Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-23
STATE PRESS.

The Pulaski News Review gives this
picture of Christmas in Virginia "befo'
de wah:'
For three weeks before the advent
of the holidays ali energies had been
directed to three prime objects: full
woodpiie, fun barn and a full smoke
house. When these objects were at
tanned 1t was but fitting that feast
of the tabernacles' should be observed,
marking, as it did, the ingathering' at
the close of the year not only of the
farm products. but of the whole fam
ily During these anticipatory weeks
there was an air of cheerful briskness
equally contagious and pleasing
christmas Eve found matters In
shipshape, and the colder the weat her
and the deeper the snow the snugger
all things seemed, imparting a heartier
cheer to every word and act. This
peculiar glow, of spirits was character
lied in the negro vernacular as feel
ing Christmas in their bones With
woodshed, woodboxes and back porches
heaped high with the whitest hickory
and back logs as big as a bushel
measure. with larder and pantry loaded
to their limits with solid and orna-
mental comforts forthe- 4pner-naan
with great yawnlng channels cut
through. the deep snow all about the
premises and naught but n relay of
fail to be not simply content. but
happy?"
The Hampton Monitor issues
highly creditaSle Christmas edition, in
Guiding illustrated write-up of Hamp-
ton. Old Point and Fortress Monroe.
The Peninsula Enterprise has plainly
not been impressed by the platitudes of
the Stuffed Prophet. 1t says:
I'm the opinion of ex-President
Cleveland. who has lately been inter-
viewed. the great need of the party is
to return to first principles and he
would doubtless have added, if he had
given expression to his real views. that
the way to return would be by MAX
ing him again the leader OF the party.
That 1t sadly needs rehabilitation on
purely Democratic lines as suggested
by him, there Is no question. but he
should have added also that the way
for the Democratic party to begin
would be to rid itself of party wreck
ers' like himself"
The South Boston News takes ad-
vantage of the end of the century to
sing this paen to progress:
AT the dawn of the twentieth CEN
fury we hope to see South Boston go
bounding to the front, clothed in the
habiliments of push and enterprise.
holding the proud position she has won
as the Invest and best town in Virginia
for It's size"
1t Is not necessary to add that we
trust our contemporary will not fall
down in its hope to see her town prop
erly and energetically draped.
About twelve hundred sick soldiers
are on their way to this country from
the Philippine Islands. AT least that
many homes are saddened at this glad
season as q result of their condition,
and all Decentralization Times Reg
lister.
For the sake of aping- wI,a-nur-fore--
fathers Indignantly and contemptu-
ously repudiated.
The fact that the negro murderer
Woodson, who was hanged in the peni-
tertiary, tried to convert his lawyer
just before he was hanged, makes it
right hard on the Richmond lawyers
Blackstone Courier.
The negro was perhaps merely obey
ing the injunction 10 forgive them
that despitefully use YOU"
The Culpepper Enterprise sets forth
n somewhat unique practice in the
Mayors Court of Culpeper, under the
guise of an apology for not giving the
police news. thus:
why we do not report the proceed
inGs of the Mayors Court is because
his honor holds his court behind locked
doors. debarring alike the press and
public.
80 far as we know, the Mayor of
Culpeper is the only mayor in the
United States who disregards the time
honored custom that demands IL public
trial: forgetting The fact that the peo-
pie are the law making and law giving
power. and THAI he is a servant, not
master"
While the pay of the members of the
forthcoming constitutional convention
Will be one of the important subjects
for the consideration of that body, the
people of the State would have felt bet
ter satisfied concerning the outcome of
the meeting If less stress were laid
upon the COMPENSATION of the dele
gates. 1t is beginning to look as If
there is an effort on the part of some
people to settle the question on the
dollar before the man basis.-Newport
News Telegram.
Beyond doubt the dollar will be
placed before. and within reach OF. the
man several times before the work of
revision is completed
The Wytheville Dispatch thus pre-
diets some things that will come TO
pass in the new century:
Laws will be made by the people.
somewhat on the initiative and refer
-, net