The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1916-12-29


AIstoricsliy: no city in America 10 o
greater interest than Richmond. Virginia
Founded in l7x3 by Col. VIM. Byrd. il
, is one of our Oldest cities. The cspito
4 the ''Old Dominion" and Of the lily
conceived Confederate government, fam.
81 for its iron works. its flour mills snd
tobacco factories, il enjoys . reputation
that 10 International.
Here in 80 John's Church on Church.
hill. Patrick Henry delivered his fsmou.
Grafton here va the great slave mar
ket from which the unhappy slaves wers
sold to the sugsr aud rice plantations al
the South; herr was found the flower oi
southern gsllantry AMI chivsIry. Fo'
iour long yesrs. during which our fair
land was bathed i'm blood. Richmond.
the beantiful queen OF the Southland.
Vas the great objective of the Union ar
mles and the cyno-ure of the civilized
world.
In m humble home, in this city, five
years alter the Civil War, the writer Wa
born. Ny parents were Virginia Eliza
beth Harris and Rev. VIM. II. Harris.
Isaac Harris was my fathers father. Ill
came from Powhatsn county. Va and
belonged 70 Quaker by name Of VIM.
Piesssnts, who in conformity with the
Quaker crSsom liberated him when hs
wss shirsy Ssars Old. Ny Dsther's maid
en- name was Davis. Her parents wer
Joanna and Delaware Davis They wer
ii Indian, Caucasian and Negro extrsc
ton, and they aud their ancestors wer
iree as Tar back ~ their history can h.
traced
My mother married at tie tender AZ
OF fourteen. This marriage w.s blessed
with twenty one children. only six OF
whom reached moturity. She received
fair education and was very fond of
reading. She was an sfiectsonate moth
er, loving and dutiful wife and her
<lsry wss her home. Fathers life wa
very much like that Of tie average Ne
rro by OF that day. As boy he wac
'boInd out" 10 tirsi one employer and
then another. lie Was eventually sp-
Prenticed I'd shoe maker and bsrsnIs
an expert workman. Tho il Was strictly
sgainst the laws of Virgins anil other
slsve-holding stxt@- for . Negro 70 b~
caught with book in his hands, he
maBged IN some way To- learn 70 read.
Tie had an nDconqnerabie passion for
learning and many are the amusing sto-
rie- be tells Of his sdroitnevs in inveigling
his white play mstss into lnstructing hIm.
tie never lost sight of his gal, but util-
lied every opportunity for Its attainment
tie relst-s an amusing story of hIs at
tempt u teach himself. Not being ia
milisr with tie di2eritscsi marks, he
made many mistakes in pronunciation.
J'e Of the words that gave him -erious
trouble, ~ss the word EeninsulH. H.
Fersistesi IN pronouncing n E,en-in-su'ls,
with the ornt on the gu. Even after
he knew b~tter. It Was very difficult for
him 70 cure himself of this error. Be
canse Of the laws and OF the efforts %
preveLt Negroes frorp getting an eiucs-
ton, le had 70 carry hs hooks in hi-
breast and rrvlte ~ sssbles and other -
eludef plso~s.
After the vsr his educsslonsl progress
ws rapid. knNrins ths Rrhmond
Theological -eIniusry he sp~ns sewrs
yezr-, leaving t~O yesrs tefors srsdus-
ton 10 enter the profession Of tesching.
One little incident that occurred during
h : school days. shows in no unmistsk-
able manner. the quality of his spplics-
ton. He vss given . problem in msth-
emstic- q short while before the semin.-
~ closed for the term. Failing N solve
70 before the vsv-ion closed, he lshnred
on if during tie yhols ysesss,n and ~ss
rewarded luss teioss ths opening az the
DeTt session. With tbe correct Solution.
A party OF y Jung men were Discussing
the subject Of how fsr bach they could
rernember. One Of them said he could
remember distinctly when he va tive
years old. Another ssid he could re-
member shen he wss too. IL We nov
~ 70 my byother Gsosss-ol whom y
shall sprak sssre-ses length In . sub
~quent chapter. In that peculiar. drosI
for which he 10 noted. be ssid
We'll, it SEEMS ~ me that can rensm-
ler just iItsle bit before ! 80 horn. I
rsn't remembsr quite - fer bsrt - ny
Dso<hsr. bot have . VIVID rsooilscsioa