Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-21


ginians-1SaJJath Nails.
LEXINGTON, KY, JAN. 6, 1857.
Dear Spectator.-TlIat which is new Is very
scarce in this region, most Of what is transplrlng
being that which occurs commonly under tle
sun. 1t is a matter for prospective rejoicing 10
chilly mortaIs like myself that the great lumlIi-
ary has reached the extreme Of his annual South
ern tour, and is now on his return to thaw us
out of our present congelation. With the pres
ent scarcity or indirectness of sunbeams, and
coal at thirty cents per bushel-the two great
outside warmers, and sugar, pork &C., the great
inside, respiratory warmers, at corresponding
high prices, there are great physical and pecu-
mary barriers to ones keeping comfortably
warm We may be said to have had pretty
severe winter on this side of the mountains thus
far, and the prospect just now is that there IS
"a few more Of the same sort left"
How wonderfully calm We are after oil the
late agitation. Everybody seems pretty well
satisfied that the country will last while long
err even with Buchanan and Breckinridge at tho
head of affairs. The latter at least is noble
specimen of Kentnckian, true patriot and
fitted to fill any high station of trust, and is
bound to be prominent, if not the most prom
inent, man in his party.
We saw something OF the violence OF party
feeling about election time. The following case
is said to have occurred not thousand miles
from here. A gentleman and physician had oeen
engaged to play the organ in the Roman Church.
At the election be saw fit to vote the American
ticket.and when expostuated with by the priest,
to defend his course as a native born American
citizen. The consequence was that he was turn
ed out of the synagogue-it is said excommuni-
Gated. He appealed to the bishop who is said
to have reversed the priests action and defend
ed him in his rights. Be this as it may, his eff
fects were soon after advertised for sale, and
presume he has left for other quarters. SO much
for q practical commentary on the declaration
of the "Freeman's Journal of the 29th OF last
November "Catholic doctrines, practices, his
tory and connexions with government have be-
come present and living facts, entering largely
into the political movements of the day.and con-
trolling in part, if not governing, the organlza-
tions of parties and platforms"
Another phase of the tactics of that admirable
church was exhibited by worthy member, at
a country precinct where voted. AS four OF
Us were quietly riding away from the polls, an
Irisbman incited by zeal and bad whskey, hurled
q large stone from the rear which narrowly mis-
sad Knocking one of US from our horses. a
young man of the party returned the compliment
by firing revolver at him, providentlally for
him missing him, but SO thoroughly alarming
him that he speedily put himself out OF sight,
If any body in Staunton feels that they or their
party are aggrieyed by either of the above state
ments, perhaps they will advise some OF the par
ties interested to assault me for writing them.
There has been no small talk about a negro
nsurrecton or stampede at least to take place
in the holidays. 1t was stated by some persons
that there were large gatherings of negroes held
Dpf ha
ed and all is quiet, indeed very few felt any a.
Iarm. The police of Lexington was said to be
increased, and on inquiry found that the in
crease consisted of four extra night watch dur
ing Christmas week. 1t is very evident that the
negroes had some vague expectations based on
Fremont's election A man could not ride a.
long the road about election time without hay-
| ing all the young negroes shouting Fremont al
ter him. 1t is think decided evil for them
that they depend for their religious instruction
| in Kentucky wholly on their "wooly-headed
preachers" Where one of these is enlightened
and faithful, probably ten are superstitious, ia
uatical and sedtious, and very few indeed are
to be trusted. The Virginia plan is the better
one. to prohibit negro preachers. Many OF the
ministers hereabouts have special times for
preaching to them by themselves, but they gen.
orally attend very poorly.
meet continually with many old Virgnans
settled around here, and many whose fathers or
who themselves were formerly of old Augusta.
It is pleasant to them and to me too to talk a.
bout old familiar localities and the changes
which have taken place in Staunton and vicn-
ity since their day.
1 am glad to say that in some respects we arc
decidedly ahead of you. Lexington with ten
thousand inhabitants can afford to do without
Sunday Mail. There is not single train on
either of our two finished Railroads, nor stage
coach on either of our eight turnpikes coming
in or going out on the Sabbath. And it is wor-
thy of notice that fever lnishaps have occurred
on these roads than any Others know OF. On
the Covington road, believe no passenger has
ever been killed, if any have even been serious
ly hurt. hope your Central Railroad will soon
see the policy if not the obligation to keep the
Sabbath day holy Yours. W. b. b.
FREEZING TO DEArH.-That to be frozen to
death must be frightful torture, many would
consider certain, from their own experience OF
the effects of cold But here We fall into the
usual error of supposing that the suffering will
increase with the energy of the agent, which
could only be the case if sensibity remained the
same Intense cold brings on speedy sleep,
which fascinates the senses, and fairly beguiles
men out of their lives. The most curious exam
pie of the seductive powers of cold, is to be found
in the adventures of the botanical party, who in
Cooks first voyage, were caught III snow storm
on Terra del Fuego. DR.. Solander, by birth
Swede, and we'll acquainted with the destructive
deceits of rigorous climate, admollsbed the
company, in defiance of lassitude, to keep NOV
ing on. "Whoever," said he, "sits down will
sleep--and whoever sleeps will perish" The
doctor spoke as sage, but be felt as man. In
spite of the remonstrance of those whom he had
instructed and alarmed, he was the first to lie
down and die.
! The same warning was repeated thousand
times in the retreat from Moscow. Alison, the
historian, to try the experiment, sat down in his
garden at night, when the thermometer had fall
len four degrees below zero, and so quickly did
the drowsiness come stealing on, that he won-
dered how soul of Napoleon's unhappy band
had been able to resist the treacherous influence.
London Quarterly.
NONE ExRMpT-In her life of George Wash
ington Mrs. Kirkland gives us one close view of
that stately lady, Mrs. Martha Washington.
"Ifwe were to give our private opinion" says
Mrs Kirkland, 'we should say that Mrs. Martha
Curtis Washington, with her large fortune, her
strong domestic tastes and affections, and her
dutiful common sense character, exercised her
full share of influence over the Commander-in-
Chief of the Armies of the United States of A.
lncrica. She had very decided way of speak
ing, and as she never meddled in public affairs.
we can easily imagine the General letting her
have her own way in pretty much everything
else.
ga guest at Mount Vernon happened to sleep
in room adjoining that occupied by the Presi-
dent and his lady. Late in the evening, when
people had retired to their various chambers, he
heard the lady delivering very animated lee