Newspaper Page Text
The Stephens City Star. |*
C. E. FAINTER, Emto*. r
. ■_^ == 1
Saturday, August 27, 1881. '
Entered 111 the Post Office, Stephens City, 1
Va., ns KOOttd class matter. j
iDEMOCRATIC SPEAKING.
Hon. John Goode, of Norfolk, will
speak in Winchester, Monday, Sep.
sth, 1881, (Court Day). .
Other distinguished gentlemen will
probably speak on the same occasion.
—.».».
I
Condition of the President. (
Throughout the week the President
has been in a condition that has given (
rise to many serious apprehensions. ]
Dr. Hamilton made an incision in ]
the swolen gland below the ear yes- 1
tcrday, and liberated a small quantity
cfpus. That gave relief and stopped
the throbbing that has given much
annoyance to the President. :
A consultation has been held rela
tive to moving him from tho White ,
House, to a more salubrious clime. j
««»»>- i
Shall We have a Graded School, j
We are glad to chronicle that the
people of our village and vicinity
have at last awakened to the startling
truth that they are a half century be
hind the times with their facilties for
education. Now our people do not
detract from the efficiency of our un
derpaid and overworked instructors of
past times, in evincing a purpose of
making one more stride in the perfec
tion of the school system. Time has
worn smooth long since the turns and
corners of the arts and crafts of our
fathers times. The scientific princi
ples that are now rapidly infusing
themselves in the every day occupa
tions of life, require a knowledge of
the philosophies that have hitherto
been untaught, to be a master me
chanic.
Time has driven a revolution in the
arts and sciences ; and arts is driving
U 8 —if we must be driven —to a revo
lution in our common schools. The
time has now come in which it is nec
essary to have a knowledge of mech
anism to hearvest our grains, or to
dig a well. Mental power has usurp
ed physical power.
It is the determination of our citi
zens of Newtown to give their children,
not only a longer term of schooling,
but a higher standard, not only a
a standard that will capacitate them
for the mechanical occupations, but
will infuse in them the one degree
that must forever attach to those who
move in circles above the Mediocre.
The Convention of the 15th inst., ap
pointed a committee to ascertain the
amount on subscription that will be
donated for the purpose of suppleting
the free school fund —and to negotiate
with the present authorities of the
public schools as to the best mode of
combining the two funds, and selection
of competent instructors.
Tho committee will have completed
their business at or before the time of
the next meeting, to be held about
the middle of next week, at which
meeting it is hoped the citizens will
honor the convention with their pres
ence.
The Straightout Convention.
The " Straightout " Republicans in
Virginia did not nominate a candi
date, but they made their grievances
known in their platform. They de
nounce the tyranny which ' makes a
man pay a dollar poll-tax before vot
ing for the men who are to expend
the money raised by taxation, and
they are even more severe upon the
laws punishing petit larceny with
whipping and disfranchisement. Next
year the Mahoneites will have "pro
gressed " far enough to declare for free
hen-roosts, a holiday for all prisoners
on election day to enable them to vote,
and no taxes at all, and the pursua
sions of the Cabinet officers and the
Pharisees will not be needed to cause
the negroes to flock to their standard.
If it had not been for these resolu
tions, we would have hailed tho dec
laration of the Republican Convention
at Lynchburg, concerning the State
debt, as a sign that a portion of the
negroes constituting the Republican
party of Virginia, had begun to ap
preciate the duties and obligations of
citizenship, but the admirable third
resolution in their platform must have
been so many meaningless words to
the people for 'vl-v-e pleasure llie last'
manding the right to vote against the J
hen-owning legislators who would pass ,
laws punishing the pleasant noctural
sport so dear to the colored man and |
brother. — Wilmington, Del., Every-,
. GH&H&
The Virginia Canvass.
Daniel and Cameron in Staunton.
[Special Dispaeh from the Baltimore Sun.] j
Staunton, Va., August 22. —The |
largest crowd assembled here to-day j
to hear the discussion between Major j
Daniel, the Democrat, and Col. Cam
eron, the Readjuster, candidates for
Governor, that has been in Staunton
on court day for many years. Nearly
two thousand persons listened to the
speeches in the courtyard. Major
Daniel lead off in an hour's speech.
