The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-18
THE DAY BOOK.

ana WINE ueTe illus WIltee ~ Ills paper
have frequently visited Norfolk before,
but my stay has never been protracted long
er than day or night. During my present
sojonrn have seen much of the place, and
have seen much of the place, ard | have
been NEST favorably impressed with its
people and its general appearance. The
people here have been charged with apathy,
q lack of public spirit, and even !ndolence,
but | have been unable to discover anyth ing
of the kind The public buildings compare
fayorably with any 10 the State or the
South N ortolk has one of the prettiest and
most tastetuly arranged theatres 10 the
Union, aud public hall (Johnson's) which
for beauty artistic style OF hnish, dimensions
and acoustic, properties, has been pronounced
by artists and travelers,one Of the beat in the
land. The Churches in Norfolk are large and
handsomely finished interiorly, while exter-
nally their architectural beauties are ac-
knowledged BY all. The Catholic Cathedral
but recently constructed at a cost OF SS0, O0O
or more, is one OF the most elegnant build
ings of its kind on the American continent.
She has two large first class hotels, and both
well kept. The private residences OF Nor
folk, taken as a whole, look as well as those
of any city in Virginia, and some OF them
are truly palatial in size and style. Her
corporate limits embrace as much territory
either OF those cities, every inch OF street
within her boundary lines is graded, curbed
and paved. Her Main street boasts as large,
well arranged and handsomely finished stores
of every description, as have ever seen any
where, She has banking house built en-
tirely of granite, and custom house con-
structed of the same solid material, at cost
of $500, 600.
A new market house is about to be erected
which am informed by the architect, will
be an ornament to the city. Her public
hacks are numerous, and strickly prohibited
by ordinance, to charge more than l213 cents
for the conveyance Of a passenger to or from
any portion of the city previous to nine o.
clock at night and after that hour, rs cents
is all that can be legally demanded. By rail
road and steamboat, the Norfolk people have
access to every portion OF the world. Pro
visions OF all kinds are cheaper than they are
at Petersburg or Richmond and fish oysters,
wild game and good brandy, abound in the
greatest profusion. The people are social,
refined and intelligent to high degree, and
the female portion the prettiest ever saw.
These are some OF the advantages enjoyed
by Norfolk, as they occur to me at the mo-
ment. Others could be named, did time and
space permit. Then | ask, how is it, that
Norfolk has been subjected to the charges of
"slow. coach, sold fogy," behind the age,'
etc? | answer, that the charges are untrue.
She has been unjustiy stigmatized,to use the
strongest tern, land all one need do to relieve
his mind of such an impression is to visit the
city as | have done, look upon her stores, her
churches her places OF amusement, ner well
paved streets see her people as | have seen
them; enjoy their hospitality, and eat the
finest fish and the tettest oysters that ever
reposed beneath old Neptune's waters?
have extended this letter beyond reas-
enable limits already, but | must crave
space enough to say few words OF mine
host, Walters, of the National and his ex-
cellent assistants. Although crowded to
overlooking, and although was a stranger,
Walters took me in. He not only took me
in, but he provided me good lodging by
night, and food fit for the gods by day. His
assistants, Mr.. Camp and Mr.. Moody, the
latter once oil the Bollingbrook, were beset
by nngry throng, but they stood up
to their duty maniully, and did not hear
the first complaint. The servants were at
tentiye, the food well selected and we'll cock
ed, end the bed rooms in excellent order
When business or pleasure calls me in this
direction again, desire no better camp to
shelter uader than can find at the National.
Wag suggests that my signature is mai
apropos. He thinks that rotanda would
be more becoming, but as | generally strive
to be on the square still adhere TO.
Curiosities of Literature. An Encyclo-
poedia has Just been completed in Germany,
in two hundred and forty-two volumes. The
first volume saw the lig ht at Berlin as far
back as the year 1873, and the last has been
published this season; so that the work has
been published 'eighty-six years without in
terruption. Only six editors have been con-
nected with the work land their terms of ser.
vice have averaged fourteen years each. A
foreign liter AIRY journal, in. announcing the
completion OF the work, says:
This was q steady and continuous pubica-
ton, which is the most remarkable feature
about it; the work never having been inter
rupted for even single year during the
whole period. Whatever happened--let
there have been any amount OF natural, poll
tical or religious onvulsions--kings died or
been deposed, great religions order Chat
OF the Jesuits) suppressed, numerous wars
begun and finished, Trans Atlantic repub-
lie sprung into being, French Revolution
transacted in all its phases, a Napoleon lived
and died-still the publication OF this Eney
clopedia went on, some three volumes OF it
yearly appearing, and as the editor or edi-
tors oft died OF suceessively their functions
being discharged by others, who, like soldi
ers,oR the battlefield stepped into the places
left vacant by their fallen comrades.
Emploun,eat of Komen.-A writer in the
Worcester Spy says that according to the
census of the United Kingdom, taken in
1857, next to agriculture, strangely enough,
the fishing interest stands as the largest EN-
ployer of women. In the pilchard fishery
there are some thousands. The Jersey oys
ter fishery alone employs one thousand. :
Then follows the herring, cod, whale and
lobster fisheries. From this class came
Grace Darling. There are 200,0 900 female
servants and6O0, 900 business women. One
item in,the latter list was $4,000 Butcher
wives--women who do not merely preside
over the business, but buy stock, put oowh
meat, and drive a cart if necessary
Penn's Mansioa.- mansion 10 Which