The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-06-02
A STROLL own THE LONG parper.

A STROLL OVER THE LONG BRIDGE.
Since the advent Of pleasant weather and the
DOMINIC by Dame Nature Of her summer robes,
hundreds Of our eitiseps have awaited themselves
Of the opportunity Of stealing swhils away out
side Of the city mit to enjoy the fragrant breezes
Of the country. We yesterday indulged in PERI
palette excursion Of this kind selecting the Virginia
side Of the Potomac our objective point for the
purpose Of witnessing the success Of the lovers Of
the pisohtorial art, who may DO every ine af-
ternoon on the Long Bridge adopting every inge-
Nous device TO translate the unsuspeeting fishes
from their watery element to mother earth.
Az we pass unmolested from Fourteenth street
upon the bridge. we cannot but note the transition
from war to peace, and the consequent absence Of
the military formalitiss with which we were, but a
few months since, compelled to conform. We miss
the blue-coated sentinel at the guard-house, whose
measured and stately tread, and his " Halt! your
pass, sir, formerly gave unpleasant visions Of
castles In which political offenders were confined,
and breathe freer when we SEQ the old sentry-box
gone, and not vestige' Of military surveillance
remaining. But here comes train Of cars from
Washington, bound to Richmond the once great
stronghold Of the rebellion. -.
Tho cars are crowded with passengers and as the
train slowly rolls over the new bridge at our Ieft
again reminded Of the past and instinctivsly
recall the perious days in our nations history
when long trains iu continuous procession were seen
en- route to Virginia, bearing Thousands Of armed
men, many Of whom but touched the sacred soil
never again 10 return. A short distance onward
and we come upon an old darkey uncle" who
exhibits with satisfaction handsome string Of cat
fish and yellow perch which he had caught with In
the last hour. The line used by the old darkey 10
not one which professional fisherman would affect,
being about half the size Of m ordinary clothes
cord but he says "it has done cotched right smart
o. FISH, and If success be q criterion old ''uncen Is
4 good fshest
An along tho bridge, until we come to the draw,
we end scores Of amateur fishermen, composed Of
Department clerks and Juveniles, both white and
black, engaged in thisexhilarating sport. At one
point we And venturesome youth below the bridge,
psrehed upon slender piece of timber, invariably
casting his hook in close proximity to that of his
more fortunate neighbor, whose constant acquisi.
tions of svery perch and monster catfish have pro.
voked the ambitious Juveniles emulation. He does
not meet with the success he anticipated, however
and soon hauls in his line and departs to another
this time is rewarded by respectable string Of the
pisoatOrial product We solicit his fish for rea.
sonable sum, but he refuses to SELL saying that hs
was sent out by his mother to procure the morn.
ings breakfast, and that, should he return wihou,
them, she would beat him. We cease our solicita.
ton, and giving him a contribution of fractional
currency, pass on, bringing to mind the old saying
that " one half the world knows not how tho Other
half lives"
The sun Is just setting over Arlington Heights al
We enter Virginia. The tonantless forts from the
hills before US, with their guness ramparts, again
bring back the unweloome scenes of 1851, and we
turn from them only to rest our game on the Airing
ton mansion on the heights to our right, looming
up among the trees surrounding 1t on every side
and almost inducing the belief that II Is q grand
tempe reared in honor Of the thousands Of our deaG
heroes who sleep beneath its shadow rather thar
the former home Of him who was educated at tn.
expense Of the Government which he afterwards at
tempted to destroy. Once into Virginia we cannot
resist the temptation of strolling few yards up
the beach 10 witness the hauling of the seine Tn,
shAd senson is over, but herring are still caugh
daily in considerable numbers. There are several
small cabins at the fishing station each Of which II
furnished with small stove or fire place, tier OIL
hunks, such as are commonly used in soldiers bar
racki, a stool or two. and the scantiest supply o
culinary utensils. In these rude tenements iiv,
the fishermen, most Of whom arc Virginia contra
bands, now engaged In slowly taking in the seine
This process is generally understood that n,
description will be necessary.
As the seine approaches within few rods of tn,
shore the ripping Of the water near its outer lin