Tag Archives: Logan

Banco News 06.10.1921

26 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek, Logan

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A correspondent named “Brown Eyes” from Banco on Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items dated June 7, which the Logan Banner printed on June 10, 1921:

Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Chapman have returned home from Logan where they have been visiting their daughter, Rosa Ellis.

Mrs. Bunce Queen was calling on home folks Monday.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bob Baisden, a son.

We are glad to note that Miss Myrtle Duty is improving.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Pauley were calling on Mrs. Bell Queen Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ellis were calling on the latter’s parents Wednesday.

Mrs. Tara Baisden was visiting Bunce Queen Sunday.

Nancy Duty has returned home after a visit with Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Chapman.

Good wishes to the Banner. I promise to come again.

Banco News 06.04.1926

19 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by in Banco, Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Estep, Logan, West Hamlin

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An unknown correspondent from Banco on Big Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on June 4, 1926:

Here we are back again into our friendly circle, The Banner family, with a few items from the progressive little town of Banco.

Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Stone and Mrs. Lizzie Perdue and daughter, Louise, of Banco motored to West Hamlin last Sunday and all reported a very enjoyable day.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baisden and children of Needmore were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Duty of Spring Dale last Tuesday.

B.R. Lucas and son Freddie of this place attended church at Big Creek last night.

Mrs. Charles C. Varney and daughter Madeline were the all day guests of Mrs. J.B. Lucas at Pumpkin Center last Wednesday.

Miss Charlotte Chapman of Estep was a business caller in Banco last week.

Wonder who the girl was at Big Creek last week that laid her arm around a Banco Boy’s neck for a strawberry?

Miss Marea Lucas was calling on Misses Mattie and Ollie Varney last Sunday afternoon.

Wonder how Basil Duty would like another trip to Big Ugly? Why not call a taxi next time, Basil?

Okey Justice of Whitman was calling on homefolks on Elm street last Sunday.

Wonder if Frank Chapman and Jesse Justice are having much success at Spring Dale? We wish them the best of luck. Be careful boys and don’t go any farther than the mill.

We saw in last week’s letter from Shegon an item which read like this: “Fred Woolum sure does look sweet in his new straw stack.” We have a boy in our town whose name is Fred Woolum and he also has a new straw stack. Just ask the girls of Sutton. They will tell the rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Hager of this place was a business caller in Big Creek last week.

Miss Millie Lancaster, teacher of the Banco school left for her home in Martinsburg, W.Va., last week. She will be missed by her many friends.

Mrs. L.A. Ellis of Needmore is visiting friends and relatives in Logan this week.

H.F. Lucas and father motored to Big Creek last Sunday.

Miss Mary Thomas of Estep was a caller in Banco last Tuesday night.

“Just a little sympathy for a boy whom we know well

Who met a girl at church in the Sunny Dell

And in the parlor when the lights were burning low,

A girl who left for Braxton county some little time ago.”

Success to The Banner readers.

Edgar Allan Poe v. Thomas Dunn English (1847)

19 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by in Logan, Poetry

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From the Logan Banner, of Logan, WV, comes this item of interest relating to Thomas Dunn English, former mayor of Logan, and Edgar Allan Poe:

EDGAR ALLAN POE AND DR. ENGLISH, LOGAN’S POET, HAD VERBAL DUEL

Some interesting matters are brought to light by Roy Fuller in an article titled “Edgar Allan Poe in West Virginia” in the January number of West Virginia Review.

Of special interest is what he writes of the hostility between Poe and Thomas Dunn English, who was probably the most widely known citizen this city or county ever had.

Fuller, a Charleston newspaper man of real talent, smashes the tradition that Poe visited St. Albans and wrote “The Raven” in a house long afterward named “Ravenscourt” by a resourceful real estate agent and still an object of reverent interest to credulous folk.

“Oddly enough, Poe really spent three summers in what is now West Virginia, but this is never mentioned if it is known here,” says the Review article. “The unsubstantiated tale has precedence over the truth, a situation not at all rare. He came into West Virginia not as a wanderer but as the recently adopted son of the Richmond tobacco merchant. The three summers following his adoption by the Allans he was taken to White Sulphur Springs, then the most popular resort in the south. This is the only claim that the State’s romantic folk can establish, so far as it can be learned from his biographers, except his dealings with Thomas Dunn English, whom West Virginians claim as one of their poets…

“As to ‘The Raven,’ it is generally believed that he wrote it while living near West Eighty-fourth Street, New York. It was published in the ‘Evening Mirror’ January 29, 1845.