He said that between him and his op
ponent there was not a cent difference
in the matter of taxation, and the
platform on which he stood was pledg
ed to no increase of taxation. In the
matter of tho public schools, Major
Daniel said he wu a member of the
Legislature which founded there,and in '
seven Legislatures he never cast a vote ]
against them, but always for their |
interests. The fact that two thousand
more schools had been opened since
the Readj usters got posession of the
State government, was owing to the
that previous Democratic legislation,
including the Henkle school bill had
provided the means to do it. Major
Daniel asked Cameron the question,
"Are you a Democrat or a Repub
lican?" to which Col. Cameron rose,
and replied: "I am a Democratic
Rerdjuster, with liberal principles,
while my compeditor is a Democratic
Funder.any man can tell you with what
principles." Maj. Daniel here read,
with much effect, Cameron's record,
as made in his editorial in a Peters
burg paper several years ago, in which
extreme debtpaying principles were
avowed, fifty millions fixed as the
amount of the debt, and those who
were not willing to pay all of it, indi
rectly characterized as a community
of thieves. He called up the memory
of a ballot that was used in some carts
of Virginia last fall, on which Gar
field's name was put at the head of
the ticket bearing the names of the
Readjuster electors, in order to deceive
the ignorant blacks into voting it,
under the impression that they were
voting a Republican ticket. This and
the fact that Auditor Massey said he
could have bought forty votes at ten
dollars each in the recent gubernato
rial convention Maj. Daniel held up as
illustrations of the Readjuster idea of
a free ballot and a fair count.
Mr. Cameron replied to Maj. Daniel
in a speech of an hour. He pointed
out the inconsistency of Daniel going
around tne country and telling every
body of how rich the State was becom
ing, and yet standing here with a
proposition to cut six per cent down
to three per cent. He said the Fund
ers left the legacy of an empty treas
ury to the Readjustee. When they
got poseasion of the State, as Daniel
well knew, tho legislature had to au
thorize Auditor Massey to go out in
the streets and borrow $200,000.
Whatever might have been his former
views about the State debt, they were
formed on the false reports of the re
sources of the State made by ofHcials, i
and none could say that since 1877,
when he, himself examined into it, he
had wavered from a firm advocacy of j
Readjustment. He accepted the state- !
ment of his opponent, that he was not
opposed to the. public schools, but the
record showed that the legislation of
his party had almost ruined them.
Col, Cameron put the question to Maj.
Daniel: "First, what will you do if
three per cent cannot be paid at the
present rate of taxation? Second, are
you in favor of the capitation tax ?"
He closed by predicting the success
of Readjustment.
Maj. Daniel opened the rejoinder
by saying that Cameron's prophecies
about the success of the principles
of Readjustment will meet the same
fate as Mahone's prophecy last fall,
about carrying the State by 25,000'
majority, when he only got 31,000
out of 200,000 votes. With reference
to the capitation tax, he said he voted
in company with John E. Massay.John
Paul and others of Cameron's friends,
to put the prepayment clause in the
constitution, and he would now ask
Mr. Cameron, "Are you in favor of
abolishing the capitation tax?"
Cameron—l am in favor of repeal
ing that clause which requires its pre
payment as a prerequisite to vote."
Daniel.—"Are you in favor of abol
ishing it, and if not, how will you col-
Cameron. —"I am in favor of abolish
ing it as a prerequisite feature, and I
would collect it by some mode like tho
Lousiana method."
Daniel. —"Then you are in favor of
letting a poor man vote free, and then
sieze his pig for the capitation tax?"
Major Daniel went on to say that
the acceptance of the Governor's chair
has nothing to do with the repealing
of the capitation tax as a prerequisite,
as it has to be done by an amendment
to the constitution; but if he was elect
ed Governor, he pledged himself to
interpose no veto between the people
and their will in this matter.
Col. Camoron closed the debate in a '
that will come to Virginia if the Read- w
juster party is successful. He pressed d
Daniel for a more explicit answer to
the question, What would you do if t<
the revenue of the State will not pay b
three per cent. li
Major Daniel replied that when the tl
sun was shining at high noon it was J
no time to talk of midnight. f>
Both speeches were liberally ftp- Vt
plauded by their friends as the discus- n
sion progressed, and at its close, a o
crowd of two or three hundred demo- s
orate fallowed Major Daniel to his d
hotel, cheering and waving their hats. 1)
ft is generally conceded that in the j\i
last thirty years no two such able d
political canvassers as Daniel and o
Cameron have travelled the State, s
The discussions are conducted on the h
highest plane of courtesy. t
«■«»!». II
Some Stories of the War.
