Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-05

not have the magical effect of Frederick Dhu's'
whistle,
'that garrisoned the glen, -.
At once with full FIVE hundred men, 81
has yet been instrumental in calling fortn al
least one gallant warrior to do battle IN Dehail
OF the astronomical pastimes OF the Directors
OF the Western Lunatic Asylum.
My friend ''Simon Peter"-l mean serge
quotes with great fluency and wonderful aptness
from the Bible at the same time insnuatlng thal
am not as familiar with that holy volume as
should be. ], however, think it unsafe to con-
cude that failure to quote Scripture neces-
sarily implies want of acquaintance Win tne
contents of the Bible. humbly suggest to 81
mon" whether man may not be linoued wild
too profound veneration for the sacred mystic
ries, the solemn truths, and the divine origin OF
the Scriptures" TO be found irreyerently and
| iippantly quoting them upon all ordinary occa'
sions. And had lie been more familiar Win tne
English Poets he would not have been under the
necessity of profaning the book of Job by quot
| ing it in 80 light and frivolous manner SPen-
ser would have furnished him with few lines
expressing as fully and appropriately his pleth,
ORIG habit, as the words of the "son OF barachel:
sranscribe them for 'Simon's" special benefit
on like future occasions:
1.-THE noble heart that harbors venturous thought
And is with child of glorious great lntent,
| Can never rest until it forth have brought
| The brood of glorie excellent"
"Simon" is too much of philosopher not to
know that the will has no control over the asso-
citation of ideas he will therefore not "let his
angry passions RISE" when / tell him that his
frequent Scripture quotations recalled to my
mind what ''King Richard HIP says OF himself:
"And thus clothe my naked viainy :.
With odd old ends, stolen forth OF holy WRIT,
| And seem saint, when most play the devil
know not whether ''Simon Serge" speaks by
authority, or is merely expressing his own opin-
ions when he iustifes the costly and magnificent
"ouarterly" banquets at the Asylum, upon the
ground that they constitute the only compensation
the Board of Directors receive. In whichever
way this view may be presented, intend brief
ly to examine its soundness. And in the first
place, will state that the Board appoints an Ex-
ecutive Committee, consisting of three members
of its own body, who doubtless discharge all the
duties of the Board requiring much time, labor
or attention. And when it is remembered that
the institution has very able and efficient su.
perintendent, as well as an experienced and
faithful steward, with their assistants it is safe
to conclude that the duties of this committee
can be neither onerous nor difficult; but what
ever they may be, for their performance, each
member of this committee receives, one hundred
dollars year. So that should think there
can be but little labor left for the unpaid Dr.
rectols, in addition to the consumption OF the
Quarterly dinners"
| Again, "Simon Serge" contends that as the
law makes no provision for directly compensa-
ting the directors, they must in some indirect
way be renumerated for their labor. Now the
fact that no provision was made, upon the es-
Establishment of the institution for paying the Di
rectors, shows conclusively that the Legislature
expected that there would be found in the CON-
munity where the institution might be located,
enlightened and patriotic philanthrophy enough
to secure Board of Directors who would be
willing, gratuitously, to bestow the small a.
mount of labor required for the performance
of their duties. And as the law made no pro-
vision for paying the Directors, those who &C.
cepted that Office, did SO in full view OF that
fact, and their acceptance was tantamount to an
engagement on their part 10 discharge the du-
ties without fee or emolument OF any kind.
If upon trial, the Directors found that their
labours were 100 onerous for gratuitous perform
ance, it would have been more manly and be-
coming to have stated this fact to the State au-
thorties, and demanded legal provision for their
compensation, defining its amount and mode OF
payment than to have resorted to the equiVocal
method of dispensing costly hospitality to their
friends under the pretext Of pay for public du-
ties performed.
Again, this mode of payment which seems SO
appropriate and innocent to the clear vision OF
"Simon," is in.my estimation the worst and most
Objectionable that could possibly be devised
- -, ipfnanna
welfare of the institution must be apparent to
every unprejudiced mind. The truth is, If 1t
exerts any influence at all, it must be one that
tends to blind the Board to the failings and
short. comings of the oficers.-Because men are
not likely to be very diigent in scrutinizing the
official conduct of those who display an admira-
BILE skill and faultess taste in spreading before
them the choicest yiands, the best liquors, the
richest wines and the most fragrant cigars.
Another objection to these dinners" is, that
they give to the Board carte. blanche upon the
treasury of the State. The only limit there is
to the frequency or cost of these entertainments,
or the number of guests being found in the dis
erection of the Directors; because the same au-
thority that enables the Board of Directors to
give dinner at the expense of the State, to
thirty of their friends once in three months, is
every day, to five hundred or one thousand of
them. am well satisfied that when the ques-
ton of the location of this Asylum was before
the Legislature, if our able and astute delegates
had then limited to that honorable body, that
men enough to form Board of Directors could
not be found in the county of Augusta, except
upon the condition that they should be allowed,
not only for themselves, but also for as many of
their friends as they might choose to invite, as
much as they could seat and drink" at every
regular meeting, at the public expense, this in
stitution would never have been located in our
midst, but a situation would have been sought
for it among more public-spirited and generous
people. :,
That in a county as populous and enlightened
az this and which has been honored by the To-
cation of such noble charities as the Western
I.unatic ASYLUM and the Deaf and Dumb and
Blind Institution, and which is benefited in 80
many ways by the large expenditure of public
money necessary for their support; boards of
Directors cannot be found who are willing to de-
vote the small amount of time and labor that is
requisite for their supervision, unless the State
can be made to estand treat" for them and their
multitude of friends every quarter day." is in
the highest degree discreditable to the county.
But do not believe this good old county mer-
its such reproach. l am satisfied that enough of
men, every way worthy and competent can be
found who will discharge the duties ofDirectors
and dispense with the public entertainments.
Now if "Simon Serge" will induce his friends,
the present Board, to resign their places beside
the 'fesh pots" long enough to have the expert
ment tried, think their places can be filled with
men as capable and faithful upon the conditions
have indicated. 1t is true they might not be
such sable" trencher-men or 'enlightened" gas
Economists, yet they would do to direct the mode
in which contracts should be made for wood and
beef, and might also be able to distinguish be-