By which I don't wish to be understood as intimatin' that the scalpin' wretches who are in the injin bisness at the present day are of any account, or calculated to make home happy, specially the Sioxes of Minnesoty, who desarve to be murdered in the first degree, and if POPE will only stay in St.Paul and not go near 'em HIMSELF, I reckon they will be.
2.12.ARTEMUS WARD IN RICHMOND.
Richmond, Va.--May, 18 & 65.
OLONZO WARD.
Afore I comments this letter from the late rebil capitol Idesire to cimply say that I hav seen a low and skurrilus noat in the paper from a certin purson who singes hisself Olonzo Ward, & sez he is my berruther.I did ONCE hav a berruther of that name, but I do not recugnize him now.To me he is wuss than ded! I took him from collige sum 16 years ago and gave him a good situation as the Bearded Woman in my Show.How did he repay me for this kindness? He basely undertook (one day while in a Backynalian mood on rum & right in sight of the aujience in the tent) to stand upon his hed, whareby he betray'd his sex on account of his boots & his Beard fallin'
off his face, thus rooinin' my prospecks in that town, &likewise incurrin' the seris displeasure of the Press, which sed boldly I was triflin with the feelin's of a intelligent public.I know no such man as Olonzo Ward.I do not even wish his name breathed in my presents.I do not recognize him.I perfectly disgust him.
RICHMOND.
The old man finds hisself once more in a Sunny climb.I cum here a few days arter the city catterpillertulated.
My naburs seemed surprised & astonisht at this darin' bravery onto the part of a man at my time of life, but our family was never know'd to quale in danger's stormy hour.
My father was a sutler in the Revolootion War.My father once had a intervoo with Gin'ral La Fayette.
He asked La Fayette to lend him five dollars, promisin' to pay him in the Fall; but Lafy said "he couldn't see it in those lamps." Lafy was French, and his knowledge of our langwidge was a little shaky.
Immejutly on my 'rival here I perceeded to the Spotswood House, and callin' to my assistans a young man from our town who writes a good runnin' hand, I put my ortograph on the Register, and handin' my umbrella to a baldheded man behind the counter, who I s'posed was Mr.Spotswood, I said, "Spotsy, how does she run?"He called a cullud purson, and said, "Show the gen'lman to the cowyard, and giv' him cart number 1.""Isn't Grant here?" I said."Perhaps Ulyssis wouldn't mind my turnin' in with him.""Do you know the Gin'ral?" inquired Mr.Spotswood.
"Wall, no, not 'zacky; but he'll remember me.His brother-in-law's Aunt bought her rye meal of my uncle Levi all one winter.My uncle Levi's rye meal was--""Pooh! pooh!" said Spotsy, "don't bother me," and he shuv'd my umbrella onto the floor.Obsravin' to him not to be so keerless with that wepin, I accompanid the African to my lodgins.
"My brother," I sed, "air you aware that you've bin mancipated? Do you realize how glorus it is to be free? Tell me, my dear brother, does it not seem like some dreams, or do you realize the great fact in all its livin' and holy magnitood?"He sed he would take some gin.
I was show'd to the cowyard and laid down under a one-mule cart.The hotel was orful crowded, and I was sorry I hadn't gone to the Libby Prison.Tho' I should hav' slept comf'ble enuff if the bed-clothes hadn't bin pulled off me durin' the night, by a scoundrul who cum and hitched a mule to the cart and druv it off.I thus lost my cuverin', and my throat feels a little husky this mornin'.
Gin'ral Hulleck offers me the hospitality of the city, givin me my choice of hospitals.
He has also very kindly placed at my disposal a smallpox amboolance.
UNION SENTIMENT.
There is raly a great deal of Union sentiment in this city.Isee it on ev'ry hand.
I met a man to-day--I am not at liberty to tell his name, but he is a old and inflooentooial citizen of Richmond, and sez he, "Why! We've bin fightin' agin the Old Flag! Lor' bless me, how sing'lar!" He then borrer'd five dollars of me and bust into a flood of teers.
Sed another (a man of standin' and formerly a bitter rebuel), "Let us at once stop this effooshun of Blud! The Old Flag is good enuff for me.Sir," he added, "you air from the North!
Have you a doughnut or a piece of custard pie about you?"I told him no, but I knew a man from Vermont who had just organized a sort of restaurant, where he could go and make a very comfortable breakfast on New England rum and cheese.He borrowed fifty cents of me, and askin' me to send him Wm.
Lloyd Garrison's ambrotype as soon as I got home, he walked off.
Said another, "There's bin a tremendous Union feelin here from the fust.But we was kept down by a rain of terror.Have you a dagerretype of Wendell Phillips about your person? and will you lend me four dollars for a few days till we air once more a happy and united people."JEFF.DAVIS.
Jeff.Davis is not pop'lar here.She is regarded as a Southern sympathizer.& yit I'm told he was kind to his Parents.She ran away from 'em many years ago, and has never bin back.This was showin' 'em a good deal of consideration when we refleck what his conduck has been.Her captur in female apparel confooses me in regard to his sex, & you see Ispeak of him as a her as frekent as otherwise, & I guess he feels so hisself.
R.LEE.
Robert Lee is regarded as a noble feller.
He was opposed to the war at the fust, and draw'd his sword very reluctant.In fact, he wouldn't hav' drawd his sword at all, only he had a large stock of military clothes on hand, which he didn't want to waste.He sez the colored man is right, and he will at once go to New York and open a Sabbath School for negro minstrels.
THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.
The surrender of R.Lee, J.Johnston and others leaves the Confedrit Army in a ruther shattered state.That army now consists of Kirby Smith, four mules and a Bass drum, and is movin' rapidly to'rds Texis.
A PROUD AND HAWTY SUTHENER.
