The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-01

the past quarter of century has
made Ledger the most remarkable
mountain community in America. His
EFFORTS have transformed this immed :
late section into a veritable mountain
Utopia and demonstrated the rich pos
sibilities OF the sturdy Southern noun
taineer. under an environment afford
ing literary advantages and practical
training.
Hemmed in by mountains thar rise
on every side as far as the eye can see
and entirely cut off from the outside
world until the completion of the new
Clinchheld Railroad. which runs with
In Few miles of Ledger, these dwell
lers of wilderness region of tn,
Southern Appalachians have for near
ly twenty-five years been the benefici :
aries OF most extraordinary humani-
tar!anism.
Professor Charles H. Wing, now re-
siding In q suburb OF Boston, retired
on account Of age and physical infrm-
'ty. has made this and future genera
lions OF these mountain people his
debtors. Right here in the heart of
mountainous Mitchell county he spent
vast sum OF money in educating and
training the young OF this locality. He
has brought to their very doors. In
this rugged and Isolated region. some
OF the mort potential advantages of
the centres of learning. The wonder
.ui WORK OF this man has never come
TO the attention OF the outside world
because OF his aversion to the SOCIAL
ed house-top philanthropy and his
burning passion to do service to hu
manitY under circumstances that would
admit OF no doubt as to the sincerity
OF his motive. Professor Wing has
given lavishly for the love of giving,
ana here In the rugged mountain
region there is public library Of
more than $1,000 volumes that would
be a credit to city.
This is not all. Years ago Processes
Wing established a public school with
manual training department These
advantages have been eagerly seized
by the mountaineers. and the result is
that they have made infinite progress
Ihey have mission in life SoualoI
sno Ignorance sre not to be four
among these humble mountain peopl,
through whose veins coarscs the pu.-
est Anglo Saxon blood
PROFESSOR Wings work has touched
every phase of mountain life here
aoouts and the influences that havo
emanated from him are what have boen
abied the people to show this Amos,
Unparalleled progress. He has invest
ell In the hearts md minds of an hon
eHt and grateful people
Came South In 1885.
professor Wing formerly held tho
chair OF ehemistry at the Massachus
etts Institute of Technology. Seeking
recreation. he came South in 1886. and
uroNe thirty miles across the mountain
from Marion. n. c.. then the nearest
railroad station. He penetrated Tho
heart of rough mountain region and
In the midst OF great virgin stretch
or SOIL and timber established n sum-
mer home in tiny but picturesque
valley He found scenery which can
not he surpassed In grandeur cast OF
the Rockies. He found the tall noun
talns decked in tangled green and the
mountain flowers in the glory OF full
blossom The heavy laurel under
growth and the ubiquitous rohdoden-
dron made travel impossible cxcept
along the narrow roads or mountain
trails He found an unromantfc and
serious people. Isolated from the out
SIDE world by great natural barriers
Among them he lived loved and labor
ed for nearly a quarter of a century
until four years ago. under the weight
of his eighty-three years. he was com
PEELED to retire
The ancestors of these plain. unoh-
strusive people had generations before
fled into the mountains to escape Tho
histility of bands OF raiding redskins
They were the possessors OF a veri
table Switzerland in America, with NJ.
Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the
Rockies. lifting its craggy slopes to a
dizzy height on the one hand. and Old
yellow on the other. with It's verdan.
head bathed in the clouds
Stunned Publicity
NO blast of trumpets accompanied
90.
work Stunning publicity and studi-
ously avoiding even formal recognition
from the outside world he lahored for
twenty odd years with spirit OF true
philanthropy that at once stamps him
as a master humanitarian
Unstintedly he applied his large per
sonal fortune to his Undertaking. ana
on every side may vet he found among
the renains of his work. physical evil
dences of his prodigal Kindness
Here Professor Wing built beautl-
full summer home. which he caIlsd
owls Rest" and with which he con
sented TO part only four years ago. II
Is now the property of Mrs Henry n.
Meloney. of Richmond. who occupies II
during the summer months
Professor Wing was a many sided
mana graduate of Heidelbcrc Uni
Nersity. a musician Of great accom-
pIlshmenr master of most OF tn.
sciences and many of the arts I'm.
mediately after settling he had stores
OF equipment hauled thirty miles
across the mountains and installed an
electric lighting plant. operated by
Fasolene power. He was skilled in mo.
chsnics and established carpento,
shop, machine shop and blacksmith
shop. using steam power
with this machinery AT his com
mahd Professor Wing set to work TO
supply the needs OF his mountain
neighbors. Assisted nv willing hand.
ne felled the timber. sawed the Il,m
her. and erected d councillors three
story school building He equinped
the ground floor as a department of
manual training. while the remainde,
OF the building was used for the MAJ,