Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-01-06

LII convention SHOulu unite,
On John Mason as the leader.
Who should lead them in the fight.
Quickly then the cards were shuffled,
AT the Grafton interview,
And all wrongs by force were righted
AS each leader there withdrew.
Wilson next is nominated,
AS an olive branch of peace,
And twas thought the feud was ended,
That the factious war would cease.
But the ballots at election,
Left it doubtful tween the men,
Till at last it was conceded,
Wilson had it,-just By ten.
Such a margin, slim and doubtful,
Makes some loco leaders cross,
And they give you as the reason,
That their party's too much "bOss."
Well perhaps that is the reason,
But it is little strange,
That the noted ''leg of mutton
Should exhibit greater change.
IT'S the independent voter,
Playing havoc in the land,
Cutting down the walls OF party
With fierce and reckless hand.
Rather like that kind of tactics,
lis the INDEPENDENTS plan,
To make voters free and fearless,
Independent to a man.
But we hasten with our story,
Pause in Marlinsburg awhile,
TO solicit from our patrons,
Just a quarter and a-smie.
In the richest Southern valley,
Near the old Potomac's shore,
That divides the lands of Fairfax,
From the lands of Baltimore
BY the murm'riDg Tuscarora.
Sits our quiet inland town,
Full OF pleasant dear old mem ries,
And historical renown.
Classic names are here familiar
OF great men whom fame had won:
Generals Gates, and Lee and Stevens,
And immortal Washington.
Here poet had his birth place,
And his lines of sweetest song,
AS birth right of the muses.,
TO our valley now belong
N. p. Willis with genius
OF an order high as Poe,
Blessed the world of taste and letters,
With his fancy's richest flow.
Here the sage Of Ashland tarried,
AS the guest of one VINO still
Bravely fights on life's arena,
With a fearless iron will.
And here, too, in days still later,
What a fearful battle ground,
Here the generals moved their soldiers,
AS the players, cheSSmen round.
Armies greater than Napoleon's
At the famous Waterloo,
Pitched their tents within our borders,
And have marched our valley through.
Not improper then dear reader,
On this pleasant New Years morn,
To recall these classic mem 'ries,
OF our pleasant valley born,
But my muse is growing weary,
And begins to futter down,
And run out of inspiration,
Wants to stand upon the ground.
So we leave the heights of dreamland
And the airy phantom's tracks
And come down to prosy matters,
And stubborn chain OF facts.
Martinsburg is justly boastful,
Of her progress in her schools,
OF the culture of her teachers
And their government and rules,
In this line our city's peerless,
Better schools you never see,
Than our city fathers daily,
To the public furnish free.
But we must not fail to mention
OF our hotels and their fare;
Bout the first class Continental.
And about our new st. Clair,
Here our host can surpass Iceland,
AS he caters to your taste,
For his tables always furnished
With the markets very best.
But dear reader we must hasten,
And must finish this address,
But will add single item
Bout the INDEPENDENT Press.
AS paper we have served you
On the Independent plan;
Tried in frankness to advise you,
AS becometh man to man;
If we erred, it was an error,
OF the head and not the heart,
And we pause to beg your pardon
Fer this New Years day depart;
Such was ancient Roman custom,
When the New Years day begins,
Every Roman dropt his malice
And forgave his neighbours sins.
So dear reader, here's our:tribute
In our muses. closing line,
"May the Prince of Peace and Good Will,
Save and cherish thee and thine SfS