Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-03-10
Spirit Of Jeffersolr,
Charlestown, JEFFERSON County, West Va.
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 10. 1874.
LETTER FROM ALEXANDRIA.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. Feb. 25. as

Iout through tue streets OF AIeX00uEla, YOU
would have thought the people were all dead
or slumberiug. The last week has just been the
oppOsite-there is plenty of life yet in the old
place, and the right-kiud at that. Yesterday
we thought spring was almost here, for the
weather has been charming, baimy, mild aud
sweet as spring aud the breeze like summer
was delightful; but to-day all this is changed,
and winter is upon us again; since early morn
ing it has been showing, and it is now wet and
hard travelling.
Some changes have taken place lately-the
Postmaster. n. 7. Trist, died some duys ago.
Yesterday ". n. Berkeley, Mayor of the city,
was nominated, which gives general satisfac~
ton. but of course there are some who are not
so we'll pleased, not getting it themselves
The Gee Club gave an entertainment last
Monday. and it was very much enjoyed by ALL
They believe in the old saying .'laugh aud
grow fat" and laugh every body did
The ladies and gentlemen Of the n. p.
Church gave also an entertainment on Tues
day and Thursday evenings. which was we'll
attended, the scenery was fue and the per-
sons we'll understood their parts The
tabteaux, singing, &C., very good. but l
have seen as we'll in old Jefferson COUNTY.
On Monday Wnshington's birth>iay was
celebrated, aud Alexandria was alive with
people from Washington and all the country
around. If you will not get bored will give
you short account of it. for | would not try
to tell you every thing in regard tn the pro-
cessioD and what was did on that day: Early
in the morning the town was lively and you
could tell something was the matter About
twelve o'clock the streets we're full of neople,
white and black. red, aud was going to say
yellow, ana suppose can, for we had some
twO or three Japanese students from Columbian
College. At one o'clock the procession moved
off, with Captain Webster at tue head of the
Ioice. followed by young men on horseback,
carriages. hacks, &c. Next carue the hose
carriages of the Hydcauiiiou Fire Company,
drawn by twenty men, dressed in red shirts,
black pantS'and black fire hats The steam
engine was drawn by four white horses taste-
fully decorated with flowers, and the engine
covered with trimming and pictures ofIi George
and Martha Washington +; then came delight
tHl music making you feel jolly. Then tho
Relief Hook and Ladder Company, drawn by
between forty and frv men dressed in uni
form. Then .nore music. Then the Columbia
Fire Company. hose carriage and s,"am en-
pine drawn by black horses decorated in style
that wnuld surprise an editor himself; the Gu
gine bore handsome pyramid of f'"wers
tbI'i'P'; "i'b a Eb!u ccHie. men ClTfN IIark-
cons Band. making moro delightful music.
aud IS you would stand and see all tho sights
and hear the music, you could say it was good
to be hcrc. 81. Johns Catc's, s'xrv or
seventy in number, turned out. making a
good show and keeping time like old soldiers :;
they werc dressed in gray clothes and armed
with muske's. The Board Of Public Works
were also represented by four gentlemen in
an open carriage. a wagon containing the
log bladder band attracted much attention,
with their funny faces, long heads and strange
music. The trades were all represented
one wagon had a large cooking stove on il,
decorated with flowers, evergreen, &c the
uezt had workmen turning out coffee pots,
tin cups. &c, dressed in working clothes, with
large tin hats representing ten pots and water
buckets; on one end OF the wagon was an
unhlcached American, with long sheet iron
hat, running out to point, backing stoves
The Mt. Neruon Cotton Factory had large
wagon, containing loum and spindies, with
men at work making cloth the wagon was
one of the best in the line, the men hard at
work and the factory girls working makiug
the spiudIes fly was sight long to be renem-
bered. Next came a wagon with men making
brick. The Alexandria and Fredericksburg
railroad was also out with wagon, &c, nicely
trimmed up with flowers and ovcrgreens,
on one printed in large letters, Go West
Via Penna route" Next in order came milk
wagons; the last was drawn by rough>look-
ing horse, old enough to rot, and was filled
with cans and a pump. which the owner used
very often, filling up his cans and showing to
the people that it was as white as milk could
be. Wagons filled with flour, brooms, coal
oil, cakes. apples, potatoes, &c came pcxt.-
Green's Mansion House was represented, HIS
omnibus was filled with little girls who seemed
to enjoy themselves, singing all the while.-
Mex. came blacksmith shop, with all hard
at work. Next an ice cream and candy
manufacture, young man (or supposed to
be) represented young lady eating the
cream it came from the tub Next
came Alexandria Soap Factory. then the
wagon Ga large one) filed with n d.
Ball, editor of the Virginia Sentinel. aud his
men. and the wagon was full; this turnout,
think, was one Of the best that ever went up
King street in Alexandra the wagon was
embeliished with designs showing their
growth and condition. OF one side the picture
of large boy-one side of him was printed
his age, .twenty>two months on the other his
weight. tventy-six hundred The reporter
was all the time busy taking notes aud holding
up his box of paper on which was printed so
all might see, ..Big Puffs.'' Tie Col. must
have thought he would have some trouble. for
he had stuck up on a card, ''the fighting
Editor always out" Think (this is between
you and 1, Mr.. Dalgarn) that he had enough
on this wagon to take charge of the town; he
is brick, tell you. After them came the
Singer Sewing Machine Co. three wagons
Then the Howe. also three wagons; one small
low top, trimmed with green box and flowers;
the wagon contained handsome machine
pearl and plated, which Slistened in the sun,
shine, attracting attention, as did the mot
toes on the other wagons, of which there ,zas