HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1888-7-19, Page 7lay!!!!?rottN.N0F,P44.N:PA1=09entwoonorzwastuarnzwrai
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"ROUGHING IT IN THE BUSH,
• CHA P rER
A VISIT WO GROSSE MB,
Alas I that mania stern eplrit e'er should mar
A Scene so pure—so exqui ite as tree.
The dreadful cholera was depopuleting
gnebec eee4 Montreal, oaten Our ship cast
anchor off Grosse Isle, on the 30uh of August,
1882, and we were boarded a few minutes
after by the health-effiaers. One of these
gentlemen --a little, shrivelled -up French-
man—from his solemn aepect and attenuated
figure, would have made no bad representat
tive of him who sat upon the pale horse.
• He was the only grave Frenchman I had
ever seen, and I natnrally enough regerded
him as a phenomenon. His companion—a
.fine.lookThg fainhaired Sootohman—though
a little col equential in his manners, looked
like one who in his own person 'could com-
bat ana vanquish all the evils which -flesh is
heir to. Such was the contraet between
then dootors, that they would have formed
very good emblems,' one, of vigorous health ;
the other, of hopeless deoay.
• Oar captain, a rude, • blunt north-coentry
*sailor, possessing certainly not more polite-
ness than Wight be expected in a bear, per-
ceived his sprucely dreseed visitors on the
cleok, and with very little courtesy, abrupt-
ly,bade them follow him dawn to the °abbe.
The official was no sooner seated than,
glancing hastily round the place, they com-
menced the following dialogue:
"Prom what port, captain?"
Now, the captain had a peniler language
of his own, from which he commonly ex-
punged all the connecting links. . Snaall
worwe'such as "and" and "the,", he con-
trived to dispense with altogether.
" Scotland—sailed from port o'Leithe
bound for 'Quebec, Montreal—general dargo
—seventy-two steerage, four cabin passen-
gers—brig Anne, one hundred and ninety-
two tons burden, crew eight hand." Here
be produced his credentials, and handed
them to the straugers. The Sootohroan just
glanced eventhe documents, and laid them
wattle table. '
"Had you a good passage out ?"
"Tedious, baffling winds, heavy fogs, de-
tained three weeks on Banks --foul weather
making Gulf --short of water, people out of
provisions, steerage passengers starving.
".Any case of sickness or death on board I"
"Alt sound as crickets." .
• " Any births ?" lisped the little French-
man,
The captain serewed up his mouth, and
after a moment's reflection he replied,
" Births ? Why, yes; now I think on',
• gentlemen, we had one female on board,
who produced three at a birth."
"That's uncommon," said the Scotch doc-
tor, with an air of lively curiosity. "Are
the children alive and well? I should like
much to see them." He started up, and
knockeff-hie head, for he was very tall,
againsti"the ceiling. "Confound your low
cribs I Is have nearly dashed oub my bra.ins."
"A• hard task, that," looked the captain
to me. He did not speak, but I knew by
his sarcastic) grin what was uppermost in his
• thoughts. "The young ones all males --
fine thriving fellows. Step upon deck, Sam
Frazer,' turning to his steward; "bring
bees/flown for doctors to see." Sam van
islutd, with a knowing wink to his superior,
and quickly returned, bearing in his arms
three fan cbuckle-headed bull terriers; the
sagacious mother following close at his heels,
andlooked reedy to give and take offence on
the slightest provocation.
"Beare, gentlemen, are the babies," said
'Frazer, depoiiting his burden on the floor.
"They do credit; to the nursing of the
brindled slut."
• The old tar laughed, chuckled, and rub
bed his hands in an ecstacy of delight at the
indignation and disappointment visible in
the countenance of the Scotch Esoulapius,
who, angry as he was, wisely held his
tongue. Not so the Frenchman; his rage
scarcely knew bounds,—he danced in a state
of most ludicrous excitement,—he shook his
fiat at our rough captain, and screamed at
the top of hie voice,—
" Sacre, iyou betel You tink us dog,
when you try to pass your puppies on us
for babies ?"
" Houte man, don't be angry," said the
Scotohman, stifling a loath ; 'you see 'tis
only a joke 1"
• "Joke 1 me no understand such joke.
Bete 1" returned the angry Frenchman, be.
stowing a savage kick on one of the unon
fending pups which was friaking about his
feet. The pup yelped; the slut barked and
leaped furiously at the offender, and was
only kept from biting him by Sam, who
could scarcely hold her back for laughing;
the daptain was uproarious; the offended
Frenchman 'alone maintained a severe and
dignified aspect. The clogs were at length
dissmisaed, and peace restored.
After some *after questioning from the
officials; s bible was required for the °sprain
to take an oath. Mine was mislaid, and
there was none at hand.
