Year: 1878

To the Editor Of the Arant Courier:


Good intentions and fair promises ar


alike subject to undue prOcrastination


Holidays have come and gone. Though


late. we greet you with Happy New


Year. and return of many suc!l.''


Virginia had the usual festivities an(


amusemens. with the happy surprise o


the absence of any noticeable drunks sutli


cient to divert attention from the more


pleasin" demonstrations of the season.


On Christmas eve. the Episcopal Church


gave their Sabbath School a festival and q
social hop. The Methodist Episcopal gave
their scholars Il Christmas tree. Both OF
the entertainments are highly spoken of rs
having been very agreeable and satistac-
tory TO all who participated in or attended
them.


The Masonic fraternity had one of the
most ENJOYABLE banquets on Christmas
night ever held under their auspices in this
city.


1he open house entertainment kept by
the young ladies of tie city, at Mr.. and
MIS-. Narminglons, WAS Il very enjoyable
occasion for ushering in the new year
Many and happy We're the greetings there
given and received that will never be for
gotten till earthly greetings are no more
with those who there met.


Over all the sunshine of holiday joys a
shade OF sadness was cast by the sickness
from scarlet fever which was just begin
ming to prevail among us and took two
little ones away in the midst Of all prepal-
alton for their holiday pleasures. This
complaint has taken wide circulation in
our community and still prevails extensive
ly. Several children are now very i'll with
it. and several new cases are reported this
morning. We trust it has well nigh run
its course and will soon abate.


Our Public School. which has been more
and encouraging this winter
than ever before. took vacation of two
weeks during holidays. All the scholars
enjoyed it hugely. and yesterday went back
to their studies with new Zest. During
vacation they gave an exhibition under
the supervision of Prof Hassell. for the
purpose of procuring funds to start suit /
able library for the school. The entertain
mcnt was very gratifying to those who Wit
messed it and proved, us we learn, tinan-
cial success.


The material prosperity of Virginia City ,
may not appear upon the surface to the
casual observation Of transient visitor
but business is better here this winter than .
for several years before; and the outlook is
quite encouraging for some time to come.
The surplus population has drifted to
places of reported fabulous wealth and re-
ported discoveries of stupendous deposits
Of the ''desirable." and all laborers who
remain can get ready employment at good
wages. Common day labor demands So
TO $3.50 per day, and good mechanics from
81 to S5per day. TeaminS and wood COM
mand good prices.


There being but little travel and no court
lust now. the landlords and lawyers have
more leisure than usual.


The medical profession are kept very
busy jnst now, but we are hoping they
may soon be in less demand. only in the
more ordinary ailments which humanity
S heir to.


Having given yon all that seems Of most
interest, and as much, no doubt.
IS you care to receive now. I close. and
should you think this of suffice 1t interest
or publication in your columns. You may
get another epistle from the pencil of


OLD VIRGINIA.


VIRGINIA CITY. NJ. T., Jan. s, 1873.