davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
LETTER FROM WINCHESTER.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.

Correspondence of the Alexandria CiaZette)
WINCHESTER, Va, August Is, lSS5.-A
few days spent in the lower portion of the
Valley of Virginia and short contact with
its kindly, bospitable people, almost induces
one to paraphase old Bishop Berkcley's say
ing, and declare THAT doubtless the Lord
might have made q fairer land md batter
people, but doubtless the Lord never did"
And yet that part of Frederick whence l
write is parched and dried from the drought
which has prevailed so long, and which was
only broken few days since by a rain sut-
ticient to wet the ground about two inches.
Just why the good old town of Winchester
ia located in hollow instead of upon some
of the surrounding hills is hard to fathom.
| only guessed at the reason yesterday when
I passed its water works, o little beyond the
suburbs Of this Legislative city" and found
them to consist of q large spring and two
bell rnouthed pipes into which the water
flowed as it dubbed up from the ground
and thence on to the consumer. Then l
supposed it was located here simply because
the water would not run up hill. Think OF
it not water collected into large reservoirs
and exposed 10 the sun until it is almost at
blood heat, but water cool, clear aud spark
ling. as it comes from the bowels of the
earth, is supplied to each consumer, and at
stated intervals there are public hydrants.
OF course the people talk politics, Ianguid-
" as vet but with sufficient vehemence 10
show the depth Of feeling below the surface,
and froul what | eau gather our ticket has
taken exceedingly well. The nomination
of q man like Fitz, Lee brave in war, gave
general satisfaction 10 this battle-scarred
county, and to the people of this city, so
often occupied successfully By the contend
ing forces. And the nomination of Lee the
farmer, the man who when the war was
over could lay aside its hahiliments and
earn his living in the field and at the poW,
has greatly pleased The farming aud labor.
ing element. And this may be said of all
the Valley.
The nomination of Mr.. Massey neither
STRENGTHENS nor weakens the ticket in Fred
ercE, though here, as elsewhere, there are
sume GROWERS who do not seen, to reDem
her that he is the representative of many
thousand democrats, now with us, " no were
in hearty accord with him when he was a
readjuatcr. But the fact remains that his
name adds great strength to the ticket in
Shenandoah, Rockingham and Page, and it
is confidently believed that these counties
viii! align themselves with the democratic
party again in November next
Mr.. Ayres is not known here personally,
hut his reputation IA worker has preceded
him, and his nomination is most favorably
received.
But little doubt is felt Of the election OF
the State ticket,the only fear expressed being
that the willy Malone will let his general
ticket headed BY Kitchen" John 90, i'll his
efforts to save the House of Delegates, and
that, unless watched, he may succeed III
this. But the general belief ia that Mr..
Barbour is more lhan his equal in political
strategy >.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
Virginia rosts Ace Changes.

WASHINGTON, Angus! 1.-THE fclow.re
changes in postcli;'.S of the fourth class
were announced il. h4v: John Thm.
field at Jennings ordinary, Nu!tcWay
county, vice Elisha Elicit; r,cr,c
Farley mt Hicksin'i, G.eeuvilic cran,y
vice Mrs. A. ". Mays removed
H. B. Rogers, at B::nA!o Forge, Rockbrisa
county, vice J. UPdike, removed J. +.
Waymack, at Prince George c. H. Prince
George county, vice Esbert Vail, removed :;
s. NJ. Biedler, ii: Sands, Page county.
vice J. W. Shyock, removed; Mis-
S. E. Lcary, At paineville, Amc!;; cr,
vice J. V. PENN. removed: Chas I. Smith,
at Castleton, Rappthaunncls CO., vr' J. W.
Cannon, removed; Il. l.. Bailey at Babe, :
Cross Roads, Fairfax county, vice Mr. II.
l. Bailey, to correct name.
One hundred anal fifty posloiiic" ch"u2,-
in all were mado 10 day
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
The Virginia Battalion in New York.

