The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-27

RICHMOND
land the iobbies, can always be found, no!
loDiy the ttanaient and permanent guests,
a hut persons from all sections OF the city,
II who gather In knots TO talk oyer4the news
Iof the day, and to discuss the great political
A Iproblems that may be agitating the country.
Il Here can be seen life; in all OF its phases ;
4 many men OF many minds and opinions can
4 be heard on oil leading questions of the day
4 and hour. When the General Assembly Is
In night session the galleries, lobbies, and
the corridors are crowded: with statesmen,
ssEWho take an active interest In the affairs OF
Estate. Many on s.:cm sss.::ccm look upon an adjourn
ment with regret, and 60 home only TO re-
turn to their post as early as poss. .Ie ~
next day. t.'355.
q, At the Christian Women's Mission, on.
Isranklin street, party OF self-sacriieing
spirits are engaged Ia conducting night
school and in teaching both the old and
young idea how to shoot, and deserve the
thanks OF the community in their praise
worthy endeaYors. AT most OF the many
churches with which our goodIy city Is fa-
Yored services are held Sunday, Wednes.
day, and Friday nights. These services are
] wen atItllUSu, Gut w Oiu Is duu
the people exhorted to lay up their treas
affections on the things Of this world, ~ Il
Where all that's bright must fade
The brightest but the feetest.'
On the Basin and Byrd Island, where in
former days there was wont to be war and
rnmors of war, all is now quiet atE'night.
| The boatman OF the present day does not
dance and sing like unto the one of the olden
time. but at seasonable hour retlres to his
downy couch--generally y plank, il in the.
summer time-and dreams the happy ho' IRA
away. The only thing in this VICINITY that
disturbs the quiet Of the Silly night Is the
busy noise OF the great
GALLEGO AND HAXALL MILLS
which all through the clone, starry oonrs .,
of the milling season grind exceeS tnplv fine
the best wheat that old Virginj nreduces.
Rockets, Screamersyille, amtchertown.
Shedtown, and Oregon Hill localities thai
in former days boasted OF their Regulators,
and Blossoms. and Kans as Killers. and Bull.
dogs, and kindred orr kanizations. that made
day uncomfortable and night hideous with
their noWis, GaPf put on new garb, and
are now as ofaf ,rly and as reputable as could
De uesl!eu. >jne may now attend cotillon
so!fee III '!.ncketts or in Screamersyille in
sa1ety a. night and be received with due
hospitality. But it wasn't so before the
war: Tie old Armory bridge, at the foot Of
fl1th street, was in the good old days q
famo US promenade for lovers, who delighted
to gaze on the placid waters OF the canal
and wish that the course Of their true love
might ever run as smooth. But no crowds
now congregate on the old bridge,
and the nights in that once festive vicinity
are as quiet as the days. On moonlight nights,
and some pleasant starry ones, even at this
season, the Capitol Square, Monroe Park.
Libby Hill, Lovers Retreat, CANDLES Hill,
and other places OF public resort, are
thronged with parties who, wrapped up in
their thoughts Of each other, can defy WIN
ters bleak winds, and who, warmed by
love, are as comfortable in linen-duster
as if enveloped in an Ulster. Richmond is
remarkably free from night tramps. Some
sleep in unfinished buildings and others
find accommodations at the station-houses.
| II they apply too often they are furnished
with employment on the streest, and fur
nished with ball and chain at the expense
Of the city.
THE LODGE MEETS TONIGHT.
There are in the city many lodges Of Odd
Fellows, Masons, Pythians, Red Men,
Knights Of Honor, Sons Of Temperance,
&C., &c. These are all well attended. Some
of them continue their sessions until quite
late, as many wives will testify, judging
from the time that their liege lords reach
home. There probably is but little doubt
in their minds that a great deal OF lau-
dable rascality has been going on at the
lodge-and how many fair ones would like
to know what really does go on there. On
the other hand, there may be some who
plead the lodge for their absence, when
really they have been spending the evening
at a favorite garden, competing for the
prize-medal at Creedmoor, playing billiards,
paying the public debt, or may be attending
one of the favorite city clubs.
AT THE REGIMENTAL ARMORY
every night are gathered the youths Of our
city who are imbued with military spirit.
Some company OF the regiment meets for
drill nearly every night, and few hours are
very pleasantly and properly spent.
The office Of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company is open until all the dis
Patches are received from Washington and
elsewhere, and the messenger-boys are kept
busy until late hour delivering press, spe-
cial, and private kilograms. The telegraph
bows, like the newsboys, are generally sharp,
active, and clean, and generally find time to
drop in at the Theatre or other place OF
amusement-veryo often on the rretence that
they have message for some one, whom,
strange to say, they rarely succeed in find
ing.
WHAT RICHMOND NEEDS.
Richmond does not boast OF a public
library that is kept open later than O'Clock
P. NJ, no gymnasium and other places OF
attraction, by which her youths might be
EMPLOYED until bedtime, and thus escape
many of the snares that beset their paths in
this as in all cities OF population and i'm
|portance.
In various sections of the city, balls and
sociables are given nightly, not one fourth
of which find their way into print, being
mostly Of private nature. Various bands
of wandering minstrels make nightly rounds
Of the saloons both on Main and Broad
streets, and for a few pennies furnish music
enough for an entire family.
OTHER PLACES OF RESORT.
At Sanger Halle, on Seventh street, the
Gesangverein Virginia have social gather
ings nearly every night. Here they talk Of
the Faderland, sing their native songs, and
quaff their national beverage. The Germans
know how to enjoy themselves; and know
ing, dare maintain.
On Mozart night the beauty and fashion
OF Richmond crowd Mozart Hall. Here can
be heard good music and be seen the sweet
est faces, the brightest eyes, and the best
toilettes in the city. There is hardly night
| that there is not some lecture or church
festival. Here also can be seen, if not the
brilliant devotees of fashion, some pretty,
calm, thoughtful faces, whose aspirations
| look above the mere vanities and frivolities
| ~ this world n q hjpher and hpftnr life that