The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-05
OUR LETTEE.
FArRMoSr, January 8.

FA1RxoNT, January 8.
Editors Intelligence;
Considering that las. Tuesday was the
frat Of the year, il was certainly very
dali and spirItless. 1t was only by the
old.time custom Of calling and the inter
change Of the aver pleasant and cheerful
salutation, "a Happy New Year" that
we villagers were admoniShed that the
day was the beginning Of another year.
the day OF all others on which young and
old, rich and poor "turn over a new leaf"
In the affairs Of life, resolving thereby. 70
make better use Of time and opportunity
In the future Of their existence-tH-his
world, which some one (perhaps Moore)
calls "a waste OF weariSome years" The
yeIi.to.do are usually found planning how
they may add 10 their stock oil this
worlds goods" while the unfortunate
ones pass The day in determining to lilt
themS4!yes out Of The slough Of deSpond,
and for the future 10 live and work with
better purposes in view.
Notwithstanding mans promises, resO-
buttons and determinations at the dawn OF
each succeeding year, the end thereof
finds him but little, II any, nearer the
starting point to perfection. And thusit
is that the man Of thought discovers that
every day throws new reproach on life
and sickening at the frality Of his kind
he involuntary exclaims:
swell, well--the world must turn up
on its axis, and all mankind turn with Il,
heads or tails; and live and die, make
love and pay our taxes, and, as the veer-
ing wind shifts, shift u sails" How
ever, ] am inclined to think that, as a ma
ton, we have ample reason to believe that
we have grown stronger and better within
the year just past. As an evidence OF
this we a point with pride and pleasure
10 the fact that we enter the new year a
united people. something we have not
been for nearly twenty years. This, Of
itself, is a matter for generalization and
yet il is a s~addening thought to know
that there are still a few political partlsans
that would willingly fan the fires Of
national discord il they thought by so do.
ing they would insure TO themselves
place and power. II is consoling to know,
however, that these selfish, narrow mind.
ed m~alcontents are rapidly thinning out
under the presure OF honest patriotism,
and we can now predict with some degree
OF certainty that the near future will find
US a united and prosperous nation OF peo'
pie. In assisting 10 usher in a better fu'
ture, let the " powers that be" see toit
that our integrity in all things is presery-
ed. And right here let me say that Con.
gress should studiously avoid anything
like an infringement Of the public conf
dence in le~gislating on the coinage ques:
ton. If silver must he made the equal OF
gold for the payment OF all debts, public
and private, let it not be so where there
ia a contract, explicit or implied, to the
contrary. The preservation Of the pub
lie faith ia the cornerstone OF safety, so
says Alexander Hamilton, and no one
will dispute his capacity to judge OF such
matters.
But, turning from this subject, l will
briefly note a few local items.
The "beneft" given by the Davis Light
Guards on the 9th ult., was quite a sue
cess financially and otherwi / The pro.
ceeds netted $50, and the theatrical en-
tertainment is highly complimented is
considered by many The best ever held in
the Town Hall. The principal performers
we're Capt. Ed. Moore, Jacob s. Hayden,
]. w. Lott, Perry Bowers, John Roby
and Lamar G. Powell, Esqs. Neal Car
ney, failing to get q handsome costume
which he had ordered from q firm in New
York, did not take a part in the exer.
cises, as wa reported and expected. AZ
an other time, however, Mr.. Carney will
certainly appear on the stage and amuse
our people with HIS inimitable Irish wit
in a portrayal Of the laughable character
istiCs OF that odd and eccentric creature,
Dave Hayhurst, better known as the
"American Eagle" concerning whom l
Il v n brief account in a letter previous
to this. Mr.. J. Nell. Mccoy has the en-.
tire management Of the dramatic troop
here, and it is to him, principally, that |
am indebted for the item just given.
On last Saturday the coal bank oil
Pierpoint and Watson, a short distance
east Of the town, and close by the B. 0.
road, was discovered 10 be or fire, aud
has since been the subject OF much COM
ment and excitement. The bank is out
of use, and II / am not mistaken, is now
the individual property Of Governor
Pierpoint. The boys have been making
the bank n resort for playing, and 1t is
supposed that some Of them built a fire
and went of and left it burning, not
knowing the extent OF the damage and
alarm Il would cause. The Ere il located
about three hundred feet back from the
mouth Of the bank. A force il employed
to ~extinguish the fire, with every pros.
pect OF success. The process is a slow
one, consisting in pouring water on the
burning beds or bodies. the water being
forced from the river by means Of a
steam engine. After the fire ia put out
in the coal il ia hauled out Of the bank
for cooling. It will be an expensive
affair 10 the Governor, | should think.
The military ball at the Town Hall on
New Years eve was magnificent, and
ended in the pleasure and satisfaction Of
all parties concerned at about 2 A. NJ,
Just in the nick OF time for the boys TO
20 home with the girls and. wish the old