Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-08-18
For the Register.
REFLECTIONS OF A VISITOR
TO SEEPHER RDSTOWN.

] UlduN w Z hO lllOiS ihSNN WIN
! those noble characters that once moved
in this community QRev. Drs. Matthews,
Mayer, Krauth and jones' whose praise
was in all the churches. They belong
ed TO the "Hoiy Catholic Church, and
could look over the walls of their own
denominationalism and grasp the hand
of him who exhibited the spirits OF the
Master. Those moving spirits who gave
life TO business in all its forms (JameS
S. Lane, and Walter B. Selby and 9TH
ers) are no more. Those gentlemanly
physicians Drs. Briscoe, Boteler, Foster,
Parran and Hammond, aud the lawyers
Berry, Lucas and Morgan, are no more
And thus We might refer to many 9th
ers who equally with those we have
mentioned went 10 make up the mate
rial wealth of the place, and add to lis
mental and moral character, have disap-
peared, with the exception OF few
who are lingering on this side of the
grave. The town in every respect has
changed-the business that was once
rife has diminished, and other places
have taken the precedence.
But while the people mourn over
their present circumstances as being not
as they were once, is it best for them TO
sit still and fold their hands and live
upon the prestige of the men and bust
ness which gave character TO the town?
/ The lands are the same, the waters Of
/ the old Potomac roll on to the sea rs
/ ever. What is TO be done TO "esurrect
the place, and cause enterprise again TO
come back Let me plainly say, that
enterprise will never come back by sit
ting still and looking for some railroad
or public Improvement to be effected
either by the State or general govern
ment, or both combined, unless the peo-
pie 90 to work themselves. 1t has been
painful sight to gee that great compa-
ny of the "Store box brigade, sitting
on their "anrious seats, and forever dis
cussing the philosophy OF strikes, and
telling what the poor man viii do with
the rich, and the rich telling what they
will do with the poor.
There ought to 0e no antagonism be-
tween capital and labor, and Uice versa.
| If poor man cannot earn what he did
formerly, the next best thing is to earn
what he can. Incidence il the cause OF
lcentiouSnesS, intemperance and crime.
Luther used to say, that "When the
hands of the young were not lawfully
occupied, The Dsua has a plenty Of Wo'k
for them TO do" And this is not to be
confined to the young. 1t has lis bear
ing on the fathers too. Every person
should be so employed that he ought
not to have spare time even to gossip,
This is the principle upon which bust
ness men act. Business first and pleas
ure afterwards.
But it may be said that there is moth
ing for us to do. Cannot piece OF
! land be taken on shares and TILED, and
thus in this way something be secured to
maintain themselves and their families !
In communities where thrift aud enter
prise are the rule the people find enough
to do. There enterprise, education, in
teligence and morality are seen; gossip
ing, obsceniy in word aud action, in
temperance, profanity, drunkenness and
Sabbath breaking are rare. No loaiers
sitting on store boxes or benches 10 look
out of countenance the stranger who
visits the place; no ladies awed by their
presence or put to blush by gazing at
them; no word dropped in their hear
ing, of obscenity, because industry and
economy, both of time and means, are
not the patrons Of such low, grovelling
minds.
That enterprise and business may
flourish, people should welcome to
their community men OF enterprise, and
neither say by their words or their ac-
tions, eve have only business enough
and let the Yankee keep away" Sucn
a spirit will Kill any place. There are
in this region lands, minerals and woods
which ought to be made productive in
the markets of the world. They should
be offered at moderate figures and men
Of enterprise invited To- come and work
them. And they who are employed in
their service should be willing 20 receive
advice and not think they know as
much as their employers. And when
they enter upon their labor for a stipu-
lated sum, they should work as faithful
ly when their employer is absent as
present. No shirking of labor ought to
be seen. Doing thus, he inspires conf
dence in his employer and the employer
in him. But those who are not willing
to do so, are forever talking OF the op-
preston of the employer aud jealousy is
ever manifested by the laborer. know
the honest, laboring poor have reason
to complain OF monied men, who are
compelled to work for prices that they
cannot support their families, while they
are enriched at their expense. This has
been the case with railroad corporations,
that have been receiving their and .
per cent, and an adjustment between
capital and wages must soon take place
in this country, or anarchy and COIN
munism will prevail.
To one who is accustomed tc live in
neat village, with beautiful sidewalks
and shade trees, and whose elections
never turn upon "Hog IN md Hog our"
where no pens Of swine are permitted
to exist attached to the very houses, as
| have seen, but kept in the far rear Of
their gardens, he eaano; bat see great
contrast here. No dirty streets with
articles thrown into to decay and bring
disease are permitted. Eeyery one has
pride 10 see that the weeds are not per-