Lieutenant Colonel spoiswood, who command
cd the battalion of Virginia troops. at the funeral
of General Grant received the following yes
terlay:
HEADQUARTERS 1sT DIV, N. G. S. N. Y.
New YORK. August 10, 1885.
Lieutenant Colonel III. L. Spotswood. First Battalion
Firginia State Troops:
sIR-Much 10 my regret, other duties debarrcd
ae the pleasure OF meeting You in person on
saturday last, and must resort to this means OF
EXPRESSING to YOU the pleasure and satisfaction
felt by all New York, aud especially by the mill
5sry portion OF it, that you embraced tho oppor-
unity, solemn as the otc lsion WAS, to visit our
:ity. The conduct and appearance of your CON-
mand was 80 good as 10 excite favorable and fTe
qu"nt comment, and feel personally honored by
having SO fine a corps under my command for even
short time Be pleased to express this to your
officers and men, aud believe me, Colonel. YOURS
very sincerely, ALEXANDER sHALER
Major General
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
CIGARETTE SMoK1NG.-The Americans

CIGARETTE SMoKING.-The Americans
may lie sad to have become nation OF ci-
garette smokers. Time was, not great
number Of years ago, when the consumption
of .'rsper cigarettes" in the Quilted States
was confined almost entirely to the foreign-
born portion of our population. To-day
more natives than foreigners smoke them.
The enormous growth of the industry is
readily shown by q comparison of figures.
For example, In the fiscal year 1870 the tax
was paid in the United States on IL, SSl, All
cigarettes. and in the fiscal year 1880 on
400, 7O3, 365, an increase in ten years of 1884,
2694s cigarettes. The United States now
ranks as the heaviest cigarette producer in
the world, France coming next. The annual
sale of cigarettes in France is estimated at
900 900 pounds, or about 800 600, 600 cigar
cites. There can be tut little doubt that
the majority of cigare ties are consumed by
hnys between the ages of II and Is to 20.
Men as rule, smoke cigars and pipes That
the inordinate use Of tobacco at an early
age is hnrtful, is uncontested. Recent sci
entific investigations go toprove that smok-
ing, especially cigarette smoking, is very
detrimental to youths during the transition
period from boyhood to manhood. The
stnnted forms of many men is as much due
to excessive use of tobacco at an early age
as to anything else. What cigarette smek.
ing and absinihe drinking combined can ac-
complish may readily be seen by visit
to any large French town,
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14

THE BUoYANT Power OF WATER.-Ac-
cording To AN EXCHANGE, the human body
weighs pound in the water, aud chair
will carry two grown person--that is, it will
keep the head above water, which is all
hat is necessary when it is a question of
life or death. One finger placed upon a
tool or chair. or 81 small box, or a piece of
board, will easily keep the head above
water, while the two feet and the other
hand may b" used as paddles to propel to
ward the shore. It's not necessary to know
how to swim 10 he able to keep from drown.
my in his way. A little experience Of the
bnoyant power of water, and faith in it, is
all that is required. We have seen small
boy, who could not swim stroke, propel
himself back aud forth across deep, wide
pond by means of 81 board that would not
sustain five pounds weight. Children and
all 0i hers should have practice in the gus
tanning power Of water. In niue cases out
of ten The knowledge that what will sustain
q pnund weight is all that is necessary to
keep ones heat above the water, will serve
better in emergencies than the greatest eX
part0eSs "a swimmer.
A person unfamiliar with the buoyant
power will naturally try to climb on top OF
the floating object on which he tries to save
himself II II is large enough that is all
right. But it is generally not large enough
to keep them all entirely above water.
This often happens when pleasure boats
capsize. All Immediately want to get out
of the water on top Of the overturned or
half filled boat and all are drowned except
those whom the wrecked craft will wholly
bear up. If they would simply trust the
water to sustain ninety nine hundredths OF
their bodies, and the disabled boat the other
hundred they might all be saved under
most circumstances. An overturned or half
filled wooden boat will sustain more psople
than it will carry. 1t would keep the heads
shpve water of rs many people as could get
their hands on the gunwale. These are
simple facts, easily learned, and may some
day save your life
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14

The DRUDGERY OF ADJECTIvEs.-The
ought to be society organized for the pro-
lection of adjectives. These innocent de-
fenceless parts of speech have been impress
ed into the service Of sensationalism, and
forced 10 do the drudgery of extravaganza,
until their strength is at the point of utter
exhaustion. Fifty years ago the adjective
lived life of comparative ease; it was re-
spected; it was real power, and when
called upon to aid in expression could ap-
pear with most impressive results. But to-
day it is a beached, limp. shapelcss wreck
so long draggled through the thorough
fares of speech that it retains scarcely
semb!ance of its former self. Some time ago
we called attention to the abuses which
have destroyed the adjective in our political
campaign literature, and now writer in
Lippincott's Magazine shows US that the
same process is going on in our fiction.
Novels have become all adjective. Plot and
incident have given way to mere nonen-
clature of qualities. Instead of story we
have perpetual mist, fathomless mnsh,
an endless lux of qna'ilica!ives. For illus
tration the writer selects we'll knoWn
novel Of the day, the heroine Of which is
literally buried ia adjeclives. The intention
was clearly to achieve q surprising por-
traiture bus the result is the mistake loo
often made by artists-a canvas overchargcd
with details, which, instead of q clear idea,
leave only chaos in the memory.-Home
Journal
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
LETTER FROM CULPEPER.

