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Leader (1850-1860), 24th September 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 19, TRIP TO THE KHINE AND PARIS. By Thomas S...

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      Letters Frost Alabama (Us), Chiefly Kela...

      was rarely absent , the constant object of hope and fear to sailors , —^ hope , that they may catch tlie shark ; fear lesfc by any mischance , the shark may catch them . Nor is this fear quite groundless , as an unexpected plunge overboard niay at any time occur . One of our crew , attempting to strike a dolphin with the harpoon , had posted himself on the taffraii ; but in his eagerness , reaching too far , followed his weapon overboard with a splash . I was surprised to see how little impression he made in the water , though falling from such a height ; lie did not even go beneath the surface , but fell just as a cork would fall into water . His shipmates gave him the end of a rope and hauled him up , amidst some jokes upon his zeal for fishing ; though he looked rather serious about it .

      " A flying-fish would now and then start from a heaving wave , and skim the surface like a bird upon the wing j and many " feathered fowl" were ready to repay the complimentary visit , by diving into the domain-proper of the fish . The petrels , familiar and confiding , trode the yielding billows , or hovered around our vessel as night came on , to the uneasiness Of the seamen , who deemed them the presiding spirits of the coming tempest , though , I am sure , most libellously . These little birds are quite silent by day , except that they sometimes utter a faint dhirp • $ but at night they often make an unpleasant screaming . They are the smallest of web-footed birds , being scarcely so large as a swallow , to which , in their manner of flight , they bear a considerable resemblance . "

      Here , at any rate is a genially disposed writer , conversing in a pleasant and . familiar manner "with bis reader . The world is already indebted to him for an ingenious work , called " Omphalos , " in which he demonstrates what he calls the Law of Prochronism in creation , and proves it to be of universal application in the organic world , and particularly in relation to geology ; according to which the great antiquity of : the earth , is not so inevitable & s some sciolists conceive . We are here , therefore , treating the book of a man who can think as well as paint , and think 'with originality , vigour and daring . Let us respect both the author and his work . Take , now , his description of a nook on the Alabama river .

      " In these cool retreats—and I saw several suchthe emerald virgin dragon-fly ( Agripn Virginica ) delights to dwell . All the dragon-fly tribe , as they are water-insects in their first stages , are observed to prefer hawking in the vicinity of water , as affording in abundance the . prey which they pursue ; but the open pond , or broad river , is most generally their resort . But he who would see the emerald virgin , must go to some such hidden brook as I have described ; over which , as it flows silently , in a deep soft bed of moss of the richest green , or brawls over a pebbly bottom , with impotent rage , three or four of these lovely insects may be seen at almost any hour on any summer-day . It is , indeed , and the male

      a fly of surpassing elegance beauty ; especially , whose long and slender body is of a metallic green ,. so refulgent that no colour can convey an idea of it . This green hue becomes a deep blue , if held so as to reflect the rays of light falling on it , at a very obtuse angle , —a jproperty common to the green hue of many insects , and some birds . The eyes are glossy , round and prominent ; . the wings broad , filmy , arid minutely netted , of an uniform purplish black . The female might easily be supposed to be of a different species : it is much duller in colour , the body being nearly black , having ittleofthe bright green reflection ; the wings are browner , and they are all marked with a rhomboida , l white stigma , near the tip , which is wholly wanting in the male Their mode of flight is graceful , but

      rather slow , so that they ate , easily captured ; and they will not leave these their favourite haunts , even though pursued . I have no doubt they are born nnd die within the limited space of a few yards . " The refreshing coolness of these wild woodlandbowers was sq tempting that I could not resist taking refuge in them from the burning heat without ; and thus I contracted an acquaintance with these "demoiselles . " I encountered a stream , however , of , higher pretensions—Mush-creek—which I crossed by moans of a very primitive bridge , tlie trunk of a tall forest-tree , which had been out down eo as to fall across . On this tree , basking in tlie sun , lay a largo snake , of a dusky brown hue , about four foot in length , which , on nay disturbing it , instantly plunged into the middle of the stream , and dived to the bottom . As the water was turbid , I

      b » w no .. more of it . It was , no doubt , the spooioe commonly called the copper-belly ( C oluber porcatvs , Boac ) , which is numerous , but harmless . I afterwards observed a snake , probably of the same species , swimming swiftly in a clear stream , close to the surface , but entirely submerged ; occasionally it

      stopped , protruding its head and neck above the surface to look about . " These specimens will suffice to indicate the character of this excellent little work . It is illustrated with wood engravings , all appropriate , many in number , and well executed .

