The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-23

stock. The short time which it lasted ae-
counts for the comparatively small loss, tor
if it had lasted but five minutes the damage
done would in all probability have been i'm
mense.
A New Yorker in ytrgfnia-An ANU
sing Letter.
ICorrespondence of the New York World
VIRGINIA, March 8.-Can you imagine
more deplorahle condition in life than for
New Yorker to find herself in q place where
| trated where the inhabitants are in such
! state of Egyptian darkness that they have
never even heard of General Grant? Where
is this benighted spot, do you ask? Some
ten miles from the great city of Fredericks-
burg-one of those places that seems to
+! have been in s. RipVan Wrinkle" slumber
ever since the world began, and which fur
nish an unanswerable argument against
those people who believe this earth to be
only six thousand years old. Six thousand
years! Why yesterday saw and conversed
with the fossil remains of female whom Pm
convinced is never day under five thou.
sand, and she is only an infant compared
with some others. Pve seen several col
ored brethren who remember Columbus,
and they are mere boys. When Pve been
here long enough to become acquainted
with the oldest inhabitant I hope to be able
to throw a great deal of light upon the
early history of the world, to set at rest all
disputed points concerning Adams child
hood and youthful sports, and many such
important subjects now involved in mys.
| terry, and which have engrossed the atten-
ton OF the learned in all ages. If l do sue.
| coed in enlightening my fellow-creatureS,
shall be content with the reward that
t,I, F~nY Of
having performed a good deed, and trust
that grateful country will not insist upon
erecting statue to my memory executed
| by Winnie Ream. .s. g..
You see this place is in such an inaccessi-
! BILE situation that Father Time, in swinging
his scythe, has quite overlooked it, and l
hope this notice will not come under his
observation, and induce him to make up
for his neglect Of centuries by coming down
on the venerable inhabitants " like the wolf
Oh the fold" If he does, they can have the
satisfaction of knowing they'll take all the
edge off the instrument by their toughness
Of fibre. ....-
Ruskin must have had this village in his
minds eye when he wrote "Fors Clayi-
gera," for though he would destroy one
beautiful city, he would be rejoced at this
earthly paradise not railroad within its
borders, and everything as primitive and
devoid of all that is at this period Of the
world considered necessary for comfort as
possible. This utopia" is said to have
been ruined by the late war, but this is q
subject that will admit Of great deal being
said on both sides. Lying in the track Of
the contending armies, it was in turn held
by the Confederate anu Union soldiers dur
ing the whole four years of the war, and
what one side spared in the way Of fences,
old Olt-buildingS, and antique fowls, the
other took. On the other hand, previous
to the war the inhabitants never had any
thing to talk about now, every man, wO-
man, and child, once fairly started by q few
leading questions, will 60 on by the week,
and, like an eight-day clock, never stop
until they run down for want of breath.
There are few old f. +. V. families in
the place, some of whom must have imi-
tated their patriotic brothers at the North,
for they are now richer than before the
war others lost everything. But whether
rich or pool both look with equal scorn
upon any misguided Yankee who ventures
into this region still, notice, all eYince a
most praiseworthy eagerness in getting as
much money as possible for any article sold
to the aforementioned individual.
"Poor white trash" and fifteenth amend
ment constitute the majority of the popu-
Iation, and how they all manage to live
work is problem that Pve not yet been
able to solve.
What was formerly raised on the soil,
Pm unable to state, but the chief produc-
ton now seems to be.a most luxuriant crop
of small Africans and dogs they are always
to be seen lying about loose-Dasking in
the sun. Why the buzZards that are con.
stantly lowering about don't seize upon
and carry off these lazy little objects can't
| 70 Eat - T.
good eating. Perhaps they have prejudice
against color, and may be more fastidious
thanithe 'EHeathen Chinee," and don't ap-
preciate how-wows.
The most noted of the public buildings
are-tirst, the post.offlce. This edifice con-
sists of one room, the postal arrangements
occupy but one small corner, the remainder
is filled with everything in the way of dry
goods, groceries, and stationery, calculated
to satisfy the most refined taste. Here are
to be found boots, shoes, and hats from
sent century, and cotton and WOollen goods
of much earlier date. In reckless mo-
ment purchased some so-called chocolate,
but / shall put it in my cabinet of curiosi-
ties, and label it "stone from the pyra-
mids," as Pve not been able to make any
impression upon 1t, though Pye tried every
tool from chisel to an axe. In short, this |
building contains SO many antiquities that |
if YOU should hear Of any enterprising in
diVidual who NOW that Barnum has retired |
from the business) wishes to start mu- |
scum, will you please let me know, and I'll |
buy up the entire collection, sell at an adj |
vance, and give you fair share of the |
profits for the information.
The blacksmith's shop is the next In I'M |
portance. 1t does not stand "beneath |
spreading chestnut tree" cause, why, |
there isn't anything in the entire country |
about here larger than good-sized bush,
and this has sprung up since the war
closed. This shop seems to be almost as
much of IL lounging- place as the post-ottce,
and / have arrived at tue conclusion that
the figures I'ye seen day after day for the |
last month must be petritications, left here
since the stone period; for. you know IT'S
against reason to suppose that the same
men and mules could stand leaningI
against the walls in precisely the same ath-
tude week in aud week out EY4s
The Westinghouse is perhaps the most |
juvenile Of any building in the place. /
should not think It, had been erected more
than ashundred years or SO. In Its time 1t |
has been put to varions uses, serving, du-
ring the war; sometimes ss o stable, then as
8 hospital. All denominations now use It
in turn rs q place Of worship. Last Sunday
evening, hearing that celebrated divine |
from s distant region was to hold forth, i
concluded to attend. i was q little late,
Iii. w.gElE So u y - = 80