The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-24
The Jefferson D.
Who never did see
Nor believes there could be,
In this whole countree.

may point out to you the homes of various
Murpheys, for their christian name is Lee
gion hereabouts, and they have possessed
themselves Of very many broad acres by
purchasing for song the titles to large
Spanish grants. Rumor does MOI bestow
upon them the choicest OF regulations, but
1 know nothing of them except by hearsay,
and after men are pronounced thieves
and robbers for a decade or two itgrows mo-
notonous, and one wonders why the charges
are not proven and the offenders punished.
Possibly San Jose is like some other places
has conscientious scruples about abbreviat-
ing her poll-tax list.
suppose il this were my bridal trip I
should be content to tell you that San Jose
is 'perfectly lovely ~ "Charming beyond
description" "Just too sweet for any
thing" and 80, SO awfully nice !' but I've
drifted past that sea Of adiectives and am
stranded high and dry on the rock of prac.
ticality. So want to see of what stuff the
town is made and look after her schools lit
tie, for I've not forgotten that until 1852 this
place was the capital of the State and it de-
serves respect for what is has been, as well
as what it is, and in point Of fact it is third
in rank among the cities of California. Its
inhabitants do not aspire to rival San Fran
cisco, SO they 60 on extending their busi-
ness interests, doing all they can to invite
capital and enterprise, identifying their
homes and leaving no time in which to
growl themselves sour, as fear my San Di-
ego friends will soon be doing, if Tom Scott
doesn't hurry up that railroad,
Show me the kind of schools commune
ty furnishes for the education OF all its chill
dren, poor as we'll as rich, and / will tell
YOU what class of citizens she has and find
ing schools in San Jose so excellent that men
are willing to leave their ranches and move
to the town for awhile to give their children
the benefit OF instruction here. know full
we'll the majority Of her people are liberal
minded, public spirited men and women.-
The city manifested its clear-sighted wis
dom by donating large grounds for the
buildings OF the State Normal School, which
have been erected at cost Of sl75,0Co, and
are an ornament to the city. OF course
this institution receives students from all
portions OF the State, as do the private In
situations OF learning which are located here
and in the adjacent city of Santa Clara. three
miles distant.
San Jeseians point with commendable
pride to their fine court house which lifts its
dome so far skyward that one must climb
one hundred and seventy-two steps to reach
it. did not undertake it, although knew
the birdseye view to be had of the valley
would well repay me, for the picture is no
common daub from natures pencil. The
glittering waters of the bay are in the dis
lance, on the north; eastward, also in the
distance, Mt. Hamilton lifts its head, soon,
through the generosity Of James Lick, late
OF San Francisco, to be crowned with as
powerful astronomical instruments as the
world knows; southwark, the Lomos La
grimas (FIills of Tears fence in the valley !;
and in the southwest the peaks of Chanal
and Bache modestIy lift their heads 1000
feet above the Pacific. This is the margin
Of our picture, in the centre Of which stands
our honeymoon city. The abundant shade
trees give it the appearance Of an immense