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®lje tUcchlii Constitutionalist
BY STOCKTON & CO.-
Another Jiew Poet.
(Caiifornia la proliße of authors. Anew
wh ° ? Dder O'® name of Joaquin
Miller, and halls from the Golden State, has
jost made his debut In literature through a
publishing house In London. “ Songs of the
Sierras ’* is the title of his book, which has at
tracted much attention In literary elreles, and
the following extracts from two poems in the
volume Show the style of the writer:J
wiitnu.
“ Behold the clouds,” Winnema said,
“ All purple withtheblood Os day :
The night has conquered in the fray.
The shadows Uyeutid is dead.”
She turned to Shasta gracefully,
Around whose hoar and mighty head
Still roll’d a sea of golden red,
While troops of clouds a space below
Were drifting wearily and slow,
As seeking shelter for the night, *
Idke weary sea-birds in their flight;
Then curved her white arm gracefully
Above her brow, and bow’d her knee,
And chanted in an unknown tOugue
Words sweeter than were ever snng.
“And what means this?” I geHtly said;
“I spoke to God, the YopHome,
The King, on yonder snowy throne,”
She soitly said, with drooping bead;
“ I bow’d to God. Be heard me speak; -
I felt Bis firm breath on my cheek ;
He heard me my desires tell, .
And He is good, and all is well.”
The dappled and the dimple skies,
The sweet stars and the tinted moon,
All smiled as sweet as the sun at noon.
Her eyes were like the rabbit’s eyes,
Her mien, her manner, just as mild.
And though a savagawar-ehiel’s child,
She would not harm the lowliest worm ;
And thongh her beaded foot was firm,
And thongh her airy foot was true.
She would not crush a drop of dew.
Her love was deeper than the sea,
And stronger than the tidal rise,
And clnng In all Us strength to me.
A face like hers is never seen
This side the gates of Paradise,
Save In some oriental dream.
And then none ever sees ittwiee—
Is seen bat ooce, and seen no more,
Seen bnt to tempt the sceptic son],
And show a sample of the whole
That heaven has in store,
A RIDE THROUGH A TROPICAL FOREST.
The trees shook high overhead,
And bow’d and intertwined across.
The narrow way, while leaves and nioss
And luscious fruit, gold-hned and red,
Through the coo! canopy of green,
Let not one snnabatt shoot between.
Birds hung and swung, green-robed and red,
Or drooped in curved lines dreamily,
Rainbows reversed, from tree to tree,
Or sang low-hanging overhead—
Sang low, as if they sang and slept,
Sang taint, like some far waterfall,
And took no notes of ns at all, • '
Though ripe nuts crushed at every Etep.
How ran the monkeys through the leaves 1
How rush’d they through, brown-clad and bine,
Like shuttles hurried through and through
The threads a hasty weaver weaves !
How quick they cast uj fruits of gold,
Then loosened hand and all foo: hold,
And bong limp, limber, 4s If dead,
Hung low and listless overhead;
And all the time, with half-opened eyes
Bent full on ns in mate surprise,
Look’d wisely too, as wise hens do.
That watch you with the head askew.
The long days through from blossomed trees
There came the sweet sODg of sweet bees, :
With chorus-tones of cockatoo,
That slid his beak along the bow,
And walk’d and talk’d and hung and swnng,
In crown of gold and coat of bine,
The wisest fool that ever snng,
Or hud a crown or held a tongue.
I Shall Not Forget.
1 shall not forget you. The years may he ten
der,
But vain are their efforts to soften my smart;
And the strong hands of Time are too feeble
and slender
To garland the grave that is made in my
heart.
Your image is ever about me—before me,
Yonr voiee floats abroad on the voice of the
wind;
And the spell of your presence, in absence, is
o’er me,
And the dead of the past, in the present I
And.
I cannot forget yon. The one boon ungiven,
The boon of yonr love, is the cross that 1
bear.
In Ihe mid night of sorrow I vainly have striven
To crush in my, heart the sweet image hid
there;
To banish the beautiful dreams that are throng
ing
The hails apt lay marnory— dreams worse
...gr '1 tosh ghln-plqopq 9i4 jo t vii.ojfd bi« i
For the one drop withheld; I am thirsting and
loiglng, . <• -Jv . y... • 71- -J,
For the one joy denied me, I am weeping in
: . upPain
-1 wqtffd tot forget you. -F liyc-to remember
The beautiful hopes that bloomed bnt to
! .' v Uw#fT' -’so .aoltou cm ejnvtsr'
And brighter than June glow* the bleakest
t'muß ftofriiriiwi -<mq s'uxat s.’idw e ior, ,
When peopled with ghosts of the dreams
* flßsaed ew.tv. .-.a.,|
Once loving you truly, I love you forpyer;
I mourn not m weak ldle grfel fdr the past!
