Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-08-08
From our own Correspondence
DETROIT, July Gath. 1855.

ing some of my impressions for the entertainment
| of YOUR readers Under such circumstances real
observation is impossible and viii not be expected.
The first days run from Fishersvlle to Philadel-
phia was like dream. could scarcely believeat
night that 1 had passed through Waynesboro',
Charlottesville, Gordonsvile, Alexandra, Wash
ton. Baltimore, and Wilmington, De since break
fast The crossing of the Blue Ridge isa verita-
BILE triumph in the art of locomotlon, and suggest
ed the inquiry, what do we want with all expen-
sive and uncomfortable tunnel through the Noun
tains, when the passage over them can be made
so easy, expeditions and agreeable? The pros
pect from the summit had seen before, but new
er with more pleasure. Charlottesville looks dull
at this season to the passing traveller. > We were
Joined there by few young men of great lmpor-
lance-to themselves. AT GordonsyifIe, spent
an hour in sort of decent barn, with eating and
drinking stalls around it, but with very poor pro-
vision for the sedentary comforts of the passen-
gers. We were cheeied by the presence OF some
rustic beffes in broad brimmed hats, with beaux
of greater assiduity than elegance The meeting
of three trains at the point makes 1t very lively
and collects smart chance OF spectators, respect
able and otherwise. AS to all other stations IN
the world, perhaps, some OF these evidently look
ed upon their own place as the centre OF the uni
verse, and smiled benignantIy at every deviation
| from its local customs. My linen dust-coa iur-
nlshed much amusement to some young bloods,
booted, spurred and costumed IN style derived,
suppose from the times of Captain John Smith or
| Sir Walter Raleigh Outside of the shed the
heat would have been fearful if 1t had not ralned
This rain continued till we came to Alexandria,
and made the journey cool and free from dust,
without restricting our enjoyment OF fresh alr ana
open windows. :,
| enioyed the conversation ola schoolgirl with
the baggage master, on the great theme or South
ern social talk courlship and marriage and was
tcularly struck with the dignity impaired to
most familiar term by the remark, that beau
who had done something scarcely deserved to be
called beau. Let me take this occasion to observe
how much was surprised, on coming North, to
hear yerv genleel people of both sexes talking to-
gelher about politics and even books, as if they
were all pedagognes or politicians. have actn-
ally heard dialogue of some length between
several young ladies', in which the words "beau' -
| and "enpaged" did not once occur. How Still
| and pedanlic does such conversation sound to one
! familiar with the graceful badnage and fiatterlng
small talk which our cultivated gentlemen, both
| old and young. address almost exclusively TO Ia
dies.
But to return from this DEPRESSION: our ride to
Alexandra was enlivened by the entrance and
exit of bridal party, and the ready wit OF the al
tendant gentleman. Water was distributed With
out charge, but also withoutice.
| am more and more pleased with the American
system about baggage, which, am told, Is sun
unknown in Europe My trunk was checked to
Alexandria, and was furnished by an agent on
the cars Cor in them, as the Northern people
strangely saw as well as In the street and in the
gaLLery Sc J with omnibus and steamboat tickets,
which conveyed me, without further payment,
through Alexandria to the Potomac, then across
that stream to Washington, and finally through
Washington to the Baltimore depot.
As we drove through Alexandria, was graft
fled to see the good effects ofits remuneration to
the Old Dominion, in the evident revival OF Its
trade and business.
In Washington saw. Of course, but little
The Capitol loomed up on one hand and the Smith
sonan on the other, as we passed from the Poto-
| mac TO the Baltimore depot. The streets through
which we passed looked mean. Even Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, which we passed, impressed me
only by its length and breadth. Is 1t not great
mistake to make our streets so very wide, with
| out proportionate loftiness in the houses 2 Has
not the whole matter of wide streets been over
done in America am told that some of the
most imposing streets in Europe are comparative
ly narrow, and that this rather enhances than di-
minishes their grandeur. doubt whether narrow
streets are not even cooler IN warm climates, and
if kept clean, as they should be. whether wide or
narrow, they can scarcely bs unhealthy.
Perhaps my impressions on the day IN question
were affected by the pangof hunger. abstaIned
| from eating at the stalls in GordonsvIlle, partly
because it did not suit my habits, but especially
because was informed by staring handblll on
the wall, that the passengers would dine at Cui-
1 pepper Court House. This was probably unau-
| thorized, as time was not allowed US there tor
such purpose | was the more disappointed
| when found that on the boat from Alexandra to
Washington no dinner was provided, as friend
! had led me to expect, who made the journey just
a year before. You will readily believe that l
was nightly sbarpset when arrived at the Bal
timore depot in Washington. and prepared TO a.
vail myself ola supposed halfhour at my COM
mand, by eating at counter or retreshment table
! in the staton-house. But before | could taste
mouthiul discovered that had barely time to
check my baggage and procure ticket before the
| departure of the train. was moi before aware or
what now know by very disagreeabe expert
enee, that railroad time is always half an hour In
advance Of true time, chronological phenomenon
of which can give no solution. You can easily
imagine that this forced abstinence did not dispose
me 10 enjoy the two hours ride to Baltimore,
cially as found nearly every seat pre-occupied,
and some individuals monOpolizing two or three.
On my arrival, | rejoced TO find that | must
wait two hours for the train to Philadelphia
Not knowing the custom of The country, applied
for some refreshment at thu bar of hotel, but was
told by the officiating bay that must wait TIL SIX
o'clock, the ordinary supper. time. Feeling This
to be impossible, as had eaten nothing slncs
very early breakfast. withdrew, but was lmme-
diately recalled by the proprietor, who happened
| to be prolnenadlng on the street with distln-
guished looking gentleman, and who took me into
a small parlour, with the promise OF quick sup.
| ply The adjoining bar-room had been vocal
! with the wells of some vociferous inebrlaes; bat
these were now excluded by the landlord, VINO
! assured me that his house was not "of that des-
cripton" Their presence must have been entire
| " accidental and unusual, as the distinguished
| looking gentleman, who did me the honor TO ad.
dress me from the pavement through the open
window. solemnly assured me that the house was
one of the first responsibility. and kept by per-
son who had previously filled high office under
the United States.
| Here paid fourpeGce for the New York Her
aid of that morning, paper OF which had often
heard and felt great curiosity to see, but was
wearied and conlounded by the amount and varie
ty of its contents
Having given my checks to an agent on the
cars, was obliged to wait for the arrival OF my
baggage until almost every seal was taken again.
The journey from Baltimore TO Philadelphia was
chiefly after dark, but cool and rapid. We cross
ed the Susquehanna on Steamboat where refresh
ments were provided land then entered other cars,
the baggage passing through unopened. We
stopped short time both in Wilmington and
Chester The former struck me as large and
busy place.
| Ii was eleven o'clock before we reached the
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