Valley Spirit

A paragraph printed in our local columns, yesterday, which was copied from the Doylestown Democrat, stated that the dreaded cattle disease has appeared in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and that some of the victims of it had been slaughtered and sold in our market. This intelligence is of an alarming character, and it is to be hoped that prompt measures may be taken to inquire into its truth, and to effectually prevent the calamities which would inevitably result from this distemper.

A notable example of this course which honorable and magnanimous cattle-owners should pursue, was furnished by a gentleman of New Jersey, who, in 1857, discovered that the pleuro-pneumonia had broken our in a valuable herd of imported cattle he possessed, and although they were valued at $10, 000, he immediately had them all killed, and thus, by a very heavy individual pecuniary loss, he saved the section in which he resided, and the country generally, many thousands of dollars.

It is the duty of every man who discovers that his cattle are afflicted with this disorder to completely isolate them from all other herds, and, if he cannot see a reasonable prospect of curing them, having them killed and buried. Where this is done in good faith there is no doubt, we think, that the Legislature of the State would be willing to compensate the owner for their loss, as has already been done by Massachusetts and many of the European Governments. Any man who to, save a few dollars, sells a diseased steer, that it may spread this terrible disorder through new districts, or who has it slaughtered for food to be eaten by persons whose health may be seriously injured by it, deserves severe punishment, and will cover himself with lasting infamy. He who, to shield himself from a comparatively trifling loss, assists to disseminate a destructive calamity, deserves the reproach and scorn of every right minded citizen.

But now, when the disease, if it exists in the neighborhood at all, is necessarily confined to but a very few localities, it can be easily arrested if a proper spirit is evinced. Let all the afflicted cattle be properly isolated or killed, and the expense, which in the infancy of the disease would be but trifling, will, we doubt not, be cheerfully born by our State Legislature, when the facts are fully brought to its notice.

Owners of affected cattle should not hastily conclude that their only escape from loss is to sell their stock, and thus to rapidly widen the circle of infection. On the contrary, while that course may lead them into serious difficulties, there is another one far more just and honorable, and probably equally remunerative, open to them, in destroying their diseased stock and appealing to the Legislature for relief.

--On Sunday last, at the time of the funeral of Miss Smith, a number of persons male and female desecrated the Cemetery grounds in a most shameful manner. They trampled over the graves, broke down the shrubbery, plucked the flowers and showed their bad-breeding and ill-manners in every possible way. Such human hyenas should be excluded from the grounds altogether, and as many of them are known we hope the Directors will give instructions to the Keeper to not allow them to enter the grounds again, even should they come with a funeral. There is a severe law against depredations of this kind and we cannot see what delicacy the Directors need have in enforcing it. Make an example of a few of them and the rest may be deterred from exercising their evil propensities, in such a place when they know that fine and imprisonment will be the consequence.

--The redoubtable "Major" who prevents our citizens for "kicking up a dust," had a smash down the other day.

After having carefully loaded the "merchine" preparatory to a squirt, he was wending his way to the field of labor, when down came the water works--that is the reservoir, out went plug, and away went the water. The major nothing taunted, took the "Spread Eagle Water Works" to a shop and had repairs made and will "Skute" again if we don't soon have a rain.

--We are informed by a respectable gentleman, that at a certain Post Office, in this county, our papers have been withheld from subscribers and that these same papers, with the subscribers names thereon, were afterwards sold to a store keeper for wrapping paper. We are in possession of the evidence to substantiate fully this charge, and are determined, if it occurs again, to prosecute the Postmaster and have him punished to the full extent the law provided for such offenders.

--Last Thursday night at a little past 11 o'clock, we had a touch of a Tornado. The wind blew fearfully--lightening vivid--thunder tremendous and the rain fell in torrents. Nor serious damage done except to the Corn crop, which it made dreadful long in the stalk and thick in the ears.

--On Tuesday morning last a young lad, nephew of W. H. McDowell, Esq., of this place was visiting in company with his aunt, the Cemetery grounds attached to the Presbyterian Church, when he mounted on top of an iron railing for the purpose of examining a monument. While in this position he slipped and fell and one of the sharp points of the iron railing caught in the fleshy part of his thigh producing a very frightful looking, though not considered dangerous, wound.

--Within the last few days some villianous scamps, who may be found daily and nightly loafing on the corners of our streets have been amusing themselves by spitting Tobacco juice on the Ladies' dresses as they pass along. These scoundrels are being watched--and by-the-way had better leave town--and if caught will be severely dealt with. No punishment would be too severe to inflict upon them. Why cannot our High Constable disperse the gangs that nightly congregate on our street corners, or arrest these vagrant loafers. Is he afraid of his popularity?