Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-01-16
hour. he found himself almost as well
posted as If he had read daily paper.

The news was then fully discussed,
nun Der engaging IN the conversation
and expressing their views freely aud
intelllgently upon the several subjects
suggested by the days events.
The visit OF a single night was not
sufficient 10 fully learn all that occur
red at this rendezvous of our husbands.
So be regularly attended for about one
week, and found that after the days
news was disposed Of, that questions Of
all kinds were discussed. Ethec's
Philosophy, Science, Agriculture, Po-
mology, Law, Politics, Stock'breedlDg'
10. received ATTENTION, aud many were
the hotty disputed questions Ere
ouently the parties would retire TO re-
turn in a few minutes with authority to
prove the theory advanced. He soon
found that the company was composed
o: men of various vocalioHs, and some
whose opinions we're valuable upon
questions of law or politics, were oil
low standing upon questions connected
with Agriculture or Pomology. Each
question would be referred TO the pro-
per authorit, aud the decision IN some
cases would be final, in others it would
be postponed from night 10 night and
when a decision was once arrived at
further discussion was of no avail.
Another feature was the relation OF
marvellous deeds or wonderful exhibi-
lions of natural phenomena. One OF
the party seemed specially gifted in
this line, and when he was 10 the hui
NOR, he would open with a voice that
could be heard above ell Others and
with a wonderful clearness and des'
Loneliness, lie would relate some incl
dent. which came under his imm ediate
observation, that would tax the creduli-
ty of his entire audience. His field
was not narrow but extended from the
shores of The Delaware to the SUBMITS
Of Pixies Peak. Ga one occasion, be
announced that at the mines people
could not cook es they do here, aud
that boiling water would not soften
beans. though they sh ould be vigorous
" cooked for six hours. The state
ment seemed to bother some OF the
Younger members, but an old philOso'
pher, who was present, very briefly
stated the cause Of this thing, which
was that at the elevation spoken of the
rarity of the atmosphere reduced The
boiling point so low that water could
not be heated sufficiently to cook the
vegetables spoken Of. This explana-
ton at onoe esta blished the veracitY of
the speaker aud removed the mystery
which prompted the story. But with
the full determination Of puzzllng even
the philosopher be continued Inc rela
ton of the marvellous, and dwelt with
peculiar pleasure upon the miraculous
qualities possessed by a well known
creek, in the nei gh0OrhoOd OF PIke's
Peak and It's wond erfIl effect upon the
human system. In vain the crowd
called upon the philosopher, who could
1--WE no explanation, and for seaso
the reputation OF the speaker as to
veracity was under a cloud. Finally,
however, other persons who had visited
the same section confirmed the st ory
and the gentlemen's reputation again
shown forth with undlmmed lusler, but
the wisest have never been able 10 ex-
PLAIN the mysterious properties OF the
stream referred TO.
Que of the party had evidently been
in his day professor of music, an d
The posessor of a fac tenor voico and
his singing was appreciated by the
lovers of esthelics Ga one or two
occasions, he tried 10 introduce
the singing Of ties but 1t met with
such disfavor that he discOn Iincd he
practice and now never goes beyond
The singing OF his iavotite ditty,-"D 0
YOU know the muffil mau, the muffin
man ?"
But could not begin 10 tell you all
that Cousin Simon said he ga nd
heard. but was Mortified when lie told
me that even old bachelors and Old
Sldowers can be found at this store at
night. | should thick that they could
spend their evenings more pleasantly
with the ladies.
AS promised Mr.. Tonpkins that
I would be home before nine O'Clock,
cannot give YOU further revelations al
this time"
% iuquiring the time, Mrs
I. was greatly surprised that /
vas eleven o'clock. There was a bu''
tie among the married women, and all
hastily started home, and each hat
fixed up an excuse for keeping late
hours that would have done credit Il
the ingenuity of the most confirmed
slore loafer: y