Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-20

capital 1t was not many minutes be-
fore the news spread like wildfre
through Washington, and the intelli-
gence, at first doubted, was speedily
made positive by the circulation Of
thousands of newspaper extras" con-
tanning the news In bulletins issued
from the war department. In mo-
ment Of time the city was ablaze with
an excitement the like of which was
never seen before, and everybody who
had a piece of bunting spread 1t to the
breeze; and from one end OF Pcnnsyl-
yana avenue to the other the air
seemed to burn with the bright hues
Of the flag. The sky was shaken by
grand salute of eight hundred guns,
fired BY order Of the secretary of war.
Almost by magic the streets were
crowded with hosts of people, talking,
laughing, hurrahing and shouting in
the fallness Of their joy. Men EN-.
brace me another, 'treatelH oae an.
other le up old quarrels, renewed
Old z dships, marched through the
street, arm in arm, singing and chat
ting in that happy sort of abandon
which characterizes people when under
the influence Of u great and universal
happiness, The atmosphere was full
of the intoxication of joy. The de-
partmcnts of the and many
stores and private offices were closed
for the day, and hosts Of Woodworking
clerks had their full share OF the gen. |
eral holiday. Bands Of music appar-
emily without any special direction or
formal call, paraded the streets, and
doomed and blared from every public
place, until the air was resonant with
the expression Of the popular jubila.
ton in all the national airs, not for
getting Dixie" which, 1t will be re.
President Lincoln after.
ward declared to be among the spoils
Of war.
The American habit Of speech-mak.
Ing was never before SO conspicuously
exemplifed. Wherever any man was
found who could make a speech, or
who thought he could make speech,
there speech was made; and great
many who never before made one
'ound themselves thrust upon crowd
If enthusiastic sovereigns who de.
handed Of them something by way Of
ubilant oratory. One Of the best Of
hese offhand addresses exhorted by
he enthusiastic crowds was that Of
secretary Stanton, who was called
lpon at the war department by an
ager multitude clamorous for more
etails and for speech.
The secretary then read Grants dis. I
atch, announcing the capture Of {
richmond, and the fact that the city '
vas on fire, upon which the secretary 9
sked the crowd what they would re-
ly to Grant Some cried; LET her
urnl" others: Burn I'll burn III" but >,
ne voice shouted: Hold Richmond 4
" the northern mudsillsl" which sal b
was received with considerable T
lughter. Mr.. Stanton introduced to -
ne crowd Willie Kettles, bright a
ermont boy about fourteen years old, :,
n operator In the telegraph room Of =,
ie war office, who had been the for. :,
mate recipient Of the important dis. "
itch announcing the capture Of Rich. A
ond. VI course the crowd wanted o "
,eech from the lad, who discreetly
I'D his tongue and bowed with mod
ty. q
The day Of jubilee did not end with u
'e day, but rejoicing and cheering In
ere prolonged far into the night, H
any illuminated their houses, and n,
'nds were still playing, and leading SO
en- and public officials were sere. OF
ided all over the city. There are al. &C
avs hosts of people who drown their pt
VS. effectually in the flowing bowl,
I'd Washington on April was full Of
ese' Thousands besieged the drink ~
g saloons, champagne popped every. ~
here. and more liouorish crowd was W