Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-11-11
ssThe Queen CITY,"

ssThe Queen CITY,"
! Our excellent neighbor of the Lexington Ga
zette" pitches into poor little Staunton again, in
his paper of the 9TH inst, with such adsplay OF
pluck and such an air of offended dignity, that,
were we not consciousNof righteous cause, we
might we'll prefer to "lay low and keep dark. :"
With knightly courtesy he republishes our last
article entire-sets US up fully before the public
and then proceeds with ,knightly skill to cut us
up into small pieces with a Damascus blade
We regret that the extreme length of his article
will prevent US from setting it up, but by way of
returning the compliment, as literally as circum-
stances will permit, we shall endeavor to ''cut
it to pieces" a9gla iaa s o
First, then, the Gazette is in error when it
suRoses that our object in proposing to remove
Lexington down as an addition to the Western
Asylum, resulted from any present demand for
more room to accommodate resident lunatics."
The suggestion was made with view to future
contingencies, and with especial reference to the
chronic insanity that has prevailed for 50 long
period in and about Lexington-a sort of mono
mania on the subject of internal Improvements
in general and the Central Railroad in particu
lar. This unfortunate malady develops itself in
various ways, and has frequently led to most
absurd propositions and most fanciful expert
rnents. For instance, the Lexington Gazette"
gravely suggests that the Tunnel ought to be
=
abandoned and the Central road take more d.
rect route to Covington for the special benefit
Lexington. If that isn't an alarming symptom
of approaching '9aon compos,' then DR.. Stribling
is no Judge of cracked craniums. A more strik
ing proof of this improvement mania to which
we allude, may possibly be found in the magnif-
icent water works by which the people of Lex
ington are supplied with something to drink
From all we can learn these works are construct
ed upon strictly sky .enti6c principles, inasmuch
as nothing hides the stagnant water of the res
ervoir from the blue vault above Upon its
green bosom the sun shines with uninterrupted
splendor, and warns into new life the half-de-
funct toads and other semi-deceased inhabitants
that either lie lazily on the rocky bed Of the
cistern or float langnidly on the surface of the
water. 1t is said that for season the citizens
we'll nigh drank themselves to death. Twas
novelty, and all the people drank hard. But ere
long it was discovered that other things besides
the water found their way through the pipes,
and it appeared from unmistakable evidences
that sold hars" and other varmiDts had parta-
ken of the water at the fountain head Wheth-
er the cracks have been stopped or not, we have
yet to learn, but those of the people who were
not totally mad expressed wish to take their
water and their meats one at time, or at least
to have the privilege of fixing up the broth to
suit themselves. With such evidences of pre-
valing insanity in that community, which might
at no distant period become universal, we sug-
gested as the most economical mode of providing
for their accommodation at the Asylum, that
Lexington itself could be moved down.
The "Gazette" is mistaken also in supposing
that we proposed to construct branch road
with the hope of deriving gain in the way OF
land damages. We intend to construct the road
on our own hook, at our own expense, without
a1y aid from or co-partnership with Lexington
or the county of Rockbridge Our experience
with the Junction Valley Turnpike forbids the
hope of any advantage from the association, and
whatever we might gain in the way OF damages
at this end Of the road in Augusta, would be ia
ken back in the way of tolls at the other end in
Rockbridge. At every turnout after crossing
the Augusta line, we should expect to hear some
one cry-like the Waterman on canal boat
'sBridge"-"To to pay"
As to the run that was made upon the Rock
bridge Bank few days ago by the town OF
Staunton, all we can say is that the man who
carried the $615 in notes up, must have crept
into the town very slyly, or he would doubtless
have found Grape on the doors of the bank. The
Gazette" properly speaks of the Rockbridge
notes as "current funds" They are so current
that it is said they circulate in Bath and High
land without the Cashiers name. We venture
to say, however, that if anything had been
known of the arrival of the man with the S6l5,
ten minutes before lie reached the bank, the
Cashier would have been as "current" as his
notes. The "Gazette" laughs at the idea OF the
officers of our shaving shop visiting Lexington
noao but if we are not misinformed one OF them
was sent for once to give the "red note manu-
factory" decent start in the financial world,
and received handsome present for his services.
T. is intimated that the drain made upon the
vault bv the purchase of the gold "riggins" that
still dapgle from the watch fob of our Bank Of
6cer. is the prime cause of all the embarrass
ments that beset the Rockbridge institution
Upon the pledge of their liberal donation,
we think it probable our Cashiers might ne
potiate the loan of sum sufficient to pay
their stage fare to Lexington and purchase bet
ter dinner on the road than they could get at
the end of their journey.
The "Gazettes" alluson to our market-house
was doubtless intended to remind us that fresh
meats are bought and sold in Lexington too
We are aware of that fact and do not pretend
to compete with the "Queen City of the Noun
tains" in that line of business. 1t is the good
fortune of that city to have market-house that
costs them nothing. On two benches on the
broad pavement in front of the Court house'
their burly butchers dispense tough beef to the
hungry crowd, except in squally weather, when
they adjourn to "kivered" alley on contlgu-
Gus street. The supply is not always equal to
the demand, and consequently there is rush TO
the market-place long before light in the morn
ing. The custom is for the citizens to assemble
at the Hotel and await the arrival of the Staun-
ton stage, until the "wee small hours ayant the
twal." After an hours gossip and discussion OF
the foreign news from our city, they adjourn to
the front of the Temple of Justice and roost Oh