1
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM LYNCHING — 8
A MAN WHO HAD THEROPE AROUND J
HIS NECK AND WAS SAVED BY ,
A MERE ACCIDENT. 1
[From the Philadelphia Times.] c
Winchester, Va., 14 —"And 1
this is Kcrnstown ?" I asked as I drew t
my horse up under the sllade of a big f
walnut tree by the roadside and saint- f
ed an old gentleman leaning up against v
the trunk in his chair. I had ridden i
over from Winchester, the metropolis
of the Valley of Virginia, only a short t
distance away. "And this is Kerns- 1
town," I repeated half to myself, gaz- I
ing about me as I spoke. t
"Yes," said the old gentleman, "this c
is the old battle-ground tteelf. They j
were fighting all around us during t
the war. As far as the eye can reach, t,
this country is rich with historic asoo- n
siations. The battle of Kernstown
was probably one of the most despar- t
ately and well contested battles of the ]
war. General Jackson always spoke
of it as such." . <
The August sun was very warm and (
I gladly accepted the invitation to rest (
on the porch. Spread out before us j
I was a complete view of tho little ham- \
let and its adjacent fields and meadows, t
Such a queer old town it is, with its t
low, gabled roofs and old-fashioned i
gardens, with flowers and shrubs peep- 1
ing through their greeu fence paiiings (
A little way down the road is the vil- j
lage, a tumble-down looking affair, t
Its creaking sign swings lazily to and I
and fro in the summer breeze. Around <
the corner grocery are the usual num.- .
ber of country loafers, while near by '
is a blacksmith shop, the ruddy glare i
from its forge lighting up the bronze i
features of the old smithey as he stands i
■ in an attitude of rest near the door.
Around are fertile fields and luxurious i
meadows. Way over to the left are
l woodcrowned hills, and,beyond them,
what looks to be a coniinuou3 range
of mountains, their fantastic peaks
looking as airy and dream-like as the
blue world which floats above them.
Well, indeed, has nature hidden be- ,
neath her mantle of verdure the ray- i
ages of war.
"Yes, sir," continued the old gentle- i
man, "this little yilliagewas the scene i
of many a hard fought skirmish. You i
see, I lost my right arm when a mere i
boy, and so, when the war was pro- (
claimed I had to remain at home with ;
the women folks. I was a staunch <
union man, and I tell you my sentl- l
ments came mighty nigh loosing me <
my life. You see that apple tree down I
by the lane ? Well, one night a squad i
of rebs came riding up and told me to <
lose no time, but to dress and come i
out, as they intended to hang me to i
that very tree. With fear and trenib- <
ling I obeyed, bidding my heart-bro- -
ken wife and little ones farewell. I
was hurried away. Just as they were '
fixing the rope about my neck, up
dashed a detachment of Michigan cav
alry and put the rebs to flight, Thai
was the nearest I ever came to death.
We were always on the lookout for
surprises. Many a night my wife has
prepared the little ones for flight. I
remember one day we had hidden our
firearms in the stove as the best place
of concealment. Hardly had we ac
complished this when up came a num
ber of soldiers and demanded a hot
supper. What to do my wife did not i
know. The soldiers were all about I
her. She finally, with woman's inge- i
nuity, managed to slip the revolvers !
beneath her apron, and,beating a hasty i
retreat soon had them hidden in a :
more secure place. You see, had the i
soldiers caught but oneglimpse of them
they would have taken them without '
leave or license.
"There was a set of men called i
bush-whackers, who proved a terrible
annoyance. They followed the army
for the sole purpose of robery and plun- :
der. One night a party of these fel- i
lows rode up and demanded an en
trance. I had been called away to i
see a sick neighbor. My wife,' tying >
around her waist beneath her dress, a
few silver spoons, the last remaining
links in the chain of prosperity, hast
ened down stairs. As she hurried
around, preparing them something to '
eat, her distress of mind was very '
great for fear one of her precious spoons '
would slip from its hiding place and i
thus reveal its existence. While go- I
ing from pantry to kitchen, she was
constantly followed by a big, brawny
fellow, pistol in hand. Oh! those
were tough times, and I woufd rather :
die than pass through a like experi- i
ence again. We would rise in the
morning to find everything as peace- i
ful and quiet as it is at this moment, i
but by noon here would come squads
of rebel and yankee cavalrymen, and
meeting right here on, the turnpike, it i
ivould soon bo strewn with dead and '
lying.
