The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-17

~ I
TLEMEN--Z00LoGICAt. GARDENS AND EXPO"
srrIoN GROUNDS GREENHoES's ADDRESS
TO A WAX PIGURE--BoOTH AND THE RENDEz-
yors FOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ON INTER
EsTISG SUBJECTS.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatchl
PHILADELPHIA, August II, 1876.
On Tuesday last party Of four unso-
nhisticafed Young gentlemen from Rich I
fnopd were landed safe and sound on the
peaceful shores OF the Quaker City. To me
It has indeed been Quaker city, Tor have I
been quakfns for fear that should lose my
pockct-book But we poor folks from Viz
srrnia offer little temptation to the thieves. |
What care they for us, when surging mil
lions excuse the stretch) OF rich Yankees |
and foreigners hold out their fat and tempt
ing purses? But every one must be on the
watch. To lose my little all, little though |
it be, would bring tribulation to my door, |
and leave upon my mind an impression OF
Centennial glory which the good luck OF
another century could not obliterate.
speak this for the benefit OF poor folks.
AS we did not get snugly settled before
O'Clock in the afternoon we did not think
Of going directly to the show; but we de-
termined to go out to the Geological Gar
dens. There we saw bears, lionesses Gor
those lions Know what happiness is, and
each has an old LADY,, tigers, monkeys, and
other things OF that kind. The bear-pits
near the lower entrance afford much amusc-
ment to all who visit the gardens. These
bears are we'll educated in some branches OF
learning. / don't suppose they can read
and write, but they can dance (and you
know no genteel folks are we'll educated I'M
less they dance. .
/ shall not try to tell OF the other wonder
ful things saw. We stopped mt tho mon
10, In, flor an
we were delightfully."- entertained. While
in that cosy parlor VIC saw party from
Richmond, headed by a gentleman OF prom
inence in railroad circles. With him was
one OF the sweetest little roSy-checked DAM
sells of our city; and | tell you it did my
bachelor heart good to sec q sweet, familiar
face. There are some pretty girls up here,
but the larger number OF northern women
are not really pretty. Whereas-but need
not 20 on; some one Will accuse me OF DeinS
in love down in Virginia.
One thing that struck me rs being queer
was this: the springs and pumps IN tue
garden seem to run dry before dark. The
people up this way must belong to the tenn
perance order. Our springs never run dry.
Early on Wednesday morning we took
seats IN car for the Centennial grounds.
The cars arc always crowded here, it seems.
Before we had ridden half mile the women
folks commenced pouring in. Well, what
ever these fellows up here may do, 1t goes
against grain with southern gentleman to
sit down while tender-eyed (and tender
footed damsels are standing. So our party
@, bachelors has become distinguished for
callantry. We discriminate, however. You
don't catch lis jumping up for everybody
oh, no only for those who look rs If they
will appreciate it. I am constantly trelh-
bling for the safety OF the susceptible mem
Der Of our party. He's desperately fond OF
girls; eyes all the good-looking ones very
shyly; gets seat near them whenever ne
can, and makes himself very agreeable In
every way.
On reaching the grounds we got on the
railway cars that run around inside the en-
closure. This gave us some idea rs to the
relative position OF the buildings. Wewere
like the little boy at the fcaSt-didn't know
what to take first. We walked through the
main building, and soon found ourselves
face to face with one OF the many handsome
groups OF wax figures. just ut this time
we came up with green fellow from our
own State We had fellow-feeling for
him, not because OF his greenness, OF course,
but because OF his nativity. He found out
that we were from Virginia, and he came
I'D and introduced himself. In the course
of our remarks we spoke Of Virginia's not
having handsome exhibit, but we told him
that Virginia gentleman had built, at his
own expense, q house for the reception OF
Virginians. "Wherc is it," he asked. We
told him we didn't know. "Ob," he said,
ssI'll 60 and ask that old gentleman" Then
he marched up to the reverend grandsire OF
the aforementioned wax family. "Can
YOU tell me, sir, where the Virginia House
is?" The old man answered not word /;
the family looked as quiet as ever, and the
young inquirer waited for reply. A mis-
chievous Yankee who happend to be stand
ing near said, They are all deaf, SIR"
The Yankees twang and the Nirginian' 8
discontinue together were too ridiculous.
We went on our way with something to
laugh at for the rest OF the day. But we
were sorry that our fun was gotten ut the
expense. Of Il fellow-citiZen OF the Old Do
minon. It's very stingy (and unworthy OF
rich Virginians) to have fun at other peO-
pies expense.
My letter is rather long, so I'll not try to
tell Of any OF the magnificent things we have
seen. There are so many things to tell that
I'd hardly know what to tell Of first. But
must speak OF our pleasant reception ut the
Virginia House. 1t does not seem to be
generally known that there is n place set
apart expressly for Nirginians. But there
is hospitable old gentleman from Motto
way county who has built small wooden
tennial grounds. This gentleman, whose
name IL Booth, Is there most OF the time. AS
soon.as he finds out that you are from Fir-
GINA he comes up and shakes hands, asks
your name and place OF residence, offers
you refreshments, and bids you to make
yourself at home. There, on the porch OF
that plain wooden cottage, the travel-worn
stranger Mt last feels himself at home. An
Old Virginia darby and his wife of6ciate at
the refreshment counter. This old fellow
hands around ice-water and lemonade, and
makes himself agreeable in other ways.
Mr.. Booth keeps a book for visitors, to re-
gister their names in. There are good
many Virginia names on it, but the majority
of Virginians do not know about this house
built especially for them. Mr.. Booth has q
neat little observatory in the second story.
1t is made up OF glasses colored in different
ways, so as to represent the four seasons.
The design is beautifully executed and the
device is really excellent.
Tell all the Virginians to look for Mr.
Booth. He wants to see them all; and he
bids every one TO make himself ut home and
to invite his friends. More anon.
Yours, RICHMOND.