Valley Spirit

The old definition of beauty in the Roman school was the "multitude in unity," (i. e. a harmony of the graces,) which is certainly a very correct definition of that charming attribute, which so many of the "fair sex" sigh for in vain. Of the many gifts imparted to the human family by God, that of beauty is the most frequently desired, and when possessed is cherished with the utmost care. We earnestly believe, that if all women could obtain a certain thing, which they might desire, three-fourths would, like Paris, the shepherd of Mount Ida, decide in favor of beauty. You will, therefore, we hope, not be surprised, nor deem the sentiment one of infidelity, when we say that mullions of Christians are now as much the adorers of the lovely Goddess-Venus, as were those ancient Pagans, who bowed before images of that celestial divinity, centuries ago. As some of our readers may not understand the above sentence, we here say that it is merely figurative language, employed to express our opinion concerning the universal estimation of beauty.

Unfortunately, few women possess a real classical beauty, and less yet a beauty which would be at all stylish or attractive, minus the assistance of magnificent attire, or the extravagant use of cosmetics for facial decoration, which is supposed to impart fascination; therefore we often see persons of bad taste resorting to art, expecting to produce beauty, where nature failed. Powder is applied to whiten and hide blemishes on a face not too fair, rouge is also delicately used to impart a rose-tint to the cheeks, whilst it heightens the charms of the countenance and has a similar effect in "throwing out" the eyes and giving them extreme brightness. Little triangles of Indian-ink are also often added around the outer corners of the eyes, to give brilliancy as well as apparent size to those organs. This custom, we suppose, is borrowed from the Greek or Turkish women, who were wont to put round their eyes a black tincture which, at a distance, or by candle-light, added very much to the blackness of them.

Actresses understand the mystery of adding "beauty spots" and toilet making in a nice degree, yet even they are sometimes prone to use cosmetics to excess, when the effect is palpably ridiculous. It has been said that some women wear false lips, made of pink India-rubber, which are attached to thin lips in a manner which defies detection, and which give a pretty pouting appearance to the mouth. Whether this is correct we are unable to say, never having seen any, but we can say that we received the information from a reliable source.-Fine dress likewise absolutely increases the attractiveness of some plain faces, and vice versa, it ofttimes robs really pretty ones of their charms. Hence very few women of the pristine ages were considered remarkably lovely, because the hideous costumes of those antique days became few forms.-Fancy for a moment how homely the majority of ancient women must have been when robed in the Grecian tunic or the Roman stola , with the hair dyed a bright yellow, after the Roman mode, and bound back over the ears with ornaments of gold.

Now society requires its fair members to appear as bewitching as they possibly can, and they are privileged to follow that fashion which is best adapted to their complexion and form. It is, therefore, not surprising that ancient history does not tell us of two beautiful Helens, or more than one splendid Cleopatra; when ancient ladies had not the advantage of a variety of fashions, but were compelled to wear apparel which rendered many of them perfectly hideous.

But thank Jupiter even fashions change. What was deemed a graceful and exquisite toilet during the medieval ages, would now, if worn by any one, establish their suitability to become an inmate of an insane asylum. The surcoat of cloth of gold tissue, raised with pearls, and the stomacher of purple gold, similarly raised, with the large open sleeves lined with chequered tissue, which was worn in the time of Anne Bolyn; or the coiffures of the Revolutionary era would hardly be worn in America now if they were again heralded in Europe. Thus we may live to hear what we now deem elegant and tasteful as dress, spoken of as being ridiculous by those who will be living fifty years hence.

Beautiful women are growing more and more numerous every year for just this reason. Mothers are now paying more attention to the development of intellectual culture in their daughters, and have also come to the sensible conclusion to permit them to exercise it in the open air, to skate, to dance and to become equestrians, which must sooner or later render them more healthful, and consequently bring the rose tint to their cheeks and development to their forms. A faultlessly beautiful form is oftimes more admired, than the most lovely face, because it indicates healthfulness, which is always found united to loveliness. Men's ideals of beauty, however, differ materially. While one may worship a pretty face mounted on a pair of tongs, another of better judgement admires a symmetrical form which, perhaps, bears a homely face. There are also various types and styles of beauty, pertaining to various types and styles of beauty, pertaining to various countries and nations. The Ionian queens of Izniir are magnificent types of a beauty whose loveliness is irresistible, while the women of the delightful Isle of Cyprus who are tall and stightly formed, with a gentle and graciously beautiful expression of countenance-although less bewitching than their brilliant sisters of Smyrna, and less magnificient than the splendid Ionian women-are yet fascinatingly beautiful.

