The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-07-08


are put into practical demonstration
This we witnessed one afternoon and
with our glass we were enabled to see the
target pierced one mile away, and the
explosion. of shells on the sand hills,
This was very amusing for the boys, es-
pecially in time of peace. There is guard
mounting every morning at $50 /; target
practice with cannon balls and shells 8 to
5 P. NJ. Music by the military band from
8 to 6; and dress parade just before sun
set every day, except Sunday.
Having spent the allotted time, we sa-
lutte the sentinel aud pass out. On our re-
turn, to the right we notice an extensive
enclosure, the fence surrounding which is
made of old cannons and musket barrels
with bayonets attached. In this enclosure
are stacks of cannon balls and piles of
condemned ordnance. Where next?
An important question now comes up:
Which shall we take? Here stands car
riage at $3.50 per hour, another at 81 90
and still another with an OK harnessed,
ready for departure, at what you are
mind to give. We took the 800 rig
which was very good one. There was
lacking the usual clamorous excitement
with the drivers as experienced North.
Our driver was a negro boy, not quite
full grown. AS guide, he was well
stored with hackman acknowledge, but it
required deep well pump to draw it
from him. When it did come it was in a
cool way and fright smart, I reckon
We now drive to the
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME.
On our way we noticed the extensive
Government machine shops. Pass
ing over the bridge spanning
Mill Creek, lin the centre of
which PAGES sentinel night and day.
which connects the sacred soil of Virginia
with the soil she SO wisely coded to the
Government of the U. s. on which the
fort now stands, short drive and we are
amidst some 1000 infirm and dis
abled veterans. We alight and enter the
spacious dining room. Sixteen tables the
entire length Of the room are set and
made ready for the next meal, at which
1000 can be seated. In the room adjoin-
ing, are the hinge boilers, coffee pots, &C.,
everything in perfect order and cleanli-
ness. 1t takes about $50 lbs. of coffee,
one thousand loaves of bread, daily,
and one thousand pounds of beef
at one meal. The bill of fare changes
daily and varies with the seasons. There
is in this building a billiard room, a
theater on second floor that will seat 1, 1000,
perfect in all its arrangements for the
purpose for which it is designed. This
Hall was named in honor of Mr.. Ward,
of London, England, who left 100000,
which with interest to the time it was
made use of amounted to $111,000. We
next enter the main building which is o
stories high and take look at headquar-
tiers. The men are sitting or lying on
their cots reading. Most all seem con-
tented and we trust are happy. In this
building there are wash and bath rooms
on every floor, and an elevator to accom-
modate the indisposed as well as it did
our party. By the way, the view from
the dome with our glass was grand be-
You'd description. We could see the old
Fort from whence we had just come,
"Fort Wool" 'The Rip Raps," where
millions of Uncle Sans money has been
squandered for little or no purpose, and
now dismantled. We were told but one
soul with his flock of poultry and his true
friend of the canine genus remains. This
fort is slowly and gradually sinking. The
view also included, capes Charles and
Henry, (named in honor of King James
two sons.) Sewells' Point, Norfolk, New
port News (Which took it's name
from Col. Newport, and the good news he
sent home from the colonies), after
having suffered many hardships. The
immense grain elevator, the mouth of the
James river, the country to the N. w. on
which no fencing could be seen, splen-
did outline of tho Hampton Normal
Schools, and the lamented city of the
dead, the "National Cemetery" which
places we are about to visit. Descending
from onr lofty position, our attention is
called to very extensive library and
reading room, special funds for which
have added at different times many choice
and interesting works, till it now numbers
1000 volumes, American, German and
French. There are 14G papers taken, 90 Of
which are dailics, 8 tri-weekly, 115 week.
ly, besides Is magazines and other per-
iodicals. The spacious grounds are taste
fully laid out with conservatory of rich
and rare flowers, statuary and other orna-
ments in short, the old veterans are well
cared for here. Our carriage is waiting, and
VIC bid adieu to the good old veterans who
can no longer fight even the natural bat
tie of life. In few moments we arc ap-
preaching city of schools-institutions
calculated to instruct the inmates not
only in literature but how to fight the
battle of life, methods of self-support and
public usefulness, called the
HAMPTON NORMAL AND AGRICULTURAL
INSTITUTE.
The style of architecture is after the
Byzantine order these buildings are
filed with an army of pupils and their
general appearance is of scholastic air,
refinement and repose. The African is
not the only race blessed with these noble
advantages. Some two hundred children
of the red man of our western plains are
here becoming civilized, and taught how
to become useful and self supporting.
The proficiency of these strange looking
pupils is spoken of in high terms by the
officers of these schools. There were ad.
mitted last year $50 negroes and 1874 in.
dams. We are told the advanced Indian