Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-29
EprToRIaL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CEsrREvILLE. Wayne CO.. Ind.,l
February 23d, go.


metropolis of "Old wsyne"-thc place
where Hon. 0. p Merton and George W.
ulian reside-a beautiful village Of about 4
one thousand Inhabitants. and being about
the geographical centre Of the county,
makes it the county sest-Richmond to
the contrary notwithstanding. Centreville
is famous for great many things. 1t is
the very spot where originated the ancient
and honorable order of ozark Lanterns"
where the inhabitants retain many of the ,
customs Of our fathers, and Young Amer
lea is kept under reasonable subsection
where the good folks. rs a general rule, go
to bed a, 3 P. NJ. and get up about the
same hour a. x.,-where the old fogy no
tion Of Judging man by what he is, and
not By what he has. is the rule--where the
young men are said to be fast, aud the la
dies We know are pretty. In addition to
all this, Centreville is to be famed as the
residences of the next Lieutenant Governor
| OF the State, aud OF the member in Con.
gress from the Burnt District" There is /
no village on this side Of the Allegheny |
slope where there is more quiet enjoyment |
more individual integrity and collective
virtue, than just here. 1t is pleasant,
delightful, subdued spot. around which |
clusters the most pleasant reoolleciions of
our boyhood's days. We love Centreville
because 1t remains almost precisely as we
left it twenty years ago. when, upon
dull, uncomfortable, rainy day, with
small bundle of clothes and a few dollars
in our pocket, we dashed out into the great
world Of life. to try its realities aud battle
with its frowns. 1t is the same Centre
vile now that it was then. The same
houses. the same streets, the same trees
but not the same faces. Occasionally we
recognise a familiar smile. hear familiar
voice, see familiar form, but the inexora-
BILE finger Of the past twenty years has
written in lines Of sadness, mutation on
J every thing that is of human life. Heads
which, when We last saw them, were as
black as the ravens wing, are now frosted
for the grave-eyes which then sparklsd
with the vivacity and energy of mature
man and womanhood, now beam with the
mild glow Of ebbing life-the young have
leaped into the stature Of full grown men
aud women-the middle aged have grown
old, and the old have shuffied off this
mortal COIL" and glided into eternity -
= Twenty years of breathing. eating, sleep
ing and working human life pushes US
long distance forward on the uneven track
, of time. Almost 0seonscious of the fact,
D we rush on, hoping to seize at last some
desired object. until the foot stumbling on
the verge Of the grave, we fall in: the elods
, of the valley close up the rent in our moth
r er earth. and We are forgotten-what good
{ We have then done ascends to Heaven; the
e bad, let it be inferred with US No one
, can imagine who has always lived in the
I same community. what a change a few
years makes. Twenty years ago there
9 were seven young men of about equal ages,
4 equal advantages. equal aspirations aud
{ equal capacities, al living in this village.
They were ambitious to excel each other,
( and in their little circle read the best au.
thors, exercised in composition. aud dis
4 cussed grave and interesting questions -
e They were the wide-awake young men of
those days. before the whistle of the steam
e car echoed along this valley, or the light.
D ning's tongue annihilated space. They
D grew up together, and each started out
e upon the world st about the same time
2 OF those seven, four now dream in the
o quiescent sleep of death-sut down in the
E full flush OF manhood. We can hardly
e realize this. but when we look back into
/ the past We learn that such is but com
: mon picture of human life.
Our visit 10 this place, at this time, was
very opportuns We had not arrived at
home but few moments before we receiy.
ed message from one of the most accom-.
= plishsd OF her EEK, that at 8 NJ she would
be at the door with carriage, ready to
escort US to Leap Years Party, givea by
the ladies of the town to the gentlenen.--
Overcoming our native modesty. we hur-
riedly brushed our boots, our coat, our
whiskers, and watched the hands of the
clock until they indicated eight Hardly
= had that hour been announced, when a
light tap at the door was followed by the
entrance Of most graceful 6gure, which
in language purely English said, Mr..
H, 1 have come hoping to have the
pleasure Of your company to a party this
evening. and if you will taxa my arm, we
;. will start Immediately" Our gallsntry
oosed out a: our finger ends in double
n quick time. and putting on our bonnet and
a adjusting our euris. We took the proffered
d arm and followed. We fornd ourself i'm
n mediately transmogrfed-our boots be.
; cstnc slippers. our coat waist, and our
q whiskers crawled back into our face, and
q with our gallant and beautiful escort. we
b entered tie hall. where each lady was par
It ing very gentlemsnly attentions to the
imam Of her choice" We had nothing to
do but Re say Eyes" when asked to dance.
Il TO partaks of such refreshments as were
. offered us. and TO behave ourself As be
i came lady sentlepsu." The party was
i 4 most brilliant one the beauty of so Old
!. Wayne" vas there, aud the merry wbirl
S Of the may dance excited and refreshed
r until the "wee bit hours" told of the COM
D ing morn.
= We were highly amused at one incident
e which occurred during the evening. Mr.
Schlster, the Democratic candidate for Sec.
rotary Of State-and. by-the-wsy, a very
J good looking gsntlemsn-was deputed TO
G cui the large cake, 10 which there was saio
to be several rings aud other valuables.--
Taking the beautiful pyramid of sweet
meats and ascending the stand, he made
a few eloquent remarks, stating that those
who would be so fortunate as to get the
! rings might regard thsm as souvenir the
rest of their lives. After finishing the
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