West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-09-30
Old Pre.tonlsn Write.
CmARI.ERoT. Pa Semi. 8

CHARLERoI, Pa, Sept. s, 1915
Editor Argus:
Dear SRA checkless letter from "A
long INDUCED beneficiary can be only
disappointing 10 the kindly inclined edi-
tor. Surely he does not care To welcome
and entertain one, or the communication
OF one, who writes from condition of
indulgence and arrears.
Still, prompted by desire to indicate
my appreciation and actually offer what
might be some little return, | beg 10 saw
that II you consider it possibly available
L will undertake 10 write an installment
or two reminiscent of early days-school
days-in gray and sweet old village as
It was them with poetic setting in
Preston county-Albright, near a couple
decades ago. l would not presume to
suggest the undertaking were il personal
with myself only, or even my mates OF
those days-some now dead and others
wearing the silver threads spun by the
intervening years and the sorrows and
vital concern we come 10 have for those
who become one with us after school
days"
would not, i say. do this IA personal
indulgence or for limited perusal, bu,
because | know If done simply and truly
it will touch the hearts of many adul,
readers who have been youths themselves
(and most Of them have) and recall ex
periences 80 similar az To make them
appreciable to their own early days.
Days that are held sacred as the hottest
Sabbaths that go to sweeten and leayen
our sinful lives.
In the immediate neighborhood where
my boyish associates have mostly re-
manned there has been the usual aston
ishing result of multiplication and the
hills and valleys are populated by two or
three generations of descendants, and
they will surely be at least casually in
terested in their parents early exploits
on the very school green where they
themselves later exhibited prowess at the
bat and posed for the admiration of the
beauties (none so beautifully OF their
own days.
| My mother, whose years as well as
| qualities command the reverence, and
who "still abides with me-" and myself
know the precious value OF the old home
paper. 1t shows us the old faces. the
unchanged hills, the pleasant fields and
familiar paths-all of cherished associa-
tons OF days long gone. We see them in
that light by which the absent only can
view them. The mention of a familiar
locality opens to us vistas-suggests and
prompts memories upon which we linger
and dwell long and tenderly.
Let me pay here the tribute due the
humble local correspondent, that per.
sonitication OF literary ambition or useful
intent, as the case may be IL was largely
the former when the present writer wore
laureate wreath-of his own placing-and
assumed the office OF historian and
chronicler for his own neighborhood by
the Cheat. Since then, through the &C.
cident OF the moment and dearth of mat.
ter, an occasional editor has given me
space that could have been much better
filled, but have never since been Sc
dazzled, overpowered by the glory that
obtains TO authorship as ] was when the
sounding pen name that | had adopted
came out at the end of my local letter in
all the grandeur of print IN the cores
pondents' page of The Argus of those
days. But digress.
We certainly appreciate the splendiC
letters of Mr.. Matlick and Judge Shaw
The former can drop into poetry" upor
occasion. That we remember an effort
that is an accomplishment-of his i'm thi
direction should CRAFTY him as proof O
its durable, deserving quality. Mr. Mat
lick is mine OF genealogy and his arti
Giles should incite to active interest other
OF the old Preston families. | move tn,
organization OF the Preston County His
torical Society and nominate Mr.. Matlicl
for its first president. venture also L
hazard the guess that Mr.. Matlck is Ar
antiquarian and can show relics from hi
native haunts and elsewhere.
Judge Shaw is like any other bow AVA,
from home. He wants TO write back anC
tell the folks about it ala kindly
thoughtful trait. In his thoughtful, gen
erous nature he wants TO share with hi,
hiends-his old, which are his most sa
cred friends-what he has found OF pleas
ure and interest to himself. And he doe.
1t in his articles. The Judges writing /,
clear and entirely free from anything like
effort to impress to his own credit, O,
from bombast. He has a ready vocabu.
larry, and uses it with judgment. One
thing always occurs 10 me i'm reading
the Judge-his hearty interest i'm the
things that we would think his wears
would discard. 1t is beautiful thing Ia
see. Here is our hand, Judge, hoping
that you may WELD the pen many long,
peaceful years to the pleasure and profit
OF your many friends
One Of things that recommends the
writer OF letters is when az well as how 10
leave off. Early is the word if he is To
be again welcomed. So let US concentrate
on the check, be done with throwing
dust. IL takes collateral 10 keep the
wheel revolving.
McCLcRTMAsoS.
| -k-
South American Trade