Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-28
NIemIlhfS.
MemTIHfS.
Correspondence Of the Alexandris GAzETrE.l

a taxing district. Cannot even
,nioy the blessed privilege of going in debt.
It seems that, as city, she bit of moro lis-
olities than could be masticated and came
near being choked to death by legal pro-
,eedipgs. Matters were compromised
some way and the city surrender
ed its charter, elected commits
zion which is a eort of one-man power here,
but being a good man the citizens swear by
him and now the district boasts OF not oW-
ing dollar (beceu5s it can't) and hear it
whispered that it has not dollar in hand.
A person would surely coma to that conciu'
sion on seeing the streets. One week they
are twelve inches in mud and the next the
balmy breeZss play with elk inches OF dust:
1t is either "feast or famine" Some OF
the oldest inhabitants speak of paved streets
but it is hard to believe. The only differ
ence 7 can sec is that on several business
thoroughfares the cart wheels don't 60 quite
go deep. Have seen teams mlred In the
heart If the city. Alexandria is far ahfa1
Of this place in streets and grass. The lat
ter grows in the old town everywhere,
while here it will not flourish under the
most careful treatment. When gardener
finds six inch clump of grass outside oil
town. he 'stakes his claim" edverties the
fact and sells it out by the blade. Then,
with due deliberation and ceremony, he
nroceeds to set it out In the yard of the for
Innate purchaser. This operation has been
going on next door for week past and the
ward now looks like big piece OF moth
eaten fur. The owner OF my abiding place
ia negotiating for Brussels carpet for his
ward IS being cheaper and lasting longer.
Court Square is little larger than our post
Office property and is full of squirrels 80 tame
that they feed from the hand. wonder how
long they would survive if some OF the resl-
dents Vinegar Hill and Buzzard's RoosL"
had 90 at them. My landlady has not
spoken to me for two days because l inti-
mated that I recognized friend in the last
squirrel pie. Everybody here takes care OF
the little hrutes and it is the proper thing"
to feed them On peanuts. tried it, but the
squirrels got left. Everything down here
except private conveyances 60 by mule
power Mules everywhere and all must be
dumb for none of them make sound. This
is fortunate for residents as you will al
low. Great droves of them pass through
the streets night and day, led by man CT
horseback and propelled by othera in the
rear similarly mounted and armed with q
whip some fifteen feet long which snaps
like the "coon killer 1t is great per-
susder and the DIR yes go on dead run.
The men are sorr OF Oiss'etoo'o the COW
boy of the West. Are flne riders and are
all we'll mounted Have not seen IA poor
mule or horse in the district"
The street CARS are the worst in the world,
painted dry goods boxes on wheels, drawn
bv mules with rope traces No conductors
aud the drivers make fuss enough TO
satisfy the most fastidious. got here
lust in time for the Memphis "Mardi."
l. lasted two days and was sue.
cess. Tho place was crowded with visit
ors an resident mud. 1t had been raining
for seven weeks a young lady from some
81 age was made queen. She was very
surikipg blonde. hut the eiIl5 hero don't
think she Was pretty. The coronation ball
was very much mixed, but the ball OF the
Memphi il, which took place Tuesday, the
14th, under the auspices of the Tennessee
Club was very recher (ny dictionary Is not
ct hand).
The water here is food aud drInk-looks
ike beer hut tastes like mud. 1t Ia eaid to
he LealthfuI, but have my doubts Miss
I-siupi is fraud as viewed from THE point
A. big eanG bar obstruots thu view toward
Arksnsas, and she has Grecian bend above
and below the district. Very few steamers
are to be seen, but l learn that in the cotton
season they are as plentiful as May flies 10
Alexandria when the fishing season is on
dcct. Cotton is king here, and the people
fondIy believe that few years will see
Memphis lead New Orleans in the business.
Cotton Is everywhere. The people either
think 1t ornamental or else numbers of them
have the egracho, for one has to hunt for the
'other side" when talking. Our dining
room girl wears wad as big as C-'s fist
it looks like lest years crop. If it ever
drops there will be dull sickenlng thud."
! watch the hash closely
Sunday does not seem to interfere with
fruit, confectionery or cigar stores. The
cigars are strong enough to reverse the US.
ual style and draw man through. l have
not tackled but one, and then friend
saved ne.
If Alexeudrians had ever experienced
Memphis gas light our mutual friend Roz-
bury would never have had any complaints.
1t is the worst ever made, but the meters
register just the same.
Gordon Jones is here as the manager of
the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad. and
am glad to say that he is success. He !s
very popular and prominent among the
railroad men, and | have no doubt that
some day he will he magnate. Good luck
90 with him. 1t vas pleasant to meet an
old schoolmate here, and as soon as 1 find
time will accept his kind invitation to the
hospitality of the Tennessee Club.
Spring vegetables are beginning to come
ir sight on our table. Yesterday we had
beets and to-day had chill, but that is
small matter; malaria stays here all the
time.
Real estate is way up. This Is because
the yellow fever has not paid visit for some
years. When it comes you can buy the
whole place for what square cosis now. l
am keeping my trunks ready for rapid tran
sit, and when Jack blows his horn" will
try to escape the sound
An immense business is done here in gro
ceries and dry goods. Specializing in cotton
requires only small capital. You 60 on
Change and buy lot, An order is sent to
he warehouse man and he surrenders the