Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-11-30
An Interesting Letter.
Union Hall, Va, Nov. 27, 1911.

OulOu nan, va, NOV. Il, 1911.
Mr.. EDIToR:-
thank you for the kind things you
have said about my former letters.
do wish l could say something that
would not only interest your readers,
but would be of lasting benefit to every
boy and girl who may read this letter.
In my yearly diary have inserted
two articles taken from your issue of
the 10th, one of which is Curious Bits
of History" and which l have read and
re-read with pleasure. 1 ask myself
this question: What kind of boys were
these twelve men, and what kind of pa
rents had they, especially what kind of
mothers? Let me see if 1 can answer
this question, and want each boy who
may read this letter to picture them
himself, before he reads what l say
about them.
Well, my idea of them is that they
were honest, industrious, obedient and
polite. Their parents were good honest
people and all intelligent Christians.
Not one of them had an ignorant, un-
godly mother. A pious, intelligent, de-
voted mother is almost ''Siae qua non"
to any true success in life. Honest, in
corruptible men, such ss were those
twelve men, who names are mentioned
in the article, Curious Bits of His
tory" are now being educated in our
public schools and colleges. Our pure,
noble, Christian girls, the salt and the
light of every neighborhood and city in
which they are teaching, are sowing the
good seed in good ground, that has been
prepared by intelligent Christian moth
ers and there will be in days to come a
host of such men as are now prominent
in our country.
Almost the entire of the sixth period
of ten years of my life was spent at
Strother, Monroe county, Mo. Some
noble, wide-awake Christian gentlemen
induced me to take charge of the public
school there, known as the Vaughan
school. The neighborhood was to pay
me eight hundred and ten dollars and
gave me the privilege of charging all
pupils out of the district and all who
would come from a distance. 1t was
not long before l bought of William
Vaughan as much land as l needed to
build en- and pasture for horses and
cows. l erected an attractive two-story
building the lower part for my family
and the upper rooms for boarders.
added an ell on the east side and another
on the west. l bought land immediate
y across the road and put up large
building for boys. My last purchase
was tract near me of about sixty
acres, this being my fourth purchase of
land. had built all needed houses, and
my patronage had increased every year.
Both of my large buildings were full of
paying students, when my main build
ing was destroyed by fire. l was pre-
pairing to rebuild when l was induced to
go to Perry, Mo-, and before the year
was out the Lord had given me two
large, fine buildings and about or 10
acres of land adjacent to the town-an
ideal place for high school. If were
to undertake to mention the names of
the lovely girls and noble boys have
taught that give me and my angel wife
the credit of their success, would not
know where to begin or where to end.
Some Of them write me and give me
more credit than deserve, but this
they cannot do when speaking of the
mother of my children.
do hope if any one whom 1 have
taught reads this letter, he or she will
gladden. my heart with long letter.
FRENCH STROTHER.