Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25
Mount Sidney.
NEW DEP OT-PATRIOTIC PUNCHERS-
THE GRADED SCHOOLS, &C.

THE GRADED SCHOOLS, &C.
STANTON, JAM. 1S.-I observe in
your columns at intervals some men
ton made of most every locality In
the county, excepting Mt. Sidney with
the few, which town has always borne a
modest attire when merit crowned her en-
terprisers. LII revisiting the little town
after an absence Of few months; step
ping from the car I beheld evidences OF
the early erection of a depot, procured at
that point by the indomitable energy OF Mr..
Geo. P. Sheets, who purposes having 1t
completed by the first of April. In antici-
patton of this commercial depository.
new vim has been given to the various en-
terprises OF the citizens, which you can
evidently see as you app oach the town.
The Messrs. Watsons are getting ready
for the great demand that the opening OF
spring brings il the pottery b~Siness. AS
you go on, the clear ringing of the ham
mer, and anvil, reminds the traveller of
the Scriptural injunction ''Earn thy bread
by the sweat of thy b1ow." It might be
suggested at this time that it is earned by
the pedestrian, on arriving at this pOiut
from the cars through the mud. Having
reached the gate to the town Il mean the
toll gate) l was froWningly greeted by
the keeper, Mr.. W., because the law didn't
guarantee the right TO extract from the
pocket few cents as fee for approach
| ing the centre OF trade.
| Hurrying on-seeing but few citizens on
! the street-n Getting a little urchln whom
I knew in past days as quite stupid fell
low. After greeting him with ''how do
| you do l remarked the town is certainly
dry. He artfully replied, cit has not been
long since you heard the ring OF the Bell
| Punch Feeling the keen retort asked upon
what he based his evidence, he replying,
''that man who had walked more than a
quarter OF q mile in mud over his shoe tops
and asserted the condition of the town dry,
certainly felt the effect of the punch, if he
hadn't heard the ringing Of the bell. Hast
ening on the visitor meets with the propri-
etor of the Nj. Sidney Hotel, Mr.. d. B.
| Hyde, who as usual is ready to welcome the
| traveller to town, and feed him ON the best
the country affords MIR. H., expresses he
hope OF the speedy liquidation OF the state
debt, and thought that great many per-
sons encourage the use OF the Moffett Bell
Punch iii view of the debt, lis being acts
OF patriotism and condemned in severe
! terms any attempt to a mlSapplication of
| that immense revenue.
| Turning from the jocular side of the
picture that the trip afforded l will COM
ment upon solid facts. [ should be re-
creant to duty if | did not speak of the
graded school. Situated in the western
portion of the town is this seat of learn
ing. | found upon entering it, in my
humble Judgment. that it possessed all the
facilities for training the young. Being
met at the inner door by Mr.. w. w. Brena-
man | was shown q seat conspicuous for
| q Inc midi IF bn
This department is composed of the small
| children of the community with roll of
90, average attendance of 10, called the
primary department.. After a brief STAY
| was conducted by NIB. to the door of
the higher department under charge Of
Mr.. NJ. A. Haldeman. The roll of this
school number q, with an average attend
ance Of a. Injustice to these gentlemen 1
would say that they have their respective
departments completely systematized-
everything conducted with the regularity
Of clock work. 1t is needless for me to
comment upon their success and efficiency
as teachers; suffice it to say that you can
hear it proclaimed in nearly every house.
hold In town and vicinity, swell done,
| good and faithful servants!''
BY this time, my taste being sharpened
for school-room scenes las teaching was
my vocation for years., l directed my steps
to old Fort Academy, place [ so much
cherish in memory as being the familiar
spot Of my school-day life. Upon arriv-
ing and being rendered a seat, natural
enough man in beholding would feel fond
"reminiscences of school boy days even clus-
tering around those memorable wallis This
high schools under the Immediate charge of
the principal Of the graded school, Prof.
q. S. Roller. The success of this seat of
learning is as deeply felt as it is widely
| known. The number of teachers that now
adorn the profession commissioned by
him) is better attestation Of it's value and
pre-eminence than I'll that could be said
upon paper. Young men preparing for
the profession as we'll as contemplating a
collegiate course, Or an academic at the
| University could not find better pre-
paratory school.
After a brief stay, and bidding farewell
TO familiar scenes, l hasten to Fort De-
fance and wait for the train to again re-
turn to our city. NOvUs Homo.