Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-10-01
GAN AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY. The

] GAN AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY. 'l-Ihe
action of the primary Ward meetings
Saturday evening, carried desolatlon to
the bosom of many families in Staunton.
This morning there are wives and children
straining their eyes for the return of Pa,
who has not been seen since he was ap-
pointed delegate and went out to save
the State. Among the saddest cases is
that of Mr.. Simon Pettingill, of No. 100
Wayt st. We get from his wife the par
ticulars: He was last seen at home on
Monday. On Saturday night he came
home and spent till 2 o'clock writing. His
wife begged him to come to bed but he ex-
planned to her the Importance of the situa-
ton. He had been appointed delegate
to the convention and was writing letter
accepting the position. About l O'Clock
he walked to the window, and after look
ing out, turned to his wife and said: "My
God, Maria, it is an awful responsibility,
but | must meet it like a man." Sunday
morning he wouldn't go to church, say
ing that he couldn't 60 to all and going to
any might look as if he committed him.
self to some candidate of that denomina-
ton. AT dinner he eat very little, remark
ing that he had very little appetite, and
maria, it is an awful responsibility.
Early Monday morning Mr.. Pettingill got
up and commenced reading the constitu-
tion of the United States, the constitution
Of Virginia and several works on parlia-
mentary rules. They impressed him deep
ly, and rising from his seat he remarked,
"Maria, the responsibility is awful That
was the last time Mr.. Pettingill has been
seen at home. He appeared at this office
in the evening with a large paper, which
he told us contained nine combinations,
but it looked so much like cue paper
the amusements of the Evil One. He told
US that he had it so now that he could
nominate any man he wanted to by a COM
bination. Hehad never thought politics was
such an easy game. Later in the evening
he wasn't so certain. He came in in
hurry and very white and locked the door.
He said it seemed to him everybody had
combination and he didn't see how any-
body was to be nominated. 1t was dis
graceful he said, this combination business
it was tr1fling with the interests of the
people. We asked him what had become
Of his combination. He said he didn't
know-it seemed to him everybody was
making up some plan tie defeat the will of
the people. He went into Tom Burke's
and came back in a hurry saying, cit was
just too bad-a man couldn't get a glass
of ale without somebody boning him for
his VOTE" If it was ale Mr.. Pettingill had
been drinking it must have been made out
of Augusta county grain from the smell.
We asked after his family. He said he had
''sent a note home to Maria" He looked
like he hadn't seen her for some time.
Yesterday morning we met him returning
from free lunch He was telling us how
foolish it was for man to eat three meals
a day-one was a plenty. His pocket
WAS full Of combinations" ana his heart
wroth against nearly all the rest Of the
delegates; there wasn't one of them that
hadn't deceived him about something
or other. File said in this matter that all
men were liars. Last night when we
went to press he was sitting by our stove.
He remarked: 'Tell Marie shponshbility
zorful''