The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-05-23
Letter from Asa Hartz
JAceuE O'D1ausrz. Eag.:

JAcpuE @ 'D1aUSrz. Ear:
/ Ny DEAR BowER-I am glad The doctor
vaccina.ed me before / left home.
| Vaccination is thought to be good
thing. my dear Bower, as preventive OF
certain loathsome diseases. and believe
is. Atany rate am sound sound, my
! Bower, On the general goose.
Qaittiag the rural shades of my country
home, l recently paid visit to Washington
and to New York. | was anxious to see
aud hear all that was to be seen and heard,
and man possessing due amount Of curl
osity is apt to have his weakness grati6ed
in one or both those places.
Washington is big thing in its way, and
its way is peculiarly its own. You are
probably aware, my Bower, that OF late
years people are in the habit of picking out
the craziest man they can find, and Of send
ing those so chosen to the Central Asylum
ut Washington. There they are permitted
to give free vent to all the ya-aries Of dis
tempered imagination, and each mans
ldiosylc,acy 6nds an airing. True, some
times you will find an exception to this
Iri!e, but it is rare. Forinstance, my Bow
er, some warped intellect, an inmate OF the
asylum. whose days have been passed ina
study Of representative government, takes
! up the laughable idea that the great Amer
lean people have Constitution which gov
pms he conduct Of law makers. He ls
insane enough to think that everybody else
hugs the same singular deusion. He grows
eloquent on the subject, but is generally
brought to grief by some Of the less crazy
of his associates.
A>short time since | visited the Lunatlc
Asylnm at Washington for the first time.
Went into both wards of the building. It's
a fine house. and the magnifcence thereof.
no doubt. has modifying influence over
the inmates.
! When reached the hall used by those
facetiously called representatives. gentle
man from Unowhere was elo1uently urging
the necessity Of national aid to canal. or
some other nonsenscal measure of internal
improvement. He talkedMell, my Bower
INT. as a general thing, no one Of his
fellow representatives heard a word he said
There was one, crazy chap sitting near him
with urturnpd lace and most attentive APP
pearance. | borrowed an opera glass from
a saddle colorpd visitor. and BROUGHT It to
hear upon the attentive looking man. I'm,
aqine nv horror when | discovered. my
Bower, that he was fast asleep! A crazy
man from Illinois got mp a short time at
terward and remarked, with considerable
method in his madness. that the gentleman
. from Unowhere didn't have g enough niger
in his hill, and it conl1n't pass"
i had great desire to see Trad and look
4 into his brooches pockets Accordingly
called upon the doorkpeper and begged him
TO point ont the crazy Pennsylvania. He
! did so. my Bower. and fonnsl myself in
| the presence off darkey SO hlackthat prin-
ter's ink wonld makea white mark upon
his face I approached the ereyhaired old
chap and contemplated him with feelings
which invariably produce the desire to take
a drink. Could it be possible that the re-
nowned Thaddeus was only a darkey. after
III? or. was it probable that incessant leg
is'ating upon the negro, talking nero
thinking. dreaming and sleeping negro, had
produced the change of skin which was be-
fore me? accepted the latter theory as
highly probable, and accosted the grea,
man with the utmost reverence. thus:
Hello! old Stevep How are you
How does she run?'
The sage Of Radlcalism replied, as hs
fingered his wool and exhibited his ivory
" ! guess you'se mistaken you is. Dis
ai'nt Mr.. Stevens: dis is Bill"
An said /. :. Bill what Bill p
sCivil Rights Bill, Sab! Yah! yah
yah y
! Ny Bower. am not sharp-as a gene
raj thing--and you will excuse ME for say
ing that failed to see the point Of this
highly colored joke. and while this ebony
know on freedman s bureau drawer turned
his shins in an opposite direction wan
lered, highly cussifed into the vast rotu,-
la of the Capitol. there to indulge ina lit:
tie private swearing at the courteous door
keeper who had played upon my crednIily
Thy introducing a negro to me as lhad. s
/ | havn't fully recovered yet. 80
4 The pictures and things in the rotund,
are. generally speaking, very pretty. Els
pecially is this true Of the :" Landing oil
1.-The Pilgrims Indeed. my Bower,
Thought fit had never been more than q
4 picture the country would have been spared
! mucl, Of tho suffering and horror which II
has undergone to satisfy the socalled phil
anthrophv Of those who boast Of being The
d scendants Of those very Pils..@
But vaccination is a good thing, my
/. Bower, and it saved me from much trouble
i in Washington: for ] got oft safely and
reached New York nneoptaminated.
Z. The most distressing Incident of the trir
! from Washington to New York was the
breaking down ofthe sleeping ear in which
was deposited the bodyo of that great and
: good warrior, Gen. Bottled r. Rutler. ]
saw hin, next morning. my Bower. while
crossing on the ferry boat. The might!
:. Ben. was standing between avenerable cit
izen and myself, and presented to me a side
!, view Of his historic carcass. likewise Of his
face. Heknew the venerable citizen. and
J. feeingly portrayed the danger to which he
; had beer subjected, and the narrow escape
he had He was boxing, doubtless, at Tho
gentleman to whom he was talking, but
; was so positive that he was addressing me
:. that, though almost behind him, cchd
not shrink. from the range Of that other eye
] have no doubt. my Bower, that Benjamin
can read the thoughts Of your mind by
looking into your face wit one eye, whilt
Z the other is wandering through the coppers
: aud postal currency which occupy the re
mote corners Of your pantaloons. Hc car
4 do it.
But have reached the end Of my sheet
Jacque, and must close. Will write ynr
again, and give you my impressions Of New
York so soon as get my notes in order.
Kiss forme the lovely woman you hoari
with, aud tell her to get vaccinated al
; once. Yours, vaccinated,
: ASA HARTZ.
D.yyIrIE. Va. Nav. 1864