The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-11
NO. 5

1He OF LOUIS UtOOe-Oem0crQt refers TO
the story of the girl Kate Shelly, whom
the Iowa Legislature has voted gold medal,
as more than OF passing interest, and says,
that it is story with all the elements in it
of what noted writer calls 'primevalf ac-
tion OF the Homeric kind. Think a, mo-
ment OF the circumstances. A simple girl,
reared in poverty and unacquainted with
books or great experience, stands at a
cottage window, looking out into night
OF black and terrific storm. Suddenly the
headlight of a coming railroad freight train
Is seen to touch bridge in a deep gorge, to
WAIVER an instant, and then go down with
an awful crash among the rocks and the
roar OF the swollen waters The girl seizes
shawl, kisses her mother and sisters, and
hastens through the darkness to the scene
of the wreck, only to find one living man,
and he beyond her reach. Then, moth ing
daunted, she hastenson a mile further to
the station, creeping on hands and knees
across another intervening bridge, with a
river beneath, and arriving just in time to
stop passenger train and save it from de-
struction.''
There is indeed something of the tinge
OF the heroic about this daring act Of a
sensitive, timid female, moved to an in
trepid venture by an inspiration that reaches
above ordinary human emotions. But,
when we reflect over it, there is nothing
more of real moral heroism in it than is
manifested almost every day, in less con-
spicuous manner, it is true, by the gentler
sex and which escapes public notice and
scrutiny because it relates to the domestic
circle, hidden from the com mon gaze and
not blazoned through the press. Suffering
without uimur; watching and waiting In
the presence of disease and death strag-
CLING through life, and facing duties which
should deyolve upon others of sterner
mould bearing the burdens, which shift
less neglect on the part of her other half
impose; caring and providing for offspring
while the husbands energies are wasted in
dissipation and idleness-such relations call
for patient courage and self-sacrifice, not
surpassed in the more conspicuous manifes-
tation of Kate Shelly's cool daring. And
these exactions and tests are of every days
occurrence, Invested however, of the sensa-
tional and with nothing of abnormal ex-
to stimulate and sustain. Its the
moral force which springs from the chris
tian's trust-the heroism out of which mar
tyrs are made, and which has thrilled
through the annals of time, ever since the
by His tomb caught the first
glimpse of the risen Savior.
1t is well enough for the Lynchburg Vm-
gsaaaan not to worry itself about the consisten
cy of the VALLEY VIRG1NIAN. What it terms
our ''somersaults." have generally resulted in
our lighting square on our feet, at the right
time and in the right place, ready to confront
and antagoniZe Bourbonism in all its Protean
shapes. This may be relied on in the future.
may be the surface indications. We
generally know what we are after, and our
cotemporary may rest assured that there will
be no comfort for the faction with which it
is connected 50 tar as the influence of the
VIReINIAN is concerned, in any view we may
take of public questions or the political sit
lati0n. There are voters enough in Virginia
opposed to Bourbonism to keep that faction
in the minority, if the elements composing
The majority can be crystalized into an oppo-
sition force. 1t is this that we want to see
and in order to do so defects
and shortcomings should be pointed out, and
Influences invoked which will assuredly
bring about that end. The experience of the
Conservative party with the Lowell Commit
tee in 1879, ought to teach a salutary lesson
to all other parties, and arrest any indications
which point to dissension and disintegra-
ton. 1t is no time for harsh experiments or
unjust Determinations, and when faults are
pointed out, they should be corrected as
speedily as possible. 1t will not promote
to single out any faction in the re-
cent success for unjust criticism or captious
censure. Unity is necessary to present and
future strength, and anything that might dis
turb the harmony of the coalition should be
1t is this kind of solace we would
tender to our LYnchburg cotemporary
AS to the "long winded" articles in the VTR-
GILMAN, we have only to say that we furnish
it from first hands, and do not depend upon
the lungs or the brains of others to assist us
in presenting what is found in our columns
1t is kind of wind that has blown no good
to Bourbonism in the past and is not likely
to do so in the future