The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17
GIVE LEAD"

cover like 30 many rats, mostly diving
into hole under the house. and from
this vantage point. one realized. they
| made good use OF their sharp little
eyes.
We passed them by and stopped at
the low. open door of the farthest
cabin. In the half-darkness of the
windowless hut seated upon the floor.
sat the Hinkle. known jas Joe. indus
triously plating basket; about him.
quite filling the small place. were wo-
men and children; his wife, "a white"
mountaineer) her children. a daugtt-
er-in-law and her infant. and last, but
most interesting of all, odd Liz the
pure. unadulterated type, now al
most extinct The two older women
and children were barefoot: Joe wore
boots. All the adults were chewing
tobacco.
asked Joe II he would let me make
a picture of him making a basket He
replied In tone OF eager friendliness
that ne would like to have a picture
II ut wouldn't cost too much" Upon
being assured that he would not have
to pay for it, he came and seated him
self outside. as directed. 1t being i'm
possible to get any interior views on
account of the darkness. In the mean
time Joe's wife, with true Virginia
hospitality, had sent one of the chill
oren to borrow a couple of chairs: she
evidently not owning such thing.
The child returned with one chair, and
said that was all there was
But I was fascinated with the utter
ugliness of "old Liz" as she squatted
on the dirt hearth within the cabin.
Come out and have your picture
made" I ventured.
I'm too ugly, Laydee," she replied,
goodhumoredly.
Presently she came to the door and
stood watching our preparations. Lay
dee" she said to me In n low. conf
Dental tone. "get him to make me
picture by myself, want to give 1t
to friend
Her bare feet, although misshapen
to some extent from seventy odd years
of exposure and service were delicate
ly shaped and small. as We're also her
hands. Her hair. originally coal black,
coarse and straight, was turning grey.
1 asked her II she had Indian blood,
but she shook her head and answered.
II don't know. Laydee.''
DO you know where your father
and mother came from?" asked her
II can't remember, Laydee"
"Old LIZ and Joe are supposed to
be sister and brother. but they are so
strikingly unlike that one instantly
wonders If they are not merely half
sister and brother or even not related
at ALL Joe's bare arm and shoulder.
from which the ragged shirt fell away
was very white, almost blonde. while
Old LIES withered skin was dead leaf
brown.
II wanted to bring you something"
I said to Old Liz, but hadn't time to
look for ANYTHING"
Give me a coat (meanIng dressl.
she said. ito wear to preachln."
1t is quite probable that she was
good looking at very early stage OF
her career. Her features are not at
all bad, but there has been little too
much natural living and much too lit
tie massage cream in LIS life. and In
contest for the ugliest human be-
ing alive she would be high as
a candidate. Il
One has to be very tActful in study
Ing Their, on account Of the pride of the
native mountaineer mothers. who are
giving of their superiority to the
younger generation. Joe Hinkle's wife
Is one of these. She showed tho great
est affection to her children and even
a kindly tolerance for Old Liz.
One looking about tho little cabins
cannot but wonder how they live. They
grow no vegetables. keep no chickens.