The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-30

{ Henry Clay. udu the pleasure ol JIaNSl-
ing with this young man some years back,
mentioned in my Sketches. He has be-
come fat and bloated since and is coed
itor of a paper with his father, so that if
Mr.. Clay has not three sheets to the gale,
he has three Gales to the sheet; he will be
unlucky if he cannot reach port. Weston
was friendly and polite, but the old gen.
tleman. whom | did not see, goes for the
tracts.
I saw one Rev. White and a
DIR. Hayward next. Also the
Kyless: these red mouthed Tagues are
spread over the whole Union, and l never
knew a gentleman of the name. They al
WAYS remind me of Il fox stealing up to a
sitting goose; all these fellows have big
mouths, which ! was told, was occasioned
by crammn> potatoes in their mouths
whole. While speaking of this description
of men. to save trouble, l may as well
mention a snivelling, blue-skin, clerk in
the bank, bitter, malignant looking man
He took the wisest plan, and said nothing.
But the Cashier, e. A. Barham, Esq,
was a gentleman, modest, mild and win
ming, and of few words. He is q small,
dark-visaged man, and much respected in
Raleigh. SO, also. is Alexander J. Lau-
renee, Esq. Mr.. l.. was almost the first
gentleman who called on me, and to him
am indebted for much politeness and at
tentiOn. lie is man of an engaging
person, spare figure, common height, thin,
intelligent face, and has a careless dig
nifty about him, very becoming.
Mr.. John Il. Muse, rightly named, is In
the office of the Secretary of State, and
is a promising young man. He it was, if
l remember, who showed me a book of
poetry, the production of black man,
named George Horton. of Chatham, n.
c.. George is a slave. the property of Mr..
Horton. He can read. and is learning to
write. The specimen | saw of his compost
ton. amounting to twenty-one pages,
12mo. was we'll done. | should say ex-
tremely so, for one of his opportunity. He
composes with facility on almost every
subject; his pieces are written down by
| the boys, or any one who may happen to
be present He is the only writer | have
| heard of in this country, or age. of his
color. Some of his composition is very
touching, particularly that of his situation
as slave. His pieces are all marked with
chasteness and modesty.
Raleigh is the seat of government OF
North Carolina. 1t is situated in Wake
county, in latitude SO degrees. A minutes
1t is a beautiful town, seated on plain
with gentle elevation in the center, up
on which the state-house stands, on q
handsome square Of ten acres. From thi:
square diverge four streets, leading of
from each front of the state-house, a.
fright angles, which cuts the town in foul
Quarters. In the center of the quarters are
| four other squares, of four acres each
which have an imposing appearance. The
streets mentioned are ninety mine fee
wide; the others are sixty-six, and they
all run at right angles.
The state house is very handsome
building, of brick, and the exterior
Ipainted with cream color. 1t is 102 fee
in length. 90 wide. and 43 feet high, witt
a splendid dome. and skyEghts. TIL,
state house stands on an elevation, II
the centre of the large square, called
Union Square, in the midst of beautiful
grove, the natural growth of the soil. The
trees are tall and slender, and thinly
scattered over the ground This square il
enclosed by a wall. with four handsome
gates opening at the end of each large
street. The whole exterior representing
one of the most finished pictures of taste
and beauty.
But the skill of the architect is reserved
for the interior The galleries, chairs O.
both Speakers, windows, etc, are done
in Nichols's best style, and highly fin
ished The stucco is much superior t.
that of the domes ON the Capitol il
Washington, in color and smoothness, an(
the seats and galleries are painted of {
bright blue. 1t contains a superb statue
of Gen. Washington, executed in Italy
by the greatly admired Canova. The
statue is done in the Roman costume, anC
is doubtless the best specimen of the fin,
arts in thea United States. Canova, as ht
was to display his talents, for the last
time, refused to execute the work unless
he was permitted to dress the hero in the
Roman costume. Whoever wishes to see
the dress of the Roman generals, may
have that pleasure at Raleigh. The work
is so exquisitely done, that the veins ano
arteries are visible in the limbs, which
are mostly bare, the statue being dressed
in a Tunic
| The statue rests upon square pc
destal as white as alabaster; upon the
four sides Of which the figure of Wash
ington appears. in the different stations
| he filed in life, engraved in large letters
This statue is placed in the centre of the
state house, first story, and cost S10,OO0
But this proud State is not satisfied with
' this extravaganza: the legislative halls
are hung round with richest damask silk
this is a brilliant red, of the most costly
texture, with gold fringe and tassels, and
hangs round the windows and chairs of
both Houses. in thick folds from the
ceiling to the floor. 1t has also portrait
of Washington. done by Sully, the best
likeness extant; and the largest, and most
splendid chandelier / ever saw, not ex-
cepting those in Congress hall; and upon
the whole by far the most splendidly
furnished of any public building [ ever
met in the United States. 1t cost S10,070!!
Raleigh contains besides public offices,
churches, a court house, Jail, and 5000
inhabitants. 1t is a dull town as to bust
ness, having no commerce! The nearest
steamboat navigation is Fayetteville, GO
miles distant.
They have just laid the foundation of
a library, which promises well.
! But | am scarcely half through with
the citizens, to say nothing of those from
I the neigl borhood. / have not room for
the half Of them-a few more and pass
to the ladies' and the first, | am aston
ished to find Rev DR.. Hunt, said to be
a Presbyterian, one Of the finest looking
men in the place. should have taken
him for anything else. Messrs. G. d. LIE
| taurau (French, you may see,), Richard
R0berts. John j ChristOphers, William