Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-16
MOFFETT'S CREEK.
Meeting of the Juvenile Literary Club
CIerical-PerSOnal.

Meeting of the Juvenile Literary Club
CIerical-PersOnal
January 10th, 1895.
Owing to a general dearth of news l trust
that your many readers will pardon the feeble
and inexperienced efforts of the writer to in
terest your many readers with the mere hap
penings of country neighborhood.
Although winter did seem to be a long time
coming, it has come with vengeance now,
and those who prophesied mild winter had
better change their prophecy. Old mother
earth has been covered with her snow white
covering for some time and winters chilly
blast is heard on every side. =
Rev. Mr.. Ballet, pastor of st. Paups Re-
formed church of this place, who has been off
ON leave of absence for some time, has again
resumed charge of that church.
Miss Cora l.. Smiley, who is attending school
in Frederick, Nd, has returned to school
after two weeks holiday at home.
Mrs. Enos OFT is visiting her daughter Mrs
W. E. Tribbett, of Riverside.
We are sorry to report the illness Of Jacob
Runkle
Miss Mary R. McCutchan is spending week
with her friend, Miss Ella Fulton.
We regret to report Mrs. VIM. Taliaferro
unimproved
The Juvenile Literary Club an organiza-
ton of the young men and ladies of tie neigh
borhood and given to declarations, recita-
tons, reading, music and general recreation,
met at the hospitable residence of Robert Nc
Mutt on Saturday evening last and despite the
earths white covering and the winter S chilly
blast, quite a number of the fair maidens and
gallant sons of the neighborhood were pres
ent to enjoy the pleasures of the evening and
witness the literary programme which was
rendered in splendid style, rejecting credit up
on the participants. Refreshments were served
during the evening to the delight of all pres
ent. A very pleasant evening was voted by all
the guests.
Each one retraced his homeward way en-
thusiastc in praises forshis genial host and
hostess. Among those present on this happy
occasion were-Misses Nellie McClung, Sallie
McClung, Edna McFaddin, Edna Wade, Fan
ME Walker, Addie Brown. Mary MoCutchan,
Ella Fulton, Clara Mcclure, Cara Smiley,
Helen Foil and Mary McMutt.
Messrs Herbert McClung, Ben McClung,
Finley McClung, John McFaddin, Andrew
Wade Bolivar Johnston, William Smiley
Ralston Berry, Robert McNutt, jr., John Oft,
Andrew Mcclure, Warren Mcclure. Ervlne
Samuel Gilkeson and Walter E.
Beard.
1t is most too soon for our people to mani
fest very much interest in the contest for the
of the county, and as yet, they
are not very enthusiastic in their preference
But judging from the present indications the
present incumbent, N. C. Watts, is well in the
lead of any and all candidates.
w B.
Farmer" Differs with the Spec
tator.
WAYNEsBoRo, Va, Jan. II, 1895.
Mr.. EDITOR: Your criticism headed Land
Assessment made in reference to the Fisher
sville Farmers Meeting, has been noted and
perhaps calls for some reply. No doubt on
your part it is we'll intended, but if you mean
that your suggestion should be adopted by
the Farmers of the County, we have some
counter opinions to offer. Of course, you
mean that the assessment should be uniform
ly high over the State, but as this has not
been and will not be in the assessment now
to be made it would prove unjust and costly |
to US should we adopt your theory. But We
hold, that your whole view of the question is |
practically wrong. You say, high assess |
ment and low rate of taxation" is the right |
policy. If the assessment be made high that |
may serve to make the rate of taxation seem
low, but in fact it would not really be so. 1t |
would be an effort at self-deception. An i'm |
perative need of reform and reduction of ex-
penses in nearly every department of the
State government is universally felt, and to
this end a Constitutional convention will soon |
er or later be called. But how will the neces- |
sity for these reforms and retrenchment in |
expense be made apparent by high and fic7 |
titions valuation of lands and other property. |
Our law makers must have facts and not fic- |
tlous for their guidance. They must be i'm
pressed with the real condition of things if |
they are not to be misled. 1t would be ex-
treme folly for the people to tempt them into
extravaganza and costly government, by over
rating, in a vain spirit, their possessions.
gu say dSSGSSlHGlI SllOulu De ulSn III IU6 |
interest of those who haYe lands for sale"
There is no proof that assessments keep up |
he price of lands. We have high assessme nts |
now, but no one is deceived into paying high |
prices for land by 1t. The late boom ended |
1sastrously and so will doomed assessment. |
Every one knows that the value of stocks |
lands &C., is determined by their net receipts. |
Agricultural productions being low, lands |
can not be high. Nor would high taxes, by a |
high assessment, add to their value, but must |
diminish it. There is but one right way to |
make the assessment and that is at its true
value. There is no law justice or advantage |
in any other course. If one class of property |
sinks in value, it must have the benefit of |
lower, assessment and the more fortunate |
that has risen in value must be assessed high |
er, and thus the burdens are distributed ac- !
cording to strength and the lighter assessment
helps up the depressed interest. Agriculture,
the basis of all prosperity, is greatly depress
ed, while all salaries clerks fees, legal fees, |
railroad freights, professional fees &C., are
about intact.
1t is fight on the part of the farmer for
We now have the blessings
of the high assessment theory, and we are
reaning the wind The advice to continue II