Poe wrote “The Literati” condemning and puffing some thirty-eight of his contemporary New Yorkers, including Mr. English. Poe called him “Thomas Dunn Brown” and spoke further of him in such a light way that the author of “Sweet Alice” became peeved. The versatile gentleman lately of West Virginia poured out his heart in a few columns of “The Mirror.” Poe replied four days later in the Philadelphia “Saturday Gazette” and followed his answer with a suit for damage. He got $225 on February 17, 1847. Thus Poe got perhaps his greatest “stake” from Mr. English, an amount great in comparison with $10 he got for his greatest work “The Raven.”

“English also brought out one issue of the ‘Broadway Journal’ after it was given up by Poe. Thus good West Virginians may claim that one of their boys ran a Broadway paper–for a day.”

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 18 January 1927.

Logan, WV (1917)

18 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by in Huntington, Logan

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From the Logan Democrat, of Logan, WV, come these items of local interest dated 1917:

CHAIR CARS NOW ON ALL GUYAN RIVER TRAINS

In prompt response to their promise made a couple of weeks ago, the division officials of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway, on last Saturday provided an additional chair car for the Huntington to Logan service, and as a result Guyan river travelers are now more conveniently and satisfactorily provided for than at any time since the introduction of the railroad into this territory a little more than a dozen years ago.

The extra equipment now gives a chair car on all through trains, an to prove that it was needed and is much appreciated by the traveling public is the fact that on almost every trip since its installation the new car has been completely filled.

Travelers no longer need dread the long trip up or down the old Guyan, and the more satisfactory service is bound to result in many happy results for this section and our people.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 1 February 2017.

***

“OLD GLORY” RAISED

BIG BOOZE SHIPMENT

The C. & O. Monday night received a great quantity of liquor for consumers in Logan county. Monday night was the last chance for those whose wine cellars were slim and whiskey bottles were empty to get a supply before the state started on its on-quart of whisky a month. Under the old law a man could bring in as much liquor as he could carry in a suitcase and a great many evidently took advantage of this law before it was superseded by the new law.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 3 May 1917.

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Big Flag Is Flaunted To Breezes Over Court House Before Big Crowd

A large “Old Glory” was flaunted to the breezes over the dome of the court house last Saturday before an immense crowd of citizens, a number of whom came quite a distance to view the ceremonies.

The raising occurred shortly after two o’clock. Previous to that time the Logan band reinforced by the musicians of Herbert’s Greater Shows rendered a few musical numbers. As the flag was raised the musicians struck up the Star Spangled Banner, a large number of people took off their hands and the ceremonies were over.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 17 May 1917.

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WHO WILL BE FIRST?

Although flags are much in evidence on people and buildings in Logan, not a single bond of the “Liberty Loan” has been purchased here, according to the First National bank.

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 17 May 1917.

 

Chapmanville News 06.03.1927

18 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by in Chapmanville, Logan, Music

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An unknown correspondent from Chapmanville in Logan County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on June 3, 1927:

The singing school which is to last for two weeks or more is doing finely. Elbert Jeffrey is the teacher.

B.H. Snidow and family are moving back to Virginia after teaching the term of school here.

Rev. Adkins preached here last Saturday night. He was accompanied by a friend from Branchland.

The roads are improving to some extent.

Lamar Collins is some kid for music. He will probably learn do from ra.

Miss Mary Click has left after teaching the term of school here.

Carlos Ferrell has left our little town, as he is now working in Logan.

Uncle Tom Fowler is on the sick list at this writing.

Miss Susie Carper who has been away at school has returned to her home here.

Miss Nora Whitman was calling on friends in our town Saturday and Sunday.

Miss Fay Turner was visiting her mother Sunday.

Wallace Ferrell of Huntington is visiting friends at this time.

