Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-04-06

ond class, the reference in that case
was purely historical. SJaunton used
to be second class place. but not SO
now. Since March % everything sec
ond class about it has been laid be
meath the sod except its funeral-that
was strictly first class and above
ground. All illusions made by US were
made in kindness. nothing extenuatiDg
and naught ing down in malice.
Good journalism compelled suitable
notice of so distinguished departure.
Good journalism required also suit.
able notice OF so gigantic an enterprise
as railway up Potts Creek. It is the
custom with good, well edited journals
just now to mention railways rather
often. TIE habit prevails also in de
Lucrative, as well as legislative bod
les aud courts of justice. There is
such a growing demand on the part of
our readers for news OF the existing
railways, we presumed they would
like to hear OF those that are to be.
News of this particular species Of the
Octopus, his doings and his undoings.
his smiles and bis wiles, his specula.
tions and his peculati0ns, are so sought
by the public that we are compelled as
far as possible and our space permits
to satisfy their cravings. 1t is our
good fortune as the editor of the
SPECTATOR to be able, by means of
our antiquity, at times to recall Incl
dents aud facts. which by reason of
their antiquity have been overlooked
or forgotten. The parceling of us out
by the railroads Is one. This took
place SO long ago that. is was delightful
to fish the old chestnut out of the fire,
and serve 1t up as brand new. 1t was
delightful to mention the extreme eau
ton with which the different octopuses
move when nearing each others habi.
tat. 1t was peculiarly delightful to
tell our readers how these urbane
| Alphonses and Gastons bow before
each other, when undertaking SO ex-
traordinary work as building up the
creek OF the euphonious name of
Potts. PoliteDess may have had
much to do with the delay of this opus
of the octopus, and prevented two
great railway systems, or octopuses,
from earlier selling upon and drawing
in that euphoniously named branch
line with thier nine, or more accurately,
their tentacles. In citing, as we must
have done with effect, the great strug.
gle Of LAGOON thereby working out
that smile which delighted our friend
so much. we could not use the term
SNAKE" nor indeed worm The
term we did use was serpent. A SER
pent is 80 much more exalted q beast
than snake or worm. The serpent
WAS early found hobnobbing with our
first parents, and that too in the very
exclusive Garden of Eden. True he
came unbidden, but "he were tha."
The serpsnt has had much to do with
our lives and character. A serpent is
as much above snake as Augustus
Caesar was above a chimpanzes. To
have said snake when telling of the
great serpent which has risen up and
enthralled US, would have destroyed
our simlle. A thousand times rather
had We have compared a grand CONT
mental trunk line railway, to a hoop
pole road up Slab Camp hollow, than
to have mentioned snakes in such a
presence We.are sure we said ser
pent. Snakes always give lis a creepy
feeling, q serpent inspires awe, some
times dread. When pointing down
trodden Humanity to great examples
that they may draw useful lessons, 1t
is our custom to cite as the
French would say, the chef d'ouvres
only, great works of art alone inspire,
hence our citation of that notable
struggle OF LAGOON, chiseled in i'm
perishable marble. 1t may have been
the tOrtuous and sinewy Potts Creek
which suggested snakes, who can tell 2
1t may have been something else. But
we do know that those lines were
penned 10 moments of truth and sober
ness, that there was on the ground that
day. thanks to Hicks and the ground
hog, six inches of pure. white and
beautiful snow, and not a snake out
any where, and yet We saw In our
minds eye one octopus crawling up on
one side of the hill near the head OF
Potts Greek, and another octopus
crawling up from the other side, and
after grinning awhile at each other
over the crest, reach out and shake |
hands. This was no irridescent dream,
nor fanciful imagination, it was pure
fact. 1t was the same octopus of OLD, |
as careless of pitch forks as in years
gone bv. The real unterrified octopus,
SEEING bit Of new territory and |
swallowing it with a gulp-a fresh re |
minder of the following truths:
The octopus, that insatiate passion shows
Which marks the hungered tiger in his |
lair,
LAS fixed as marbles unchanged aspect
throws
Ger the fair Venus, but forever fair:
Ger the LaocOon's eternal throes
And ever Dying Gladiator's air.
No spot but feels its fine Italian hand,
Let It be Potts'es Creek. Or midas Coral
Strand.
1t ia nOrated that the RAILWAYS will