Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-05-08

dTouHu Keeling great zeal OF prlQe In
his " economy" There is sense in
this diplomatic adjustment of the
question, it keeps the household bal
anced. Likely you heard of the Edi-
tor who complained of the times being
so hard that he couldn't collect his
own thoughts. There is one in Mar
tinsburg who says these hard times he
goes to bed early to economize in
sleep. Next.
We," in the person of a substitute,
went to Hagerstown with about seven
ty-five others from Martinsburg last
Wednesday, to see the grand aggrega-
ton of humbug over which Barnum
presides. Street parade, SO, so ; show,
fair to middling. Round-trip ticket
seventy-five cents. Had rather a good
time, all things considered no more
news in Hagerstown than there is
here, except perhaps the Salvation
Army met with a kinder reception
and more success there than they seem
to be having here. Perhaps my judg-
ment is premature; only listened to
them once; they say they may seem
to US "new invention" and it is a
correct diagnosis of the first impress
sion, of even the most liberal mind.
There are many "new Inventions"
in a spiritual as in material sense,
they are very apt to pass for what
they are really worth.
The United States has always been
considered a hot bed for all sorts of
isms, and it strikes one as odd that the
Salvation Army grew into life in staid
old England. The seeds of Anarchy
grown in her, are blown across the
ocean to grow in our soil; since the
time when the first convicts were
banished to the colonies until to-day,
when foreigners, ignorant, filthy, god
less, are possessing the lond from
which your children's children will be
crowded out by them; the United
States has been the dumping ground
for the refuse of all other nations on
the face of the globe. Some of the
fruits of it are ripe and falling in Chi
cago. You find no Chinese there, tho
perhaps they have gone"
If we had a Charles Dickens to-day
to tell tale of that one city, then the
labor question would stand out as its
own appeal, and {" not in the name of
that sharp female newly born," and
called La Dynamite.
\
I have been asked to give history
of the old property on King St., that
has lately been torn away. 1 am not
acquainted with the history Of the
town except in general way; there
are those who doubtless know its COM
plete history; but 1 have not been
able to learn much with regard to it.
The house was doubtless hundred
years old; although the inside of it
was so well preserved, being substan-
TALLY built that it did not indicate
half that age. / am told that it was
once used as hotel, and named The
Blue Line" from a line of blue that
was painted across its front. During
and / believe some time before the
war, the Post Office was kept in the
end room lately occupied by Captain
Hoke. The P. M. at that time was
Mr.. Tabler, relative of the late Geo.
w. Tabler, with whom the latter then
clerked. "Uncle" Alex Grimes re-
calls time when King st. was much
lower elevation than it is now, there
being such a depression in front of
that building, and that of the Rectory
opposite, that there was height of
seven or eight steps to reach to the
front door from the street; the base
ment floor being on level with the
pavement. The front door was of
such durable make up as to suggest
that it was built when attacks from
Indians were not unknown. The lock
and key were but trifie smaller than
those used at ejail here. The well
attached to the property has decidedly
the best water in the town; and was
source of comfort to the people the
summer of that terrible drouth before
we had the water carted all over
the town from the boiling spring.
Who owned the property prior to the
Abels, am unable to say it was sold
to my father for five thousand five
hundred; as sample Of depreciation
in real estate, it has few equals, being
sold lately for twentyfour hundred.
The one remaining really old house,
is that of the Chambers property on
Queen St., diagonally opposite Eel
ler's Hall.
Seventy years ago Samuel Mackey
lived in the Carpenter house. The
family was related to Hon. G. j.
Faulkner, decd. After the death of
Mr.. Mackey the widow repaired the
property, Mr.. Davis being the car
penter, about 1920. We would be
obliged for any information in regard
to this or other old buildings.
The Catholic Fair now being held,
has been well attended during the
past week. The articles for sale are
numerous and handsome, and are both
of the useful and ornamental kind.
The Committees in charge are courte-
Gus and careful for the comfort of visi-