Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-05
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN.

our countries history, the annual OBJ
servance of day of thanksgiving and
prayer to the Almighty in obedience to
the call of its Federal chief, responded
TO and seconded by the Governors of
the several Commonwealth. a people
by millions in number, spread over
vast continent, pausing in business, for
the nonce laying aside political antago-
nisms and observing Scientifically a GER
tain weekday indirect recognition OF
personal God, the G;ver and bestower
of every godf and perfect gift. | am
happy to state our citizens heartily re-
sponded to the call of our rulers, and
kept the day as advised. The three
main churches were opened and occupi-
ed 10y devout worshippers, the stores
were closed with two or three eXcep-
tons. and the town wore to great eX-
tent, the quiet and order of the Sabbath
day. Such a general and marked OBJ
servance Of the day we have not had
since the war.
Business does not move on among us
this fall as briskly as desired, or as ~
has done in former years. Stlll 1t i''SnI
be worse. AS it is the merchant anu
mechanic are ready to serve ana 10 %
with a fair patronage, and the ianorer
noeth forth to his daily toll. We have
had one addition of a large mercantile
house. which would grace city. MIR.
VIM. Carol, late of Bowling Green,
Kentucky, its proprietor. There are
other improvements in store houses and
mechanical establishments that indicate
confidence in the future of our town,
and hope for good time coming; a
hope raised and strengthened by the
late unparalleled revolution which has
swept over the country. The good old
Democratic rule with its hard money
basis is the key note of reviying hope,
and buoyant confidence. Time, the
disposer of all temperatures, will decide
as TO the virtue of the hope.
In music we have taken an advance
step. a musical association has been
organized professedly devoted to the
culture and development of this charm
ing art-the vocal predominating; sub
sidiary thereto, the instrumental as an
accompaniment. Such a motive and
aim il properly directed, can but be a
decided addition to any refined, intelli-
gent and religious community, and
prove promoter of the higher Testhet-
ic feelings, and kept closely without its
purview is uneXceptionable. TO tack
on to such an association, any eXhlbl-
ton of theatrical character would
make it distastetul to some, and be re-
garded as a departure from the original
design. At last we have band OF nut
sic, composed of ten performers, who
after considerable efforts among them
selves, and several weeks OF instruction
and practice under Skilltul professor,
have essayed to show themselves before
the public in concert and screnade.
They really make soul stirring music,
deserve great praise for their devotion
and have the high appreciation of the
community. In ineffective employment
some of our citizens are projecting 4
Lyccum, and in connection with its
polemic exercises, the delivery Of q
course of lectures during the winter.
Such n consummation is most devoutly
desired
The County Court at its late session
let up somewhat from their original
stand as to granting license, inthat they
permit the sale of Ale to certain parties
applying; but as to the sale of stronger
drinks their vote was decisive against
it. For one | say they acted wisely in
not going back on their first great and
noble record. The facts i'll our case as
a town and community attest the WIS
dom of the stand which WAS first taken
by the gentlemen composing the court.
Were i, possible to collate the facts be-
fore and since the Courts first action,
and thus show the amount OF liquor
sold and the exhibition of drunkenness
among us, the evidence would be over
whelming in favor of sobriety, morality
and good order To close observer OF
the times prior and subsequent to the
action of the court touching the matter
of public and notorious intoNlcation,
the facts are sharply and strongly dehn-
cd in favor of the latter period. IhlS
is manifest in reference TO chronic to-
perS and the assurance is doublv given
to parents that their children are not III
the same peril that they were i'll the
past, and | venture the assertion that no
town in this country of a population OF
like size and character can show q
cleaner sheet than that of Charlestown
concerning the great evil. The queS-
tion of private drinking and OF unprln-
cipled persons dealing it out illegally
on the sly is not pertinent. The abate-
ment of the public nuisance IS marked
and triumphant.
Far above Thanksgiving days, musi-
cal additions, business affairs, intelectu-
al feats. and temperance improvements,
rs a faithful chronicler of 1.-The very age
and body of the times with us, | note
the very deep and extensive religious
revival that has been going on in the
AZ. +. Church South, of this town, for
the past five weeks. No such vista
ton of grace has come upon us within
n decade or more OF years. So great a
religious awakening and reformation is
truly a God send TO any town and com
munity OF people. Up to the present
writing 80 have protested faith in
Christ, 20 of whom have attached them
selves TO the above named branch OF
u, (L..,.;o, Dbnrob Most Of fham