"Confound it 1" muttered the old sailor,
tossing over the papers in his desk; "that
scoundrel, Sam, always stows my traps out
of the way." Then taking up front the
table a 'book which I had been reeding,
which happened to be Voltaire's History of
Charles XII., he presented it, with as grave
an air as he could temente, to the French-
man. Taking for granted that it was the
volume required, the little doctor was too
polite to open the book, the captain was
duly sworn, and the party returned to the
deck. . ,
• Here a new difficulty occurred, which
nearly ended in a serious queue]. The
gentlemen requested the old sailor to give
them a few feet of old planking, to repair
sem damage which their boat had sustained
the day before. This the captain could not
do. They seemed to think his refusal in-
tentional, and took it as a personal affront,
In no very gentle tones, they ordered him
instantly to i prepare his boats, and put his
passengers on shore.
• tiff breeze --short sem" returned the
131u old Beaman ; "great risk in making
land --boats heavily laden with women and
children will be swamped. Not a foul goes
on shore this night."
"If you refuse to comply with our order's,
we will report you to the authorities."
"I know my day—you 'stick to yam's,
When the wind fills off, Ill see to it, Not
a life shall be risked to plettee yeti or your
authorities."
• He turned upon his heel, and the medical
men left the vessel in greet disdain. We
had every reason to be thankful for the
Arninesitdispiayen by our rough coinmander.
That same evening we 'saw eleven periofie
drowned, facim another vessel clone beside
tub while attempting to make the shote;
By daybretk all , wats hurry. and eon -
fusion on hoard the Anne, 1 watched boat
after bcast depart for the island, full of peo-
ple and geode, and envied these the glorioua
privilege f once nlore Istanning firmly on the
earth, After two long months of rocking ahd
rollitig at Beta How ardehtly we aniddipate
pleastire, which often wide itt poeitiVii Vein I
Stich was my ease when at lest indulged in
the gratidoation eo eagerly doeired, „Le
canin pessengers, we were not included in
the geperal order of purifieation, but were
only obliged to send our servant, with the
clothe's and bedding we had used during the
Yams, on shore, to be washed.
The ehip was soon emptied of all her live
cargo. My hinband went off with the boats,
to reconnoitre the island, and I was left
alone with ray baby, in the otherwise empty
vessel. Evert Oacar, the Captain's Sootoh
terrier, who had formed a devoted attach-
/
men t to um during the voyage, forgot hie
allegiance, became possetsed of the land
manta, and was away with the twat. With
the most intense desire to go onshore, I was
doomed to look and long aid envy every
boatfull of emigrants that glided Past Nor
was this all ; the ship was out of previsions
and I was condemned to undergo a rigid fast
until the return of the boat, when the cap -
tam had promised a, eupply of fresh butter
and bread. The vessel had beer nine weeks
as sea; the poor steerage passengers for the
two last vreegs had been out of food, and the
captain had been obliged to feed them from
the shIp's stores. The promieed bread was
to be obtained from a email steam -boat
which plied daily between Quebec and the
island, tranporting convalescent emigrants,
and their goons in her upward trip, and pro-
visions for the sick on her return.
• How I reckoned on once more tasting
bread and butter.,• The very thought of the
treat in store served to Sharpen my appetite,
and render the long faet.more irksome. I
could now fully realize all Mrs. •Bowdich's
longings for English bread ard butter, after
her three years' travel through the burning
Africian deserts, ;with her talented husband.
•" W ben we arrived at the hotel at Ply-
mouth," said she, "and were asked what
refreshment we chose—' Tea, and home-
enadebread and butter,' wag meeinstant reply.
'Brown bread, if you please, and plenty of
• it, I never enjoyed any luxury like it. I
was positively ashamed of asking the waiter
to refill the plate. After the execrable
meesesa and the hard shipbisouit, imagine
the luxury of a good slice of English bread
and butter 1" '
At home, I laughed heartily ab the lively
energy witl . which that charming woman of
genius related tbis little incident in her
eventful nistory,—but off Grosse Isle, I
realised it all.
• As the sun rose above the horizon, all
these matter- of -fact circumstances were
gradually forgotten, and merged in the sur-
passing grandeur of the scene that rose
majestically before me. The previous day
had been dark and stormy; and a heavy fog
had concealed the mountain chitin' which
forme the stupendous • backgroundto this
sublime view, entirely from our signt. As
the clouds rolled away from thew grey,
bald brown, and cast into denser fladow the
vest forest belt that girdled them round,
they loomed out like nrighty giaets—Titans
of the earth, in all their rugged and awful
beauty—a thrill of wonder aud delight per-
vaded my mind. The speetacle floated dim.
ly on my sight—my eyes were blinded with
tears—blinded with the excess of beauty. I
turned to -the right and to the left, I looked
up and down the glorious river; never had
I beheld so many striking obtects blended
into one mighty wholernNature had lavish-
ed all ber noblest features in produoing that
enchanting scene. •
The rooky isle in front, el, ith its neat farm-
houses at the eastern point, and its high
bluff at the western extremity, crowned
with the telegraph—the middle space occu-
pied by tents and sheds for the cholera pa-
tients, and its wooded shores dotted over
with motley croups—added greatly to the
picturesque effect of the land scene. Then
the broad glittering river, covered with
boats darting to and fro, conveying passen-
gers from twenty-five vessels, of various size
and tonnage, which rode at anchor, with
their flags flying from the mast head, gave
an air of life and interest to the whole. Turn-
ing to the south side of the St. Lawrence, 1
was not less struck with its low fertile
shores'white houses, and fleet churches,
whoseslender spires and bright tin roofs
shone like silver as they caught the first rays
of the sun. As far as the eye could reaoh, a
line of white buildings extended along the
bank, their background formed by a purple
hue of the douse interminable forest. It
was a scene unlike any I had ever beheld,
and to which Britain contains no parallel.