The Roman ladies were also renowned for their stately forms and classical faces, and we should think deservedly so, if many of them were like Lady Beatrice Cenci. Who has not had his or her thought lifted above mortal beauty, when gazing upon a portrait of the immaculate face of Lady Beatrice. Its wondrous beauty, sublimity of expression and look of sadness, caused by misfortune, never fails to gain the admiration and sympathy of the beholder.-Never was beauty more perfect, nor more magnificently developed than in the splendid form and most wonderful countenance of that illustrious Roman maiden. Her portrait, painted by Guido Henri, from a pencil sketch by the young Florentine artist Ubaldini. Ubaldini is now preserved in the place of the Princess Barberini, at Rome-a possession which neither love nor money could purchase. But we must return to the original subject. Whilst some women have golden hair and pale blue eyes-a style that we generally see in any of the Southern States-others have hair of almost raven darkness and magnificent eyes of lustrous blackness like those of the women of Italy. And again, altitude is supposed to effect beauty. It is thought by many that small women, as a general thing have more beautiful faces and finer forms than their larger sisters of the masculine cast. This, we believe, however, is merely a matter of opinion which will be doubted or believed, according to the reader's taste. In like manner, what pleases the fancy of one person as beau ideal, another deems hideous. It is also plain that a mediumly beautiful person is seldom attractive, and is therefore seldom sought after. Thus, ladies, you that are handsome are often admired solely on account of your beautiful faces, and not because you have attended to intellectual cultivation and refinement, which, together with a noble heart, is more worthy of man's appreciation than all the charms and graces Venus ever possessed. Remember this, and whilst you strive to grow beautiful in form, and to preserve that loveliness when attained, remember likewise, that mental and bodily beauty should attain ideal perfection together; unless they do you are not truly lovely.

Only let a woman be sure that she is precious to her husband-not useful, not valuable, not convenient simply, but lovely and beloved; let her be the recipient of his polite and hearty attention, let her feel that her care and love are noticed, appreciated and returned, let her opinion be asked, her approval sought, and her judgement respected in matters of which she is cognizant; in short, let only be loved, honored and cherished, in fulfillment of the marriage vow, and she will be to her husband, her children, and society, a well-spring of pleasure. She will bear pain, and toil and anxiety, for her husband's love to her is a tower and a fortress. Shielded and sheltered therein, adversity will have lost its sting.-She may suffer, but sympathy will dull the edge of sorrow. A house with love in it-and by love I mean love expressed in words, in looks, and deeds, for I have not one spark of faith in love that never crops out-is to a house without love, as a person to a machine; one is life, the other is mechanism-the unloved woman may have bread just as light, a house just as tidy as the other, but the latter has a spring of beauty about her, a joyousness, and aggressive, penetrating and pervading brightness to which the former is a stranger. The deep happiness in her heart shines out in her face. She gleams over it. It is airy, and graceful, and warm and welcoming with her presence; she is full in devices and plots, and sweet surprise for husband and family. She has never done with the romance and poetry of life. She herself is a lyric poem setting herself to all pure and gracious melodies. Humble household ways and duties have for her a golden significance. The prize makes her calling high, and the end sanctifies the means, "Love is Heaven, and Heaven is Love."

As previously announced, the undersigned have sold THE VALLEY SPIRIT establishment to Messrs. J. M. Cooper, W. S. Stenger and Augustus Duncan, possession to be given on the 1st day of September 1867.-Our connection with the paper will, therefore, cease with this issue. It may be proper here to remark that, whilst the transfer is only to be made on the 1st of September, according to the terms of the sale the ownership of the incoming proprietors really dates from the 1st of July last-the commencement of the present volume-from which time the proceeds go the business of the office go to the new firm. All accounts for subscription, advertising and job work, therefore, will be collected by them from that date.

During the eventful period in which we had the control and management of the SPIRIT, we labored earnestly, and to the best of our abilities, for the dissemination of sound political truths among the people, and for the perpetuation of that grand system of Constitutional Government founded by WASHINGTON and his compeers, and transmitted by them to us as our richest and most precious inheritance. In maintaining principles to this end we necessarily advocated the policy and measures of the Democratic party, which is the only party now existing in the country whose principles are in harmony with those underlying our Republican system of Government. If our efforts have contributed in the least degree towards bringing back the administration of the Government to the principles of its founders, and to the re-establishment of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, we shall consider ourselves amply rewarded.

Having taken charge of the paper in the midst of a bloody civil war, when the freedom of the press was virtually suppressed by the military tyranny emanating form the war Department at Washington and the spirit of violence which prevailed among a portion of the people all over the country, our pathway was beset from the start with more than ordinary difficulties. To doubt the wisdom of the war policy of the Administration was then considered treason, and a bold and fearless defense of the Constitution was regarded as a crime. He who had the boldness to exercise his rights as freeman, in the discussion of the political questions of the times, was in constant danger of suffering the horrors of a Bastile or the vengeance of the mob. Under these adverse circumstances we commenced our editorial career. But conscious of the justice of our cause and the purity of our purpose, we went straight forward in the line of duty, regardless of the threats of power, or the howlings of the rabble. With fidelity to principle as the guiding star of our action, we could at all times say, in the language of St. Paul when persecuted in like manner: "None of these things move us."

