The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-10-22

1t, the external WOflQ was Ozark anu gloomy,
but she who doeth all things we'll, - had provi-
ded for those deprived of>sights purer, serene
er and more respondent light, that frightened
existence and dissipated gloom; for who has
4 ever seen morbid blind man? He then intro
duced his audience to Paris. Proud, beautiful,
sinful Paris. The Forura Of Senates the OBJ
servatory of Science the Gallery OF Art: the
Library of Literature; the Concert Of Music 4;
the Palace OF Princes; the Soiree of Soubrettes;
the Queen Of Cities the Babel of Tongues and
the Congress Of Nations. Paris, the grand and
CORY; Paris, the gay aud gloomy; Paris, the
fascinating and tiendish; Paris, the delightful
and diabolical; Paris, the tempting and terri
BILE; Paris, the ulteous and crimson, and
stood with them in the shadow of the Egyptian
column. that had witnessed the RISE reign and
fall of generations of Monarehs; gazed with
them Oh the spot where once the sable guillo-
tine drank the best blood Of France, aid in
imagination witnessed the qiieenly head OF the
peerless Marie Antoinette severed from its
trunk by the murderous mandate OF the Infer
nal Triumvir. =.
Leaving the gloomy pictures OF the past he
invited his audience to breakfast with him i'll
one of the numerous cafes that adorn the bo,l-
lcvards, and having entered. gazes around on
the motley throng, and has Just ordered his
meal with all thea ne,sesttlancs ofa born Paris
ian. and been compliment by the polite wal
ter on his fautless French, with the assurance
that Monsieur must; have been raiscts III Paris,
| when. to his horror, in steps, All American
fresh from the gold fields OF Nevada, with his
pockets ftll of anuggets and his: heal full OF
notions about twisting Paris around his little
| finger and demonstrating to fife world at larse
that he is familiar with 4 few things himself
The new ARRIVAL t4S;lli,i!lss Will paafu! intar
est the bill of fare.% anil being unable TO tlec-
pter the hiyro glypics dashes tas,-paoer floavi.
i'll dispa;r and orders hot potatoes AMI corr.
brea |. In the fnsa'itfne the speaker is in an
agony OF modification anil psrsp'ation and
looks around to see il any o.Ie besl's himself,
has witnessed the display of temper and er,-
ditien of his countr man. Buti1e looks in vain.
The French are oopolite and well bred to no.
tice anything so embarrassing, and tho they
will lang. behind your back-for no people are
quicker to perceive Or appreciate a lasiicrous
to allow their risibles to he excited at anotle.'s
expense. Leaving the cafe you wander thro'
the boulevarsls from the Blstile to the Arch of
Triumph, pass over the payements once slip
perry with the life blood of the French aristoc-
racy, and leaving the sheen and sin of the com
nnnc city, thank God that you are au Amer
lean. ,
mir hn rf h 3aat
was Sergeant Smith Prentiss, The Thunderer
of Mississippi, Americas Greatest Orator, anil
beginning with a picture Of ti:lsh times of Miss
issippi, he drew the plan of the great orators
life with masters hand: No beautiful sa-
wanna counting public favor with its unbroken
regularity and velvety smootAness, but sue
eession of grand, definite contours, reaching
higher and higher, each marking an era, and
terminating in holiness never before or since
equaled in America. No linpid stream oil
ding silently and softly, charming the eye and
captivating the senses with its transparent
beauty and silent wiltlings. but a torrent,
wild, unprecedented and Irresistible, sweeping
a nation before it and leaving the marks of it's
career embedded in the hearts Of his country
men. The flash of meteor, enhancing the
world with brilliancy and beauty, Frightening
universe from horizon, ta horizon, and yam
nishing amid the gloom of eternal night.
The: speaker gave marry "reminiscences of
sargeant Smith Prentiss' life from the dawn |
Of his infancy to the close cf his career, but
we have neither the space nor the power to
reproduce them. He concluded his lecture with |
exhortation to all present, and especially the |
young men, to learn to says"No.'' Sergeant |
Smith Prentiss had meyer, known the signif- |
canoe of that little moB5sylable. The lack of |
that knowledge had been the rock on. which his |
barque struck, trenabled, shiyered and went
down forever. God had given him physique
that defed disease, but the extraordinary and |
continuous demands OH The resources of his +
health, had exhausted the fund and brought
him toa premature grave. He had amassed
hundreds of thousands, yet lie died wel]-.ligh +
pauper, and his lovely wife, reared in the lap
of luxury and atluence, was eowpeled after
his death, to drive hnckster wagon to sup J.
port herself and children.
The name or Prentss is Well-nigh forgotten.
Only the pioneers of Mississippi cherish his
memory and recall his consuming inyeetiye and
scathing sarcasm. The world at large has long
ago buried the recollection OF the munderer of
Mississippi beneath the sod of the dead past. and
the fame that once spread from Maine to Tex
as, is locked up in the hearts OF those near and
dear to him.
REGIsFRAFIoN.-'rhe books OF Registration
will be open in this city for three days-Satur-
day, Monday and Tuesday, October oath, 25th
and 9th, and throughout the county for one
day enthusiastically, Oeto. 9th, at which time
all who desire to vote and have not yet regis
tered asust do So. Remeaaber that if you do
not Register YOU cannot vote. Talle election is
for Congressman, Clerks of the Circuit and
County Courts, and for or against the alnsnd-.l
msnts.