But the love In tty bosomfeau hgver.bb, nevdr,
Pass out, or another pass In, first or last.
•: - s» y'Mi'> .At HU i HW j
Shut the haer Softly.
Shut the door softly, mother 1 * asleep.
Her fever la broken, her slumber is deep.
Look In her pate fees an* see there no pain—
Darling, be thankful, we’ve mother again.
Shut the door softly, andepme to,her side,
What should we do If our mother had died!
She who has loved ns our weary live- through j
Shut t’ S door softly, and do na 1 do.
Shut the door softly, and kneel »tt me here.
To Him who has spared ns Opr’edm mother
dear;
Who is given her back to our arms ones
again.
Borne her through danger and softregad her
pain. ,* 0 \ , ,v' ;i sk ;
Waking to life like the budding of flowert ?
Let na lose all tirtin* fh*t flying lift,
, Sister aadhrotlut*, and husband and wife,
Now we shall love yon a thousand times more,
Welcome dear heart from the shadowy land-;
Shut the door softly, and Uaa her dear band.
[COMMUNICATED. ]
Augusta, Ga., August 10,1871.
Editor s Constitutionalist:
Gentlemen: Borne weeks ago, moved by
a glowing description of the scenery in
Upper Georgia, a party" of twelve ladles
and gentlemen, myself among the numtthr,,
resolved to try a regular camping expedi
tion to the falls.
After the usual bustle of preparation—
packing away cooking utensils, filling
camp-chests, &c.—our party took the train
on the Georgia Railroad for Athens, at
which point we arrived about 4 o’clock, p.
m., finding our vehicles awaiting us at the
‘ depot. We traveled fourteen miles, via
Harmony Grove, on the On—svllle road,
thlsevenlng. Continuing our ridp for two
days, passing throngh Clarksville, the
county seat of Habersham, averaging
some thirty miles per day, we arrived In
some four miles of Tallulah Falls on Satur
day evening, when we pitched our second
camp convenient to a stream, which afford
ed us a bountiful supply of what we most
needed.’ Traveling in open hacks over
these dfisty, rocky roads for a whole day
at a time gave us a more thorough appre
ciation of our water privileges than we had
ever known before. Early on Sunday
morning we moved on in the direction of
the falls, and arrived there after a three
hoars’ ride over a most fearfully rough and
worn-out road, in that-break-neck, shaky
nondescript which they oall up here a
“ hack.”
The country tn this portion of Georgia
seems.to be so thinly and poorly settled, on
account of Its great distance frotn the rail
road, that the roads are rarely if ever
mended, and we noted It down as one of
the Idiosyncrasies of the inhabitants that
they always preferred going crat of the way
a hundred yards to cutting trough or re
moving a log, however small, which may
hayg fallen across the road.
The nearest dwelling is two miles from
the falls, and but two or three on the road
after arriving within six miles of them.
Formerly there stood a house on the brow
of the hill, about a quarter of a mile from
the falls, but it was bnrned down some
time ago, and has never been rebuilt. We
pitched orir tents at Camp Tallulah, but a
few steps from the precipice, under the
shadow of tall chestnuts. After hastily
arranging our camp, we left It in charge o's
the drivers, and, scattering about in twos
and threes, proceeded to explore the paths
leading in several ways toward the sound
which we heard arising from the immense
chasm, whieh we could not see, because of
the thick growth of trees and underbrush
on its verge. Following the path which
seemed to lead toward the muffled roar
which I heard, I soon found myself rap
idly descending by a precipitous path
way. and was In constant danger 'Of being
brought up standing by some unexpected
collision. After a descent of about three
hundred feet in thte manner, I found two of
our party sitting upon a large boulder of
granite, enjoying the graad scene spread
before them. Just here the chasm de
scends almost perpendicularly to the
brow of the third fall, called “Oceana.”
