Martinsburg independent. [volume], May 13, 1876, Page 2, Image 2

About Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
LOCAL NEWS.
COMMUNICATIONS AND ALL MA TTERS OF 1,0
CAL INTEREST ARE CORDIALLY INVI
TED TO THESE COLUMNS.
Saturday, May 13, 1W70.
Acquitted,
Mr. C. B. Rouss. well known in
this community as the great dry
goods man, has been acquitted of the
charges against him in New York.
Paralyzed.
We learn from the Shepherdstown
litjistcr that Mr. Thomas Lifcklider,
residing near Kearneysville, was
stricken with paralysis a few days(
since. ^
Strawberries.
Strawberries have made their ap
pearance in Wheeling, and are sell
ing at one dollar per quart. There is
either flush times in that city,or few
terries are disposed of.
\ (.ood Suggestion.
A large number of the voters in
the first ward desire to have Mr. Jo
seph II. Shaffer serve them in the
Council for the next term. We hope
lie will consent to do so. lie will
make a first-class member.
A Very Truth.
When you don't find an advertise
ment in your newspaper, you may
depend upon it that that particular
establishment is not keeping up with
the times in styles, &c., and find it
necessary to keep dark.
A Real Comfort.
When the light of hope is utterly
withdrawn and melancholy begins
to settle like a mighty mist upon the
soul, there is a comfort in the pres
ence of a small boy trundling an
empty tomato can under one’s win -
dow, that only a musician can ap
preciate.
Director’s Meeting.
The Directors of the Agricultural
Association met on Saturday and
completed their programme and list
of premiums, and ordered the com
mittee to have the same printed at
once. They adjorffned until Satur
day. the 20th inst.
Planning.
The Committee on the new jail are
busy getting ready their plans and
specification estimates, Ac., for the
County Court. Every grand jury
lias condemned the present useless
structure, and if one is put up it will
have all the modern improvements
against jail-breaking.
Drawing Near.
()n next Monday two weeks,the 22d
inst., the municipal election will be
held fora Mayor and five members
of the Council. It is drawing close
and we are sorry to see that there is
seemingly but little interest mani
fested by our people. It is very im
portant that our most practical and
experienced citizens should he se
lected.
Should be Stopped.
The pavements are intended for pe
destrians and the streets for vehicles
and animals. Neither should be
blocked up in any manner. Crowds
of men should not obstruct the pave
ments, nor should boys be permitted
to get in a person's way by marble
playing or top spinning,and especial
ly should they be prohibited from ob
structing the streets by ball playing
and ball throwing.
Reducing Interest.
We learn that the Berkeley .Sav
ings Bank has reduced the rate of
interest, and will loan money to all
prompt paying customers at seven
per cent, per annum. This is another
illustration of the fact that usury
laws can never regulate the working
profit on money. Supply and de
mand govern interest the same as it
does the laborer’s wages or the value
n 1.~ a_i_a_
cv ».*» iouv.x vt nucuu
Camp Seen.
One of the prominent features of
the Centennial is the establishment
of Camp Scott—a grand Centennial
Encampment for the sj>ecial accom
modation of the various military and
civic associations of the country who
propose to visit the Centennial at
any time during its continuance. At
this camp will be furnished tents,
Iteds, camp equipage of all kinds,
provisions in bulk, raw <?r ccoked as
required, so that the cost of living at
Camp Scott during the Centennial
will be quite moderate, while at the
same time you are offered all the ad
vantages and conveniences of a first
class hotel.
Itemoviug Mud
Parkersburg is to have her streets
cleaned by permitting suburban gar
| deners to cart away the mud for fer
i till zing purposes. There is a hint in
this for the grangers of this vicinity.
As Swiveller would s;»y--“here’8 ricfi
| ness,” and the amount of it on some
of our streets and alleys, if collected,
would make an agricultural bonan
za.— Wheeling Standard.
The aliove hint fits Martinshurg
with si>ecial exactness.
Accident.
The Gerardstown Times says that
Mr. Gold Cockeril, aged about sev
enteen years, and living near Hunker
Hill, met with a painful accident on
Wednesday last. He was riding on
horseback carrying a shovel plow on
his shoulder, when the horse became
frightened and threw him off, dislo
cating his right shoulder. l)r. Golds
borough,of that place, was called in
rendered professional attention.
