Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-08

water, and Ind the propr1etorS OIL the soil an
amiable and exhaustless amusement for occu.
plying their olium cum dignitats as country gen,
teman should do. All these country sports are
cutoff from the men whose estate is in the
Bank Books or floating in an East lndiaman-
Once year l am compelled Tor my sins, to
make dirty visit to some relations in the coun.
try; and never did ga double letter frora North.
amptonshire' excite deeper and more awful
sensation than the arrival Of this weli-kncwn
invitation produces in my bosom, recurring as
it does, with the punctuality of taifor's bill
at Christmas. Imagine my dear reader, ina.
CINE The mere horror ofeaving town; the drea.
ry hoarseness of the mail horn, the melancholy
annexation that "al's right the pattering of
the rain against the windows, with that sink.
ing of the heart which follows the disappear.
ance ofthe last gas-light!
There is something quite awful in this most
typical leave taking with cheerfulness and civ
lizaion and if it were not that sleep in
coach like top, verify believe that [ should
have often got out at Barnet, or, at all events,
should not have madeup my mind to encoun-
ter the Downs of Dunstable. When first en-
barked on one of those expeditions, l was as
ignorant as any other native Of the bon leu Of
Bow-beIl. Every thing at starting was a
source OF delight: every duck pond was lake.
and all the little cabbage gardens Of the hedge
ale-houses where we stopped to water the hors-
es were so many paradises. The hens and
chickens, and pigs, were all matters OF endless
amusement anG the cock turkey employed my
imagination during whole morning, by his
striking resemblance to lord mayor. Pick.
ing my own gooseberries was enchanting, till
my fingers, covered with scratches and drip
ping with blood, reminded me Of the superior
con, If buyiuo thpro out of mint pewto.
pot Catching my own fish was delightful, till
the fish refused to take the hook; and my own
nose did not; and above all things doing moth.
ing from morning till night but walk about,
was Measurable until discovered that my walks
| were without an object This discovery vas
not long in making; I soon found out that moth.
ing more closely resembles one green field
than another; that rivers are all twin-brothers;
and that mountains possess the most astonish-
ing family likeness; that inanimate Objects
however beautiful, like the French lady's hus-
band, me snceni pas rempHr Fame and that the
| country pumpkins are at once less beautiful
| and not more interesting. The first thing that
convinced me that was not singular in this
disgust, but that the country really affords but
miserable sort Of existence, was the irequcn-
cy of the meals, and the anxiety with which me
| hour Of their arrival is anticipated Eating, in
the country is the business Of every one IN the
house, and sis dinner almost ready" is ques-
ton repeated in as many different keys as was
Sterne's never-to-be-f orgotten "Alas! poor Yor.
lex" If it were not for luncheon, more espe-
cialIy, time itself would be lost in eternity.
stout coach.horses, in daily visits - their neigh
bors, which have no other discoverable motive
but the cold meat and remainder of Yesterdays
bottle of sherry. Then by the by when the
hour Of eating does come, how inferior is The
best supplied country table to that which is
| furnished from Leadenhall market! Your fish
but don't mention that If you live on The
coas',you have the pleasure of seeing delicious
| turbots and mackerel, with tn hui, of the rain.
bow packed up at your very door and sent to
town; and if your residence be inland, YOU may
indulge in the luxuries of muddy tench and
cells. with now and then, for change, stale
lobster or sinking barrel of oysters, per coach
from London. Then what arc the best deserts
and ice the country Affords to those of Gunter!
Or the best country inn to the London tavern!
And it is notorious that real cook will not
live permanently out of town if:you would give
him!the pay Off lieut.. general. The country
we are told is the place for COMMEMORATIVE
minds, for sentimen,alisls, and those to whom
their own ideas are sufficient world, and who
less reflection, and ever new delight. The man
who caadidly admits his preference for soci-
al fire, and The society Of cultivated com2an-
ions, is reproached as a shallow pated BLOCK
head, Who cannot bear 10 be alone, nor exist
without aball or play. You may tell this 10
the mariners, if you will, and know full well
that 'here never was proposition more uu-
founded. In the 5rst place; the country stands
convicted OF irretrisvable dullness,. from the
mere fact that every one hurries TO London du-
ring the finest months fine year when an out
o. door life is alone enjoyable, and when nature
offers in her fondest prodigali,y sights, soun d.
and odours delight the senses, and ineoxcate
the imas lnation. Then it is, if ever, that the
country possesses an especial charm Yet ask
theswarmest devoiee Of rural life which is the
pleasan,est time ofthe year, and lie will tell
you The shooting and huning season. SO then
The truth comes out at last, thai the contempla-
tive man, the sentmentaIist; the comnuner
with the Deity rendered visible in his works.
leaves the fade amusements Of the town 10 en-