The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-28
times round his head, while, onward, still on.
ward fled the pig, and louder grew the shouts

ture generations will crowd around their grand
Lastly, came the
SOAP POLE CLIMBING.
Perhaps you don't know the difficulties that
attend the achievement of success in this par
ticular branch of the athletic business, and IN
order to give a clear conception of the magni-
tude of the undertaking, we will state that a
pole, some twenty feet high, entirely denuded
of its original apparel and soaped as slick as
politicians tongue in a County Convention, is
firmly implanted IN the mother earth, and upon
the end nearest the stars is placed eternal fame
and one dollar bill. There is something pecu-
liarly fascinating about the idea Of climbing up
a soaped pole, instead of waking up like By
ron did. and finding ones self famous, and the
halo of glory and visions of peanuts that
cluster around that one dollar bill, are well
calculated to fire the heart of ambitious boy
hood, and cause the old to cry out with Goethe,
''oh give me back my youth,
Give me back the time when
my self was forming,
Whe a fountain of crowded joys burst freshly and
unbidden forth
And lifes panorama viewed from the summit OF
a soaped pole.
Intermediates for the honors and emoluments
Of this part of the programme were not want
ing, neither was the desire for the lucre, but
somehow or other the aspirants when just
about to reach forth their hand and grasp the
prize were seized with longing to once more
visit this mundane sphere, and invariably the
wish was father to the action. At length,
however, Charles H. Wits accomplished the
feat amid the deafenipg applause OF the adj
miring multitude, and came down with the
laurels of victory on his fair young brow. and
an unnecessary quantity Of soap grease on his
previously pure pantaloons.
CORONATION AND BALL.
At night the coronation took place at the
Revere House. Col. A. S. Gray delivered, in his
usual happy manner the address, descanting in
words poetic, on the realms of love and beauty,
and paying deserved tribute to the loneliness of
the Queen and her no less handsome maids. AZ
Queen, and Miss Ida Lupton and Maggie OFT,
first and second Maids of Honor. The Royal
party then led off in the dance, and all s'went
merry as a marriage bell, until supper was
announced, when the numerous guests were
RECALLED with a feast worthy of the OCCASION
Supper over, the dance was resumed and con-
tinued far into the morning.
We repeat, that although no pretensions
were made to an affair of any magnitude, still
we venture to say that few were dissatisfied
with the two days proceedings or failed to enjoy
the many amusing features OF the Odd Fellows
and Red Mems Festival. The old town can
well afford to deduct two days in a year. from
the business calendar that all may indulge in a
good, hearty laugh, and for a brief season for
get the cares and anxieties which, for six days
In the week, are pressing upon them. Let the
festival be held annually, and each year it will
grow better and better.
SUSPENSION OF THE VIRGINIA BANKING
AND TRUST CoMPANY.-The announcement
was made on the streets on Saturday about 2
o'clock that a check of one of our merchants
had not been paid at the Virginia Banking
and Trust Company. Inquiry elected the
| fact that about the time this refusal occurred.
the Board of Directors, which had been in
session several hours, had sent word to the
Bank to close business, as careful estima tie of
the condition Of the Institution compelled a
suspension of business. A great deal of sur
prise was manifested and considerable excite
ment on the streets, accompanied with harsh
criticisms by dcpositors.
1t was soon ascertained that the affairs of the
Bank had been turned over to Gen. John Ech-
OILS and Judge j. N. Hendren, as receivers,
with a view to a speedy adjustment Of the
accounts, and q settlement Of its liabilities,
and a realization on the assets. The liabili-
ties are reported at about 800, 900, and the as
sets at 100000. The latter consist in dis
counted paper, matured and maturing, not
more than So, 900 or $4,000 of which are re-
garded as doubtful. The opinion is expressed
that there will not be any loss to depositors,
except that which may occur from having their
means locked up for the present.
| The alleged cause for the result we have
stated to the operations of the Bank, is the
large amount advanced to Valley Railroad
contractors, who have been unable to meet
| their obligations, OH account of the failure Of
the Company to settle with them. Had the
Bank been aided by the discharge Of this in
| debtedness, it is said, it would have moved
on without embarrassment. 1t is to be re.
GREETED that the complications, all around
were so serious and insurmountable as to pre-
cipitate suspension, for apart from the feeling
that naturally follows such result, a number
of men of very moderate means were depos-
tors and are thus deprived of their earnings to
meet current demands at the outset of win
! ter.
We forbear expressing our opinion at pres
ent, and until Il truthful exhibit can be made
and the real condition of affairs ascertained.-
At this writing the officers of the Bank and
the Receivers are busiy engaged in preparing
statement from the books of the Bank, so
that all interested may learn the facts as they
exist.
We are pleased to learn that no manifesto
ton Of distrust has been shown by depositors
towards the two National Banks of this city.
1t is true, the confidence Of the people is i'm
p.icit in the management Of these Institu-
! lions, for we do not think that there could be
secured the services of gentlemen more eau
tious, and better adapted to the business, than
those who are managing the National Valley
and the Augusta National Banks. If they
cannot be trusted under their present man
| aoement, it Is useless to 90 elsewhere TO find