Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-06-29
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.

my childhood, and ali the scenes of~ny early
lite, have been wildly recalled. How well DO
I remember the time when l turned away
from The loved soil Of Virginia, and he old
homestead, to seek fortune and friends IN the
West TWAS nine years ago, and L Was but
nineteen years Of age, Il beardless Toy, with
but few ideas OF The manners and customs of
the world. But all my hsrdship5 and trials
have been ghtenei, aud my sorrows e8tenua-
ted by the fond recolections OF the past.
can now recollect Fairfay Of the olden tilne,
before war laid its devastating hand upon her
How [ loved to wander beside the clear ptu-
cid streams, to stroll through the woodlands,
climb over the hiIls; and more than all these,
how loved the warm hearted, generous peo-
pie who lived there Alas Fairaz Of the
present time is not Fairfax Of the olden time.
The blood red tide of battle rolled down her
hillsides, along her ravines, and over her fields
while tie red lightning Of war; threw its.
fierce glare across The highway Of destruction
and ruin, and lighted thousands along the
Journey Of death Many Of the friends OF my
youth went down in the tide and never rose
AGAIN to cheer the hearts OF parents and friends
with their presence And though the war Is
now over, and q quasi peace restored, all ~
changed. Poverty sits where wealth lie,
yelled; mourning rules where cheeriu!nesS
triumphed, and grief stricken people wander
where light hearted Joyous ones once lived.
love Virginia, and no circumstances can ever
sever that feeling Of affection. Bat | love the
NN ell, bara ub rail
in gentle undulalions far away to the utmost
limit Of the vision, dotted here and there with
running steams aud groves, are far more beau
tfuI (though not more dear than the rugged,
roughened hiIlsdcs OF Virginia; the skies arc
lust u blue as Italy, the bIcczcS as coongaS
those from the ocean, the splendid yield OF az
rculural productions is unrvallcd, and the
people with some exceptlons) are Just IL much
refined, take ~ much interest III educallon
and are as warm hearted and generous rs any
people in the world; churches and school
houses are numerous throughout the State,
and are we'll patroniZed railroads are being
built and our town will soon be blessed with
both railroad and telegraph line. The health
Of the country is excellent, and while the poor
farmer eau work andl live, the best OF physicians
will have but little to do, especially at this sea
son Of the year Land ranges from 5 o to $1j
per acre Al these advantages considered, no
State offers so many inducements to emlgranta
a. Missouri There is one seeming apparent
drawback to the rapid Improvement OF the
State It is Radicalsm. The radicals Of no
State, perhaps have manifested such ulabo!Mm
as those of this State. Rushing into power
when the great majority OF the people lay
PROSTATE under an unjust rule Of force they
have since continued TO override justice and
right, and by robhing the people of their rights,
terrifying and numbering them, they have
managed 10 hold the reins Of power; and yet
three. fourths Of the State are conservatives. =.
The next election will redeem Missouri, and
save the people from further degradation. The
conservative party will yet save the country
'iiIY,:n TTw he banner advances, and with the
motto, Peace on earth and good will towards
men, Why will they not triumph And when
that happy event reaches contamination; when
contentmcnt shall spread its bright. Wings over
ali the land when the harvest shall be merry,
the present Joyous, and the future bright
with promise; when all this shall transrirc
under conservative management, will we not
be warned BY the darkness OF the past, and so
pleased with the joyousneas Of the present, that
we will ever hold on to and maintain those
principles. This article is already too long,
and l will close by rendering my heartfelt
love ana sympathy to my dear suffering friends
of |irEinia. More anon. Yours, truly,
be-. J. N. GIBSON, NJ. D.
WAsHINGrGN ITEMS The report of the
Of The Coored School Depart
ment Of Washington Tor the mOnth oi May
shows that there are 10 " ashingtOn tlY-nlnc
schools, with seventy mine teachers, aud three
six hundred and ninety-5ix pupils: III
Georgetown eight schools, nine teachers, aud
tour hundred aud eight pupils q; in Washing,
ton county i've schools, nine teachers and three
hundred aud seventy one pupils. ..-
The bricklayers' strike ut the Treasury has
been practically brought 10 an eud the Super-
inenlent of The Treasury Extension having |
succeeded in obtaining the services OF more
than sufficient number Of hands outside of the
BrcklaycGs' Union, to enable the work to 60
forward |
Messra CLARK K Co., are constructing al the
loot of Fourth street east, 4 new wharf - cost
Sc 900 II is intended to make II Gl sufficient |
size to Accommodate all the river business OF
the eastern section ct the city. |
The various Radical ward clubs throughout |
the city are aglatlne the subject ol 4 consoll- |
dated celebration OF the coming national ami |
versary with the view Of keeping up the DO |
schools Of the different coored congregations
are also to have an independent crlebra tion on
that day
SUMAC.- In some parts OF the State the
gathering and curing of Snmac produced such
satisfactory results to those who engaged in it
last year, that we wish to enlist all the nnem-
ployed tailoring poor in the work the present
season. A poor widow woman last year gath
cred nine thousand pounds Iii two months,
which she sold for $3.50.
Sumac may be gathered any time from the
lst of July until frost. Any gathered after
frost turns red, and is worthless. 1t should be
cured as much as possible in the shade and
under shelter, to preserve ITS color aud
strength, and when as dry as fodder, and the
leaf Stems crack readily under the fingers,
carefully threshed out on 4 plank or sheet;
after which, the stems, sticks, and berries, are
- ia -; al o1 out ion vino only fire leaves;