Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-02
"OUR TOWN."

We have not INDUCED ourselves in paragraph
on this fayourite topic of the editorial fraternity,
for long time, and propose to enjoy the luxury
at present And what more fruitful theme of dis
course can we find within the whole range Of
thought? None-positively none--at least to-
night. facetious contemporary remarking lately
upon the dearth of news, and his consequent mis-
cradle state of mind, wckedly asks, if nobody will
cut purse, or steal horse, fire house for his
benefit. Now ours is pretty much the condition
indicated by these interrogatores! The quill must
be kept moving. five look toward Washington
every thing is still and calm:
s'The strife is all hushed on the floor of debaen
and quiet reigns in the Federal Metropolis five
cast our eyes toward the capital of our own State
we find the Legislative Halls emptied of their cost
ly contents, while at the Universalist Church we
only see Mr.. A. spouting before the Convention
the same speech delivered some weeks ago by MIR.
B., an account ofwhich we have repeatedly given.
Even GLIDDoN with his mummies, has gone,
and Madamoiselle PARoD1 has sung her last song.
We might, indeed, enlarge upon the horrors of the
last fearful tragedy, compile an indignant account
of the latest terrible riot, discuss gravely poti-
cal theories ands discoveries in science but alas
some more fortunate member of the craft .has done
them up'' for our benefit and furnished them ready
to hand. In the midst of such distresses draw
upon home resources is the only alternative
Begging pardon, then, for thus much of preface
we proceed to remark that,
With the return of Spring our town is begin
ming to assume more lively and stirring appear
ance Merchants, and other business men are
brushing up their premises and making prep
arations for the reception of the Spring stock of
goods, and the active operations of the Spring
trade. Store-houses are being re-painted, avn
ings hoisted and rubbish removed; but in moth
ing is the progressive spirit more prominently man.
ifested than the signs. IfBREcKINR1DGE s. CowNE
can boast the largest, our young friends JONES &
WHITE, at the old stand of Fl. ]. CRAWFORD s
Bro, ''take the hat" in point of sngularity We
will attempt description Of their curiosity, but
merely invite the people of the county to and
see it for themselves. Ocular demonstration will
convince every body that it is the most singularly
betwisted, curiously wrought and strikingly ORR
ginaly article of the season. 1t must not be sup
posed that we have not other handsome and attrac-
tive signs-some thirty or forty more invite GUS
toners to some of our most substantial merchants.
largest and the other the most singular. Some of
our Merchants have already received portion of
their goods-others are receiving and others ex-
pecting heavy supply in few days. A glance
at our advertising columns Will furnish the requi-
site information as to the houses where great bar
gains can be obtained.
Stanton is steadily improving. In all the Gle
ments of progress she stands number one. Access
sions are constantly being made to her population,
enterprise and capital. Many handsome private
residences have lately been erected on the beau
tiful hills around the town-others are in course of
construction, besides number soon to be COM
menced- In addition to these we have public
buildings under way and others contemplated, a.
mong which we may mention the "Wesleyan Fe-
male Seminary, beautiful edifce opposite the E.
piscopal Church which is now nearly completed.
There is the Union-by the way what has become
of the Union Hall' Prudence suggests that we
had better not enumerate it among the things that
certainly to be. 1t ought to be-two showmen
and mesmerzer have been disappointed in the
objects Of their visit to our town within the last
few weeks for the want of it, and our citizens con-
sequently deprived of erich treat" But we grow
desultory. The unintentonal length of our pre-
face prevents farther consideration of "our town"
and its ct ceteras, about which we might write up
the bundle of paper before us, and we must con-
clude. In times of similar dearth in newspaper
dom we may resume the subject.
New CoUNTY.-The Legislature has passed the
bill erecting new county out ofparts of Randolph
Lewis and Barbour, to be called Upshur County.
SOUTH AFRlcA.-CqGre War-We have, by way of
Boston, advlces from the Cape Of Good Hope to Feb A.
The accounts most deporabe throughout The frontier
districts English farmers had been murdered, their farms
pundered, and dwellings burnt From the last of Decem
Der to the 4th of February desutory warfare had been
carried The English and their native allies gen.
orally victorious in pitched battles and numbers othe eb
ell chiefs had been killed. In one battle near Fort Hare
where The Cafres 5000 strong, much smaller
Der routed them, tho Cafes leaving 100 dead upon the
field. Most of the Hoentots who in the service Of
the farmers had either joined the rebels or formed sepa
rate encampments, remaining neutral, but subssng, it
was supposed on the plumber of the deserted farmers All
the mission stations in Cattle land had been burnt down.
except the seminary at Alice and the Chumie station
Sir. Harry Smith, the English Governor, at the last
counts was near the frontier, assembling army which
would amount to 10000. He has proclaimed that it
shall be of determination, and has the Isle of
France for more troops The loss of life on the English
side has been great The whole of the border districts
are abandoned. In all The cases that have come hand
bo,,1 IL.
ers. and joined the rebels.
The Caffres mixture of the negro and the Arab
They handsome, vigorous people, of deep, glossy
brown colour, with features almost European and fizzed
not weoly hair. They perhaps ofall nations the
pastoral, and have large herds of horned cattle. They
live milk and seldom kill any of their oxen, 1t is
said that they bring 100000 soldiers into the field
'PRovEaBran PHILOSOPHY" IN TreHr PLAcE-The
Legislators of New York have been down to Gotham lion
izine and feeding in most cormoant STYLE They were