The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-11
STAUNTON. VIRGINIA. JULY IL. 1878.
aggase. 1t contains seven hundred dollars

baggage. 1t contains seven hundred dollars
worth of pure metal, with sufficient copper
to work it, and had two hundred dollars
worth of labor expended upon it.
The Jail and courthouse Of this ''magic
city" are fine brick buildings, which. If put
beside those of Staunton would make the
latter look as antiquated as my wedding
gown. The religious denominations are
we'll represented. and the Congregationalists,
Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Methodists
and Catholics have commodious houses oil
worship.
wonder, sometimes where all the prin-
tiers 60 when they die. Here In Cheyenne,
there are three daily papers and all seem
to be fairly supported. srhe offices are we'll
equipped with good presses, and plenty of
type, and the publishers all look so comfort
able am sure they are well fed. But then,
they ought to be. There is no such beef
in the world as that grown right here about
Cheyenne, and the sweet, rich. juicy steaks
are enough to tempt man to postpone
committing suicide long enough to enable him
to eat one; and then, il were he'll would do
as Rip Van Wrinkle did with his toddies. after
he swore off, wou ldn't "count that one''
but would wait for another. l smack my
lips in pleasant nticlpation Of some mean
to get one Of these days when I again 60
rowing.
But the newspapers are well supported.
The subscription lists are good. The bust
ness men not only advertise literally but
they pay for their work-not in stuff which
one can neither eat, drink, wear or give away
but In that with VIII ich the editor can pay
his paper bills ard cash.
Newspapers can never succeed where
schools are a failure and, on the other
hand, if there is the public spirit to support
good schools there is also present the intel
ligence which creates a demand for news
papers, and Cheyenne can take place in the
advance guard in the matter Of public
schools, for there are none better, east or
west. Energetic, far-seeing men held the
reins in the executive department Of this
little city when the question Of public schools
came up; men who did not consider educa-
ton ''luxury' but rather a safeguard for
the community; men who preferred to
pay taxes to educate the children Of the poor
emigrants rather than, little later, pay
heavier taxes to punish them for cine
men who believed it better to train all chill
dren, rich and poor alike, to understand the
principles Of government, so that when they
shall arrive at the place where they may
claim the right to vote, they will be able to
act intclligently, and not follow blindly
where another leads.
The school buildings are Of brick. sur
rounded by large grounds for recreation I
visited each of the seven departments, COM
mencing in the primary, where little eight
year boys and girls are taught grammar,
arithmetic and geography, orally. along
with their primer lessons, and never
know they have been puzzling their little
brains over those things until they wonder
at the ease with which they acquire them,
after they are promoted and the text books
arc put into their hands.
tbs regular graduation from the primary
to the principals room, and the training is
very thorough. Every step in the higher
branches is carefully watched to make
sure that the foundation stones have been
laid that there is no weak pillar
in the mental structure which is liable to
fail when the work is tested.
Good prices are paid for teachers and
faithful service required, so that the annual
expense of sl4, 500 for schools is by all con-
sidered money we'll invested, and sure to
return interest thrice compounded when
those who are now children become
the men and women of the place.
Nor are the tiniest overlooked, for good
school is in progress where
children are we'll cared for and taught to
do something besides get into mischief.
1t was my good fortune to be in Cheyenne
on the day of the election of city officers, AM
for the first time in my life, outside a Sum
day School, saw the practical application
of female suffrage for Wyoming is more
gracious than her sister Territories, and
believing that woman who was brave
enough to come here and share the perils
of border life was also brave enough to vote
conscientiously, extended to her that riga t
and, so far as was able to learn, there has
never been reason to regret it, for the ma
jority of them are always to. be found on
the right side. II man casts his vote for
the respectable whiskey dealer, mark my
words, bis wife usually offsets it with one
for the Temperance man, III
watched the voting places for some time
and was grasified at the quiet, lady.like
manner in which the women of Cheyenne
visited the polls and deposited their votes.
Usually two or three would come together,
often leading little children by the hands !;
the men lounging about the voting place
would fall quietly back, often with lifted
hats, and always showing as much Difference
as they could were they meeting at church.
OF course Wyoming has class Of women,
as we'll as men, whose votes are to be had
by the one who is most willing to pay but
after careful observation and an interchange
of ideas with some Of the most influential
men of that territory, am convinced that
the moral condition Of Wyoming is far more
healthy, that her politics are purer. and civil
ization is more advanced than it would have
been without female suffrage. And that /!
good deal for me to say, for / have never
yet taken my place in line with the advo-
Gates of this privilege. Butt am tarrying
longer than meant in this city whose
growth has surely been magical. There arr
still miles and miles between this and the
Golden Gate, sol will Jog along, and, kind
readers, if you do not happen to have thu
necessary ticket about y0u, never mind
come along all the same. and II you will b.
patient I'll stow you away in a corner O
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