" "The day of the battle of Kerns
town was dark and dismal. Heavy ,
black clouds hung over the little vil
liage. A .-low, drizzling rain increased
the horror of the scene. Shields' and
Jackson's cavalry fought right heroin
front of the door. The cries of the
wounded were pitiful, the crackling of
musketry fearful, while the booming
of cannon was so continuous that it
pounded like crashing thunder. The
disparity in this light was very great,
but notwithstanding this fact, the field
was contended for during tho entire
day. One poor little fellow fell near
our gate, and we managed, in spite of
shot and shell, to carry him into the
house. He could not have been more
than nineteen. The dark curls lay
matted against the white brow, damp
with the dews of doath. As we laid
him down, the brown eyes unclosed
and he murmered, 'Mother, mother.'
Then his eyes wandered from us to the I
bare walls around him. 'Oh,' he said,
'I thought I was once more in my
beautiful southern home,' and with a
quick, convulsive sigh, the sands of
life ran out. We buried him after
the fight was over, just there at the
foot of the garden, and every day when
flowers could be obtained, the children
would carry a boquet and place it
upon the poor little leliows grave.
"Months after, a sweet faced, aris
tocratic looking woman came to our
humble home, and weeping tears of
bitterest grief carried back with her
to Savannah, all that remained of her
once bright and beautiful boy. I tell
you sir, those were times that wrung
the hearts of the bravest and stoutest,'
and the old man hastily brushed away
a tear.
"Was it not down this very road
that Sheridan took his famous ride?"
I asked.
"Yes," was the reply, "that was a
day long to be remembered. I have
at different times seen groat doubts
expressed by newspapers as to the
genuineness of that ride. Let me tell
you that these very eyes saw Phil
Sheridan come down this road, riding
as never man rode before. All the
morning the reports from Fisher's hill
had been very discourageing. Bands
of ileeing soldiery were constantly
passing. Everywhere tho marks of
tho stampede were visible. Along
the pike were scattered wagons and
scattering infantry and cavalry troops.
All was a scene of helpless confusion.
Things were beginning to look very
despei'hte, when hearing a great chat
tering of hoofs, I ran down to the gate,
and there, coming down the road like
the wind, was Sheridan. He was way
ahead of his aids, who were following
him as rapidly as possible. I knew in
an instant that it was he, for it was a
peculiarity of his that lie always rode
in his saddle a little to one side. The
little fellow's black eyes were roving
from one side of the road to the other,
and flashing with desparate determin
ation to reach the scene of action. As
he came in sight, the terror-stricken
soldiers recognizing their leader, sent
up cheer after cheer. The effect was
magical. The wave of sound was car
ried down the road, caught up by the
others and echoed and re-echoed
among the rocks and hills. With one
common impulse, the panic stricken
men turned, and started with renewed
courage for the battle-field. Sheridan,
leaving the turnpike just at this point,
d.ished through the little garden which
you see just opposite, taking short cut
through fields and over hedges, reach
ing 'l'isher's hill' in time to stem the
current of defeat and win the day."
STEELE &, BROS
"" #""
CHEMICALS
Formula No. i. For Wheat.
We have been induced by an old
established, and reliable Fertilizer
manufacturing firm who thoroughly
understand mixii gof chemicals, to
handle the "Star Chemicals for Wheat"
as quite a number of our farmers wish
to manipulate their own Fertilizers,
and have applied to us for chemicals.
We now offer them the above with the
firm assurance that it will meet their
wants in every respect. There are
chemicals offered at a price slightly
lower than the price of the "Star,"
but we assure our patrons that there
is not one ounce of inert matter, such
us dirt, or sand enters into the com
position of this formula, and we have
spared no effort to get the best chemi
cals that can be obtained for the mo
ney, as over one-forth of this formula
is Pure Dissolved Animal Bone.
The price at which it is offered
places it within the reach of all, and
we hope our farmers will give it a fair
trial this season. Cash price of the
"Star Chemicals," delivered at Steph
ens City depot, free of freight, $12.00.
On 12 months time, (payable October
Ist 1882) $13.50.
It is put up in 4 sacks contaiuing
175 pounds each, making 700 pounds
in all, full instructions for mixing ac
company each formula.
Thaniung you for the great success
of the "King Phosphate," and wishing
a good demand for the Star Chemicals
We remain yours truly,
STEELE & BRO.
