Valley Virginian

Women, as a general rule, are not usefully educated in this country. They are chiefly taught those accomplishments which the experience of their mothers has proven to be best calculated to attract young men, and, consequently, to insure husbands. Music, Dancing, French and Italian, are considered indispensable to the "finish" of any young lady, in these degenerate days, but the more solid qualities which, in the olden time, were esteemed so necessary in the female catalogue of charms in the "good old times," are out of date. In sooth, they are pronounced in elegant society, de trop, and stigmatized as vulgar. The women who, not many years ago, was a nonproficient in the culinary art, and inexpert with her needle, was deemed an unfit candidate for matrimony. If she could not make a rare pie, dish up a meal in a peculiarly attractive style, turn out a superior loaf of bread, knit a pair of stockings with taste, and sew up garments with exemplary celerity, she was shunned by the male sex, and pitied by her own, as sadly defective. But now, tout, cela est change! The woman dextrous in such performances demonstrates her own unfitness for position in the world of fashion. Husbands are supposed to live upon the sound of a piano, and to be ready, in the most distressing moments, to go off into harmonic ecstasies at the first intimation of a brilliant duet. They are presumed to be totally indifferent in respect to what they eat or wear,--to have a noble contempt for such vulgar things as shirt buttons--to contemplate a woman too imaginatively to suspect her culpable of a knowledge of anything but the toilette and belles lettres.

With this ideal conception of the character of a husband in their minds, young ladies necessarily aim only at the acquisition of corresponding qualifications. They aim at sentimentality and romance, in stead of common sense, and permanent information! The result is an exuberance of satisfaction during the halcyon days of courtship, and the saccharine hours of the honeymoon; but, when the 'angel of a wife' subsides, in time, into the incapable domestic partner, and the love of a husband degenerates into the satiated master of the house, then comes the season of remorse, of melancholy, of mutual recrimination and mutual animosity. Should fate make such a helpless wife a widow and necessity throw her upon her own resources for the support of herself and family, unhappy indeed must she be in her destitution. Her expensive accomplishments will neither provide bread for her children nor consolation for herself. Music will not silence the cry of hunger; dancing will not exercise the gaunt fiend we call Want. Sorrow refuses to submit to the syren song of an affected mirth. Seldom can one of the wasted talents be turned, in such a dilemma, to available account; and all the precious years invested in the accumulation of those showy nothings, present themselves like so many ghosts of misspent moments, but to chide the past for its extravagance, and fill the future with apprehensions.

Who has not seen the instances of just such calamity? Whose experience is not fraught with some such scenes of anguish? And yet, how slight an element of hope would alter the picture--how small a knowledge of the business relations of life--how little an acquaintance of those homely arts which enable the feblest by their industry, spirit, taste, or enterprise remunerative to completely change the view, cheer up the despondent, add a silver lining to the cloud of grief, and produce a vision of comfort, if not of independence! Why not, then, O mothers of America! educate your daughters to a familiarity with things useful as well as ornamental? Why not--oh! why not--make them practical as well as interesting members of society?

Is improving for our side and that's all most people care for. The crops have turned out better than anybody expected, much to the disappointment of the "I told you so" people. And there is no danger of starving, but a good prospect for a small surplus ahead in the Fall. We begin to see daylight. Everybody seems encouraged by the crop prospects and nobody, except people who can't help it, ever talk politics. That's a good sign, for it shows that our people have realized the fact that Old Mother Earth is their best friend and out of her, by hard knocks, is to come wealth and all we desire.

The call for a National Convention of all the Conservative element of the country, to meet at Philadelphia, is an important feature in "the situation" but, as yet, it has caused no commotion in the South, the general feeling being that it remains for the Conservatives North to do their part and lay down a platform; for they know that if it is Constitutional, and right, we will support it, if we are allowed to. It is a good sign, though, that we are asking to go into such a Convention, even represented by "loyal men." Somebody in the North and West has an "axe to grind;" the tariff question is pinching Western toes and they want Southern votes to defeat the Radicals. Certainly things are working well and we can afford to watch and wait.

