The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-05

! THOMPSON WITH A (P)-not the Tholnpso
whose name will be handed down to posterif
as the successful candidate for Congress agains
Gen. B. F. Butler, but Thompson who his III
vested prison life with usefulness and respec
liability, and robbed the iron CRATE OF its hid
eous responsiveness, by the moral force OF ;
prisoners true inwardness. Thompson liat
waltzed over from Green to Rockingham coun
ty, and yielding to the cornwall and hilarious
elements Of his nature, found himself SO fal
under the influence OF the fiery fluid, as to I'M
settle his moral equilibrium. lie had talket
AMI walked and drank with a friend, and by
some unaccountable manipulation it was found
that his friends money had crept into Thomp-
sons pocket as to how or when, Thompson
was perfectly oblvious. He couldn't explain,
and did not own up to the entire satisfaction
of the jury. and Thompson was doomed to
confinement in the county jail of Rockingham
for sixty days. They have way down there
of making people earn their board, when they
are thus provided with accommodations, by
placing them in the chaill-gang. Thompson
genius was equal to the occasion. lie deter
mined to make the most out of a bad bargain,
and instead Of the ornaments incident to the
gang occupation, he proposed to make himself
generally useful by experimenting and working
upon the public square, as though it was his
own property. and making such improvements
as his esthetcal taste might suggest. Under
the sklful touch of his hand, the ragged, dis
heveled courtyard has been made to assume
tile attractiveness of park. the green sWard
has sprung up where there were barrenness
and sterility, the rough places made smooth,
and cooling shade and refreshing odors regae
the senses Of the passer-by. In fact, Thomp-
sons life, for the past two months, has been
remarkable exemplifcation OF virtue under
trying circumstances. He has taken himself
at stated hours from the county Jail
to the courtyard, industrously appli-
provement Of the grounds, and returned HIM
self voluntarily to his quarters with the regu-
larity of clock work. He has scorned- the at
ten,ions of police officer, and shown himself
above the petty tricks and dubious ways OF
the ordinary victim of unpropitious fortune
Not only did Thompson perform faithfully his
assigned duty, but he assumed the superinten-
dence of other unfortunates, and made them
perform an honest days work All this time
Thompson was unconsciously building up a
reputation for fidelity that may be of infinite
advantage to those who may unhappily fol-
low in his footsteps.
Thompson declined to resort to a short cut
to compromise his sixty days, but relgiously
fulfilled the allotted period OF his durance, and
lcf5 the clutches Of the law universally respected
as public benefactor. For sixty days this
man was allowed to leave and return to the
Jail at his own volition, and during that time
the severity of the regularity imposed upon
himself and his fellow prisoner IA coOred many
was such as to disarm suspicion, and inspire
general confidence. The neat appearance OF
the grounds around the court house yard at
test with what skill and industry and fidelity
he has served the county, and his entire con-
duct gives evidence that there are worse men
than Thompson, who have never been so un-
fortunately situated Indeed, in the sphere
they move, we doubt whether his democratic
namesake of Massachusetts, distinguished by
the euphony Of the P and the circumstance
Of it's use. will acquit himself with more credit
than Thompson who has just passed from the
criminal environments OF the county OF Rock
ingham.