The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-28
An Enslfsarnan I'm VII fnisaaas Fsf1sh
called I. Before she Wharf.-The Good
and the fyatl ;oY the Ola DDsi1tsfoH.

called . Before Che sWars,L.The Good
and tho mad oT the Ola Dotntnfoa.
Correspondence New York Commercial Advertiser.
ds}Gsia f6I Z yIRsfsIAs February 20. r.
There Is q, Fetish ID Virginia, and it is not
black mans Fetish either. It consists of q
wretched idol, worshipped under, the name
of Before the War" The visitor finds
much to admire, but If he talks with the peo-
pie the satisfaction he derives from what he
sees viii be spoiled by asense Of his unhappy
fate in not having viewed things as they were
"before the war sTrs - r- nass1s Is. ~,
Point out to a Virginhn that his fellow
statesmen are not, as rule, very fond of
reading, and he shakes his head and tells you
1t was different "before the war; II, you
express surprise at the miserable edifices
which, in the country districts, are called
cfiurches--if you wonder where the noble
mansions are that you have read about in
novels--if you seek in vain for the grand fur
niture' southerners have described to YOU
you may safely expect another solemn shake
of the head and a mournful reference to
"before the war" =
In Richmond and Norfolk the citizens have
none of this Fetishism, and hence they are
as remarkable as any in the Union for life and
vigor of enterprise. 1t is, however, time
that the country gentlemen of Virginia got
rid of their Fetish. Why should they de-
Jude themselves with the idea that they were
intellectually and every way at the head of
civilization "before the war;" Two days in
the North or in New England would show
them differently. The churches were built
"before the war;" when the Virginians were
wealthy; and they are a standing disgrace to
" hf1il X hat
the chivalry, in their prosperity and power,
respectable house. But this would be an
unfair judgment, for the Virginians are, as a
class, among the most truly religious people
in the world. Only they "didn't know any
better than to erect churches positively, us
buildings, inferior to an Irishman's barn.
The houses were also built before the war;"
and, with the exception of those on the great
plantations, am not sure but if they had
been burned in the war it would have been
as we'll. The northerner or Englishnlan GER
tainy does not see much to admire in them.
The furniture is also dnte.bellum, and in many
cases would seem to be almost antedluyian.
/ have found less furniture in many big man.
sions than you would find in one room of q
New York or London house. .us
II, as the Virginians delude themselves into
thinking, all this were traceabe to the war,
would not say word about it. On the con-
trary, would give them my deepest sympa.
thy, but the acdr did not generally destroy
churches, houses, nor furniture. The man
who was fond of books and newspapers
"before the war" would be fond of books
and newspapers now. It is therefore evi.
dent that "before the war" the Virginians
were behind the age. s's
The Vrginians are undoubtedly refined
and gentlemanly people, with whom social
intercourse is very pleasant. My life and
that of northern and British settlers would
however, be pleasanter In some respects il
| reading were more general. II the Richmond
papers were properly supported, they ought
to have fifty subscribers where they now
| have one. / have recently converSed with
F.F. VS. who were totally ignorant of all
| politics beyond their own county, and who
| were unacquainted even with the names Of
| Thackeray and Dickens and other cele.
bratcd authors. These were men who owned
large numbers of slaves in the old times
They were decidedly of the upper ten.''
WHAT THE GLoRIEs OF VIRGINIA WE'RE
"before the war" it is not for me to say, but
| in the average they certainly did not consist
Ol Tue SItuucuF Vi ClluGCDsS, HOUSES, VI luI-
niture, nor in general culture. 1t is matter
Of which the southern people may we'll be
| proud that if "manners make the man." they
| have more manliness than any other citizens
Their pollteness and general refinement are
beyond all praise. Nevertheless will it be
treason to say that gentlemen in other parts
Of the world never ate with their knives, nol
used their own knives indiscriminately to helr
themselves and Others at dinner. If sucl
things are done occasionally in Virginia, as
in other States, it must be remembered that
the lack of good breeding is greater in Vir
ginians, who thus act because their State |!
unquestionably the model of politeness ii
America, just as France is in Europe.
The old-fogyism which dwells rcgretfullI
on things cas- they used to was" before III.
acar does not receive much sympathy from
the lire Virginians in Richmond and tn,
other cities. The Wing and the Dispatch
edited by Virginhns, are quite as active a
the State Journal, edited by a'northerner, il
advocating progress in business matters
However they may differ on politics, the.
all have the New York motto of " Excelsior.
|