The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-31
LOCAL, MATTERS.

81 L. - u.
NJ Tsscai Obarsntioas--Of all the grief THAT
harr:srs the distressed, rnre the most bitter IL
a quiet day, when the patient Local wan
ders east ard VI es', yet never linda an item IN
his way neither incident. accident, fire or
fight, marder or suicide, from morning I'LL
night Yesterday WAS one of the days On
which, IA a celebrated classic writer has OBJ
served incidents were rs scarce as hens
teeth Speaking of hers reminds us Of A.
Shanghai fowl which we cav last week; IT
had four legs, las snre as eggs is eggs,j and we
should like TO have some naturalist tell us
what particular species the creature belonged
TO. SO well furnished WIS it with the means
of locomotier, that it must have been Yam
kee, at all events. With regard to Yankees,
we may state that there were twelve fresh ar
rivals at the prisons yesterday but there Is no
very strong anxiety for any more OF that sort
of game The luxury is too expensive in
these times. If anybody wants to lind out
anything about the price OF luxurles, OF
the domestic kind, let him go through
our city markets early in the morning II
he be a bachelor, it may settle his opinion
verv suddenly upon the subject Of matri-
mony for however much of romance and
bliss there may be in welded life, ore cannot
divest his mind of the practical truth that
wives aud chill dren must ea3 Speaking of
children reminds US that the holidays are al
most Over, and the now vacant sehoo l-houses
will very soon resound with the prattle of
tiny voices, almost battling the patient peda-
gogue's efforts to teach the young idea how to
shoot. BY the way, learning how to shoot is
not now confined TO the young idea. Wehave
some sharply disciplined schools, with accom-
plished teachers and myriads of pupils devo-
ted to that particular bran CHI of experimental
science; and the experience of the past year
has shown that the practice has not been ell
L. a., tt,.Nv
offers every advantage for a fight, the Yam
KEGS remain in their strongholds, and give our
men no chance to present them with Southern
farms-six feet by two. A remark upon the
weather brings up the ice question. The
ponds have frozen over for two or three nights
past, but the mid day sun dissolves the ice,
and dissipates all prospect OF brandy smashes
next summer; while the boys look with
despair upon their rusty and long unused
skates. Still, it Is some advantage to have
open navigation, even though there is not
much doing in that line. Cargoes of wood
constantly arrive from below, which Is gene
rally used for army purposes. Oyster boats,
too, come in occasionally, and the market is
pretty well supplied Prices seem to be reg
ulated by the demand as the demand has
been immense during the whole season, deal
ers find no difficulty i'll fixing their own
''iigures" We believe everybody likes oys
tiers, and will have them, no matter shat the
cost Ii Is dangerous for an individual to
drink too much while Oh his way to inspect
the oyster fleet (of two boats as one did yes
terday. He was badly beaten by somebody,
and the officers picked him up and carried him
to the cage. There was no other arrest du
ring the day that we could hear of. 1t was
very quiet day-a great many sturdy soldiers
mot always steady, though about the streets
"a great many ladies promenading-an a
great many cheerful faces, Notwithstanding
the Northern barbarians assume that Rich
mond presents picture OF despair.
Mayors Court-It was gratifying to note
thin attendance at the temple of Justice on
Yesterday, though it was an exception to the
general rule on Monday morning. We are
encouraged to hope that the votaries of the
bottle have found some balm i'll Gilead more
soothing than the expressed Juice of corn or
rye; anu if this be SO IN Christmas times, what
may we not expect when the social machinery
gets fairly and sGuarely to work again III the
ordinary wayl Only three drunken individuals
appeared yesterday upon the call OF the roll i;
one was discharged, one committed, and the
third required to give security for his good
behavior hereafter. The following cases were
also disposed of.
Patrick Shay and John Doland, two fast
boys, following the example set lii Broad
street on Friday, kindled d rousing fire on he
luckily for themselves, went TO tearing one of
Mr.. Crenshaw's houses down to feed the roar
ing flame. The police suddenly put stop to
the fun, and the Mayor yesterday ordered them
into winter quarters.
Mary Donahoe had a shawl which Mary
Gleason claimed; Mary No. WAS arrested and
confronted with her ser, but the proof of
guilt was lacking and she was discharged from
custody. The shawl was given TO Mary No.
., who proved the ownership of the property.
Patrick Mccarthy was arraigned to answer
a charge of threatening personal violence to
Mary Valentine, who testified that he turned
his mule into her premises. and she turned
it out again; that he then threatened to burn
her house, and tear down her fence, and called
her drunkard, and everything else he could
lay his tongue to. Mccarthy protested that
he entertained no malice towards hs accuser;
but had turned the mule into her lot in p,ir-
suance of custom established by former
owner of the brute. The Mayor thought
proper to settle the difficulty by requiring
sac usual surety.
A fine of s. was imposed upon William
Houck for selling ardent spirits without a
license.