Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-08-05
Capital UndcrtOncs.
From Our Oien Correspondent
WASHINGTON. July so. 10

Has it been the centennial enthusiasm APP
pertaining to it that has thus far speeded this
year Of our S DOM the cycle Of time, or is II
merely the vivid Imagination Of scion Of the
Sands that insists on the idea that 1876, the
glorious one hundredth year Of our national eX-
istence," is making famous tracks to end It's
career? Perhaps, finding itself made so much
Of aud sureited, already, with praise aud pomp
and parade-sutlocated with the excessive
nuchnoss of tho thing, young rs has grown
Disguised and Is Fastening rapidly away
Such is an idle fancy Of niue. But really,
now, it does seem as though we are approach
ing December LIST at a toloTab!y fast gait
Aud yet, before that date what an important
political question is to be solved In the APP
preaching contest the idea will not down Win
10 me that two grea; giants are to meet and
decide, for oil time, tue supremacy OF one or
the other ever our vast country. Politicians
aud wise men-wSe only in their own cOnce,
may pirate Of periodical political revolu-
tions %; but this coming revolution, if revolu-
tion at all, will prove a fual one Republic
cauism and Democracy will be the combatants,
the one tghting-as, mark me, il never fought
befUre-tO retain its governmental control
the other warning to assume it. Both are ex-
perienced in a thorough knowledge of tue field,
both know well the value Of the spOils, both
understand entirely that on this battle-ground
either one or the other must, literally speaking,
Conquer or die die, without the shadow Of
a chance of resurrection. Tue consideration
of this subject, in hIal sense rs here set forth,
brings vaguely to mind Hugo's brief yet vivid
description of that mythical duel between
Rome and Carthase-Europe and Africa. As
is said in this masterpiece of the old Italian
statesman, so of the American 5 centennial
contest may we truly eXclaim-" The due. Is
desperate. It is a struggle for life"
The day, or rather the kind Of the day that
most dote on was good enough to dawn this
morning; and it was-a rainy Sunday. Do
not think me entirely rrclgious to thus desire
that church-goers should wade through waters
ankle deep, aud receive enough drenchng
whilst seeking the house of God to electually
wipe out all love for Him by the time they gain
the temple. For such weak christians 1t were,
perhaps, better did they abandon all spiritual
ideas, Of such easy evaporatiye tendencies
Your true christian can render as acceptable
worship to the Almighty whilst within doors,
as by attending church; nor is he dauutcd,
in the latter act, by any degree Of nclcment
weather. So hush up, you Pharasaiai critics
i wont have il, there But, rs a conCiliato-
~ argument-oue in which all Flooding VIII
tiers cannot, it seems TO me, but cheerluily CO.
incide-these rainy Sundays come to the pa
tieut iuk-slinser wonderfully pregnant with
suggestive ideas on which to write-espccially
in UNDEGTONES. They are, in this respect,
somewhat 10 be twinned with
a. calm NIGHT 4bot hreadat nh tbou0bts -
1t seems to me though, really, as if leaden,
over-weeping sky-a dull, cloudy, rainy Sun
day-a Day Of Rest in more than the general
ly accepted sense forms an especially propi-
tious occasion for habitual peu-drivers. The
mind becomes clearer; and endless topics, APP
propriate TO the time, become more tangible
aud misunderstanding well-dofued points for
attack, in proportion 10 she cl0udiuess Of the
overcast sky. And thus, seated in his cosy
sauctum the author, Of whatever degree Of at
tajumeuts, finds his ideas running clearer on
these steady drilling days, than when the sun
is shining bright. Strange contradiction, eh ?
that
When days are brightest Thought i. dull
The common herd IN sunshine, only, dream their
lives aWav.
For minds whose temples vet are full
The leaden sky with darling ideas team, and WELD
potent sway.
Saturday night, however. had high old
time getting up this desirable species Of Sab
bath whose praises have been trying to sound.
\ week Of cool weather with not any amount
of rain to speak of eliminated last night in
variety entertainment in which all the elements
who could consistently appear at this season
bore their several parts Wind, rain, bail, /.
lightning, thunder-all Of them combined 10
make perfect jewel Of uigLt-fJr bowling |
demons. Aud when woke this morning the /.
gusty aud electrical portion Of the performance
was completely played out. leaving on the /
stage, with instructions from Old Probs to re-
main there ' until called for, =" glorious leaden (
sky and continuous falling rain whose temper /
allure sryorej much Of Autumn days.
JEAN SANDS.
e[Our correspondent seems oblivious OF the fact /
that the command Remember the Sabbath day I
to keep it holy" is as obligatory uuon pen-drivers
as upon any other class Of individuals.-ED. = p /
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