Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-03
JOTTINGs FROM NASHVILLE.

For this section, we have had phenome
nal weather, and our alliterative title, used
with such promiscuousness in felicitously
turned phrases, "The Sunny South" might
be thought misnomer, for rain has fallen
so continuously during the past month that
nothing short Of Noachian deluge is ex.
pected now But even as | write these
words. the clouds promise cessat ion OF
hostilities. while birds-those sweet voiced
heralds of spring-are making the air vocal
with welcoming songs Having been reared
in the vicinity of Alexandria, many pleas
ant associations are awakened by the GA
zETrE's familiar face, and | recall the
childish delight experienced when enrich
ing my first scrap.book with selections Of
prose and poetry scissored from its columns.
The better class of Nashvillians are re-
fined, intelligent and public.s spirited. With
fine physical endowments, they have been
noted for q pleasing frankness Of speech
and general ego go-aheadativeness." But few
of the amenities of life are neglected, and
preconceived ideas of Western rusticity
vanish on coming in contact with them.
Though entertaining sincere respect for
the "Mother of States and Statesmen" it is
sometimes amusing to hear them facetiously
place her under the ban of "Old Fogyism. !"
Nashville's principal streets are lit by elec-
tricity, and she has 1855 telephones in
use, besides 100 private lines and 80 lead
ing to surrounding towns. Street cars run
in every direction, and at the terminus Of
one of the eastern lines, is the prettiest little
park imaginable. A portion of it takes in a
romantic glen from which rocks project and
boulders form natural seats under forest
trees A stream of water gushes out of the
hillside into circular bowl hewn from the
solid rock, and then flows through an artis-
ticaly curved channel to miniature lake
on which are tiny sailing craft. Some scrib-
bier has it that youth when parting here
from one he loved, who refused to we'd him
severe test, cast spell on the water
When man and maid drink from this spring,
His suit she then will not refuse,
If ON her finger he should choose
To place n mystic Offering
But steady hands they vi have trow,
For If a drop should downward drip.
Before the cup has touched her lip,
She will not keep her vow.
A music stand, dancing hall and refresh
ment room add to the attractions Of the
place, besides an amphitheatre capable OF
seating several hundred persons who may
come TO witness contests between base ball
and bicycle clubs. The progressive presi-
dent of the road has ipaugurated series OF
cheap amusemen s-healthlul, Instructive
and entertaining-whch are very popular
with the masses. Work has been COM
menced on another park in q more central
location, which will, perhaps, he on larger
scale than this. If free to give expression
to individual tastes, the dwellings erected
are Us characteristic of people as their dress.
1t is to diversity in architectural styles
that Nashville owes much of her pictures
queness. Here, as elsewhere, can be seen
those great piles of brick and mortar, that
attest at once their owners plethoric
purses and lack of culture. The stiff
drawing rooms hung with family por-
traits, where "Podsnapperry" reigns su-
preme, and more elegant domiciles whose
beauty Of structure and material
defy criticism; their interior decorations
showing the influence Of modern aestheti-
cism. Furnished brass chandeliers in the
Railways of globular forms studded with
discs of many colored glass; superb rooms
designed and fitted up by Narcotic, of New
York, after the style of the sixteenth CEN
tury ceilings and walls frescoed in ivory
white and gold coloring. with trimmings OF
paper mache in gold; draperies and furni-
cd, some being of sage green shade, called
sixteenth century green; moquette carpets
of shaded crimson; magnificent beveled
mirrors and pier glasses framed in papier
mache, built in the rooms mantels in the
cabinet style, and hearths of the most beau
tiful designs in tiling; dining rooms finish,
ed in Pompean red and blue; the walls
and ceilings of the richest fresco work de-
signed in English style. Stately garden
circled homes" fragrant with the breath
of exotics; rare shrubbery in their yards
magnoias beds that will soon be flaming
with turbaned tulip heads, and double wax
en- cupped hyacinths of purple and crimson
and white snowy spiraea, and later on pins
clusters of Grape myrtle; neat frame cot
tages of the laborers, with latticed porche!
lowered in woodbine While our custom
house has been called "a poem in stone,
both Nature and Art have We'd with eact
other in making the capitol site exception
ally beautiful. This elevation is enclosed
by a massive stone wall, with four entran
ces to the grounds, which are terraced
Here can be seen bronze equestrian stat
ne of Jackson by Clarke Mills, and in sum
mer flowing fountains and flowers. On
mounts flight after flight of marble steps be
fore the "temple of the height" is reached
i "Halfd my wandering fancy deem,
| Twas never shaped by mortal hand,
4 But at some word of magic tongue
Il At once to perfect beauty sprung,
/ And from some far aoropolis,
/ BY magic power was borne to this
Several of the city's educational instltu
tions have such wide reputation that 1t
useless to describe them. Among the bes
known are: Wards seminary and ID
Prices college for young ladies, st. Cecil
academy, the State Normal college, an
Fisk and Vanderbilt universities. Tn
grounds of the latter comprise rs acres, an
have about 100 varieties ofshade trees. Es
elusive of the Bishops, ,Chancellor's and Pro
fessors' residences, the buildings are: Un
versity Hall, Science Hall and Wesley Hal
-, ohearyotnrp ovmnasirm and also der