The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-05
Local MATTERS.
The Glorious Fourth

GRAND OETFOuRI RiCHhCNU u "
| THE RURAI. DISTRICTS IN HONOR OF AMERI-
CAN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE CHAM
PIoN EXCURSION CfTY---A BRIGHT AND HAP
PY DAY AT NEARLY ALL The PICNIC
GRoUNDs--M0RAL REFLECTIONS AND iPHILo-;
soPHICAI. DEDUCTIONS. ~ S',r.
Yesterday was an old.fashioned Fourth
Of July, so far as the weather was con-
cerned, IL not in other respects. The sun
was dazzling in its briliancy and blazing in
its glory. Business was very generally sus-
pended except at those places where ice
cream and cooling drinks were sold. The few
/ other houses open offered their goods IN
vain to perspiring excursionists or impecu-
nious freedmen, who formed the great Duik
OF the people on the streets yesterday.
Our folks crowded all the trains and boats
leaving the city in the morning. They rose
with the lark, buried on their starched
shirts, felt in their pockets for their tickets,
and in hot haste dashed off from their homes
to have (hot) day Of it. Every avenue OF
escape from the city to "the green fields
and Shady trees Of the country" was lined.
Nothing was ever seen like 1t.
Why it was that the population win
such great approach to unanlmlty declded
that CT decent respect" for the natal day
OF American independence required them
to close business; to leave their comforta-
bic homes, palm-leaf fans, and iced drinks,
to seek for happiness and coolness on rail-
road-cars and river and canal-boats, no
creature can find out. But. after all, twas
lust as sensible as "the old style," where
there were windy Fourth-of-July orators:
firing OF cannon, parade OF military, and
patriotic toaSts, followed by headaches and
some sunstrokes. There is about rs much
patriotism in the one as the other.
It was a tired mass OF human beings
| which came back to the city last night. Yet
there were not many regrets expressed.
The chief object Of an excursion (Say some
fretful people) is that the fellow who goes
on il, no matter whether he returns blistered
by the sun or eaten up by chieres. may tell
the stav-at-home (Who has had good DIM
ner and really cool and quiet tiYe): "Oh!
| it was SO nice; you just ought to have been
along"; or, "fou missed a good thing by
not going with u.s." And the recipient OF
these commiseratng remarks then begins
to regret that he didn't go. The fact is,
! that the chief pleasure to the adult from the
average excursion is in the anticipation and
in telling those who couldn't or wouldn't
90 what splendid opportunity they lost.
With all these drawbacks the excursions
are useful, and to some profitable. 1t is
relief from dull care even to go upon them
and grumble. In the fresh air that one gets
there is no mistake or cheat. All else may
be a failure, but there there is no discount
The sun-burns and wet shirts are OF small
moment. The tired limbs ensure sound
sleep and improved digestion, and the
search for the festive yet Elusive chigre is
one OF those accompaniments OF woodland
visits which serve to print upon the memory
the delights OF the day.
IN. B. The writer Of the above didn't go
on any excurson.1
VISITORS HERE.
While our people J;ere away from home
several hundrcd-pe2haps it would be nearer
right to say Observation-Disclosures (whlte
and black) came into the city from the coun-
try and from other places. Many OF our
friends from Washington and Alexandria
were here, and endeayored to have happy
day of it, and were no doubt fairly success
fui.
The enterprise Of some of our colored
people found employment in erecting
booths and tables on Ninth street and CaDi-
tol street, from which they sold ice-cream,
peanuts, cakes, and candies to the excur-
sionists who sought the shelter OF the Capt.
tolSquare trees.
JAUNT TO CRANEY-ISLAND FARM.
A large picnic party, under the auspices
Of Christ church, left the city by the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad yesterday morn
ing, and spent the day in the grove at Cra-
ney-Island farm, near Atlee's station. They
returned to the city in good time last night,
and though pretty warm and quite tired
out with the exercise OF the day, report
that they had very enjoyable day.
NIr Jack Timberake, who resides in the
neighborhood OF Atlee's, and who has q
fine grove, is preparing regular picnic
ground, and will be able to make suitable
arrangements for baseball clubs and dan
cling parties.
The Richmond people are fast becoming
the champion eXcursionists OF the country.
There seems to be no limit to their desires
in this respect. Every man who goes on
an excursion returns with such delightful
stories-stories is the Word-that all his
neighbors and friends at once resolve that
they will not let slip the next opportunity.
| Under this growing demand several picnic
grounds in convenient distance OF the city
ought to be fitted up. At present there is
sad deficiency.
| UP THE CANAL.
Pine-Strect Baptist church Sunday school
went about ten miles up the canal to spend
the day. No accident is reported as having
occurred to them by explosion OF steam
boilers on their boat. 1t is therefore as
sumed that they made the trip in safety, and
that the participants, especially the children,
had good time.
THE BREWERY.
st. Patrick's church picnic at the James
River Brewery Park was largely attended,
and the affair was grand success financial
ly and otherwise. The amusements OF the
pic-nickers consisted OF quoit-pitching, shuf-
fleboards, hammer-throwing, and dancing.
The several committees attended faithfully
to- their respective duties, and everything
passed off quietly and to the satisfaction OF
all present. There was perfect order, and
nothing transpired to mar the pleasure OF
the company.
Fathers Janssens and Hanley visited the
scene OF festivities in the afternoon, and
were much pleased with the orderly man.
ner in which those in charge had conducted
the entertainment. The dancing was kept
up until late in the evening. Mr. Sherry,
the lessee Of the Brewery Park, has made
number OF improvements to the place.
BLENNER's PARK.
The McGill Lyceum had great crowd at
their picnic at Blenner's Park, and most OF
the day was pleasantly spent.
Towards night few men were disorderly
and made disturbance.
THE WEST POINT EXCURSION.
The excursion by Messrs. Adams and
Perdue to West Point proved to be emf
ncntly successful. A train OF fifteen cars
L Sx,n n oiSv