Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-03
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND, Va April 1.-The peDitentiary
coDvicts were engaged yesterday 10 cleaning out
the ponds around the fountains in the Capitol
Square, preparatory to stocking them with
fish. Mr.. A. Y. Lee, Of this city, gentle
man who has taken great interest in fish cul-
turc, has obtained the consent of the Governor
to place some fish eggs. which he has, in these
ponds. MIR. Lee will place the eggs of tho
black bass 10 one of the ponds, and those of
the gold fish in another. He has already thous-
ands of the eggs of trout and black bass, and
has Matched many Of them by placing them in
glass jar filled with common hydrant water.
He states that if he was given the choice be.
tween raising chickens and fish, he would IN.
hcsitatingy accept the latter, aud would guar
antee that be would lose smaller number Of
fish than the other party would lose OF chick
ems if he were raising them. This indicates
the ease with which people could raise foe fish
for their tables.
Yesterday morning U. S. Commissioner
Pleasapls examined the case of James Furgus-
son, Turner Lewis and Ananias Roy (all color
ed) who are charged with breaking in the post
Office, and robbing the mails at Gulnea's De-
pot, Caroline county. Strange to say, the guilt
or innocence of oue of the parties, James Fur
gusson, turned on question OF veraciiy be-
tween him aud Anauias Roy. If the state
ment of Furgusson was true he was innocent Of
the robbery if that of Ananias was true, be
was guiltless. Neither had witnesses to sub
stauliate fully their evidence The Commits
sioners 6ually decided that Ananias had told
the truth aud Furgusson was the one that lied.
Ananias, unlike his ancestor who did lie, walk
ed out of the Court room alive and smiling,
while the other two parties were sent on 10
the Grand Jury of the United States Circuit
Court This is the first time | ever heard OF
anybody bearing the name OF Ananias except
the party mentioned in history
There is a colored man in this city who is
making fortune by moving the dead bodies
of cats and dogs from the Corporation limits
He charges 25 cents per body. He tells me
that business is just now rather dull, but that
it will increase during the months of April and
June. He moved only 80 CANNES aud felines
during the past month. When the tax man
goes around though, then my body collecting
friend begins to accumulate funds. The COL
ored population, especially, begin to poison
their dogs in order TO avoid paying the tax 90
them.
The Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society
presented to full house at Assembly Hall,
Thursday night, the society drama Of "Sarato
ga" There are some really very good actors 10
this Association, and the stage business and
get up were really very fine. AS the enter
tainment was for the benefit of the widow OF a
Confederate officer every body eudeavored to
make it a success. The leading artists here
painted the scenery used on this occasion and
gave great aid in getting up appropriate cos
tunes for the characters. 1t has been long
time since play has been given in this city 50
complete IN the above mentioned particulars.
The Ricbmond people are going crazy on
the subject of music | believe. Scarcely a
week passes in which concert is not given,
aud all are splendidly attended I am glad to
notice that the musical taste of the community
is growing fast, and l can already perceive the
beneficial results. The Philharmonic Society
is at this moment considering the ACCESSIBILITY
IF giving monthly concerts, and | hear that
some of our musical enthusiasts wish to go SO
far as to attempt to get up grand musical
festival iu which all the societies in Virginia
and the South are to take part, said festival to
be held in Richmond in honor of the Virginia
Centennial" not the Philadelphia affair. W bile
many persons regard this scheme as utoplan,
yet think it is q perfectly reasonable one