Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-05-29
}DSTOWN JEFFERSON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. SATURDAY, MAY 49, 1862


climate, and fruitful soil are no doubt
good lhings. and-if the good easy souls
who subsisI on them, would only ihTow
off thelf ndoence-would be incslcuIs-
bic blessings. BuI ought no, the people
OF The extreme North thank Heaven, for
the cold climate and barren soil, that BY
compelling industry, y,pskes them healthy,
happy and rich. "Do you reside here
sir," said | TO man that | me, on the
long narrow pendusiing bridge that spans
a pretty lisie tributary OF the kanawha.
running by the town. "Yes" ssid he.
"Whsl do lhe people here DO, what DO
YOU manufacture :" ave manufacture
nothing" ssid be. why" said |, "yOu
manufacture these brooms don't you, the
material grows here" mo" said he,
"Ws send the material 10 Cincinnati.
They are manufactured there" And so
it is, | verify believe. lhs! If lucifer
matches grew on the trees, they'd be sent
to Cincinnati 10 be boxed. | dwell on
this matter, because 1t is Of ImPorisnce.
lis giant difficulty that might quite
readily be cot rid OF by the people them
selves. Virginia first gsve TO their buck
eye friends ocross the river territory TO
make . State, and from thsi time 10 this,
the people of this magnificent Valley
uEmlndful OF their own Stale or local IN
'erepis-keeP pouring into Ohio their IN
cslculable resources.
Charleston has population Of shout
three thousand FIVE hundred people. Il
is lighted by oil lsmps. has Ihres banks,
hsll dozen churches and q reading room
well supplied with newspapers snd mage.
zines There are abouI hall dozen
physicsnr. IS many BARRIERS, sHd about
FIVE and twenty lawyers, some OF whom,
as TO. instance Colonel Ben Smith, are
eminent, especially IN the land laws OF
the Stale. end all, go far a, could see,
intelligent Well-read. sharp, gentIeman!y
fellows. There is also good hotel IN
which we found very pleasant quarters.
1t is kept by Mr.. Wood, snd his smlsble
family, old residents Of ksnswha, but
new ones OF Charleston.
An old fashioned, lIl-nstured, English
tourist would very probably say OF this
town. that he had seen nothing in il, but
a filthy steam boat landing, a long mar
rowed street Of good, bad, and inefficient
houses; the whole being lighted on bright
moonlight nights by oil lamps, and leave
you to form your opinion OF the character
of the place. and the intelligence o. the
people accordingly. A few days resi-
dence. and think fair share oi good
nature has shown me olher and more q.
greeabe sights, and induced me 10 form
juster and pleGssnier opinions. There
are good plank sidewalks cverywheTe-
the suburbs are delightful-the private
residences are numerous, modern, and
many Of them elegsnt; and their occupants
as intelligent, refined and hospilable as
have ever met
Notwithstanding my determination 10
mention no names, one name. which is
now memory, and hope, Of books and
flowers, OF music and song. must write,
the hospiisbie Jefries Oh hospitality
In this close calculating selfish world, ol
all the virtues that GJorn character, and
the practice OF which makes life happy,
bright.eyed, generous hearted, open hand
ed hospitality is King.
Were it possible should conclude this
letter by thinking, for the pen can DO no
Justice 10 more than one Charleston friend
ihs, long to meet again. and more than
one occasion that shall never forget.
only speak for myself. but | think my
friend General G. will unite with me in
saying ,hs. We shall long remember the
ride by the river-ihe mountain on FIRE,
the sky rockets, and our two friends, Mr..
Nash sGd Mr.. Freer, to whose poliisness
and compsnionable qualities we were so
much indebted.
There ore no railroads OF telegraph, as
YET. in The Kanswha Valley. This. as
much as the mountains and forests that
surround Charleston isolates ii.snd makes
il as dlficulI for strangers 10 get 10 it. as
the civllIiy Of the Inhabitants makcs II for
them to leave it. In many respects the
place is pIiGeVsl. This remark however
although true, requires explanation.
Travelling away Vest. and then 90 far
down South, on rivers that pierce their
way through forests, you seem TO be GET
ting away from civilization. And you
arc. But il is from The civilization Of
New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore,
10 arrive al that Of Cincinnati and ST.
LoUis-in fact Of the fresh young and
more American West. I'VE only read
OF railroads here, cir sald q gentleman 10
me, unlike you. when We get on one, ,wo
enjoy it, as I IuSury." and yet in this
genlleman's house, found The last poem
from The press, and heard, ,admirsbly suBg
the last song lha, rang throngh the New
York Academy. How II is with tie
masses Of The people, may be different
thing. And unless the people Of The
Valley desire 10 be clsssed with The stew
ard who buried his talent iIl the mssler
came. end be left entirely behind in the
grand march lhs. progress is making, ,ihsy
should bend every energy 10 procuring
both railroads ana ielsgraPb'.
The great land case, which We have
been engaged here in trying has iernins-
ted. This suil-wbicb is one Of some
twenty, involving The title Of some so or
$4,000 acres Of lsnd-wss in ejecineni,
10, ~