The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-03
MRS. sHERwooD's LETTERS.

rious that the mere taking of train go
ing southwark instead of north should
define the social customs of one section
Of our country.
Washington is kind of halfway sta
ton. where the people of the North and
South meet and mingle, and get mingled
into the cosmopolitan. Not to write in
riddles, on my way to Richmond recently
l noticed the conductor was closely fol-
lowed by colored man, with a buster.
dustpan and broom in hand, as kind of
badge of Office, for he did not make use
of either save to flick speck OF dust
from seat. but wherever that conduc-
tor went he went, until my curiosity was
aroused. Was it mere accident, or a
southern aspect of life? l meekly asked
the next time the conductor passed my
way, will you please to lower my win
dow shade?" He turned, and with an
air which seemed to say Il am not en-
ployed to wait on passengers" Sam,
raise that shade for the lady," said he
rather sharply, as though his dignity was
offended. Thus we see that we are on
the bordar land of the South when we
fairly cross Long Bridge to speed across
the marshy fields into old Virginia, the
veritable beginning where the badge of
servitude still fingers around the "cullud
pusson," and slips off the white man
whenever it includes personal service.
All the people we saw outside the
towns were little pick a ninnies in scant
raiment. barefooted, swinging in the
worm fences and waving their foppy
straw hats at the train as we sped along,
or men and boys of color, gathering in
the cocks of new mown hay into ricks
for winter feed.
Fredericksburg always recalls that le
gend Of Barbara Freitchie which is not
true, but which all the same Whittier
has made one of the inspiring ballads of
our country. But in going to Richmond
we catch nothing but views of the rag
ged edges of this old town; and we won
der if we really are passing without
knowing it. any of the storied battle
fields, as we still fly southwark.
1t was happy thought of the friend
who sent me to "Ford's" hotel, this is
not an "ad.') where. as she said, it was SO
near the sights" of Richmond it would
save time and money to put up there.
The consequences justified that pro-
phesy, for while our arrival was too late
in the day to begin our outing search
for novelties,we saw they would be ready
for US at an early hour of the next morn
ing. Time being limited, strange as it
may appear, we were actually out in
Capitol Square looking up the statues
before breakfast. There was something
pleasant about having this leafy inland
park right in sight of our window.
|
The first thing we came upon was the
bronze figure of Stonewall jackson,
whose baptismal name is, however.
Thomas J. Jackson. The motto on the
base was Look at jackson standing like
a stone WALL and the inscription above
still more significant: Presented by
English gentlemen as tribute of admir-
alton for the soldier and patriot" 1t
was-of course-"Gratefully accepted
by Virginia in the name of the Southern
| people,
Jackson stands on a granite block.
with sword in his right hand, the point
of which is resting on stone wall. He
is dressed in his confederate uniform,
and owes much of his fame to the words
of some one who happened to say, "See
Jackson standing like stone wall"
Capitol Square.
Capitol Square has statue of Henry
Clay, of white marble set in the midst
of Grecian temple. which was erected
in 1847, when he was doubtless so fam
Gus it was thought no one would ever
need to be told who he was, as no name
nor inscription of any kind marks it any
where. 1t is such an apt likeness. how
ever, no one who had ever seen picture
OF the Kentucky orator could fail to
recognize him.
The group comprising the tout en-
Senble of the Washington equestrian
statue next attracts US. The figure of
the greatest of Virginia's sons is we'll
moulded and spirited in pose, but some
thing is lacking about the horse. Bronze
horses have way of being very stiff and
untractable subjects for sculptors to
grapple with, and this is no exception.
AS whole, however, it has historical
and artistic merit. Around The pedestal
on which the hero stands are grouped
the figures of Patrick Henry, General
Nelson, Chief Justice Marshall Mason,
and two others which cannot recall
now, while around the foot of these are
six smaller groups, memorials of Valley
Forge" Trenton" bill of Rights"
yorktown" and Independence" These
groups are made of stacked colors. bay
onets, cannons and balls, with female
figure to personate the idea sitting be
side the suggestive pile of trophies.
The Governors Residence.