat
refer you to the Editor as TO what time
my communication was received at the
CITIZEN Office. You can very readily
see that my article was in no way con.
nected with the talk / had with the
trustee, as the day / was seen talking
with him was October Goth. which was
after my article was written; and will
remind you that our talk was in the
open with another gentleman present
during our conversation.
heartily concur in what you and the
other distinguished characters to whom
you refer me say In reference TO ''De-
veioping a sound mind in healthy
body" In fact. approve of clean
athletics as much as you do, but am un-
alterably opposed to closing schools
for the boys TO play match games OF
baseball, or any other games for that
matter. You seem TO think that man
has to be prophet in Israel and a grad
uate Of high school or college to en-
title him to public expression of his
honest opinion concerning matters per-
tanning to the public's good. but as !
don't agree with you along that line
shall in the future. as have always en-
deavortd to do in the past, continue to
express by humble opinions, with due
regard, however, for the feelings OF
others. even though it subjects me To
the harsh criticism and biting sarcasm
of the learned principal Of the Ottoman
High School,
i had written more detailed reply
To your very unkind and unprovoked
criticism, Of my limited education, but
since doing so have been informed by
a patron of your school, who seems to
be in close touch with you, that you
were persuaded by your school boys to
write TO me as you did. Therefore |
will simply state that my father died
when l was mere boy, and as my
mother was poor woman (though one
of the purest and truest that ever lived)
/ had TO lay aside my books at an early
age and go to work to help support her
and an orphan sister. Perhaps, had my
father lived, and served on some city
council for number of years, could
have secured better education.
Lack of education is not my fault,
but my misfortune. However, Prof,
Cooper, permit me to say that if it af-
fords you and your school boys-especi-
ally the members of your Latin class
(of whom you write so boastfully simply
because they, after having studied Latin
several sessions, corrected one who
never studied that language for as long
period as one minute in the spelling of
one word of only four letters) any
pleasure to ridicule my misfortune you
are heartily welcome to the same; as |
am always glad to contribute to the
pleasure of others even though they
use me unkindly and discourteously. for
the blessed Master tells me to return
good for evil and to do good to those
who despitefully use me.
In conclusion, Prof. Cooper, permit
me to say that should be drawn into
another newspaper controversy, sim
cerely trust it may not only be done by
graduate of High School or college,
but also by one who has taken a few
lessons at least in that very important
and most useful institution usually
known as the school of politeness.
EMLAw LEWIS.
Millenbeck. Va, Nov. Is, 1910.