Evening journal., 1907-08-28
What l Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
SIXTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

oven for to-osy, her wharf at Richihond Tho
city with its immense warehouses and wholesale stores
on the north side OF the river and Belle Isle with its
extensive manufacturing establishments, rolling mills
machine shops and foundries on the south A large
tobacco warehouse with the sign Libby & sons To-
bacco" painted in large black letters on its white wall
also noticed; but it brought no thought Of Libby
Prison." which IT was so soon 10 beoome NOR of tho
heart-brealSng scenes which take place within
its walls and without, beautiful city then living
so peacefully on the hills round about
went to the Exchange Hotel-my employer had in
stucted me to stop at good housesn the hotel omnibus
with the other passengers from the boat doubtless
feeling as big as Of them. registered. and was
assigned TO room; and after responded promptly
to the sound Of the huge FOR supperhey not
call II dinner in those days II an excellent meal
little too greasy perhaps for my TASTE but to a hungry
BOY anything and everything was good-then just as
shall always remember the mess" Of a gentleman
who sat directly opposite at the table 1t consisted
solely Of large dish of sliced oranges pull
verzed white sugar; he had them brought whole
and pared and sliced them hnself sprnkling sugar
delicious yet thought that would hardly care to make
my meal Of only this and nothing more"
After supper walked on the street as far as the
next corner; but after looking for while re-
better the town by daylight
srong through the parors and corridors OF the hotel
very imposing hen' in my eyes-I entered the oung-
ing and writing room and there, elsewhere l saw
sitting and standing about many fine notable looka
ing mem one Of whom instantly attracted my attention
particularly In fact chose favorable positions as he
moved about and simply gazed at him. He tall and
DICK eyes handsome intellectual face mot pretty
pretty men are never good lookng) coal black hair which
hung careessy back of his TO his collar typical
9oulherh sort nat black broadeloth frock coat and
trousers and patent leather Shoes he reminded Of
young handsome Methodist preacher. his way to
nis nIst appointment only he was too well dressed
for that inquired and learned that he was Roger A.
Pryor. Editor of The SOUTH ultra Democratoc news
paper OF richmond lie looked "as mild a hammered
man as ever scuttled ship throat" and 1 would
never have dreamed of his being the Thereafter" and
puilN which he was described as being in all the
newspapers that / had had access to- And he
wasn't as found out hiry-hve years afterwards when
iou sie pressure OF meeting MN In New York; whittier
he had removed after "the war" I found him to be
the gentleman that no looked when first saw him in
rlonnohu with tne same black eyes and hair without
one streak OF gray, and looking scarcely day older
than then-a man that would attract attention any
where' Ater good nights sleep started out early in
the morning TO hunt for my 1 found him. and
also found that he was bankrupt and that would
while, but I shook II was not my fault and
did not think that would be at all censured it
WAe reached hohei ana TINS confidence fully justi
fed when after reaching home rendered an account of
my stewardship my employer said charge il profit
eu oSH, JuSt as pieasanuy as II had handed him the
two hundred and nifty dollars that he The
most really unpleasant part Of that experience that
soa unat man those goods myself stayed in Rich
mond for two days longer. My vacation was for two
weeks and had only used four days Of It. so my time
was my own Tor ten days more. walked over con-
siderable portion of the city and visited many places
Of interest many Of them interesting now than
they We're then but will not attempt description
as most Of my readers have Richmond and know
more about it than do for have it since
Knew no one and talked with but few of the people;
none that can recall except the hotel clerk and the
waiter at the table He was genial good-naured
Ola negro and gave me much information; and when L
left tipped him to the extent OF 'evy"-twelve and a
half cents, old Mexican silver coin, practically only
silver IN circulation in this country at that time.
high-hnanee" tipping fashionable in those
days as it is the old fellow received 1t thankfully;
and was glad he did because while had enough funds
for my trip, did not have money TO burn"
lonesome one usually is when alone IN a
strange city and agreeaby surprised my wander
ngs TO meet an old gentleman. formerly a resident OF
Wilmington who had removed to Richmond Patrick
Mellon, who had at time kept the old White Horse
Tavern at Second and Tatna streets which many will
remember OF course very glad to meet him
and he seemed equally pleased see me- and showed
me many interesting places about the city that after
noon. on his learning where stopping he asked
me If had the slave market told him that 1 had
not, and he informed me that it right down the
hill, not a stones throw the Exchange Hotel
told him that would like very much to see it and he
arranged to take me the next morning and went
shall not describe what saw at the slave market
although my recollection of very vivid The "war
is over and slavery is deadl Let the dead past bury
dead" j wish say this however. that the stories 1
had heard and had always believed be true about
young children and even infants, being sold separately
from mothers were not verified by the slave mar
ket that No children Of either sex under seven
years old were separated from their mothers; IL
by the auctoneer before the sale began
and lasting impression on my Chnd. The opposition to
aggressive, except with comparatively small number
OF people; the general sentiment being that while sav
cry might not be Just right Vet there might be condi
tons very much for the negro race in freedom.
must confess that shared in this opinions came
home from Richmond a confirmed ana uncomprornisine
Abolitionist I was not Aboltonst of the kind of
Thomas Garrett never suffered or made any personal
sacrifice OF Inconvenience myself cause but my
sympathy was with it for all sympathy worthmere
sympathy costs nothing
left Richmond the next day by the Richmond Fred
ercksburg and Patomac Railroad. homeward bound.
suppose passed cold Harbor" "Spotsylvania" the
Wilderness" the "Rapidan" Bull Run" "Centrevile"
Fairfax Court Houre" 'aries Hnl" and other places
the names of which will live In history as long as the
English language is read. but not recognize them
and arrived in Washington in the evening 1t was dark
and what could sec Of the city did create a very
favorable impression As had often heard spoken Of
/ at "The Club" went to 'Wilards"
The next morning I started see the capital
OF our country; which had so much about
but had never seen and the unfavorabe impression OF
the previous evening increased by daylight rather
than essened. My very first view was from the side
walk in front Of the hotel II had rained during the
night and Pennsylvania avenue a hole: a vert-
able slough Of despond." 1 will say that the mud
j :. "a. .L.-. ~. =.