The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-13
A SUNDAY IN RICHMOND
RecoIIectIons and Reflections During a
Sabbath Spent In the State Capital.
YOUNG FOLK, SUNDAY PAPERS, CHURCH.
Looks Like There's Truth i'm the he.
lief TINT sunday Journals Keep
Young People From Church
Statues of Statesmen ana Ruiz.
road Presidents.

II
pious old lady remarked this morning
that the wicked New York Sunday pa
pers Kept young folk from going to
church. and 1t looks that way TO one
VINO hea:s the legends OF the past gen
Grafton when the worst that a rcs;fva
dude would do was to stand in front OF
81. Pauls church and see the beauN
ana bellies make their eXcunt from the
temple and Concoct some scheme TO
make well-to-do tobacco man a father
in-law.
When the weather is fine the Saba Tn
morn in Richmond Is extremely agree
able, for as soon as the day has been
duly honored In religion the people be-
gin to exchange social compliments in
all sorts OF pleasant ways and the after
noon becomes picturesque and bcau,i-
full.
From chamber window In the ST.
Clair Hotel you may see the statue of
the Father of His Country in silhouette
against the rising sun, and hear the
first call to mathis from two adjacent
churches.
The sentimental traveller is ap; TO
think that the big bronze Silhouette ,e-
presents Sor; of tremendous satire in
silence as he sits on his steed above the
group of patriots. who with one exccp-
ton were good members of the church;
and /; makes one reflect on the mu;a-
bility of human affairs that can ord i'm
a complete upset bid on the franchises
that these great statesmen thought they
mad decided 10 thei" descendants.
HANNA'S POOL
From that point of view the citizen
may wonder how we are fallen into de-
generate times, but the statue of n rail
road president nj the other end of the
street. in Monroe Park suggests that tho
fathers of the republic did no; know
what a crop of Vanderbilts and Goulds
would do with. a LOCOMOTIVES engine. ana
frt g q n In l,-r IT.,
have no bodies to he hinged nor souls
10 be done sonnet hing else with in
the next world The Moloch of the
Republican party had hopes OF hood
ling the State of Virginia, and II Is said
in Richmond that he put S150, 900 in this
state with n View to making play for
a Senator in the coming contest for the
Legislature as well "a for the electoral
vote; but the Democratic party has
been solidiiied and the fear of Republi-
can rule has been revived. SO that Mr.
Hanna right at the gateway of the
South. has really weakened his party
and made his small cohort Of Demo-
Gratis Od.ous.
THE POLITICAL UNDERTAKES.
There never was Il time when poli;i-
clans have been more COY about express
ing an opinion and more closely cling
ing to the top Of the fence. The boiler
Democrats, after trying 20 Sml II their
party. insist that they are still birds of
feather. and The true blue Democrats
swear thar the party shall not he way
Sed by the tail of IL. One # the country
leaders in moment Of frankncss cX-
claimed, 81 tell you. sir there will he
more political funerals in this country
than have ever been seen. and "a for
myself | don't know even l. | have
credit with the undcrtakcr.'
ELECTION REFORMS.
has long been made the focus of reform
by tho Pcclisniffs who are wiser and
better than their generation, so far as
self conceit can manufacture paying
picty and affected virtue; but the public
could not be persuaded To see Smithcr's
precinct through IL microscope or tele-
scope. and SO II vanished like a gina: and
left the authors Of reform sadly reflect
ing on their pecuniary losses and several
drafts on Hanna protested.
y colored statesman who had been
exploited as Il r"former. remarked sem
tentiousiy: "i'oss. de lection is Over. and
dar Amt no mo- nancy in reform" The
Dispatch and the Times had a lively
tournament 70" a year over this same
question of election reform. but .he
Times made the mistake OF declaring
that violence was "a better remedy for.
negro domination than any methods at
the polls that Favored Of crookednr.s
and its opponent. like a shrcwd lawyer
held the case to that issue and main
tanned its advantage, and in the recent
canvass steadied the party in the city
when IL was threatened wi break by
the influence of the banks and the cor
porations on the side of the boilers. You
may hear the gold standard proclaimed
in the clubs, but where the boys" talk
and on the streets the defeat of Bryan
does not appear to have shaken the
Democratic ranks, though so many poll
ticai aspilants arc doubtful about the
course to steer
THE PROMENADE
Thror-~h The cold snap drove the fly-
ing bicyclers from the popular boule-
wards that reach from Franklin and
Grace streets TO the park and along the
new avenue around no.thwdrd by Gin
'ter's country villa, still the Richmonders
OF all ages and sexes are fond of parad-
ing the streets and no city of It's size
can show a larger and finer display of
we'll dressed people on the fashionable
promenade about one O'Clock on a fine
Sunday afternoon. when the congrega-
tons adjourn Thee are so many smiles
exchanged between the fairer prone
naders that the men go into the clubs
or each others houses TO take a smile |
also. and they can tell as many log
anecdotes as any modern Munchauscn |
from nDVwhrrp with In. ayr