Mackenzie,an old Soot* dragoon, who waa
one of our passengers, when he rose in the
morning and saw the ,parish of St. Thomas
for the first time exclaimed I " Weel, it
beats a'l Can thee white clouts be a' henna ?
Thee look like ekes hung'put to drie 1",There
was some truth in this odd coroparision, and
for some minutes I could scarcely convince
myself that the white patches scattered so
thickly over the opposite shore could be the
dwellings of a busy, lively population.
"What istinlime views of the north side
of the river those habitane of S. Thomas
must enjoy," thought I. Perhaps familiar-
ity with the scene hes rendered them in-
different to its astonishing beauty.
Eastward, the view down the St. law:
rence towards the Gulf, is the finest of all,
scarcely surpassed by anything in the world.
Your eye follows the long range of lofty
mountains until • their blue summits are
blended and lost in the blue of the sky. Some
of these teartially cleared round the base,
are sprinkled over with neat cottages; and
the green slopes around them are cover-
ed with flocks and herds. The surface of
the splendid river is diversified with islands
of every raze and shape, some in wood, others
partially entered, and adorned with orchards
and white farm -houses. As the early sun
streamed upon the most prominent of these,
leaving the others in deep shade, the effect
was strangely novel and =peeing. In more
remote regions, where the forest has never
yet echoed to the woodman's axe, or received
the irnprees of civilization, the first approach
to the shore inspires a melancholy awe,
whioh becomes painful in its intensity.
And silence—awful silence broods
Profoundly O'er these solitildes ;
Nought but the lapsing of the floods
Bunke the deep Stillness of the ivobcis ;
A sense of desolation relent
O'er these unpeoplect forest plains,
Where sounds of life neer Wake alone
Of cheerful praise round Nature's throne,
Man finds himself With God—alone.
MY day.dreame were dispelled by the re-
turn of the boat, whioh brought my husband
and the captain from the bland.
" bread," said the letter, shaking his
,
head; you must be tontent to starve a
little longer. Provision -ship not in till four
o'elock." ty hustend smiled at the look
of blank dinappointment with which I re-
cetved these Unwelcome tidings, "Never
mind, I have news velnoli will comfort you.
The rough sailor -captain screwed h
is flouriehing aloft his shilelagh, bounded and
mouth on one side, and gave me one of h
' capered like a witd goat from hie native
mountains. " Whurrab 1 my boys V he
is went of them, leaped upon tile rook, awl
comical looke, but he said nothing until 1
assisted in piecing me and the baby in ti
boat.
" Don't be too sanguine, Mra. Moodie
many thinge look well at a distance whio
are bad enough when near,"
I 'scarcely regarded tile old seilorn war
ing. So eager wee 1 to go on shore—to pu
my foot upon the new world for the firs
time -1 was in no humour to listen to an
depreciation of what aeeined so beautiful.
It was four o'clock when we landed on th
rooks which the rays of an intensely scorch
ing sun had rendered ao hot that 1 ooul
scarcely place my foot Upon them. How th
people without shoes bore it, I cannot imag
ine. Never shall I forget the eatraoreliner
espectaele that met our sight the moment w
passed the low range of bushes whioh form
ed a screen in iron; of the river. A crow
of many hundred Irish emigrants had bee
landed during the present and former day
and all this motley orew—men, women, an
ohildren, who were not confined by sioknes
to the *eels (whioh greatly resembled oat
tle -pens)—were employed in washing clothes
or spreading them on the rocks and bushe
to Ory.
The men and boys were in the water
while the women, with their scanty garment
tucked aloft; their knees, were ttramping
their bedding in tubs, or in holly in the
rocks, which the retiring tide had left hal
full of water. Those who did nob possess
woeshingtubs, pails, or iron pots, , or oould
nos obtain access to a hole iri the rooks, were
running too and fro, aoreaming and scolding
In no ineesured tome The confuelon of
Babel was among them. All talkers and no
hearers—each shouting and yelling in hie or
her uncouth dialect, and all. accompanying
their voofferations with violent and extra-
ordinary gestures, quite incomprehensible to
the uninitiated. W e were literally stunned
by the strife of tongues. I shrank with
feeliegs almost akin to fear, from the hard-
freuadteuiryipt ed,assu11113e.
uriit women, as they elbowed
I had' heard and read much of savo,g es,
and have since seen, during my long resi-
dence in the bush, somewhat of uncivilized
life; but the Indian is oneofNature's gentle-
men—he never says or does a rude or vulgar
thing. The vicious, uneducated batbarians,
who form the surplus of over -populous Euro-
pean countries, are far behind the wild man
in delicacy of feeling or natural courtersy.
