The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-01-06
Memories Of Southern Cities.
Alexandra. Virginia.

teresting paper, "a Journey through INC
South. recalled memories of the cities
she yisited-all save one familiar to the
writer in ANTE bellum days-and at ner
suggestion | have undertaken to write
nv recollections of Alexandria, Virgin
ia, Savannah, Georgia, New Orleans
Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas TAX
ing Washington, D. c., as stafIihg
point.
Tn 1869 when | became a resident OF
the National Capitol there was but one
paved street in the city-7th strickland
that was paved with cobbe stones! IN
wet weather the mud was deep, and IN
dry weather dust swept through the
streets in clouds. Geese and goats were
nastured in what is now the best resi-
Dental section, and for some years
thereafter wooden shacks owned and &C.
cupied by colored people. who refused to
sell at anv price, were sandwiched in be-
tween costly residences. There was then
no through railway connection south.
and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad nao
its terminal in wooden structure little
better than shed where now stands the
marble. million dollar, union station. "A
mile or more away was the starving
point-5f the ferry boats running TO Alex
andria. and there the southbound traVel-
ers found a train waiting to carry them
on their journey.
For several seasons in company with
friend was regular Sunday visitor 10
Alexandria. A street car drawn by
mules took US to the ferry landing ana
the sail of seven or eight miles down
the river on a hot summers day was
always enjoyable Mrs. Dinsmore has
told YOU of some of the attracto s OF
this old Virginia town, and not the least
of these, in our estimation, was little
restaurant which served the hnest OF
oysters, fish and game in the most ap-
petizing way. Of course we visited the
church where Washington worshipped'
and sat in the historic pews, and also the
room in the quaint old tavern where
Washington and Lafayette had a con-
ference. The Masonic Lodge of which
Washington was d member was still IN
eXis tence, out we did not have the entire
there Part Of the morning was speI t
in strolling about thl town and admlrlng
the old time Southern mansions, many
of them with spacious grounds, trees
and shrubbery; few well kept, put
others showing the ravages of time and
neglect. Yet one could imagine the gen
erous hospitality dispensed in the days
gone, by in these old homes, with their
spacious halls extending from front to
rear, with colored servants at every turn
to wait upon guests, with their rich FUR
niture and fittings from oversee, their
well stocked larders and wine cellars,
their courtly hosts and charming hostess
ses. A New York fnancier, who was our
guest one Sunday, was so fascinated
with those Southern homes that he de-
clared his intention of buying one and
spending part of the year here.
When tired of strolling about we went
to the restaurant and there found com
Portable chairs in brick paved court
yard, shaded and shut off from public
gaze, to read the Sunday papers and
smoke until it was time to dine. A
ia vorite dish was al oyster stew. Not,
however, what is known as an oyster
stew in the north. The biggest and best
oys tiers, such as are served at the raw
counter to discriminating customers,
v ere opened and deposited, with their
juice, in chatting dish; cracker crumbs
added, then butter, generous quantity,
white, black or cayenne pepper as pre-
ferred. Then put on the cover and light
the wicks. By lifting the cover you can
tell VIXEN the oysters are done to suit
you. There is no milk in this stew. 1t
is practically all oysters. Then shad
roe, broiled, and when served hot, split
lengthwise, buttered and sprinkled with
cayenne. Then terrapin, soft shell crabs,
and countless other good things from the
wat ers of the Potomac and the woods
and wales of Virginia. Twilight found
US on the ferry boat sailing homeward to
what is now said to be the most beauti-
full CITY in the world.
In its early days Alexandria was the
port of entry and the shipping port for a
large section of the adjacent country.
Transportation was by horse and mule
tie ans. Homespun for the slaves cloth
ing was made on the plantations, out the
finer goods came from abroad, as did the
furniture, china, glass, silver, wines,
II duors, and the thousand and one other
things required by the rich planters. For
the return voyage the ships were laden
with tobacco and other products of the
To accommodate this traffic
war ehauses and wharves were built, the
warehouses with stout beam projecting
from the Aable on the waterside to which
a tackle van attached for hosting mer-
chandise to Sbe different floors on which
it was to bS stored. At the time of
" L.