Improvement*.
II. S. Hyde, the enterprising jew
eler, is having his store fixed up in
tine style. His show windows have
been remodeled and re-arranged,and
now present an attractive appear
ance. The display of fine watches,
handsome gold chains and jewelry of
all kinds, together with a rare and
choice selection of silverware, at
tract the attention of all passers-by.
.Such business enterprise deserves
success.
Strangled to Death.
The Hagerstown News says that
Mrs. Lutz, of Keedysville, the other
day left her house to visit a neigh
bor, and before going she put her lit
tle child, between six and eight
months old, in the cradle, and tied a
string across it to keep the child from
falling out. When she returned she
found the child dead, it having strug
gled to get out of the cradle and in
doing so the string caught it around
the neck and it was strangled to
death.
Slav Dav.
“May Day” was not exactly calcu
lated to invite excursions to the
woods and vales in search of May
posies. It was much more comfor
table to sit by the fire and read Ten
nyson’s “May (iueen,” in the new
version, as follows :
“If you’re waking, call me early, call me
early, mother dear,
And see that my room is warm mother,
anil the fire is burning clear ;
And tallow my no=e once mor“. mother,
once more ere you go away,
For I’m to be Queen of the May, mother,
I'm to he Queen of the Mav.
“I shall put on my water-proof, mother.
outside my seal-skin coat,
Ate! two or three yards of flannel, dear,
will go around rtiy throat ;
A nd you’ll see that the boneset tea, mother
is drawn while your child is away,
For tm to be Queen of the May, mother,
I’m to he Queen of the May.”
On flic Kiver.
In company with Mr. Joseph
Shaffer we went to the river on Sat
urday to “view the landscape o’er,”
and see how the prospect for the bass
fishing season looked. . On the
grounds we met two ex-members of
the legislature, Adam Small and
Eli Fleming, Esqrs., and by the way
two of the best lishists on the Poto
mac. They too were prospecting.
We concluded to give the bass a
trial, and we did. But the water was
a little too cold. We caught two or
three—just enough to assure us that
those cha ps who set fish baskets anil
traps have not yet succeeded in en
tirely destroying the bass. A few
warm days like Saturday will put the
water in good condition, when the
iisliing season will open up in eariiest.
The Advent of Flowers.
The time is now at hand when the
flowers come forth in all their beau
ty. Domestic, exotic and wild floral
specimens have budded into the
brightest hues. The gardens, the
yards, and even the uncultivated
nvn i’orl iouf uriHi f
tints. And soon the pretty morning
glories will be here, and hang their
graceful bells in festoons under the
chamber windows. They require but
little care—only a few inches of soil
and a string—when they will climb
and run riot all over the walls and
lattice, piazza or portico, gladdening
the hearts of the children, and greet
ing you with bright welcome as you
step out of the door in the morning.
Can anything l>e more beautiful than
a well-trained trellis of mixed and
variegated morning glories, blue,
pink and white, with their slender
tendrils and bell-shai>ed petals in its
, ines of beauty, for its maker and de
ligner is God.
Clean Up.
If you have not cleaned up and
thoroughly lined and deodorized
your b:iek yards, gardens, pig stys,
&c., du it at once. Now is the time
to remove everything offensive or
calculated to engender disease, fn m
your premises, and to put them in a
good sanitary coudieion. Don't wait
until the hot weather has caused de
composition of the refuse matter
laying about your premises, and the
! atmosphere has liecome tainted with
the death dealing malaria which arise
therefrom. Use plenty of lime in
sewers, water drains and all about
your premises. It is a good invest
j meat at any time.
(hardening.
We dropped in and took a look at
tile fine garden of Mr. Philip .Show
ers recently. It is a little ahead of
any garden we have seen in the town.
It is thoroughly cultivated on cor
rect principles, and the product,with
an ordinary season, will amply pay
for the care and labor bestowed upon
it. He will soon have early vegeta
bles in abundance—in fact has had
lettuce, onions, &c., for some time
past, and will soon luxurate on green
peas. The conclusion from our ob
servation is, that Mr. Showers knows
how to manage a garden successfully.
