Year: 1861




strr.t and overcome by the low whisper which
drons like faint breath upon my tympanum with a
tale of most daring enterprise yet 10 De- Last meh
mas informed that in four days after the Fourth OF
Iulv the whole nation would be startled by most
brilliant achievement. The UeRae was not hxed
but the fact was declared with a solemnity which
left no doubt of the interlocutor's sincerity. If
prolonged endeavor tames the bold, long-dated
prophecies unsettle credulity. A pint of perform
ance now would be worth puncheon of promise.
Confidence is coniessedly plant of slow growth,
but dstrust has q rapid vegetation. Even the con-
tract for battle at short date, SO well ndorsed that
YOU could get il discounted without trouble, would
not, at this time satisfy the demands OF men who
thirst for blood But we are to have the pageantry
of war, if we cannot have its doughty deeds III the
imminent deadly breach.


Gen. Sandford, with twenty-three regiments,
is to gladden. the eyes of juvenile amateurs, and
communicate great pleasure to the Ethiopian
branch of the American family, by fatguiDg
march through the Avenue, with carmlnatiye
brass and severely punished drums. With
quick and appreciatiye eye for scene and spec
tacle, / beg to ask whether we have not had all
of this cbildren's entertainment justified by the
pub6c desire. We have had nag-raisiDgs and
serenades, speeches and sentments-suppers
and songs. Let us now 60 to work at business
The only drum-beat any one cares TO hear no"
is the quick step. for Richmond. "Ab, yes,
(" still harping, see !" Exactly, my dear Sir,
and on an instrument not limited TO q thousand
strings. Queen Mary on her death-bed declared
that the word "Calais" would be found written
on her heart, so deep and profound was her
grief at the loss of this imminent OF her crown
| have strong belief that Richmond is on
suricle and ventrice Of my own In the most
conspicuous display-type of The TRIBUNE
What Jerusalem was to the Crusader, or Mecca
70 the Mussullnan, Richmond is to the lover of his
land. Not far-ofi pOssession-noI province to be
dreamed of in future years, but prize which he
is only to reach out his hand to grasp. Again,
On to Richmond Let strategy astonish the
world after that. Discipline may work wonders
in the elegant camp leisure of its occupancy.
The gallant soldier can use his tooth comb at
toilet and medicate his irritated epidernlis with
brlmstone and hogs lard with none to interrupt
or hasten. All of the accomplishments which
are cultivated behind parapets and under cloth
can be carried to perfection until those killing
frosts, after which we ore to let slip the dogs Of
war on the nobility and gentry of the plantation;
The accumulation of large armies ia so cheap a
diversion, and withsl SO improving to the minds,
morals and manners of the people, that could
almost wish there never was to be q period of
peace Everything connected with war eleyates
and reiines the best qualities Of human nature.
The benefit derived by the three months levy
which came here to suppress rebellion and have
sucked their toumbs for ninety days after date.
is not to be reckoned by any process of mathe-
matics taught in primary schools. For anything
they have done here they might as well hsVe
borne deadly weapons against crows and black
birds, in the rural livery Of tow trOwsers and
shirt sleeves, as to have come here and trOOped
about in the idle " shoulder arms" and "good
night of the newly consecrated captain.


Surely 60 far, the war has been as mild and
agreeable as the soitest-hearted pbianthropist
could have prayed for, But one of the most at
tractive interludes in this grand comic burlctta,
cot up, regardless of expense" is the arrest
of spes and SecessiOnists. AT almost any hour
when observation with extensive view desiIes to
survey mankind, from the Capitol to the head
quarters of the General. in Chief you can witness
a crowd either with carriage or footman in the
center tending toward the Star Chamber Court,
where the ptiable victim is compelled to swear
81. - l..
information to the enemy or crawl on his belly
and shoot pickets as soon as cOnsentiDg night
favors his nocturnal murder. So far as he cares
he is Indifferent. You might as well repeat to
him the first stanza Of that stirring national bal


lad John Darling, and make him kiss a last
years Comic Almanac, as to go through the
solemn mockery of an oath with lips parted on
the Sacred Book.


l have looked and looked continually and
auxIously to see evidences Of belief and earnest
purpose; and even now / cannot discover it. II
is to me dramatic show, in which the ectors
20 through their parts well and personate real
life with great fidelity of imitation. Shall
again assure you, worthy gentlemen who rule De-
partments, that the people are not just now fond
Of theatrical performances. Even reserved seats,
with back and cushions will not seduce them to
sit through melodrama or farce. Cato and Co
riolaDus had better be brought out next season,
aud Falstaff and Figaro kept in rehearsal
until mems minds tend to lighter moods. There
will be no faith pinned to kilograms or the oral
and paper declarations Of Secretaries, unless
sustained by the cOrroboration of action, They
are not worth peppercorn TO sustain public