Guyandotte Division of C. & O. Railroad (1917)

16 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Coal, Huntington, Logan

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From the Logan Democrat, of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about the C & O railroad in the Guyandotte Valley:

NEW GUYAN DIVISION

C. & O. Railroad From Huntington To This City Is Detached From Former Organization

The C. & O. has detached the Guyan Valley district from the Huntington division and created it as a separate division under Superintendent H.E. Webb, formerly of Huntington. A number of other changes are made on the C. & O., which are announced in the following official order:

Richmond, Va., April 30, 1917.

Effective May 1, 1917:

The eastern general division is extended to Hinton, W.Va., and the line Clifton Forge to Hinton, including all branches (Greenbrier district excepted) will be attached to the Clifton Forge division.

The Greenbrier district will be known as the Greenbrier division.

The Hinton division will consist of the line Hinton to Handley, including branches.

The Guyandotte district is detached from the Huntington division, and will be known as the Guyandotte division.

Due to rearrangement of the general divisions and divisions, the following appointments are effective May 1, 1917:

Mr. C.S. Falconer, assistant superintendent, Allegheny district and its branches, Clifton Forge division, Hinton, W.Va.

Mr. F.D. Beall, division engineer, Clifton Forge division, Clifton Forge, Va.

Mr. J.W. Haynes, superintendent Greenbrier division, Ronceverte, West Va.

Mr. H.E. Webb, superintendent, Guyandotte division, Logan, W.Va.

Mr. H.A. Davis, train master, of Guyandotte division, Logan, W.Va.

Mr. R.W. Mumford, division engineer, Guyandotte division, Logan, W.Va.

Mr. W.T. Lipscomb, train master, New River district, Hinton, W.Va.

Mr. W.L. Glass, road foreman of engines, New River district, Hinton, W.Va.

Mr. E.M. Withrow, road foreman of engines, Allegheny district and Greenbrier division, Hinton, W.Va.

J.P. Stevens,

General Manager

Source: Logan (WV) Democrat, 3 May 1917.

Harts News 08.05.1927

15 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by in Big Creek, Big Ugly Creek, Gill, Harts, Huntington, Logan

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An unknown correspondent from Harts in Lincoln County, West Virginia, offered the following items, which the Logan Banner printed on August 5, 1927:

Hurrah! Here comes Harts again!

H.R. Adkins was transacting business in Logan, Monday.

Miss Cora Adkins of Huntington spent the weekend with home folks here.

Cheer up, boys. The flapper from Big Creek will come again.

Mrs. Verna Johnson of Columbus, Ohio, was the guest of her mother, Mrs. Chas. Brumfield, here over Saturday and Sunday.

Howard Stone of Huntington was calling on friends in Harts, Friday.

F.B. Adkins was looking after business matters in Huntington, Saturday.

Miss Pauline Scites of Huntington was calling on Mrs. Jessie Brumfield here Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. John McEldowney and children of Charleston are here visiting friends at present.

Miss Ethel Brumfield was the guest of Mrs. Robert Dingess at Logan last Saturday.

Mrs. Jessie Brumfield and Pauline Scites and Fred Shelton were calling on Miss Sylvia and Vesta Cyfers at Gill Sunday and were accompanied by Nye Rooper of St. Albans.

George Midkiff is our new operator here this week.

Jack Marcum of Hamlin was in town Sunday.

Daily Happenings: Fred in his new car; Inez in her sleeveless dress; Catherine and her pipe; Herb and his bill book; Hendrix and his mail; Clara crying; Blanche flirting; Jessie and Pauline in Bessie’s fine new Oakland coach; Ed with his tax books.

Dear old Banner, goodbye, see you some time again.

Aracoma High School in Logan, WV (1927)

14 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in African American History, Battle of Blair Mountain, Logan

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In 1927, the Logan County Board of Education discussed construction of a new high school building for the county’s black pupils. At this time, Republicans held many county offices by narrow majorities.

aracoma high school

Board of Education Favorable to Providing New Building for Colored Pupils.

NEEDS OF BLAIR POINTED OUT

Colored Teachers Hired For Omar

–Board Meets Again Friday–

Other Matters.

That negotiations for the purchase of a site for a centralized colored high school for Logan district have been under way was disclosed at the regular monthly meeting of the Logan district board of education last Saturday. At an adjourned meeting to be held Friday of this week a further step toward this end may be taken.

