Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-09-27

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to solve the knotty problem. Different opinions
are held by different persons in regard to the mat
ter, and still the anxious inquiry prevails tAaV'
we the Know Nothings' amongst US {" IL i
asserted by some. that at that solemn hour OF TIT
niqht when ghosts and hObgObHns are wont tt
perambyla,e the earth, man after man may bt
seen walking hurriedly along one OF our mos
,romiuent streets, at intervals Of a few minutes
and arriving at certain point, suddenly to disap
pear, as if the earth had opened 10 receive them
Nothing more is seen or heard OF them, until thu
Growing of the cock betoksns the approach of re-
turning light, when one ~ one they suddenly re-
appear, and dispense iW Various directions Clac
in fantastic Carb. and their features carefully con
cealed by hideous masks, the mysterious night
walkers cannot be recognized, and consequently
pass along .'alike auknowing and unknown."-
At every corner, however, they are seen TO stop
moment, noiselessy tack up bit of Paste-board
and then proceed upon their homeward way. Up
on these little strips are found various kinds OF
hieroglyphics, the meaning of which Is known
only to the initiated Upon the papers posted up
after the meeting on Wednesday, night last, was
the representation of an Eagle ''upside-down, I"
and underneath was written in plain English,
emblem of our Country's destiny" Below the
Earle were thirteen stars and the following in
scripticn:
.'Bear aloft the principles Of the old 49,
II 49,. o,,Llarao nd ,nOttnec there Wnra
various unknown characters, which we could not
describe without the assistance of wood cuts
Upon visiting the spot in daylight, at which the
remarkable individuals are seen to disappear at
midnight. nothing is discovered but that Same
old c,tlret which has been standing there from
time immemoral. This, however, is sufficient
to explain the apparent miracle of their sudden
disappearance FROM the surface to the interior OF
the earth, aud gives clue to the whereabouts OF
their conclaves. Many persons are strengthened
in the opinion that this culvert is the entrance to
the underground lodge-room of the Know Moth
ines" by the fact, that upon close examination, a
number of hairs evidently from the human head,
are said to have been found, clinging to the cold
stone walls supposed to be conclusive evidence
that the motto 'tacilis decensos Are,ni" does
not belong TO the ''Kuow Nothings." Stumps
of segars, cold soldiers" and other such "leav-
ings' are said to be plenty in that locality every
Thursday morning unless rain fell the night be-
fore.
Others there are who doubt the correctness of
the information we have detailed above, and as
sert their conviction that the ''Know Nothings"
discuss the affairs of the nation in very different
locality Near the summit of one of the hills
which surround our town there is ga cavern dark
and Deep" which some of our readers have prob
ably explored in their ''school-doy days" Twas
rather difficult of access then, but 4 wonderful
change is supposed to have been effected in the
interior of this cave within the last few months.
Those who profess to know, tell marvellous things
of tue beautiful decorations, and curious furniture
that DOW adorn the once rugged apartment at the
extremity Of this cave. A pool of water, "clear
as crystal, !" stands motiosless in its centre, and
around this pool, emblem Of putty, band Of
grim fanasticas are said to congregate at certain
hours of certain nights. 1t is believed, however,
that another entrance to this cave has been dis
covered, inasmuch as no one is ever seen TO walk
up on the hill after night, while there are frequent
proposals, from one to another, to tpalk out on the
railroad.
But we are rather inclined to think that there
is little imagination in both these theories. We
think we have more reliable information, and
could, if we would. tell more plausible tale
We may, however, give some few hints without
breach Of confidence, and this we propose TO do,
promising that we DO not belong to the mystic
order and ''know nothing" from actual observa-
ton. We state then our firm belief that there is
regularly organized Council Of "Know-Noth-
iugs'' in Stauntou. They meet regularly about
the middle of the week IN central part Of The
to,cn, and number at present some forty or fifty
members. Some of these are from the coun-
try, some Wings and some Democrats. They
hold meetings on other nights besides the
regular night, and are nightly making additions
to their number. Some of the cards posted about
the town are genuine 'Know- Nothing docu-
uents"-others are spurious. They expect to
control the next corporation election, and proba-
bly, the county elections. These items we have
gathered-nO matter how-and publish them for
the qualification of public curiosity.