Correspondence of the Alexandria GAzErrE.i
MITCHELL's STATION, Aug. AT meet
ing held last Saturday to select delegates to
the senatorial and county conventions, TO
nominate democratic candidates for the
Senate and House of Delegates, it was re-
solved, Immediately after the organization,
THAT none hut known democrats should be
allowed TO participate therein;' but the
Rixey intcres: failing 10 eliminate the repub-
lican clement from their ranks, the opposi.
tion to coalition, comp ,scd entirely of pure
democrats announced in emphatic terms
that they would not submit to any action
that embraced tho votes Of republicans and
refused TO take any farther part in the meet
ing The coalitiOnists theleupou elected
their delegates and aiteruates to both con-
ventions and adjourned their wing of The
meeting, leaving the uDtainted democracy
in possession. Immediately thereupon Cap
tain John X. Strother called on oil true
democrats present to organize, which u very
large and enthusiastic number did by elect
ing Purser Thomas Bolts Male as chairman
aud Major j. r Smoot as secretary.
John r.. Stroller and ]. r. SInoot were
elected delegates 10 the Senatorial conven.
ton, with Hugh NJ Patten and Il. T. Male
as alternates, and Messrs. Walter j. wager,
James W. Inskeep, Robert Sparks and
Alexander Ta!iaferro delegates to the coun
ty convention, with G. w. Marshall, VIM.
Lewis, II. ]. Vaughn and G. B. Williams
as alternates.
You will perceive there will be double
sets of delegates to both conventions. The
gentlemen herein named claim to represent
pure democracy and so untrammeed and
unpledged, but utterly and intensely oppos.
Ell to bossism and its bastard offspring
modern coalitionsm.
The coalition delegates to the Senatorial
convention ale pronounced Rixey men.
The weather, though seasonable, has
been oppressively hot for the past few days.
The fields are looking fresh and green, with
fine prospects for corn crop. Most of the
farmers are through lhreshing their wheat
crop, and nine teuths of them won't
have wheat enough left after paying ex-
penses to make them short cake.
BOURBON.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14

FIGHTING IN EARNEST brigade Of the
Illinois National Guard in camp near OF
Lawa. foug ht Il sham battle Wcdap ,,lsv,
The weather was extremely bot, ard sew
eral were Frustrated. The dght VIZ 3 at one
time hand to hand, and no less To An Fifteen
men had their faces burner with powder
One man had part Of his ear shot of,
another had All ugly wound rlade in his
shoulder, and Lieut., Wilson hsda bayonet
run clear through bis band. The fighting
was at short rang5 with blank cartridges.
Feeling is running quite hghin consequence
of so many getting injured in the battle.
The First Eef; tnnrnt charged TINT it was in
splred By a hostile feeling toward that com
mand II is said some of che cavalry were
heard to say they intended to put - l:Lle
corn in their guns.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
NEWS CT TIE DAY.

