Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-05
LOCAL NEWS.

THE W. & 0. R. R-At meeting of the
Board of Directors of the w. s 0. r. R. Co..
this morning, to consider the contract proposed
by MIR. o. A. Stevens, and certain changes
therein made by the stockholders, the parties
being uDable to agree upon those changes, the
Board took no action 10 the business.
SUMNER AT HoME.-T few Alexandra
families that. spend the summer in the noun
tains or at the sea side are SO ve1y few that
they may be lett out Of account altogether.
The town, may be we'll said, to be made up Of
stay at-home people, and one OF the most i'm
portant considerations for US is how to make
the most Of the hundred opportunities we have
during the summer, with view of utilizing
them for the health and comfort of the chill
dreu especially. We can make at home all
that can be gotten on the mountains, or at the
seaside, within the house, but We miss the
grand scenery, and the bracing air. Now az
ter all ls there not great deal Of humbug
about the GOODNESS and bracing air of the sum-
mer resorts When We 20 away and come
back don't all of US magnify little in this re-
spect. Have ut We really felt as much lassltude
at the springs as on Prince or Cameron streets.
Aud wheo We have seen the same ooast-ne, or
gave vivaoity to the picture is gone.
However this may be, let US turn from the
sour grapes and see If We have not some sweet
ones near OF at hand. 1t would be very pleas.
ant certainly if there was public park, but
We must make the best We can of what we
have. Whatever may be said Of magnificent
fountains, prettily-made walks, and carefully
trimmed shrubbery, they are not essential to
health, and, We have now all the grounds that
We would have if place was fenced in and fix.
ed up and called public park. By no expen
diture Of money could park be made in less
than ten years, which would be really more
useful than the same grounds now are; and
these grounds, for We speak of all the grounds
in the ueighborhood Of the city, available for a
possible park, are now open, and may be used
10 the uuiuproved condition with just the same
advantage to health, as though they were call
ed parks Let US make the most of them dur
iug the summer. The commons north of the
town, If not inviting, at least, afford fresh air
and room, and are large enough for exercise.
While, as to the open Fl lids bordering the riv-
er on the southwest, Washington with all her
twenty-five parks and her drives, miles in ex-
tent, has nothing which approaches it 10 nat
ural beauty. Why not give the children such
chances as these offered, and find some pleas
ure for ourselves in making the most of what
the town affords 10 this respect. Gods best
gift to Alexandria is the Potomac, and there
is more tonic medicine on its bosom than in all
the drug stores od King street. The river
trips are our summer solaces. From the Is
cents Of fresh air to be caught on the Washing
ton and Alexandria ferry steamers to the longer
trips to the Bay and ocean, the river boats af
ford all varieties and suit all purses The
cheap evening trips Us cents round trip for
Nurse and chiId) on the Washington boats, Of
fer opportunities that ought to be more cult
waited. Little fishing parties might be impro.
vised. Ii sail-boats were in demand there
would be an abundance for hire at moderate
rates. Rowing might become more widely used
as source Of health; in fine the resources of
the river are muliform and all pleasant. On
land the omnibuses might we'll be more pa
tronized for little family trips, an hour or two
at time. 60 out with the children to the
best place to which the breeze comes Study
the opportunities that lie within your reach, and
you will tud there are many enjoyable things
close at hand, that will help to make summer