Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-29
ON THE WING.
OF the Alexandria Gazettc. }

Correspondence Oh lle hle6anurla CaZsttcj
RIvERDALE, Kan Dec. l9--In my last
letter, one year ago, gave my views about
Freedmen's Village, ut Arlington. We
then went to North Carolina aud saw her
big snakes, juniper jungIes and canvass
back ducks then received heavy charge
of the ctIills, such as We sec pictured in the
almanacs these we carried with Us across
the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains,
and left them at the White Sulphur Springs.
While in West Virginia We saw her big red
foxes, high mountains and rs whoie-souled
people as we have ever met. Wethen went
to New York and saw the sights of Gotham
from Central Park to the Bow cry; called on
Mr. Talmage and then saw how they gath
er every class into the Tombs for drunken
ness and license set of Satan's recruiting
officers to keep up the supply. We then
went to Boston and Toasted on her brown
| bread and baked beans for nearly one
month. We saw Mr.. Blaine while there,
aud he was in high hopes over The out look
| We were there when he was elected-to go
home under the salute of 2l9 guns fired in
Boston Common in honor OF Gleveland's
election. We also had talk and shake
hands with Secretary Sherman, who asked,
in Faneuil Hall, what have the dcmocl ats
ever done?" l guess he knows now, The
people of the club treated us in way for
which We shall long remain grateful. The
carpet baggers who came South, | am per-
suaded were a class who could not be toll
Grated at home. They did a great injustice
to Northern character. The people in all
parts of Massachusetts are intelligent, whole
saued aud very hosptable. We went 10
the top of Bunker Hill Monument, from
which we had view of Dorchester Heights,
Cops Hill and the route to Concord and
Lexington. All places Of note are kept in
good preservation. A young liberty elm is
now growing on the site Of the old. The
Boston people are very plain in dress, diet
and department.. The free schools, free
libarics and free art galleries are second TO
none, save Corcoran's and that of the
Smi hsonian The people are friendly and
very easy to become acquainted with. From
hero we went to Cambridge Mass, and
visited Harvard College, which has now
about 400 students at an annual expense
Of from 5000 to $500 per year each. The
tuition is $3.50 per year The advantages
are very fine in the way Of museums Of art,
nature aud gymnasiums; yet we like the
method of instruction in the Virginia Mil
itary Institute and the Virginia University
much better than what we saw at Harvard
We would impress upon the people OF the
South TO patronize and develop home schools
rather than send their children away at II
greater expense-with, in many cases, no
better advantages than they have or may
have at home; besides, at home they will
not have to 60 to schools with blacks, ~ Is
the case in the public schools Of Boston ami
Cambridge. The historic Cambridge elm,
under which Washington first took com
mand Of the Minute Men Of Massachusetts,
sill stands and is growing green. In the
cemetery here we looked upon the graves
Of Charles Sumner, Prof. Agassiz, Fannie
Fern and LongfeIlow.
From there we went to Niagara Falls,
where we remained three days, gazing on this
grandeur of nature which neither pen nor
pencil can describe, for each lack the sound
and motion of that stupt n:ious rush of fall
ing water. The whirlpool rapids, where
Captain Webb lost his life. are fearful
whrl, marking that fatal circle which draws
all to the centre and down. We passed the
troop Of custom officers at the Suspension
bridge and passed on through Her Majesty 5
dominion to Detroit then TO Chicago, and
on to Kansas City, where we took in the
sights and then started across the State On
the Topeka and Sauta Fe Railroad We find
the land good crops fine, weather cold,
prohibition n success with few exceptions.
and mixed schools az regards to SEX and
color No drought, grasshoppers, nor any
more negro exodus with hope of forty
acres and mule.
RAMBLER.