The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-02-19

are no more. The influence of the Conser.
vative press by no means tends to change
this feeling among its readers, and Whenever
it is suggested that rev idea or new
man could be well introduced among them,
they raise the customary vail, and call up
the shades Of Washington Jefferson Mad
ison! Monroe! All these were good men
and true in their day, no doubt, and worthy
to be initiated, but / am 10th to believe the
soil OF Virginia is SO poor as to produce but
one crop, aud would fain hope that there are
men Of this and the co.alng day for whom
these sages Of the pat would not blush as
Virginians. 4&
EDITORIAL INCONSISTENCY. ss
These same editors are queer people
They are constantly telling Us that We have
all the natural advantages that any portion
Of the globe can offer that we need but
s efficient immigration to make this the
most prosperous and populous corner of the
earth. They call upon the down-trodden
nations Of Europe to focK hisher from their
opprsssors, and 10 tho very next, or per-
chance the same sheet, they talk of the
s'Tyrants who grind US down." they
speak Of Gen. Grant as "C@sar." "Usur.
per" they declare that Liberty is dead"
''she free spirit Of the sons Of the
soil is crushed by doppressioa," &c. I
am sometimes, while reading these papers,
forclbly reminded of an incident that occur
red some years since at a Baptist meeting
The association Of the State met at the little
village Of Hampton, ID the old quiet days,
before the gun-boats had Numbered the
death-knell Of slavery The hospitable man
sions OF the little town were thrown open to
entertain the visitors. aud all the churches
given up to their use. On Sunday large
and attentive congregation, composed Of al!
the principal people Of the town, without re-
gard to sect, assembled in the Episcopal
Church The young minister who had been
appointed to preach was unfortunately pos
sessed Of more zeal than discretion, and
many looks Of disapproyal were exchanged
among "the brsthreny" who occupied the
front seats, when he launched forth upon
discourse to prove that the "Baptist was the
Only church," and that 'clcse communion
was Scriptural' &c., and when be finished
his sermon, and sat down With q complacent
expression, one Of the oldest and most be-
loved Of the brethren arose, and said in a
clear, emphatic voice: "My friends, l am
sorry to say believe if it would please the
lord to remove half the Baptist preachers
from Virginia there would be SEINE hope for
the cause to prospsr'!'
5a A DELIGHTFUL CLIMATE.
But while we cannot indorse the views of
the editors on some points, we cannot help a.
groeing with them that this in a pleasant place
yin macy respects. Ispeak not Of tho town,
but of the surrounding country. The eli.
mate is delightful, the Winter short End
most agreeably varied with seasons of the
ballnisst weather. Flowers VIII live almost
until Christmas in the open cir, and have
seen corn and tomatoes ia market in No
vsmber. The wster il the purcst aud the
sweetest T ever drank, the wells so cold that
ice is not needed, and the place l believe to
DO exceptionally healthy. It seems to me.
the very place for invalids who are seeking
mild climate. Though the soil is mostly
poor, with proper cultivation wonderful re-
suits can be achieved; and for fruits, large
and small, and for market gardening, the re-.
turns Tor moderate investments of labor and
money are moGt gratifying Ons gardner
tells me that he sold four hundred dollars
worth Of fruits and vegetables from his lot
Of. one acre the third year that he cultivated
it. Though not strictly grass country, the
small, hardy COWS here give US as nice milk
and butter as | have tasted anywhere.
THE LYNcHRURa FACTORIES.
But | mean to speak chiefly of Lyach-
burg as to its manufacture of '.the weed" and
its laboring Glasses. When / was child at
my home in the Northern part of the State,
I have often listened to our old slaves sing
ing, Sim gwine long down to Lynchburg
town, to take my 'bacca dar," and wondered
what it meant and never see the heavy,
low, nvas-co sered wagons, drawn by what
seem favorite teams in these parts-a mule and
COW, or bony old horse and solemn horn
ed ox-without thinking Of the old song and
taking in It's full meaning. This is emp hat.
ically a tobacco town, and one realizes it from
the first sight Of the great barn-liks ware
houses and busy factories which crown ev-
cry hill, and shock all our ideas Of architec-
tural beauty, as the train stops and we land
at the Lynohburg station. / do not propose
to describe the whole process Of manufactur-
ing the ssweed" into its various commercial
forms; but only TO mention some Of the points
which strike new conner in regard to the
operatives in this great branch of trade
Having until now seen the negroes only en-
ployed on farms or use for house servants,
am in constant state Of surprise at the new
phases pi esented by the factory hands, and
nothing SO i'm presses me as the wages they get.
They all, men, women and children, find 4
employment in the busy season, and while at
most places large families are a drawback
and expense, here the children from six to
eight years old are able to earn from fifty
cents to one dollar per week. and smart, or,
as they say here, '.lkely boy or" girl Of
twelve, can often make from So to So per
week. And if, as rarely happens, there are
no children, they eagerly adopt orph"ns, OF
bring in the children of their country
cousins, and seem to find it remuneratiye to
feed and clothe their ',stemmers" and give
them pocket money besides.
| have heard that the sbrag' hands in
factory have been known to earn 500 per
month and it is net uncommon for good or az
erage hands to make from $40 to $50 per
montk-women as well as men, for 10 this
business the women who are trained to work
do az we'll as the men, and what is more,are
as we'll paid as the men. At such rates we
might suppose they would 5000 get rich. or
at least Independent; and when we remeln-
her the cheapness of living that thew can l;ve