The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-04


coming up.
AN Excursion TO WASHINGTON BY THE
PRESS OF RICHMoND.-On Friday evening
last number Of representatives of the
daily papers Of Richmond, and Mr.. Haines
of the Petersburg Express, by invitation
from the officers of the Central road, made
an excursion by the new through route
just opened to Washington. They were
accompanied by Hon. Joseph Mayo, Mayor
of our city; General Roger A. Pryor, and
Colonel Robert l.. Owen, president Of the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad Company,
who were invited to be of the party. The
last-named gentleman only went with them
as far as Gordonsville, and General Pryor
left them at Washington, on his way to
New York.
At O'Clock on the evening above men
toned the "Richmond Knights of the
Quill" assembled at the Central depot, all
intent upon the trip, and many were the
greetings exchanged, cigars smoked, and
anticipations of the excursion expressed.
Soon all were seated in special car pro-
vided for the occasion, and at half-past
promptly, ding dong!" went the bell !;
"toot toot !" went the locomotive, and off
went the press party. Mr.. Bernard IL.
Warthen, agent of the Central road, re-
presented that company, and Mr.. c. J. F.
Netherland was in charge of the car. AS
we moved off, the company chatted lowly
in couples, but it was not long before the
genial and social dispositions of the party
began to show themselves, and anecdote
and joke began to follow each other in
quick succession. Mile after mile of Vir-
ginia soil passed quickly by unnoticed,
until the cry of "fricd chicken and flour
doings" at Gordonsvile interrupted the
jovial flow of the party. During the stop
page at this classic spot, each one amused
himself with some vendor of fried chicken
and "jew- whack-em," and many and miser-
able were the puns and jokes perpetrated
upon these unfortunate beings who had
passed so much of their lives raising crops
of fried chicken legs and india rubber bis
cults. Fortunately for these, the new ar
rangemeut only admitted Of quarter of an
hour or so at this historic and well-known
village, and in that time our party were
switched off on the Orange and A!eXan-
dria road, and fast upon our way to Wash
ington. Merrment was kept up until nigh
about o'clock, when dropping eyelds
and fearful yawns began to predict that the
whole party would soon Succumb to the
wles and charms of Morpheus. Soon that
gcd proclaimed his victory, and instead of
merry laughter and song, naught could be
heard save {" Eat awful noise Ze American
gintleman make viz his nose vile he sleep"
As the train crossed the Long Bridge all
hands were walked up to prepare them
selves for their entrance into the capital of
the "grcateSt government the world ever
saw" At length this renowned spot was
reached, and our party, too sleepy to APP
preciate or feel the patriotic spirit OF such
an occasion, were wheeled away to the Me-
tropolitan Hotel, where they betook them
selves to bed in short order.
Saturday came forth glOomily and i'll
naturedly, and the rain which was falling
fast when our party opened their eyes
somewhat dampened their patriotism and
expectations Of having high Old tlme.'
In spite of rain, however, their expecta-
tions were in great measure fulfilled, and
the day in the "city of magnificent dis
tances" was pleasantly spent. Of course
We visited the capitol, and felt as If we
ought to feel loyal as we viewed this mag
nifcent and stupendous structure, huge,
yet incompetent to contain the vast amount
of wisdom assembled from only one por-
ton Of this great, magnanimous, and in
vincible nation.
Our steps were first directed towards the
hall of the House of Representatives,
where, through the courtesy of Mr.. Peck,
the superintendent Of the gallery, and our
friend Frank Smyth, formerly of the Rich
mond press, we were shown into the re-
porter's gallery. We should have been in
spired with due sense Of awe as we were
ushered into the presence Of the assem-
bled wisdom of the nation, but somehow
or another we felt as we always do, and
only looked with an idle curiosity upon the
faces of those truly loyal and wise men.
Among the first ones pointed out to us
was that lion of the Constitution as he
wants it to be, Thaddeus Stevens, Of whom
we chad hearn tell" When we first saw
him he was seated at his desk rubbing his
nose with his fist, and until he arose from
his seat we could only get an idea of his
"phiz." He is cadavcrous-looking old
man, with wrinkled face Gnd head that
narrows at the top. He wears a wig, and
at his other extremity he has foot all
gathered into heap. 1t looks as if it bad
been amputated, and had it been any other
mans we would have asked if he had been
in the war.
After having satisfied ourselves with see.
ing "ye me of the nation," We proceeded
to an inspection of the dome. This is un-
doubtedly fine, large structure; and we
could not help thinking, as We ascended
towards the top, and saw SO much cast iron
and copper roofing, what harvest the
Junk thieves and dealers of Richmond
would reap if allowed free scope up there
for day or so. We witnessed on our way
up the operation of Gardner's machine toE
lighting gas with electricity. 1t is truly
wonderful illustration of the power OF cleo.
tricity. BY the pulling of handle similar
to that used for ringing bells In dwelling
houses. the gas in the entire capitol build