Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-08-21
For the SPECTATOR.
Energy-with Success.

LIZ. LDllOh = w ueu JHe banner OF
the Southern cross was furled at Appo-
mattox, of the hundreds of Southern
soldiers, far from home, penniless, dis
was not one whose condition appeared
more desperate than the subject of this
sketch. A native perhaps of New Or
leans, he was prompt 10 unite his for.
tunes with the South, and through the
entire war, cut off from home, his lot
was cast with the army in Virginia, in
which, at its close, he was found wear
ing the rank of Capt. of infantry. At
the moment of surrender, one of des-
peratlon to so many, he sympathiZed
with the general feeling, and casting
around what to do, his utter destitution
and the distance from home impelled
him to Richmond, in the hope some
thing might open up before him to ena-
BILE him to live. After some time he
found himself in printing Office,
novel position to one who had been q
merchant, but gifted with energy he
went manfully to work. After a time
he found himself at the head of job
working establishment, with seventeen
hands. In the meantime he found a
Virginia wife, who has been to him
help meet in the fullest acceptation of
the term.
Yet with his success in business came
disease, and the extent of his suffering
for years would have disheartened the
ordinary man. One of his eyes became
caused, as the writer has been
Informed, from disease of the kidneys.
This does seem remarkable, and. must
certainly indicate an advance in medical
science in deciding thatas the cause. One
OF the prominent physicians of Rich
mond sent him to Philadelphia, and
New York perhaps, to consult one or
more of those most skilled in such dis
eases, but to no avail. He lost his eye,
and, besides an intensity of suffering,
was mulcted in daily outlay of five to
six dollars for medicines. This is men
toned as indicating his unconquerable
energy. To save his other eye, his
physician told him he must quit
the business he was at and go to
the country. He sold one-half interest
in his large and successfully managed
and little over six months
ago, learning that a farm of some 14O
acres, short distance south of the Blue
Ridge tunnel in the county of Nelson,
could be had, came to see it, was greatly
impressed with the romantic situation,
and its advantages of every kind, bought
it for about eighteen hundred dollars,
cash, removed his family in the month
Of February, and, invalid as he is and
such sufferer as to be much in bed, yet
the reader will be interested in a brief no.
tice of what the merchant, who of neces-
sity became printer, could do in the man.
agement of farm. His example ought
to encourage and stimulate many born
on a farm, who, in years, have not at
tanned the success which few months
brought to our invalid. The farm being
destitute of timber, he found in the
Kanawha coal a cheap substitute for
fuel. A small mill, on a little rivulet,
that on the completion of the tunnel
was swelled to near double its capacity
by the water that collected in it, had,
under it's late proprietor, gone into dis
use and driven its customers to a mill
three miles in one direction and five or
six in another, is, under his manage
ment, conveniencing large scope of
country, and giving remunerative en-
ployment to most worthy old citizen
as miller, who has the confidence of the
community. His farm is being put in
repair, and will be made to yield his
family, consisting of his wife, three
children and widowed sister-in-law, a
comfortable support. Yet this is not all.
Now see what this help-meet, referred
to moment ago, is doing in her sphere,
aided, as no doubt she is, by her sister.
The buildings on the place are limited
in extent, yet small one has been
fitted up, carpeted, &c., and
a nice milliner and mantua- making es-
tablishment has been opened, furnished
with all that Richmond can supply, and
your lady readers, Mr.. Editor, can tell
you how such an emporium would be
appreciated in community, distant say
seventeen miles each from your town
and Charlottesville, and what an inn
portant parsonage its presiding genius
will be in all purchases and consulta-
tions, from a paper of pins to the fitting
out wardrobe to stand before the Par.
son.
Now put your finger, if you please,
upon another instance in which energy
has done more to attain success, with
the encouragement of ill-health, than
has been attained by Capt. John S.
Hays, late of the Confederate army
nephew of Gen. Hays, of New Orleans,
and cousin of his Excellency, the Pres
ident of these UNITED STATES.