Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-29
From the Richmond Examiner. Jan o

In the habitable globe there is no place
SO delightful as the Capital of the South.
ern Confederacy. For permanent resi-.
dence, it will compare with the cities of
Arabian romance. Haroun AlraschiId
would go mad with joy if he could become
a citizen OF Richmond. A six mouths
residence in one OF our hotels or boarding
houses, would afford Scheherazade materi.
al for history that would keep the Sultan
an axe for the remainder of his natural
lite, even supposing that to be prolonged
beyond the brief days of Methusaleh. or
more extended years of the gods of Hid
dostan. There are people OF rude tastes
who talk eloquently of the great capitals
OF Europe. There are men who love to
live even in Paris. Human nature is very
strange. But persons of refinement aud
Of culture, the world over, could they on
y be apprised of It's Incompatible attrac-
lions, would fly with the spread of raven
Gus eagles to Richmond, as the most de-
slrabIe residence perhaps in the whole
universe.
We speak calmly, for We desire to ex-
cite no anticipation that cannot be super.
abundantly realized. Consider the innu-
merable delectations of this Metropolis.
1t is the seat of the Confederate Govern
ment. So careful has the President been
in The selection of his associates, that there
is not a member of his Cabinet who is
not profoundly versed in the sciences and
in ancient Languages, while many of them
speak COptic tami!iarly. The lowest mes
senger in the most obscure Department
has history at his fingers ends and the
philosophy of abstraction in the palm of
his hand.
4 purity of life, dignity of manner.
an elegance in conversation, depth of
thought and urbanity of disposition, mark
each and every member OF the Admins
lraton, and all of their subordinates. to
degree which has never been approached
in the annals of political society, and
which renders an acquaintance with them
happiness almost unspeakable. Free
and cordial association with natures so lof.
ty and so endowed cannot fail to ennoble
al who come in contact with them. 1t is
enough to move one to tears to think of
the unapproachsble supremacy of the nor
ais and manners OF Richmond in the great
future which awaits Us.
But it is no. in b gh official circles ONLY,
that the delights of Richmond lite and So
cety are to be found. The effote, vapid
and conceited race of f. F.'s has been
submerged under az inundation of fresh
adventurous spirits from all parts Of the
Contederacy and elsewhere. The fantas-
tical days of the Wickhams, Gambles,
Rardolphs, Leighs, and Wirts has passed
away for ever; We rejoice in new err,
and miscellaneous population, troubled
with none OF the ridiculous airs of the so
called gentry.
The olden times have paesed away,
And glorious are the new.
Here is the sweet Baltimore plug, adjoining
the corners OF our principal thoroughfares.
Here are the useful and industrious enuyi9
of the Departments at Washington.
The new man, the garroter, is here;
though we see him not, save in the prints
OF bis fingers on the Threats of unarmed
citizens. In the palatial stores on Main
street, once Inhabited by Yankees devoted
to the Union, we find brawny Italians
vending apples at half dollar apiece, and
nondescrpt Southerners selling minute
plugs OF wretched tobacco at 25 cents.
Stout Marylanders occupy rooms on the
cross streets, and there throw away block
ade boots and shoes with reckless liberali-
~. Able bodied refugees, from God
knows where, swarm in our cellars and
abandon themselves with noble self-ab-
negatlon to the traffic in putrid oysters
mixed with mean whisky.
Substitute agents follow their uuremu-
nerative voc alton in nameless places ex.
tor5ioners roll in the wealth accumulated
from everything that the earth produces
or the hand of man can fashion; bawds
in the silks of Tyre and Sidon and
the jewels OF Samarcand illamine and per
fume our sidewalks; gamblers erect their
towers on every hand whilst,
as if to crown this splendid concentration
OF social ornaments, the verminous desert
or parades his rags IN ostentatious defiance
alike of civil and of military Authority.
The variety of our people is not their
only charm. We are told that the worn
out race which once inhabited this city
were distinguished for their gentle man.
ners. No such effeminacy characterizes
the lusty and enterprising population of
the new era. The spirit of freedom is
broadly manifest in them. II is beauti-
fully exemplifed in the Italian fruiBerer,
who with difficulty refrains from kicking
you out of doors if you refuse to paw him
& dollar an ounce for his peanuts. The
small tailor, suddenly becomes rich, is
speechless with Indignation if you dare ask
him to unbend bis dgoiy in the contemp-
tible operation of mending your clothes.
The co0bler, once too happy to half.
sole your shoes, scowls at you furiously if
:! Gu approach him on any such mission.
LOW that leather is worth its weight in
gold. The saadler, the gasftter, the gro
Ger, tho tallow chandler, the merchants in
coal and in wood-ln fact, all who have
aught to sell, lndul ge the insolence of pc
cunlaFy independence to a degree which
makes Intercourse with them infinitely ex.
hilarating. The entire absence of OBJ.
sequlousness on the part of our modern
shopkeepers is one Of the most encouraa-
ing features of the new times in this
Confederation.
An exceedingly low estimate of the
fluctuations OF the life IN Richmond would
be formed if the account should not in.
clude the nominal price of provisions. the
astounding healthtulness of the air, and
the abundance of the precious metals.-
Space does not permit Us to dwell at
length upon these engaging features of
Richmond existence during the Second
War tor Ind pendence. When a moor
man is compelled to buy offal of opulent
nlilers at price which would stagger a
millionaire and when beef at 60 or 50
cents the pound removes every molar in
the jaw OF mans head, and reduces his
bicospids to the circumference of a cam
brio needle IF he have the bardihood to
attempt to chew il, every candid mind
must confess that the innrnalist mhn i