The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-06-03
WHOLE NO. 1881,

anxIetles approaching TO what have de-
scrloed, may, BY possibility, have the cour-
| age of lion, but he cannot possess the
feelings OF man. In action man is quite
| another being; the softer feelings of the
reused heart are absorbed in the vortex of
danger, and the necessity for self-preserva-
ton gives place to others more adapted to
the occasion. In these moments there is
an indescribable elation of spirits, the soul
| rises above its wonted serenity into kind
of phrenzied apathy to the scene before
you, heroism bordering on ferocity; the
nerves become tight and contracted; the
eyes full and open, moving quickly in their
sockets, with almost maniac wildness the
head Is IN constant motion; the nostrils
extended wide, and the mouth apparently
gasplng. If an artist could truly delineate
the features OF q soldier in the battles heat,
! and compare them with the lineaments Of
the same man in the peaceful calm of do
nestle life, they would be found to be two
different portraits; butt sketch of this kind
/ IS not within the power of art, for in action
the countenance varies with the battle; as
the battle brightens, so does the counte-
nance, and as it lowers, so the countenance
becomes gloomy. / have known some men
drink enormous quantities of spirituous Ii
quora when going into action, to drive away
little intruding thoughts, and to create false
spirits; but they are short lived as the
ephemeTa that struggles but moment on
the chrystal stream, then dies. If man
have not natural courage, he may rest as
sured that liquor will deaden and destroy
what little he may possess.
Memoirs Of John Shipp.
A CANE BRAKE. The following descrip-
ton of a cane brake Ia swamp filled with
arqtndo gigantino or miegia macrosperma)
presents a scene which must be new to
many of our readers.
Every one has seen this reed in the
form in which it is used for angling rods.
1t grows on the lower courses of the Mis-
sissippi, Arkansaw, and the Red river, from
fifteen to thirty feet in height The leaves
are of beautiful green--long, narrow,
dagger shaped, not unlike those of the
Egyptian millet. 1t grows in equidstans
joints, perfectly straight, almost compact
mass; and to us, in winter especially, is
the richest looking vegetation that we have
ever seen. The smallest sparrow would
find it difficult to fly among it and TO see
its ten thousand stems, rising almost con-
tiguons to each other, and to look at the
impervious roof of verdure which it forms
at its top, it has the aspect of being solid
Layer of vegetation. A man could not
make three miles a day~throrgh a thick
cane brake. 1t is the chosen resort, OF bears
aRA PaRRtahlffrsh aYhinb It as a = reftsawn, and
man. 1t indicates dry soil. Jig -sa the IN
undation, and of the richest character. The
ground is never in better preparation for
maize, than after this prodigious mass of
vegetation is first cut down and burned.
When the cane has been cut, and is so
dried, as that it will burn, it is an amusement
of high holiday to the negroes, to set fire
to cane brake thus prepared. The rari-
fed air in hollow compartments of the cane
bursts them with report, not much inferior
to discharge Of musketry and the burn
ing of cane brake makes the noise of a
conflicting army. in which thousands of
muskets are continually discharging. This
beautiful vegetable is generally asserted
10 have life of five years, at thc end of
which period, if it has grown undisturbed,
it produces an abundant crop Of seeds with
heads like those Of broom corn. The seeds
are farlnaceous, and said to be not much
Inferior to wheat; for which the Indians
and occasionally the first settlers, have
substituted it. No prospect so impressively
shows the prodigality of nature, as thick
cane brake. Nothing affords such. a rich
and perennial range for cattle, sheep, and
horses. The butter that is made from the
cane pastures of this region, is of the finest
kind. The seed easily vegetables in any
rich soil. 1t rises from the ground, like the
richest asparagus, with large succulent
stem; and it grows six feet high, before
the body hnrdens ftota this suceulency and
tenderness"
AMUSING AKRcDoTE Our eountrymsn il