The site under consideration is a two-acre tract fronting on the north shore of Island creek in Coal Branch. It lies between Coal Branch (stream) and the Island Creek bridge and roadway, and to which the only access at this time is through the alley along side and back of Buskirk & Kayser’s store. The upper half of it is now a weed patch; the other half is under cultivation.

This tract belongs to K.F. Deskins and has been priced to the board at $21,000. The ground is low and often overflows, but the board has been advised that the Appalachian Power Company will fill it with its own refuse up to the level of the road at no cost to the purchaser. Thus it would be made virtually flood proof.

Saturday’s meeting was attended by all three members, President J.F. May, Dr. L.E. Farnsworth and J.W. Beckett. Though convinced the price is high, Dr. May and Dr. Farnsworth said, everything considered, they believed the tract to be the most suitable for the purpose that could be found; and they further made it clear that in their opinion a new high school for the colored pupils is imperative and should be made available just as soon as possible. While admitting there are many things that should and must be done, they doubt whether any other contemplated improvement is more urgent than this.

The Aracoma high school building, a rickety, wholly unsuitable two-story frame, is characterized as a fire-box that must be abandoned. This property would be sold, if the other is bought, it is said, but the proceeds of the sale would doubtless be negligible compared to the price of the Dingess tract.

Central Location

The Dingess tract is believed to be ideally located with reference to the colored population of the district. Besides, it is easily accessible from various directions and is ample in dimensions; and if necessary, one or more lots could be sold, though nothing of that sort is now contemplated.

Just how this proposed purchase and the proposed new wing for the Logan high school are to be financed was not explained at Saturday’s meeting. But there were many other matters demanding attention.

Conditions of school buildings and equipment at Blair and other Coal River points were discussed at length and definite action will be taken soon, it was promised. The two Richardson brothers, coal operators at Opperman, took a hand in these discussions and urged a program of improvements. Blasting done by road contractors nearly wrecked the Blair school building a good while ago.

The following teachers were hired for the Omar colored school: W.H. Houston, principal; Mrs. Georgia Miller,  Mrs. Lois Simmons, Mrs. Elaine Ferguson, Mrs. W.H. Houston. The last three are new ones.

Prof. Houston was given a contract to paint some parts of the building for 10 cents a yard, the board to furnish the paint. He was told he could not make wages at that price but said he did not care about that, adding that he wanted the work done and would do it right or would not expect to receive even the low contract price for his work.

Many bills, many of them small and incurred by the old regime, were ordered paid. Among these was one for $40 for two months rent for an office in the White & Browning building for E.F. Scaggs. That contract was declared canceled.

R.H. May was appointed janitor of the Logan high school building, effective August 1.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 26 July 1927.

Logan, WV (1913-1914)

14 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by in Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, come these items relating to town history in 1913-1914:

Sure Signs of Prosperity

Logan has added three new attorneys to its big roll of legal practitioners this year. The last one is Mr. O.J. Deegan, of Valparaiso, Indiana, who arrived in the city last week and has taken offices with Attorney E.H. Green in the Guyan Valley Bank Bldg. The other two new ones are Ira Hager, of Lincoln Co., officed in the same building and adjoining Senator E.T. England, and Attorney W.J. Lawrence, Jr. of Charleston, whose office is in the new Buskirk building. Mr. Lawrence is also Treasurer of the Jefferson Hotel company. All these newcomers are young and active men of sterling worth and are sure to succeed. Here’s the glad hand of prosperity.

***

The principal streets of Logan, both paved and unpaid, are torn up this week, gas mains being laid therein. A large force of men and teams are employed at hauling and laying pipe and the work will be rushed to an early completion. Logan plumbers are busy “roughing in” buildings in readiness for the clean, new fuel that will heat the city next winter. Very few buildings in this city were piped. In fact, very few of the larger buildings were plumbed when built.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 8 August 1913.

