Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-04-16


The Press-The Racers-7he Legend Of
the Rock Temper ance.
"Bless me, this is pleasant, riding on the
rail-" So sings the poet Sake, and as we
whisk through the fertile fields OF Jefferson
and Berkeley, on to the rugged ways of Nor.
gan, until upon the highlands of Mineral
we stop to rest awhile, we too sing with him
of the pleasantness of ''riding on the rail"
Each car we enter is little world of its own,
and the timid- traveller, the-cross>traveler,
the, bridal party, the, ady-who-knts as she
travels and the baby that>cries, are mixed
up promiscuously in this world on wheels.
But of all travellers or types of travellers,
commend to our hearty laughter the imam
who sleeps" We think it was italian from
Cork, who took looking glass to bed with
him to see how he looked with his eyes shut;
but if the, man>who>sleeps upon the train
coull see himself as others see him, he would
never wink again. Watch him as he dozes,
at the rate of mile minute having made
all preparations he sticks his ticket on his
hat, his hat Oh his head, his head over the
arm Of the aent, his feet 10 the window, his
valise in the rack, folds his arms, shuts his
| eyes, and is off, OF course the valise falls
on his feet The>man who-drinks bumps
against his head, the prize package caresses
his nose, his hat falls off, and finally he him>
self follows his hat; discouraged, but not
disbeartcned, behold him end around and
try it again, and now his snoring vies with
| the breathing Of tho engine, and with mouth
all awry and features distorted and democrat
lied generally, be sleeps, the laughing stock
of the car, and his head may be nice, but
it's sure to be knotty whenhe WAKES.
Tho railroad hare iS as crook ed the
letter S, and winds out and in and around tho
mountains in a very surprising way. All
along the route the cloud milking mountains
rear their mighty heads crowned with the
first paint tinges of spring, the green touches
the blue ut noon and in the early morning
the mist like bridal veil hangs lovingly
around and trails its silvery folds down into
tho valley ways and lowlands. Oh, the Won
derful might of that hand that built up tho
mountains, yet touched each leaf of the
flowers with the beauty touch of color and
matchless harmony How perfect is this
wonderful world of ours in all its details, it
is Every good" How full of sermons all its
millions of tongues speaking to the heart
through the eye and ear. With what tender
care has the Father prepared this place
where we tarry but ga little while,' just
long enough to learn lile's lesson and rest at
| last when
| The lessons and tasks arc all ended
Aud Death says The school is dismissed"
! Kcyser nestles in amoug the mountains
Young, so new, with the smell of the paint
still clinging to it, yet old enough to be in
its second childhood-for this mountain-baby
was adopted by the B. a. o. r. r. Co, and
re, baptized after its step-papa, Mr.. kcyser,
and under its tender care, the child waxed
fat and sassy, avenues were laid out, and be-
| l,all Al. hob,, nj darn fact
Young man. The village faded into a town,
tho town developed into small city, maps
showing "this extension" or "that extern
sion'' were hung upon the outer walls
From the Garrett of its papa's homo came
bricks and mortar, huge round house was
erected, and many men employed, and the
! place 1ourshed as "a green bay tree" but
| the "chiling blast" came and now ''thc win
ter of keyser's discomfort" is here. One
day without warning the order came "move
the division to Piedmont" and the division
moved, and with it the strength, the vigor
and the muscle of "thc Pet" and the hearty
boy changed quickly into the clean and
stifTened old man" for thirty families moved
to Piedmont with the shops and still there
are more to follow. The old man frets and
shakes big and long fist at papa keyser
and grandpapa Garrett, and behind this fist
ing the arm is the heart of an earnest people,
for Eryser is not dcad, nor dying, it will re-
gain its youth. 1t does not depend upon the
railroad for its support but upon the mineral
resources of its own mountains and valleys.
Already we learn capitalists are investing
and making arrangements to deveiOpe the
hidden wealth that lies beneath the sur
face"
We like the town, it is quiet, pcaceable,
orderly, and temperate, it has five churches,
all we'll attended. Mr.. Clymcr, the Presby-
teran pastor here, is an earnest worker, and
seems to have endearcd himself very much
to his people. Two newspspers-the 1riG"nc,
edited by Mr.. q. II. Fandiver, who wore the
grey and left an arm to testify to his courage
in the tented field; his sanctum is the
model of comfort, containing as it does a
rocking chair of huge proportions and glorious
springs; tho Meuntaim Echo, edited by
Judge j. T. Hoke, who has united with
him Mr.. A. Ii. Carver as associate editor.
Both of these journals are we'll supported
by their respective parties, and both
sprighty, newsy. fearless, independent
sheets We thank the Editorial fraternity
here for their poltcness and courtesy to a
stranger. May the Seniors never be treated
to pie, and may the handsome Carver carve
for himself goodly slice of all lte's good
things, aud may the devils get their due"
every New Years. Mr.. z. y. Davis has
! fine half milo track here where his high flyers
receive their daily training, he has at present
eight horses in training for the coming
season-Storm, Romney, Kenny aud Joe
Hunt; the others colts, yet unknown
to fame. His stable will make its first APP
pearance at Pimlico. Two high peaks
shadow this mountain town, one named Piano
Il fro,,,