Evening journal., 1904-04-05
FAR AFIELD
AN EVENING JOURNAL MAN WRITES EN-
TERTAININGLY OF TRIP TO RICH
1OND

large placard bearing the word"White'
and he settles down with a sigh, thank
ing Heaven that a kindly nature ne
elected to place pigment under his skin.
But the sentiment is not altogethep
pleasing. for were Booker 7. Washing
ton on that train he would be confined
to the "Jim-Crow" car. Yet, aside from
sentiment, the arrangement is a very
happy one, and it is said that the ne
groes prefer to be togetherg
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and
Potomac railroad is a good system and
it is soon going to be a great deal bet
ter. For almost an entire new road is
being built from Washington to Rich
mond. IL is to be a double track, too,
and one can imagine the increased ef-
hciency OF the service after II has been
completed.
It reminds one Of the story Of how the
Car laid out the Trans-Siberian line.
We are told that he took a ruler, laid
1t down on the map, and drew a
straight line. So this new track is be-
/ ing laid. No matter how steep the hill,
} how deep the ravine, 1t proceeds as
nearly as possible as the crow flies.
And what a peculiar country it is. 1t
is quite hilly, yet there are now signs
Of rock anywhere. The engineers in
lmany places have cut through hills of
a hundred feet or more, and 1t is like
cutting through cheese.
Our first night out is to be spent in
Richmond, and what an interesting old
town it Isl One can no more think of
it without recalling great chapters OF
American history than he can disasso-
ciate George Washington from the Re-
EVOLUTION.
When one enters the lobby Of his ho-
tel he is suddenly confronted with the
fact that he is within the old Confed-
eracy, and that 1t is still i.vely mem
ory. on the wall Is a life-sized picture
of Robert Il. Lee in fun regimentalsi
] while on the opposite vtll are two
other subjects, one representing the be-
loved Southern priest, Father Ryan
tenderly clasping the stars and bars
while reciting one of his stirring poems
The other represents Stonewall Jack
son on horseback surrounded by the
populace, while Southern maiden /!
staupching the flow Of blood from hei
lovers breast.
These painting hang in a hotel lobb,
weber men are won't to meet to tan
business where drummers come will
sample cases and the traveller seek
only a meal and a bed. Surely, then
! the old sentiment has risen above com
mercialism.
1t is night, and the full moon is flood
ing old Richmond with a most benig
nant glow.
; You turn aside and wander through
the paths that lead around what wa
the Capitol Of the Confederate State
OF America. From yonder portico JET
ferson Davis read his inaugural ad
dress, and while the grass lies thick an
: green, then all was trampled by tn
? surging throns and the regiments O
/ young men with muskets in thei
e hands, sworn to maintain tho new re
public
5 The old capitol is silent, austere an
! gloomy, but oh, what a dignity it pos
/. sessesl 1t stands there as the ghost @
1 the departed Confederacy. confessin
1 nothing but that it was beaten an
q taking nothing back but it's pledge t
overthrow the Union. And no ma
D would have it otherwise, for. after al
7 IL is merely American.
/ So here's to Richmond. and goo
a night! G. B. II.