Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-29

At night Broad street Is one Of the
prettiest Of all streets. the long lines Of
many colored lights running down 20
nothing IN the distance, the trolley-cars
going both ways. and the throngs Of peo-
pie giving II an air Of prosperity as
well as enterprise. Every kind Of busi-
ness is carried on here. and for several
squares the street looks like an immense
fair the window and sidewalk dis
plays Of goods rivalling those Of many
fairs What cannot be had in Richmond
is not worth having; everything about
the city is right up 10 date, everybody
wears good clothes, and seems contented.
All appear 20 be prosperous and do not
try to live ten days a week as they do In
New York. All who are not mechanics
arc engaged in business Everything
rough or unskilled is done by colored
men. and they are the happiest lot Of
people on the face OF the earth; the
darby and the mule, both natives OF the
South, are seen here in great numbers.
Mules are used altogether for work.
heavy trucks being drawn by four the
black driver riding one and guiding the
others with one line and whip. Most OF
the coal and freight is hauled in carts
or on drays drawn by two mules driven
tandem. heavy loads having two mules
in front and one I'm the shafts. These
mules are trained so the one in the
shafts simply guides or holds back the
cart, and lets the one or two in front
do al the drawing. The colored men do
the driving. work On the streets, on the
docks, handle the freight and baggage,
and DO all kinds OF laboring work. They
live in the northwest part OF the city.
All about the city the land IS level, the
OILY breaks being woods. The soil Is a
soft sand, with clay below as red as
brick dust. Here is where the sweet
potatoes and the famous tobacco of Viz
ginia is raised a nine-mile trip on the
trolley brings the visitor 10 Seven-Pines,
where the old earth-works can be found
and relics OF the war seen. Here some
Of the hottest fighting Of the war took
place. The same road runs through Fair
oaks, so two batte-felds can be seen.
besides nine miles Of country for . cents.
Information about both armies in those
days is cheerfully furnished by men
who were In the Confederate army, who
seem pleased TO tel the story TO
stranger.
The people OF Richmond are the most
hospitable, pleasant, good-natured, and
good-looking folks 10 be found in a long
journey. Any one who has been among
them once will want 10 see them again.
They are always ready 20 entertain a
stranger within their gates, and visitors
are welcomed TO the best the city affords
The hospitality Of the South Is we'll
known by anybody who has ever ira
yelled. and is found the instant the
traveller sets foot on Virginia soil. For
a first-class pleasure or vacation-trip.
combined with sightseeing and looking
over historic ground and living among
pleasant people, there is nothing Ike a
trip TO Richmond and a few days among
its people. Anybody who has been there
once will want to go again, and those
who have not been there do not know
what they are missing. l have never
enjoyed any trip more than this one and
man who would find fault with Rich
mond may as well get off the earth.