      No. 49& Sept. 24, 1s59j The Leader 1087

      No . 49 & Sept . 24 , 1 S 59 J THE LEADER 1087

      Trip To The Khine And Paris. By Thomas S...

      TRIP TO THE KHINE AND PARIS . By Thomas SI . Gemmcll . Ayr : Bobert jlaclehose . Thottgh not novel in subject there may be a novelty in treatment of such a book as the present . The freshness of first impressions is also something , when their objects are " the lovely scenery on the Rhine ,- and the magnificence of Paris . " The writer is very particular in giving future tourists minute directions as to passports , tickets , and

      fares , all of wliicli lie does as if his details had no possible anticipation in previous pocket-books . This weakness he displays as much , in regard to England as to Paris or Germany . Thus lie tells the reader of Cockaigne that " London to Dover is a chalky country , with poorisk soil towards the billy parts , good wheat and hops on the flat lands , but with the system of agricultra ^ e yet in rather a primitive state ; ploughing with four horses in a line . " The following presents a fine series of

      platitudes : •—" Once afloat , and looking back at the white cliffs of Old England , one cannot help feeling , however short our tour , that we are leaving the dear old country , with all our ties and associations on its soil , and are about to enter a sunnier clime , where , however , with all its fertility , the tree of liberty takes no root , and where neither public nor private opinion finds expression . Arrived at Calais , as ebb tide prevents the steamer from landing her passengers at the quay , we have the first taste of Continental customs and custom-houses . Eight or nine small boats , each manned by seven hands , all very old menapparently did marines , take off the

      pas-, sengers . The old fellows jabber away , as if bound to scream some language that required four or five at once- to speak it . What a chatter ! The descent to the boat for ladies is not the most pleasant , as the greasy looking ancient in command has to take most of them in his arms . Two elderly ladies remained in the steamer till she could enter the harbour , rather than undergo the ordeal . Arrived at the quay , we have the process of examination "of luggage . The passengers fall into line , and each opens his portmanteau , & c . Here the advantage of sending on luggage direct is apparent . When the steamer cannot get to the quay , passengers have to wait for their luggage till the tide rises . The

      examination is far from strict at any one place , but it painfully frequent . " Ttien a declarer ? " is the usual question . And if you answer in a few English words , or in your best French , that you carry no prohibited article , only your clothes , a glance at the contents of your carpet bag or portmanteau usually suffices . But if the searcher finds any article which you ought to have pointed out and paid duty upon , the search is minute . We are now directed towards the railway , the way being through the Passport-office . The French are very polite as a nation ; arid the absence of politeness in Englishmen and Scotchmen surprises and annoys official

      them . Nobody addresses or approaches an without lifting his hat . This done , and the passport found en regie , it is at once visdd and returned . We had a few minutes to look at the town , and found the time quite sufficient . It is a place of only 13 , 000 inhabitants , with a fortress of the second class . Even to the eye of a stranger , to whom all he sees is novel , Calais has no attractions . The district is barren and unpicturesqxie , with sand-hills on one side , and marshy ground on the other . It is famous for its bobbin-net ( tulle ) trade , in which it now rivals England . It is said a , lso to export about sixty millions of eggs annually to our shores . "

      Is not this " exquisite fooling , " like one of Albert Smith ' s jokes , in which the only joke is that there is no joke , and yet the people laugji . "We should recollect , however , that our author is a Scotchman , and looks at Wings with the keen eye and stern regard of the Nortb . As a Scotohman , the Iovolnoee of the land in Trance surprised him ? and tho system of agriculture struck him as singular , owing to the division of land into small portions . Tho farmors of Franco resemble the cottars of Scotland who rent small patchos . Mr . Gemmell also notioed the almost total absence of animated life in the lovoly and luxuriant landscapes of the Continent .

