Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-11-20
"Peter Puff" Putting.

''Peter Puff Staunton correspondent OF
the Lexington Gazette ana. Banner, has written
an humorous and satirical communication for
that paper describing the rapid and important
improvements of Staunton in style which is
calculated to create the impression that the
Press of this place have been INDUCING in some
extravagant and ridiculous putting. We rather
protest against his mixed metaphor that Staun-
ton is ssalmost too big for her breeches," for it
implies that she is a boomer. The following is
stPeter Puff 81 communication:
STAuNToN, Nov 5, 1866.
No. $40, Broadway. J
Mr.. Editor We have often thought how
dull it must be living in little towns like your
place. Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, &c., and
that it would be interesting and gratifying, once
in while to YOUR citizens to read letter from
one of the large and more fourishing places,
like Staunton or Richmond, giving an account
of the doings, &C., in those places Having q
little leisure this morning, we have concluded
to indte you few hurried lines Staunton has
improved with unprecedented rapldity since the
war her citizens are all business, energy, and
90 aheaditiveness Wagons, carts, omnibuses,
drays and wheebarrows are running IN every
direction; the place is improving SO rapidly,
there is no telling where it will stop. Some
persons think this tOwn-city-we mean-Wlil
eventually swallow up the adjacent villages of
Fishersville, Waynesboro, Mt. Sidney, Middle
brook, &c. We trust it won gulp down the
whole of Augusta county, for then you know
we would have all town, and no country; In
that case where would we get our flour, butter,
chickens, eggs, &C., from. However, we sup
pose it is hardly worth while to worry ourselves
about that now i in such Matters we will have to
let the future take care ofltself
Many ILL natured remarks are made, by jeal-
GUS and envious villagers, from the surrounding
counties, when they visit our city; but, poor
fellows we only laugh at them, and pity their
poverty, recollecting we were once in the same
fix ourselves. Some of them say, they think
Staunton IS a little too fast; a most too big for
her breeches," shouldn't wonder if some of the
stores with open fronts, would soon have
closed fronts and open rears
We could not, in the limits of letter, tell
you of the many improvements that have been
made in the>past eighteen months; but will
confine our account to some OF the more recent
improvements: b
On New Street two new cellar doors have
been erected undertakers names not remem-
bered the outside Of two stores and a half
painted, undertaken, Capt. Balthis; two new
sheetiiron signs swung out-undertaker, ditto,
and the cellar wall on the North side Of Cowans
book store puddled clay hauled by Gear, and
pudding executed by Kirghlican These are
all the recent improvements we have noticed on
New Street. We intended to name some OF
the late Improvements on Main street and the
other leading business thoroughfares, but press
ing business engagements compel us to defer 1T
until another time. Suffice it to say, that I'M
provements on Main street, Augusta street,
IT, %b,c If or hIICI
ness streets, have kept pace with, if not excel[
ed, those on New street. New stores are open
ing every few days, particularly groceries Of the
''aUet Sort Then you know we have large
number of the best and most j1ouylslting schools
in the State; and the Institution for the Deaf
and Dumb and Blind the Lunatic Asylum, and
an elegant jail the latter very useful institu-
ton in all growing cities; a great railroad, land
another coming; a telegraph line; two express
companies, full of business F.; a number OF
Churches, two being African, both strong
and fourishing a Lyceum, a Thespian Society !;
three banks, and large town clock. By the
wav the custom of doing business in our city on
the cash system, has become so well established,
that for some time past even the town clock
has refused to run on tichc
We have three large daily newspapers, that
IS to say-they are pretty near daily, one is pub
lished Tuesday, one Wednesday, and the other
Friday SO you see, take them all together, they
only lack three days of it, near enough for all
practical purposes; at any rate you will agree
with us, that we are not quite so far out OF the
way as the Irishman was, who taught Sunday
School twice week, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Last, but by no means least, we have great
freedmen school here, taught by some four or
five very 'sspry" looking young schoolmarms,
from doa1n east.
Before the war, our population was not more
than 1000, now in round numbers it is Al5, 900.
What do you think of that, little villagers?
.5 PETER PUFF. i