The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-08-19
= Gbrillinl Gale.
II r n A.,

cnt history, sublime by its elevation, its form
and the awful s,cr,sv Of unknown tcrrors
which lie concealed wi,hia its bosom, the
Sici!ian volcano will always be viewed with
the deepest, the most solemn awe.
IT was with such feelings and with such
thoughts as these, that Logan to ascend the
volcano on the morning of the fifth of May
1919. had left Calani on the day before.
in order to visit this wonderful spot did
not wish to glance carelt ssly upon tho:
for to me there was always something rcvcr-
end, something almost divine, in connection
with this great mass cfuphcaycd lava, which
led me to hook earnestly at its rugged sides.
] wished to ascend, to view from its summit
the faircst regions on Garth; to glance down,
down into those unlathomablc depths where
lire fire in all its terrors, forever dwclls, for
ever struggles!
1t was with slow steps that asccndcd the
cone, after the patient and hardy ponies had
been dismissed. had been an invalid, and
the fatigue Of climbing up the steep and
rocky dccliyity might well have dannted me.
But afcr many resting and many haltngs, |
was able to attain the summit.
The summit! Good heavens! can | ever
forget the dclirium, the transport of joy,
which the boundlcss prospect there awaken
cd within ne? Can ever forget the glimpse
which first caught Of all the glorics and all
the horrors Of nature mingled tog,thcrin such
fearful unison.
Far away on one side spread the fertile
plains, the green meadows, and the gentle
valleys of Sicily. There were streams glanc-
ing and flashing in the sun as they wandered
to the sea, with ten thousand labyrnthian
turnings; lakes whose surfa showed not Il
rultlc, not ripple; there were terraces upon
the sides Of a hundred hills, where vineyards
were planted, and where the tr,llscd vines
passed along all green, all blooming; there
were groves of orange trees, amid the dark
green foliage of which the golden oranges
pccpcd forth like the flashes of phosphorsccnt
light il. a midnight sea; there were long ave-
MUGS ofcyprcsscs, Of acacias, of noble trees
of many kinds, amid which kingly assem-
blage at times could lie seen the noble sum
init of somc stately palm, as it lowered OH
high above the others.
And the sca-thc wide. the bound!csS, the
deep blue Mcditcrrantan-thcrc it spread
away. OH the other side as far as the eye
could reach, spreading away as far as thoughts
could run-.lorious as
9TH, 'ashm:
Si!ycr-il ts!iug
Surg"S Of S.,n Salvador.
But turn aSle-anl there, beneath, far
beneath, lies an abyss like that of which Mil
ton has sung in Subimtst mortal strains.
paused upon the brink, and shuddc.ing.
! gazed down--lown! The thick and f;m,r
al volumes of tortuouslv ascending smoke
came sccthing upward as from a cau!drun. 1t
escaped from Il myriad of crcviccS in the
rocky, PERCEPTIONS sides: it poured forth from
lchind projections, and united with the vast
mass which came sullimcly upward from the
urtaiholna'c depths
Here, upon the sandy, rocky edge, where
sulphur and crumbl,d lava, and pumicc-
stone, We're all mingled together to form a
horid soil, here | sat, and looked down.
From the scene beyond, from that glimpse of
earth, which made it seem like Heaven: from
that vision of all that was most lovely and
all that was most ovcrpowcring: to turn and
gaze into volcanoes awful dcpths-what a
change!
Involved in a thousand thoughts. l sat there
thinking myself alone. when sudden grating
struck my car was startled exceedingly,
and turned around. The place where had
been sitting was pcnnsular projection Of
the cliff which formed part Of this internal
chasm. Upon tie narrow strip Of land which
joined il to the other cliilS-upon the isthmus
I saw mild looking middle aged gentle
man approach me. lie was dressed in plain
black clothes, and in his hand he held light
stick.
II beg your pardon, signor," said he, in a
polite manner, and with great softness of
tone; 81 beg your pardon forntruding myself
upon your company. But it is not often that
see any visitor so far up.'
My dear sir hope you will make no cx-
cuses," | replied ii was just admiring the
scene below"
''Ah! yes, it is = glorious sight"
Glorious! say, rather, terrible one"
"Turiblc, perhaps, to you, but do not he
surprised if say that to me it is lovely, alb.
solutcly lovely"
Il suppose your tastes arc different from
those ofmany people, signor. have no such
feelings But may ask you if you are often
here 90
sob, yes J live here" he replied, waving
his stick around. 81 I've here"
thought that he meant me to understand
that his hone was on the mountain, where
yrry many villas arc situated. ..
An | should suppose, | oltinucd, "that
You are often OIL the summit
"0h US, | am here always
"Mways! what strange fascination il has
for YOU"
1T has! 1t has J" said the gentleman. ooh!
fcarful"-and his voice grew low and hol-
lOw-sso tp-vihlo &, Selma