Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-24
A Public Duty.

The people are responding with great
promptness TO the request for general de-
ooratiOn Of houses along the route or the
procession OF Thursday next. Good taste,
elaborate care. and liberal expenditure OF
money are manifested in the majority OF
cases. Main. Broad. Franklin. Governor
Ninth. and other streets will be one great
line of Confederate colors.
The occasion warrants the use of the
stars and bars" the Confederate battle
flag, 1.-THE Bonnie Blue flag and all the
other insignia Of our heroic but short
lived republic. The exhibition of these
banners will not worry any sensible per-
son. If they should irritate some partisan
now, who was a non-combatant from 1861
60 1865. well and good.
This is 10 be not merely the ceremonial
of unyeiling monument TO LEE, but the
reinion of companies, battalions, regi-
ments, and brigades of the survivors of the
Army Of Northern Virginia. The streets
will ring with 1.-The rebel yell" and Con
federate music will stir old blood and make
the veterans feel Young again.
Let the work Of decorating proceed. but
it should not be confined to individual en-
terprise. Our city and State governments
must do their part. The Capitol should be
decorated IL has grand old portico. the
columns of which might be very beautiful
" wound with appropriate colOrs And
then there is the old Bell Tower from which
the alarms used to be rung which turned
out the militia TO meet the raiders. 1t
should have some attention. Asa building
il is not very beautiful now. but with hunt
inc il can be made TO look exceedingly well.
If not already arranged for the Council
chamber the public markets the engine
houses, and all other municipal buildings,
great and small, should be made gay and
bright with the colors which the city gen.
orally is TO wear next week.
Yet more-the city should put her streets
in good order They should be swept and
kept clean. For the sake of few hundred
dollars saved will not DO TO have the side
walks and roadways Uttered with paper and
filled with dust. Our thoroughfares ought
70 be kept perfectly clean during all the
week, and on Thursday watering-carts
should lay the dust ahead of the procession
along the whole line Of march.
If the committees whose duty it is TO
look after these matters have not the
money and dare not incur the debt let
them have the City Council called together
immediately to make the necessary appro-
pration.
We are on the eve of a memorable everii
In the history of the city. We shall have
thousands of strangers with us, and it is
our duty to our guests no less than justice
90 ourselves 10 make Richmond look as
beautiful and attractive as possible.
When we consider that the Richmond
and Danville Railroad Company alone,
after a careful canvass along its line, has
concluded that it will be called upon to
bring not less than 10, 600 persons here, and
has secured the cars to move that number,
we can form some estimate of the crowds
coming.
To make good impression upon these
visitors is worth all the trouble and ex-
pense that we as city and citizens. as SOL
ders and civilians, will be called upon to
bear. Therefore, next to the duties Of
hospitality let US bestir ourselves to make
the old Confederate capital look not only
gay but grand.