Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-21

following from a letter written for his
paper Selma Times. M
| The Spottswood is the best known o
the hotelsin Richmond, but there issome
question, / belieyeras to its being the
best. For some reasons, not apparent
to the visitors, the Spottswood is deemed
to be the most Southern" Of. the hotels
here. The house was kept open during
the war, and was under the management
of one of its present lessees. He has
taken a prominent Union officer into
partnership, so that both shades of opin-
| ion are represented in the proprietorship
as among the guests. Gen. Joe Johnston
is numbered among the boarders at the
Spottswood among his fellow boarders
are several of his former antagonists
Union officers still on duty at Richmond.
There is no more promising sign Of the
future of the South than is shown in the
alacrity with which the leaders in the
late war adapt themselves to civil life,
An incalculable amount of mischief
might have been done by these men had
they chosen to remain idle, lounging
around taverns and keeping alive the
memories of an episode in our history
which every man who wishes well to the
country will be glad to see the Southern
people, at all events, forget The war
was no sooner closed than the men who
figured most conspicuously in it at once
set about employment in the ordinary
pursuits of life. That their example has
had an excellent effect upon the people
of the South can hardly be questioned.
Gen Lee, as is we'll known, has accepted
the presidency of college,; Mosby is
practicing law; Beauregard is building
railroads; Forrest attending to the work
on his plantation, and Joseph Johnston
is here fulfilling his duties as President
of the Southern Express Company
From the reports which reach us at
the North, expected to find General
Lee the most popular-especially in
Virginia-of all the men connected with
the late war. Joe Johnston may fairly
claim to divide this honor. Joe john
ston's ability as soldier and character
as a man, were mentioned in the very
highest terms by every Southern man L
heard mention his name while in Rich
mond. Johaston's popularity receives
the credit of having planned the cam
pdlgn which reSulltu Ill the ulScViuutuic
of McClelan's plans in 1862. He was
in chief command, it will be remem
bered, at the time, and was WOUNDED
slightly in one of the engagements be-
fore Richmond His place was supplied
by General Lee, and there is popular
notion here that General Mcclellan
would not have been successful in reach
ing the James, if Johnston's plan had
been carried out in all its details.
Johnston is stout, soldierly-looking
man of about fifty. Dressed in bust
ness suit of gray clothes, he moves about
the hotel-in which, by the way, the
chief office of the Southern Express COM
pany is located-seemingly solely intent
upon the business he has now on hand
He neither appears to seek nor shun the
public gaze. He is sharp, active bust
ness man, and to all appearance desires
to be considered nothing more. John
ston could maintain libel suit against
the publishers of the photographs which
pass for his likeness in the North. He
is far a more comely man than these
pictures represent him TO be. The most
noticeable feature in his face is his light
piercing gray eyes, which seem to look
quite through those whom he has &C.
casion to talk with.