The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-09-22
For the South Western
q Pleasure Farty.

eAtended 10 US, and being otherwise disengaged We
cheerfully accepted it, Nothing, at the time coulG
have corresponded agreeably to our feelings +
broke IN upon the dreary montorv of our life like
vision Of the past and seemed to reveal the features
Of that joy and gladness in the lights of which The
May day Of existence is beguled. The very idea ot
withdrawing from the din and hustle of trade and
divesng ourselves of the sordd and consuming cares
IN which the yigor and strength of manhood are of
ten pre,naturey exhausted recruits and teammates
our social and physical nature. The morning of the
appointed day broke auspiciously upon the world
Piles of clouds heaped up here and there in the west
might have foreboded storms and empests to the ti
mid and doubtful, but the SUM- in the east throwing
the light OF his ruddy countenance over nature ar
rayed in her vernal Beauties filled the hearts OF the
young and generous with anticipated pleasure We
sailed forth at early hour wishing to reconnoitre
the scene of operations but already fair equestrlaBs
were en- route, and carriages drawn BY horses that
might well boast of descent from those proud steeds
of Normandy, that bore the chvalry of Europe into
ASIA, when the cross and crescent were battling for
the ascendeney rolled by, enveloping us in cloud
OF dust which trailed sluggishly behind We reach
ed the place of destination betmes, and found that
preparations already made for the grand enter
PRISE. The location of the eneampment was wisely
selected A small grove whose dense foliage precla-
ded the solar rays, SO happily situated to com
mand distant view over the lake, presented every
movement Of the actors before the eye.
Every apparatus that time has devised for inveig-
ling and capturing the inhabitants of the deep was
brought into action. Each now armed and equip
ped retired to the of his labors Some in skis
repaired to the middle Of the lake. Others drew the
net while the more prudent and experienced
ed themselves in some secluded nook or shady cove
Silence for time resumed dominion over the scene
Anxious to display first the fruits of skill and art
fee, each piled himself in breathless s,1spence For
our own part, exercising all the zeal and industry
all the cunning and ingenuty-praetsing every STRAIT
agem and artice we could contriye never reeeiv-
ed nibble; while shouts of exultation reveratinp
nnal tho+nt
We're reveling in the smiles of better fortune From
this our despondlng spirit caught CLEAN of hope;
we adjusted our hook and line; applied fresh and
more enticIng bait moved to other quarters and in
hne, reversed the whole modus operandi but alas!
all to better effect We became heartily ashamed
Of ourselves especially in the presence of the fair
anglers, whose attractions seemed seductive in the
water upon the land Westill persisted struggling
vainly against evil fate, and unwilling to lose in
moment the fame of our past achievements. we con-
tnued to hope against hope, till patience ceased to be
virtue. when we retired reluctantly concluding with
old Isaac Walton, 'there is luck in fishing" We re-
paired to terra rma crest fallen and o-begone but
found some consolation in meeting others whose as
pect bespoke a similar fate.
We took refuge from our discontinue in the grove
before mentioned and beguiled time in gazing on the
grand panorama before us.
There the lake stretching out in indifnte extent
and lit up by the monday sum- appeared like sheet
of molten gold In the remote distance rose the lofty
pines, rearing themselves against the heaven The
fishing party contributed not little to diversity the
view. Some stood out upon the waters dimly visible
like speck upon their surface; others reposng in
easy indifference occasionally batting the hooks Of
their more amiable companions. Some perched on
the projecting trunks of decayed TIMBER whiled time
smoothly away, while more could be seen creeping
steathly under the shadow of the willows and dip
ping their lines with fearful caution, lest they may
awaken the suspicious of the fnny inhabitants be
meath.
The announcement of dinner a most interesting
event drew The constituent portions of the party readily
together. The cloth was spread upon a greensward
in primitive state, and prousely furnished with good
cheer, had most prepossessing aspect.
The arrangement and Disposition the number and
variety OF the dishes the style of dressing and serv
ing the meats, were of the genuine school, and pre-
sented an entertainment which could not fail to salts
fly the taste of the most fastidious. more frugal
feast, would have been very acceptable to of
The rich abundGlce that crowded the board quick
ened the appetite and rendered our situation some
what embarrassing.
Like general about to lay siege to Il strange for
tress, we knew not at which point to commence the
attack. We awaited the motions of Others and in
the meantime mused on the social circle that graced
the scene. There were men Of gallant bearing, who
unmindful of the stern duties of life, contributed to
heighten the amusement and temper the playful sal
lies Of youth-grave matrons, proud and ever-ioyous
in beholding themselves again in the children who
encircled them with lovelness and beauty and reflect
ed back upon them, the JOY and gadness of a by
gone day. There were young ladies Of surprising
charms, attended by younger beauties, who appeared
the graces moving round the queen of beauty Such
sights truly pleasing they animate our old frame
with youthful spirit. Cold and callous is the being
who feels no pleasure i'll such circle. "Woman, the
pride and joy in prosperous fortunes, becomes the
light and hope of man when the dark aspects of life
threw their shadows before him; hers is the hand
that strews his way with the fairest flowers sheds
rays of rainbow hue around hm--infuses into his
hopeless soul sparks of that moral heroism with
which she seems at times divnely gifted, and embel
lsheds each act with the magic Of her beauty.
The dinner to which ample justice had been done
gave fresh energy and action to all motion made
to visit Buzzard island 1--WE shall call it Buzzaro
hereafter) which passed unanimously. Skiffs were
brought into requisition Immediately; and we were
once upon the waters The fair crew were over
Joyous and peals of their merry laug hter rang from
boat to boat while their ewelry shining in the light,
brought ihe beams dancing in variegated and spark
ling gems around. The island soon hove in sight,
when we began to form some doubts, like squadron
entering unknown harbor, of the reception
might receive. AS we drew near, the proprietor
observed descending to the shore, whose benign as
pect bespoke his benevolent intentions and dispelled
our foolish fears. The expedition was cordially vel
coined by the singular parsonage who has taken up
his abode on this secluded and desoate island.
We are not aware that any exploring expedition
has visited this place. any of the grea powers
laid claim to it, The island of Buzzaro is situated
in Cross lake, considerable distance from the main
land. The cause OF its singular location is totally
known to geologsts; whether the effect of subter
ranean convulslon sprung Delos like from the foam
of the waves will remain forever mystery.
The aboriginal history is lost in the night of time
but enough has transpred to establish the hypothe
that it has been for ages the retreat of reptiles in
sects and wild fowl. There for ages the alligator
basked unmolested; and the snake, creeping in the
grass scared by the step Of civilised man
Here the foul buzzard droned the heavy hours away
when tempted by pestiferous and
death bearing breeze to wing his flight and fulfil his
loathsome aud disgusting mission. Thus the
island of Buzzarlo long neglected; silence and sol
tude were yet broodng it when the present pro
pretor, by strange fatality, settled himself and his
fortunes there. Since then the whole scene has been
transformed; his genus is visible throughout. He has
by industry and cultivation made The island atone for
the years it lay buried in the shadow of time. gar
den has sprung up as if by eastern magic, whose
fruits and flowers diffuse genial fragrance Here
the orange and the lemon the and the violet in
blended beauty glow there expanding over the pros
pect the apple and the peach; while in the in
tervenng beds, the culinary vegetables grow in thick
profusiol. Art and nature have combined to render
tia charming retreat and (were it not otherwise well
known imagination might picture forth some fairy
FORM nursing with caressing the tender shrubs
that beautfy the One lone being reves in the
delights ofthis fairyand This singular genius bears
name that first distinguished among men in the
early part of the eighteenth century and which has
cir lad tba