      " Fresh looking green crops contrast finely with the waving grain , the patohos all richly fringed with trees in luxuriant foliage , over-topped every now and again by sharp clean rows of majestic poplars ,

      stretching up near at hand , at mid-view , and in the distanc e * giving the country an aspect of richness and beauty , such as scarcely any description could make the reader realise .. Xet , withal , there is a deadness in the landscape , from the . absence of animal life . No lowing herds , wandering over rich green pastures—no flocks of sheep , or frolicsome lambs , on closely-cropped lawns . You may travel hundreds ofmiles , and not see a horse , or a cow , or a sheep , or a pig , or any living thing , to impart life to the scenery ! There is scarcely such a thing as a pasture field . The cattle and sheep . are all fed indoors , oh food carried from the fields . This does not apply to the neighbourhood of Frankfort , where there are large tracts of orchards and pasture ground , where the pigs of the surroundino' villages come out at the sound of home in the

      the pig-driver ' s horn , and are driven evening—every pig knowing the sound of the summoning horn , and readily finding the way to its own sty , on being brought back to the village ; but almost everywhere else on the route selected , grazing of any sort was the exception . We saw only three instances of herds of cattle , or milk cows . Occasionally may be seen about two or three scores of sheep ( apparently fat ) brought out to cat up the stubble from which a crop has been cut . . They are herded often on half an acre by a man , a dog , a woman or' , or some children . If tlie flock strayed off this spot , they would be among wheat on one side , or potatoes or mangold wurtzel on the other , for there is not a vestige of" a fence anywhere-One partridge , flushed by the train , was all the game we saw— -not a hare , nor a rabbit , nor a pheasant . We had heard that so scarce is game in many

      districts , that occasionally three French sportsmen , with guns and game bags , may be seen all in hot pursuit of a single unfortunate field-fare ;—and we rather inclined to believe it . The French game bag indicates the scarcity of game : it is a leather pouch with tassels , about the size of a lady ' s reticule ; A good old blackcock would fill it . We had travelled three days before we saw even a crow , and it was alone . The swallow , the sparrow , and an occasional hawk , were , almost the only birds noticed from the railway carriage . Scarcely such a thing as a farmsteading worth the name to be seen . The cultivators occasionally live in small cottages , brick-built and thatched , but more generally they congregate

      together in villages about two miles apart , and swarm but in bands every morning to work on their small lots . The land is nearly all in crop , and it is common to see a" lot of one acre bearing three kinds of crop—one stripe of potatoes or mangold wurtzel , another of bariey , and a third of wheat . A field , of pasture is almost unknown . " It cannot be denied that this is original description , and of no little value either . Here is the work of a fresh eye ; how distinctly it brings out features which , the familiar gaze would pass over . Nor is our tourist less striking in his views of the Rhine : but he renders bis testimony to the fidelity

      of Byron ' s descriptions . Homburg and its gaming tables and its lady gamblers occupy considerable space . At length we find him in Paris , treating of Napoleon III . and his politics , from a Scotch point of view . The army in France , lie thinks , is kept up to defend the Emperor from the people , " are thoroughly republican , and have no rich , old associations" as are usuallv attributed to them . The passport system , likewise , is perpetuated by " the necessity of prpviding employment *<> r a section of a militai'y people , who , from their training , are unsuited for industrial pursuits , and who could be kept loyal—because employed—in no other way . " But we must close this little , pretty , grconcovered book , and hand it over to the reader , who will find enjoyment in it ,

      The Juuitlsn Soldier In India. By 1-Vod....

      THE JUUITlsn SOLDIER IN INDIA . By 1-Vod . J . Mouat , M . D ., F . K . O . S . Lopiitfn and Co . The author of this brochure is a surgeon in the nrmy , and Inspector-General of Jnils u ) Bengal . A commission being about to inquire into the samtarv condition oftho British Army in India , these notes have been reprinted from a local journal . The soldier is no longer a mere unrannonmg maoln - ne . wo arc told , b ' ut a steady , intelligent , wellorhooa

      ostcemod member of a glorious broth ; ana we are reminded of Inkermaun , Balakluva , Delhi , and Luclcnow . Tho numbers who ponnh by the sword are iuGnitosimally smallj compared with the hosts who molt away and disappear under the blighting influonco of disease and exposure . Much has boon dono to improve tbo position oi the soldier / but moro remains to be done : Dr . Mpuat ooniplains of the inanpropriatenoss of his dress and equipments—the deficiency of his barrack , aooomraodution-r-tho injudicious manner in which hw

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 24, 1859, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24091859/page/19/