The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-16
TIL E DISPATCH.
TUESDAY MORNING. .FEBRUARY ID. lsss
A RAMBLING LETTER.

| A RAMBLING LETTER.
! THiladeiptta.-A Odd Day--A Distinguished Pfusi
elm -Arcatectsre, ne 4eademyef Msac--4t .Sccn,
| on hs C,rs-itiitiBtore. its Fiae Baiidiseas. IL,
| Ifosperitg--Ths 4ye.c Ifal IN ftc apfo at Wash
ington- The Old and ne 1Se,c hcy--A H5rd Abosa
| Hotels. ss ~
| on THE RAIL, Feb. 18th, 1858.
| Yesterday was in Philadelphia. Oh. how cold
| was Wednesday night make yourself easy and
| comfortable dear friend, where you are, aud be
/ iieyc me you know not what keen cold wind Is
i In Richmond you never have IL. If you desire
particularly to feel such thng-to have your ears
nipped of and your nose tweakei and bitten until
it IA blue ard draped with icicles, you must come
| north Of Mason and Dixon. That luxury cannot
| be enjoyed on the line Of 36-30. Yesterday morn
| ing stepped out of my hotel and was Immediate
| ly saluted by the wind in the most chilling man.
/ ner. Ii knocked me about fearfully and sung
| around my head and wrappings ruthlessly. Oh. II
| was Terrible! No wonder Philadelphians fortify
themselves 30 strongly against winter, with their
double doors, snug chambers and hot anthracite
/ fires
had occasion to visit while in Philadelphia, DR.
GERHARD, the eminent physician. He is distn.
gnished especially for his skill in diseases of the
chest and throat; and in the finding out the cha
| racter and locality of disease in those parts by
auscutation be is considered preemnent lie Is like
most really able and learned men, remarkable for
| The simplicity of his manners and his affability-
lie enjoys, should say, extensive popularity in
Virginia; for the day had the pleasure to call oI
| him no less than three persons from the Old Do
| minion called to consult him about their cases.
i observe that rapid inroad has been made on
the architecture Of that staid city OF marble steps
| sils aud lntes. Many new dwel;ings of highly or.
namentai aud elegant styles have within year OF
| two been built, forming most agreeable nterrup
tion OF the monotony OF plain and uniform fronts
presented formerly by whole streets.
visited that pride Of Philadelphia, the Academs
| ef Kasfc, completed only the past year. 1t Is by
far the most capacious and grand establishment
/ of r. ind f..k,a
| most superb Opera house in the world. The New
| York Academy is of nearly the came proportions
! but is represented much inferior In beauty and
| architectural taste. The Opera of Trovatori was
preselted the night j was there. DAyGgI l..
GsAEGE, TAFFASELLI and BlGSARDI sustained the
principal cha a;ters. .hsoPera is one If the n O !,
difficult of the author Verdi, peculiar for the in
/ tricate music he composes. 1t was admirably
sung. Lagrange has deiiciously pure voice: bul
it is not quite strong as it has been. She acts
| well. DAngri acquitted herself admirably. She
is of the best singers and most spirited actors
among the prma donnR of the opera. TaffapeIlj
has lost none OF his power, and sings and acts with
| as much energy as ever. BIgnardi is very good
| tenor. The performance was excellent The b9use
was full and presented q scene that for elegance
and grandeur is ipdiscribable. 1t holds well seat
| ed about $500 persons. The ladies were dressed
very tastefuiiy, and the audieuce maintained an air
| Of ease and refinement which is not always me,
with in fashionable assemblages in large Northern
| cities The scenery and decorations OF the house
are by far the most admirable ever saw, and are
| alone worth a visit to the Academy. The edifce
does honor to the taste and public spirit of Phla
delphia. 1t must take great attractions TO main.
tain it. Thus far IL has had excellent entertain
ments and has been literally patronised.
| did not have the satisfaction of hearing Carl
f0RMEs, the great basso which regretted as he il
| the most renowned of the day.
| travelled In the same train with the singers
| in their journey from Philadelphia to Baltimore
| They were quite remarkable personages Some OF
| fhpru ma va n kab abla Mada Too
travels with four poodles, two parrots aud moe T.
ing bird. She, tall, striking looking lady, of de.