But "time at last sets all things even." The passions and prejudices engendered by the war are rapidly becoming extinct. The "sober second thought" has returned to the people, and reason, in a great measure, has resumed its sway. Freedom of speech is again tolerated, and the press is no longer threatened with mobs and dungeons. Under these favorable auspices we resign the paper into the hands of our successors. They have our best wises for their success and prosperity, and the paper under their management, we hazard nothing in saying, will maintain fully its high standing as a first class country newspaper.

The new proprietors are all well known to the people of Franklin county. Anything we could say in their behalf, would therefore be superfluous. Mr. Cooper was one of the founders of the paper, and edited it for many years most ably and successfully. Mr. Stenger's known abilities as a ready and vigorous writer will add great strength to the paper, and Mr. Duncan's abilities as a financier cannot fail to make its business operations a pecuniary success.

In taking formal leave of our patrons, we desire to return them our thanks for the generous support and many acts of kindness which we received at their hands, during our connection with the paper. We bespeak for our successors a continuation of that generous patronage and sympathy which was so liberally bestowed upon us.

B. Y. HAMSHEB,

H. C. KEYSER.

The Radical County Convention met in the Court House, on Tuesday, the 20th inst., and put in nomination the following ticket:

For Assembly, Theodore McGowan, of Fayetteville; for Associate Judge, W. W. L. Paxton, of Chambersburg; for Treasurer, S. F. Greenawalt, of Chambersburg; for Commissioner, A. H. Etter, of Green; for Director of the Poor, John E. Maclay, of Lurgan; for Jury Commissioner, Addison Imbrie, of Antrim; for Auditor, N. M. Witherow, of Metal.

The ticket is essential a weak one. The closest contest was for Treasurer. This was a fight between the "Grand Army of the Republic," the "Good Templars" and "Sons of Temperance" on the one side, and the anti-temperance element on the other. The "G. A. R's and "Good Templars" were beaten on the eleventh ballot, and Saml. F. Greenawalt received the nomination by a bare majority. The action of the various temperance organizations in the county on this nomination will show whether their loud professions mean anything, or whether they are mere empty sound.

The Convention was controlled exclusively in the interest of the McClure faction.-The Cameron men had no show at all. Col. Stumbaugh's name was not even mentioned in the Convention. The nomination of McGowan for Assembly, was doubtless intended as a special rebuke to Cameron and his friends, he having been the President of the anti-Cameron Convention which met here last fall and voted instructions to Col. Stumbaugh on the Senatorial question.

The Repository is cautiously preparing the way to assail General Grant. In the last issue it opens on him in this wise:

Should Grant accept the assignment to the War Department in the interest of Johnson, for the purpose of deposing Mr. Stanton, and becoming the Instrument in the hands of a corrupt administration for the disgracing of the brave officers, who gained their glory under him and reflected no mean share of their own fame upon their Commander-in-chief;--if, we say, General Grant could show himself capable of such meanness, he has not renown enough to save him from the just indignation of the people, who love and honor him for the services he rendered the country, and would abandon him as soon as he proved false to his own good name. The cause is higher than any man, however famous, and whosoever opposes it will go down

That is, the Radical cause of disunion is higher than the cause of the Union for which Grant fought. Hence, any man, however high his name, who will not worship the false Gods set up by the Radical party, must be put "down." Such is the spirit of Radicalism. Is it not astounding that any decent man in the country should be found willing to affiliate with so infamous a party?

We conjure our friends to go into the campaign now opened with all their energy, with the determination to achive a complete and decided success-to carry every man upon the ticket through triumphantly,--and to make the Green Spot as inhospitable to the Democracy, as glorious Phil. Sheridan left the Shenandoah Valley to the butternut confederates.-Repository

Is this an invitation to the lawless to burn our houses, barns and mills-to commit murder, rapine and other outrages, as did Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley? If this is what is meant by making "the Green spot as inhospitable to the Democracy, as glorious Phil. Sheridan left the Shenandoah Valley," it is time the people should know it.

