The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-09

fences will De pat up where the Widest
animals rove, but a lass0 might ho handy
IN case OF an attack from wild buffalo. II
Is a mistake that the keepers Of these brick
enclosed ranches do not wear collars and
craNats. although they DO seem contentcd
to live ina houses hewn out Of stone Noun
tains some Of these habitations seem. their
great tall peaks piercing the sky. fantastic
carving everywhere. aud In the countless
arched windows stained glass that shines
like mosaic ofjewcls.
LIT MORE LIGHT SHINE.
First impressions are not only the most
lasting. but the most intelligent To the
senses, for the reason that the perceptions
are keCncr aud conscious Of being startled
by any unfamiliar contact. An old and OBJ
servant resident asked. what do YOU
ind the most striking characteristic OF our
big town. The reply was unhesitatingiy.
the lack Of light. In the suburban parks
everything is flooded with cold crisp. and
cleaning sunshine; few minutes along
the lake shore and In the heart of the city
10 rs apparently cloudy weather, 10 Is as
though pall wat over the great city. and
despite the SUR ing, moving element Of
wide-awake life and movement. a certain
feeling Of depression is the outcome Of the
atmospheric gloom. OF course the causes
beyond human repair. The streets are very
wide, but the buildings are many times
taller, consequently q curtain Of shadow
shuts out the sun light either on one side
or the other, but even before the light comes
in contact with these towering sky scrapes
10 becomes sOiled. contaminated and dark
ened 10y pushing its way through "A thick
OYeT-spreading stratum Of heavy black
smoke the refuse from the kindline fires
l.F. oil ttf.f1 tAUrIIfD
greatest manufactures. A big snow-stOrm.
such as is fcatncring the earth like bed OF
down out here to-day, really gives more
light 10 the interior Of the city than 10
knows al any other time All Of the large
stores are lighted throughout the day by
electricity. and az Marshall Fields. one OF
the most stupcndOus dry goods houses in
America. in the bookkeeping department
fifty students lamps light the pages Of as
many huge ledgers. and the cOuntenances
of as many stOOp-shOuldered human calcu-
lators.
In this establishment there is none Of the
whizIng run. distracted electrical basket
method. or getting change and having pack
ages wrapped. Seemingly quiet, we'll
dressed ladies and gentlemen invite you to
buy. but never urge YOU. fleet-fOOted
healthy -looking little boys, calling out their
numbers as they 90 TO and fro, quickly put
you in possession of your change and pack
age. If the latter is desired. This house is
so heightened, though, that there 10 never
any pushing crowd, confusion or discomfort.
IA the secOnd-rate shops the 'cash boys
are all girls. Without an exception. they
wear long Bingham aprons and chew gum.
THEY BEAR THE BURDEN.
The shop-eirls are hard workers. One
with a sweet expression. although her head
was set sail with heavy waving bang fore
and aft, anda Pysche knot IN bas relief,
was IN the shoe department; her hands
were slim, too, Gan amethyst ring on the
first iinger) but she tugged at heavy boots
for great stalwart men. pulled on buttOned
shoes for dirty little BOYS and solid. portly
women. A lady, evidently "a southerne.,
was trying 90 make purchase. The girl
said that ''f' was the narrOwest last that
she kept; the customer wore a b" which
by no means is the foot Of a Cinderella. SO
was advised 20 lOOOk some other town
than Chicago for such a small number;
the girl. however. was thanked for her
trouble. when she looked mp with astOunded
surprise and said " Whater You're say -
Polite courtesy 10 a shOp-girl was "a foreign
language that she was not familiar with.
This little episode is simply related % prove
that those writers whose inspiration has
been in the g00dly size of the average foot
of the fair sex OF Chicago. have neither the
genius Of imagination or the art of romance
or fiction, but a foundation Of solid truth,
for the basis of their tales
IMPRESSIONS OF RICHMOND.
Many of the inhabitants Of this place are
lab0rng under the delusi0n that Richmond
is am old battle field. some red clay ram
parts and broken down fence, which en-
closed the great and only Libby Prison,
which being now among their iOrdly posses
siOns. leaves its former site fOrlOrn and
empty. But of Libby Prison and its new
surroundings here more anon. fELIN.