From this point we had a fine view of the
chasm Itself and many of the most promi
nent points of Interest. We were Just half
of the distance from the top of the preci
pice to the brow of the third fall. To our
left, but a short distance up the stream, we
saw the “Tempesta” like a column of
froth dashing its waters into fine spray in
lis grand leap of eighty feet clear. Above,
partially hidden by the jutting cliff on the
side opposite to that on which we stood,
cOuld be seen the fall of “ Ladore”—height
sixty feet—and by catching firm hold of a
little tree we could see “ Oceana,” in all Its
beauty, at our feet. This last is of the
same height as “ Ladore,” but is broader
and, I think, far more beautiful. To the
right the chasm broadens out into a large
semi-ctrcle, and looking across this, bnt on
onr side of the chasm, we saw the " Devil’s
Pulpit,” a huge mass of rock hanging over
the chasm at a distance of 600 feet from the
bottom. From our position we could see
that the cliff leaned outward and over the
stream in this place, and had at that point
no vestige of growth, bnt was a gigantic
wall of granite. Those of my party whom
I had found here «aid that the path
ended; so, after taking in eagerly the
grandeur ahd magnificence of the scene,
until we found that We could have no
more time to spare, we turned our faces
resolutely from it, and, after much toiling,
saw, when half way to the top, a path lead
ing in another direction. Hoping to find
others of onr party; we followed It,’and
discovered that it ended, after going ab ut
fifty feet along the side of the precipice,
in a beautiful little dell, and here we
found a most fairy-tike scene. Secluded
hi this little spot, and as if solely for the
refreshment of weary tonrlsts, was a little
-spring of clear, cold water. It had an
opening about a foot In diameter whieh
disclosed it to hs, but, stooping down, we
f Saw quite a little cavity, with the water
trickling down the roekft td kettle In a
pool lost large and’deep enough to admit
ofonr dipping it out With a cup, whence it
pasfeed-off underground. Returning to the
path, we met three of the Unites of dur
party, sod were informed by them that the
path ahi hot end wloreWe supposed 1f did,
lor they-had been to the water’s edge. We
returned to camp and.found the rest of th
party- awaiting 6t£r arrival, they having
gone bit a little w*y.' -After dinner, Mr
BhlrieV, Who lives at the house we passed
two miles from the fills, and who acts as
guide, came to camp, and under his direc
tion the whole party descended, passing
the place wherfe we had stopped in the
morning. We fousdtbat we had to clam
ber down the face of the bare took. Cling
ing to whatever presented itself ns to, roots,
trees, or prominent portions of the troek.
The path here s’ ruck off atT right angles,
passing under a huge slab as b. rge as the
side of a good Bleed cabin, which seemed
to have fallen from the non ofthe cliff
above at souse remote period, mod barely
canght »y If# lower edge bn the little
ledge along which it Mils. After creep
ing through ’his narrow passage we
again descended and Went bank in an op
posite direction. In F this way, following
the zig-zag path, we reached the bottom,
aster rest logon, the broad ledge of rock
bordering the stream,’ in the cooling shade
Os- 'if fcavern we pat contemplating the
scene. At this point the stream is nar
rowed by the foffesrtfbn of its rockV bed,
force toward the brow Os the fell. where it
leaps off, and, dashing upon a table like
formation of rock, 1a partially broken, and
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MINING, AUGUST 23. 1871.
for the rest of the distance is a snowy cloud
of spray and foam.
■ Lying out upon a large masss of rock,
Overhanging the fall itself, one can spend
hoars of pleasing reverie, watching the
leaping waters form figures and shapes ever
crowding, pushing and jostling each other
onward tn the wild dance, until, hurrying
’downward, they are lost In the clond of
spray. From this point, I think, is the best
view to be had looking upward.
The chasm Is about a hundred feet wide
at the bottom, but the sides, rapidly di
verging as they approach the top, attain a
width of six or seven hundred feet. Above,
on the summit of the opposite cliff, clearly
defined against the sky, is the “ Student’s
Rostrnm,” a grotesque pile of rock, com
posed of several layers of flat pieces, stand
ing out on the very verge of the cliff, where
it is almost perpendicular. Being a little
lower down than the fall, the base of the
cliff is washed by the descending avalanche
of Waters. I wished very much to have ob
tained some views from the other side of
the chasm, but there was’fcb way of doing
so without making its entire circnit.—
“Tempesta” cannot be reached from ihis
point, as the path really comes to an end
here, but it can bes. en in all Its beauty
better from this point, I think, than any
other. The only wav by which it can be
approached leads to the brow of the fall,
and no view can be had at all from the
foot. The cool breeze Is most refresh
ing here, and, after leaving our ther
mometers np in the nineties at home,
we were disposed to make the most
of our opportunity and enjoy, not only
the grandeur of the scenery, bnt also the
luxury of the cold temperature. The guide
admonished ns, however, that it was time
to return, and we began again the lifting,
clambering and pulling necessary to arrive
at the point from which we started. While
sitting at the fall we told our guide that
three of our ladies had made the trip that
morning! He seemed touch surprised and
thought they “ must have real grit.”
