The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-07

Dear Register: 1t seems quite long
while since had the pleasure Of communi-
eating with you, although but little over
two months have passed away since then.
This time, too, has been too much engaged
in the duties and activities necessarily CON-
seouent upon arriving in strange place
that is to be the future home to permit much
correspondence, however desirable, with
old friends. Now, however, that am to
have temporary cessation OF such duties
and activities, shall yield to my desire TO
renew our acquaintance that for some years
has been to me so pleasant.
Two months is doubtless tco short q
time for one to form correct impressions or
to gain full knowledge OF section OF a
country, or even Of city, and of the dis
tinguishing characteristics OF the people.
1t has always seemed to me thoroughly
ridiculous in foreigners visiting this or any
other country for but few months, and
then returning to their homes and pretend
ing to give published descriptions of the
country visited. How little OF our country
would such a runner grasp? Yet reputa-
tions as extensive travellers have been
gained by men in Just this very cheap way.
Richmond is said. and I presume justly,
TO be the Queen City Of the South. The
old part of the city is very far from being
attractive in any way save perhaps in the
fact that it is where the most OF the whole
sale houses are located. Its streets, how
ever arc for the most part narrow. 1t is
peopled largely by negroes, while the strong
odor of the guano, much OF which Is sold
here, make it to nerves unaccustomed to 1t
very repulsive. The newer part, though,
is very pleasant and attractive. Commencing
at Twelfth or Thirteenth street and going
westward, or rather northwestward, you
soon enter upon quite wide. streets, almost
all with rows of various Kinds Of shade
trees, and with many private residences that
would vie with those Of the largest cities in
the country. There are no streets in any
city that present at least more home-like
appearance than Franklin, Grace, and Mar
shall. These are the principal "drlying
streets" "and every summer evening these are
quite alive with carriages OF all descriptions.
There are some very pleasant drives around
the city, but none OF them furnishes the va
riegated scenery that is found on your own
National pike. The roads here are much
easier on horses feet, and frequently cam
not but wish that for the sake of their
horses some of your fast drivers could eX.
change for them the hard pike. 1t is cruel
| thing to drive on such road as fast as we
| have often seen some of your young men
drive. No care and skill OF the hostler can
save from rapid ruin the best feet and shoul-
| Gers that were ever on horse with such
driving. This may seem DEPRESSION; but
we are having rather n social chat than a
sermon, and so we need not be SO particu-
lar about "sticking to our text" Besides,
am interested enough in the young men
OF Wheeling, and in their horses even, to
60 considerably out OF my way to. give
| them word of advice OF warning. don't
think it lowers mans dignity, though it
may take out some OF his starch, to be in
| terested in young men and horses. And
you may account for it as you may. but so
it is, that one cannot easily be really inter-
ested in the one without being. interested
in the other. And we have generally
found it to be true that to gain the
sympathy and confidence of a young
man, and through this to have any real
| influence over him, we must show some in
teIligent interest in his horse. Glove me,
love my dog" might read, Glove me, love
my horse" or Love me, love my gum"
or sc Love me, love my metaphysics,'' just
according to the peculiar taste Of the indi.
yidual utering the rroverb. And what is
all this but that one must be SO broad in
the knowledge OF men and sympathy with
| them that in the highest and most Paulite
sense Of the expression he must :" become
all things to all men" il he would" gain
some"?
The most pleasant drive here is ont by
| Hollywood Cemetery and the new reservoir,
and around the latter is very fine carriage
way whence one can lnhale the purest atmo-
sphere and have an extensive view OF the
surrounding country. This reservoir has
| h,,i1f ,rifb 20
| an extensive Eark has been laid out near it,
and is in the course OF development that
promises to add muchto the beauty OF the
scenery and afford pleasant evening resort
| for the summer swelterers Of the city. 1t
can never rival at least in the views which
| it will command the far-famed garden OF
our friend Hornbrook, but it already fore
shadows much beauty and attractiveness.
| Richmond has certainly improved very
much since the war. have met with quite
number OF gentlemen whom the War left
| literally penniless, who are now in quite
healthy financial condition. The number
OF new buildings, too, both as storerooms
and private dwellings, that are now going
up, and that have gone up during the past
few years, together with the improvements
| which the city itself has been making, ar
que that hope and confidence are surely, il
Slowly, FeturnluS. Col TUG SiCy ihpio'S~
ments proper much is due to The Taste,
skill, and energy of u the City Engi-
.neer. Colonel Cutshaw. Over this. gen.
tleman's reelection there was quite q
struggle recently, but the more lntelli-
gent and solid part OF the people carried the
day, and he remains in Office. Hence we
| may look for yet further improvements.
| The city has certainly eyinced remarkable
recuperative powers. When we remember
| that at the close OF the war scarcely any one
owned anything, and thatthe very flower
OF the business portion OF the city was
burned-in which burning many lost their
alive cannot but accord to the people the
right to- feel almost proud that they
are once more so we'll on fhelr
financial feet dis they are. It must
| be remembered, too. that no rapid for
tunes were made here, as in the North,
| during the war e The TACT is that all who
| could make anything were ia the army
! aud no clearer Evidence OF their. devotion
| to the cause for which they fought could be
ladduced than thatverY many OF the ssrank
and file = Of the army were among the
Wealtbiest and most intellig gent: men of the
i.eity and State. have met with NOT o few
tof Richmond,s best and most cultured. who
enlisted as prIyates, and whose sole anpt'