Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-05-09
For the beacon.


A~1A0N0e @1e A0sSs
.Messrs. Editors Though far from
possessing the mystic gift ofword paint.
ing. vet 1 cannot resist the impulse thai
prompts me 10 give you at least sketch
Of our beautiful city. The history ol
her rise and fall are too well known q
warrant comment, still those who saw
her few years ago with her treasure
gone, her beauty defaced, she o weep
ing mother, a dethroned queen, YET
proud and unconqueFed amidst her des-
oIalion, would scarcely recognize hel
now as the same. Then she seemed
paralyzed and many, no doubt, thought
her days were over. To-day, she Il
richer, stronger, larger tllan before.
Her mahnfactories have increased
her commerce is daily growing, labor j.
encouraged, her sons have been devel-
oped into enterprising merchants, val.
liable public improvements have been
made, her financial condition is good
and above all, her honor stands unques-
toned. Beautiful, proud, yet sanctifed
she wins alike admiration and love,
There is an indefnable charm about hel
that attracts all who approach her, and
those who by circumstances are com.
PEELED to locate elsewhere often visit
her IN spirit.
Notwithstanding the universal cry o.
hard times, her streets are alive with
people hnrrying to work; vehicles pas.
sing to and fro on business bent ,enlivened
by merry maids and ladies' fair, either
out on constitutional, visiting or shop.
ping expedition.
Broad Street is now the Broadway Of
Richmond and Franklin Street is still
the Boulevard, though Grace and Main
Streets rank high as promenades. Beau.
tiful trees lend their shade to every
street, and Of course render them there.
by attractive. Fine and handsome
houses, each having a garden rich with
floral beauty, adorn the city. The prin.
cIpal public building is the Capitol. II
belongs to the pastreyolutionary period
Is situated on Shockoe Hill, in tue cen.
tire of a square of eight acres. The
Square is place OF resort for visitor and
resident. II is beautifully and artist
cally laid out; choicest flowers lend
their charms and the soft music ofthree
fountains lures many a weary one tc
dreamland, and the birds sing lullaby
the while. The edifice Is of the Grae-
co-composite order, with a portico OF
Ionic columns. The view from it is
lovely and extensive. There are two
entrances; they lead to square hall In
the building surmounted by a dome.
The famous marble statue of Washing
ton is in the centre of the hall. II bears
this inscription:
FGitpar Hondon; Citozen FrdncGis, 178s
On the pedestal the followingis seen:
"The General Assembly of the Com
monwealth of Virginia have caused this
statue to be erected as q monument oil
affection and gratitude to
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
who, uniting to the endowments Of the
Hero the virtues of the Patriot, and ex.
erting both in Establishing the Liber-
ties of his Country, has rendered his
name dear to his Fellow Citizens, and
given the World an immortal example
Of true Glory. Done in the year oil
Christ, One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Eighty-Eight, and in the year OF
the Commonwealth the Twelfth"
The statue is life size and clothed in
the uniform of the American Revolu-
ton. A marble bust of Lafayette adorns
one of the inches. The Library con-
tains many historic relics, old and valu-
able pictures.
Among the most interesting objects
is an antique English stove, with orna-
mental castings and inscriptions, dating
before the Revolution. 1t was in the
old Virginia House of Burgesses at Will
liamsburg in Colonial days. 1t was in
the Capitol that Aaron Burr was tried
before John Marshall; that Lafayette was
received by his companions in the field
and cabinet; that the Convention oil
1890 held its sessions and that the
hero-Stonewall Jackson-lay in state,
with the snew Confederate flag for his
pail. The building is rich with assocl-
ations which render it sacred. The
Square is adorned by the celebrated
equestrian statue of Washington. Both
rider and horse are bronze and the work
of Crawford. They are of gigantic size,
gracefully poised upon a monument Of
granite and surrounded by immense sta
tues of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Hen
~, George Mason. Thomas Nelson,
Marshall and Andrew Lewis. Each
statue is almost speaking likeness"
jefferson, with thoughtful brow and pen
in hand, reveals the statesman. Pat
rick Henry betrays the orator and Mar
shall the great Judge. On smaller pc
dt,stals are seen military, allegorical and
civic illustrations. They are also Of
bronze. This monument is considered
the most imposing IN America. A life
size statue Of Henry Clay (cf marble)
adorns another portion of the grounds.
Almost under the shadow ofthe Cap
tol and where the broken line of lin
dens let in the sunshine, stands Eng
lands tribute to Virginia--Stonewall
Jackson's statue. Proudly the hero
stands, as IL conscious Of the historic in
terest Of the scene he cverlooks; the
last. and il may be said the greatest, Of
Foley's works. Every line Of the figure
betrays strength and self-ccntrol. The
position is easy and natural. The right
arm is a-kimbo. The barred head il
turned little TO the right and the eyes
are looking keenly in the distance.
Resting lightly on the low stone wal
which symbolizes his name, is his, the
historic sword, held BY the lefl hand.
His legs are encased 10 military boots,
and are remarkable for the n.t,,ralnaes