The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-13
A WEEK IN RICHMOND.

A WEEK. IN RICHMOND.
libby PRISON AND THE WASHINGTON
MONUMENT-RICHN1o HOsPITAL1TY-
THE FASHIONS-NEGLECT OF THE COM
MaNDING GENERAL AND STATE OFF,
CERS-THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE
THE ABILITY OF TIE NATIONAL BOARD
OF TRADE.
rom q Special Correspondent of the Boston
Advertiser.
RICHMOND, December 6, 1869.
One of The first objects sought out by the
orthern man who visits Richmond for the
:rst time is a long, broad, brick building
lear the river, in one of the poorest quar-
!ers of the city, which bears rudely
painted sign nailed to the end of the build
Jug and projecting into the street, with
The words LIBBY PRISON upon it. Even
after one has been here afew days, and re-
ceived the elegant attentions of the most
hospitable citizens, the memory of that
building and the associations connected with
it will come back, not to mar the good feel
ing that now exists, but to cause twlnge,
Of sorrow and pain and indignation that any
provocation should have been sufficient to
cause the horrors that were there enacted.
1t is far more pleasant to turn from it to the
grand memorial of Nirginta's connection
with and contributions to the Union that
fifty -four years since the idea Of the Wash
ington Monument was first broached in the
Virginia House of Delegates, anditis almost
twenty years since the designs Of Thomas
irawford for such = monument were ac-
iepted. The cornerstone was laid but
icw days afterwards, on the 22d of Febru-
ary, 1850, but the last of the ailegorical
groups about the base Of the monument,
hy which the great work was completed,
las been in position only since the oath
June of.the present year. The glorious
equestrian statue of Washington, which
surmounts the monument, has been the adj
miration of all visitors to Richmond during
the last twelve years, and only the statues
OF Marshall and Nelson and the allegorical
statues by Randolph Rogers have been
erected since the beginning of the late war.
AS completed work it is one that fills the
eve with its remarkable artistic merits, and
will stand, it might we'll be hoped, forever
as monument to the great men who made
the early history Of Virginia so Hustrious.
There have been times in the past when
the citizens of Richmond were not disposed
to invite the people of Massachusetts to
visit them, though it is due to the Nir-
ginians to say that when chance threw any
of the men Of the old Bay State into their
hands they were forced to be the guests of
the public, and were retained in Richmond
as long rs possible. Assoon as the National
Board of Trade was sufficiently organized
to have roll Of the members made out, the
work of loading them with attentions began.
The Richmond Club extended invitations
to all the members, and to the few newspaper
correspondents who accompanied them, to
visit the clubhouse and make themselves
ut home. Those who accepted have had Il
genuine taste of Virginia hospitality, which,
for cordality and effort to entertain guests,
cannot be eXcelled in the world. The Com
mittee of Arrangements OF the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce, too, had done lis
work most admirably and thoroughly, and
the ball and dinner which have already been
given in honor of the Board, and the eXcur-
sion to Petersburg and Norfolk tomorrow.
which is expected to close the session, I'LL
out week of-hard work and thorough en-
joymcnt such as few Of the participants
have ever experienced.
The ball and the dinner Just referred to
exhibited some phases of Virginia life and
character and habits that are worthy OF
special mention. The Richmond ladies will
hardly regard it as greatly to their discredit
to learn that they do not by any means
dress in the latest styles which orr northern
women so quickly import from Paris. From
chi@non TO boot-leels the difference was OBJ
seTyable, even to one unaccustomcs to take
much notice of such things. But they We're
certainly beautiful to look upons and their
dress. though simple in an extraordinary
degree. was rich, and in the best Of taste.
| noticed, too, that whether or not it
is due to the flllminations OF the Rich
mond press on the subject, round dances
are not popular. They are on the
cards, but only small fraction Of those
who take part in the dancing engage IN
them. Colonel Mosby was the officer OF dis
tinction al the ball rather than General
Candy, and at the dinner OH Saturday eve
ming there was no officer of the United
States army present, probably because no
one of them was invited. Where there was
so much to please and SO much goodwill
expressed it seems pity that the National
Board Of Trade could not have had the
pleasure of seeing one of our national Off
GERS, or at least that the compliment should
not have been passed to the commanding
General, the Governor OF the State, and the
Mayor of the city-one or all. 1t was GER
tainly an omission, and however it may be
explained, deserves to be mentioned. The
speeches 1T luc HClC LII liiS bi'tAii
good, but there were too many OF them
and the choice of speakers, and the order
in which they were called upon, might have
been amended to the advantage OF all con-
cerned. 1t was queer to hear southern
man, and one who is disfranchised for his
participation the rebellion, addressing an
assembly OF which majority were, Like HIM
self, rebels, congratulating Virginia on the
abolition of slavery, and to hear the senti-
ment greeted with great applause. l am sure
that in. no city in the Union would the most
impulsiye concourse of men cheer patriotic
sentiments more loudly. 1t should be men-
toned, however, and not perhaps so
much to the discredit of the people
as would appear at first sight, that refer
ences to Virginia's part in the late war, half
apologies for her course on the ground that
she was honest in it, made by northern gen.
tlemen, were received with far more intense
demonstrations of delight-with a fearful
scream, indeed, which |, with no practical
experience in the matter, should pronounce
to be Enthusiastically the famous "rebei YELL
MIR. Monroe, of Dubuque, a native Vlrgl-
nian and the chief advocate Of the James
River and KanaWha Canal project, in speak
ing OF his affection for the Old Dominion,
said that while he was an loWan by adop.
ton, and was obliged to remain on the OPP
positc side from Virginia i'll that struggle,
he could not raise his arm against her. Then
arose that piercing shrek from hundred or
more throats that must have been heard SO
many times on the battle-felds OF this old
Commonwealth. 1t may as well be recorded,
too, that the first dance of Friday evening was
to the tune of "Dixie," and that the same
dashing air greeted our ears at the dinner
as soon as we were seated. OF course all
this means little or nothing. The people Of
Virginia are, l am firmly convinced, eager
to get back to their old place in the Union,
and to do it in the way that the laws pre-
scribe. They are, at the same time, not
ashamed Of anything they have done I'D the
past. That is equally but no more apparent