Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-06-21
BUNKER HILL LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

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Special Correspondence.
JUNE 18th, 1884. Unavoidable
circumstances have prevented me
from continuing my "War Exper-
iences," to the intended termina-
ton, and also OF communicating
with you in a more social way.
Some few points, however, in
general way, may serve to remind
you that I once figured in literary
circles, in botched-up correspon-
dence with your valuable paper,
and once more seek favor and rec
ognition in its columns.
Iwould simply say that I do not
90 this unsolicited nor for any
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but par
ticularly to let the people hear
something from the s'poor house,
its vicinity and the prosperity and
adversely Of our people generally
As you may imagine, / am still the
biggest toad laundering around
in the ''poor- house puddle, " and al
though somewhat reduced and
emaciated, / still have the forked
end down and am able to hop up
to the scanty board to devour my
daily allowance The rest of the
inmates all enjoy the same bless
ings except Mrs. Toad, my below
ed companion, who hoped out
yesterday to spend a week with
her parents. This fortunate cir
cumstance will no doubt give us
chance to recruit our larder lit
tie, and it will give us an extra bone
to pick and an extra glass of wat
er to drink.
cannot go back over the time
that has interviewed since my last,
and gather up all the items of in
terest. Yet some things of recent
date will bear mention, which have
not lost their prestige in the
hearts of the people. For instance,
I was induced to witness one of
the grandest exhibitions of Ameri-
can skill, at Col. Jno. e. Boyd's
on Friday, that has ever occurred
in our little mountain State. A
gang Of ten binders was started
in q field of barley, to test their
merits. It was a good time to
see what they would do, as it had
rained sufficiently to make the
grain wet, the ground muddy, be-
sides which, some of the barley
was green and down. / think all
of the agents and experts must
have used either an extra amount
or an extra quality Of lubricating
material on their glib tongues, as
well as on their machinery, as it
was difficult to tell which run the
smoothest or the loudest.
The ball was opened by Newt.
Thatcher, who stood with manly
dignity at the helm of the Walter
A. Wood machine. Next came the
Deering, Jr., with the Dodd. boys
sounding notes of praise. Next
came the Esterly; Henson & Mil
Ter taking their horn-then the
Osburn, James Noll. The Champ
pion, rearing and charging, with
sails flying, G. Campbell Janney
directing, Howison managing The
Buckeye platform binder, Mr..
Shafter. Excelsior by j. T. jan
ney, with two splendid mules,
which went through with such
comparative ease and so little
noise that we would not have
known of it's presence had it not
been for the marked distinction of
it's venerable driver and his mag
nifcent pair of donkeys; the Nc
Cormick, under the management
of Mr.. Ronk, hoed it's row with the
balance; the Buckeye platform
binder had to give way to a more
experienced member of the family,
the Buckeye elevator very good
machine; the Deering was the last
one to enter the arena, which Meth
er abashed the youthful brow of
it's energetic managers nor sought
the shade to gain it's laurels.
Now, some one is ready to ask
which did the best work. / am
sorry was not designated as one
Of the judges, but there were hun
dreds of our best farmers present
who are practical men, and for
that reason, if nothing else, I was
not honored with the appointment
as Judge shall not deter me from |
expressing an opinion. With one