Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-05-16
ACROSS THE RIVER.

Il buppoSt IL ID Debb W COiuillcASC " ittA VIC
farming interests, for the amazing adj
yancement of the place in the last five
years is due as much to the thrift and en-
terprise of the Washington County agri-
culturists, as to. the onward strides OF the
various railroads here. To a person trav-
cling from Martinsburg to Hagerstown,
the difference in the mode OF tilling the
soil is plainly discernable, for the very
soil itself bespeaks the extra attention
bestowed upon it. You hardly strike
Maryland sod before the dilapidated barn
built of logs or slabs is displaced by the
neat and convenient barn OF brick or
hemlock the ancient zig-zag fence and
the stone fence give away to the better
barb wire and oak board fence. One
thing especially noticed-a great many
farms have their own lime kilns, and In
stead of leaving their fields thickly strewn
with rocks (which custom is prevalent in
Berkeley which are not only unsightly
in appearance, but are also detrimental
to the growing crops, they burn them in
to lime, and thus return them to the fields
in the form of fertilizer, and the in
crease in the harvest amply repays them
for the small expenditure made to burn
the lime. But this is not the only thing
used to enrich the soil by any means, for
there is an extensive business done in
commercial fertilizers.
Tuesday is discount day at the Hagers-
town banks, and most business is trans
acted on thatday, consequently the farm
ers from a radius of ten miles or more,
come to town. Washington St., usually
presents busy scene, from nine to four
O'Clock on Tuesdays. Crowds Of the
rural denizens congregate on the street
corners, especially at the Court House,
where an auction sale usually takes place.
Some, in groups of three or four, are an
imately debating the respective good quail
tiles of plaster or ground bone; whilst
others are anxlously discussing the con-
dition of the wheat market and its future
probabilities, while over all floats the
discordant yell of the auctioneer, and
the cries of the peanut vender. Ifone of
our enterprising (!) citizens, one of those
who are contented to follow blindly the
pathway their fathers trod forty years
ago, was to drop into Hagerstown some
and see the continual stream of
vehicles coming into town, they would
be apt to SAYS Barnum 8 circus in town
today? The average Virginia farmer has
at least two hobbies '-circuses and gin
ger bread, for who has heard of one who
would not sell his seat in Heaven for
seat in the circus tent and slice of gin
ger bread, with peep through the can
vass at the side-show thrown in. But
this is wandering from the subject. l
started to tell of Hagerstown, and not the
peculiarities of the Virginiaps.
One of the first things which excites
5he admiration of the visitor is the
beauty of the suburban residen-
,es. These alone, with their pic
5uresque surroundings, fortell the
thrift as well as the wealth of the place.
Every resident should feel proud of the
Elegant and capaicious press brick depot
If the G.. V. & S. V. r. R., which with
is commodiouslya arranged waitingrooms,
&C., makes it model build
ng of the kind.
The w. M. r. r. has erected new
station, also a freight depot.
The passenger depot while temporary and
is all that could be requir
d. The freight depot is permanent
tructure of brick with slate roof.
The old Antietam House has been pur-
hased by ex-Gov. Hamilton, who pro-
,oses in the near future to erect a new
lotel which will be model of elegance
nd convenience. No one is sorry to see
he old building, which has SO long MARI
d the corner of Washington and Jona-
han sts., demolished and superseded by
N imposing structure such as the means
# Gov. Hamilton would justify.
1t was my pleasure to attend the perfor-
nance of Miss Matte Vickers, the star
actress and danseuse, in the Academy of
Music few nights ago. The people evil
lently did not appreciate talent, for the
was very meagre. l asked
he cause of the small audience, and was
5old that ten cent show had been in
own for week previously. This easily
accounted for all, for the popular taste is.
such that they cannot distinguish an ex-
cellent performance from an Indifferent
one. l was Intercepted on this occasion
as to the hall facilities of Martinsburg;
could scarcely suppress blush-but l
am human, and did not tell them that
our one immense hall could almost be
placed on their stage.
/ find that there exists here good
deal of what we call Goldfish aristocra-
cy" in Virginia. In conversation with a
gentleman, Ia gentleman who made pre-
tentions to aristocracy,) he incidentally
remarked that it did not pay to be rich
man here. why - it," he ex-
claimed, you can't tell a rich man s
daughter when you meet them on the
street, from the -- girls who work
in the Glove Factory I did not vouch-
safe any answer, but was glad that such
a state of affairs existed, and did not
think his conversation TALL the while sup
plemented by oaths) at all edifying, pro-
ceeding from the source it did-from an
''aristocrat.
While conversing with lady recently
she inquired the reason why the Berke-
ley Co. fair foundered. Again | was
silent flor did not wish to say the peo-
pie did not support it)-but happy
thought struck me-the fountain in the
Hagerstown square was the only means
of retaliation / had, SO sarcastically re-
marked that greatly admired the beau
tiful fountain, and silence reigned su-
preme. This fountain has weekly re-
ceived the satire of the news papers, and
daily the taunts of the passers-by. We
would think that it would topple over in
disgust with itself. A little girl return
ing from up street directly after it was
put in position, came running home and
excitedly exclaimed: Oh, mamma! you
Aoh JSo OhpO1 81 up w uiAC o4u6iO tlOy VIC
got great big goblet up there, running
over with soda acater, and you don't have
to pay for it-they give it away!
There are many other things that l
could write about. could tell of the
splendid church architecture; of the ed
ucational interests, and of the school
buildings, with their attractive grounds,
of the Seminary, which with its lovely
campus adds additional splendor to the
landscape. | could tell you of the sys-
tenn of water and gas works; of the we'll
lighted and paved thoroughfares; of the
labors of the new street commissioners:
of the new streets being opened up under
their administration: of the new build
ings that are everywhere springing up
like mushrooms; but unlike mushrooms,
they come to stay, for they are nearly all
permanent houses of brick. / could tell
of the manufactures; of the mercantile
and mechanical pursuits; of the work the
several r. R. Co. IS are pushing forward
81 uiooro1slv R1,t IL is NOT nooaccory r.,