Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-12-23
FIR me hsgi'iSr.


1t is frequently remarked that the
most laudable deeds were achieved in
the shades of retirement and 10 its
truth history testit;eS in any page. An
act Of heroism or philanthropy, perform
ed in solitude, when no undue feeling
can affect the mind or biaS tie charac-
ter, is worth TO the eve of an impartial
observer, whole volumes Of exploits dis
played before the gaze ofthe stupid ard
admiriug multitude. y little more than
g hSlt century ago, = gentleman was
travelling in one of the counties in this
Valley, and abcut the close OF the ia,
stopped at public house u obtsin re-
treShment and spend the night He had
been there but 4 Shor; time, before an
old man alighted nom his eig, with ;he
apparent intention of hayning fellow
guest with him at the same housc. As
the old man drove up, be observed ;hat
botk the shafts Of his gig were broken,
and that they were held together ~
hickory wi;Ls Our traveller observed
further that the old gentleman Was
plainly clad, that his knee buckles we've
looScncd, aud that Som,;h.ng ot nccii-
gence peryaded his dress. Corc,iviug
him to be one Of ;hc honest ycomaury
Of the land, tie courcsi,s Of strangers
passed between ,Atm ND they entered
the tavern. twas about the same ,.me
that an addition O.. three or -four voury
men was made to their number. most. il
not all o! them of,he legal profession.
As soon as they became conveniently &C.
commodatcd, tie conversation was
turned by one of the latter. upon nm cl-
oqUoEt harlngue which he'd that day
been displayed st the bar 1t was 10
piled by the other, that he had witness
Cd the same day degree Q: cl,qucace
no doubt equal, but tha, it was from
the pulpit. Something Ike sarcastic
ryjoinder was made 10 tie clo4u,r,o Of
the pulpit and warm and able slicr-
cation enSued, in which the merits If
the christian religion became The ob.
iect Of discussion From 6 o'clock un-
til II, the young champions welded tho
sword of argument, aGauciug. W;.h ~.
Cenui'y ana ability, everything that
could Lc said pro md con. DUUngthis
protractcd period, the old gentleman
listened, with sll tie mcchnrss and mod
esty of child, Is Il hc Was adding new
information 10 the stores Of his even
mind ; or perhaps, be was Observing
with philosophic eye, the faculties Of
the youthful mind, and how new ,ncr-
gies aIc evolved by repeated action
or perhaps, with patriotic emotion, lie
was rejecting upon the fui;urc dostnics
Of lis country, and on thcrising gcncrs-
tion upon whom these dtstiuics must
devolye or most probably, with a sen.
timcnt of moral OF religious feeling, ho
was collecting an argument, which char.
actcriStic of himself, no ant would lie
able TO clude and no force 10 resist"
Our traveller remained n spectator, and
took no part IN what was sad. At last
one of the Young men remarked, that il
was impossible 90 combat With lonP,ard
established prciudicrs. wheeled around
and with some familiarity exclaimed,
We'll, my old gentleman, wha; think
YOU of these things T. II a streak q
vivid lightning had flashed across tie
room, they could not have been moro
surprised than they were at what fol-
lowed. The "old gentleman" raised lis
eyes, and for nearly an hour, poured
from his lip: the most eloquent and un-
answcrable appeal. So perfect was bis
recollection, thst every argument u:g,d
against the christian religion, was met
in the order in which it Was advanced.
IIuines sophi,try on the sahject of mir
acles, was if possible, morc perfectly
answered than it had been by Campbell.
And in the whole lecture, there was 80
much simplicity, energy IathCs aud
subl:mty, hn no o'bsr UoJG wG, M
f,ret An attempt to describe it, said
the Traveller, would be an attempt 20
praise the suubeams u was immcdi.
a:ely 4 matter of curiosity and inquiry
who ''the old gentleman" was the tray.
cler concluded that !; was the preacher,
from whom the pulpit eloqnence had
been heard but no! il was the Chief
Justice Of the United States-John
Marshall READER.