The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-12-26

Since returning to this place | have
received the Wheeling papers, and find
that l had been defending II hopeless
cause when l took it upon myself to
clear West Virginia's name OF this
charge. But, for all that, did not re-
gret that | had tried TO do so; Tor take
pride in my State, and am never silent
when her good name is assailed. l
deeply regret that the affair has hap
pened, for it is laid to the blame of the
State, and not to the disrcputabie indi.
viduals who have done II. Pity it is
that three or four unprincipled scoun-
drels can injurc the fair fame OF pros
porous and progressing State like West
Virginia. But it can be done. l saw
enough OF the contested election in
Tucker county four years ago to con-
vince me that there are persons who
would sink State into bottomless per-
dition il by so doing their personal gain
or private spite could be carried out.
But, I nm thankful that such persons
are few. Every county may have one
or two, and the good people Of Wetzel
and Kanawha need not blush for what
they cannot help. No doubt they will
do all in their power TO bring the vii
lains TO justice, and teach lesson which
their children and their children's chill
dren will not forget,
THE VALUE OF GOOD NAME.
Persons who live at home in West
Virginia may not realize the value OF the
States reputation abroad. have never
found it disadvantage to me, while
travelling, that l am West Virginian.
Less than a month ago heard n compli-
ment passed on that State which was in
deed peculiar. 1t was by man who
meant no compliment, but the contrary.
1t was thus;
81 spent several weeks in the city OF
Stockton, and not feeling well, ] remain
ed most OF the time in my hotel. For
several days l had noticed shrewd
looking man about the hotel, and at
length he approached me and asked f;
"Do you live here2" ! told him no.
'Then you live In the EastP" ] said
yes. "You would like to make some
money, wouldn't your" he asked. l
supposed him to be n gambler, but
thought would lead him on, and see
what he was after; SO told him that
would like to make money.
He unfolded his plan. He was one oi
syndicate Of real estate agents, aud
had several hundred thousand acres oil
land for sale in the Nipomo Valley,
south OF San Luis 0hispo. He wanted
me to induce acquaintanCes OF mine in
the Fast to come and buy his land, and
he would pay me well for it. He talked
for two hours, aud told a thousand lies
about the eXcelleucies OF his lands,
which, according to his story, were ter.
restrial paradises. But | happened to
have been on the lands myself u few
years ago, and n more doleful and hope.
forsaken region it has seldom fallen to
the lot OF mortal to look upon.
D1sausTEn NATIVE.
There were about three houses in forty
miles, and these made Of mud. About
every half mile there was a gnarled anG
famished oak tree, ten or twelve feet
high, which had been trying perhaps fol
| Ave hundred years to grow bigger, and
couldn't do It. Here and there, scat
tered at long intervals about over the
desert, were q few buRches OF dry grass
whistling in the wind. Once or twice {
day the traveller might see the profile o.
a jack rabbit moving along the horizon,
so famished that its legs looked as Ions
as broom handles.
This was the earthly paradise OF the
real estate agent. ! let him do the talk
ing, and at last he had told it all, anC
seemed to think that he had got me II
the notion Of deluding settlers into hil
Eidolon, and that he was doing q goot
days work. But when he carelesslN
asked what State ! was from, and tol(
him West Virginia, he looked at me il
a surprised manner, and q shade OF dis
appointment came over his face
while he said sorrowfully, ~ thought
you were from Arkansas" A long 81
lence followed, which he was the first I,
break by asking: "The people in Wes
Virginia are pretty well contented, ar
they not2' l answered, yes. "Ant
they have considerable boom, be
lieve2" l nodded yes, "Well." con
Cluded the agent,%; l will see furtheEabou
this" and SO he vanished. II. NJ.