Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-30
AS OTHERS SEE US.
a Boston Lady,s Graceful Tribute TO Rich
mond.
RICHMOND. March "A, 1880

mOnus
RICHMOND, March "A, 1880
To ne Editors Of he Dispatch:
Having been now for some weeks in TINS
beautiful city il is in Justice 10 otners, as
well "a pleasure to ourself, that we recoro
our impression of what We have sean anu
enjoyed.
We have looked with a careful and, we
trust. impartial eve at the work going i0r-
ward in the different departments OF she
city's activities. First. at
THE CHURCHES,
which we have found so plentifuily DIS;
trlbuted throughout the city's length ahu
breadth. We are pleased to note the large
proportion Of churches to the city's popu-
lation. Seventy-fve church edItices IN
city Of 81. 900 persons gives room for all the
worshipful people within the city's limits,
especially as these church buildings are
for the most part large enough to accom-
modate hundreds-some OF them thou-
sands. More than this. we ore glad to ne
cord that We have not only found room
sufficient TO accommodate worshippers. but
have. in every instance when we have
stepped into the churches. found worship
pers occupying the places prepared Tor
them. We have recalled one of Nrglnla's
early attempts 10 form this habit of church
going among her people. remem boring
law made by Governor Argall IN 1917, that
absence from church should be punished
with a nights imprisonment and weeks
| slavery: for the second offence, month
of slavery. and for third year and
| day.
| This NAV seem to us q severe regime, yet
was il not better so than to have touched
| the other extreme and left the young State
with no attention TO prayer aud praise IN
its midst?
Virginia was founded in prayer, her first
Governor kneeling on the sod "a soon ~
| his feet touched the shore and committing
| all to the keeping of the Infinite Father.
| One of most interesting scenes in American
history, and one that should be rerpetu-
ated on canvas is the little group of ship
| wrecked cOlOnists who, being cast on Nlr-
einla's coast on Sunday morning, held
| worship in the primeval forest to thank
| God for their dellverance. Recovering the
bell from the half-submerged ship they
suspended it from the trees and tolled IT az
a call to prayer-the clergyman conducting
| as solemn o service there in the wilderness
as any cathedral could have given. Coming
from such stock it Is not wonderful that we
find the people of Richmond a worshiptul
people.
RICHMOND SCHOOLS.
Next TO the churches the condition Of the
schools is the test of a city's present pros
perity and future success. We have looked
at the schools, both white and coiored,
throughout the city, and have, by exceed,
ing kindness and courtesy on the part OF
the principals, been permitted To see the
teachers in thor daily round of work, and
the pupils ut their daily tasks, and of 1t all
we have only words Of earnest commenda.:
tom Taken "a a whole we have not found
q better school system in any city we have
visited. There are individual teachers,
scattered here and there About the city
whose success as instructors we have never
seen excelled. Richmond has reason to be
proud of its schools, and should. AZ we
doubt not it will, amply sustain and
cherish them.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND CHARITIES.
We have looked also with great interest
at the hospitals. aged peoples homes, or
manages, almshOuses, missions, jail, anC
penitentiary. md we find them each II
. their way and place serving the purpos'
for which they were designed. IL IL par
of the loneliness of our Christian clviliza
ton that each department of need meets
such ready, responsive aid, and Richmond
like many other American cities, IL earning
= the blessed commentator, "lnasmuch al
We have done il unto the least OF these, my
little ones, ye have done 1t unto Me-
In no way il the kindly animus OF this
city SO fully attested "a III the trusttulnes'
OF the squirrels on Capitol hill. No ont
could watch these little creatures as they
are day by day fed from tho hands OF th'
people, old and young, who are passing
through the grounds, without saving e.
: themselves this is an extraordinary testl
mony to the city's loving kindness.
so we have wandered up and down ant
in and out through all the highways AM
+: the byways of this beautiful city rnon tn
{ days have grown to weeks. and this partln
testimony of an on-looker may not bt unec
ceptable 10 the people Of Richmond, VIII
: have made the tarrying so pleasant to tn
stranger sojourning in their midst.
l.. ii. BRUCE.