Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-05-28

compelled TO disregard IL IN any particular
should not be slow to regain the extra ex
penditure of brain and muscle as soon Of
practicable.
In looking at this matter as it may be
observed in towns and cities, there is 9
great obligation resting upon municipal
government and proper training of the
tastes and dispositions of the population
Opportunities for outdoor recreation and
innocent pleasure should be features Of
municipal provision and watchfulness.-
The men and families of limited means
are especially deserving of care in these
respects, for if the public economy is moi
broad enough to place such opportunities
within their reach, the whole community
must suffer in the end. The Sabbath day
should be wholly appropriated to the pur
poses of the Divine economy and its hours
devoted to sacred and humane work. The
public sentiment of the community should
control the people on another line-that
rest and enjoyment from physical and men,
tai labor in business pursuits is not only
attainable during the six days allotted fol
that department of life, but that it is an
obligation resting upon all to divide their
time according to the rules laid down.
A town no matter how small, should, il
possible, have its park and fountains, and if
they have flowing water through or near
by so much the better. The street railway,
the modern improvement, auxiliary in the
best of features, especially for the slim in
purse, comes in with the best of opportu-
mites for sallying out from the workshop,
from the desk, and from toll of all kinds,
when the hours allotted to work are over.
Not to men and youths upon whom
the duties and responsibilities of their
station rest, but also within the home
where women and children are of necessity
domiciled during the heated hours, the
beauties and blessings of the park will
revive new life, and lure the mind and the
body to the rich enjoyments of open ali
and refreshing breezes of the evening
hours.
The season for outdoor enjoyment is at
hand. The park wisely provided by our
municipal government, it is true, has just
been commenced, but it shows something
of what its future excellence will be, not
only in shade and fountains, in streams
and wider limits, but the opportunities OF
recovering expended strength enfeebled by
excessive labor. The tender, young trees
are now putting forth their first foliage
where they we're transplanted for the hap.
piness of the people of the city, and will
become GROWING beauty as they grow to
full maturity.
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY.
Not few readers of the SPECTATOR will
fail to call to mind that gifted and cultured
gentleman, the late DR.. George William
Bagby, whose writings abounded in humor
and wit, and unexcelled in story as he
weaved it's romance with the realities OF
the events he transferred to the pages oil
history. In one of his books he fancies
himself in possession of an immense fortune.
He entitled his reflections thus, "Whai
shall do with my Fifty Millions" In
Vulnerable donations and all for the public
welfare were scattered right and left. For
the goodly city of Lynchburg, the place OF
his early home, and the people he dearly
loved, he proposed to build grand boule-
ward leading out from the city. From the
center of Lynchburg south is a wooded
prominence known as "Candler's Noun
tain," which is about double the distance
of that to 'sBessie Bell" and ''Mary Gray
from the center of Staunton. To that
prominence and around it splendid
boulevard was to be built with part of
his 'sfifty millions" Its completion was to
be celebrated with the grandest demon.
stration appropriate to such an occasion
All the old Lynohbergers living, from every
State and every territory and every cline,
wherever domioiled, were to be called
back to witness that day of great rejoicing.
A score of years has not passed by since
DR.. Bagby wrote, and but few after the
earth has closed over the form of that de-
voted son of-Lynchburg, and more, yea
far greater progress, than his full loving
heart bequeathed to his own people, has
been accomplished by the busy men OF
work. Around and under the shadows, il
not or the sides of "Candler's Mountain -
immense strides in development have taken
place. West Lynchburg and South Lynch
burg have risen into towns. A great cot
ton factory is running its wheels and
spindles, and leading and belt, line rail
roads and stations are the busy scenes that
now cover those vacant fields as they were
when the gifted genius wrote the prompt
ings of his generous and noble heart.
The city government Of Staunton has
wisely and economically commenced to
make provision for the inhabitants to en-.
joy and take great pleasure in their CITY,
The Stanton Development Company is
leading the way in it's material develop
ment. Their possessions though not on
these eminences, are under the shadows Of
'Bessie Bell'' and 'Mary Gray" and
achievements like unto those at Lynchburg
are practically within their reach, dispen-
sing great wealth and insuring the large
growth of the city, and adding full
measures to the delight which all the peo-
pie can take in our advancing prosperity.
The outdoor pleasures for the PEOPLE
domicled in the valleys, will lead them to
the heights and the beautiful views they af-
ford of our grand Valley, of the upper
Shenandoah tributaries, of the great noun.
tains, of the watershed and beyond and
above it where the mountain springs, col.
Letting into stream, dash in catoracti
down nearly two thousand feet on sur
face of three thousand feet.
The pleasures and enjoyments of the peo-
pie in many respects are characteristic Of
tie excellence and strength of the com
muniiy. The ei joyment of contentment
and happiness is essential to true pros