The people who covered the island appeared
perfectly destitute of shame, or even a sense
of common decency. Many were almost
naked, still more but partially clothed. We
turned in disgust from the revolting scene,
but were unable to leave the spot until the
captain ,had satisfied a noisy group of his
own people), who were demanding a supply
of stores.
And here I must observe that our pitmen -
gars, who were chiefly honest Sootoh labor -
ere and mechanics from the vicinity of Edin-
burgh, and who while on board ship had
conducted themselves with the greatest
propriety, and appeared the most quiet,
orderly set of people in the world, no sooner
set foot npon the island, than they became
infected by the same spirit of inanbordina-
tion and misrule, and were just as insoleut
and noisy as the rest.
The rocky banks of the island vaere
adorned with beautiful evergreens, which,
sprang up spontaneously in every nook and
crevice. I remarked many of our favourite
garden shrubs among these wildiugs of
nature, The fille,gree, with ite narrow, dark
glossy -green leaves; the privet, with its
modest white blossoms and purple berries;
the lignum-viice, with its strong mamma
odor ; the burnet-rose, and a &eat variety
of elegant unknowns.
While our captain was vainly encleavor-
lug to satisfy the unreasonable demands of
his rebellious people, Moodie had discovered
a woodland path that led to the back of the
island. Sheltered by some hazenbushea
from the intense heat of the sun, we sat
down by the cool, gushing river, out of sight
but, alas 1 not out of hearing of the noisy,
riotous crowd. Could:we have shut out the
profane sounds which came to us on every
breeze, how deeply should we have enjoyed
an hour amid the tranquil beauties of that
retinal -and lovely spot 1
Etere, the shores of the island and main-
land, receding from each other, formed a
small cove, overhung with lofty trees, cloth.
ese from the base to the summit witk wild
vines, that hung in graceful festoons from
the topmost branches to the water's edge.
The dark shadows of the mountains, thrown
upon the water, as they towered to the
height of some thousand feet above us, gave
to the surface of the river an ebon hue. The
sunbeams, dancing through the thiek, quiv-
ering foliage, fell in stars of gold, or long
lines of dazzling brightness, npon the deep
black waters, producing the most novel and
beautiful effects. It was a scene over which
the epirit of peace might brood in silent
adoration; but how spoiled by the discord-
ant yells of the filthy beings who were sully.
ing the purity of thelair and water with con
tarninating sights and sounds 1
We were now joined by the sergeant, who
very kindly brought us his capful oftripe
plums and hazel -nuts, the growth of the is-
land; a joyful present, but marred by a note
from Captain --, who had found that he
had been mistaken in his supposed know-
ledge of res, and politely apologised for not
tieing allowed by the health -officers to re-
ceive any emigrant beyond the bounds ap-
pointed for the performance of quarantine.
I was deeply disappointed, but my hus-
band laughingly told me that I seen enough
of the island; and turning to the good-na-
tured soldier, remarked, that "it could be
110 easy task to keep such wild savages in
order."
"You may well say that, sir—but out
night scenes far exceed those of the day.
You would think they were incarnate devils
sinaing, chinking, dancing, shouting and
cutting antios that would surprise the lead-
er of a circuit. They have no Shan/se—are
under no restraint—nobody knows them here,
and they think they can speak and act as
they please; and they are such *elves that
they roboneetnother of the 'Ude they possess.
The healthy eottally run the risk of taking
Ithe cholera by robbing the sick, If you
have not hired one or two stout, honest fel-
toms from among your fellowpaasengers to
guard your clothes while they are drying,
you will never see half of them again. They
are a sad get, sir, a and set. -We could, per -
hove menage the men ; but the women, eir 1
—the women! Oh, sir 1"
Anxious as tee 'a ere to return to the ship,
we were obliged to remain until sundown in
our retired nook, We were hungry, tired,
and out of spirits; the morsquitees swarmed
in snyriade arouhd us, tormenting the poor
baby, whom not at all visaged With her 'visit
to the new veorld, filled the air with cries ;
W
cried "Share Well all be jintlernen 1"
Pull away, my 1481" eaid the captain.
h Thee turning to me, " Well, ldre. Moodie,
I hope that you have had enough of Gree
n Isle. But could you have witnessed the
t scenes thet I did this morning--"
t lere he was interrupted by the wife ofthe
y old fiooton Dragoon, rlVfacleuzie, running
down to the boat, and laying her hand
e tomiliarly upon bis shoulder, "Captain,
dinna forget."
d "Forgot whatV'
e She whispered isornebbing confidentially
- in his ear,
y "Oh, ho 1 the brandy 1" ho responded
e aloud. "I should have thought, Mrs.
t Mackenzie, that you bad had enough of that
d same, on yon island ?"
e "Aye, eio a place for decent folk," re-
turned the drunken body, shaking her head.
d " One needs a drap o' comfort, captain, to
s keep up one's heart ava."
