The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-16
The Excitement in the City.

On Thursday morning last the excitement
over the election returns was still. at fever
heat. 1t was less demonstrative. however.
than The day before. but there was no less
anxiety or interest. Business of all kinds,
except the bar rooms, was virtually suspend
ed, and our business men generally could be
seen in little knots on the street corners dis
cnssing the situation. 1t was difficult to re-
alize the change. On the day before the de-
light Of the Democrats knew no bounds. and
re-ecloed from every portion OF the city.
Staid business men would rush along shout
ing and yelling like maniac>. and the streets
were transformed into an arena for the rev.
els of Demos. On Thursday, an unin-
terested observer need not have asked the
news. DOUBT and uncertainty were pictured
on every countenance and the Democrats
looked as il they had been bercayed of their
peared hopeful and s;lnguine. But there
was no certainty with either. and although
both expressed the utmost confidence and
tried to look perfectly satisfied, still it re-
CURED no deep scrutiny to detect :he con-
fiicting emotions beneath the shallow surface.
The bulletin boards OF the VIRGINIAN and
indicator were watched with feverisl in
tercst by both parties, and the crowd swayed
between the two offices. Our entcrprising
neighbor, G. A. Richardson. had also bulle-
ton at his store under the VIRGINIAN
Office upon which were posted the latest tele-
grams to the various private citizens. All
day long the Democrats were taking up
subscriptions to pay for messages. At night
Mayor Balthis instructed the police to silence
the shouting on both sides. and the nstruc-
tons were promptly and impartially enforc-
ed There was an occasional shout every
now and then, on each side, but the enthu-
siast was very Careful to get out of sight OF
the police before giving expression to his
eShuberant feelings. On Friday and Satur-
day there was no abatement of the interest,
and almost every business was at a standstill.
Men would go to their respective stores.
shops and Offices and cndeayor to settle
themselves to their accustomed pursuits. but
it was useles and generally the task would
be given up i'll despair, and the demoralizad
labo.er hurried OUT on the street to ask the
| news and to enquire show does it look now ?"
The faith Of the Democrats was somewhat
shaken on Friday by a circular issued from
the indicator Office, announcing that sin
| order that suitable preparations might be
made; the grand demonstration which was
to have taken place on Monday night, had
been postponed until Thursday. The reason
assigned for the postponement was that the
| cannon could not be obtained, but search
warrant in the hands of our most enterprs-
| ing officer would have failed to detect a sin
gle soul who would not have pronounced the
| ''eXcuse" ''too Thin Everyone knew that
! the grayest doubts rested upon every impair
| tial mind and that already there had been
too free use OF the pulmonary bellows. The
people were tired Of deluding themselves, and
wanted to know the truth. however agreeable
or disagrecable it might be.
| Up to Saturday night, the dispatches re-
| ceived by both the VIRGINIAN and Tndica-
tor were equally favorable to their respective
stiles. and the bright sunshine o: q serene
Sabbath morning brought no change in the
situation.