Before making onr afternoon descent, the
party went to the “Devil’s Pulpit” for the
purpose of getting a good view from above.
We found this decidedly the most awe
Inspiring, commanding andfextensive view.
The mass of granite projecting out from
the precipice which bears this name is not
the highest point on this side, but from its
situation jutting ont so far from the face of
the cliff, It occupies a most prominent place.
We had to descend about a hundred feet,
down an almost perpendicular path, before
arriving on the Pulpit, and there sat for
some time in silent awe, gazing out on the
views before os. Well might the Indians
have called it “ Tallulah,” The Terrible.—
We were standing upon a point which
seemed to overhang the gulf below so much
that the stream appeared almost hidden
by the precipice on which We stoid ; yet
when one of the gentlemen of our party
attempted to throw a stone so as to fall
across the narrow little rivulet winding its
way 600 feet below ns, it was with the
greatest difficulty that, after repeated
efforts, he succeeded in making it reach the
water at all. The chasm here is over a
thousand feet in width, yet It appears, by
reason of its great depth, to be less than
half that distance. Before us we saw the
brownish, hued granite cliffs arising from
the opposite side to an almost perpendicu
lar height of 1,000 feet, and then receding
with a more gradual rise, like that of the
mountains surrounding them. The faces of
these cliffs have but little growth upon them;
bnt where the rise is more gradual the hill
side is hidden with a heavy growth of trees.
Hoticing a dark line of green distinctly
marked on the tops of the trees covering
the upper portion of the cliff opposite, we
traced its course until it reached the preci
pice, and there we saw a tiny streamlet
glancing in and out among its projecting
points like a thread of silver until it
was lost in the great abyss below.—
Here, also, we saw the “He-mit’s Cave,”
a formation of. rock on the opposite
side of the chasm, resembling, from a front
point of view, one of those tombs in the
rock, described by travelers in the East.
A long perpendicular opening appears in
the centre, and our guide said that it was
capable of containing several persons at
once. Out of a crevice in the Pulpit grows
a smal pine sapling almost on the extreme
verge. Catching hold of this and leaning
cautiously over, we see the wildest of
scenes spread before us. “ Oceana ” pre
ssnts from here its best and fullest view,
while farther up the chasm we see por
tions of the oth r falls. Below us is this
immense abyss, with huge mosses of rock
lying in grand confusion, where the action
of water or some great convulsion of nature
has hurled them. The stream flows Into
an immense pool, Its green depths seeming,
from our great height, to be perfectly
calm.
Narrowing again, the strenm follows Its
winding eourse- down the chasm, which
gradually grows less in depth as the cliffs
become lower and less abrupt, and we lose
sight of it about a mile below, where the
chasm makes a turn. Three or four miles
below it joins the Chatnga, forming the
Tngata, which is the headwater of the Sa
vannah. Leaving the Devil’s Pulpit, we
followed the path running along the verge
of the' precipice until we reached a flat
rock which projects over the chasm about
a hundred yards from the Pulpit, and,
grasping each other’s hands, we went down
two at a time, took one look over and
came away. This point is much more
precarious than the Devil’s Pulpit, as It is
perfectly bare and smooth- The chasm
Jiere is between seven and eight hundred
Tee* in depth.
Retaining to the tents, we rested the
balance ofthe svenlDg, enjoying our camp
life highly.
Next morning, under the guidance of
Mr. Shirley, we again started off, this time
taking the path leading np the chasm to
“Tempesta,” which we reached after some
tough scrambling. This is called the “Nee
dle’s Eye” descent, because at one point
the path lends through so harrow a pas
sage that, one has to lie dowa and be
shoved through, the operation somewhat
resembling that of thread!n* a needle
Those persons inclined to be norpnlsnt
stop here. We,ail went throngh. As I
mentioned before, “Tempesta.” can only
be seen from abpve, and clambering along
the face of the Cliff overlooking the
fell.- each took a view in turn,
clinging to a small tree eatwenieotiv
growing just beyuud the Brow of the fell,
and leaning outwardly over the gulf into
which the fail descends,s j,:..1q lisAr wed
Here we are, in the upper end of the
chasm, and it is of much less depth than
below. Lying n short distance from the
foot of the fell is an immense fragment of
rock. aSiNesriy as I could judge, measuring
fifty by twenty-five feet, which has undoubt
edly, fro® its position, been broken off and
carried to its place by the action of the
water alone.