- The captain set up one of his boisterona
, laughs, as he pushed the boon from the
s *ore, " Hello 1 Sam Frazer 1 steer ha, we
have forgotten the stores."
I hope not, captain," said I ; "1 have
s J • been starving since daybreak."
"The breeell the butter, the beef, the
onions and potatoes are ere, air," said
f honest Sam particularising each article.
"Alt right, pull for the ship. Mrs.
Moodie, we will have a glorious 'supper,
and mind you don't dream of Grosse Isle,"
In a few minutes we were again on board.
Thus ended my first day's experience of the
land of all our hopes.
, (TO BE CONTINUED )
ens. to—
The officer who commands the station sent
ri note to me by an orderly, invitiog us to ;
'spend the afternoon with him. He promisee III
to show tie everything worthy of notice on ' p
theioland Capteln—olaimsaequaintanoe with; I
tie; but X have not the least recollection E
of hide' Would you like t�go ?"• I p
"Oh by ell meanie I long te SCO the love-
hen the captaie came to tell urs that th
b
e
oat was ready. It was a welcome eound,
oroing ouitWay ono inotd throtigh the atill
quabbling crowd, we gained the landing
lace, Bete we encoutitered tt boat, just
eliding fresh cargo of emigrants freed the
inereld Island, One fellow, of gigantic
roportions, whoee long tatteted great-eoat
test reaohed below the middle ofhiebare
ed lege, and, like clarity, hid the dieeeta of
is other gatnotete, ot perhaps concealed his
ly Wand, It• loolta a perfect peradise at r
this dlistancia" h
fi I
von t Forget Peter."
sr L A. MORRISON.
The angel eaid :—Ye seek Jesus. he is not here, he
is risen, go your way, tea Ms disciples and Peter, he
geeth Iniare tee Into GaZzlet, there pesh.a41 ass hint,
as nit totnyou.
In the dawning and flush of the first,Easter morning
The angel who watched with the nOvr-risen Lord,
Sent forth a sweet message of comfort and warning "Go bear Ms di cip'es and .Peter" the word.
• But don't forget Peter l
No don't forget Peter 1
But bear hinAbis message of mercy and 'then
'Twill cheer and relieve him
To know }Tell reoeive him,
And welcome him unto His Service again.
Though Pater forgetting allegiance—denied Him
With oaths and with musings, yet freely restored—
His Master, in kindness, would win and not chide
• him 1—
For Peter remembered the word of ths Lord."
So don't forget Pater!
No, don't forget Peter 1
But bear him this message of mercy and then
'Twill cheer and relieve him
To know I'll receive him,
And welcome him unto my servIcs again.
"11I/ iambs" must be fed, and there's none who
may feed them
Like one who hath suffered—astray on the wold—
"My sheep" must be led hut no stranger can lead
them
Like him, who—himself—hath been out of the fold.
, So don't forget Peter
On't forget Peter!
But bear him this message of mercy, and then
'Twill cheer and relieve him
• To know, 1,11 receive him
And welcome him into My service again.
My brother 1 The heart of thy Lord is as tender
As when Ho seat Peter that message of love —
And still His sweet word for each conscious offender
Is,—"Por AIM MY heart in compassion doth move."
• So don't forget Pater 1
No. dcn't forget Peter 1
But bear him this message of mem-, aid then
'Twill oheer and relieve him
To know, VII receive him,
• And welcome him into my service again.
Toacecro, June 14, MS.
•
' Twilight Shadows.
ST MANDE L. RADFORD, AGED 15.
Closing quickly o'er the landscape,
-Yelling thickly everything.
Twilight shadows now are falling,
Like a bud with sable wing.
All the birds have ceased their warbles,
Save the mournful whip.poor.will,
E'en his notes are growing fainter,
All the world is calm and still.
And I sit amid the shadows,
Musing on my future lot,
Wond'zing if the years before me
Will be filled with joy, or not.
Will they teeni with deepest sorrow,
Making life e, desert Weak,
With -no peace to light the psthway,
With no grains of hope to seek?
• Ah 1 my past has betn to joyous.
• Full of hope, and love, and light,
Will the future like these twilight
Shadows, be as dark as night?
Would that one might live forever,
In the scenes of long ago,
• Would that some bright day, long vanished,
Sunshine o'er our hearts might throw.
Idle hopes. For time unchanging.
Speeds away on lightning wing.
While behind him, closely treading,
Death his awful cycle swings.
Mystery impenetrable
Doth surround each mortal's fate,
And the duty of•the watchers
Is to labor, hope and—wait.
—
JAMES D. KENYON.
To thy great heart, 0 Nature, take thy child;
Close fold him in thy large, serene embrace ;
Hide from the garish light his tired face;
Safe shelter him from steirrn.winds loud and wild.
