The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-30
Fort Defiance Items.

reported for the NIRGINIAN.l
The holiday celebration of the Jefferso-
MAN Literary Society of the Augusta Male
Academy came off on Wednesday evening,
Dec 22d. On account of a previous en-
gagement we were unable to be present.
and our young friend w. G. ID. W., one of
''the boys who promised to take notes for
us, was so much interested in the social
event which followed, that We suppose he
forgot to do So However, We learn the
event was complete success, the young
orators fully sustaining the enviable repu
tation Of their society and this most de-
servedly popular school. After the con-
clusion of the literary exercises, several
hours were spent in the most pleasant man
ner, socially, rot only by the boys and girls
but by all present.
Our previous engagement, alluded to
above, was trip to West Rockingham. to
be present at the double wedding OF Mr..
John Pence and Miss Sadalia Phares, and
Mr.. FLOYD Cromer and Miss Mollie Phares,
which occurred on the o3d inst. in the same
house which we. in the early years of our
married life. claimed as our domicil. The
brides are the lovely and accomplished
daughters of Jacob Phares, Esq, late of
Pendleton county, w. Va, but now one
of the most substantial and enterprising
citizens of old Rockingham, and the grooms
are young farmers of the neighborhood. =
When we say the brides are accomplished,
we do not mean to merely use the word in
its fashionable sense, but mean to say that
they are highly endowed with all the natur-
al and acquired qualifications OF the model
farmers wife, including a high degree OF
moral excellence Mrs. Cromer is one of
Rockingham S most popular and successful
public school teachers, and will return to
her duties in the school room ere the hon
ey-moon has fairly set.
The ceremony was lmpressively per
formed by Rev. +. J. Prettyman, of the
Bridgewater circuit of the M. i. Church,
South, and the attendants were Mr.. An
derson Rolman with Miss Luanna Phares,
MIR. Charlie Phares with Miss Ada Woods.
Mr.. r. i. Lee Myers with Miss Bette
| Cromer, and Mr. E. E. Cromer with Miss
| CorSelia Airhart. We have not the space
| to describe the trousseau and costumes,
but it is sufficient to say that the party
| were all handsomely attired. A sumptu.
| Gus wedding dinner. prepared in great
measure by the deft hands of the happy
| brides themselves, as well as the handsome
receptions given by the parents of the
grooms, were hugely enjoyed by number
of friends and neighbors, and by no one
more than your humble servant. The oc-
casion afforded us an opportunity for a
hearty handshake with number of old
friends. and especially were we gratiiied
at the hearty welcome extended to us at
his hospitable home by our sterling old
friend, Benz. f. Cromer, Esq. He is an
luncompromising Democrat, and we earn,
estly hope that we may berevenged for the
1 s'cussingn he gave us for being Republic
| can, by each and every one of his nine love
| ly daughters winning, in due time, a gal
liant Republican husband. and his two re
tmaning singlesons such noble Republican
| wives as the one just married has DONE
| All Republicans are too we'll grounded IN
the principles of the Grand Old Party IS
to be in danger of being changed by the
falacious sophistries of any Democrat, but
| the erroneous ideas inculcated by Democ-
racy must melt way before the sound, prac-
tical arguments of sensible Republican
wife as wax before flame So our par ty
is bound to be strengthened by the con-
summation of our wish.
We would like to mention other of cur
old friends, but space forbids. and we MI st
close this item by renewing our congratu-
! lations and best wishes for the happiness
| and prosperity Of our young friends.
Misses BERTHE and Salie Roller. the
charming daughters of Court Roller, Esq.
were visiting friends in the neighborhood
and attended the celebration at the Acade
my.
Miss Mollie Woods is spending the hol'
lidays with friends near Waynesboro. and
Miss Ada Woods has not yet returned from
Rockingham where she was brides maid
at the marriage of her cousins, the Misses
Phares, as related above
MI. w. Arthur Wilson, who is attend
ing the University, spent a part Of his hol-
idays at home.
AS we were absent from the neighbor-
hood during most of last week, we hope
our friends will excuse the paucity of our
neighhorhood items this week. We have
no doubt that had we been at home we
could have gathered long list of interest
ing notes. 5. M. w.
The balloon ascension which took place
in front of the store of J. E. Taylor s. Son