Our gnide told ns that In the winter,
after arftfey season, the immense quantity
of water flowing down from the surround
ing mountains and hills, together with' the
melting of the snow, swells the stream so
much that where the cflasm narrows above
each fell, the water rises in its narrow bed
twenty and thirty feet above its present
level, and the water carried over the falls
is so greayhat the earth ■ trembles for a
great distance around.
Above J,he “Tempesta” fall, between it
and the “ Katlore,” the stream forms deep
pools, in one. djf which, I believe, a min
ister was drawn under by the whirlpool
while batlilrig, drowned and carried over
the fail. ilEfore taking a look at the place;
some of oup party had spoken of taking a
swim after the rest had passed on; but,
after throwing a branch or two from neigh
boring trees into the upper pool, and
watching them sink into the whirlpool as
they entered the lower basin, we concluded
that we woald’nt bathe.
Ascending the cliff again for a short dis
tance, we foatid the path led up the side of
"Ladore," which descends, not like the
other two, in a clear leap, but in a series of
falls and rapids, until the pools below are
reached-
The entire chasm and bed of the stream
is solid rock. Whether this immense gulf
was caused by a disruption of nature, or
by the incessant action oi the water, is a
question for geologists. That the ac
tion of the water has been a most
powerful agent is self-evident, from the
fact .thatjye could distinctly trace where
the bed Cff tfie stream had once been ten or
fifteen feet above Its present level. We
fonod many points of interest and many
beautiful scenes for the artist’s pencil, while
following up the rapids. The homeward
route was much shorter and less difficult
than the pajh by which we made the de
scent, and we reached onr tent in aboat
fifteen mlnbtes after leaving the rapids.—
This descent occupied three hours, and we
could hardly credit the guide when he told
ns that [the actual distance traveled was
only three quarters of a mile. The only ac
cident to our party of twelve was the dis
turbance of a nest of hornets by the advance
gnard while clambering along the side of
the precipice between the falls, and the
stinging sustained by some of them in con
sequence of it.
In the Afternoon we went back in the
direction from which we had approach
ed the Calls, and, ascending to the
summit high hill, saw the “ Ocean
View.” s*Antlf>>L ..stretch of country.
From the on which we stood
the hill tops for miles upon miles presented
the regular appearance of the waves of the
ocean when slightly disturbed by a breeze.
Our party felt fully’rewarded for the efforts
made in reaching the point whence this
view is had. Far away in the distance,
some fifteen miles, the “Kurrahee” moun
tain stands out alone, separated entirely
from the ridge to which it belongs.
After standing lor some time enjoying
this singnlaiiy beantifut view, the guide
called our itnention to the “ Bridal Veil,”
a mist rising ont of the valley in a pearly
cloud, gradually increasing in volume and
then gracefitoy floating along the top of
the hills which form the “Ocean View,” still
retaining its beautifnl appearance.
Onr gnide informed us, to our surprise,
that there was no stream or body of water
in jjs vicinity. Returning to the camp, we
had another fine view of the mountains
back of Tallulah ; and to us low country
folk it had special charms. Next morning
we struck camp and left Tallulah, feeling
not disappointed, as onr friends had
prophesied, but that the half had not been
told us. “ Sandy.”
[Frcin the New York Herald, July 29.
An India Rubber Raft.
Capt. Mellcs’ Proposed Sail Across tlie
Atlantic.
In this age of wondrous discoveries and
startling wonders we have each day some
new announcement made which startles
the world and Is soon forgotten. Yachts
crossed the ocean In safety, then two di
minutive Ltlipntian vessels—the Red,
White and —Bine, and the City of Ragnsa
mad? several trips from the Dew world to
the old; and, finally, emulated by their dar
ing, Capt. John Melks Sailed to Southamp
ton from these shores, with a crew of two
men, on a raft, in 1867, making the passage
in forty-three days and some hours.
The raft upon which the adventurous
journey was made was known as the “ Mon
itor Raft Nonpraeil,” It being devisd as a
life-saving apparatus. It was composed of
three inflated rubber tnbes, encased in
heavy duck cylinders, of the strongest
materials, connected together by heavy
duck flanges. On top and across these
cylinders were placed a series of “ thwarts
or planks,” lashed at each end, and between
each cylinder by means of ropes; these
thwarts answering the double purpose of
stretchers to keep the cylinders apart and
seats for the men. Across these at each
end, lengthwise of the raft,’were- fastened,
by means of rope lashing, stringer pieces of
timber, bolted at : either end to the thwarts,
and answering tar gunwale, or for attach
ing row-locks whea they desired to use oars.
