Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-01-21
Lapland Reindeer Travel.

Bayard Taylor In his lecture on Lapand thus speaks
of reindeer travel s5s
more bleak and dismal region than the greater
part of Lapland could not eimagined except when the
MONDAY sky OF winter 1T with mantle OF GRIM
son and gold Here however, God has made the home
of one animal, without which human life would be I'M
possible What the camel is to the Arab the reindeer
is to the Lap He created especially for service in
in the snow, as the camel for journeys over the
sand He is not much bigger than a large NeWound-
land dog, and strong man could easily lift him. Ills
muscular strength is not great yet he has vast deal
of endurance. His hoc is divided into two compart-
ments like that of the camel that it spreads out and
large surface when he puts it down, the parts
coming together as he lifts it up again This pecui-
arty, combined with his lightness of body, prevents
him from sinking into the snow.
From this animal the Lap obtains his clothes, tent,
thread needless meat, milk, butter cheese the handles
of his knives-n fact everything he USES except his
musket and little coffee.
But of all perverse, obstinate, stupid animals the
reindeer stands at the head Although he has been
long domesticated he has not increased in saoacty The
common deer and the gazele may become familiar with
the presence If man. but they show the tst de-
gree OF aft cOn for him and the is true of the
deer All he knows IS 10 jump and run when he is har
messed, and turn round and stand still whenever he
chooses te do His speed has been greatly exagger-
ated There are few reindeer in Lapand that will travel
fifteen miles hour, but there great many that
will go hundred and twenty miles in twenty-four
hours.
like undertaking to drive sturgeon in rough 1t
is easy matter to retain ones balance If you are
new hand, your first sensation perfect blank for
you find yourself head downward in a snow-drf.-
Laughter and applause. After series of such ex-
perments you at last succeed in keeping your balance
even when asleep and guiding the ANIMAL but cannot pre-
vent him from jumping round and staring at You with
most provoking cooness much to say, What are
you going to do about 2" There is nothing to do
but turn him round start him again. and take your
| of hmm ptO no bp Mo nj
NAL shows recognition OF his MASTER except that he
will allow him to approach him easily than he will
anybody else This is the extent of his affection.
The sagacty with which the deer pick out the hidden
path under the snow, was astonishing. On those ex-
posed plains every wind fills up the burrows and the
traveller is drifting painless The leading deer
driven by careful Lap, picks out the concealed trail
Or he loses it and then, backward and
forward till he strikes it again. Behind him gdes the
little in single file, silent and strange pro-
cesson Of phantoms There is nothing to be heard but
the breathing Of the deer and the slight crunchng sound
of the sedge upon the snow you sit in the uncertain
twilight strange and subtle enchanment seems to come
over you, and you almost doubt your identify
I" Am IT, you ask, the who once lectured before
literary societies, to large audiences Laughter and
appause) Do l inhabt the same earth where steam
boats exist and oysters opened, renewed laughter
and where Womens Rights Conventions are held?"
PRESIDENT PIERCE's ADMINIsTRATIoN.-The Journal
of Commerce. abiding to the that have
ted Gen. Pierces with the next presidency, speaks
in the following just and emphatic manner of his admin
istration
" Ex-President Pierce enjoys in large manner the
respect and confidence of his countrymen His admin
stration, which embraced stormy period in uolit
ical history is fast being vndicated, and its wisdom
proved by the Developments of each succeeding year.
and will occupy upon the pages of history place second
to none in country's annals We should be sorry,
for his sake and for the dignity belonging to the
presidential Office to the retirement which his genial
disposition and fine social qualities well fitted to
adorn, broken by the disturbing elements Of political
campaign But we repeat we do not believe any such
design is entertained by exPresideut Pierce whatever
may have been the thoughts suggested among his friends
The above endorsement of Gen. Pierces administra-
ton is eminenty just and proper. No President since
the days of Gen Jackson so bitterly and persistent
y assaed he and yet every act of his administration
has been endorsed by the people, and there not party
that dare present platform in opposition to the princi
piles he sustained. We do not believe there is
popular at this moment with the people Of oil sec
lions than Franklin Perce.-N. Y Day Book