The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-28

be sighted, and that Is the necessity of greater
protection to navigation on the entire Pacific
coast
Peace, Pleasure and Plenty.
During the month Of August 1864, General
Grant was extending his lines around Peters
burg; General Sherman, after ordering all su-
perluous baggage to the rear, was on his way
to Atlanta. and General Sheridan was quietly
mastering his forces preparatory to clearing
the Valley. On every side were signs of war.
But In April last Columbia's kaleidoscope was
roughly shaken by the cannonading in front of
Petersburg, and as the smoke cleared away the
rebellion collapsed. Then the glasses-which
for four years had been darkened by smoke
from many battle ield-began to assume the
rosy hues Of peace. The American eagle cast
his barbed arrows to the earth, and, clutching
the Star Spangled Banner in his talons, mount
ed aloft with joyous scream, which was heard
the world over, telling all nations that the
mighty problem Of selfgovernment had been
solved, and that the American Union had
arisen from it's baptism of fire and blood
stronger and more powerful than ever before.
Then over the length and breadth of the
land the eagle few with lightning speed. One
wiry talon was amicably clasping a white
doves delicate claw, and together they carried
in their beaks the olive branch of pesSe. Then
commenced tho reign Of pleasure. It was on
no puny scale, but by wholesale, that the Amer
lear people went into the pursuit of pleas
ura AS when the rebellion had to be crushc..,,
ro;,lions trod the war nath. SO wh,.o The war
-er -. r--. ~ 60 eas.- z.
/ was over millions rushed to the haunts OF
pleasure. Vigorously the hammer and saw
were piled, fixing up bathing houses and bed
steads. The painters brush dabbed away with
lightning-like celebrity to rejuvenate watering
place hotels, which had become somewhat
seedy during tue four years Of war. Milliners
and dressmakels, tailors and bootmakers ram
about almost distracted at the number of or
doris and minute directions received from their
patrons. But this hubbub and excitement was
agreeably broken in upon by the tramp, tramp,
tramp of our blue-coated and bronzed veterans
marching gaily home from the war. Colum-
bias eyes flashed proudly as she welcomed
them back to the capital Of their country.
From thence by boas and rail they started for
their homes, all hearts being filled with
College Commencements, at every public
and private festive gathering, and at
our watering places, these heroes of the
war were deservedly the most honored guests.
AS the heat Of summer increased, so the fun
grew fast and furious Bathing and betting,
dining and dancing, flirting and fishing, horse
racing and misunderstanding, together with all
the other pleasant etceteras which divide the
attention and take up the time of those in pur-
suit OF pleasure, have been INDUCED in this
summer to an excess which has never before
been equalled During a short respite in these
pleasurablc pursuits the American eagle paused
to wipe a drop Of perspiration from his beak
lantic (oot by telegraph), blaudly inquired of
the amazed monaEchics on the other side
"whether they ever saw anything like it be-
fore?" Their answer is supposed 10 have been
received by Father Neptune, as one end of the
cable now lies buried in the ooze and sand Of
mid-ocean, among the big and little fishes.
Columbia smiled at the vagarics of her
feathered champion, and, after pausing 70 watch
the amusements of her children, turned 10 take
stock Of her stores, now that the mist and
smoke OF battle had cleared away before the
sun of peace and prosperity. She turned TO
the corn fields and orchards Of the West, and
saw the golden grains ripcning in the sum- and
already bowling their heavy heads 10 the earth.
while thousands Of trees were groaning be-
meath their loads OF luscious fruit To the !
Territories beyond tho Rocky Mountains she |
then cast her eyes, and bcheld thousands of
tons of The precious metals lying imbcdded in
the earth, and waiting but for the pick and |
shovel of the miner 10 be added TO the riches
of her people. Nearer the Atlantic scaboard
she saw streams OF oil rushing up from tho
bowels Of the earth, while around them cities
were springng up like Aiaddins iamed palace. I
From the far of rice fields and cotton panta-
tons Of the sunny South there came TO hor ears
the hum of labor, telling that there the raw
ages OF war were fast disappearing. All
around she saw thousands Of her warriors in
want OF employment, and from across the
ocean ships were coming laden with the sur
plus population Of the overcrowded cities Of
tho Old World; but she fel. no fear for their |
future, after seeing The many signs Of plenty in
her broad domains.
ANDREW JOHNSON IN RTcuMOND--lS6f AND |
l865.-1he citizens of Richmond the other day, /
in public meeting. resolved that they shave
learned with feelings Of the livcllest satisiac-
ton that thcre ID some probability Of their city