These stringer pieces were so arranged that
they could be unlashed and swung around
in cast they wished to. take the raft apart.
At one end of each of the inflated tabes
there was an air hole or nozzle into which
air was pumped from a Hellows; when In
flated the.raft measured twenty-five feet io
length and thirteen feet ia width ; on tbs
top they had a canvas tent pitched, and
they treed two masts. When Capt.. Melks
reached the other aide, his journey was tie
universal topic of coo versa t ion, and from
prominent yachting men over there he was
the recipient of numerous attentions and
dinners. A section in the Crystal PaHtce
was obtained for Mm, and hisraft exhibit
ed, and .’crowds flocked tb see It. The
tnOeey obta!ned from the visitors, amount
dog to son® £IOO or £SOO, was presented to
the captain. Int io ie»y an
Emboldened bjrtthe-suecess of his first
:effort, the captain,-who is desertbWlAy'his
friends S* a fine seaman «nd a pinch v, id
domltablc man, is again aboat to undertake
another trip across tbe tempestuous Atlaa
tlc—this .time on a raft of three cylinders,
16 inches in diameter. When la the Water
it will measure 16 feet In length, and
feet In, width. He will have one mast and
thtoUalls, a jib, log and gafftop sail; he
will cary provisions for sixty days, and will
be accompanied by one man, and will sail
from here sometime daring the coming
month.
The Nonpareil made 180 miles in 24 hours
during the - trip In 1867, and It Is believed
this new one will make better time. It can
be brought alongside a heavy sea without
bilgiEg. When on the last trip, the raft
anchored off the coast during a severe
storm and remained stationary, although
large vessels dragged their anchors. This
new raft will carry a patent anchor or drag
of the same pattern then used. It is simi
lar in Its workings to a log bag. A canvas
bag, to which along line is attached, is
kept open by an Iron hoop to which it is
sewed. This, being thrown from the raft,
fills with water and holds the cralt perfectly
steady.
Some years ago a superintendent of one
of the rubber factories in this city invented
a rubber raft somewhat similar. It was
quite extensively used on the vessels in the
navy, but It possessed some radical defects
which prevented its adoption. A nephew
of theioventor remedied these defects and
obtained a patent in 1864 from the Govern
ment. A company was formed called the
“ Life-Saving Raft Company,” who bought
the patent from Mr. Perry, and It was for
them Capt. John Melks made his seemingly
perilous journey.
The raft to be used on his coming trip,
as was the first one, will be manufactured
by the “Combination RnbberCompany” of
this city, under the personal supervision of
Mr. Edward L. Perry, the patentee.
The success of the captain’s trip fully
demostrated the seagoing qualities ofthe
raft, and numerous experiments made by
naval and merchant officers showed the
facility with which it could be filled and
launched (in from six to eight minutes) the
weight it would sustain (in one Instance
fifty-five men, weight 145 pounds each—
-7,975 poundg„altogether—and with this
weight bnt half the diameter was submerg
ed ; also how readily a number of people
conld be landed on the shore through the
surf, none of the passengers getting wet.
A Mississippi Romance.
A Reminiscence of Aron Bnrr.
Notaßbne (Col.Jno. F. H. Claiborne,)
contributes to the Natchez Democrat tbe
following romance ofthe early days of Mis
sissippi, a romance in which the eloquent,
accomplished and fascinating Aaron Burr
played a conspicuous part:
The arrest ot Aaron Bnrr, at the mouth
of Cole’s creek, by order of Cowles Mead, ac
ting Governor ot Mississippi Territory, and
his arraignment in the old town of Wash
ington on the charge of treason, the self
possession, ability and tact he exhibited—
and me favorable impression he made aa:
the community—are all well remembered
historical incidents. He was discharged
on giving bond for his appearance, and his
principal bondsman was Benijah Os
mun, a native of New Jersey, and the
comrade of Bnrr in the revolutionary war.
He was an old bachelor, of handsome for
tune, a high toned Federalist in politics,
retained his military habits, and was held
in great esteem. Col. Osmun was one of
the most practical and successful planters
in the Territory—was the first who com
menced to improve onr breed of horses—
and was renowned for his table and his
wines. His beautifnl estate extended to
the Half Way Hill. His lands on his death
were purchased by the late Gera-d Bran
don, and were given to his sons-ln-law.