Around him let thy hoary rooks be piled,
And sentinel trees guard well the quiet place
Where o'er him sunny shadows interlace,
And gentle violets breathe their perfume mild.
There let the birds at morn and evening sing;
There let the email stream c.hime its silver bells;
There let the wind its viewless censers swing.
Nature's Child,
atr:1" 1k
:Itetga820tu;, y eo elMiAIr:
And weave into bis sleep thy sweetest spells.
A Oannon to Shoot Twelve Mee.
" We are now," said the director of the
Pittsburg works, "making a cannon for the
merican lamensito Company. It will be
used to demonstrate the value of that new
explosive, It is a smooth bore, three lat-
hes in. diameter and 100 itches long, and
will throw a, six-inch shell with emensite
from ten to twelve miles. In ordinary rifled
cannon the shell turns one and one.quarter
times in the length of the gun. This gives
it a terrific tortional strain and n- .;essitatee
correeponding thickness and ) Leong* of
the shell and a proportionate reduction of
apace for tho explosives. In other words,
the internal space for the explosive is re-
duced one-half to eecure the necessary
%strength. Now, the Emonaite Ccenpany
proposes to avoid this trouble by returning
to the old 'smooth bore cannon, and at the
same time to ;secure the necessary range by
the increased power of their explosive. This
new gun they expect to throw a dynamite
ghell ad far as a rifled cennee."—(Pattsbur
Despatch.
Vroesing The Atlantic In cookie 1 VENTITRE IN LITTLE BOATS. I Lora Ilirelseley on Thrift.
Lth
ord Wolseley is used in e ate of Peace
shells. as well as those of war, •Preaiding at the
•annual meeting of the depofsitora of the
Since time immemorial Men have
fond of deeds of dering and bravery, but
been Savings' bank, founded by Sir EdWard Virat-
kin for the servanta of the Soutil Eastern
it is a question if any ancient athlete or
an
warrior whose imams bave been :mug deldiveivireeatroapoplirtaacatiozilwaadydresoolimpae
ounitsh,hrifte.
in song or prose would have oared to Lcinidug back on ids eddd expedience be said
perform, *me of the crank feats of the
moderns, au he ceula not remember any man who had
°11 tumblinP t4eagh the begun life by making itaa, habit to live well
Niagara rapids in a barrel, tunping °ti the within his income who had not become a
Brooklyn yridge or venturing acre* the , successful man; ancj when he remembered
wide expanse of theAtiantia ina eaehle'eheli the men who had failed xn life he thought
cr,sft scarce big epough to hold snbsistenee lie might 'my that their failure bad moulted
for its lonesome crew of one. These modern
fteaoorsh:rtdeinnde4uar,ance are mere creaky
n
done only for the sake of ue and the horrible crime of drunkenness,
from the two great besetting sins to which
Acts of our race are moat prone—reckless expendi-
bringing the performer into notoriety, or Lord Wolseley's hearers included not a few
to put a little filthy lucre into his Peeheta members of the gentler flex, and he took 00 -
Although one or two attempts to navigate 'Aston to drop a word in season. Admit -
the ocean in craft as small as ten tons bur- iting that it was a dangerous thing to lecture
den were made a century ago, people have n lady he could not refrain, he said,
been generally content to cross the wide lemon 013serving that while wonaen could
ferry in regulation awe boats. But as recent add did
aw1862 a brigantine -rigged boat name4 the exercise much good in their
homes, they set a bad example by extrava-
" Vision," about fifteen feet in. length, left 000100 and ridiculous extravagance it
New York for London, with a orew of two
in dress. This was a fault that was not pe -
men and a deg. A keg marked " Vitsion,"1
culler to one class of society. In the matter
was picked up off the Western Ubaldo about
six months after the departure ef the Wipe- of thrift man was a little behind some
humbler creatures. There were many mi-
nims brigantine, and apart from this nothing mals with which thrift was an instinct:, but
has since been seen or heard of the Vision, that was not the case with man. Thrift
her crew or the dog. i with him was the °lucerne of civilization
The Red,. White and Bine made a eue' and education. As a rule when once man
oessful trip in 1866, She was twentyeight
feet long, riggedas a ship, and carried
three men safely from New York to London
in the Summer of 1866. This boat with
the patriotic name was afterward on exhibi-
tion at the Paris Exposition,
In 1868 a twenty.five-foot boat called the
John J. Ford left Beltimore with a " crew "
of two men, bound for London. After cross-
ing the Atlantic and while off the Iriatt
coast, it is recorded that herballast boards
were used as fuel, and a storm arose imme-
diately thereafter. The Ford capsized, her
Captain was drowned, the other man was
saved and the derelict was washed ashore
near Waterford, Ireland, where it is said to
be still in the possession of a gentleman
named Andrews.
