The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1858-02-24
Editorial Correspondence.
RicAm ond. Feb. 22d., 1876,

ySotNi'A1' eeitSitASO''j ~>.N:
standing the great temptation to proiana-
ton of the Sabbath and the difficulty Of
avoiding it, | think it was not violated.
The sinuosites of the James river, more
tortuous than the political pathway Of any
demagoguc, were threaded safely, in all
their crooks and wiudings, under the ex-
perieneed pilotage Of Captain Williams;
Mr. k!assler exerted his best endeavors
to make the too large multitude as COM
Portable as circumstances would allow; the
going in for supper in detachments, and
waiting your turn to slip in before all the
seats were occupied, with incidental OBJ
servations upon your fellows, furnished
the principal amusement of the otherwise
tedious hours; UNTIL at about four this
morning, we got into Richmond. Having
fortified myself with breakfast on board
the boat, l walked to town, in company
with trusty friend. Even at that early
hour, there were many corners and goers
in the streets, on the qui vive for the fun.
Banners were already flying here and
there, and as it grew later, the pavements
became more dcnsely thronged and the
excitement increased. Strangers and de-
nizens. all seemed agog with expectancy.
Pending the commencement ofthe days
ceremonies, strolled about the town and
cast patrouizing look at the public
buildings. Tie new Custom House. de-
signed by A. B. Young, Esq, of Boston,
is a handsome granite edifcc, if anything,
surprising that at Norfolk. The State
House is an exceedingly dilapidated and
extremely grotesque old pile, III the con-
ception of which the attainment Of unri-
vailed usiincss seems to have been the
great object The design Of this structure
was obtained by Thomas Jefferson III
| France. The interior is as iuconvenient
as tie outside is uncomely. The seats in
the Senate gallery are so arranged that it
is impossible, while seated on them, to
see more than the top of the Presidents
chair. There is truly republican SIM
plicity--not to use the impolite word
meanncss-in the desks Of the two halls of
legislation, and the other furniture In
the rotunda, however, stands fine statue
of Washington, said to be very accurate,
and from which several bronze casts have
been made. l met our gentlemanly Sena-
tor, DR.. Mckenney, who has my thanks
for his courtesies.
Richmond is hilly-although, since ma
ture is responsible for that, | will not
cavil at the circumstance-and then, it is
all tie more picturesque and slightly
This town is also muddy; it certainly is
at present, as my boots and the boots Of
Thousands Of others, could testify.
With that delay which usually charac-
terizes the execution of a programme, the
grand procession was not fully formed
and in motion until hard upon noon.-
From window was SO fortunate as to
secure, took bird 's-eye view of the long
and gorgeous line. There were flashing
arms, banners, brilliant with green and
gold and scarlet and blue, coats of many
colors, belted Knights-of Malta, Masonic
lodges, Red men, in aboriginal costume,
hremen with sayly festooned machines"
and big public dignitaries carefully shut
up in close carriages, like the puppets of
the Snowman only to be exposed when
the show begins. On and on it came, the
stretching line, and vast was the multi
tude Of attendant darkies and small ur-
chins. One band of colored musicians,
frem Petersburg believe, attracted con-
siderable notice, from the animation with
which they played and the patriotic spirit
with which they entered into things
The procession occupied about three quar-
tiers of an hour in passing the point where
l was stationed; and, since l hardly think
they slackened in their march for the sake
Of my reportorial admiration-even if
they knew was there, which is doubtful
i conclude its length must have been
fully three miles.
BY several adroitly -made "short cuts.'
| succeeded in heading off the procession;