Year: 1866

The mind of the Southern people seems to bt


taking practical turn in very marked anc
/ eminent degree They are determined to re
| pair their fortunes, and they will succeed. With
that tremendous will and energy which sustain
ed hopeless contest for four years against over


whelming odds, they are now diligently engaged
In repairing the wreck of all that was left them
! at the conclusion of most disastrous struggle
The thoughts of our people are not directed to
politics-they arc bent upon the Improvement
OF their physical and material we'll being. They
| are seeking "to lay up something for rainy
day." to repair the damages which the war in
hicteG upon an inheritance which they had hoped
to transmit unimpaired to their children.


There are many striking changes wrought in
the habits and customs of our people by the
stress of circumstances They can no longer
lead those lives of ease and idleness to which
slavery was not only a temptation, but in mea-
sure rendered almost unavoidable in the man of
wealth and leisure. The village postofice, inn,
sross-road grocery and Court green are no long
er the scenes upon which idle, dissipated men,
young and old, spend the greater portion of their
time. 1t is true that whiskey is dear and green
backs scarce; but these considerations do not
wholly explain the moral ard social phenomena
which we are called upon to witness. The peo-
pie haze changed Nth the times and their car
cumstances, and wisely realize the necessity of
conforming to all the necessities of their altered
condition. The vapid, loud mouthed politician
is no more listened to with rapt attention and
curiosity, and he has sense enough to hold his
tongue where the people take so little interest
in politics that he would not secure an audience
Speech making is now voted bore. 1t con-
sumes valuable time, and the people find it diff
cult to discover how eloquent harangues on the
hustings are at all likely to tighten taxes or to
help the political situation They have vague
suspicion that too much talking brought war and
ruin upon us, and that those are best off now
who think much and say little. We dare say
they are right; nor can it be denied that there
is world of philosophy in their reasonings up
on this subject. = -.


The revolution 10 sentiment and action to
which we have alluded is confined to no partic-
ular class at the South; it pervades all classes of
our white population. The changed condition
of affairs, like new pair of shoes or boots, may
rub and pinch at first, but ultimately may be
worn with ease and comfort Ours are not
people to ST. forever whining and repiuing by
the banks of the stream Of human progress and
watch the remnants Of their prosperity floating
off upon its surface. No; they have enough
Anglo-Saxon energy and courage left to dash
into the waters and rescue the fragments Of
whatever may be left them worth preserving.
Those who think the South, like grea: moral
coward, will fall PROSTATE and grovel forever 10
the dust and ashes Of despair, are previously
mistaken. She will do no such thing; but con-
scious of her merit and untarnished honor she
will, ere long, astound the world by achieve
meats in every domain Of science and art
Richmond Times.