The gold leaf., 1909-10-14
Communicated
"On to Richmond. "

"On to RlcnmOnd.
This was once the slogan from 81 to
90. The whole energy and power ol
the Northern States was bent on gaining
the capital of the Confederacy, while the
South for four years stubbornly and
courageously defended the city.
This wonderful struggle made Rich.
mond famous, and filled it with points
of interest. 1t is much more cozy and
pleasant to get there now from either
North or South than in those terrible
no bristling bayonets, no sentinel walk
ing his beat, no cry of halt" no demand
for the password. For long time |
have wanted to visit Richmond to visit
the scenes made sacred by sacrifice So
Wife and | took the train on Monday.
the 4th, and arrived in the city in time
for supper. Our trip was made more
pleasant by the company of several Hen
dcrson people. After supper OF course we
had to take a walk up Broad street.
This in the principal retail street and it
would be hard to find q more attractive
street in any city. The beautiful display
windows made brilliant by a thousand
electric lights, the wonderful show of
goods from the factories Of the world
make it appear as fairy land. After a
good nights rest, our first visit was to
the CapitolSquare to see the monuments
OF Virginia's 8 famous sons. Washington
mounted on his charger is surrounded
by fine statues of Chief Justice Marshall
Jefferson, Lewis and Others who have
not only made Virginia famous, but
whose lives have been blessing to the
whole nation After looking on the
beautiful grounds shaded by massive
oaks, we went through the State House
and then to the White House of the Con-
f.deracy. This beautiful building has
been bought by the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy and has been filled with
souvenirs and relics of the war. 1t was
in this house that Mr.. Davis lived during
the war, and here we were told his
daughter Winnie was born. And here ia
shown a small window surrounded bv
a framework Of muskets used in actual
service. Through this window was
passed the communications from the
seat of war What a busy place this
room must have been, with kilograms
and dispatches from the field constantly
pouring in and going out, how much Of
Joy as q victory was announced and
how much OF sorrow at the news of
defeat! The large rooms have been set
apart to the different Southern States
all of which have special interest. In
the Virginia room we saw the uniforms
and arms worn by Stonewall Jackson,
Robert +. Lee, j. f. B. Stewart Pickett
and many Others. Some of the uniforms
were stained with blood The pants
which the brave Pickett wore at Gettys-
bung were torn with shell that struck
him in that awful charge. Many of the
battle flags have been saved and are
here carefully preserved - flags that
have been torn by shot and shell and
under which 80 many of the South
bravest sons yielded up their lives in
defense OF our Southland.
OF course we went through the North
Carolina room and here, too, is shown
our States part in the struggle, the
pictures of many of our great leaders,
their arms and accouterments On the
mantel piece is found the statement:
Out OF voting population of one hun
dred and fifteen thousand, North Caro-
lima furnished to the Confederacy, one
hundred and twenty-five thousand SOL
diers.' No other State on either side
could show such a per centage And
then came the words: First at Bethel.
Farthest at Gettysburg, Last at Apo
mattOX."
This is an in teresting house, and is Wis
tied not only by Southern people, but
thousands from the North come to see
this valuable and wonderful collection
which speaks valumes for the patriot otism
and love of our Southern women for the
heoroes of the South
As we looked upon these things
our heart was filled with sadness. We
Of ho hrn nI, Of
who had marched so proudly to the
aloft some OF these tattered ensigns when
military tread had made old rock-rib.
bed Richmond tremble We could but
ask ourself. Where are they? Where is
| this mighty host? Nearly ell of them
| have crossed the river and are resting
under the shade of the trees But our
| sadness passed as n summer cloud when
the words of st. Paul rang in our ears;
AS in Adam all have died, so in Christ
shall they be made alive
| From this special point OF interest we
went to old St. Johns church, and now
we stand on the very spot which Patrick
! Henry stood when he made the speech
that lit the fires of revolution, We could
| almost hear him say, Caesar had his
Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell
and George the Third may profit by
their example. As for me, give me liberty
or give me death!' Great man. great
| motto.
On leaving this sacred spot we wenG
our way to the street ears and on
through Main street until we arrive at
park that overlooks the James. This
is the falls of that stream Here we 81,
on one OF the rustic seats and look over
at the almost numDerless stacks from
which smoke is rising This is the Tired
egar works. This works furnished sh o,
and shell for the Confederacy and is now
at work for the United States Govern
ment. We did not find out what lin,
they were working, but it is IA big thing
While sitting there we discovered pill.
of rock in pyramid form, surmounted by
u huge cross. An iron plate is set into
the rock on which is engraved, This i,
the point at which John Smith and hi
twenty companions stood when the,
had come up the James on a trip of dis
covery." And then we thought of Pow
hatan and Pocahontas. and that al
this section was theirs. Here they livet
their simple lives, through these forest,
they roamed. Here they loved ant
wooed and won and here finally lost ou
| anu die SoHe W. tuOuSHU w WudC ii Ol(
Powhatan is permitted to look back nc
see the wonderful change, to hear tn
hum OF machinery, the roar of commerce
Maybe with the change he will he able
to comprehend the doctrine of the surviva
of the tittest. Maybe SO. After all trut
happiness can only be in the association
of atfinities. whatever this may mean
As hunger drove the red men to tn
chase, it now drives US to our boardin.
house. Again We rest, get good meal
then repeat our promenade on Broao
and Main streets; then to our bed ant
sunderland.
Another day. No one has seen Rich
mond until they see Hollywood, tn
city Of the dead. The rugged beauty O
this place is wonderful, indeed 1t seem
as nature has fitted this up as a restin,
place for the dead. Here sleep the love-
and lost of Richmond for centuries. TIL
beautiful tombs sacred to the memory O
departed loved ones are not scattered
but clustered in artistic beauty and love
illness. In this beautiful cemetery som,