The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-09-29
SOME HOME COMING
AFTERTHOUCHTS

HlEklHUUGHl0
Editor Big Sandy News: -Inasmuch
as aas amnng the disappointed ones,
| have II In my heart 10 set down
some afterthougEts concerning the
memorable centennial and home COM
Ing week recently celebrated by the
dearest town in the world But these
afterthoughts are after only in the
sense that they are being written af-
ter the golden week; they have been
entertained and thought through be-
fore It is not too much TO say that
they fairly haunted me when memory
was especially quickened by the events
which were crowded into the week
Itself I had hoped that IL might be
convenient for our efficient commit
tee to set the date In September rath-
err than August, AZ I had an engage
. ment Of years standing for the lat =
ter month. Al one time It seemed pos
siblc for me. TO come anyway, and ]
was Just ready TO wire the program
committee. asking for the privilege Of
a sermon appropriate to the occasion.
But the tide Of events turned against
me, Nevertheless, | did come home in
spirit. though my bodily presence was
detained at g distance of thousand
miles, ..... ..... 49,.
Began As Printers Devil. d..
: Ny arst aftcrthupght centers about
the Big SANDY News, It's remarkably
fine memorial number. Having been a
printers devil myself, and knowing
something Of stocking the fires Of en-
ergg necessary TO getting ont an az
etaEe NEWSPAPER whs profoundly i'm
pressed win the skin and toll, both
mental and mechanical. which went
into the making nf an edition (bat win
be long treasured by every loyal Lnu-.
Isaiah. The work OF going over Iha
files OF the NEWS for many years past
that we might have a kind OF historic
moving picture Him in personal and
general references, was immense As
the edition unrolled it's glowing pages
before my admiring eyes and grateful
heart I felt Ike shouting, not merely.
big Sandy Against the World" but:
THE Big Sandy News AgalnSt the
World" ..
Nor can resist adding IN this CON
nectlon, that I am heartily proud to
have begun life. even before the teen"
age was upon me. In the printing Of
fce OF the Big Sandy News. | count
those among the happiest days OF n
happy life Even the memory OF the
enthusiasm with which pursued those
influential and formative years as dew
Il. printer foreman and assistant man
ager is OF the essence OF pure delight
~ rlf
day will stand out more clearly In
mental perspective than that first
morning when the Editor set me to
Eorti.g "pL" II was a radiant Monday
morning, on the previous Saturday
or Sunday am not sure which
Uncle Hrnry sullivan told me that ar
rangcmonts had been made for me TO
begin work the folloNSing Monday
that | was 10 receive one dollar per
week Tor six months, that I was to
come and live AT Grandmother Sulli
vans and pay my board by carrying
up tho coal and kindIinE from certain
rather dark regions. as my bOyish
Imagination pictured them. under that
dear old brick house, now long level
with the dust, but which will ever be
synonymous with an exceedingly hap
by childhood. Such grandmother, |
and such kind -heartcd, indulgcnt I'M
Giles Il would be hard 10 surpnssi To
have been enriched with a noble par
entage--that Is something TO be ever
lastingly thankful for, and then to
have had this supplemented by such
additional parental hearts why, itI
makes one fell with Wordsworth. that
vows mad been taken for him indeed.
But getting a job with the NEWS
and a place to stay did not solve the
whole ot the problem confronting me.
II was also necessary to obtain my
fathers consent Having reached the
rather callow age of twelve years, II /
Is quite possible that did not go
about this phase OF the matter very
automatically Al any rate, on going 1
out home Sunday afternoon and toll
Ing my father OF the new realms OF /
Inviting adventure awaiting me In the /.
form Of printers devll. found him |
decidedly unfavorable, Yet. AS every
body Knows. he had soul OF velvet
under an apparently harsh exterior. /
His children knew this both by in
stinct and experience and habitually I
took advantage Of t.. So. having got /
ten my meagcr belongings together IN /.
a kind OF improvlsed knapsack; and I.
realizing, moreover, that my bare feet
and the open gate might see me safe
Is through the danger zone OF switch /.
es that were frequently threatened (
and rarely applied, | made for the I.
dusty road, the town hin. and the land I
Of my dreams which happened to be
the old red brick clerks office in the I
court house square! '.. Il
All these hopes and fears, mark you
were pressed into that fatcful Sunday. .
So eager was | to enter my career of
deviltry that slept little that night /
Consequently. Monday morning found
me up before the dawn and Captain |
Frecse's most alert ROSTERS. Taking
up my position on the Main street 4
stile Of the old fence surrounding the /.
court house, began a long period of
"watchful waiting" Now, to be per-
fectly frank. and In the interest OF
keeping this record straight. and |
moreover, II hard pressed, Icould sub |
poena Miss Willie Burgess that was as
a material witness in the case--in
those days the Editor OF the Big San
dy New was not UP as early on Mon |
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