West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-06-01
The Valley OF Delight.
CHARLEsTowN, w. Va, |
May 10Th, 1881. {


one, what is this | see2 Behold!
Yes, it is without a doubt-THE
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN, that ne,o
and rtgorous tenn perance searcher,
which is just like a magnet; it
catches all. The young men gaze
and then stop and think the older
persons say it is just the thing and
must have our support; the Tenn
perance Union say we aoill support
it. Bro. Editor, may you continue
the good work begun and the laurels
will certainly be yours.
May I not claim small space in
your paper to give to your readers a
description of this beautiful town
and lovely country; also temper
ance proceedings, Gbeing form
er sojourner in your town. This
town is situated on branch of the
B. & O. K. R., ten miles south of
Harpers Ferry, near the Shenan-
doah River, in what is known as
the Valley of Virginia (The East
ern Panhandle.) 1t is one of the
Oldest towns in West Virginia, and
has the oldest newspaper. AL
though it has grown slow, only
numbering $500 persons, it is
place of beauty, filled up with jolly,
jovial and hospitable people.
Historically, this is known as
the place where John Brown togeth-
er with six of his followers were ex-
ecuted, for transgressing the con-
stitution in the way of instituting
an instruction. for the emancipa-
ton of slaves. The old Court
House still marks the place of his
conviction, and the jail of his con-
finement.
Then we visit the "Charlestown
Cemetery" a place of beauty and
grandeur, which presents to the
mind Of the locker on the mystery
Of the grave, as we pass column af-
ter column of natures pure white
ness having engraved thereon the
epitaphs of those who sleep beneath
the green sod, who might have
been forgotten years ago, but for
the inscriptions on the marble. AS
we enter the cemetery grounds,
very large white monument pre-
sents itself to the eye, a stone which
has been erected by the citi-
zens of Charlestown and vicinity,
in honor of $50 of the Confederate
dead, who were killed in this
county.
The ladies of this place were the
inspiration of the raising of this
commemorative piece of mechan-
ism. "When the ladies take hold
Of the stone, the monument must
rise" The great influence of the
ladies tends to hold the progressive
universe in it's proper bounds.
Charlestown has christian people
in the same proportion with other
towns of this State, and is amply
supplied with beautiful churches.
The young men have a Chris
tan Association, and are doing
a good work, in the way of
bringing the lost and strayed into
the fold.
The Temperance organization at
this place is doing a good work to-
ward suppressing the sale of that
damnable fluid, which is soul de-
stroyer and carrying thousands of
our most prominent young men
down. to everlasting destruction,
persons who might become eminent
and fill some very important sta
tions in life. The accursed rum
shop is nothing but a place
of murder, and still our officials toll
crate it in many of the centers of
business in our State.
In visiting the place one directly
meets the jolly Mayor, who is ever
ready to welcome the weary travel
er or stopping stranger, and show
him the sights of the town.
Then we meet the fraternity of
lawyers: Hon. D. B. Lucas, the dis
tinguished lawyer, and noted poet,
"a genial, true hearted and noble
gentleman; and w. H. Travers
with his broad smile; and J. H.
Grove, little deaf to sound, but
sound on law; and Geo. Baylor,
small in stature, but with keen
black eye for business; and then
Cleon Moore, the accommodating