Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-10-04
Einih.

hone that the immense excitement which prevail
ed to an alarming extent in that community some
weeks ago. is gradually subsiding. we under
stand the Natural Bridge still remains IN Satu
quo, having CALAMITY withstood the most severe
shock to which i, has ever been subjected.
Just regard to the safety Of that sublime specimen
of Natures handwork, will cause us to be more
cautious in future, lest renewal OF an agi'atioh
So fearful should result in more disastrous conse-
duences. We had really begun to think that our
neighbor of the Gazette was an incorrigibly Ill
ns,ured fellow, but are glad to find by the tone OF
his last article tina, Orchard is himself again."
We cannot refrain, however, from INDUCING in
few random remarks upon The last long article
in the Gazehe, moro for the purpose of bringing
this "tact" discussion, as it has been most lucid
ly termed, to BETTING close than from any 9TH
er motive. And first in course, as OF FIRST lmpor-
lance, let Us again notice the ''yclto,1 nankln leg
gins,n which still seem to constitute the head
and front of our offending in the eyes OF the Lex
ington Gazette. We quote our neighbors re-
marks in full upon this important point, which
will, we hope, relieve one or two gentlemen OF
our town who have been accused Of the unpardon-
able sin:
Very widely mistaken too is our neighbor, when
he imagnes that but one OF the citizens OF MS
place has passed athwart our vision in all the
spleudor of gelIo,c nankins. That particular mode
Of appareling used to be the prevailing and dis
tinctive fashion of the place. So very general
was this style of dress, that, when pair OF nan
kin leggius were seen cleaning along our streets
in all the pride of their yellow magnihcence, the
rising generation suSpending their sports, with
looks Of undiSguised admiration, were wont to
place their thumbs upon their nasal organs: ana
waving their tiny fingers in concert with the nut
teriug tapestry of the approaching Sims, lnvolun-
tarily exclam "Here comes Stanton" we
wonder that our observant neighbor has never no.
ticed this particular mark OF citizenship, and can
only account for 1t upon the ground, that the ctl-
zens of Funnel-tOwn, like others, desired to make
their best appearance when abroad, and only drew
out the uankins that they might shine in respend-
ent yellow when away from home.
We are indebted largely to the Gasette for the
important information conveyed in the above par
agraph. We protest our entire ignorance of the
facts so infinitely detailed by the Gazette, and re-
gret exceedingly that the parents of the Lexing,
ton boys don't teach their children to treat strangers
with more civility-albeit they are clad in home
ly garb. 1t is exceedingly naughty in the hope
full youths to play such fantastic tricks with the
fingers on their noses and before high heaven
We rather think our neighbor Of the Gazette il
mistaken, however, in attributng the peculiar aP
parel which our citizens dor when in Lexington
to a yaiu-glorious desire to appear best Abroad
We account for it upon other and far more ration
al grounds, inasmuch as people never wear any
kind of leggins except when they expect to trave
in particularly dirty localities. But enough o
the yellow rankin leggins." Our readers vii
agree with US that they are pretty we'll norm out
| The Gazette twits US for the iliberaity of oul
county and corporation, towards the struggling
Central Railroad, and says ''the corporation o.
Stanton not only declined to subscribe to the
stock, but were not sufficiently selfish to make
even an effort in this behalf: while the county o.
| Augusta, with liberality that will crown hel
with eternal honor, subscribed, in her corporate
capacity, the magnificent amount Of t'renty thou
sand dollars, double which trihe she got back ID
the way of land damages" Now in regard to the
Corporation of Staunton, we can only say thatshe
has been rather careful of late how she subscrbes
for stock in Internal Improvement Companies.
since she invested in one of LeXington's own pc
| II tbo T,pc
pike. Seduced by large promises, we made
liberal subscription to that great work, which has
not to this day got within twelve miles of u.s.
Worse than that "wormy, ricketty thing" the
Central Railroad, it does not even make ''sham
dividend" upon the amount which we paid to
have it brought to Staunton. No wonder, neigh
Dor. that the Corporation of Staunton hesitates to
invest her funds in wormy, rcketty, patched-up
roads, after her experience with the Junction Val
ley Turnpike. The admirable manner in which
our Rockbridge friends have conducted that i'm
provement certainly speaks well for their capaci-
ty to manaye the dilapidated affairs of the Cen
trail Railroad, which, notwithstanding it is such a
miserable concern" the people of Rockbridge
are so anxious TO divert from its present course,
and take up through their county. The Gazette
is evidently playing the game Of the fox with the
grapes. when he borrows the abuse of an anony-
nous writer in the Norfolk Beacon to heap upon
the Central Railroad. This road, ricketty as it
may be, has been of immense advantage to our
county, aud the emigration from Augusta to
which the Gazette alludes, is attributable to the
enhanced value of lands, which small farmers
have taken advantage Of Selling off at large
price here, they are removing to the West, where
they will be enabled to buy larger bodies Of land
for the same money, and thus promote the inter
ests of their children.
In conclusion, we beg leave TO assure our neigh
Dor, that the fate which he predicts for Stanton
does not excite the least alarm. No change in
the internal improvement policy of the State can
iujure us materially, however much such result
may be desired in some quarters. Excelsior
will continue TO be our motto, and we expect to
march on ''conqueriDg and to conquer"
ssWith freedoms soil beneath our feet,
/ And ''nankin leggins'' wrapt around us.
| When we become prey TO buzzards we hope
none Of our Lexington friends may have chance
at US.
Look Out.
! We understand that the culvert to which we
alluded last week, the supposed entrance to the
lodge room of the 'Know- Nothings," has been