Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-06
In THE CAPITAL CITY
VISIT TO WASHINGTON YESTERDAY
OF TUCkAHOE FARMERS CLUB.
What the Agriculturists Saw and What
They Did-Pleasant Incidents OF
the Happy Trip.

The Tuckahoe Parmers' Club visited
Washington yesterday and spent several
hours in the capital city inspecting the
Smithsonian institute, the Department OF Agri-
culture, and other points Of interest. They were
the guests Of Major E. T. d. Myers. momber Of
the club who proved charming host and de-
lighted the agriculturists with his bountcous hos
pitahty.
The party left Richmond on the s:04 train Of
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad, and made the trip in private car.
When the farmers reached their coach they be-
held large table stretched over the backs OF
several seats Doubtless many expected that an
agricultural Jackpot" would shortly be the
absorbing Amusement Of the party, but more
pleasant surprise awaited them
AND THEY SMILED.
Frank Kersey, the colored "valetgof Of Major
Myers than whom none can mix better iulep),
appeared on tho scene With certain articles Of
glassware and crockery, which all pretended not
10 recognize, but after ne had set tho table THAT
was his purpOao) many "smiled." He brought
forth refreshments-such nco ones, tco-and
placed them on the festal board. Everybody
ate; some drank, and the distance from Rich-
mond 70 Washington seemed scarcely a dozen
miles.
When the party steamed into the capital city
each OF the Tucknhoeans was as fresh- as merry,
and as gOod-natured as the day Is long. And
well they might have been 10, for the company
was excellent. The dry wit and sly humor OF
Major Myers was sufficient In Itself TO excite the
risiblitles OF any one, while the cherubic Tea
lures Of the august president, Professor Pur-
year, wreathed as they were IN many a smile,
caused merry laughs.
WHERE THEY WENT.
Tho first place the farmers visited after reach
ing Washington was the dining-yOOm at the rail-
road station, where an elegant moal was served
Next tho party went 10 the Smithsonian In
stitute or, as they called II, "MaiOr Myerss
barn. Here the agricUlturists cOmplacently
surveyed tho curiOsitiis, the old clothes OF
George Washington, the large statue OF Liberty
(apparently undergoing Whitewashing process
at the hands Of several workmen), and other OBJ
jects Of interest.
They then made their way TO the Agricultural
Department, which proved TO DO their delight,
for here thcy inspected many things in their own
particular line. ono OF tho secretaries showed
them over the buildings and explained every
thing. The Virginia farmers beheld tropical
plants OF every description and growing pine
apples and other interesting specimens OF the
vegetable world. which caused them TO marvel
greatly" one Of the party showed his practical
knowledge OF farming by asking at every turn
The manufacture Of silk i'm ono of tho halls
! proved exceedingly Interesting to the club, and
one Of it, members on seeing picture OF the
| silk-wOrm, which made IL appear about the szo
| Of n rat, was amazed at the enormity OF the IN
| sect. In his nstOuishment II finally occurred 10
| him 70 read what was written under the picture
| and then no saw that tho industrious worm was
| magnined some 200 times its original size.
| Assistani-Secretary willard received the Nir-
ginia ap,ri ,ulturists In his Office after they had
| examined everything and they enjoyed plea
| SAINT chat about craps" with this courteous
| official.
! From the Agricultural Department the visitors
lied their stops TO the archaeological section OF
| the museum, and here they viewed tombst0nes a
"a Ptolemy l.. fac StnHes OF ancient RUNS, IN,
/ dian relics, and other implements OF prim3yal
/ men long since gathered TO their fathers.
| THEY SAW PECULIAR BIRDS.
| Tho onithologcal department also came In
| for the farmers inspection, and they gaZed In
| amazement at the hundreds OF specimens OF
| birds, some OF which had necks so long that 10
| seemed they must have tasted their iood Tor
| weeks after swallowing IL.
J After eceing everything worth behOlding In
/ tho building. the club split In two sections one
OF which adjourned TO the Washington monu-
/ ment, while the other " took in the great pic
| tOral panorama, the Battle OF Manassas. AZ
| this latter place Captain CussOns and Mr. Milton
| Cayco engaged in n lively discussion concerning
| the war and tactics ingeneraL captain Cussohs
| proved very aggressive, but Mr.. Cayce stood his
| ground as firmly as did Jackson when entrenched
behind the alleged cotton bales at New Orleans.
When o'clock came everybody boarded the
| train and the sight-soeng ended. As tho train
| moved OF Major Myers's "combnation yalot
hnd chef fagnln produced the eatables (nnd drinka-
| blo) and another collation. followed. And then
came the spoechcs-such Jolly, witty remarks.
MAJOR MYERSs HOSPITALITY.
! Judge Hancock said that their hosts "farm
| was IA long rs the distance from Richmond 10
I1-a5hingtOn and "a narrow az the r0ad-bod, but
| his hospitality was equal to that distance and az
broad as tho Potomac, which bOrdercd the track
| nj that time. Colonel Harrison, Majors Otway
| Allen aud Wickham, and others then followed,
/ thanking Major Myers In facotioUs and graceful
| language for his excellent qualities as host.
| The Chair professor Puryear) was marked by
dignity In his every action, and MS rulings
4 1. f.l.aF rHl u
consistent with modern parliamentary practice.
| IL Is true when he ruled that further application
| 10 the rcfreshment table would be considered
| unconstitutional, an appeal was taken from his
| decision, but this matter was soon settled by
| nrbitrament.
| The secrotary, who you'd not make a speech,
! was accused OF not knowing the difference be-
| tween rye and corn, and when he donied tho al
! LEGATION dark inslnuations about "rye" follow
| ed, but no proved himself innocent Oh all
| charges.
] When the farmers returned 20 Richmond no
| one could have guessed that they had travelled
| over $50 miles In one day. for every one had en-
| joycd himself 50 much that fatigue had no time
THE GIRLS on BICYCLES.
| 1t may be remarked en- paSsdnt that perhaps
| after ali the thing which struck the TucSahoeans
| tho most iu Washington was seeing girls strad-
/ ding bicycles 90 whizzlng by them. Now, farm
! ers as well as anybody else somehow manage 10
| get peep AZ pretty girls through the
! corner OF their eyes, no matter now la9'
/ they Uhe girls) arc going, but these FEMININE
! Washingtonians somehow made thom feel that
mans rights were being infringed upon and they
| did not altogether like IL. Like true virginians
| they Immediately extOlled the inimitable graces
| and manners Of the daughters Of the Old Do
mluion and ruled the Washington girls out.
| Those who went on the trip were Major T.. IL
| ID. Myers, Professor B. Puryear (presldent), H.
Theodore Ellyson tsecretary and treasurer,
| Whitehead, Major a. W. CARRIER, Captain Frank
| Guy, Captain John Cussons, Major Otway y
| Alien, Major w. r. Wickham, ana Messrs. H.
! CLAW Chamblin. James b. Winston, Howard
| Swineford, Milton Caycc. X. d. Chaflin, Walter
! +. Grant, :. r. TiInor, j. r. HolGerby, OF the
| Times, and Evan r. Chesterman OF the DISPATCH
i