Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-24

81. Louis has presented to the Chicago Hi-tor-
zeal Society the bronze eagle which, prior 10 7
the war, surmounted the Capitol at Richmond.
The bronze eagle alluded TO in The above Is
the one. we presume, that surmouoted, not The
Capitol, but the time honored Speaker char I
that vet remains 10 the Hall OF the House Of .
Delegates, and that has descended to u from !
generation to generation. Scarcely any thing
about the Capitol that was portable eseanad |
the rapacity Of curiosity hunters aiteI the tai!
of Richmond If they could have carried on |
the Capitol itself they would have done So |
The wonder Is that the quaint looking an"
venerable Speakers chair escaped them or
State Library which was 50 carefully selected
and included 30 many valuable and choice
standard works in all the departments Of science
and literature. was sadly pillaFed Sate wer"
ruthlessly broken and many manuscripts lhrh"
ing light upon the early history .! the Stair
were the spoi! of vandal rapaclty
Bnt what We have to say l., that II the
bronze eagle, spoken q! in the above para
graph, has fallen into the possession OF The
Historical Society OF ST. Louis the sooner II
is returned to its riphtiul owner, the state 81
Virginia, the better. We DO not doubt th;t
The gentlemen composing that learned body
will be glad Of the opportunity OF returning IL
at the earliest moment We avail ourselves %
the opportunity 10 remind those individuals or
societies who have in their possession any .!
the ornaments memorials, manuscripts or
books, puroned from the Capitol, TO return
them to Governor Walker. They belong to
the State OF Virginia. and the holders d! them
have no more right to keep them than they
have to retain any other stolen property from
the rightiul ner.-Rich. wing.
The "OLD. "-Wrinkled browS and silver
locks are attractive when the dimpcd fingers
OF baby-erand children smooth them. ltScems
to us that glad happy smile may urk IN
wrinkle as well az in dimple. Indeed when
the body begins to wear away, and time fur
rows the cheek and dims tie eye. then 1t Is that
the beauty OF the soul shines more scIcneiy
through the decaying tenement. The person
may be rfed Of charms, but for every grace
of person thus lost thousand adOrn the mind.
And why should not 'old age" be lovely and
attractive? The setting Of the sun is more
beautiful than his rising. because his golden
light is soItened to roseate hueS, as they come
to Us through the purplsh shadows Of twilight.
Said Lord Bacon, "thc vine when young yields
more grapes but when Old it bears better
grapes, because its juices are more perfectly
concocted." We do not know more pleasant
way of spending this Christmas than 10 com
pany with an old couple They could carry
us back to "old times and speak of the 'by
cones" We have thought that those. whose
recollections bsect century, have JOYS We,
who are young, never dream oi-soberer, 1t is
true, but for that it is more satisfactory. Those
who have reached the Pisgah, OF old age, 'twixt
time and eternity, can, on this coming day,
look back upon the path by which they came
and count like anniversaries which dot the
way as fngerposts, by scores. The memories
which are awakened by the return OF this
Christmas may be memories OF the dead. yet IN
communing with the departed they can catch
the echo oil voices long silent and feel the warm
clasp OF hands that years ago Stlttened IN death.
Old friends you who have reached the win
ter Of life, may the Star Of Bethlehem shine
more brightly in your souls because the trees
have been stripped OF foliage and there Is
nothing to obstruct the light.
Collision oNTHE RICHMOND. FREDERICKs.
BURG AND PoToMAC RAILROAD. Quite Sc
rious collision between the passenger trains on
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad occurred yesterday at Chesterfield Sta
ton. The train coming south had been delayed
at Aqua Creek by the failure OF the boat,
which was detained ~ the fog on the Potomac,
to reach the landing in time. Il passed Fred.
ercksburg IN hour behind time, and was run
ning rapidly to make the passing point at
Chesterfield before the the tram gong north ie!t
that point The c1ndultUr on the latter tram
waited thirty three minutes three minutes be
yond the allotted time lj7 the train coming
south, and started There Is a sharp curve at
this point, and the train had scarcely lett the
switch when the down train Gams around the
curve and was within Fifty yards ol he 40 train
before II was seen.
The trains coIdei, aud the locomotive on
the down train was badly injured The saEder
telescopei half way lnto the baggage car The
mails were not damaged The engine on the uf
train was not severely dnmagei, ana brIugh'
the down tram 10 the city last night. Dn1
passenger car was turned over Fortunately
NJ person was seriously hutt Oae Of the ia:
seaeers was slightly hurt on the knec \
young man named White, who was standing
on the platform when the accident occurred.
attempted to Jump Oft, aud was caught between
two cars, and escaped most mlraculous] with a
slight confusion of the thigh The down tram
reached the city last night at Il closi H@h
m0nd Eayutre', UfcemLer 20
"STUpEND0Us WEDDING, what ~ called
10 New York on Tuesday last The presents
to the happy par amounted ~ NJ aggregate
to more thaa quarter 0l mI'il0h 4" 'ars
worth Among these may De- mentioned
From the groom to the bride the elegant man
sion No. j5G Fifth avenue, valued at IA ''dhl
lar store" phrase, one hundred thousand dol
lars, and complete diamond set neckiice,
brooch and ear rings, valued at so 900; from
the brides father, full set OF pearls valued at
10000, and cheek Tor $1,000 from l..
lDgersol, Esq, check for so, 900 aud opals
npd diamonds valued al $1,000: point lace
shawl from X. McGraw a camcl's hair shaw
from Mrs. Even; aiull silver dinner set, valued
at $1,000 from VIM. ". WatsoD 100 pieces
of silver from VIM. NJ. Tweed 4 silver set,
complete, yalucd at $4,000, from Mrs. J.. 10
gersoll; aud solitaire diamond pin and ear
rings from Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Compton, OF
Newark. The floral decorations alone are said
to have cost $4,000. Isn't ali this 'stup end
Gus, sure enough?
A DANGEROUS LUNATIc About three