The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-06


AND now THE NIGHT FfLL.-Tbe obsprv-
ancc Of the birthday OF the nation in Rich.
mOnd Yesterday was very general as far rs
the suspension OF business was concerned.
The morning dawBed cool and clear. arous-
ing to the highest pitch the ardent hopes OF
the thousands who bad anticipated innu.
merable pleasures on the many pic-ncs ahd
excursions announced through the column,
OF the Dispatch. and the many private cnes
NOT generally announced.
All the Wholesale stores and many retail
ones were closed. Business was suspended
IN the mills and workshops, on Change, at
/ the banks. and NJ all the city, State, and
Government Offices. Main street from Ninth
Ito Fifteenth had the appearance. the greater
part cf he day, Of the main thoroughfare in
ihe Deserted Village (sweet Auburn. love-
| hest village OF the plain. On Broad
street there was more activity and greater
signs Of animated nature. There was no
military Observance Of the day eX-
cept in the afternoon by portion Of
the cOlOred battalion. As before stated. The
number 81 excursions was legion. Virginia
Lodge. knights Of PythiaS. went to West
Point; the knights Of st. Joseph eXcUrted
10 Bon Air; Christ Church Sunday school
10 Undertakes farm, on the Chesapeake and
Ono railway: st. Marks Sunday school to
Strawberry Hill; the East aud We,t-End
Social aud Benehcial Societies spent the day
ut West End Park; the Excelsior Social
club at the James River Brewery; the
Pine-Sireet Baptist Sunday school at Fay
lorsyllle, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad; and nearly every
shady grove and nook near the city was 0c-
| cupied by family and private pic-nIc'.
In Manchester the day was generally but
qnieily observed Is u holiday. The Pres
bytcran Sunday school went down TO
Drewry's Blum, the Hyacinth Club
out 10 Windsor Park, in Chesterfield,
and the old Folks cub spent the day
pleasantly At Frog Level. All the city
offices were closed, a. was the pOsl-otlice,
and work was entirely suspended. No ac-
cident marred the day, and there was Il
general absence Of drunkenness and dis
order.
In Richmond the day never passed more
quietly. il may be rather a doubtful COM
piment To attribute this to the fact that
everybody VINO could conveniently do 30
left he city. As far a> heard from there
was no accident. and no serious breaches OF
the peace. There was considerable drink
ing INDUCED in, but not Of Il fighting
quality.
1t should have been mentioned above that
there was an immense cOlOrcd excursion -
Peter, burg, and that a large party arrived
in the City sunday from DLnville, spent that
day and Yesterday, and left for home last
night
In the afternoon The street-cars and Omni-
buses were crowded 10 their utmost ca-
pacity. every mode OF conveyance was in
reauisition, tie roads leading to the city
filed with driving parties, and the parks,
gardens. and cemeteries thrOnged with
promcnaderS. About ni2hfall IN some pOr-
tons OF The city there was a liberal hrng OF
pOp-cracker- and other combuStib,es. a
number of balloons set of, and credi,lble
display of redlight made. 20 the Great de-
light OF lnnumcrablc utcbins of e.! So, :,
sexes, and cOlOlS.
The steamship OlG Dominion. Of the
New York Line, wa, beautifully illuminated
with Chinese lanterns frOn stem to mast
head, making a triaSgle a5 well A. 81 =,
between foremost and main mast, and from
nam mast bead 10 the tailrail aft: also
from fore and main-gats 10 tie deck, as
well q, fl1g stafl and rigging. I'm addition
TO the illumination, there was also grand
display Of fireworks, consisting OF rockets,
Roman candies, Diue lGnl~. NOstOn slEHdl-,
ana red. white, and blue table1u fires.
The affair altogether was one OF the grand
e>t displays ever made in the city. Ii IS to
be regretted the beaut! cf the scene was mar
red and shortened by the rain.
After niehlfail the tired eXcurSionislS be-
gan pouring III the city, each declaring 1t to
be the happic-t day OF their lives. About )
O'Clock the city was visited by most re-
istH tfnft ina
since noon. This had the beneficial effect
Of cooling The ar and settling the dust. II
Is Il matter Of con ugIa'ulatiOn that the day
passed OF pleasantly and without di'a,ler,
and that we enter upon the one hundred
and 6ith year OF our independence under
such bright and auSpiciOus circumstances