Col. Jas. Smith and Wm. Stanton, two of
onr most valuable citizens, now deceased.
Here Col. Burr resided some weeks after
his discharge, receiving the visits of in
fluential sympathizers, out passing his af
ternoons in the woods. The Halt Way
Hill, then clothed with majestic trees, was
his favorite resort But- its refreshing
shade and charming prospect were pot the
only attraction. There lived, at that time,
near the summit of tbe hill,-in a little vine :
covered cottage, a widow lady from Vir
ginia, whose small farm and two or three
slaves were the only remains ot a large for
tune. Her husband had converted his
Droperty into money, and on his way to
this Territory had been robbed and mur
dered by the notorious Joseph Thompson
Hare, a more blood-thirsty villain even
than the celebrated Mason. She had but
one child, Madeline, Who must still be re
membered by a few of onr older citizens as
anrracteof heanty Inform and feature,
in,grace and modesty, she was all that
the old masters have pictured of the divine
Madonna, or that artist ever dreamed of
human loveliness. Those that saw her
loved her, yet she was never conscious of
the sentiment nmll she listened to Aaron
Burr. The family were Catholics, and
there Col. Bnrr went to meet, by appoint
ment, one of his numerous agents and cor
respondents, the Abbe Viel, a Jesuit Priest
of remarkable ability. He was born in
New Orleans in- 1786, studied at Paris, and
became a rmember of the Congregation of
the Oratory. At tbe dissolution of that
body by the French Government, he re
turned to Louisiana, and exercised the
priestly function In the parish of Attacka
pas. He subsequently returned to France.
It Is probable that 00l Bnrr, in his pro
jected Invasion of Mexico, contemplated
securing the influence of tbe religions or
ders, and for this purpose bad opened a
correspondence with the Abbe, and met
him by-appointment at this secluded place.
ft . 'ft. * «- •• * *• *
At length after canvassing his situation
with-CoU 1 Osmun *Rd six other cooflden
tial friends, Col. Bnrr determined to for
feit hte- bond and make Ms wav to Peo-a--
cola. One stormy night to February, 1807,
he set forth, mounted on the favorite horse
of his host, and attei ded by Jerry, a faith
ful groom. who had orders to go as far as
Pearl liver. Urgt ut as the necessity for
expedition,' Goi. Barr halted'till daylight
at the widow’s cottage, pleading With tbe
beautiful Madeline to be the companion of
his flight. He promised marriage, fortune,
high position, and even hinted at imperial
honors, T a*»t*e*!lxilng, even then, a fugitive ,
and branded traitor, the crashing dorm fell
that impended over Him. The midden bad.
glvenlhim her heart; she bad list ened to his
wttofcery night after night, add lbvSd him
with all toe fervor of her Southern nature:
She would have followed him to the etid Os
the earth, and to the scaffold, ahd her aged
mother would freely have drived her to this
most captivating man—-for they teok&B An,
blni as a deurt-god—bnf as with- most of
our Southern women, virtue and propriety
were stronger than prepossession and psfo
slon, and the entreaties of the accomplished
libertine were firmly rejected. Baffled and
disappointed he was compelled to proceed,
VUE, 30—NO. 32
but promised to return, and carried with
him the convenant and pledge of tbe beau
tiful Madeline. She was wooed by many a
lover. The yonngand gallant masters of
the large plantations on Second creek and
St. Catherine’s strove. In Vain for her hand.
Fortunes and the homage of devoted hearts
were laid at her feet; but the Maid of the
Half Way Hill remained true to-her absent
Ipver; the more so because of the rumors
that reached her of his misfortunes and his
gpilt. She lived on the' recollection of his
manly beauty, and the shades he had most
affected were her constant haunts. At
length when he fled from the United States,
pursued by Mr. Jefferson and the remorse
less agents that swarm around power and
authority—when he had been driven from
England—and an ontcast in Paris, shiver
ing with cold and starving for bread—he
seems to have felt, for the first time, the
utter hopelessness of his fortunes. And then
he wrote to Madeline, and in a few formal
words, released her from her promise.—
Stating that he would never return to the
United States, he advised her to enter a
convent, should she survive her mother.—
A year or two after this, she went to Ha
vana with Mrib. W., a highly respectable
lady, who then owned the property where
Mrs. St. John Elliott now resides. Her ex
treme beauty, her grace and elegance, pro
duced the greatest enthusiasm. The hotel
where they put up was besieged. If she
appeared on the balcony a dozen cavaliers
were waiting to salute her. When her
volant was si en on the Pasto or the Platade
Armas it was escorted by the Grandees of
the Island. She was feted by the Governor
General, serenades and balls followed in
rapid succession, and the dally homage to
her beauty never ceased until the evening
bells sounded the Angelas.
