The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-16
Life in Richmond and Petersburg.

Life in Richmond and Petersburg.
The habits, customs, manners, the mode OF
doing business. the amusements and the gen.
eral aspect of affairs in these famous cities,
somewhat unique and interesting at this time
Since Wilson cut the Danville road, an order
has been issued forbidiing the use Of the road
both north and south of the intersected portion,
and a meeting Of the stockholders has been
called in relation to it, The following notice
appears in the Richmond papers:
OxE HUNDRED ABLE BODIED Men WANT
ED.-Four hLndred dollars a month and board
viii be paid Tor hands TO work on the repairs
of the Richmond and Danville Railroad APP
pig 10 either OF the station agents along the
line, or TO II. Harter, Railroad Office, Rich
mond.
All the supplies that formerly came by way
Of the Weldon road are NOW forced to he
drawn distance of 80 miles on wagons, al d
the rebel troops are kept on one-thrd rations.
Their principal food is bacon, one third of a
pound TO each man daily. There is much
trouble in their camps.
The following is specimen of a young man
of extraordinary desires, WHO wishes to change
his mode of life:
/, the undersigned, do offer myself, with $780,
900, candidate for the matrimonial service
and hope all refined and accomplished Young
ladies will not think | am too forward, or have
forgotten the laws and rules of etiquette /
am just IL my hair beautiful light color:
my height about five feet. Any person or per
sons wishing to correspond with me, will ad.
dress Box $50, Petersburg p. o.
The papers are full of advertisements Of run
away slaves, and great rewards offered for
their arrest aud imprisonment so that the own
ers can get them again. Auction sales of ne
groes are frequent, and prices range high-in
confederate scrip. The following notice will
show in what estimation their own money
is holden by railroad managers:
OFFICE SoUTH. SIDE RAILROAD COMPANY,
Petersburg, July /, 1864.
On and after this instant the fare of passen-
gers aud freight on this railroad will be reeeiy-
ed in the present currency only at one-third its
value, and ia all cases the person paving will
make the exact change.
r. +. JACKSON, Treasurer.
Corn meal seems, from the following adyer-
tisement, TO be In great demand:
Corn MEAL.-0n account of the liberal
patronage We have received from our friends
the past week, we will be able TO supply one
hundred and sixty bushels OF corn meal at S42
per oushel. j. M. VENABLE & Co.
Amusements at Petersburg are now at an
snd by order Of the government. All the males
attached to the theatre are conscripted and
sent 10 the rifle pits in front of the doomed
city. The charming Katie, is a very patri-
otto young woman, and hopes a brighter day
will yet dawn upon her theatrical career. We
give her last card, which shows the state of So
ciety in Petersburg. They were fddling and
dancing Ia high glee till Grant and his hosts
came and surrounded them. What change
came over the spirit OF their dreams But
hear Katie:
Pheaix Hall-Extraordinar Attraction
Positively the last night OF Katie Estele. The
Management regrets that during the disturb
ed condition of our country she is compelled
TO close her theatre. The advance of the en-
envy on Petersburg renders it necessary that
all the gentlemen connected with her compa-
ny shodld no longer seek to amuse her citizens.
bat that they should fight for their "altars aud
their fires" She trusts that they will appre-
clate this act, which has cost her a vast amount
OF money, but which she thinks will be amply
repaid by the consideration that she has given
her means TO support her beloved country. In
taking her leave OF them, she cannot but pray
with the reunited hearts of her countrymen
that God viii give US a speedy, permanent,
and an honorable peace; and that IL will be
her privilege to return to Petersburg when il
shall be freed from the footsteps of The oppres-
sor. KATIE EsrFIIF
Thomas Brooks adyertises lost pig, and Of
fers reward of twenty dollars for his reeoy-
cry. The pig has white face and white feet.
the other part OF the body being coal black.
He is about six weeks old. and must be a sin
gularly looking animal. Mr.. Brooks, do doubt,
has the sympathy of all the Confederacy for
the loss OF his pig.
The question most often asked, "Well, have
they took your niggers ?" The reply is gene
rally 10 the affirmative, and these dealers in
human flesh AMI blood sympathise with each
other. Great fear is expressed that the North
will conquer the South, and negroes placed
In charge of plantations, while their masters
take the places Of their former slaves in the
held. That would indeed be sad humiliation
for these chiyalrie planters. The truth is, they
are made to believe almost anything il the
Yankees conquer them, and hence their des-
perate struggles. 1t is a remarkable fact that
large portion of the whites who live in the
vicinity of these cities aud in more retired
places, use similar language to the negroes.
One writer who haslong lived there says, zone
can scarcely distinguish the difference in the
language OF the lower class OF planters from
that used by their slaves. The reason is that
their only companions are negroes. ayes"
these poor planters will say, when asked if
their slaves have escaped, "they are clean done
gone. ] had right smart OF 'em for while,
but they soon Yanked 'em ALL"
what, is Bessie gone too.v "Yes sir, she
went dee fust one" Such questions and an
swers this writer has occasionally beard. The
truth is, negro slavery has terrible influence
upon the shareholders themselves, ndentirely
stops the progress of civilization in many mas
tiers. Aad its effects upon the children are
ten-fold worse. Jefferson understood it per-
fectly well, and long ago gave his opinion to
the world.
Children brought up 10 slavery aad having