It was several years after this suggestive
ending of the tran.satlantie essay of the John
J. Ford that the next attempt was made.
Early in the '70's the little 19 foot City of
Ragusa, sailed in ninety days from Liverpool
to Boston with a Austrian,an Englishman
and a dog as her living freight. She after-
ward successfully essayed the return voyage
having another Englishman for mate in
place of the first son of Albion, who, un-
doubtedly, had enough of it. The City of
Ragtime's performance, viewed in the light
of what has since transpired, is noteworthy
principally on account of the length of time
consumed in getting over the 3,000 or less
miles of water.
The gallant dory Centennial and her
indomitable commander' Capt. Johnson
achieved a feat in 76that threw all
previous endeavors far in the shade. The
Centennial was twenby feet long and sloop
rigged. She sailed from Gloucester in June,
1875, and after sixty-seven days of suffering
for the cap'n and hard knocks for the dory,
both arrived in Liverpool.
One lady only enjoys theunique distinction
of having eat cramped in a dory for the
length of time necessary to run across, in
her case just fifty days. Mrs. Crapo is the
lady referred to. In company with her bus -
band, Thomas Crapo, she started from New
Belford, Mass„ in the two -masted leg-of-
mutton -sailed dory, New Bedford, on the28th
of May, 1877. They reaohed Penzance, Eng.,
on the 22nd day of July. The New Bedford
was twenty feet in length and about two
tons burden.
Before the interest associated with the
New Bedford's trip had abated, the Andrews
brothers ca.me upon the scene with their
dory Nautilus. Tbe Nautilus was 19 feet
in length and only 2 feet 5 inches in depth.
The Andrews sailed from City Point, South
Boston, ten 'years ago and arrived off
the Lizard, .Eng., after a forty-five
days' trip. After the Nautilus had
returned from Paris, where she had
been on exhibition, another dory trip was
in order, and Capt. Goldsmith and wife
were announced as the voyagers. They
rook things very easy, and drifted along the
coast, nonchalantly dropping in here and
there to show themselves. They finally left
St. John, N. B., about the 122h of July, and
were next heard from on the 19th, when the
British ship Queen of Nations' picked them
off their dory, which had become water-
logged, and oarried them to Liverpool.
The acme in dory deeds was attained in
1880 by Capt. Traynor and his mate' who
croesed from Bath, Me., to a Frenchport
in the seventeen -foot dory City of Bath.
The sixteen and aehalf foot boat of Capt.
Norman and mate George Thomas beat the
City of Bath's record in 1880 by crossing
from Gloucester to the Isle of Wight, and
subsequently making the return trip. Thus
far the Little Western, which was the name
of their boat, is the smallest vessel that has
crossed the ocean on its own keel, and it
is also the only one of the many that has
done the trick and repeat, starting from
this side.
Several years passed by ere another at-
tempt "to dory"the Atlantic was made.
rhis time it proved to be a decidedly
novel attempt, hut alas for the crack -
brained "hero" who tried it. His skele-
ton has probably adorned for many. a
month one of the million anatomical
"museums" of the deep, deep "drink."
Capt. Traynor, of the City of Bath
wanted a chance to retrieve his tlimmed
laurels, and be therefore proposed to row
put money by he continued to do so, but the
difficulty was the beginning to save, which
often involved self-denial. Thrifty men had
distinguished themaelves in the world's his-
tory. From his own observation he would
say, as a, rule, that the thrifty man was
a moral man and he might say almost invari-
ably a successful man, Now all this is very
true. There is nothing very original about
eucli remarks, but i j s well to have them
repeated and emphasized by such a man
as Lord Wolseley. Count up all the success..
fel men, whether in Toronto or Ontario, and
it will be found that all but universally
they were thirfty men who in LordWolseleyne
words "lived well within their Incomes,"
and did not to almost an appreciable extentt
meddle with intoxicating liquors. The men
whose motto is to spend as they earn are as
a rale, hewers of wood and drawers of
water, to the end of the ohapter. Tlaey can
never take advantage of good opportunities
when they present themselves. Their dol-
lars ere generally pledged before they are e
earned, or soon after. They have all about `
them some silly besetting extravagance and
it keeps them down all their days.
The McKenzie River Country.
From all accounts the country watered by
the Meolcenzie River is among the most
magnificent and most valuable on this Con-
tinent. Canada is as yet quite unaware of
the mighty treasure house it holds in this
distriot alone. The recent report of the
Senate committee on the eubjeet cannot be
too widely read or too carefully pondered.
