The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-24
WEST ALEXANDER.
A Poetic Description Of Its Situation and
Its People-'Squire Mayes, the COnnu.
bIaI knOt.TIer and Other Celebrities.
w .UuYSCrOy ID, I'LL, nl ,o-n

A Poetic Description of Its Situation aud
Its People-'Squire Mayes, the COnnu.
bal KnOt!Tler and Other Celebrities.
WASHINGTON, Pa, July 90, 1879.
Editors InteligenCer.
"Far from the madding crowds igno-
BILE STRIFE" where the facilitating rays OF
a blazing sun are ever modified by sum-
lner winds, now heavy with the aroma OF
curing hay, stands upon an eminence, the
highest in the State west of the noun.
tains, midway between Wheeling and
Washington, on the Cumberland pike,
the ancient incorporated town OF West
Alexander, famous in history and fable
Of which your columns from time to time
have made mention, leaving, perhaps, a
description OF its present status to one
who has recently enjoyed the society OF
its quiet shade. Inhabited as it is by a
few people earnestly God.fearing, and
surrounded on all sides for miles by the
broad and productive acres of sturdy yeo.
men, good and true, one finds it suitable
place for season OF relief from the pre-.
scribed tedium Of the shop, the desk and
the study. But brief sojourn in the
place is sufficient for observing the distin.
gushing characteristics OF its residents,
and meeting with the representative indi.
viduals OF the town. The stores are of
miscellaneous character, well stocked with
the staple commodities consumed by n
plain people, whose proprietors are equal
TO the demands OF ali, acting In the
capacity OF arbitrator in local differences
or pausing occasionally to enjoy the pith
OF joke with the groups OF village idlers
and country swains who congregate upon
the sidewalks and "crack OF horses, plows
and rye"
The prevailing religious denominations
are Presbyterian and United Presbyterian,
The congregations are large, the Presby.
terrain numbering membership above
six hundred. The editices aud devoutness
Of the worshlpers remove the cherished
fallacy with some; that finely modelled
churches, intensified walls and window
panes are out Of harmony with the diety.
They are spacious, neat and comfortable;
presided over by ministers OF learning and
piety, enjoining their flocks to the practice
OF the text, prove all things; hold fast to
that which is good"
Pure air, simple habits oiliying, undis.
turbed by the excuses OF fashionable so.
ciety, have impaired to the ladies faultless
compilations, amiable dispositions and
time for acquiring those qualities OF mind
and heart which make womenkind es.
teened and regarded. Summaries and
colleges receive patronage from its pre-
ctncts, some winning honors at schools
and distinction in the field OF alumni.
Aside from tho gravity OF demeanor,
there are cases Of blazoned notoriety and
phases OF wit and dry humor not surpass.
ed by the fertile imaHinations of those de-
lineators OF human character who have
left volumes that the world might lauph.
A conservative justice, whose peace com.
missions, framed with those Of his honor.
ed father before him, decorate his office
walls, and hang not only as palladium
OF our civil rights, but as q relentless des.
poiIer Of our tiresides, Squire Mayes, who
has not heard Of the Squire, after sealing
the nuptial VOWS for nearly fifteen hun.
dred couples at three dollars per pair, It Is
said the frequent exercises OF this branch
Of the 'Squire's prerogative is due to his
advertising shrewdness, evidenced by his
professional card bearing mo marriage
license required In Pennsylvania, !" upon
the basis Of which he drives thriving
business from States beyond the Pennsyi.
yania line. The Squire Is a yoluble talk.
er, Instrumentation abounds with quota.
tons legal and classical, apt and unapt,
he Is always pleased to have you cali,
whether You are In quest OF connubial ie. |
lisity, the details OF McCulloch's leap or
other primitive history Of his neighbor.
hood. The citizens are resolved into d |
committee Of the whole to determine nm.
on q suitable inscription for his monu.
ment wnen they shall have laid him away
and tucked the green mantle Of their beau.
cemetery about him, May he live long
and tie on.
Prominent with a fund Of dry humor Is
the venerable John Ray, whose services
are rendered to Uncle Sam by turning
himself into pack.horse for the town
mail.
Joseph Kelly, harness maker and para.