The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-19
sensible Letter from che Csuntry-Manchesscr
and other Tewns--Richmond- Course u
PRrScR EDWARD, February 10, IoOO


Trade, &c. ,see
PnrScR EpwAsp, February 10, 1865.
Messrs. faitors, MANY Of yonr reaas.. . mSo
become Interested in the letters Of Ply yo matter.
raj Manchester .bs Ssir Miss Struggle"
oa-aacs ,nen, q conviction OF their truth,
while the slight tinge OF roman.e e s a 81 more
terry hanging about n er n tale of iaction.
az, w, sona HE remarks Of Fair Play We're
comn,ended. and his applicable argumens mes
with friendly response In the nosom I'm %, y.
w.natv.nine hundrpdths OF the readers OF the
n9s,,sycb while Push On" ithe shocmakerl
hss furnished us much fun and merriment
with his timely wit and jocose humors.
arraicnins him before the public, and since
Manchester is before the jury, we are Likely
10 learn all the facts OF the case If Man
chester is "behind the times" where IS
her compauy' To be the hindmost, her citi-
zens must have been very remiss, and 1t is hign
time TO be up and doing. However, we 90 nor
believe this is the case; and that Mancnes'sS =.
will to-day compare well with any Town -
Virginia, we feel convinced. s,or
Our division marched through ManenestsI
several times during the war, but neve, nal. '
and have very little remeInDrahceo a,,ac, that
raj aspect OF the place. can recohect .has
there was a worn, dilapidated appearance oi
things which every southern city, Town, anu
village, exhibited under the stagnauon Oh pusi
ness consequent upon q four years terrible
war We marched through the mnd ana
siush in the middle of the street, but so we
did everywhere else; and l remember that
on the outskirts OF the SUBURBS We
met the first drunken woman ! ever saw;
What shocking sight. AS she sEggeIeo
by MS, with her tattered garments nanglns
unfastened over her shoulders, ner iohs,
yellow hair floating loose TO the WINDS, ner
bare feet spIashing the mud, with the sololels
yelling, and she flinging back curses upon
Them, n picture was afforded OF forlorn misery
infamy, and distress, that haunted my imagi.
nation for days and weeks afterwards. But
nolice reports show many similar cases In Ill
cities-and neither is Manchester alone IN TINS
matter. have no power TO after pupnc nsh
WAYS, nor change the bent of the peoples nina,
but must say that if the Manchester traoers
and merchants will sell us goods AZ hlchmono
prices and receive our produce at the Rich
inoad and Danville depot they may now secure
a handsome trade from the upper country,
which will last and prove profitable
People always go where they can procure
the best bargains and trade, like streams OF
water once fixed in their course, is nara 10
turn from a beaten channel.
/ wish / knew more of Manchester and
unless free bridge is constructed and drayage
declines, l contemplate masking soon s1nn,a ene
A merchant less than hundred miles from
Richmond barriers his goods Tor 1axseeo ahu
pays forty cents per bushei freight, drayage
and commission when sold. mink OF that
only one item but could name others II the
whole country were not well posted ana per.
fectly familiar with this state OF things. III
and expenses less, we shall try 1t: Under
existing circumstances it isimpossible TO DIS
peIse with the railroad but drayage 10 ana
from the depot may be averted II the Mancnes.
ter merchants will it. Think Of this, gentle
men, There is very little of anything for sale
in the country, and cannot be, until the earth,
under diligcnt cultivation, produces H. NO
cotton tobacco, or wheat of much conse-
ouence. and very little corn TO spare from
home consumption; but whoever sei as
this little 10 the best advantage Tor
the farmer will secure his patronage
for years TO come. Most old firms in
Richmond and elsewhere have disbanded, like
Lees army at Appomattox Courthouse, and
gone into new co-partnerships, SO tnere is no
obligation on the part OF patrons OF tne ola
firms 10 palroni2e the new, especially where
the members of the old firms have separated
and formed several new coalitions-all asking
the continued good will and produces OF the
farmer who has no idea OF starving between
them like the horse between the two bundles
of fodder. In this general change and reorgani-
zation Of firms, 4 chance and an opportunity
is offered 10 the young firms that may not occur
again for fifty years-may be neTer-ahd IL
would be wise to make the most OF 1t.
But as have been induced TO say this much
by the correspondents "across the BRIDGE IL
is meet that i should revert 10 those family
Jars before closing.
hope nothing serious will grow from this
epistolary badinage except reform and pront
10 the good people lover the river. Besides,
this correspondence has furnished to those
engaged the advantage Of something like
Methodist class meeting, where each In
routine gives his or her individual experience,
history and faith in the situation" For
myself, i should like 10 become kind OF
honorary member of this fra-this-l can't
say fraternity, for there's lady in the society
that's it, society," want 10 become an out
side sentinel or member with all the i'm
munities; and at some early convenient season
write another letter TO the Dispatch. VINO
and what l am, it matters little now, but /
will give you my full name, and may here
after tell you something of singular history.
o. N CyRUs.