Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-05-30
rOR THE ES4uIREE.
l'"N IN"
ORANGE COUNTY, VA, May n

ORANGE COUNTY, VA, May 10.
On Mondnv morning, May Sth, Il company OF 81
pcrstms were assembled al Orange Courthouse, anx-
iously awaiting the arrival of the train that was TO
bear them t" Warrington, l. Inc e< very rS S ni brs w% ra"' ths
associntions Of the party. The sun rose sllcniIdlHy
and .lmne with IN intense heat on the assembly
whirl, rcscmLleh Il rich md VurirSafea nowrr-bcu'
with ihcir gaudy sir,shahcS h'rll,ns ana e'aniEnns III
the lrisl, benIns Of the sun. But soon MI hearts
were relieved, in looking down the long shining track.
10 sc,, the numbering engine Come staggering, Will lis
hinge black chimney sending forth long hight wrt"ih'
Of s;nnkc against the deep blue sly. There IL some
,l,iur delightfully."- exciting in gazing on the advancing:
cur,. They seem 10 grow larger as they come tliun-
I.riur up in all their ulajcstv. The soft velvet so
fus were soon occupied, and II pleasant anticipation
was expressed in each lmppy face OF onr large parry
The slril, exciting whistle was ci'ch' una III; Irnl
luhurrd heavily with its increased freight. After n
few. long runs, ON it swept with bird-llke velocity,
leaving white Villages, blue mountains, ami deep
green forest far, fur behind. Ii seemed bent IN SOME mis-
sion which must he accomplished. The 'tlll ar was
rent bv the iron horse, leaving nniigiIt on It's track bht
dust mud smoke. Onward il rolled, big with lis own
Importance, through deep mrrlniIr1ng pine forest ana
over barren fields, till, far WAY III The distance 'hc
blue bosom Of the Potomac lay LOST III rosy 'nl,nF7'
After Il ride of scven'y-tire miles, We arrive" III |'icA'
anlrin. where al wuS buEtlc and confusion. The gay
yellow tnnnlbuscs with their inviting seats $1,000
ready, and each driver was extending nhviia'inll1 WIN
II pressing cul,rterv and grace; nhd as we i"licu over
the rocky pnyrnIcnie, new life wnr added TO our party
aud mos, of us found ont our suspicious oil beng
weary were based on something more iIah ih'agi'ih'
ton.
Without b~rcutlling time, We were I'LL soon launched
on the bosom nj the broad magnificent Potomac, ana
the hnnt commencing Ia move slowly, turning, till
onward il rushed like Il spirit al the deep. splnshing
tile light spray over is deck, and leaving long i"amy
turrowr on the blue ,fuicrs, that lcaved aud swe!lcd
like q giant Stimulating. Far away in the evening
mist, the white buildings OF Washington lay OBJ
,.u~,i ia, urI,pl mist lut llun nlulvc tho Tlnprs
aud busy hum arose the gray dome OF the Capitol
| rrstim. in conscious majesty against the slll-llt sky
The luat at last struck against the shore, sending with
i a slight inr: aud without Intriguing You with another
omnibus ride, only imagine us at Browns hotel. tired
and dusty. We mounted the long winding staircase,
:vld entered II hull rcuicrrd brilliant by tho combined
uitiucnco If gas-liglt and deep cool lookin. mlrr"rf.
And now the whole pnrty was ialrly NJ tlirlr journey :
cad; hut the excitement had JUST commenced. supper
WIS announced. which veal did iusticet 10, md then we
r'Ynirc,tto the spacious and splendid parlors, where we
were highly cnteriaircd by the cnqnctiSh manners
and graceful dancing: nt some foreigners who were
ikcre assembled 1hrrrNi morning, bright and earl ,w0
rose, nni were srnn oh Our way 10 visit somc OF the
iHr-.amcd rurin,i;ics OF our republican, Capital. The
Fntcnt Office and Capi:o! were first visited and |
cnull hive fingered over the splendid paintings and
interesting relies Tor 'fn!s instead of hours but time
WINS pressing, aud We ilHstcmr,l on 10 the Smithsonian.
which lifted lis varied dark spires agairs, the solemn
sky. There is snn"l!iia. 80 profound, 70 deeply in
! tcrcs.inc about The lI!si:intc. rs i. stands alone mil
still, from the busy hum OF busy mnn anl the restless
city. Daylight steals r"vcrcntinlly through the richly
stained windows, and casts n deep mellow light over
tho lolgrovs Of paintings, representing Indian life
aIslits peculiar costumes. 50 inmiitahlc were the paint
inEs, that each Indian warrior appeared rs ii s.nrtinc
from the dusky canvass to accomplish some cruel decd,
| some act of revenge. After leaving it, lofty hills,
! felt as il l had been holding communion with those
swarthy .ons Of the forest.
Next We went to the White House, and we were
charmed with its long deep avenues of green trees,
casting their quiverine shade on the white gravolled
walks. When our party entered the east room, We
all seemed To be- suddenly mctamorphoscd into dwarfs.
frem the richly painted ceiling dropped q sparkling
chandelier with It's myraid Of richest drops, catching
and rejecting a thousand rainbow tints. Far 0
at zach extremity lay two colossal mirrors fixed in
thcwall aud there they 10y, like two cool, tranquil
lukes. / trod reverenriully on the soft carpeted door
as thought how many Of our distinguished men, our
great Presidents, bad stood there to receive the rib.
ute Of admiration and respect from representatives. of
foreign courts. Though orr party was large, not e
word broke the deep silence. Alhearts appeared TO be