cfded e1pCesti)n, at muisd up, with her two in
terestiDg little daughters and her poodles near her
| Three of the dogs were as white snow and must
| have their toilet well attended to every morning:
for dogs, like children, will soil fine coats and re-
| Qure frequent washing and combiDg to look
| clean. Their mistress evinced great care for the
whole family, seeing that they were comfortable!
| An amusing scene occurred as we approached
| Wilmington. Two white headed boys entered the
! car, one with an accordan and the other a trian-
| gle, and stopping near Formes and not far from
| Madame L., commences serenade! The idea
that these little untutofvd Americans should pre-
| sumo TO make music for these musical celebrities
| grotesque that the whole car laughed out
| heartily. The accordean having blown out sen.
timeptal piece, after the of Lilly Dale, n
second part was played in quicker style, and the
| the smaller white head knocked of a Jig In
| negro fashion, with great animation. I observed
| that the toes of his clogs were worn through by
4
/ tap then upon the toe" The music was not at
| all agreeable to the dogs, whose highly educated
ears could not understand it! They were amazed
at the iBtrusion aBdas the boy with the ACCORDION
| advanced, they all set upon him with the most in
| dignant barking. The passengers greatly
| amused by the scene Mad. Lagrange herself Ell
j yed it very much; but she had to exert her most
positive authority before her pets would be quiet.
| / find that Baltimore has gone ahead finely in
| the direction of elegant buildings. The progress.
sve extravaganza of the age in architecture is as
| apparent there as in auy of the large cities. The
| buildings adjacent TO the Washington Monument,
| where a few years since there buildings
| at all-are both costly and elegant. Indeed, they
| vie with the superb mansions of New York. There
are many new 1iue stores on the principal streets,
which make great change in Baltimore These
| improvements speak the prosperity of the city,
| whose limits have extended with the most aston
| ishiDg rapidity. Among the fine buildings on
| Baltimore street, is the marble store of Messrs
| MURPHY d CO., the well known enterprising pub
| fishers and booksellers. l am much indebted to
my fr.and, Col. SPALDING, who now lives in Balti-
more for his courteous and hospitable attentions
| lie aided me much in seeing the most noticeable
| things OF baltimore. lie has in his possession
many curious and wonderful specimens of Japan
| ese and Chinese art, that greatly interested me.
| In Washington had the opportunity of seeing
| the new Representatives Hail. 1t is admirably
| arranged for visitors, the accommodations in the
| gallery being most extensive. The Hall is very
| gaudily Ornamented; but TO my eyes with a mis-
| erabiy unfortunate combination of colors The
ceiling would have looked better had it been plain
white.
The committee rooms most elegantly adorn
| cd with fresco paintings-the floors, laid with
beautifully yariegated tiles said to be very dura
! Bile, and on every hand you have marble-marble
| marble.
/ could but contrast this elegance with the
palmer appearance OF the old Representative Hail
| and Committee Rooms. Yet, l remembered the
/ men who used to move and think and speak in
| these apartments. If we compare with them, the
1 men who now represent the nation in the more
| magnificent Halls. what a falling off is there
/ Does the increased magnificence and extravaganza
/ of the capitol compensate for the decline in men.
! tai calibre, in dignity and public virtue OF the
national councils
| BY rule of the Heuse of Representatives, none
| but members and attaches of the house are admit
| ted upon the floor. The rule is proper and good
| in itself but after the scenes Of Friday night of
| last week, IL may be regarded supererogatOry as
visitors decidedly prefer to look on from their safe
| position in the gallery
| have given you very long letter; but before
| close, must commend to you and your friends,
| the Ia PERE HOUSE, of Philadelphia, which is the
best know of now In the Northern cities. Its to-
BILE Is unequalied AMI the kind and polite atten-
tions of those old favorites the Messrs. WARD al
ways make their guests easy and comfortable
BARNuM's, too in Baltimore, is good old house--
with npe spacious and comfortable rooms and
most excellent fare. Gentlemen tall back upon it
with satisfaction after having tried the fashiona
bic and fu.sy establishments Of the North.
A. II. c.
SuocEIYa OccuRRENcEs.-We publish below, the
particuiars of two shocking eTents, which we
hare noticed briefly heretofore: =.
The ntost heart.rending event, says tho Lewis
town fpal Democrat of the l1th, that we have
ever been called upon to chronicle, occurred in
I'll pln-e on Sunday night last, which resutted IN
the death of Mrs. Hannah Eisenbise. wife OF MAJOR