Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-12-01

so much interested in the addresses
that he could not write for LISTENING.
a large number of people are COM
planning that they could hear very
little of what Miss Johnson said last
iuesday evening. People sitting in
the back part of the hall, or any con-
siderable distance from the speaker.
had great difficulty in hearing what
she said.i This paper has frequently
called attention to the miserable a.
coustic properties of the High School
Chapel. a speaker standing back, un-
der that high EQUITY" can be heard
only with difficulty, particularly if the
speakers voice is weak, or lacks the
carrying" power. A sounding board
should be put in proper place over the
platform. Speakers coming here should
be apprised of the necessity for care
and effort in speaking if they wish
to be heard
1t is source of regret that these
ladies' should come this distance and
deliver fine addresses which could not
be heard. Can't something be done to
render the Chapel bearable and toll
cradle for speakers and hearers. The
same complaints are made every year.
The closing exercises of the High
School are not enjoyed, and lose much
of their good influences because the
audience cannot hear what is said.
Perhaps the readers of this pape r
would like little gossip" as to the
personal and private histories of the
two distinguished ladies who were
here on Tuesday. A few general
questions anticipated are answered
here.
Mrs. Valentine is the wife of Mr..
Benjamine B. Valentine, the Presi-
dent of the large and well known
Valentine Meat Juice Company. Her
husband is nephew of the famous
sculptor. She is President of the
Woman's Suffrage League, of Rich
mond, organized two years ago. She
has been prominent in public affairs
in her city for years. If memory is
not at fault she introduced the kim
dergarten schools in Richmond, and
the District Nurses Associ-
alton of Richmond, and is vitally
with the rise and progress
of the Richmond Educational League.
All of these institutions and organiza-
tions come under the head of the
Civic Betterment Association, as we
understand it, and it was during the
efforts of this progressive woman in
forwarding and prosecuting all this
work, that she became an ardent
She says that she soon
saw that the women lacked money
control sufficient to carry on their
work, and thiI source of power could
only come when women have more
control of the ballot-power to influ-
ence councils and legislation, chanels
through which appropriations are
made. Mrs. Valentine is a woman of
culture and high social standing and
influence in Richmond. She has no
children. Her husband is also an ar
dent suffragist
Miss Mary Johnson, physically
and mentally, is study and some
thing of wonder. Small of stature,
an invalid, almost, Il large part of
her life. She, in addition to perform
ing the duties of housekeeper and
nurse to her father for years, has
written a number of books. Her
books, all well known and popular,
are: Prisoners of Hope, To Have and
To Hold, Audrey, Sir Mortimer,
Goddess of Reason, Lewis Rand, The
Long Roll, aid Cease Firing, the last
now in course of preparation. II
seems almost incredible that a
woman, still young, physically not
strong, should be able to do so much.
In addition she has travelled extern
sively abroad, and made many public
addresses in many of the leading
cities of this and other countries.
The ancestral home of the Johnsons
Is In Buchanan, Botetourt county,
this State. Her father, the late John
VIM. Johnston, was distinguished
lawyer in his day, and later a rail-
road President, with headquarters in
Birmingham. His health failing, he
retired from business, and died in
Richmond about 8 years ago. His
brother, Walter Johnson, was also a
fine lawyer, and gave promise of emf
nence in his profession had he lived.
Miss JOHNSON has two brothers liv-
ing in Kentuckyand married sister
in New York. The authoress is a
small woman, weighing perhaps 12O
pounds, and ambitious, earnest,
thoughtful. Her literary genius and
attainment place her easily in the
catalog of distinguished women of the
country.