Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-29
SWINGING AROUND.
Eds. Independent:

Had | consulted our weather
prophet as to the continuance of
such beautiful spring'Iike weather I
should have been spared the mortif-
cation of announcing her arrival so
far in advance. But we can learn a
lesson from the mistakes of our
lives as well as from our most correct
actions. Hence, my stupidity may
| be attributable to too much self re-
lance whereas if had have sought
the opinion of 'our man. in regard to
the freaks of the weather at this
season of the year, / should have
known what was coming, for in the
opinion OF our people, he can knock
Vennor's predictions into pie.
The few leisure moments which |
could call my own during the last
two weeks, has been devoted in sur
veying the boulevards and surround
ings of our town; but it makes no
difference in what direction | travel
or what locality | visit, see the.
same spirit of progressive industry
manifested, as | do within our own
corporate limits. The farmers gen.
orally are very busy with their
spring work, and being encouraged
by the flattering prospects of a good
wheat crop, they seem to move with
80 much complacency that it is graf
flying as well as pleasant to meet
them. Their very actions indicate
prosperity and happiness In swing
ing around the circle,I Intentionally
swung up against Martin Payne, Jr.,
who is one of the most enterprising
of our citizens. Only a few years ago
he purchased about two hundred
acres of the Pendleton tract, without
even hen coop on it. Now he has
four good comfortable dwellings,; has
sunk wells and dug cisterns and
built himself an excellent bank barn
and other out buildings; has a nice
young orchard and IS now starting a
vegetable garden. Beside conducting
his farm, which he has enclosed with
a substantial fence, he runs two
steam threshers and saw mill from
which he turns off four thousand
feet of lumber per day. He gives
employment to large number of
hands constantly, and supplies the
mechanics and builders with large
quantities of lumber. Mart stands
high in the community as a perser-
vering business manager. Such in
dustrial exhibition must necessari-
ally bring it's reward and eventually
meet with that success it so richly
merits.
Courtney Hamilton also has late
ly put in a circular saw, at his mill,
which will enable him to do double
the work he formerly did. He has
in connection with his saw mill
grist mill and corn crusher which is
great convenience to the vicinity;
evidenced by the fact that he is all
ways busy. HIS machinery is moved
by water power, of which he always
has an abundant supply for this pur-
pose. Court is "a practical mechanic
and therefore he Can do all of his
own building and repairing, and can
entertain a customer with an anec-
dote or an historical fact.
Mr.. A. A. Miller, from GreencaS-
tie, Pa is visiting his son-in-law,
Mr.. Robert Miller, and Mr.. Charles
S. Lamon. The old gentleman fire.
quently pays visit to our village,
and his presence always sheds halo
of light in the homes of those who
are dear to him. Although his locks
are white with the frost of more than
three score winters, his step is as
lithesome as man of half his years.
1t was once my privilege to visit his
home under very sad and distressing
circumstances, it being on the Occa-
sion of the funeral of his daughter,
Mrs. Robert Lamon. Yet with all
| the grief and mourning which natur-
ally wrung the hearts of that home,
| the hospitalities of his household
were rendered without reserve. Mr..
| Miller has connected a little bust
ness with his trip this time. He
| brings with him the celebrated Eng
| lish draft horse, "Sea Lion" which
| he intends to leave in the county for
| the season. This horse took the
first premium at the Martinsburg
and Hagerstown fairs, and is without
exception the finest draft horse in
the country. His pedigree with that
of his ancestors is convincing proof
of his superior qualities.
Our streets were thronged with
people on Saturday evening last.
All business seemed to have given
way for the time being, and finally
the vendue of the land drew the at
tention of all parties. The appeals
of the auctioueer could not be with
stood by the multitude, so we invol-
UNFAIRLY gathered around The ros-
trum just in time to witness the
overjoyed emotions of Bob Lamon
at the purchase of two farms at So
per acre. 1t appears to be natural
| for some people to make money.
Some by hard knocks, other by for
tunate speculations and Bob appears
to belong to the latter class. The
land is Improved by dllapidated
ice house and watered by a dry
spring. He expects to start Oh an