Without surrendering her heart, or being
carried away by this universal admiration,
she returned to the cottage on the Half
Way Hill. She was followed there by Mr.
K., an English gentleman, the head ofthe
largest commercial house in Havana, and
to him, on his second visit, she gave her
hand.
The vine-covered cottage, Its trelllse and
borders, have crumbled into dust. The
courtly lover and the innocent maiden are
long since dead. Bnt the old hill still lifts
its aged brow, wrinkled all over with tra
ditions. A favorite lookout of the Natchez
in time of war—the scene of a daring con
spiracy against the Spanish authority—the
rendevyous of lovers—the hiding place of
brigands, and a depot for their blood-stain
ed treasure—mute, but faithful witness of
the past!
Nota Bene.
Thing* in General.
A naval -offleeee who left his command
on the sea to take command of a small
craft in Troy was shot on the wing by a
jealous lover, Wednesday night. lie will
recover.
The London Standard says the French
iron-clad war steamers Magenta, Magna
mine, and Ravanche, have been got ready
for sea at Tonlon, in view of a possible com
plication at the East.
When Gen. Butler was asked if he would
reply to a letter from the Labor Reform
party In Massachusetts, he replied that he
should not answer It, and added: It makes
no difference whet you do at your conven
tion, or who you nominate, I take yonr
platform.” This is what he said In reference
to property of a peculiar kind in New Or
leans, “ I take yonr spoons.”
Commodore Ashbury’s new yacht Livo
nia, not having answered the expectations
of the owners in the contests in .which
she has been engaged, will remain at
home instead of going to the United
States to compete for the Queen’s cup, won
by ths America, with the vessels of the
New York Yacht Club.* The Cambria is
to be refitted, and will take the place of the
Livonia.
So large is the grape crop of the West
this season that the price obtained for
.grapes when put upon the market hardly
pays the cost of picking, packing and trans
portation. Consignments by rail sell as
low as 3 cents per pound. The grapes from
the local vineyards near St. Lonis are sold
to hucksters for 4-35 cents uer pound, and
are retailed for 6@7 cents to purchasers.
A chap ont at North Prairie, Minn., re
cently became involved in a difflcuHy with
about 350 pounds of bear. His wife came
np, and finding them so indistlngnishably
snarled up in tbeir efforts to caress one an
other, thought it was a good time to try a
Jittle promiscuous carving, so she rushed
to the house, procured a knife, and return
ing, jabbed'it among the wrestlers, and to
her inconsolable horror and disappoint
ment she killed—the bear.
Once there was a Roman Emperor
named Pertinax. When he was raised to
the throne he resigned to his relatives his
whole private fortune. His reason for
doing this was that they might have no
pretence to solicit favors at the expense of
the State. Useless 8. Grant has profited
by this example in Roman history, only he
has turned overall the offices of the Re
public to his relatives, that they may have
no exense to solicit favors at the expense
o! himself!
A few days ago the editor of a Richmond
paper received a pojite note from a lady of
respectability in that city, signed by her
fall name, announcing that she would, at
8 .o'clock In the evening on that day, pro
ceed to take her own life by the most avail
able means, and respec’fntly soliciting the
pleasure of the reporter's company to wit
ness toe ceremony. Punctually at the ap*|
pointed boor the reporter and several in
vited guests presented themselves at the
residence designated, bqt owing to the In
terference of friends or some other cirenm-
Stebtfei the attempt was indefinitely post
poned. Hot the purpose of the writer came
very near being carried out.
A well dyessed swindler is going around
to Newbury port houses demanding to know
ofthe Inmates bow many df the family have
been vaccinated within five years. He takes
the names ha a book he carries, and Informs
the .people that the city authorities have
decided" that alt residents who have not
bded vaccittated Within five years must
either undergo that operation or supply
themselves with a preventive powder, whieh
he has with him, the price of which is
Twenty-five eents for a supply for each
pefson:' : *'* **-* fl ‘ f rs! ! 9•
A California marksman, while shooting
around to his native village, succeeded to
bringing dowa “ a little daughter of T.
Wildman.”