The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-06
SPRING HEREABOUTS
NATURE BUSY WITH HER PRUN'
ING HOOKS.
Buds and Blossoms In Chickahominy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Drives.-Many In
yitations to Out-of-Doors- IL Is the

Buds and Blossoms IN thieA""""s
swamp-Fashionable Drives-Many In
vitations to Out-of- Doors-It IL the
Time of the Roses.
The green that will turn to gold in the
the autumn is coming on now. Nature
pruning hooks have been busy. Boreas has
slapped and shaken the limbs OF the ola
forests until they have "let 90" dead leaves
and branches. Along the banks Of rivers
and brooks these lie on every side In the
groves, and along the drives about the city,
whereyera tree stands. the swelling buds are
bursting into early life. The bleakness
OF winter will soon be shaded from sight.
Fresh green leaves will hide the nakedness
OF ungainly branches. The fields will smile
in hopeful hue Of emerald. The hriars VIII
blossom. the thorn emit its sweet spring
odor. The hedges and the bollows In the
woods will be vocal with bird music and
enchanting in the loyliness Of Nature. 1t is
the time Of the roses.
The house no longer holds such superior
charms. Brussels and velvet are not hair
so soft as natures green carpet. The song
of the brooks touches the heart more ten
DERBY than the sound Of the lutte. me
wisdom Of nature is more instructive IMAM
any other. II can only be caught IN lne
groves. Goods first temple "Be-ide the
rim - ..up the lawn" "at the wood these
are places for inspiration OF thought, for the
drinking In of renewed lease upon life.
IIfo. Laughter and love come with the
breath Of spring. The warm sun shines;
bleak winds no longer wall; the bare
boughs cease 10 sigh: the flowers. instead OF
growing pale in death. smile sWeetly al
grim departing winter; the saucy swallows
din and dart here and there i'm mystiiying
gyrations. and the lizard leaps up the new
fence rails. rests himself on his elbows. and
pants his plaudits for the realization of win
ter dreams Of the time flor his appearance.
The bee buzzes for very lightheartedness
as he plies his busy task.
The year is not on the wane. 10 is Just
approaching the fullness OF life. The lilies
of the valley. and the daisies Of the dell are
adding mute appeals 10 the notes OF The
thrush and the wren in the briared dell m
yiting YOU 10 come out Of doors. IL is
season for meeting and greeting. Where
shall we 90.
THE CHICKAHONuNY SWAMP.
If. "mlI many "a gem OF purest ray serene
the NdIh MNAdiHIllNN AHfh' VI '''oN 'NtAAf
80 too. along the banks Of the Chickahom-
inv. hidden from view, but plain and strong
i'm memory. hover recOllectiOns that thrill
the thoughtful. Bloody battle-iields, over
which men rushed into the jaws Of death,
are grass-grOwn and peaceful now Come
out in the glow of sunlight that Hoods these
fields some day. Let the breath of spring
tan your checks. and while you touch your
horse with whip. give rein % memory.
Go over the smooth roads 10 Mechanic
vile. where jackson struck dismay into the
hearts Of McClellans men and JOY into
Lees when be exclaimed: There are Jack
sons guns" Drive down the Chickshom-
my. a stream noted in history since the days
Of Captain John smith. OF colonial fame.
You will be lost in wonder at the strange
sights so near your own door,
Batfle-scarred trees wave their budding
bOughs in woven meshes high overhead.
The white poplar is loafing. the maple
shows the commencement Of its foliage, The
feathory willow mods its welcome, the grim
hickory. oak. ghOstly sycamore and ASH
show signs Of reluctant surrender 10 the
w0Oing OF spring. The lazy stream slowly
moves its winding course; the bee aud the
bird are on the wing. the one at his task.
the other telling ia song his story OF love.
The robin no longer breads the marks
man. lie will soon be calling 'three weeks
cherries TO his mate The squirrel iriskS
from tree 20 tree. bud hunting, refreshing
himself ON fresh food later garrison diet
during winter months.
The waters Of the river have been ccic-
hrated for fish since the DAYS Of PoWhaian
90 the present. To those who delight in ,uch
sport nothing is easier than &C. take private
conveyance and 90 down % the many
..hOlesr or fishing sites that are 90 Doe
found. The club and the pike snap
eagerly NJ bait here, and the delight Of rod
and reel adds a Zest 90 the sport not % Dee
seen or found i'm the "trOt line in broader
and deeper waters. 10 is true that for trials
of speed the roads are not specially com- /
mendable. but If YOU want TO lose sight Of /
the city, drink in a taste Of country, and en-
10y quiet hour or more with nature; leave /
the fashionable drives and wend your way /
toward the Chckah0miny.
THE FASHIONABLE DRIVES.
Richmond people love vehicles and horses. /
II is natural that they should. Their fore !
fathers did, and they taught their children +
10 do the same thing Our fashionable /
drives are not the best in the world in some
respects: in others they are unequaled. No- /
where else in "A city Of the size of Richmond /
are there so many turn-Outs; nowhere else /
can there be had such fine views /
as are Afforded here. For pleasure /
prospective, take drive 20 either the East
or West end Of the city. The West End is /
more literally patrOnized now. Any fine /
evening. at this season of the year, Grace .
and Franklin streets are filled with FASH
i0nable vehicles. Gaily caparisoned and .
mettlesOme stoeds, single and in spans, /
attract notice. The prettiest women in the
would laugh and bend their proud .
heads in recognition Of friends rs .
they are whir.ed past each other
Grove avenue is the common centre.
Here they all pass and repass each other ON
their way 10 the Reservoir Park. They dash
down the smooth, level road. between the
long line Of I.indens, that marks the
approach 10 the lake, beautiful
and picturesque sheet Of water, right
at the foot Of the reservoir embark
ment. Drive around the reservoir on the
white "rOtten granite" roadway. Go slow
IN. and feast your eyes. You are in the
West End. You can breathe the pure5t at
mOsphere, and look out upon picture that
is pretty, SO pretty, that you shudder 10
think how ugly YOU are. Much OF the
beauty Of tins park is due 10 the public
spirit Of Richmond. Colonel Wilfred l..
Cutshaw, City Engineer has made fine
use Of the natural advantages Of
the surroundings. He added tine ar
tistic 10 the natural beauties,
ana ne ull III we'll ANNllIut lbNl ullftnNi
toward the new pump-h0use, new pleasures
are in store for you. N0u are on high
plain. The city is almost hid from you,
the fields are spread out before you in wide
eXpanse. Presently, you commence 10 de-
scend toward the river. and a turn in the
road disclOses the new pump-hOuse. Its
granite walks and slate roof are clearly de-
fined against the timber background Of
the island in the James, and the
forest clad hills Of Chesterfield. You face
the breeze coming down the river and
breathing is easier. Look up. londer is
the bridge being built for the belt line of
railroad around Richmond. II is high I'm
air, reaching its giant arms across the river
towards Chesterfield. It's frame work
seems photographed against the SIX.
Hill tops covered with black forests
define the line where the blue Of the horizon
kisses the tree tops in the distance. The
James Kisses its Indignation at interruption
to its course, and splits It's foam OF contempt
upon the rocks As IL Oyerleaps them. Not
to enjoy this sight is a sign Of sickness in
head and heart.
THE EAST END.
Richmond is noted for its public parks.