Btephwe City, V*., Aug. ~", 1881.
unu id gbmiteWorks.
.ALBIiN" & BBOTHER,
MARKET STREET, XEAR DEPOT,
Winchester, ... Virginia.
Dealers in Italian and American
MONUMENTS & HEADSTONES
And every kind of
Cemetery Work at the Lowest Prices !
Also Marbleized Mantles, Art and Floor Tiles. Call and examine our stock
The largest and best in the Valley. 1v,3
PLAIN FACTS FOR
THE PEOPLE!
i
w
Would respectfully inform the citizens of Stephens City and of Frederick
and adjoining counties, that their stock of goods is still "complete ia every
department, and that they are receiving
\cw and Seasonable 1 Goods!
which they are offering at startlingly low prices. They would call special
attention to their large and well selected assortment of
11W PlllfS!
of the best and standard brands, which they have just received. Table
Damasks, Oil Cloths, Shirtings, Cheviot Shirtings, Brown and Bleached
Muslins, very cheap. Cottonades at reduced prices.
Fresh Goods in the Notion Department!
Fancy Cotton Hosiery, Corsets, Lisle and Lace Top Gloves, Ribbons', Fan?,
Toilet Soaps, Perfumes, Gents' Collars and Cuffs, Laundried and Unlaun
dried Shirts, Ties, Scarfs, Collar Buttons, Meu's Socks, Jackets, Overall;*,
etc., etc. An entirely new supply of
Ladies' Shoes, Lasting Gaiters,
Fancy Slippers and Buskins, Men's Plow Shoes, Gents' Congress Gaiters.
We always keep on hand a fresh assortment of Confections, Cakes ami
Crackers, Fresh Lemons and Cheese. All grades of
Brown and "White Sugars,
Syrups, Green and Roasted Coffees. Try the celebrated Arbueklo's-Roast
ed Coffee in pound packages. Tobaccos and Cigars of the best grades.
Bacon, Lard and Flour always kept in stock. A beautiful assortment of
Glass and Queensware, Hardware,
Cutlery, Iron, Nails, Brass Kettles, etc. Spices, Drugs and Mudioiues,
Paints, Lubricating Oil, etc., etc.
JiirProduce taken, and the highest market rates paid. ly
STAND FROM UNDER Ififi
We Have Promised Them, and Here They Are I
Our New Prices and Last Reduction for
THE SUHIDBR SEASOHI
The unsolicited verdict of an appreciative public is that
We are the Opponents of Exorbitant Prices !
and the extensive speculators for the interests of the people ! We have this
day thrown .ipon our counters the largest assortment of
IMMENSE BARGAINS!
ever presented to the penetrating gaze of OS astounded public We mean whulwcsav
and say what no other house this side of New York can say; our say is a say that will
convince all callers at our house that we are the Im>ss.
Yard wide Victoria Lawns 0 cents, worth 15 cents; Victoria Lawns 9 cents, worth 18
cents; Victoria Lawns !) cents wortli 13 cents; India Linens, 2d, 22 and 25cents; 3tt inch
striped Victoria Lawn 15 cents, worth 20 cents; Lace Lawns il cents, worth 15 cents;
Persian Lawns, French Mull and Figured Swiss, greatly reduced. Towels! Towels!!
All Linen Towels 10 cents worth 18 cents; Napkins, Napkins; Bleached and unhleach
!ed Table Linens, Turkey red table linen. Dress Goods. While Clouds. All wool liunt
; ings, plain and lace in all shades reduced from twenty to twenty-five cents aynrd. Btbt
black hunting twenty-five cents worth thirty five cents. Lawns, lawns, lawns. One
hundred ladies' ready made linen and lawn dresses $1.25,1.50 and $2.00, wortli over
double the money. Linen Ulsters, Linen Ulsters. Lace and Mull Ties ten, fifteen and
twentv-tive cents ui>. Curtain lace twelve and a-half, fifteen and twenev cents a yard.
'The Boss finished unlaundried shirt, fifty cents. Silks and Satins in ail similes. "Mil
linery at Cost. This department will lie closed out at any price.
BairW'e call especial attention to •'Mrs. F. Metier'H Renowned Beauiificr
for the Complexion, ' which we are introducing at 25 cents per sample bottle
P. HKLLEH & CO.,
Sign of tiio BASfySF, apposite Court lieu-" Wiucfcc lor Va
