Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-09
OUR BIG SHOW.


for business partnership with the iliustrious
Butler, but he has been cut down before he
acquired knowledge of the value of false
checks, or before his juvenile mind had FORM
ed just appreciation of the worth of spoons.
"JOE" was a treasure in his way, but his
stealing qualities had never cropped out be-
yond the extent of a few of the neighbours
chickens that had Inadvertently strayed into
our garden, and unluckily for themselves VEN
tured too close to the kennel of our "JoE."
Had his earthly existence been protraCted,
We have every reason to believe that he would
have acquired reputation co-extensive with
that of his notorious namesake, but it pleased
the dogs in the vicinity of our domicil to
curtail his life's pilgrimage, by inficting inju-
ries from which he expired on Sunday night.
Aswe gazed upon his lifeless form yesterday
morning, and thought of what he was and
what he might have been, we felt indignant
that our Board of Supervisors had repealed
their dog tax law, for we knew that "JoE's"
dead carcass was worth host of meat. con.
Stunning, sheep-killing, egg-sucking dogs
Bitter as was our grief, we had one conso-
lation. "JOE" died as other radicals should
die-with halter around his neck and if
justice is ever re-instated, his death is but
typical of the life's termination of many
whose thieving exploits would cast in the
shade anything ever accomplished by him.
Taking this view of the matter we are mcasu-
rably reconciled to his untimely end, partic-
ularly as he had never, like his namesake,
contracted board bill with Nancy Bowers,
which remaius unsettled "JoE" was a for,
and bis ways were foxy, and daily becoming
more SO. Farewell, "JoE," may the green
sod rest lightly on thy lifeless body.
This tribute to the memory of our departed
fox is perhaps the only obituary VIC shall ever
write for radical, and it is due to him that
We should say that he was the only one of his
species for whom we entertain the slightest
respect. Next to this fox in our affections,
among the radicals of this county, is our old
ndabused friend, George Andersou-or, as he
has been vulgarly called Anderson, the Black
smith, and We therefore connect the two in
providing our weeks exhibition.
George is character, just as was our de-
ceased Joe, and under the benign influence
of radicalism, he has been elevated from the
obscure but honorable position of bellows
blower to that of king tumble.bug of his
party in Charlestown township. Honors have
been thrust upon him; he has been registrar
for his district-the duties of which Office he
performed to the satisfaction of his employ
ers-and he now holds the exalted and re-
spOnsible station of Overseer of the Poor,
although it is alleged that his recent successes
pecuniarily have greatly estranged his SYM
Pathies from that unfortunate class The
honOrs conferred upon George, and the dig
nifty with which he has been clothed, have
had tendency to unsettle that mature judy
ment for which he was formerly conspicuous,
and he now imagines that the weight of the
whole township is resting upon his broad
shoulders, and that it becomes him to assume
the position of general regulator of its inter-
nal concerns. lie is anxious to remove the
public schoolhouse in his district, and de-
clares his purpose to open public roads thro'
the lands of other people. The school.house
now stands near the centre of the school dis
trict, but it does not suit Auderson's couve-
nience, and he therefore means to have it set
down within few hundred yards of his
blacksmith shop, so that he can have the ser.
vices of his boys at home during the hours of
intermission. 1t is further copjectured that
1t is his purpose to establish first class school,
and with view to ensure the success of the
enterprise he has secured the services of Pro-
feSsOrs Hoke and Wisner of Martinsburg.
who will lecture alternately on the Evils of
Bond Forging" and Female Dcpravity."
The perfect familiarity Of these distinguished
professors with the subjects which will con-
stitute the foundation of their lectures. will
doubtless render their efforts instructive in the
highest degree, and give to the " Anderson
Institute" an eclat hardly surpassed by any
of the first class schools of the day. When
the schoOl-house is removed and reconstruct
ed, We hope to be present at the dedication,
as we learn the amiable blood hound of
Zion" the Rev. Parson Green, will adorn the
occasion with his presence.
In connection with our Big Show we may
mention circumstance related to us of Billy
Byers-nOt the man who butted the bull off
the bridge-but he who punched his eye out
with the pitch-fork. On one occasion this
worthy had pretty heavy harvest, which
greatly taxed the physical energies of his
hands, but which was finally harvested Sc
curely. AT the conclusion Of harvest, he
gathered his hands around him, and informed
them that he had litter of pups of a supe-