The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-25


country, no matter how sparsely settled,
and that the duty Of appointing supervisors
will be made imperative.
Richmond - Absence OF Enterprise
and Thrift in the City, &C., dc.
lCor1sspondence of the New York Timea
RICHMOND, VA, Jan. is, 1871.
Across the low hills of Virginia to Rich
mond, with the bright sunshine lighting up
the gray ridges, and the air soft and balmy
as June III New York. A lovely conntry,
but what desolation Long stretches Of
farm lands left uncultivated, bare, brown;
and the woods that once adorned them all,
cut down bv the armies that have made
this region battle field, so that there is no
longer any timber of value standing, In
some districts the farmers finding IL diff
cult even to obtain wood for fuel. The
people indeed seem utterly discouraged.
The few houses that are scattered along the
lonely way are forlorn, dilapidated, un..
painted, with broken fences and neglected
gardens. And Mt each house, and around
every railway station, may be seen many OF
| the inhabitants, black and white, lounging
lazly. with an expression Of listless stu
pidity on their faces. The taxes on the
! lands are slowly running the owners. Where
| are the thrifty, cnterprising settlers that
| shall come here and restore to Virginia its
| old-time prosperity? / have heard it we'll
suggested that it would be worth while for
| these landowners to give away portion
Of their superfuous acres, so that they
might lessen their taxes and induce an en-
igration which would raise the value of
their whole property.
APPEARANCE OF RICHMOND.
| AS we reached at last Richmond, the
| once fair city OF seven hills, the same want
| Of enterprise was plainly visible. In pass
ing through the few blocks OF houses along
| the railroad track we saw more idle people
| than you will see in all New York on q
summers day. Everywhere as we drove
about the houses seemed neglected, the
streets were rough. the whole aspect of the
place as If mildew had fallen upon it.
Whence that mildew had come we could
not doubt when, looking out from Capitol
Hill, we saw the grass-grown fortificationS
OF Malvern Hill, or sadder sight yet, beheld
| the melancholy rows of soldiers graves at
Hollywood.
THE OLD CAPITOL.
The old capitol, which has stood for
nearly hundred years, shows plainly the
tooth of time on its rough steps and irregu-
lar paycments. But why need it be in such
Il forlorn condition within for the want of
4 little paint, and good deal Of soap and
water? TO houSekeeper's eye the dust
painful, while to judge from the finger
marks on the walls, and the feet-marks on
the floor, a 1st of May cleaning is entirely
unknown in this section. Un entering you
stand within a small rotunda, in the centre
OF which is Houdon'S statue of Washington,
| (the father Of his country is dirty as well as
| all his surroundings 1t is said to be good
| likeness, but is very unlike any other. 1t
represents a portly, middle-aged gentle
man, with the Roman nose we all know so
well, but without the eaunt look the face
generally has-a pleasing rotundity distin-
gushing the broad cheeks and double chin.
The walls around this rotunda were once
OF u dark green. but have been defaced
and Clipped AWAY till they are all marked
with parti-colored spots.
IN THE HOUSE OF DELEG ATEs.
The hall of the House of Delegates is no
wise striking in its appointments. On the
right-hand side sit together. and apart
from their white brethren, the colored
members Of the Legislature. There are
two galleries to the room precisely alike,
and one Of these is appropriated to the
whites, the other TO blacks. Ihis division
has, however, found some opponents
among the colored folk, and an effort was
made recently to give to the sable ladies
permission to sit, if they choose, with their
fairer sisters.
THE SENATE CHAMBER.
In the Senate Chamber hangs that por-
trait OF General Lee. freshly executed by a
young Virginia artist. 1t is pronounced
good likeness. In the library above one
realizes fully that he is in ''Dixie," pnr.
traits of the principal rebel leaders adorn
OpI hl .,fl L., f,,n,
hangs side by side with the Declaration Of
Independence.
How many Of these men were killed in
battlc: asked one OF our party.
" Hardly any; it was the old story; they
embroiled thousands in fight, but them
selves found it to be their duty to stay at
home"
When the Federal soldiers took Rich
mond, they sacked the capitol and carried
OF great numbers of valuable books and
paintings. One small statue that Il Firgini-
an had presented to the capitol disappeared
at this time, and was discovered some two
years atterWard in private house in Bos-
ton. LII was ut once restored to the former
owner upon his declaring his claim.
TIE CONVICT woRKMEN,
AS we strolled slowly away through the
pretty grove that surrounds the Capitol we
were much amused at the gangs of con-
ylcts who are brought from the neigh
boring State prison to keep the grounds in
order. They were mostly colored men, and,
IN their curious garments of black and white
stripes, looked like ancient Egyptian sta-
tues" Zebras" the people about here
called them. They seemed to do their work
well, for the capitol yard is the only place
that looked really neat and clean.
THE RICHMOND DLADlEs-AMUsEsESTs.
The ladies of Richmond are as pretty az
ever, and on the walks we saw bright ewes
and lovely compilations that would create
Juror Oh Fifth avenue.
Poverty has set its stamp Oh everything,
however, and the theatres and public
amusements are but poorly patronZed by
the Strengthened inhabitants. McKean Bu-
chanan has, indeed, played brief and sue
cessiul engagement, but Jno. II. Surratt was
not allowed to give his lecture here. After
great deal Of money had been spent in post
ers, he was advised to remain away, fact |
creditable TO the people. Mrs. Devereux
Blake, OF New York, recently had large
audience, in the best hall of the city, 10 !
hear her speak on "Soldier and Victim"
There Is very strong feeling against the |
woman question in this region.
ANOTHER SwINDLING INSURANCE CON-
PANY.-The New York Times says:
Nho ef, ~; i