Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1810-10-26

the commotion, and the com
mandsnt, in a superb barge, carries to tn
emperour, who, with his courtieTs, !
waiting in the balcony of the palace, a bot
tie of water drawn from the middle OF tn
stream, which then appears in all its males
~. The people hasten to the banks, ra
Wished at the sight of that fine river, agar
rolling its waves. The eye rests with de
light on the vast expanse, surrounded viii
magnificent palaces, on both banks; superb
quays faced with granite and ships ant
elegant yachts, sailing in all directions.
To conclude: It has often struck me
Mr.. Editor, that fyaineaux, or sledges
might be rendered servicesble in this coun
Try. AS soon as any quantity of snow ha
fallen 10 Germany, or 10 other parts of tn,
north OF Europe, besides the comno,
sled8es, gentlemen have their carriages
taken of The wheels and pu, on to a traineau
! MS winter particularly, when the com
munication was almost totally interrupted
IN many parts, surely light sledges nigh
have been employed to forward the mails
Were | an innkeeper in any of the norther,
s~counaes, / should be induced to try tn,
experiment., from a personal knowledge O
the advantages attendant ON the use O
sledges duslug the winter season ON the con
tinrnt.
Yours, &c. ViAToR.
Our worthy correspondent, will excuse
the addition of fewwords TO his ingenious
communication. We understand, that o.
fher circumstances beside those he has
mentioned, contribute to aoate that gloom
which we attribute to a polar winter.
Alter the SHOWS are fallen, the state oil
the atmosphere is commonly serene; and
but little troubled by storms /; neither is 1t
liable to such mists and fogs as we are we'll
acquainted with in London. The cold is
intense; but the sensations consequent on
Il are cheerful, invisorating, and rather al
lied to hilarity than to suffering, especially
after a few days continuance of it have
m what accustomed a person TO it. The
exercise that may be taken abroad i. more
than we generally imagine; and those who
can skate derive many advantages from the
frozen waters. The natives of Holland,
women as well as men, make no difficulty
ofsk.ting twenty miles to market, and back
again. They go to a distant friends to
breakfast, or return 10 the evening on their
skates. But, a remarkable employment of
this mode OF travelling, is the military cx.
peditions performed on the lakes in Canada.
& would be thoughtin Englsnd a rare spec
tacfe tos@e a regiment Of soldiers, skating
in military array : yet this has often been
done on lake Superiour, at the rate Of about
sixty miles per day. When the moon shines
brightly, this exercise is continued; ard
briiliancy OF the lunar rays is by far SUI.
perior to her geueral efalgence in our own
latitude. She is, indeed, "Regeut of
The stars, too, appear more nu.
merous, as well as brighter, to the naked
eve and the cerulean heavens glow with a
more Respondent azure. The light of the
aurora boreaiis is also extremely vivid, and
sufficient for the service of travellers.
But, to enter fully into the enjoyments
OF a polar winter. we should pass the time
with the Finlander in his cabin, or the Lap
lander 10 his hat. Sunk into the ground
some feet, by way Of protection from the
penetrating power Of fros, and presenting
but a mere conical point to the weight Of
snow. and the power Of wind, the dwelling
bids defiance to the rigour of the season /:
while the family within fnd themselves as.
.embled, and alive to social enjoyment.
This is the season for conversation and in
%tsrcourse. While all abroad is frozen, the
mind may expand. The parents have laid
IN their stores; they have made provision
for the winters consumption the young
men, under their direction, have set their
traps, and they tend them, to see, from
time to time, what further support they
furnish. This is, now, their chief occu-
patton; and the res, oftheir time they spend
In forming those connexions which are here
after to become their constant enjoyments.
Young women are then engaged in kind
nasaaa ~ cnrta .LaA 49,. - -