The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-10-24
VIII ERE Is THE DANIEL,
Mr. Richards Dream The Happiest
Presentation of The Sectional Ran.
cor That Distrusts Southern Men.
(Bill Arp


Great changes are going Oh. both
North and South. National politics is
changing base and finding new centers.
The tariff will divide the two great
parties in the next election. Mckinley
or no Mckinley will be the battle cry,
and both sides will find adherents above
and below the line. The tendency of
THIS will be to wipe out the line and de-
stroy sectionalism. Then the war will
be over and national fraternity be re-
stored. What glorious picturel Let
us have peace" said General Grant, but
he died without seeing it,
This reminds me OF a story that was
told me not long ago about Mr.. Rich
ards dream. Mr. Richards is a genial
genius who superintends the waterworks
IN Atlanta. He visited Boso IS del
egate to the great waterworks conven-
ton, where the superiutendents and en-
Slneers of the craft had gathered from
every respectable city in the Union. 1t
was about the time that Mr.. Cleveland
restored the rebel flags and Fairchild
and Foraker and company raised such
howl about it. The President had to
take them back and put them away in
the Old garret again. The bloody shirt
was raised all over the North, and all
the Republican papers screeched amaz-
| ing, especially those in Boston Never
theleSS Boston gave banquet to the
Watermen, and after the laues had re.
| tired the gentlemen We're called on for
| speeches and talks and stories. By and
| by MIR. Richards was called upon TO say
something for Georgia, for Atlanta, or
for the South generally. He is very
modest man and tried to excuse himself,
but as they pressed him, he said he was
| not feeling well and had a strange dream
last night that troubled him, and he
would be glad If some Joseph could be
found who would interpret 1t.
Of course they clamored for his dream
and he said: 81 dreamed that | was
dead, and had found my way to the gate
| o. heaven, aud there was arrested by the
guards and asked for credentials. In
much confusion | examined my pockets
and found late copy Of The ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION. The guards were dress
ed In blue uniforms, and, TO nv surprise,
had guns in their hands. They looked at
my paper and threw it aside with con-
tempt. | tried again, and found the
New York Tribune, which seemed to
mollify their displeasure, and they gave
me permission to 60 in and look around
awhile, and | was put in charge of an
other soldier in blue with instructions
to sho me through heaven and bring
me back in an hour, for | was a suspect
The place was beautiful beyond all con-
ception, and forgot myself in a deliri-
um of Joy and wonder at what | saw.
Everything, everybody was dressed in
blue. There were thousands and thou
sands of them frolicking and sporting,
and Iiobserved that the favorite gamewas
football, which was played with skulls.
| suppose they were the skulls of lost
sinners, but my guide informed my they
were the skulls OF the rebels thaC y re
killed in the war For the first time
began to realize that rebellion was
unpardonable sin, and that |, too, v
? among the lost. Suddenly | heard =
booming Of cannon and the terrific a.
plosion OF musketry in the distance, and
my guide, seeing my alarm, told me it
was only sham battle; that it was a
favorite sport to fight over the great bat
ties such as Gettysburg and Petersburg
and Vicksburg and Fort Donnelson.
nq uired whether they ever fought over
the battles Of Manassas and Chckamau-
ga and Charlottesville and Gaines Mill.
: He replied that he thought not-he didn't
O remember any such battles Strange
ly bewildered, turned to my guide and
. said, MY friend, tell me, is this heav
!. Ell z" Eyes, said he; this is the G. a
If K heaven the heaven OF the Grand
= Army; but st. Peter has a little anne,
over ponder Grant is over there ant
- Lincoln and Lee and Stonewall Jackso,
3, and many others. Grant was in her
II for few days, bat he kept on saying
y Boys, let US have peace, and 50 we fir
s. ed him OUT
By this time we had returned to th
a. gate and | said to the sentrles: 81
ID there not another gate somewhere tina
r. | can enter and see st. Peter and Gran
to and Lee and Stonewall Jackson ?'' "Oh
~ you are for peace, too, are you?" sal
at they, and with that they gave me a kic
rt and such thrust in the side that
re awaked me and to my great Joy | foun
r myself in the land of the living wher
peace may be sought and pardon foun
We Notwithstanding my rebellion. Now
tie my friends, please tell me where
let Joseph?"
IS, The newspaper men were there, {
As course. They saw the point and joine
p in the cheering, and many crowde
around Mr.. Richards and congratulate
him and gave three cheers for the reb
who was elected from heaven in
dream.