“Fishy.v
We take the following from the
Cumberland Times: “Here is a lit
tlfe bass story, the second of the sea
son, but the first as to size and qual
ity. Moreover it is true, we saw the
string with which the fish was meas
ured. We do not like to give the di
mensions, but the bass weighed nine
pounds, and was caught a few days
ago in the Potomac, about te/Pmiles
below this city, by a gentleman of
the name of John Ward. We hope
that the Hagerstown News and
Martinsburg Independent will snap
at this story incredulously and cry
‘fishy.’ but nobody should keep any
account of them.”
The effort of the Times man to
break the force of truthful comment
on his story, will not win. There
are no nine pound bass in the Poto
mac, and consequently the mythical
Mr. Ward could not have caught
one. Didn't you mean a cat-fish,Mr.
m:_ t
Meeting of Jail Committee.
The committee met on Saturday,
May <>. Present, M. J. C. Iloffman,
Chairman; M. C. Nadenbousch, J.
W. Lamon, A. .T. Thomas and W.
It. Porterfield.
On motion of Mr. Iloffman, A. II.
Troxel was appointed Secretary.
The committee appointed to visit
the jail at Harrisburg and Carlisle,
reported their action, and submitted
plans with the necessary explana
tions of the Carlisle and Frederick
jails.
On motion of Mr. Thomas, the
plan of the Frederick jail was adopt
ed, the same to be on a modified plan.
On motion of Mr. Nadenbousch,
the sub-committee was authored to
write to the architect of the Frede
rick jail and request him to give the
committee a rough plan and esti
mates of tin; same, and have him to
meet them, with the understanding
that the same is not to cost anything.
On motion the committee adjourn
ed to meet on the first Saturday in
.Tune.
M. J. C. HOFFMAN, Ch'm.
A. IT. Troxel, Sec.
Murgical.
To the Editori of the Independent:
As your medical department has
been somewhat neglected of late, I
beg leave to call your attention to the
following remarkable surgical case
that fell under my observation re
cently. I never read of, and certain
ly never met with a similar one
Miss W., of Berkeley Springs, aged
20. of scrofulous diathesis or consti
tution, has been confined to her bed
for several months, suffering with an
acute pain over the lower portion of
her spinal column; finally a small
abcess formed and opened at the ten
der point, leaving a sinus or canal
extending up me uacKuone aoout
three inches. This was laid open by
her attending surgeon, who discov
ed, greatly to his surprise, a bunch of
Hair an inch in length, growing
from the muscular tissue of the back.
It was light in color, and upon being
tested with a microscope, presented
all the characteristics of hair grow
ing on other parts of the body. Act
ing as a foreign body, it of course
produced great nervous prostration
and constitutional derangement.—
Since the operation, she has suffered
very little pain, and a favorable ter
mination of the case is confidently
expected. Yours, respt'ly.
Cuticle.
i Mit. Glaziek is President of a
San Francisco bank. There is no
J use Hinging stones at that institu
tion.
A Xharp Lookout.
Where the prey is, there will the
vultures be gathered together; and
even at this early date Philadelphia
is the central po;nt toward which
not only pickjiockets and ruffians of
the baser sort are bending their
steps, but the higher class of confi
dence men and women, that hajipy
go-lucky, audacious,intelligent gang
who hover on the confines of society,
robber-crabs, living on their wits
and stupidity of other peeple. The
World’s Exhibitions in other coun
tries have always been very largely
attended by these free-booters
and they appear to he especially san
guine of success in this country
where money is supjx>3ed to be plen
ty and innocence unsuspicious.
Strange women in foreign attire al
ready puzzle the eyes of the solier
Quakers; the London detectives,who
arrived last week, declare that they
meet as many faces familihr to their
Rogues’ Gallery in Chestnut street
as in theStrand. The neighborhood
of the Centennial building is set with
every inducement to vice; private
houses are besiegned by new varie
ties of tramps and shameless beggars.
