The mirror., 1916-01-13
Richmond, Virginia.
A Descriptive and Interesting Ramble About the
Historic Capitol City of Virginia.
By


the oldest and noted cities OF the south Inc
city was named in 1873 by Col William E. Byrd and
incorporated 742 1t city of exceptional beauty
the head of the navigation OF the James RIVER and
about 100 miles Atlantic seaboard The city is built
series of hills rising both sides OF the River The
paved and nearly all of them bordered by large
which gives them cool and pleasing appearance
The be reached by of several railway nes Or
by boat Norfolk Entering the city the Chesapeake
and Ohio Ry or the Seaboard Air Line Ry the trains
viaduc about three and half miles long This viaduc
tracked and extends nearly the full length of the CITY,
All entering leaving the city either of the roads
just the depot which of the finest in
the south The building of pressed brick and brown sand
All of the tracks stories above the street Al
Immediately arriving in the city by this route one
comes in contact with of Rchmonds historic structures
This a small house, story hight is sometimes
called the Od Stone House, but is commonly known
Washington Headquarters This old house is about two
blocks of the railway station what is called Main Street
Looking from here the Soldiers and Sailors
Monument on Liberty Hill, in Liberty Hill Park.
Richmond has many fine parks, them and the
popular, Chmboraso Capitol Square, Gamblers Hills
and End William Byrd Park There many famous
old buildings the city and large number of places nearby
which very interesting from historical viewpoint
To a visitor to the city, would say, start sight
seeing the Capitol Square This park, onare" is
called five blocks long, and three blocks wis
about ground. Within the park Capitol
the State Library Governors Mansion and old bell
The Capitol which completed in 1776 is massive structure
of grey and modelled after the Mansion Carree at
Mines France In the Capitol many fine paintings and
of many prominent included among these very
statue of George Washington done in white marble. The
great drawback about the interior of the Capitol the
poor lighting facilities 1t has feature tho, that helps
forget this lack of light that the large observation platform
the roof the building From the elevation for
miles around
The writer has often wondered what have been the
ho of Jefferson Davis and the members of his cabinet when
they looked toward Seven Pines and the Union Army only
miles their Capo for told that the Confed
chod hain
form The State Library handsome building situated
a hill the Capitol 1t is built of white marble and is
the Greek style of architecture The old bell tower which
is nearly old the situated the southwest
the park and is small and unattracve Near the is
of Henry Clay while the hill the northwest
gate, there equestrian statue of Washington short
distance of the Washington monument, statue of
Sonewa Jackson the hero of Bull Run Across the street
from the Capitol square, and covering whole block is the City
Hail. This building is of grey granite and has 18O feet
high from which better view than offered
fro roof of the Capitol Two blocks east from the City
Hall Broad Street, stands Monumental Church This church
is bull the site of the old Richmond THEATRE which
destroyed by fire. causing the loss of 76 lives The remains of
people who perished the fire. gathered together and
buried beneath what the church. The exterior of the
church somewhat resembles the that found
Turkey and northern Egypt In the vestbue there tablet
bearing the of the people buried beneath the church.
The interior richly decorated and furnished Between the
both sides the building life paintings of
the twelve apostles while painted the ceiling of the dome
life size painting of herald angel One of the striking
features of this painting that matter from what the
building is viewed the angel face the observer My
attention called to this fact by the minister After having
watched gazing the painting for time; he started
conversation this my boy do you that no
matter which where to, that angel
always watching you?" Now that ques ton that rather
for thot the reverend gentleman Was referring
the original herald angel in Heaven above However Icoud
dodge the question: replied by saying: Il don't
know, church." My rather surprised
good bnt he kind enough explain what he had
Leaving the Monumental Church and going east on
Broad Street. to ST. Johns Church. This old Church
built in 1740 and is surrounded by old graveyard The
grounds we'll cared for and the church which brick
structure we'll preserved for old building St. Johns
church is quite historic old building; it here in 1775
that Patrc Henry made his famous speech closing with the
words give liberty give death" The gravestones