Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-30

true sons have frst seen The light in this old
mansion. and the last, which wss born 10
the new proprietor on Thanksgiving day,
has been most appropriately named Vlr'
ginius.
Speaking Of appropriate names, I was
never more impressed with the fines ot
name than Of that given by negro woman
in very malarious locality near this place.
She had been shaken with aguc I'LL she
come 10 entertain quite respect for the
mysterious influence, and when her first
child was born christened IL "Malarla
Jane, and Malaria Jane 1t IL at this writing.
The big Centennial House and small
one near Il are the only buildings five years
have left Of the great celebration. It's roof
Ing has been blown off and II Is rapidly
falling into decay. The bIg-Iettered signs
on i,s walls, "Bass's Pale Ale" "Mixed
Drinks Speciality "Fresh Meats and
Vegetables" "Oliye Oi,v " Sardines,"
" Meals at All Horrs," &C., look as doleful
rs that "banquct-hall deserted that YOU
have read about In Aud Lang Syne. But
the grand monument OF white granite
stands there unchanged and unchanging.
not mark 10 dtiace II, and rs looked
upon tie Interchangeable countenance OF the
Goddess Of Liberty on It's summit thought
sadly Of the man, then President, In the
full vigor Of a splendid manhood who had
five years ago dedicated il, since worn.
broken. dead. and Just laid in his tomb.
The monument. with its high iron railing
around the base, has been enclosed by a
wooden paling, taking in space OF about
an acre around the monument, which Is
entered by two pair OF wooden steps. Just
outside this enclosure, In striking contrast
with the noble 100000 structure, (Which,
by the way, being 100 feet high, cost just
s1 900 a ioot.) is miserable little wood
shanty, worth scarcely so, where the sol
der who is In charge OF the monument
lives. He wonders, as his Old bones ache
in the sharp blasts which sweep over The
bay and whistle through the creyices OF his
house, why the Government does not build
HIM the house for which an appropriation
Of 81, 900 was long ago made; and with old
Saul, the guard, l wondered too. The
wcatber-b beaten old soldier talks as affce'
tioDately about the monument, watches II
as closely, and takes rs much pride In IL
as II IT were his wife, and Uncle Sam ought
10 treat him more kindly; and as he talked
Of his campaigns pointed ont the beauties
of his iavorite statue up in the sky. and my
attention was directed TO magnificent bald
eagle, lUt ANlnDDl ~ 'OuI tOuntils Sil-
ting on q neighboring tree, 1t was enough
to arouse a little LOYAL enthusiasm in ever
my ex.rebel breast, and thought, Well, it's
all right after all.
Twill not repeat the stories about the old
church and the ancient tombstoneS; the
old colonial brick houses; the old Nelson
house, perforated with the French shell OF
1871, aud the Union solid shot OF 1861
but, in closing, must bear witness to the
stauDch little band Of Democrats that are
encamped here among the Philstines. In
this township there are, was surprised to
learn, only twenty-five white families. with
over 2,O00 negroes. Whether Barbour Is
on this or the other side Of the Atlantic.
whether there is apathy or enthusiasm else
where, these twenty-five white men march
mp solidly to the polls every time and cast
twenty-five solid Democratic ballots and
glory in It, while the Goddess OF Liberty
on the monument stretches out her arms
over Shutdown aud blesSes the 800 delin-
queut colored x-payers who "get there
al the same NOX,