Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-06-19
and hang your head to think yourself man. "


full bloom along the side walk, and thousands
of fragrant blossoms in the gardens Of the rich,
whose palaces we are passing, fill the air with
their odors, while numerous fountains dispense
cooling moisture in the zephyrs and afford at
once delight to the eye and refreshmont for
the million.
Our Jehu is in no hnstc to be rid Of his load
he drives us up this road and down that-out on
this paseo and around by the next, wheeling US
rapidly past the Tacon Theatre and over the
Campo Marte, where hundreds of volunteers are
out training then dashes on to another avenue,
planted with four rows of palm trees, to take
turn its whole length; and, as the night ap-
proachcs, and the street lights begin to glimmer
like stars among the trees, he applies his short
whip more vigorously to the sides of his wiry
pony, now urged to a gallop, and on we go,
winding our way through the throng, with
madly impetuous speed, regardless of hair
breadth escapes or collision now up this street
anddown that, passing the fine rows of brilliant
| ly lighted shops, on narrow lanes without side
walks, in the older parts of the city, making
the circuit of the Plaza de Armas, where now
the crowd is beginning to congregate to hear the
music Of the band on Through other streets
and lanes, which seem intermnable, and which
swarm like new Bedlam in the glare of the
gas lights; till, weary of the jogging motion OF
the volante, we give the signal to our driver,
an inpatient thump with cane on the dasher,
and order him to take US to our hotel. Here
we are soon landed; and we pay Pedro just
half of his demand and leave him to settle the
dispute in high words with Don Juan or little
Joseph, while we retreat to our rooms to brush
off the dust of the ride
After tea you take a stroll towards the Plaza
to see the sights and listen to the music. You
pass numerous fruit stalls, and are only restrained
by your ignorance of the dferent fruits from i'll
dulging, perhaps, more freely than wonld be
wholesome. The splendid oranges and huge
pine apples are almost too formidable to be at
tackled, but you venture modestly on the delight
full little fig sbanana, which hangs in rich, ripe
clusters at almost every door, and you are so
captivated with its charms that you think you
could almost live upon bananas. But beware
even their delicious favor may conceal poison
when too freely ndulged in. The luscious name
apple you only taste from curiosity and you cut
through its mouse skin rind and rich orange
colored pulp to find the beautiful hard shelled
seed, so finely polished which you put in your
pocket to take home with you as a curiosity.
The numerous cafes, all so brilliantly Illuminated
, with gass light chandeliers, offer additional
q temptation for the indulgence of your appetite
but you prudently pass them by, and after Il
while you come to the Plaza. Here you find a
seat upon one of the marble benches bull,
. around the fountain statue of Columbus, ad
mirIng the brilliant flowers in the enclosure
' and the four tall columnlike palm trees tina
= adorn the square, watching the collecting Grove
: aud noticing the various styles and manners al
= 50 different from our Northern fashions, until
YOU see BY the movement in front of the Palace
that the band are about to commence, II il
' fortunate that you have chanced upon this eve
:, ming, which is special occasion; for though
~ n YOU may hear music on the Plaza every evening
IN the week, you will seldom have the fortune
in your whole life, to,--drnk, would say =
III to be overwhelmed, to be drowned, by such ;
II torrent of sound, The Captain General appears
upon the balcony, and at once the murmur o.
10 voices is hushed and the rattling and turning O.
y instruments is stopped-a dead pause ensues
l. Then the tap of the leader is heard "a gentle
u low. murmuring wall came up from that fores
70 of brass! The sound dies away almost into
III indstincncss, aud futte,s and quivers anon!
. your heart strings, which are drawn to intensit,
o. till you scarcely breathe, when The catarac
20 is upon you the roaring thunders of the water
u fall, the grand dapason poured from those fv'
VI hundred mouths of brass, carries you to tn
u earth, and then lifts you heaven ward by it
be mighty swell with irresistible force and yo'
I'd are borne along, you know not where, upon tn
IL pillows of this mighty sea of sounds; nov
again submerged and now driven forward on tn
re crest of the wave, like tho mariner who strug
he giles for his life amongst the breakers which ar
k dashing him upon his native shore. The trans
ur port of this joy becomes agony to endure, an
a. you feel yourself utterly Frustrated. and nsen
sible to things around you when the notes cease
K, You have not the courage to wait for the ney
ed yon wend your way amid the crowds of hur
ct dreds who are leaving with you, alike please
ks and satisfied
oh You wonder that amid such throngs of veh
H. ces and foot passengers, some accidents do nc
lie occur but you are told that there is wise reg
ne ulation in force which required vehicles to pas
ne only in a certain direction along the narro
n; streets, and yon soon notice the epauletted o
re fcers at every corner to keep order and preveI
ed confusion. Should you stop moment, at corr
he er, waiting for an opportunity to cross throug
KS the crowd, and ventute to take look at III
'a- beauties in the passing vehicles, you are sure
d. he tapped upon the shoulder or hat crown by Il
rds point of rapier or head of mace and reques,t
Oh to pass on, whether it be possible or not to 90
i's- the direction you intend a moments futher d
nay lay viii subject you to second more imperio
OF order' and it would be highly dangerous to yo
u personal liberty to hesitate an instant about
aa hasty retreat from the spot. The arrogant,
= most insolent manner and bearing of these bear
bile ed officials is exceedingly annoying to US repu
'rd- llcans, but when you remember the kind of m
uah terials they have to deal with in their sans