Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-29
Shepherdstown, est Va:
AS It Was aud as It Is.

- e"J SSssS WY Wos sS4Noo'~N w."
Jefferson County ia years that are gone,
should now visit. he would think that the
hands Of the "Dial Of Time" had been
turned back wards, so grea. is The change
from former times. He rides through
.shs country and instead of the fertile and
well cultivated fields covered with luxu.
rian, crops as of yore, he sees gres:
common overgrown with grass and weeds;
the fences are all gone, the barns and out.
buildings tina, ornsmen.ed the farms and
indicated the thrift and taste of the own.
ess, . heap of blsckened ruins. The
large, fai, sleek horses, the pride Of the
farmer. and the large wagons and new
harness, superseded BY few old slab
sided horses. bearing the brandt. c."
and some patched up harness and old
army wsgons; The ploughs, harrows, &c.,
and those inaumerable liide conveniences
tha, add SO much to the cultivation Of the
spil and the economy OF labor. be is told
by the sad hearted possessor Of the naked
land, they have been des,royedby mill.
l,ry orders. The hsppy, smiling faces
that once greeted him. now wear sad
and care worn expression. and the light.
joyous hear, is borne down with grief
and tbs absence OF former prosperity.
The greasy. shining faces Of The darkies
that formerly were the .chiei laborers on
the farms ara 10 where observed ,putau.
Ing their usual Svocal!ons, but sre seen
Aocking around Tho towns and villages.
spending ,heir time in idleness and dres.
sing in gewgaws aud Emery which con-
rss.s sadly with their ashy hew. and en-.
joying their newly obtained freedom
without, though, OF The future.
He visits Cha'esiown and inquiries for
bis old friends tho, we're formerly con-
neetsG with the Official business of the
County, and is told tina, the venerable
Chief Justice Of the County is no more
shs, HE accommodating clerk, who in the
ba!cyon days Of Ihe Commonwealth, kept
She records Of the Couaiy, and "had
avery paper in its place." had Lost his
occupation that the eloqusn. and skill.
ful lawyers whose learning gave such
fame 10 the Jefferson bar, and the Hon
orsbls Dispenser ot justice rnd equity,
Judge Parker, were no longer engaged in
such matters. but that others had taken
their places and had charge of the inter
ssls o. the County, thu! the County seal
had been moved 10 Shepherdstown, and
that his Honor, Judge l.. p. w. Bslch,
new 6lled Parker's chair, and that
SeoIss Bysrs as Recorder. and VIM. A.
Chspline as Clerk. have taken The place
OF Thomas Moore tina, The regular
monthly Courts had bsrr dispensed with
and Board OF Supervisors" had as
sumed their functions. Change! Change
is The order of Nature But where 10 lhe
smiling. josial face Of Samuel Stone. the
Commissioner o! the Revenue He too.
IKE lis old comrades, has los, his occu-
patton and the name Of the Office i.se! is
no more. We have now an Assessor.
He next visits the Cour. House and
Ands il STABLE. and misses the papers
in the clerks Office, now strip Of it's fur.
ni,uys and torn 10 pieces. He fhds the
County Jail and many other private and
psbl,o buildings in The same condition.
BE calls 70 mind ,hs, abou. six years ego
IN this very place (Chsrlss,own) John
Brown and his sceompiices were uied
snd convicted Of treason against the
Stale for melting her slaves TO insuIrso'
siou and arming them sgsins. aer citizens,
and forming a government contrary to
the established one Of Virginia. He le-
members the Impressions Of the time aud
sses the "cloud no bigger than a mans
band" tina, afterwards led TO the great
revolution in the South and turns away
10 sorrow from the gloomy picture and
passes on his way 10 our town. The new
County seat. and is aoId tina. Jefferson
is now in IHsst Virginia. He appears
satisfied and turning HE head he per-
ss;vss The blackened walls Of The besuti.