Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-05-02
A Day In West Virginia.


Under the above caption the sprishtly edi
;or Of The Leesburg Mirror tells what lie saw
in a day in our beautiful and thrifty county
lie says:
"A day or two spent in West Virginia last
week, revealed decided spirit Of public i'm
provement in the localities visited. Harper's
Ferry is still terribly mutilated, but there are
signs of conyaleseuce, and when her ancient
hills. that once gave echo to the hammer aud
the forge, shall reyerberate with the music Of 3
thousand spindles, her day Of deliverance may
be assumed. Charlestown, the gem of one Of
the finest and lovelicst agricultural regions in
the State, bears the scars of war, but through
ont her borders the hand of industry Is busily
engaged in clearing away the debris of once
peaceful homes, preparatory to building up
their waste places The ruins OF her disman-
tied public buildings still rear their gloomy
walls Ia hideOHs mockery over the miserable
selishuess aud political rancor that prompted
the selection Of another spot for the dispensing
of law aud Justice But notwithstanding this,
there is energy aud pluck in the old town yet,
which has developed itself, especially in the
southeastern suburbs. Since the close of the
war, new streets have been opened, and the
locality from which John Browns soul went
marching on, has been completely netamor-
phoSed, and what year or two back was but
"a grazing ground for the village cows Is now
0der0us with the perfume Of the flower aud the
shrub, amid which not less than twenty-five or
thirty stately mansions rear their imposing
fronts the 0bOdes Of elegance and comfort
The number of these will be added to the pre-
sent summer and for some of which ground is
already broken. Why can't our people do
likewise? Forget che sorrows Of the past, and
live for the present and the future. Why can't
we have new life, new energy new streets, new
houses, with Increased population and lncreas-
ell wealth Charlestown possesses no peculiar
advantages that should thus stimulate her
growth. beyond the industry and enterprise Of
bier philosophical citizens Aud yet Sheiseu-
Lrging her borders, her people are slnguiue
and hopeful looking forward with confidence
and calm compOsure, 10 the day which they
say is not far distant, when the seat Of JUS
tjce will again be established in their midst,
where il righttully belongs. and the old town
arise, PhoeuiX-like from the ashes Of material
fire with which she has been so sorely Scorched.
We sincerely trust their expectations may
meet with speedy realization. At Hallt0wn,
tolr miles distant from CharleStown, Is tie
Paper mill Of Me,srs EY>rEE e STaIDEH,
which has heretofore been noticed In these cot
umus Il Is an extensive establishment. and
Is driving lucrative trace. The paper turned
out from this Mil, Is made exclusively OF
Straw The process Of It's manufacturers truly
wonderful, aud marks another step IN the
progress Of science. The proprjetors are
thorough-goiug business men, and deserve
much credit for the energy with which they
have prosecuted their undertaking. They
nurpose ia short time to erect additional
buildings for che better accommodation 81
their rapidly increasing trade. They have iu-
vested in their enterprise over 100000. and
We were glad 90 learn that they are already
r,lpug the reward due % their enterprise