Let the following extract suffice. That its
statements are not exaggerated is acknow-
ledged by all really competent to form an,
enlightened judgment on the subject :—
The territory embraced in the enquiry of
the committee covers on nearly as possible
one million and a quarter miles, an area six
times larger than Franca or Germany, and
twelve times larger than Great Britain; ib
has a coast line of 5,000 miles, part of it ac-
cessible to whaling and seal craft; the nav-
igable coast lines of the great lakes equal
4,000 miles : the Mackenzie and its tribu-
taries has 1,360 miles deep enough for sea-
going steamers, and 2,750 miles suitable for
stern wheel steamers of tighter draft, There
are 6,500 miles of continuous lake and river
navigation, broken only in two places, one
a distance of twenty and the other fifty
miles, down which barges can pass and
which could be easily overcome. This
entire valley is therefore accessible
from Vancouver for sea -going steamers
passing through Beluing's Straits., Of
hese million and a quarter square miles
there are probably a million (the report
gives it 860,000) pasture land, or 640,000,-
000 million acres; 202,240,000 acres (816,000
square miles), suitable for wheat, and.
douele that fur barley and mem crops. Sir
John Richardson, more than sixty years ago
found wheat ripening north of latitudes
sixty, and barley at sixty-five, more than
one Thousand miles Der* of London, Eng-
land, the summer temperatures in that hien
tude being as high as those of Loadon. The
temperature at Fort Yukan, latitude 67a,
within the Arctic Circle, is 59° 7' that of
London (England, latitude 51t), being 61°,
only one degree and one third higher ; but
July at Fort YUC0.1t it 65° 7'; that of London
62° 4`, three dowsed at d e third higher than
that of Lendon,
Let any one try to realize what all this
means. It means that itt this locality alone
there are all the raw materials for a mighty
empire and that nothing but the influx of
men and women is necessary to make this
solitary region glad, and the wide lone land
to rejoice and to bloosom like the rose.
With such a large uninbabited territory are
Canadians afraid that their wide fair land
will be filled up too soon
Making a Nose to Order.
A feat q,uite unprecedented in what has
been called "decorative surgery" was ex-
ecuted recently by a surgeon in one of
Boston's city hospitals. The operation in
question involved the construction of a
new nose—no novelty itself in medical
science for a, woman who had been afflicted
from birth by the want of one, The remark -
across. He procured a dory, which he able part of the achievement lay in the
christened the Harold J. Bibber, after ds building up of a bridge for the organ, none
Bath ) doctor, and be started out lea whatever having been supplied by nature.
his Pill- lie reached Si. John's, N. F., by Hitherto it had been oustonnary, for such
some means, and remained there a few days purposes, to take pieces st flesh from the
before setting ou t on his last voya e. Nate
mg has ever turned up to fumnish the least
clew as to his probable fate.
forehead or arm ol the subject and graft
them about the nostrils in as good shape
as might be—thus producing, in the case of
Traynor's fate did not deter one Richard a person whose nasal bone and cartilage
S. Chandler, of Truro, Mass., from trying are lacking a putty -like excrescence far
to make a similar attempt. Chandler row- from beautiful. The case in point, hew-
ed from Truro to Bath, but he failed to en- ever, was proceeded with in a very different
list the sympathy of Dr. Bibber, and being manner, First the wornann nose—what
without the neceasary means at -his own there was of it—was sliced in two and the
oommand to fit out for the long row,he, for- fiaps turted baok on the cheeks. Then a
tunately for himself, stayed at home. I young chicken was killed, and it piece of
The last victim of the unexplainable foe- I the breast bone, of proper shape united to
cination that has mastered the aanbitioos of the root of the meet member on the skull
SO many mortals was a Capt. la. A. Cloud- , by giver wires. Then the fteeh of the old
mate who set out from Jacksonville, Pia., ' wee was carefully Stretched ovet it by
hot very long ago, to dory it around the ligatures, Plugs of cotton were introauced
world. The (letting, as Clotelman's boat was temporarily, to give the noetrile their dor-
named, put into St. .A.ligustine on account refit shape and the phyteician'e task was
of stress of weather. The day aftee she complete. The new bone promptly bewome
left She was wreaked on a bar off the milted with its attachment, the wound heal-
lorida combo and Capt, Cloudman was ed, and the operation has now been deolar
°reed to wade aShore, ed a perfeet success. The patient atpreamal
—a handsome woman she is, too—has 8. fine
Roman proboscis, and the only seer is a
Dean BitilleZelitflat hAnllehebetirrilwal recently the freshly reede feature. Formerly the
scarcely preoeptible line down the middle
.peaking on the nature of man as distinguish- deformity was so disfiguring thab the poor
el from the lower orders of creation, "Man," cteeture dM not Stir out of the hews fet
remarked, "01 a Pl`(S.Ve,Oti,ive, being; yEatS, moo when the night's friendly dark -
%era are stationary. Think, ter example, ness hid her misfortune from view,
the ass I Always and everywhere 12 is
he same oroatures, and you never sato wad
APO Will see a more perfect ftee than yeti Truth har3 many rough flavours We bite
00 at the present zuomeat1". It through
*,,.
1,10/M1111.93WW, .....•••••••••• .^ •
Important Distinotion.
" Willie," said hie rrtother, with :stern re
proof io her tone, "1 shall certainty have
to punish you this time. You ptomesecl tee
faithfully you would never play again With 0
that bad boy, Sammy Shaolileford, and e
here yoe've been playing hall With hitt for h
en hour."
"No, liain't, inmaints 1" protested 1)
Win d f b thl d , t
"I've been p1yii against hitn, Ile was
011 the other eide."