The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-08
PRIVATE CORRESPONDBNCB--NO. l

the first of a series of such which fell into our
hands in New York, and which, by the writer's
permission, we hereby present to the public,
feeling sure that their perusal will cause every
reader to wish to know the writer, whom we are
pleased to class among our legion of friends j
Dear S-:-On a bleak and wintry
day in the dreary month of March, we
crossed the ferry from New York, and
entering one of the most luxurious
pullman palace" cars, right royalty
started on our Southern trip in search
of health and happiness, warm weather
and strawberries.
Our train, flying at a most rapid pace
through little Jersey-staying its speed
for a second, when passing through one
or two of the principal places in the
larger, if not nobler State of Pennsyl-
vania-dashing into Maryland in way
determined to let all know it was the
famous "limited express''-rushed with
putting of steam and blowing of whistle
into the crowded depot of the most noted
city in the District of Columbia, the
far-famed city of Washington, creating
aperfect furor among the hackmen when
disgorging its human freight. ''Have
hack?" Here's carriagep "Take
cab ?" were words shouted in our ears,
still deafened with the fearful noise and
dazed with the hustle, our bewildered
senses were truly glad to find rest, when
O1 orfvy Of fn1 o1 in,
the stage and fairly on our way to the
hotel Arlington. Far too weary for
anything but sleep, we left the beauties
of Washington to be discussed the next
day, and resting that night "without
dreams" we were ready "to do" our coun-
try's capital in the true travellers style
seeing a great deal-remembering lit
tie. But feeling sure there is scarce a
person in the remOtest borders of our
broad land, but knows full well,
either by description or observation, all
the wonders of the "city of magnificent
distances" we will, dear s., hurry on
to places more noted, if less interesting.
We left Washington, by boat, after a
four days stay about six in the morn
ing, and at that early hour there lay a
dense fog upon the smooth waters of
the Potomac, shutting from view all
objects of interest, but just as we neared
Mount Vernon, the heavy mists sud-
denly rolled away, vanishing like a
Dream" and in the distance we saw the
tomb of our noblest patriot nesting
among the trees.
Our sail was brief, only two hours
then tedious ride in car, with very
little claim to the name of "palace," #"
over the country, where for four long
weary years were encamped so many Of
the noble sons of the North and South,
but where little trace was now left,
| scarcely an earthwork remaining, kind
old "Father Time" trying to efface all
| evidence of what was once the great
camping ground" of-brothers. Six
! hours of the most uncomfortable riding
brought us in quite famished condi.
] 6lOA lhLO lhG OlGC pAAoA
of the Southern States. And truly dis.
appointed have 1 been in the place. This
town is very irregularly built, with lit,
tie or no pretensions to beauty. Bu
driving around the city brought to view
many places of "memory sad"-such a!
"Castle Thunder" and Libby Prison,
where so many of our "braves" WASTED
their life's blood for weary months
were again teeming with busy factory
life, and filled with those for whom 81
much had been given and who wer
busily happy preparing the "dangerou
weed" And quite amusing was it. t.
watch the different processes through
which the tobacco went, from the lea
to the little cake.
Some of the Notifications around tn
city are still remaining, and when stand
ing beside window in the State Capi
tol, 'one could we'll imagine the terro
that must have filled the hearts of thos
gazing upon the hills beyond, KNOWN
that from their heights death missile
might at any moment be showere
, among them.
Sunday afternoon we attended th
largest colored church in the South, an
when beside US sat hundreds of OF
brethren of the darker hue" 1t gave l
some faint idea of the vastness of the
numbers, which, to Northerner, "bor
: and bred" has always been a difficu
8 thing to realize.
A magnificent monument of Wasl
ington, surrounded by Virginia state
, men, was one of the few things [ care
= to place in memory sstore-hOuse"-an
sitting alone in forlorn little room
; wretched hotel-the best the place a
. fords-my heart is quaking, for L fei
me Southern travel, Southern cite
and especially Southern hotels, will
far different from what our bright a.
. ticipations pictured. And the weathe
: though warmer than was that to whiC
. we babe goodbye" one week ago, b.
but little of the 'tsunny warmth" abo
: which we have so often read; and gree
:. grass, and few peach trees in blooT
a is all of summer that has so far greet
y eyes weary with the bleakness al
dreariness of Northern winters. st
with hone we will Tomorrow iOurn