Mr.. john &. Herbert, Of Baltimore, aged
| fifty three years, died yesterday morning, OF
consumption.
Pineapple shipping from Florida Is about
| at AN end 4 few more thousand vii! com
| plele the crcp.
According to AL eminent Southern author
| ity on barbt cues, it takes ten hours 10 roast
whole OK to perfection.
Young nan named Forbes, of St. Mary's
couptv. Md, who was bitten by dog in
January, died Of hydrorhob Tuesday last.
Santa Annals widow, bright and chatiy
little body, full of "reminiscences of her bus.
band and his times, is still living in the City
Of Mexico. She was married TO him at the
early age Of Is years.
The renewal of the fifteen year contract
bet ween the Pennsy lvauia Railroad Compa
ny and the Pullman Palace Car Company,
which has been under negotiation for several
mouths, has been formally executed.
1t is announced that Miss Cleveland 3
book ia already in its twelfth edition. The
Emperor Of Russia, it is said, has written to
Miss Cleveland, asking that the book lie
translated into The Russian language.
Mrs S,muel H. Shoemaker, ofBaltimore,
has lost ny death he renowned cow Princess
Seconu, which astonlsheh the world ny CIV
luz in seven days u yield Of forty six pounds
aud ten aud half ounces ofbulter
Square parasols. which have never found
favor here, are quite popular in England,
and receive the cOmmendaiion Of many OF
the fashion writers. Some Of these parasols
are trimmed with Turkish embroidery or
Algerian stripes.
A cul!ng aifray near Eatield, n. c., be.
tween John Pc,titt ard Walter Btavanstook
plaza day or two ago. The trouble grew
out Of sc":c business transaction. Beavans
received nine wounds in different parts OF
the bois |! il thought that he is fatally
hurt. PetLtL Was arrested.
| News Of another eruption of the volcano
Of Catopaxi has been received. A telegram
sent from Chimbo 10 Guayaquil states that
in that city, situated almost mt the foot of
that gigantic volcano, there was a fearful
overflow Of lava One hundred houses were
destroyed. The number of persons killed is
| no. known.
The French newspal ers comment on the
great number Of German spies discovered
| recently in various parts of France. 1t is
reported that the French government has
decided to order the expulsion from French
territory OF all Germans who can be proved
to he spies, or who can reasonably be sus-
| pected of being such.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
raInAY EVENING. AUGUST IA.

pr.,Ic OFFICE differs in 10 way iro'h
private employment except tnat peoP'o WV
hold Il are usually better paid and that those
who seek it have no hesitation III urging VIC
removal Of incumbents TO make room lor
themselves, while the same persons "ou''
deer, il the depth of meanuess 10 seek
place in the counting room OF mercantile
t;,n, by that means. The word from which
it IS derived means duty, and it is 10 per
form du;i-s to the public that officers are
appoin,ed. This seems, however, to be lost
sight of by many who apply Tor, or hoio
off % Not TO speak of those who consider
cd it simply reward for past party service
or q retaining fee for future exertions IN
thai direction, class which the honesty
and good sense Of the people, has empoali
callv condemned, and which ID now in de-
cided disfavor, there are men who think, or
seem to think, that Their" - an es>eotia'
difference between public aud private eni
ploymeut Ii in the latter, they would seek
earnestly tn advance the Interest OF their
employer, AID especially TO please him; IN
the former, they consult their own conven'
fence merely, and care nothing whatever
about satisfying the people WHOM they are
appointed to serve, but treat them as II they
we're their superiors. II capitalist eni-
ploys a muu t., conduct ce';a;n business
for him, that man Ia very careful, I'D
ths selection of his suhordinatcs. to
please his employer; he may, aud often
does. select his personal friends to assist
him, but he is always careful of the main
point, the pleasure of tho capitalist, and
never thinks of allowing personal friendship
to Influence him in appointing or retaining
incompetent mon. If II railroad, or other
great corporation, eutrnNI its sup:rin'end
emit with the appoint II Is the same.
The pleasure Of the directors and great
stockholders is carefully consulted, aud as
the superintendent ia held responsible for
the management of the road or other work
he is exceedingly carefui 70 employ no one
not thoroughly competent, and to turn out,
without reference To personal considerations,
all who may bs found untitled for their
places. This sensible rule does not seem
always1o obtain in public affairs. Princi
pals will keepin office subordinates who are
VIGOROUSLY Incompetent or seriously olJec-
,ionab'e 10 those who come into contact
with them, without the slightest scruplf,
apparently oblivious of the fact that they
are as much the servants of the public as a
superintendent is Of u railroad company.
4 4, re- q
Zens may suffer, but they seem to take no
thought of it and 10 forget that all delin
uuencies will be visited upon their own
heads, and that day Of reckoning will
snralv come.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gasetis.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. August IA, 1885