***

Logan’s Boosters and Knockers

The “mossback natives” who have tried for a decade to hold Logan back, to prevent its progress and development, and keep new industries and stores out, have played their last card—and it was the joker. They can “go way back and sit down,” or sit up and notice that Logan has grown more the past year than ever before in its history. And what did it? Was it the grouchy and selfish attitude and actions of a few Logan misers—“old fogies” who have made all they want and do not wish others to try to do likewise—or was it the boosting and state-wide publicity given our city and county in the past two years, by our hustling newspapers, that has put Logan on the industrial and commercial map RIGHT? Ask any sensible unprejudiced resident what did it, and take his word for it.

We say again, they have all played their last card, Logan is booming, BOOMING, BOOMING! Nothing can stop it. Big fires only make it better.

The $60,000.00 of bridge bonds have been sold to A.J. Hood & Co. of Detroit, the City “street extension” bonds last year sold at once and the $50,000.00 of City Paving Bonds, now up to the voters, will sell readily, if the election carries—and why should it not carry!

On with the paving!

On with the bridges!

On with the good roads!

On with the new stores!

On with the improvements!

On with the new industries and railroad extensions!

On with the ice and storage plants! “If there is anything Logan needs more than an ice plant, it is TWO ice plants!” On with the ice plant!

Next year Logan will need a new cemetery for “dead ones” that don’t believe it pays to advertise. Got that?

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 3 October 1913.

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Logan’s First Greenhouse

The fresh young onion and lettuce you are eating for your dinners these days are supplied to your grocer from the greenhouse of K.F. Deskins, the first hot-house in this vicinity if not in the county. Keene has had the plant in operation about a month, and he is supplying these nice, fresh greens to the market the past two weeks. It will be some few days yet, even if spring weather comes along for sure, before the regular outdoor garden truck will commence to come into local markets, but by the greenhouse method we are supplied or can be hereafter all winter.

The greenhouse plant is the most modern of its kind: large, twin brick flues, running the entire length of the house and fired from commodious fire-box, supplies the proper heat at all times. All kinds of seeds and plants are started early. Pie plant was a foot high two weeks ago, and now ready for market. Other things in proportion.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 3 April 1914.

Bennett Theatre in Logan, WV (1913)

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Huntington, Logan

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In 1913, the Bennett Theatre opened in Logan, WV. The Logan Banner offered plenty of coverage for the new attraction:

Bennett Theatre Advertisement LB 01.17.1913

Logan (WV) Banner, 17 January 1913.

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The Bennett Theatre

Messrs. Middleburg and Lopinsky, lessees of the new Bennett theatre have been here several days looking after the interior finishing, installation of curtain, scenery, drops, chairs, picture machine, etc. The seating and electrical equipment, as well as the stage and box office arrangement are of the very best, and every care, and precaution, has been taken for the comfort, safety and convenience of patrons of the Bennett. Step in and have a look at it. The house opens for business Tuesday, January 21st.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 17 January 1913.

***

A Piano by Express

The Bennett Theatre piano went astray in shipment and the manager, F. Middleburg, bought another in Huntington today and shipped it by express. How’s that for a hustler?

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 17 January 1913.

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Bennett Theatre Advertisement LB 01.24.1913

Logan (WV) Banner, 24 January 1913.

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Bennett Theatre Announcement LB 01.24.1913.JPG

Bennett Theatre Announcement LB 01.24.1913 2.JPG

Logan (WV) Banner, 24 January 1913.

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The Bennett Theatre

This beautiful new theatre opened last night with pictures only, to a large audience of our best people. The entertainment proved first-class both as to the management and the operation. Three fine Association photoplays were presented–an Edison novelty, Essanay drama, and a Selig Western. Manager Midelburg has surely struck the right key-note in selecting this line of entertainment for Logan, between dates of the theatrical attractions he has booked for the season. Announcement of policies and prices will be found in another column.

Source: Logan (WV) Banner, 24 January 1913.

