St. Cloud Democrat., 1863-04-09

ideal Of one Of those elegant, aristocratio,
hospttable r:ansioqs you read about ia
Mrs, Soathworth's novel; ind elsewhere ;
aud .l'ere'is not ! house inst. Cloud, not
even Mrs. l. 3 sbanty, that i not
more comfortable simply because her
cook stove waraas her domicile, and that
this with expensive and ornamental heat
ing apparatus cannot be heated. Here
have l been since seven o'clock this morn
ing, and after having 6rc all night, try
Ing to yet my room warm--so warm that
l could sit at the table, three feet from
! the fire, and write. Athalf past eleven
gave it up. and with all the clothing l
should wear in Minnesota in mid winter,
have wrapped my shawl around me, taken
slate on my knee, got my feet on the
stove, or whatever It's uamo may be, and
have sat down to shiver and write. For
two weeks in the last of March I have
been buying coal at the rate Of FIVE tons a
! year, at ten dollars tor, in the vain ef.
fort to warm one room, and out of this
time have had it comfortable about twelve
hours in all. This is fair specimen Of
the waste in the one item of fuel which
characterises al the dwellings I have no.
ticed in this Southern built city. Had it
been the beginning of winter I should
have sent to Philadelphia for a stove
within the first three days after 1 took
possession, and no respectable Yankee
would stand such contrivance more than
week. '@:'' ., '..' ,-:' '''
But it was the great Union meeting Of
last evening 1 sat down to shivcr over and
write about. A Union meeting was an
nounced at the Hall Of Representatives,
at five o'clock. We went at four o'clock
and found tho front seats of the gallery
nearly all occupied. Extra chairs had
been placed on the floor so as to afford
seats for as many as possible. In the
space Immediately before the S. leaker's
stand, six largo stuffed chairs, from some
Of the adjoining rooms, were placed for
the President and members of Cabinet. -
Half dozen rows of seats behind these
were reserved for naval and army officers,
and other distinguished folks. Police off,
GERS we're stationed in every aisle. A
large body Of committee men with badges
were present and at half past four the CEN
tral door to the floor was opened, and it
was sight to sit above and see the stream
of eager, hurrying people-nen, women
and children-pour il, pour in, pour in
For one hour and half they came, and
they kept on coming. At first men took
chairs, but one by one, and row by row,
were bowed out by polite committee men
and their places filed by women. Then
row after row of reserved seats were CIV
en- up to them, and still they came. One
wondered where the invited guests were
to be put. The Reporters gallery which
is directly over the Speakers chair was
occupied by the Great Marine Band
They performed two pieces, both of which
were familiar, but I could not recall the
name of either, and the music was Of the
very finest.
At door to the left of the Speaker s
stand troop Of naval officers entered,
were received by great portion of the
audience rising, and with loud and con-
tinued applause. Commodore Foote was
eagerly sought for and pointed out. They
with those who came with them, filled all
the remaining seats and no place was left
for President or Cabinet.
At half past five the meeting was or
ganized by calling the Mayor Of the city
to the chair. He made some remarks
which were not generally heard as his
voice is poor.
Rev. DR.. Sunderland, Chaplain Of the
Senate, pronounced an impressive prayer;
which was generally heard and general in
its terms. This gentleman has happy
faculty Of steering clear Of shoa]s-does
not mention subjects about which there
is a difference Of opinion amongst ortho
dox folks-and so, Of course, did not refer
to the cause Of danger to the Government
willie he prayed for its preservation.
I One of the Committee called on th<
band for Hail Columbia, and as they struck
up the familiar air, the whole audience
arose to their feet and with loud cheers
waving of haudkerchiefs, and clapping 0
hands, greeted our national anthem. B!
th;a t;ma tho galleries were densely pack