The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-12-31
MFMRER or
A RETR0SPECTION BY A CITIZEN
OF DREYFUS, KY.

James Lunsford of Dreyfus writes
us TO the effect Of the following
81 was born in Jackson County, Jul,
1, "a, 1859, two years after the county
was formed The greater part of the
IS years have lived in this county.
II has been my pleasure to be in
touch with the people in one way
or another all these years. | was
h6nored by the people Of my county
twice by being. elected to the office
OF County Judge and have since
served as an officer in other Offices
For thirty-iive years have been a
minister Of the Gospel; being iden-
titled with the Disciple Church and
rendering most of the service in the
mountains. The known results Of
my labors are represented by elev-
en- hundred souls having been
brought into the saving power of the
Master.
now want to mention some of the
improvements between now and my
boyhood days. The common school
system did not amount to much IS
years ago, in fact Che parents were
not interested in education. The
school houses were built of round
poles. No windows we're provided
more than the cracks in the walls.
p. Often no fire place or stove was
provided. The seats were simply
logs split open and legs put in them.
There was no use for blackboard
as they did not study arithmetic
much. With the blue back spelling
book as the only text; a well seas
oned black hickory usually in the
hands of a strong man as the only
restraint; and more than likely the
teacher holding a license obtained
from the educational board; we can
see why so many children grew up
not being able to read and write.
could not read or write till | was
eighteen years of age. | have
thought many times while struggling
with the problems of life how very
unfortunate for me that such oppor-
tunities as Berea College offers to
the boys and girls of the present
were not extended to me. did not
know the College and it did not find
me.
My father, William Lunsford, was
a soldier in the civil war. and died
in the service when | was three
years old. My mother died when |
was twelve years old, and then
my environments were such that
feel that | have missed very
much OF life. When I compare the
conditions of today with those OF
nearly three score years that have
just passed and note the changes for
the better in the people, the improve
ment in educational work, better
farming, better school houses, better
teachers, better schools, better
churches, better civilization, better
morals, more christian refinement,
young people taking hold OF life as
though il was worth living, cannot
help but attribute much OF this to
the good work that Berea College
has been and is doing. speak from
my own personal knowledge. have
known young men and young ladies
destitute OF means, who have been
taken by the college and have been
allowed to work their way in part
and likely the other part being do
mated by some kind friend. Such
have obtained good education and
.oday are holding responsible posi-
tiOns and doing good work. | am
in sympathy with the efforts Of the
said college as ii has benefited my
family in the above mentioned ways.
And now young men and ladies
take advantage Of the opportunities
offered you today. You may neglect
them but you will be sorry when ii
is too late.
| recommend The Citizen for
every home, because il gives us the
news at home and abroad reliable
and clean. Morally il is sound. Re.
ligiOusly il has no warfare 10 wage
upon any denomination. II helms ma