WASHINGTON. D. c.. August IA, 1885
I. isnow stat; d, ON what is considered
the best authority. that all rumors 10 the
effect that Mr.. Kelley is to be tender ed
another government appointment at home
or abroad are entirely unGourhed. 1t is
further said that Mr. Kelley himself is OPP
posed to any further action in bis behalf,
and will sail from Paris very shortly, and
on his arrival will tender his resignation as
Minister to Austria and then return to his
home in Richmond.
The project TO secure from tue next Con-
gress au appropriation far the erection Of q
Graut memorial bridge across The Potomac.
ia assuming shape, and it is said that strong
effort will he made TO attain that end.
II is pos ble that Secretary Endicott
l:Iav make an exception in the case OF
Lieutenant Greeiy, aud suspend the opera
t...n of his general order concerning the
transfer of officers to their regiments until
III. Lieutenant has recovered his health. In
.,har cases, however, the Secretary is un-
yielding.
No mail has been sent II the President
from here since bis departure 70 the Adron-
tacks, nor will any communication be had
with him, by post or wire, unless something
T.. great Importance happens.
w. B. Moses & Son, OF this city, have
been awarded contracts for furnishing car
pets TO all the public buildings here.
L Z. Judd, al admitted nDr>e thief, ap
pointed an agent Of the Labor Bureau foi
SOM .,f tho Western stat :. il now appears
WAS highly. endorsed By ihr two United
States Senators aud an eX U:.it.d State.
Senator from Colorado, IL republican Con
gresham from Illinois aud other prominent
republicans.
1t turns out that Dunton, who was APP
pointed postmaster in Maine while he was
In Jail, had been assistant pos! master since
1882 He secured the signatures OF $50 dem
ocrats asking to have him Appointed post
master the head Of the ollie having resign
ed-before his tnisdeetls were known. tn.
recommendation meutiuaed that ho han
ueea Il dem,,crnt. but u Very quiet one o
the Josh Of April his offences Wore discover
ed. and the prosecution of this republican
Office holder was at once ordered. The As
sistant Attorney General for the Post Office
Department promptly had Dunton lodged
in Jail aud prosecuted. In the course OF
routine business the First Assistant Post
master General took up The papers and made
the appointment On the strength of recon
mendations made before Dunton's crime
was known. Of course it was recalled as
soon as the facts were learned.
Mr.. Barbour, who il III the city to dav on
business at the departments, says Mr.. J. E
M .ssev the democratic candidate Tor Lieu
tenant Governor, in Virginia, will speak il
Fauquier one day next week.
A gentleman from Shenandoah county
Va, in the city to day, says that many
people in that county think Senator Riddle
berger is paying more attention to matters
outside than in his State, as he left his
home, where politics is running high, yes
terday, to go to Chicago to make speeches
there.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-08-14


SEA GOING GUNBoATS. = Everything
seems to show that naval constructors are
beginning TO be afraid Of the enormous,
heavily armored and necessarily slow going
iron. clads on which go many hundred mil
lions have been spent during the last quar-
ter of q century, and to LEAD to the belief
that Iightness of draughs combined with
steadiuess and great speed are the elements
Of modern maritime success. The great
naval Powers have been looking for some
design which will combine these three quail.
tiles in such proportion that lightness of
dreusht with speed and hardness shall not
impair the capacity Of the vessel to go on
the longest ocean voyages, and attention
has been drawn to an invention of Western
man who has given much thought TO the
production of sea going craft which will be
capable Of traversing inland rivers, III which
the varied conditions appear to have been
successfully combined. The idea in this
case is to have a twin-hulled ship, construc-
ted somewhat on the plan Of an ordinary
Mississippi ferry boat, with powerful pro-
pellers working between the bulls, and,
therefore, thoroughly protected from an
enemy's shot or any of the ordinary &C.
cidents OF the sea. The great breadth
OF Deam, III proportion u tne ueiSuL Vi
he decks above water, would, Of itself,
give unusual steadineEs, but this is supple
mented in the design by a false keel, which
can be raised or lowered by proper machin-
cry in the space between the bulls to any
depth required up TO twice the ordinary i'm,
snersion Of the loaded ship. That is to say,
suppose the ordinary draught Of the loaded
vessel, with her guns, armor, coal and stores
all in place, should be seven feet, under
which conditions she could run up river
like the Mississippi as far as St. Louis at
nearly all ordinary stages of water, when
she should be called upon to so to sea or TO
meet rough weather her fa'se kee! can lie
lowered to fourteen feet below the line of
her normal draught, giving her total Drac
tical immersion of twenty one feet, with
corresponding resistance to storm or wind
pressure above. In short, it is the old prin
cipIe of the centreboard adapted to sea going
ships of considerable tonnage, with the add.
ed advantage that the peculiar arrangement
for the massive centreboard also supplies iu-
creased facilities for the multiplication OF
perfectly protected propulsion power.-&.
Louis Globe Democrat.