Looking across the waters "the situation" is getting more and more interesting to lookers on; 1,500,000 men are about to engage in the delightful work of cutting each others throats, and all in a space not larger than the Valley, from Staunton to Harper's Ferry, but as thickly settled as our towns. Long articles are written as to the merits of war; as to who is right and who is wrong, but the only benefit we can see to the South, is that it will give the "Universal Yankee Nation" a new sensation; a new and richer field for speculation and draw their attention from tormenting and robbing our poor people for awhile. The situation over there is decidedly mixed, and the above is all the "sugar" we see in it.

That "the situation" in the South is improving is shown in every hand. Our people are working; the negroes are beginning to understand who are their best friends, and are doing well--better than could be expected. The prospect of the cotton and tobacco crops ensure money, in spite of the "infernal revenue," and provisions will be cheap and plenty. The same kind and protecting Providence that watched over us while it dealt so hardly, as we thought, is now helping us in a thousand ways, and in spite of the Radicals; in spite of not being represented now; in spite of taxation, the South is destined to be the controlling element in this Country. The Radicals see it and fear it, and hence their frantic and devilish measures to retain power. A good time is coming; the "situation" is improving; let us all stick together, all work, be patient and not make fools of ourselves, and the game is ours.

In another column we publish the appeal of the Democratic members of Congress to the people, to unite in sending delegates to the Convention at Philadelphia. We cannot better express our views than we find them in the Rockingham Register. The South can do no good in the Convention, and might do harm, but if delegates are sent let them organize separately and wait the action of the Northern members of the body. If favorable, go in; if unfavorable, come home. The Register truly says:

"The recent call issued from Washington for a Convention to assemble in Philadelphia on the 11th of August next, to be composed of delegates from all the States and Territories of the United States, representing the Conservative sentiment and interests of the country, seems to meet with conflicting favor and disfavor from the Conservative press. While not disposed to be captious, or to throw anything in the way of the inauguration of a movement designed to thwart the Radical party, yet we would be untrue to our convictions did we not express our belief that the policy of the South, in her present anomalous condition, is to remain passive. The position of the seceded States is well known. They are a unit in sentiment in regard to the outrages that are being perpetrated against them. They are heavily taxed by the Federal Government, but are refused representation. Legislation, vitally affecting their best interests, is being enacted, without their having a voice in its discussion. Armies are quartered among them without their consent--in fact, in the face of their protest. They are virtually bound hand and foot, without the power to strike off the manacles. Under such circumstances, we deem that it would be a compromise of that reserved dignity which has characterized the people of the South, for them to be catching at an implied invitation to meet in an irregular body those, many of whom have not only sanctioned, but have been active participants in imposing these wrongs and restrictions. The views and position of the South are well known. Any steps that may be taken, founded upon broad and comprehensive grounds, and contemplating justice to the seceded States and the restoration of the government to its original relations with the States, will find no opposition, but a hearty endorsement in the South. It is for the Democrats and Conservatives of the North to lay down the platform upon which they intend to stand and make battle. If it is catholic and national in its aims, and addresses itself to the people of the South as practical, there will be no doubt or difficulty as to the course they will pursue."

At the request of members of the Masonic fraternity, who knew Col. William H. Harman, as we did, but to love him, we publish the following beautiful tribute to his memory, extracted from the address of Dr. Clem R. Harris, of Staunton, delivered before the Eureka Lodge, No. 195 of Ancient Free Masons at Bridgewater, Va., June 24th, 1866.

Brethren, Amidst our rejoicings over the unexampled prosperity of our time honored Institution, let us remember that we are all travelling upon the level of time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller e'er returns, and that the coffin has lately received the earthly remains of some of our beloved brethren.

Among those who have gone from their labors on earth, and who have fallen in defense of State and country, allow me to make mention of our much esteemed and faithful brother, Wm. H. Harman, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. I can proudly say of our brother that a warmer heart never beat in human breast. I knew him from boyhood. Years ago a warm personal friendship commenced between us, which ended only with his life. As men belonging to the public, we were thrown together with many kindred tastes, sentiments and views, and became naturally personally attached to each other. I cannot therefore let this occasion pass without a public tribute to his memory. I can proudly say for the memory of my friend and Brother that, no man ever possessed a more hopeful disposition, or more untiring energy of purpose. His heart was as open as his hand, and I do not believe that a spark of malice ever tenanted his bosom for a moment. He loved Masonry and labored zealously for its promotion. As a husband and father he was more than loved; he was almost adored.

