Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-05-17
NO SUCH THING AS A FORMER
CHARLES TOWN BOY.

Mr.. Editor=The Richmond Times
Dispatch once said think it. was
while Major Hemphill was editor
that there never was, on land or sea,
such thing as former Virginian. !"
There never will be such thing as a
former Charles Town boy;" but the
thought of having our mail addressed
to Charles City while our affections
and most sacred recollections belong
unchangeably to Charles Town is not
agreeable / suppose no such diff
Guilty presents itself to the mind of
the managers of the quiet campaign
for the change of name.
1t is not surprising that those who
have lived among US comparatively
short time should not appreciate, as
older residents do, the historical inn
portance of the old name, and the
present value to the community OF
that name and its associations. These
gentlemen are welcome here; we are
glad of their addition to our citizen
ship, and glad of what they have con-
tributed to our prosperity and what
we have contributed to theirs; but
why did they come? Charles Town
has the advantage of interesting
railway lines; but so, for example,
has Shenandoah Junction. Charles
Town is gloriously situated for health
and prospect, but has no monopoly
thereof. Was there no inducement
beside railroad facilities and boom
lots? A community character-the
growth of more than century-and
an honorable name were the best
guarantees we could offer, and are
still the best.
/ Business interests-not few
i "plants" but all the activities of the
community-are entitled to consid-
Grafton. Even if the proposed
change were such as to lessen con.
fusion rather than to increase it
which is obviously not the case, the
advantage from strictly business
point of view would be more thar
doubtful. If ''that which We call 9
rose by any other name would smell
as sweet" had been written in the
twentieth century, the myriad
mined" poet might have added tha
the market value of the rose would
/ be seriously impaired by advertising
it as a cabbage. No commercial
house parts lightly with a long-used
well-advertised name. Reputation i
worth more than capital-if it l
good. Ours is good. 1t will TAX
Charles City long years to get an,
but bad one. That may be quickl
acquired. A local mishap that woul
, roll from the good name of Charlie
Town, as water from ducks bach
might stain the name of Charles City
Charles Town has place in his
tory. Charles City would be a case
,, line station on the Harper's Ferr
,, turnpike. "Charles Town" has dig
nifty and distinction" Charles City
is ito laugh"
E A change of name suggests, if
; does not imply, break in the col
tinuily of the life of the town, ne
beginning forgetful of the pas
: That is not .progress-it is revolution
' We are contending for the perpetu;
ton of the old Charles Town throug
its name and it's customs and men
9 cries. Its long register of distil
! guished citizens will not be associa
. ed with another name. The ne
a. town will not inherit and cherish tt
i memory of numberless men ar
2 women whose lives and efforts ente
: ed into the life of the old. tt
. younger generation and generation
: to come may not be expected to fe
n pride in the home of their forefathe
: when it's name has been blotted out
NORVAL w. GALLAHER.