The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-30
Letter from Clarke County.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch. ]


BERRYvlLLE, VA, December rs, 1874.
From this "centre Of civilization there
Is no news worthy to be reported. The old
town goes on "in the even tenor of her
way" and "none dare hinder or moleSt."
We enjoy all the benefits of an Incorporated
city. 1t is made 3 "bigb crime and misde.
meanor" to pop q "Jackson cracker In
the streets, but the town authorities seem to
regard this as a 90 dead letter on the statute
book" We understand that for every fire.
cracker shot off in the streets the shooter
thereof is to be fined five dollars this being
the case, from the number fired last night
we conclude that the corporation OF Berry
vile will have sufficient revenue to discharge
the national debt.
1t may be interesting to your readers to
know "what manner" CT place this is. Il
has the usual number Of schools and churches,
and is situated in the midst OF q delightful
country. For the size OF the town there are
more grog.shops than anywhere else in
North America. To illustrate, there are five
houses between this point and the post.of6ce,
and four of them afford an opportunity Of in
Producing into the throat "the thief that
steals the BRAIN" Tnis is mentioned as
great recommendation TO the town, and will
doubtless be the mesns Of encouraging
large emigration. We hope, however, that
the tide will not rush in too rapidly, as it
would not do to have the population loo
largely increased until there is an opportu-
nifty to build more grog-shops.
Whilst the Legislature Is undertaking to
do so many things OF less iuc portance it would
be we'll il it would turn its attention to the
crying evil resulting from the indiscriminate
sale Of intoxicating spirits. Under the
present law (and it is the actual experience in
this town, to the grea. encouragement OF its
best friends) drinkiug-saloon can be opened
at every corner. If any community can
prosper under such law it must be com.
posed of men that have sheet-iron stomachs,
or the whiskey must be different article
from that sold in Battleto1n.
Let it be made an offence, punishable By
fine and imprisonment. to sell an adulterated
article; and if men will indulge, let them be
assured that each Gra.ght Is not so much
slow poison. 81 little good achtskey amt
g,cine to hurt nobody" Is AN argument that
by no means applies to the article that goes
as hard down mans tbroat as an iron slug
into spiralgrooved bore. Let the Legisla-
ture, therefore, make it peniteatiary Of
fence TO adul.erate an article OF which tradi-
ton says some Of the members Thereon are
more fond than they should be, and many OF
country.
Having told you some of the disagreeable
features of this rising village, we will advert
to something more agreeable. Grange
store has recently been established, and they
SELF things SO cheap that it "makes your
head swim. Persons that never visited Bat.
l,Slown on account Of the associations con-
nkcted with its earlier renGWn come from all
tie adjoining counties to buy cheap calico
nd cotton and other commodities. An en-
[ 4lusiastic Granger informs us that this is the
&rst Grunge store established in the United
tates. Whether Grst in point Of time or OF
nagnitude was not stated. Certain tits that
8his store Is not without its advantages to
he community. Other merchants havesun-
= ccountably learned that they can sell their
e yares IeeIe ches per; and the result will
doubtless be that trade will come here
: som Richmond, Norway, Patagonia,
hid the uttermost parts OF the
Itb.n This letter is by no means designed
IA ipjure your Richmond trade, but simply
demonstrate the power OF the Grange
Movement. BerryViile also has q fsrst-class
bunty newspaper. Its editorials are often
~ noted by the Richmond papers, thereby
Knowing the taste and Judgment OF those
T. Burnals. BY the way, Governor Kemper
YES the editor basket Of champagne.
. 8he Courier was the first to put the name
the gallant Keppef at the head Of its
blnmss. The last issue contained an 40.
~ ;rable article on Christmas, and when the
= tasket OF cham payne comes the editor
HEDGES hiHseIf 10 write q kfrstclass article
New. Year. IL the Governor can resist
lis appeal Sn behalf OF !" suffering human.
> gs be has eestainiy lost some OF the eeur-
q .3