Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-28
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. q, 1883.

ted to the poor working man and
Uncle Sans clerks, together with the
fellows who sign the municipal pay
rolls, is over, and he who generally
takes few extra days is trying to get
himself in shape to put in little time.
OF course after holiday, and particu-
larly Christmas holiday, there is not
that eagerness to jump into the arena
and battle with the duties of every day
life, that is apparent with the fellow
that poses as Gentleman Jim and the
slugger from over the water. If there
has been any very tempestuous desire
for labor on the part of anybody your
correspondent has failed to note it, but
this may be due to the fact that news
paper men are mortals just like other
folks, though some people don't seem
to think so. At any rate things are be-
ginning to look just like they did few
weeks ago. The political bleeder is
again sucking away, the candidate for
office is hustling for votes, the police
man is standing on one foot at the
street corner, the small boy is wishing
for pop crackers, the factory girl is
chewing gum, some indiscreet men are
trying various remedies for indigestion
and others prescriptions for pain in the
| head, while those who have been away
| from home are returning.
Considerable interest is being felt in
the inaugural exercises that take place
next Monday. Colonel O'Ferrall will
be indicted into office with great deal
of pomp and ceremony and big mill
tary parade. The entire First Regi-
ment of infantry will take part in the
exercises, and companies from each of
the other regiments will be present.
The Stuart Horse Guard, Henrico
Troop, Chesterfield Troop, and the AL
bemarle Troop will represent the cav
airy, and the artillery will also be rep
resented.
The love of some women is beyond
the comprehension of ordinary human
beings, including reporters and cores
pondents. Your representative has
witnessed in the police courts scenes
that made him weep like King street
sprinkliug cart and his heart swell up
like a toy Christmas balloon. The
wasted form of poor woman, with
hollow cheeks and prints of the cruel
nails upon her delicate throat would
appear before the tribunal and plead
for the wicked husband whom she had
arrested the day before for beating her.
She wanted to withdraw the charge
though it was plainly apparent that her
spouse had been unkind. Little child
rem have been seen to plead for all err
ring parent, while horrible bruises were
visible upon their almost naked and
freezing bodies, but case was witness
ed to-day that surpassed all others.
Some of the visiting military will ar
rive on Saturday, and the remainder
will reach here on Sunday. The COM
pany at Harrisonburg will come as es-
cort to the Governor-elect. Arrange
ments will be made to quarter and feed
the military at the First Regiment
Armory.
Colonel O'Ferrall and party will ar
rive at 3 p. m. Saturday. They will be
met at the Chesapeake and Ohio depot
by committee and escorted to the Ex-
change Hotel, where the Governor
elect and family will remain until the
executive mansion is made ready for
them.
While the details for the ceremonies
on Monday have not all been arranged,
it is likely that about II o'clock the
military will form on Broad street and
march to the Exchange Hotel for the
Governor-elect and Lieutenant-elect.
Governor Mckinney will probably ride
in the carriage with his prospective sue
cessor, and Lieutenant-Governor Tyler
with Lieutenant-G Governor elect Kent.
The procession will move by route
yet to be selected to point in the
West End, and returning proceed to
the Capitol where the Inauguration will
take place.
Either just before taking the oath or
after sworn in the new executive will
make an address. The exercises at the
Capitol over, the procession will form
again and escort the gubernatorial
party back to the Exchange Hotel.
At night a reception will be rendered
the public by Governor O'Ferrall at the
executive mansion.
A care-worn and impoverished looking
little woman, with marks of refinement
and beauty still visible upon her face,
has been here for two days. She is a
Mrs. Johnson and is from Norfolk.
Like other women she has fallen in
love, though she has already followed
one husband to his last resting place.
Mrs. Johnson was engaged to man
named w. c. Davis from Norfolk. The
day was set for the marriage and things
were being arranged for the happy
event when cruel fate put a stop to the
proceedings.
Davis took on his Christmas refresh
ments trife too soon and got into q
row with gang Of negroes. They at
tackled him and in self defence it is said,
he shot and killed one of the number
He was arrested, tried, convicted aud
sentenced to serve two years in the
peDitentiary for voluntary manslaught-
er. Eighteen days ago he was receiv-
ed at the big white house in this city
and given his little striped suit.
His sweetheart had been true to him
all the time, however, and when the
ultimatum was announced and he WAS
taken away she did not stop her effor s
in his behalf.
She got up a petition asking for exc
cutive clemency and after securing the
names of the judge and jurors and for
ty other citizens, she came to Rich
mond and sought out Governor Nc.
Kinney and into his attentive ear she
told her tale of woe. The chief execr-
tive of the State was so moved by the
woman's pitiful story and undying de-
votion to her convict sweetheart that