Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-10-06

e1- Cor. DANIEL DECHERT ON THE
"FLY."-A week or two since, Col.
Daniel Deehert, editor Of the Danville,
Va, Border Express, visited our town,
as well as other towns in this section OF
country. In other words, he visited
his sold tramping grounds, paying his
respects to his old friends and relatives.
And while on the '.fy" he wrote several
letters to his paper at Danville, for pub
LEGATION, from one of which we extract
the following
From Baltimore, passed on, Viewer
ton junction was reached, then Harpers
Ferry, and finally the train stopped at
Kearneysville where took the overland
foot express for Shepherdstown the
hack being crowded. and after tramp
of five miles landed in the place claim
ed to always have the prettiest girls and
cleverest people that it was ever my
good fortune TO be thrown amongst.
This was 0. Il. twenty years ago, when
| was drawn thither by something, a
magnet opine, and when l conceived
impressions that have been indellbly
impressed upon my mind and heart.
Since have lived South how Often
have heard old Shepherdstown spoken
OF by the boys who wore the grey, who
praised her people and especially the
fair sex, whose Kindness had been lay
ished upon them in the days that some
writer's are pleased to record as "the re-
bellon," when sick and wounded they
proved that they were administering an
gels" in spirit, if they were OF this earlh
and of flesh and blood.
Time will never erase from ones
mind the pleasures experienced, when
after an absence of years we return to
scenes that wildly recall the past. Here
and there | saw "old land marks" in the
population whose cheering greetlngr re-
called me back to days when no war
had disturbed the country, and when
everybody was happy with plenty and
to spare. To-day the streets OF the town
are deserted, shop-keepers and business
men generally having nothing TO DO,
and all crying '.hard times" Notwith-
standing the fact that the heaviest crops
of grain and produce that has been ralS-
ed for years in this section have blessed
the farmer, yet there seems to be no re-
lief. Our section of country exhibits
more life and vim than this, and all from
raising for commercial purposes which
It's said 'twas the devil saved the seed.
You are well aware that | never fail
to call upon old friends. That's my
style and have to report that one |
found here who seems to be part and
parcel of Shepherdstown, and indeed, II
it was not for him the town would come
to dead stop and no resuscitating of
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, if he
was gone would give it life again. al
lude TO my old friend little, OF the
Register, the "Hundred Year AlmanaX
man, and than whom the breath OF life
was never whisked into better mans
nostrils. Twenty-four years ago, this
Sentlellldn plaEIcu biiuoSh AL '"io Wv"
and commenced editing a paper. 1t
didn't look like as if there was millions
In the enterprise, but John thought there
was a living in the thing and he would
get it out. He stuck to what he com
menced, Registering all the big and lit
tie matters that occurred in his section;
publishing in truth, one ofthe very best
country papers-a real live local paper
that can be produced, and if he has not
made millions he has accumulated some
thousands of dollars, and is now rated
pretty stiff in the back. But John is
not starching otherwise and | found
him the same sociable good-natured
gentleman that he was in former days,
and contented and happy with his lot
in Shepherdstown.
Folks here have so many good things
to nourish the body and recall TO mind
old times that | fear it will be pretty
hard to break up and leave, but as soon
as the "punkin pies" and squirrel din
ners give out you will hear of me trying
once more the foot express to the rail-
road and l will give you jottings from
another point.