As the crowd increases, the tempta
tion and chances of plunder will at
tract more of these outlaws. We
warn our country friends that they
will need to sharjien their wits for
other purposes than that of sight-see
ing. The devices of the evil man
Solomon declared to be jiast finding
out. Yet our tramp and “dead beat”
were not born in Solomon’s day.
Republican Convention.
Pursuant to notice, a Republican
Convention was held at the Court
house on Saturday last. On motion
of Mr. Wisner, A. R. McQuilkin was
called to the Chair, and George F.
Evens was aiipointed Secretary.—
Mr. It. M. Price stated the object of
the Convention to be the election of
delegates to the State Convention
which will meet at Clarksburg on
the 11th inst., for the purpose of
sending delegates to the National
Convention and probably the selec
tion of State Pllectors, and moved
that the Convention proceed to the
election of delegates from the coun
ty generally, which was carried.—
Tim fAllmirtnir f na cimt-n limit
nominated and elected, viz: ,T. X.
Wisner, F. Gerling, J. W. Pitzer,
Grafton Darby, A. It. McQuilkin,
Abraham Ford, Geo. W. Feidt, A.
T. It ussier, James Mulligan, W. II.
II. Flick, J. W. Day, Wm. Wilen,
David Thompson, E. G. Tabler, J.
W. Daily W. II. Frankenberry, Sam.
Gold, J, II. Clendening, G. M. La
mon, A. B. Bain, J. M. Yanmetre,
Elias Pitzer, John Aiken, Wm. It.
Parkinson, 15. M. Kitchen, A. J.
Graham, John O. Ilenson, E. Flem
ing, Jacob ltopp, Joseph Kitchen,
David Cauby, Dan., Fleming, John
Landis, John ltopp and Dr. J. II.
Stehley.
Air. Wisner offerred the following
resolution which was adopted;
Resolved, That in that sterling
man, undoubted Republican, bril
liant and unmatched legislator and
statesman, Hon. J. G. Blaine, of
Maine, the country can rely with im
plicit confidence, and that his expe
rience, prudence and patriotism en
titles him to the suffrage of all citi
zens careful of the weal of the coun
try ; therefore, the delegation of re
publicans from this county are here
by instructed to use every argument
and all reasonable and fair means to
secure the selection of a delegation
to the National Republican Conven
tion favorable to the nomination of
James G. Blaine for President of the
United States.
On motion the Chairman was au
thorized to appoint an executive com
mittee for the county, to be compos
ed of five members from Alartinsburg
and three from each of the other dis
tricts of the county. The Chair ap
pointed the following:
Martinsburg—Geo. AY. Feidt, .Tno.
AV. Pitzer, Graf. Darby, H. Fleisch
man and R. AI. Price.
Arden—Joseph Fiscus, A. B. Bain
and J. Strine, Jr.
Opequon—.l. AV. Daily, E. G. Ta
bler and J. AV. Carbaugh.
Mill Creek—Samuel Gold, Jas. II.
Clendening and C. F. Laise.
Falling Waters—Daniel Fleming,
Cyrus Kershner and John Landis.
Hedgesville—J. H. Alexander, T.
L. Harper and E. Fleming.
Qcrardstoicn— John Aiken, A. AI.
Graham and AV. Parkinson.
On motion the committe was re
quested to meet for organization, on
Saturday May 20th, 1876.
On motion eacli member of the
committee was authorized to appoint
a substitute, in case they could not
attend the meeting of the committee.
On motion it was ordered that the
proceedings of this convention be
published in the Martinsburg Daily
anil Weekly Independent.
A. R. McQUILKIN, Pres.
Geo. F. Evans, Sec.
Every now and then Dio Lewis,
or some other crack-brained social
reformer, discovers some marvelous
danger to humanity. Recently one
of them announced, with terrible
solemnity, that there is ‘‘death in the
dish-cloth.” The Norristown Her
ald‘man thinks, however, that if
dish-cloths are well boiled before ba
king they would|not be dangerous.
Another Regulator.