He leaves a bereaved widow and children to mourn his loss. May the widow's God and the Father of the fathers, comfort, support and protect them in their great affliction.

Dangers threaten. The Constitution--the citadel of our liberties--is directly assailed. The future is dark, unless the people will come to the rescue.

In this hour of peril National Union should be the watchword of every true man.

As essential to National Union we must maintain unimpaired the rights, the dignity, and the equality of the States, including the right of each State to control its own domestic concerns, subject only to the Constitution of the United States.

After a uniform construction of the Constitution for more than half a century, the assumption of new and arbitrary powers in the Federal Government is subversive of our system and destructive of liberty.

A free interchange of opinion and kind feeling between the citizens of all the States is necessary to the perpetuity of the Union. At present eleven States are excluded from the National Council. For seven long months the present Congress has persistently denied any right of representation to the people of these States. Laws, affecting their highest and dearest interests, have been passed without their consent, and in disregard of the fundamental principle of free government. This denial of representation has been made to all the members from a State, although the State, in the language of the President, "presents itself, not only in an attitude of loyalty and harmony, but in the persons of representatives whose loyalty cannot be questioned under any existing constitutional or legal test." The representatives of nearly one third of the States have not been consulted with reference to the great questions of the day, there has been no nationality surrounding the present Congress. There has been no intercourse between the representatives of the two sections, producing mutual confidence and respect. In the language of the distinguished Lieutenant General, "It is to be regretted that, at this time, there cannot be a greater commingling between the citizens of the two sections, and particularly those entrusted with the law making power." This state of things should be removed at once and forever.

Therefore, to preserve the National Union, to vindicate the sufficiency of our admirable Constitution, to guard the States from covert attempts to deprive them of their true position in the Union, and to bring together those who are unnaturally severed, and for these great national purposes only, we cordially approve the call for a National Union Convention, to be held at the city of Philadelphia, on the second Tuesday (14th) of August next, and endorse the principles therein set forth.

We, therefore, respectfully, but earnestly, urge upon our fellow-citizens in each State, and Territory, and Congressional district in the United States, in the interest of Union and in a spirit of harmony, and with direct reference to the principles contained in said call, to act promptly in the selection of wise, moderate, and conservative men to represent them in said Convention, to the end that all the States shall at once be restored to their practical relations to the Union, the Constitution be maintained, and peace bless the whole country.

W. E. Niblack, Reverdy Johnson, Anthony Thornton, Thomas A. Hendricks, Michael C. Kerr, William Wright, G. S. Shanklin, James Guthrie, Garret Davis and others.

The work still progresses at the Cemetery but contributions should flow in more freely. If every one will give a little the work can be done. The Ladies' Cemetery Committee desire to acknowledge the receipt of $30, collected by Mrs. Marshall, at the Tinkling Spring neighborhood, and three dollars additional, collected by Mrs. J. T. Arnold, of Staunton.

The Charlottesville Chronicle winds up an able article on the duty of the young men of the South, with the following sensible words:

"The question to be decided for the South is--fine, splendid race of men--can they work? are they patient? are they of the stuff that can rise from reverses, toiling silently, with hope deferred, with an eye single to the great object of succeeding? With the manliness and frankness of Esau, have they the deliberate, settled purpose, the unwearying, undiscouraged, unconquerable tenacity of Jacob?

Staunton has more life and more enterprise than any interior town in the State, but it wants many things to make it all it should be. With our narrow streets we need all the room possible, and who ever heard of a city whose streets and pavements are obstructed by store boxes, rotten cellar doors, great stone steps and porches? Let them all be removed and the pavements widened. Then the streets will not be "too narrow for shade trees" and Staunton will be the most beautiful town in the State. Can't the Council look to this matter? It is worthy of investigation, especially the cellar doors.