Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-16
Mozis Addums on Staunton.

Mozis Addums on Staunton.
That delightful humorist, DIR. Bagby
who can plume himself on having gathered
the largest audience that Staunton ever
turned out to hear lecture, has letter
in the Richmond estate" of Wednesday
describing his visit here. We make some
extracts from it:
Augusta is State within itself. You
do not realize this at FishersYille on your
way from WayneSbOro to StauntOn, but q
glance at Hotchkiss' map Of the county
will prove the truth in an instant. The
people are not ignorant Of the fact just
stated. They look upon Virginia and
West Virginia as outlying barrens, and
throw scraps Of custom to Baltimore and
Richmond as to couple of seedy grocers
needing charity. What Mrs. Chestnut,
wife of Senator Chestnut, of South Caro-
lima, said of StauntOn, applies with equal
force TO the county as whole, There is
enough self-rellance here" said she, ITO
form new nation" She was not far
wrong.
1 reached Staunton at o'clock on a
Saturday afternoon, in the midst Of a
mOnd at P. M, travelling 1876 miles in
two hours. The weather labored under q
mistake; was not going to lecture that
night or the next week, but the rain kept
on for some three days. No sooner had I
emerged from the American Hotel than
every man in town plunged headl0ng into
my bosom,
Taking me to be
Mr.. A. Y. Lee.
which am, but may | be switched if am
A. Y. Lee and J. Il. Wartrnan combined.
The thing is not possible. Great changes
had taken place since my last visit, twelve
years ago, especially on Augusta and Bev-
erly streets, but in fact everywhere. The
place has more city looks and ways than
any town of Its size that have vet SEEM
Here are green. grOcerS (nO market house,,
newsboys, stores for the exclusive sale of
cigars or liquors, Kennebec ice carts, and
actually a stall on one Of the corners. The
hotels do not look particularly fresh, but
the courthouse does. Were it in larger
yard or upon an elevation it's temple-like
facade would be imposing, but as it is, the
newly-pain:ed columns surmOunted- by a
sable entablature suggest the idea OF a
wldower in tall white hat with big
black band. The interior, adorned with
portraits of John Marshall. John b. Bald
win and Thomas j. Niche. presents a
striking contrast to the courthouse ia
Charlottesville. The bar OF Staunton, al
ways able, is led among the older men by
Sheffey and among the younger by COch-
ran and White, Stuart ranking more as
statesman than lawyer. Ripe IN years
and hOnOrs, his health remains good, and
his name, am assured, will be upheld by
his son, Archibald, who is his partner in
the practice of law. John B. Baldwin has
left an enviable memory, and SO has Mr..
N. P. Catlett, who died during my SOjOurn
here. Sorrow and admiration for Mr..
Catlett were univerSal-he must have been
one Of the best of men.
We had music fat the Wesleyan Female
Institute com nencementl It'll we couldn't
rest.'' Decidedly, the event of the even
ing was the singing of Miss Efie Stiff, "a
girl of 16, with the voice of Bill Grant,"
as a Richmond man described her. This
voice as extraordinary in compass, so
sweet and powerful IN the lower notes,
ranging from soprano to baritone and
almost to bass, ought to be a fortune to
people of Staunton. During the pauses of
the music I studied with some attention
the well-dressed audience. The type diff
ters from that in East Virginia, is graver,
stronger in facial lines. shows-less of the
debilitation of city life-a community
young, strong, hopeful, successful, not
worn by cares that belong to the large
business centres. The men, on this par
ticular evening, impressed me even more
than the women. not that there is lack
of beauty in Staunton. quite the contrary,
but the absence of the Over-dress, smart,
beslicked, whipper-snappers who abound
in the big cities was noteworthy. Not a
fOp or dandy visible, only manly young
men, fitted for the work Of building up
this solid little city. Perhaps the prettlest
girl that I saw in the town was in bake