The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-23

Of Directors and the stockholders of the Il.
& O. X. i. snd baltimore city.
kOCKISGHAM's SAGACITY.- For good,
hard common sense and for thai prophetic
power that ''dips into the future farther than
the human eye can see," commend to us the
SOVEREIGNTY OF Rockingham. They may err
in rolling up premium maioritics for Democ-
racy, but they have never yet been unable TO
calculate to q nicely The exac: arrival of
county court day. Or TO make provision for
its proper observance in accordance with
the venerable usages handed down from gen.
GRAFTON to generation. time ont of count.
Whenever the maiden moon proclaims the
tidal lime and the Hagerstown almanac an
nounces the advent OF the third Monday Of
the month, from Augusta to the northern
boundary and from the classic precincts of
Brooks Gap to where the Shenandoah glidcs
merrily nj ong to mingle its waters with the
grander flow Of the Potomac from hill IN
hamlet; from bold mountain top and modest
meadow; from bleak. barren uplands and
the fertile valleys Stretching in pensiye
quietness between, and from the uneSplor.
ed regions Of Chestnut Ridge, there wells
forth q food OF patriotism which converges
at the metropolis, and is dissipated only by
stupendous horse trade, supplemented by
the mere exhilerating amusement Of CO.
burnistic combats, to the merry clink Of
cenvivial glasses. At least that was the good
old custom ''n the sanity days of yore," be-
fore Mayor Hyde'a proclamation assumed to
drape the miniature cityin the horrid habil
iments Of police law, and the common council
declared unconstitutional the act permit
ting the hitching Of horses to the court yald
fence. Since these abridgments of the dear
est rights of Rockingham sovereignty, which
were conceived in the name Of advanced civ
ilzation and enforced in utter disregard Of
the most venerable and highly esteemed priv
ileges OF citizenship, there has been an under
current of dissatisfaction permeating the en-
tire county which has, on more than one oc-
casion, fou nd expression in sundry threats
against the newly acquired peace and digni-
ty Of the old burg, and although snllen
s0briety has been maintained and the day Of
days been allowed to pass unhOnored and
Invested OF the fascinating attractions which
1t once possessed for the rising young men of
the county, still those long suffering people
were but nursing their feelings until some fit
ting occasion should furnish the opportunity
Of retiring the grand court day custom in
manner commensurate with its Importance
in the better days Of the Republic. and with
ceremonies testifying 10 the esteem and res
pect in which it was held by the sturdy man
hood Of Rockingham. Il tt
At length the opportunity arrived, an.
there was spontaneous resolution to take it
atits flow. The Register of week before
last, with gushing exhuberance and display
OF head lines which will bid far to bankrupt
Its job fonts. announced The absolute and
unqualified election OF Tilden and Hendricks.
and to tissiDatc any doubt that might still
cling to the Thomases, Inserted every pro-
prietory cut that had been entrusted to its
care during the last half century, This last
argument was too conclusive to be disrerar-
ded, and simultaneously there fided through
the brain of the yeomanry the memory OF the
ancient monthly festival, and the resolution
to lay it on the shelf OF the past with appro-
pirate obsequles. There was an unanimous
raid on the latest pineknots and a lively an
ticipation OF corresponding assault on ':pinc
top" Once more the glorics Of court day
yvoul6 ho g., al
dor, and not all the laws constitutional and
unconstitutional, nor yet the mayors lordly
office, functions or degree could detract one
Jot from the magnificence OF the occasion.
and the old custom would 90 ont in blaze
of glory which would render it ever memoir
able. Preparations were made for the grand
demonstration Thursday night, and although
current intelligence and the Registers head
templated displays in other communities
were postponed, still the good people OF
Rockingham were not to be hunbugged in
to deferrlng their long promised jubilee to
the remote contingency Of Tlden's election.
And SO the demonstration was had at the ap-
pointed time, with all the pomp and circilm-
stance imaginable, and the average Rock
inghaner was as happy as in the balmiest
days Of court day supremacy.
And now when the smoke and blister Of
the contest has passed away and the election
OF Hayes is 80 well assured that the way
faring man, though dyetl-in-thc- wool Dem
ecrat. can scarcely doubt 1t. the action Of the
Rockingham sovereigns stands ont solitary
and alone and will ever remain a tribute to
their sagacity and foresight, whilst other
will bcnioan for the next TWEEN
y years the tide IN their affairs which pass
ed unimproved, and which will return ''nev-
er more, never more"