The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-15
Augusta, Ga, as Seen by Citizen OF
Riehmoud.

lCorrespondence Of the Richmond Dispafch.l
AUGUSrl, Ga, October II, 1881.
am quite amazed at the beauty OF this
city. Imagine streets wider by half or
even more, than Broad street, with ioun-
tains, monuments, and statuary at intervals
along their length, with n double row or
avenue OF trees in the centre OF most Of
them, with ali the houses on the private
streets built in villa style, with large gardens
attached, and you have Augusta as l see
II. Both the business-houses and the pri-
vate residences indicate full appreciation
OF what constitutes comfort and convent
ence. II people are TO be judged by the
architecture OF their houses, and the fur
ther accompaniment OF gardens and beau
tiful shrubbery, should, IL were poll
tician, say that the people OF Augusta were
n cultivated and refined constituency -
easy-going but not indolent or lazy, which
think in beautiful contrast to the "deyil-
taAe-the-hindmost energy and push OF
our northern friends. While Richmonders
are fast losing their old-time identity, the
southerners are preserving intact that
Characteristic dignity OF the men and that
gentlcneSS of the women for which they
were once so celebrated.
Most about the place that has attracted
my attention, notwithstanding its other
wise beauty, is that its streets are not
macadamlzed nor paved. There are few
or no crossings, no curb-stone or paved
cutters. The strect-beds consist Of Il
loamy sand that makes them dusty in dry
weather and muddy in rainy weather. IL
they had TO pass over them one half Of the
business Of Richmond, they would soon be
rof inn. From M
their being not cut into deep ruts, / should
say that there is but little business in Au-
gusta. Indeed, l see but few vehicles
and teams I'm the streets. Those that are
seen are generally from the country, and
they are unhitched on the streets, and the
horses are there fed by their driyers-a pro-
vincialism that would not be tolerated for
a moment even in that emporium OF trade,
Manchester. Cotton here, as in all other
southern cities, rules the roost, and on &c
count OF the large cotton mills recently 10
Gated here the Augusta people are claiming
q great future-a claim set up by every VII
lage and hamlet in the South.
Yesterday witnessed a curious sight
a lot OF convicts at work in brick-yard,
among them many women, loading and
unloading cars, carts, and wagons, and
even "Settlng" Drlcks III the kun, uOlnS
work that l had heretofore thought re-
quired the nerve and muscle Of men OF the
greatest physical strength; and, strange to
say, the women were more active than the
men, and seemed better hands. The short,
sharp, and quick commands given them in
the old-fashioned-times lingo by the man
ager or oyerseer, and his walking around
ministering to their physical wants, even
to the giving Of medicine, reminded me
forciblyS Of old times. People here, like
those Of Virginia, still talk much upon
what they were before the war, their losses,
&c.
However, they are coming down to busi-
ness. and have learned that labor means
not degradation, but bread and meat. For
instance My landlady, most OF whose
household goods were swept away by the
war, puts iewelled hand into the dough-
tray, and notwithstanding. she can talk
science with Darwin and Huxley, politics
with Alex. Stephens and jim Blaine, and
get as much music out OF q piano as Leo
Wheat. Yet she Is willing to earn living
this way, and considers il no degradation.
CREED.