The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-02-18

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BLADE
A friend has handed us a copy Of the
Portsmouth, Ohio Blade, Of a recent
date, in which we find quite a num-
Der of locals animadvcrting severely
upon the conduct of some drum
mers,n who were so unfortunate as
to tarry in that city for brief time,
in quest Of business. The place Of
these escapades were located at the
Biggs House in that place, and while
reading them we blushed for shame
at the editor Of the Blade, for permit
ting such items to appear in his pa
per, even were they true. ~ shows
that he must be catering 70 the APP
petite of readers, pto demand that
the paper be made rich and racy,
Astounding in such scandalcus stories,
fancied we believe in the imagina-
tive. brain of the editor. We are
aware Of the fact that the ''drum-
mers," as a class, are gay and roll
licking set Of fellows, and from their
associations and constant travel, are
naturally free from that restraint
which would impel IT, = 7aoyt
with dignity in one
able salons. Had such ascene ..s 40.
scribed in the Blade, actualyoccurred
in the Biggs House, it would tend
strongly to prove to our mind that
it is not q hotel of the first-class, or
being such an one, it shows, conclu-
sively, that its attaches are guilty Of
gross negligence, in permitting such
scenes to be enacted within its mass.
i've, airy halls. If such things are
permittedto be written about it, the
people of our valley, as well as the
"drummers," will steer clear of this
hotel, who stop therein quest of bus
mess or pleasure. We cite the fol-
lowing from the Blade, to show to
our readers the animus Of the editor.
He says: at is not often we have
anything to say TO the credit of a
drummer. Of course there are ex-
ceptions, but, as class, they are
moral lepers, with no more respect
for virtue in man or woman than the
ours of the Streets" &c. We are no
especial champion Of the drummers,
but with all our cynicism are some
what surprised at the manevolence
and bitterness of spirit displayed in
the above clipping. Some Of these
"cursp must have destroyeda "lamb''
within the fold Of the sanity shep.
herd-this would be Censor of the
morals of the community Of the
Sciota Valley, and country contigu-
GUS thereto. We begleave toremind
the citizens of the city Of Portsmouth
that if the Blade is a reflection Of
their sentiments, that the drum
mers" will steer clear of their place;
but should necessity or dnty prompt
them to go there, they certainly will
not "hang up" at'the Biggs House
We also desire to call attention Of the
business men of Portsmouth to the
fact, that had it not been for the
"drummers," where would your city
be to-day? Its very streets would be
in weeds and grass, and your wharf
would be without tonnage for de.
parting steamers. We cannot be-
lieve that such honorable, heightened
business gentlemen as j. l.. Hibbs d
Co., G. P. Tracy & Co., lowell & Nc.
Farland, Ewing 4 Co., and a host of
others, whose names we cannot now
remember, will endorse the express
ions of the editor Of the Blade. For
they we'll know that the foundations
of their business success was builded
upon the zeal, activity and energy
displayed by the gentlemen they sent
out in years long ago, to solicit trade
for their various houses, who visit
our section regularly, and we always
found them sans pur ct reproche. We
frequently come in contact with the
commercial travellers who visit our
town, hailing from New York, Phil
adelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati,
Wheeling, Pittsburgh, Petersburg,
and more gentlemanly and genial
men we do not care to meet. Our
Hotel keepers here will bear us out
in this assertion, and during oul
long acquaintance with this ostra.
o,eo1 o1,,e u,a have ,,nt - q al ,ul ocn