IN April last the Anti-Slavery Standard predicted a split in the Radical party, and the signs of the times indicate a realization of the prediction. The July session of Congress witnessed certain croppings out of Radical dissatisfaction, and Mr. Stevens proclaimed his belief that the fall election in this State would show a defeat of the party now in power. Fessenden and Sherman came in for a full share of abuse from the managers of the party machine, and each gave blow for blow in hearty, downright earnest. The negro policy rampant in Tennessee, and applauded by a portion of the Radicals headed by Brownlow, is repudiated and denounced by another portion of the party. And now we have the news from California that the Radical party is split there. The Radical Convention at Sacrament nominated a regular ticket.-This was followed by an opposition Radical Convention, which nominated a "Republican Union" ticket, which meets support form the most influential Radical journals of San Francisco and Sacramento. In our own State the anti-repudiators in Allegheny county, and other portions of the State, are clamoring against Judge Williams, and demanding that he shall give his views upon the question of repudiation, while Stevens and the Anti-Stevens wing of the party are tugging at each other's throats in mortal strife. The "cohesive power of public plunder" still keeps the Radical party in seeming union, but the end is fast approaching. The true friends of the country should take heart from this fact, and push on the column of attack with courage, zeal and determination.

At the last session of our State Legislature a company was incorporated under the name of the Chambersburg Market and Hall company". The object of the creation of this company, at plainly indicated by its name, was the erection of a Market House and Public Hall is this borough. No one we presume, will question the propriety, or deny the necessity, for the establishment of such an institution in this place. While other towns of less population have good markets, well regulated and well stocked with everything required by the necessity and luxury of its citizens, chambersburg has been without one, and its people been obligated to forage through the country for vegetables, butter, eggs, fowls, &c or gather them up from hucksters on the street at whatever price may be demanded. The old Market House on the corner of Second and Queen Streets, owing to its miserable plan of construction, and out of the way situation has never answered the purpose of its erection, and very soon after it was opened it degenerated into a big butcher shop, a resort for rowdy boys and loafers; becoming finally a nuisance instead of a convenience to the public.

The wants and necessities of our people require just such an establishment as is contemplated in the act incorporating the Company we have spoken of. It is conceded by all, that a closed, comfortable House, would bring more Farmers with their products to our market, and consequently more articles for sale, thus inducing competition and enabling our citizens to purchase their marketing cheaper, as well as enabling them to get what they want. The design of the gentlemen named in the act of incorporation, was to erect such a building in the central portion of the town, with a public Hall in the upper story for lectures theatrical performances and other exhibitions which it calculated would produce considerable revenue to the company. The corporators, we believe, held a meeting sometime since with a view to opening books for subscriptions to the Stock; but the project, from some cause, received a check and nothing more was done. We would say to these gentlemen "why not urge the project?" If the borough council will not dispose of the butcher shop on the corner of Second and Queen streets, and invest in the funds in the stock of the new market company, go ahead anyhow. We feel confident that our citizens will respond by taking stock sufficient in amount of the purpose. Several excellent locations for a Market House could now be obtained, which may not long be available for that purpose. The "Franklin House" lot or the "Mansion House" lot, on the Diamond, are in every respect suitable, and could now be obtained at a reasonable price. Owing to the unsuitableness of the present location, a new Market House must be built sometime, and why not now, when a good location can be secured? We hope our citizens will interest themselves in the matter and push on the project.

The negroes of Greencastle and some of the neighboring towns, had a grand time at that place on Saturday last. The money to defray the expenses of the occasion, we are told, was contributed by the leading Radicals of the place. Two military companies, one belonging to Greecastle and the other to Mercersburg, dressed in full uniform, paraded the streets early in the morning. The chief marshall of the procession, an elevated darkey on horseback, wore a Lieutenant Colonel's uniform, said to have been borrowed form the president of the late Radical County Convention. After marching and contermarching for some time, the "nigs" proceeded to Moss Spring where they held a picnic. In the afternoon the crowd of black and white "niggers" assembled, was addressed by the Rev. William Highland Garnett, of New York, (colored), the Hon. William Corten, of Philadelphia, (colored), followed by George W. Zeigler, Esq., of Greencastle, (white). In the evening the procession marched to town and resolved itself into a mass meeting in front of Ziegler's store, where Messrs. Garnett and Corten delivered extreme radical speeches, which were loudly applauded by the black and white radicals present.

On Sunday evening the Rev. Garnett occupied the pulpit of the German Reformed Church, on the invitation of Mr. A. B. Wingerd, a Ruling Elder of that church, who, in the absence of the pastor, took the responsibility of inviting the "show" into the house of the Lord. The Rev. Mr. Wightman, the Presbyterian minister, revoked an appointment of his own in order to be present and give the weight of his influence and the light of his countenance to this darkey performance. Mr. Wightman escorted the Reverend colored gentleman into the pulpit and conducted the introductory exercises himself. We are told that he made a very long Radical prayer, to the infinite disgust of all right-minded people. Thus ended the miserable farce. Can there be a doubt any longer as to where the Radical party stands on the negro question?