Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-10-27

tremely broad in Virginia. You are ealled
upon to ''please pauss the tomdmoeS.
Anything fine, successful or abundant IS
right smart. They will say, "This is right
smart corn" owe had right smart OF
rain" fright smart of cold" found it
not only interesting to observe their pro-
yincialisms, but very necessary frequent
ly. Here any time after dinner is evening,
they calling it ''this evening"" and in
saluting you say, good evening" Again
any married lady, no matter whether she
be up in the nineties or not, has the title
of Miss prefixed to her given name. You
can easily imagine that stranger invited
to dinner "this evening" (at o'clock, at
"Miss Lizzie's' (whO may be an aged
married LADY,, can easily be led to make
grave and embarrassing mistakes. This
being so unusual custom makes me quite
eager to explore regions farther south.
You are led to wonder how these Vir-
ginians with their culture and refinement
can cling to these erroneous customs with
such tenacity-a tenacity which frequent-
ly manifests itself with great dislike for
the pronunciation of Pennsylvanians and
New Englanders; especially because they
are aware that their peculiarities are due
entirely to the influence OF the negroes,
which is brought to bear on them from
childhood.
These are certainly peculiar people.
A writer in recent number of the Boston
Transcript gives very correct view OF
their characteristics. He SAID, "American
manners, speech and customs would live
longer in the South than anywhere else
I'm the country; and certainly, rs one no.
tees people from different parts as they
come together at summer resorts, one does
notice an independent individuality in the
South. There is no aping of anything
foreign, no trying to be other than him.
self, or rather herself, no effort to appear
better off, no matter what they are
brought into contrast with. They are as
self-poisedly proud of being what they are
as is a State of Maine Yankee, and beyond
that smile cannot 60" The writer
speaks very correctly, and l certainly
never before met with more independence
and self-satisfaction concerning local con-
ditionS and customs.
The same person asks the question, sis
it climate, or what is it that makes Mary
land and Virginia women almost always
younger than New England women of
corresponding age?" The reason is ell
tirely due to the habits and customs OF
the people. \ life of ease and enjoyment
characterizeS the SOutherner. There is
an absence of worriment, anxiety, and
the high tension in mental and business
activity which is found farther north.
There is more gcntccl lounging by men
and women to be seen on the porches,
stoops, ut the various offices and stores
(and they good-humorcdly acknowledge
it, than you can find anywhere north of
Mason and Dixon's line. AS an illustra-
ton in point, we have hardly less than 4
score Of octogcnarians in this small town,
and rs n rule they are remarkably we'll
preserved and active. This you may say
is due to the system of slavery, but it
should be remembered that the habits and
customs of the people are very much the
same now as in the days when slavery cx-
listed.
But did not expect to write at such
great length. | may, at some future time,
write YOU about the material resources of
West Virginia, which are very great; also
about other characteristics.