We referred to Hyde’s splendid new
regulator the other day (which meant
the huge clock with steady,swinging
pendulum, ticking out the seconds
as fast as they spring into time,) but
we forgot to tell the people about the
other “regulator” that recently ar
rived—its a boy—and when cucurn
l>er and cherry time comes, and the
soothing syrup fails to have any ef
fect, then Bro. Hyde will have to
regulate his steps to the air of
“Tramp, Tramp the Boys Are,” &c.
NORTH WARTINWIJURC; ITEMS.
HOSE HOUSE.
The Fifth Ward Hose House is
about being brought to completion,
and really is a credit to this portion
of thecity, it being a brick structure
two stories high. The lower room
will be used for the storage of the
fire equipments, while the 2nd story
will be for holding all necessary
meeting of the ward.
ROCKERIES.
Several very beautiful Rockeries
can lie seen on North Queen street,
between the B. & O. Railrood cross
ing and II. C. Smalls’ residence. An
invitation is extended to the city
“dads” to visit this portion of the
city and view the lovely ornaments.
' BOCK BEER.
Mr. P. Busch has on draught the
finest bock beer in the city. Mr. B.
is always up to the times. Give him
a call.
CITY COUNCIL NOMINATION.
The nomination for city council
man for the Fifth Ward will take
flace on Wednesday evening at the
lose House Hall. Every person
seems to talk McDowell. Mr. Me.
will be the right man in the right
place. We think he might as well
prepare himself for the harness.
BOUND FOR TEXAS.
Our young friend D. C. Y. Bolin
ger, who for a number of years has
been a resident of this portion of the
city, will start in a few days for Wa
hoo, Texas. We regret very much
to loose such men us Mr. B. He has
our best wishes, S.
WORK FOR THE FREE PRESS
The Moorefield, (Hardy county)
Examiner says :
“Hon. 15. F. Martin will without
doubt be the next Congressman from
this District.”
We advise the Charlestown Free
Press to “go for” the Examiner.
That kind of talk will never do. And
by the way the Examiner is a Demo
cratic paper, and lias no right to talk
in such an Independent way. < )pen
on him, Mr. Free Press.
And when you have demolished
the Examiner, and silenced its trea
sonable utterances, we invite your
attention to the West Virgi lia Tri
bune, printed at Keyset- City. It,
too, needs looking after. In its last
issue it has the temerity to remark
as follows:
“ ‘Charles Jeemes,’ is playing for
“all that’s out.” It is now insin
uated he will be a candidate for re
election to Congress, notwithstand
ing his committing himself to the
support of lion. 15. F. Martin,at the
last Congressional Convention.”
Give the Tribune a double-shotted
discharge from your blunder-buss,
Mr .Free Press. Go for ’em lively. As
you have undertaken to run the dis
trict, and to prevent an honest ex
pression of opinion, from any quart
er, at variance with your own, we
desire to see you do it right. No
one questions your ability. You are,
undoubtedly, a mighty man in Gath.
CONSUMPTION CURED!
An oid physician, retired from prac
ticc’ having had placed in his hands by
an East India Missionary the formula
of a simple Vegetable Remedy, for the
speedy and permtnent Cure of Con
sumptson, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Asthma
and all Throat and Lung Affections,also
a Positiv aad Radical Cure for Nervous
Debility aud all Nervous Complaints,
auer nuviug moruugmy icsicu ns won
derful curative powers iu thousands of
cases, feels it his duty to make known
to his suffering fellows. Actuated by
this motive, ad a conscientious desire
to relieve human suffering, he will send
(free of charge) to all who desire it, this
recaipe, with full directions for prepar
ing and aucceafully using. Sent by re
turn mail by addressing with stamp,
—name this paper.
Dr. W. C. STEVENS,
Muuroe Block, Syracuse, N. Y.
janltf
A statue of George D. Prentice
was unveiled in a niche in the
Louisville Courier-Journal building
on May 5tli. If poor Prentice could
materialize, he would haul it down,
and then denounce those who com
mit the sacrilege of putting his stat
ue in the Courier establishment—
those who hastened the old man’s
I end by neglect and insult.
SCHOOL INTERESTS No. 2.
Public Examination** ot
Public School**.