Strange Miners Cannot Get Hired in Logan County, WV (1913)

02 Tuesday Jan 2018

Posted by in Boone County, Coal, Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this commentary about coal miners and union agitation dated March 21, 1913:

STRANGE MINERS cannot get work at all in the principal Logan County mines, it is said, and even in the smaller mines an applicant has to run the gauntlet of a series of “family-history-cross-examination-questions” that would stagger a Philadelphia lawyer, before one gets a job–and then like as not get turned down because he is not of Logan county. The precaution is fully warranted. The United Mine Workers hope to control the Guyan Valley field, if they ever DO–and THEY  NEVER WILL–by first “organizing” the smaller, isolated mines by “smuggling in” an agitator or two now and then and finally, with one “grand sweep” capture the big works. If the labor leaders actually KNEW certain conditions and “inside workings” now effective, even in the small works, half so well as they THINK they know them, they’d give up as a bad job their idea of “organizing” Logan county, and go to honest work shoveling coal for a living themselves. During the past year, more than one “undesirable miner” has been shipped “bag and baggage” out of the valley because he let his agitation fever break out too strong, prematurely, spoiling his little game. In another column will be found a news item of the shut-down of the Ramage works of the Spruce River Coal Co. We predict that some of Logan’s mines will turn off their power and “look out” their employees before they will let the United Mine Workers conduct their business for them. So far as the corporation’s finances are concerned, the U.S. Coal & Oil Co. can shut down all of its Island Creek mines, burn its tipples and dump its cars into Guyan river. And that’s what would best suit the competitive coal operators of other States! Likewise the miners’ union agitators and leaders! But there’s another side of the story–the miner and his family need the work in the coal-bank, the merchant needs some of the money he earns, Logan county needs its merchants and the outside world needs West Virginia coal–the BEST that “old mother earth” ever produced!

Whittling Tradition is Recalled (1916)

31 Sunday Dec 2017

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From the Logan Democrat of Logan, WV, comes this story dated November 16, 1916 about whittling:

WHITTLING WOOD IS A LOST ART

Where are the whittlers of yesteryear–the jackknife experts who laboriously fashioned curious keepsakes out of soft wood, or who idly whittled sticks of toothpick dimensions as they sat and debated the problems of the nation in front of village stores? The old time Yankee was often ill at ease unless he had his knife in his hand with a block of wood on which to exercise it. He could not focus his mind on heavy questions–like the elections at the next town meeting–unless he was watching a shaving curl gracefully in the wake of his carefully sharpened knife blade.

Those who had abundant leisure often devoted themselves to elaborate carvings. Sailors were especially gifted in this way–deep sea sailors who occupied themselves on long voyages with miniature ships and other models. And while the back country Yankee was an inveterate whittler, he rarely tried to compete in artistic results with his sea faring brother of the coast.

But whittle, both as a habit and as an art, appears to have practically disappeared. The jackknife is no longer in evidence as it once was either in country towns or along the water front. The pace of life has quickened or else other interests have driven it out. And even the small boy, though he still cherishes his knife, does not number the expert use of it for carving among his ambitions.

In those days every boy who amounted to anything–one who was not a regular mollycoddle–possessed a jackknife, and knew how to use it. He demonstrated this not only by whittling out a hull, which, when supplied with masts and rigging, stood evenly on her keel, but which, when fitted with a suit of calls, rode safely every squall and boisterous sea and showed a clean pair of heels to the other little ships as they slipped across the duck pond.

This was not all the small boy with the handy pocketknife learned to make from inspecting what the sailors brought home. There were the wonderful chains, some square linked, others with double square links with wooden balls running freely within the length of the links, these having been carved out of the middle of the square of which each section of the chain was made.

It was a pretty proud boy who could show one of these chains with three or four links, the last one having a padlock swinging from it, for it gave him a certain high standing with the “fellers” not obtainable for any other reasons.

“I can recollect all the boys began chain carving with a piece of soft pine say an inch and one-half square. And when they had mastered the art they shifted to a hard pine stick, the successful manipulation of which showed the gift the boy had, for often it meant big blisters on the hands, so hard was the cutting.

“I have not seen a boy whittling on one of these chains or anything else in years. I think about the last whittling I saw them doing was in connection with peach stones, out of which they were making little baskets to be hung on the watch chain, and rings for the finger.

“There is another reason why the boy is not whittling as he formerly did. He had to make his kites, fashioning the backbone and making the bow with his knife. His mother furnished the paste by mixing flour and water. He covered the kite with a newspaper which had to be at least a month old before it was allowed to be taken from the closet–people held on to their newspapers in those days. Now he buys a gaudy kite for a few cents, or he don’t fly kites at all, which is more than likely, seeing that there is the attractive lure of the ball game and the ‘movies’.”