Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-07-15

LET Us LOOK AFTER OUR STATE AT
FAIRs.-On many occasions we have point
ed out to our readers that Virginia labored
during the time anterior to the war under
the curse of too much devotion to Federal
politics True, we were soon put on the
defensive in the Union, and had to devote
much talen5 to affairs outside our limits;
but it is true, also, that the excitements
and rewards of the large arena at Wash
ington drew away from our domestic affairs
too many of our greatest men. There is a
just mean between the claims of State and
Federal matters on our attention, and as
between the two those of thu Common
wealth are more importantto us than those
Of the Republic. But, while this is the
truth, the picture before US does not har-
monte with it by a long shot. We see
multitudes of excellent people, good citi-
zens and good Democrats, eager for en-
ployment under the Government, and the
extravagant excess of applicants over
places is a melancholy sight 1t is not in
this direction that the improvement and
elevation of Virginia are to be brought
about. Our material and moral develop
ment are not to be found by taking the
hard-beaten trail that leads to Washington;
but the path lies in the direction of our
own State capital. In other words, instead
Of giving so much time, talent, and money,
in the shape Of travelling expenses, to the
search after office, our people should be
engaged lin such time as they can devote
to public affairs] in preparing for the de-
cisive campaign which opens for us this
Fall They should summon their best men
to their aid for places in the Senate, the
House of Delegates. and the Executive De-
partment of the State Government. 1t is
by such means as these that Virginia will
be re-established, and we call on our peo-
pie to look less towards Washington and
more towards Richmond; to think less
about Federal offices and more about State
affairs than they do at present AS the
case stands, it is very much as If men
should stop ploughing the fields which are
to give them their daily bread to hunt for
straw berries, to enjoy a luxury doubtful of
attainment, and insufficient for the real
wants of life when found. This should be
amended, and the sooner we set about this
the better for us al.-NorfoM Landmark.
A MISUNDERSTANDING up the railroad
the other day on the train run by Captain
L. Barley, we concluded to interview him
on the subject of his long service as a rail-
road conductor. We went across the car
to where he was sitting, and said, "Cap-
tain, have you any objection to giving me
some account of your railroad experience
for newspaper paragraph" He replied,
"None, whatever. My home was on the
line of this road, seven miles below Win
chester. One morning in 1S41, went to
the station on some business, and was
there when the train came along. The
man who had charge of it had no one to
help him. He was conductor, engineer
and fireman. He asked me to get on the
engine and fire it for him. I told him l
would do so if he would give me perma-
nent position. He told me to get on and
fire that trip and he would see about it. 1
got on the engine and fired for some time.
was promoted, and in 1916 became con-
ductor, and have been running in that ca
pacity ever SINCE" ''But," said he, turning
his eyes heav onward and patting his hand
over his heart "the best part Of it is, that
through Gods mercy I have never had
serious accident-never had passenger
hurt en- my train" Captain Barley's long
service is sufficient proof of his fidelity as
an officer, and the thousands who have
travelled on his train bear testimony to his
kind attention and his constant care for the
comfort and safety of those who travel
with him-Rockbridg County Meas.