The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-02-12


from voting at the recent election. This
dirty work was commenced soon after the
last election. The victims then were Mr.. E.
r. Turpin and Mr.. Blackler. They have this
quarter left Bridgetown and come into the
land of Freedom viz, this side of the river
Dart. The victims this quarter include the
occupiers of both houses and lands, and
some OF them have been tenants the last
twenty years and were among the number
who acceded to the compact entered into
some years since for one conservative and
one liberal member. The following have
had notices to quit: Mr.. John Penwill. Mr..
William Ellis, Mr.. j. Willis, Mr.. VIM. Byne,
Mr.. Robert Lake, Mr.. j. Mitchell, Mr.. VIM.
K. Hanniford, MIR. William Harris, Mr.. Jas.
Briggs and Mr.. r. Tucker. Mr.. Robert
Earle has given notice and so has Mr.. Lake.
The movement goes far to fully confirm the
belief that the Duke is determined to make
every one OF his tenants vote as be bids"
Many similar paragraphs might be quoted
from the papers, and many which show that
the spirit of Radical reform and change is
fostered among the people by such ill-advised
conduct. 1t behooves the landlords if they
wish to retain their influence and power,
and that they must so wish none can doubt,
to do justice to their tenants and yield some
thing OF their ancient rights and privileges
to the masses, whose growing intelligence
renders them fit and safe repositories of
much more political power than they now
enjoy. The real statesmen of England
should see, while it is yet time, that it is
only by liberal concessions they can satisfy
the just demands of the people and silence
the clamor of agitation.
By acts Of tyranny and oppression the
rulers of the old world have almost precipi-
tated revolution oyer half of Europe within
the last twenty years. And unless wiser
councils prevail, the period is not distant
when we shall see the champions of the di-
vine right Of Kings meeting foemen worthy
Of their steel in the champions of freedom.
Recent attempts have been made upon the
life of the Kings of Italy and Spain and upon
that of the Emperor of Germany. The
Emperor Of Russia lives in chronic state of
alarm which has been recently amusingly
illustrated by the following supposed diary
of his Imperial Majesty:
THE CARS DIARY.-[From the Court
Journal. SCOT up at Z A. M. and ordered
my bath. Found four gallons of vitriol in
it and did not take it. Went to breakfast.
The Nihilists had placed two torpedoes on
the stairs, but did not step on them. The
coffee smelt so strong of prussic acid that
was afraid to drink it. Found a scorpion in
my left slipper. but luckily shook it out
before putting it on. just before stepping
into my carriage to 60 for my morning
drive it was blown into the air, killing the
coachman and the horses instantly. I did
not drive. Took a light lunch OF hermetical-
ly-sealed American canned goods. They
can't fool me there. Found poisoned dag.
ger in my favorte chair, with the point
sticking out. Did not sit down on it. Had
dinner at P. NJ, and made Baron
Lalschounowonski taste every dish. He
died before the soup was cleared away.
Consumed some Baltimore oysters and
some London stout that have had lockhd
up for i've years. Went to the theatre and
was shot at three times in the first act. Had
the entire audience hanged. Went home to
bed and slept all night on the roof of the
| palace"
The visitor to the rural districts cannot
fail to be struck with the insufficient and
Insignificant character of the farm buildings
generally and the condition of delapidation
In which many of them are permitted to
remain. This is one of the evil consequences
OF the present system of renting from year
to year. and can only be obviated by long
leases, which involves an abandonment of
the landlords right to control the political
course Of his tenant; and two or three years
| To- nif vvit
nent improvements. Unless some such
policy as this is adopted, rent troubles will
become as serious in England as they now
are in Ireland; and no earthly power can
avert revolution which will rock the
British Empire from centre to circumference.
| A striking contrast to the general state of
| affairs is presented by the Shaw farm, which
is admirably and completely equipped with
buildings, consisting of a farm house occupied
by the overseer, with all the necessary ap-
purtenances; foremen's and laborer's houses,
barns, granaries, stables &c., the whole
arranged with much skill. The buildings
are supplied with corn crushers, straw and
turnip cutters and other machinery worked
by steam power. The granaries are in the
third story of one of the buildings above the
threshing floor, and as the wheat is threshed
and cleaned, it is delivered by travelling
cups to the granary bins, whence it is sacked
and delivered into carts outside by an over
hanging crane and pulleys from the end of
the apartment. The same steam power is
used to grind food for the cattle, and the steam
boiler is utilized in the preparation of every
substance used as food by the stock. The
cut hay or straw is mixed with turnips, man
gle wurtzel, Sc. which have been crushed
by the proper machinery This mixture is
passed into large steaming chest and being
there subjected to the action of hot air, be-
comes more palatable and soluble, and read
lily gives up all its nutritive properties.
The Princes plan for fattening sheep de-
serves to be mentioned. 1t is a shed with
spared floor. Here they are tied up by
the neck and fed from troughs, upon mixed
diet, having salt and water at pleasure. At
the end of every fortnight they are weigh
ed to ascertain what progress they are ma
king, and the house and pen carefully wash
ed with chloride of lime. Under this system
as may be imagined, they fatten rapidly.
The yield per acre of wheat on the Shaw
farm is from thirty five to forty bushels, and
from forty to sixty tons Of mangle wurtzel,
and of grass at the first cutting IS tons, at
the second %, at the third 81 and at the
fourth s, or q total of 80 tons per acre. And
yet not an acre of the Shaw farm was origi-
nally superior, if indeed equal to the poor
er lands in the Valley of Virginia. It has
been made thus productive by intelligent
cultivation, by labor and by the steady APP
plication of manures.
The laborers work during the summer ten
hours day, from six to eleven, then eating,
and again returning to work from one till
five O'Clock. The horses receive two bushels
of grain and one of beans each per week,
with hay ad hbitum.
Liberal wages are paid the laborers. In
this county the ordinary wages are from ten