Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-11-02
PENsIVE PARAGRAPHS
Sketched at the Capital by the Free
Press Man.
Sabbath Sentiment Stiiied Steamer
Hotel Hash Things Theatrical Etc.
From Our Regular Core spondeht.)
WAsHINGToN, Sunday Utt0bcT 2


Gil drass YEARLY in the indition of my usual
The mind rebels against an
epistolary solitude, aud betrays congenial
longngs; longingS to take me beyond the
limits Of fashionable street
guiding my docile steps until they tread sweet
Natures paths, her paths Of pleasantness,
where green clad meadows look upward to the
gold aud russell foliage of many trees, where
sparrows are twitteriug of fall delights, where
cue can stroll at leisure and catch, perchance,
the soft aud sivery cadence of some far off
bell, whose solemn melody invites the soul to
prayer. 'Phe doctrine of Divine ubiguity
would gently urge, right here, ts'sober truth;
50 that the loiterer among these rural solitudes
might well exclaim: " Ny cousciencetels me,
90 this Sabbath day, am worshipper. Ny
present temple is ohe not made with hands,
aud lie who made it | truly worship: for,
from Nature-in gratitude, reverence and love
II look up to Natures God y
But dear me, this soliloquizing will never
do. Aud am very sorry, but sometimes the
mind, given an inch, will prove so ungratelul
as to take an ell, and interest in the theme
will bauish all(Otrgn bought until the mind
and the pencil stop together, and, all written
down, the correspondent sees batch of mat
ter-sood enough material for a sermon or,
mayhap, novel, but decidedly unhealthy as
an appetizer for wide awake, practical
letter
Aplace for every thing and everything in its
place.
The loss Of the steamer Express on Wednes-
day last, while en- route here from Baltimore,
was certainly very calamitous but it may be
questioned whether considering her age and
condition her owners or the crew had any
right to expect the vessel to ride out such u
gale as then swept the waters. Sailors, pro-
fessonal and amateur have-since the disaster
told me that the Express was built over
thirty years ago and was known 70 be entirely
unprepared for nncuunteriug rough weather
such as she did Ter owners had spent some
ten thousand dollars on the boat since she was
tUik. bet the wear and tear of continuous
service rendered her mere Shell. 1t is well
to know that the dangerous craft has at last
been DESTROYED, though the loss of life which
accompanied the fatality will be feelingly re-
memSere3.
The Messrs. Willard, proprietors Of Will
lards' Hotel-which house has been closed for
some time-have leased it for term Of FIVE
years to Jas. H. Bresln, of New York, and
JOS c. Cook Of Saratoga, who intend reopen
ing it Immediately. The lesSees pay fifteen
thousand delars the GrSt year, and twenty
thousand thereafter for the property. The
Arlington, Ebbitt. Wizards and the Riggs
House comprise our only first class hosielres.
The last mentioned, which was opened in the
the spring of &c, is doing very good business.
Ii is very ariStocratic in character-and prices.
Miss Emma Abbott, the bright star Of the
Tess English Opera Troupe has been delight
Jog critical audiences at the National last
week. and will continue to do so this week
also "Migncn" seems to be the favorite
opera. Miss Abbot: assuming the title role
Sweeter than this, thiHk, are the chimes of
Normandy, a most delightiul opera wherein
simplicity aud chsste airs are beautifully
mingled. The Post, our belgerent newspaper,
published yesterday morning lengthy inter-
view had with Miss Abbott. Therefrom we
CLEAN mat the cAntatrice commenced the ascent
Of the ladder Of musical fame under circum-
stances which combined in equal portions the
lachrymose and the l1dicrous. In early life
she had TO borrow five dollars from q Chicago
friend to get away from that pious town. Her
baggage cost one of these precious dollars, and
the remaining four she pressed upon the rail-
way ticket agent, asking him to put her
through as Ear as that suns would permit His
answer was to the effect that so much money
would take her to a certain wood and water
station on the roal. The pretty singer says
she didn't care to sing to water tank and a
wood pile so she got ticket for the town or
village nearest this inhospilaLle station. Here
she 6ulldozed the proprietor Of the hotel into
a consent and--after athorough PRONUNCIATION
of the fact through the towa-proceedel to
give concert SOluS in the hotel parlor. She
counted on the collection plan and therefore
had make admittance free, but was very much
disconnected, on entering the room for the
evening to find i empty. Her exit from this
unappreciStive village was only effected by
pawning her black dress fof two dollars and a
half-the entire interview las jJtted down YER
batim by the reporter is singularly interesting.
Tomorrow evening several Of our "blg guns"
intend giving Miss Abbott a serenade after her
return from the theatre to her hotel. The full
marine band has been engaged and Gov.
Shepherd and Gen. Sherman will father the
AFFAIR. Madame RentZ' naughty female min
strelS occupy the boards of the Opera House
this week, giving bald headed sinners chance
10 Prove their inherent cusSedness. Ole Bull
that celebrated volinist, who has been cxecut-
ing farewell tours since Noah's time, or there
abouts. is coming soon also hermann, the
man who deals in iicJlerts
The new government department for the use
Of the State, War and Navy bureaux situated
west Of the White House-wil be entirely
comrleted--as regards its south wing-by the
lst of April The clerks Of the State Depart
ment are already enscOucel in its upper stories
and seer, to be lost in such big space Yet
j; cannot be said that the last state of these
men is worse than the iirst-because the new
building is perfect palace shall give you
an idea Of IFS flush soon.
The President will issue some time this
week his proclamation setting apart Thursday.
the 2sth inst, as a Day of Tnan ksgiving and
PRAYER Commands are respectfully asked to
take due notice.
Our merchants arc hopeful Of big business
this winter especially about Christmas time -
\ fier all, theirs is the only practical ilustra-
ton Of the Sweet Buy and Buy.
JEAN SANDS.