The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-01

",
. MAsc.Isrrs, Saturday AftsssosaIO
with Q broken back and q efny head. lt
| strangely combines In. itself the frsiify Of
youth and the decrepitude Of old are, Itis In
The condition soss ., sSa NV 'hes
that Of Babylon and Athens, Il purely mat
ter OF history Manchester a. u u falls sadiy
below Manshsstsr - seos. Once Il Has frss6,
buoyant, and prosre:.!,s; now 1t 4 drowsy.
I shall bring before the public some Of the
evidences that Manchester has really dsprs.
Possibly 2. ps0P%: and I'd, s0o:s: o;s:
I am not particularly Informed. Assuming
that such Il the case, IL in no degree invsit-
dates, but rather confirms, my statement. TOT
it only shows that It's facilities fos improve.
ment have been multiplied without tndicsunS
Most OF the houses Of Manchester ars very
old. Once they were new, handsome, ana eIe.
gantiy Kept now they are antfquated, olnays
and Fastening TO decay. Once tney were .ns
homes Of those whose energy and captt0 sus.
tained and enriched the town; now they are
the dilapidated abodes Of another and fa3 leee
worthy generation. 1t is really interesting 70
trace the history OF these old residences.
which were born and reared men whose names
are intimately associated with the history Of
Virginia. That house Is now occupied BY .
moping, brainiess old'man, who religiously
believes that the sun rises In the east ana
after hard days run, sets In the west. Many
OF the nobiest families that once resided hero
have quit the place In sincere diszust, and
old S.s s'as
families are yet remaining among Us. / am
told that only two persons, now resident here,
thus honorably connected with the nrst fami.
lies Of the last century, wear worthily the
thna tnh cd
dered alike the fame and fortune OF their
fathers. Not a few Of them are the devoted
patrons OF the bar-room ana the gaming taoie
When they die, the star OF their families,
already eclipsed, will go down In blacknees.
Antiquarians speak OF time when Man
chester was justly famed for the refinement
and purity Of its society.
Now, Shylock, with his ducats, can buy
admission 10 any circle. Young men, red with
wine, or fresh from the gamblers s robbing den,
can enter the homes and court the daughters
OF those who are said to belong 70 our best
chester are truly astonishing. / viii furnish
few examples. When our poor town fell into
the hands Of the Federal army some OF our
most influential social lights, who for four
years had reyiled all fankeedom, ana nur-
rahed Justify for the South, discovered sud.
denly that Il was perfectly proper TO entertain
and freely associate with the gallant leaders
Of a negro brigade. They went arm In arm
with them along our streets. They welcomeo
them to their parlors, beds, and boards so
resist tless was the chord Of congenialty wnlcn
drew these facile rebels to the bosom OF Gene.
raj Thomas and his subordinates that they
could not afford General Lee time Tor an nono'
rable capitulation. Ere the star OF the south
went down at Appomattox these men had
stood smilingly by rs witnesses to the erection
Of the Stars and Stripes over our public build
ings.
These military strangers found among our
best blood old ladies who claimed and caressed
them as "their own boys'-old men who
drank with them TO the health OF General
Grant, and young ladies' who were happy 10
ride, Dance sing, and walk with them. Men
who were Unexpectedly detained In Canada du-
ring the war, as well rs others who, during
its progress, went as self-appointed peace com:
missioners into the enemy's territory iouna
npon their return a joyful welcome At the
hands Of penitent secessioniss. such conduct
is base as the treachery OF Judas MY soul ID
proud. Misfortune cannot humble me. l
would rather die thousand deaths than to
blacken thus my record Poor and friendless
rs / am, / feel myself queen among the
trucking minions who thus ate their own
words and fell cringing al the feet OF success.
ful power. i would sooner die with conquered
Cato than dine with conquering Cesar.
II am correctly informed, Manchester was
formerly a place Of extensive trade. Its hotel,
its warehouses, and its enterprising citizens:
were the pride OF Virginia: Inc once grano
old tavern rings no longer Its note OF welcome
TO the hungry stranger, but echoes now only 70
the cry Of squalid children or to the dehant
squealing Of emboldened rats. It's warehouses
are no longer packed with the staples OF pro-
duce nor resounding with the busy note OF In
dustry. Crumbling and rotiing, they stand as
unheeded reminders Of brighter times. At
present, our trading, for the most part, is car.
ried on In the lower or front rooms OF private
residences. Our merchants are content 10 re-
tail the fruits OF Richmond auctions, and pru.
den tiy seek TO avoid heavy taxes by adherinG
strictly to the theory Of slow sales and small
profits. We have no trading houses-no
| halE tnT N n
nearly every family was associated with some
religious society. Now, with population
sufficient to sustain a half dozen churches, we
have only two, neither OF which has much nold
representatives of other denominations resi-.
ding In the town, but they iack alike The pride
and piety to set up for themselves. tUs
From all can ascertain, we have here some
tolerabIy fair primary schools. Attempts hnva
been frequently made TO establish institutions
OF learning of high grade. These eGorts,
owing either to the inefiiciency Of those who
proposed 10 manage the schools, or to want
OF public spirit, have signally failed. The
consequence IL that 1t 10 impossible for any
one to gain a thorough classical training In the
town.
Sometime ago 1 requested "Strangsr" TO
ind out for me, Us snearly rs possible, what pro.
portion of the youth OF Manchester were At
school. He reported that only two-ffths were
going during the past year. Some Of these are
under teachers that greatly need TO be taught.
The remainder are growing up in deplorabls
ignorance.
II is a curious fact that not more than three
or four OF our public and professional men are
natives Of Manchester. Where are the sons
OF this venerable town, What are they
teachers, and editors, are all imported. Tho
fact IL, our youth have nothing 20 stimulate Q
them. They grow up idly, and finally seek
livelihood in an unskilfui trade or else drift
into habits Of vice, which hurry them TO the
grave. .. ...-s,. ..r a.L
Alas for Manchester, Her spirit seems TO
be broken. There Is no local pride no public
sympathy and no private ambition.
1t Is In no censorious temper that this letter
10 written. l am attached TO Manchester, as
my adopted home. thus lay bare her wounds
In the hope that remedy may bo found Tor
| her cure. ! reserve for another lettsY some
suggestions Is to the best means Of her resus-
| ,i."sIcn - SYnra0Ln