Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-09-13
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN.

Lodge III reading the Masonic Service
at the grave of the late E. Z. Cooke,
through respect for the deceased, be-
cause in early life he was the intimate
friend of my father, is made the subject
Of very unnatural and uncalled for ex-
ercise of wit, by factious writer in the
Free Press of last week To say the
least it was far-fetched and forced in its
connection and design. would suggest
to the party to let grave subjects alone,
and contine himself to that line of
thought which seems to be his taste and
with which he started in the Register.
The shafts of wit should never be direc-
ted against sacred feelings and things.
1t is generally conceded that we live
il fast age BY this is meant, l sup
pose, that people 90 to extremes in
their tastes, habits and manner OF life.
The age has been one OF manifest and
striking progress in science and art, in
mechanics and valuable inventions, the
application of steam, electricity, etc.
These wonderful discoveries for saving
labor and utilizing natural elements,may
in some measure have given impetus to
the spirit of man, hence his propensity
to live fast, to go to extremes, beyond
natural and healthy state. We hear of
fast young men and fast women. a de
faulting clerk or Bank officer turns up
ever and anon. And the sequel proves
that he lived too fast-he waded be-
yond his depth to indulge in swine, was
sail and women" | suppose fast
horse could not be put in such catego-
ry for he is a dumb brute and his speed
is ''native gift" And yet, such an ami
NAL has unwontingly overthrown his
rider and owner, for his fast quality may
beget racing, and racing betting, and so
an entering wedge may be made for a
custom that is universally condemned
by the good and its practice demoralz-
ing, begetting and pandering passion
for gain and chance, which is gratified
at the expense of dumb brute-the
practice fostering many vices, such as
gaming, drinking and the like. We
have had a race or two during the past
week near our generally staid and quiet
town. They excited some stir among
the admirers of the turf. Some body
lost money too, whose horse did not
win. 1t is said, of course, this was an
innocent trial of speed, for the animals
were of light stock, in no wise OF Long
fellow and Harry Bassett bottom and
metal. The turls were neighborhood
sport, in no wise likely to become
Long Branch. or Saratoga, or Epson
course. May be so. This is fast age,
and in time Charlestown might become
famous in this away.
| was permitted the other day to in
tcrview John Burns, Esq, who is re-
garGcd as one Of our most energetic and
successful farmers. have heard it said
more than once that he succeeds in
whatever he undertakes, that every
thing he touches turns to profit. This
would seem to be so, for beginning life
with a small start, he now holds with
ease 600 acres of choice Jefferson land.
His crop of wheat this season will foot
up about 6OOO bushels-a grand reward
for industry and good farming. Hehad
about 800 acres in wheat, the average
yield per acre being about II bushels
On the farm adjoining the town the
Weld was "a bushels to the acre. This
was extraordinary in contrast with the
average product per acre throughout
the County, for / question whether this
is beyond ten or twelve bushels. My
impression has been that ever to accom-
plsh this much it was necessary for our
farmers to use fertilizer largely, owing
to the want of particular element in
the soil for the growth of wheat, this
having become exhausted by constant
drain upon the land. Mr.. Burns told
me that upon his land near town,a farm
of 200 acres, he used none Of the mod
ern fertilizers-only what he secured
from his barn yard and the scrapings OF
the streets The tillage of this farm
and its results demonstrates that our
jefferson land can be brought to such
high state of improvement that guano
can be dispensed with. OF course this
will demand good practical farmlng,an
this Mr.. Burns exemplifies. He pre-
pares his land thoroughly, turning I'M
der at times as he is now doing q heavy
second growth of clover. He does not
SOW his wheat until late-the last of Sep
tembcr or first Of October. Such facts
are significant and indicate sagacious
farming, for just along side of him, the
high way only dividing from land of the
same quality, his neighbor does not get
half his yield. His corn on this same
farm will turn out from Go to 20 bush
els per acre, and that without the use
of fertilizer He told me that for this
farm Col Stewart, of Berkeley, a few
years ago offered him S40,0O0-s200
per acre. have been thus particular
in giving yoa the results achieved by
one good farmer, hoping it will be an
honorable incentive to others to do like
wise. 1t also shows to what perfection
of tiilage our land can be brought, with
its remunerative yield, which if all
reached, for what one does another can,
what all Independent position this i'm
portant branch of the community would
| hold and the County so rich naturally,
would be cultivated to its full capacity,
doubling perhaps its present yield OF
the essential serials.
Our town on last Tuesday wore much
the look of a first of April, moving day,
the streets were lively with wagons la
den with household goods, some four or