To the Editors of the Independent ;
Do pubiic examinations of public
schools accomplish any good V It is
claimed by some that they do, and
hence are strong advocates of the
measure. They maintain that such
examinations are a test of the indus
try, ability and skill of the teacher,
aiid that they show the proficiency of
the pupils, while they enkindle in the
parent a zeal in the cause of educa
tion. But while this may be true of
some schools, it is very questionable
in the case of the great majority.—
And, indeed, we may safely, and with
regret, say, that in some schools pos
i itive harm is done. A designing
teacher may pass himself and his pu
pils for more than they are worth;
and a good and unpretending teach
er-one who is strictly honest and
honorable may, with his pupils pass
for less than they are worth.
It is very common in many places,
for the teacher to inform his pupils,
that at the close, or near the close of
the term there will be a public exam
ination, at which all their parents,
friends and the “public generally”
will be present; and that if they wish
to appear well on that occasion, and
do honor to themselvas and their
teacher, they must study diligently
during the term. This indeed is but
natural, and seemingly there is no
wrong in it. But what is the result V
Pupils become aspirants not for
knoxcledge, but for fame. They go to
work, perhaps, with “might and
main,” and possibly make some pro
gress, though they are actuated by
no higher motive than that of mak
ing a show at the closing exercises of
the school. The whole thing assumes
a mechanical form and tends to su
perficiality; and thus the true object
of education, which is the develop
ment of the physical and mental na
ture, to qualify them for acting well
their part in this life and to prepare
them for entering upon higher duties
hereafter, is in a great measure lost
sight of, and supplanted by a most
unwarrantable ambition.
Several weeks prior to the exami
nation are almost exclusively devo
ted to the preparation ot pupils in
specialties iui men appeaiauce 111
public.
The day having at length arrived,
the school-room is gorgeously deco
rated—the parents and others are as
sembled and the exercises begin. A
class in arithmetic is called to take
their places at the black-board. The
teacher gives each pupil a problem,
which is solved with the greatest dis
patch, (having doubtless been “post
ed” on it beforehand). Parrot-like
the explanation is gone through with,
and the pupil retires to his seat with
self-satisfaction, and amid the appro
val of a humbugged audience.
In a similar manner the examina
tion of all the classes is passed over ;
and the parents and others leave, at
the close of the exercises, perfectly
delighted, remarking that Mr. M. or
Miss N. is certainly one of the best
teachers in the country. Thus the
whole affair is, in a great measure, a
grand deception, because were some
one else to conduct the examination
upon the same branches and with
questions ol the same import but
different language, or in reversed or
der, the pupil would be very apt to
fail for lack of a developed knowl
edge of the subject.
A distinguished writer on Educa
tion says, in speaking of this subject:
“They (public examinations,) cer
tainly cannot be looked upon as cri
terions of the faithfulness or success
of teachers. A man with tact, but
without honesty may make his school
appear to a far greater advantage
than a better man can make a better
school appear. This has often hap
pened. It is not the most faithful
and thorough teaching that makes
the show and attracts the applause
at a public examination. It is the
superficial, mechanical, memoritei
exercise that is most imposing. Who
has not seen a class that recited by
note and in concert, win the largest
approbation, when many of the indi
viduals knew not even the import of
the words they uttered. Names in
geography have thus been “said and
sung,” while the things signified were
to the children as really ter rue incog,
nitae as the fairy lands of Sinbad the
Sailor.”
It may appear from the above that
we are onoosed to examinations.—
This is not our position. We do not
advocate their entire abolition, but
we do advocate a fair and honest one.
If they are conducted so as to test
the thoroughness of the instruction
given during the term—to show fair
ly the progress of the pupils, then
they are of some utility. But not a
single hour should be spent—not one
lesson should be assigned with par
ticular reference to these closing ex
ercises of the schools. The teacher
must be strictly honest, and let his
school appear to be what it really is.
We think that where public exami
nations are required, the teacher
should not use that as a stimulating
means, but keep before the minds of
his pupils those great motives which
look to future character and useful
ness in life. Gamma.
A profane youug person describing
the looks cf a newly arrived M. C. from
the far We»t as he appeared at the
Washington depot:—“He looked as if
he had come all the way across the con
tinent on the hurricane deck of a mule.’>