The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-25

not long since, very humDle lOOklDg mouse,
which seemed, even. 10 it's decay, as if it had
known better days, saifrend who was with
me, and, who had seen great deal of life,
remarked to me- r.There is a place, in
which have dined often at the table of the
gentleman who owned ii, with the gayest
company, and the finest society, in Alexan-
dria-and where the hospitality Of the host,
was recompensed by the good .hdmor, wit.
and intellect of his guests-where boun-
teous feast was spread, where the richest
wines were quaffed-and where refinement
prevailed and lent to the entertainments "a
grace not to be surpassed" He assured me,
farther, that modern lady 10 new Alexan-
dria, upon looking at the dimensions Of the
dining room Of this mansion, would he, very
apt to turn up her nose in contemplating
declare it to be an impossibility that din
ner party could have been enjoyed in 50
confined space All! dear lady-it was
not only enjoyed--but enjoyed ten times as
much as most Of those now given in splen.
did apartments, with the sound of your
voice echoing along the lofty ceilings, and
the pictures on the walls not discernable in
the dim distance. .5,..s, .s....,
l left home for my present residence in
another part of the State, when this Alexan-
dria feeling prevailed, if not in its pristine
vigor, at least, to very considerable extent.
l left here when the citizens preferred their
own people to any other people-when they
con6ded in those who had long been with
them-when they thought it point of duty
to rally to the support of those whom they
knew well-when they, other things being
equal, bestowed their ouors or their favors
upon their townsmen for years, rather than
upon new corners or Adventures whose
merits had yet to be tested, however specious
mi ght be their pretensions. To have labored
well and faithfully, in ones business or vo-
cation for years, either as a professional
man, merchant, or mechanic, was of itself,
d great recommendation, emitting the indi,
vidual to the good will and respect Of his
rieighbors; but when, in addition to this. he
had a large family to support, and fortune
had not smiled always On him, or he had {,
not been able to accumulate a competence,
these things secured him the favor and coun-
teuance Of those in more affluent cilcum:
stances, and never failed to surround him
with friends, who were true because they
i
proved friends in times of need! ssl
= Subsequently, cannot "speak by theH
card for my intercourse with my old and
beloved home, was mainly through letters
with some cherished companions of my
Younger days who still lived in the old town,
md the regular and constant reading of the
Gazette, which then had been in
he family more than quarter OF century.
These were still full of the old Alexandra
Alexandria sentiments--re-
lected Alexandria customs. And gathering
ny ideas from them, still lived in the yfa'
niliar atmosphere of my youth. There did |
come, however, at last, change-impercep-I
sibly, suppose. do not know when ever
was more annoyed about public matter,
than was few years ago, in the year, 49,
when one day stopped at country inn in
, village in Fauquier county, and found
acked up over the fire place a sheet Of fools
cap paper, on which was written, in irony
and sarcasm, list Of the public officers in
with the COUNTIES in Virginia.
from which they came;-showing that all the
neighboring country had supplied incum-
bents (vh, had just arrived ia town) for
nearly all the Offices sherifs, auditors,
clerks of court, town councillors, &c, &c.
almost to the exclusion of the older citizens
and all the thanks, outside, the old town
received, was a sarcastic squib for public
in country inn! Of course, OF
the gentlemen named l knew nothing-and, |
therefore, am bound to presume. they were
all good and competent but, then, it
did look SO strange! l felt and
knew then that even in the old town innoya-
ton had arrived change not for the bet
ter, TO "put the finest point y upon the mat
ter. For there is not only no justice, but no
policy in such proceedings, People abroad
respect a people just in proportion as they
hon. oolyas A cbnuid