Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-05-25
THE GRAsSHoPPER PLAGUE !.


THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE.
The Chicago Times publishes an inter.
esting but painful account of the temperance
of the grasshopper plague in the West A
gentleman who returned from visit to South
western Missouri last week reports (: 1.-THE
young grasshoppers are deyouring everything
green in that portion of Missouri named
Tho people are ell panic-stricken. Cattle and
horses are dying by the hundreds from starva-
ton. They can find nothing to eat, not even
buds or leaves on the trees in the woods
Everything has been eaten up by the pests"
A lady writing from Western Kansas, under
date of April 10, says: s.t never, saw so
many grasshoppers in my life. They are very
smali-not quarter of an inch long. The
planks around our fower-beds were completes
" covered with them, and it was impossible
to walk without killing them. The wheat
and grass are completely ruined" A gentle>
man from st. Joseph, Mo-, states that in the
neighborhood of that city millions of grass
hoppers have made their appearance and are
eating up everything. He says they are now
as large as horse fly and quite spry: In
walking in the fields hundreds of them rose
before him. and SO thick we're they that, by
sweeping bis hand through the air, he could
get as many as fifty at single grab.
The LICENSE QuEsT1oN.-The action Of
the County Court, touching the granting of
licanca r., coll l;o,o. 80 - 49,. A..
of tho Virginia law in vogue before the war;
which granted only to keepers of Public Inns
the right to keep bar. This is regarded by
many as wholesome law, and under the cir
cumstanccs the least Questionable and the
best that could be done. Under the former
working Of that law saloons, or in modern
parlance significantly called ''sinks," were uu,
known. Under the present action of the
Court these modern nuisauces are dispensed
with, and with good reason. The Court some
months ago granted to certain parties the
privilege to sell ale, thus breaking upon their
original sction-entire refusal But it is
patent this indulgence of the Court has been
grossly abused and stronger drinks than ale
were dealt out, regardless Of honor and con-
6deDce imposed. Could such parties on APP
plication expect renewal of confidence and
further repose of trust at the hands of up
right and highminded Magistrates The
present action of the Court cuts off all under
ground aud back>room retreats and brings up
the business to daylight and public view, re-
quiring the seller to deal it out in his most
public room, the front Office of his establish
ment. IF the business is right, who can OBJ,
ject? II the matter Of taking drink of
whiskey is right, who will except to taking i.
in this way? Then it makes responsible
men, not only in the way of character but of
prope'y-the hotel proprietors-the accounts
able parties to the bond. The good name of
their houses aud the success of their business
at stake, give assurance to the community that
these gentlemen will keep an orderly bar in
keeping with the acquisitions of the bond.
The point is not we'll taken, that the Court
permits monopoly of the business here, in
that they have only granted license to one of
the Hotel keepers. They were willing to give
to both according to the rule they had laid
down, which We say was a good one, if there
was conformity to that rule, namely, to open
the bar in their chief office room.
On the whole we conclude the action of the
Court was not that of men ."on the ragged
edge of despair" but that of wise, sound
minds and calm dispassionate feeling, con-
sentative in its character, aud will be emineut-
ly promo.ive of good order aud temperance,
and deserving the support and respect of all
good citizens. JUSTICE.
Charles,own, May 90, 1875.
DWELLING BuRNED-LastS Saturday morn
ing. about 10 o'clock. "The Glen," stone
dwelling belonging to the heirs of the late
Leroy P. Williams, situated near Ivicklife
Church, accidentally caught FIRE and was de-
stroyed. We understand that there was about
81, 500 insurance on the property.
Clarke Courier.
E Among other distinguished lawyers a.