The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-09
A. HEAD IN RICHMOND.
RICHMOND, PRovIScE OF VIRGINS

rICHhOND, PROVINCE OF NIRGINNY,
Day Before New Years. (
Editor Crescent took Horace Greeley's ad-
vice, and am on to Richmond 1t is a right
nice town, but from present appearance Of mud
and snow don't think | should make such despe-
rate Efforts to get here as some 100000 300 600
OF my American friends did some three or four
years ego. They slept out doors at night for the
sake OF getting TO Richmond, but wouldn't do
the ever famous Spottswood, where 1 now am,
sumptive "head clerk" Sam" Houston,
whose name has been in print before. have
thought for sometime that " Sam III. was dead
but il you should come here, you would see him
." live man." also find out that, like his Texas
nsmesske. he "can keep hotel !" When ar
rived | signed my name; put after It i" D. G."
Said the clerk, What does that meant" Said /,
with surprise and disgust at his ignorance,
That why that stands for Delegate to the Con-
vention Then you will have to pay your
lodging in advance" said he. 1t was the most
disloya remark have heard in Richmond. | had
come by way of the Dutch Gap Canal" and
was received by large body of military an citi.
zens, who had formed hours before my arrival,
With their Wright resting on the Abyssinian
Sp0ttswood.Hotel. The band was furnished by
the Varieties" Theater, who nearly played
themselves out playing me in. told the people
in the streets TO keep their hats on, as l didnt
want any demonstration, but | would
eat their dinners and take New Years
drinks at their expense. which action |
considered the true basis of reconstruction. In
conversation with some OF the people, | ascer-
tanned that Richmond was an Incorporated CITY,
and that tie James river flowed past it, although
the inhabitants did not seem to mind that as they
never used water as beverage, considering it
unhealthy. The James river was also considered
as being an unhealthy locality some three or four
years ago.
The people of Richmond have given up en-.
renchment, and are going in for re-
fIencbment! This Is no joke.) There's little
change in Richmond, notwithstanding the war
(This IS jokeD Before Richmond was settled
there was scarcely anybody here, but when it was
discovered by Gen. Grant there was large mum
Der of emigrants. Although these emigrants
were grown up folks, there was large number of
an fdnt-Ty! This is new.)
Most Of the inhabitants Of Richmond get their
living by eating. Some of them raise cotton, some
of them raise cain " and some of them " raise
the wind 7" The town was settled by white folks,
but they are out of fashion now, as those who are
not black have got the blues "
The convention sets the I'd of New Years, but
what they will hatch up is uncertain. Nobody
appears to be eggstatic about it! Hens nobody
crows over the prospect 1t wont be much of a
feather In anybodys cap. There is a troupe of
Japanese here who are expected to take an active
part in this convention, as they great at sum-
mer salts
hope to be with you in or 4
days, but want no public demonstra.
non but II you want to pay me $40 a
day" to do nothing, might be prevailed upon to
accept it for the sake Of my distracted and sub.
stracted country People do!
:. But good bye, CRESCENT. Happy New Year,
MaTdi Gras and SIGH to you, and remember that
4" the darkest hour is just before day."
Peacefully yours. "A HEADu
p. s. (which means Per Simmons, Since
writing the above have seen New Yealis and the
Japanese at the varieties" with a "Slim JIM
accompaniment. 1t is Wright good thing, and
laughed the old year out and the New Year in.
New Orleans may get to be as amusing and big a
CITY as Richmond, If we can only get it properly
fenced in and white.washed. "a. nv