Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-13
VIRGINIA HosPIrALIrIEs.

ms accldent gave US an opportunity to Wat
the shore, which Was improved by all our party
We called at the plantation of Mr.. John Hard
ing, who owus about 90 servants. On our ar :
rival We were asked the first thing to take
dinner, notwithstanding our party consisted Of
the Captain bis two daughters, Miss NJ D. H.,
Miss A; E; P. DR.: S; L. l., Act. Mid. j. 7. G
and Act Mid J. ] B., U. S. N, Our refusal,
however, did not prevent bountiful supply
OF refreshments, fruits, cakes, lemonade, 6c.
We spent several hours most agreeably at this
Virginia mansion. Under the direction of the
gardener we visited the flower gardens, ar
ranged with great care and taste. Grapes,
apples, pears, and many other fruits were
seen, as well as many rare and exotic plants.
On one side was large pond for $50 ducks.
on another one for decoy wild geese These
geese when taken, have one wing amputated
at the first joint, which forever 30 disables
them that they cannot fy. They secure great
numbers Of geese by means of these decoys.
The chicken yard is equally we'll stocked, and
none Of the produce of these geese, ducks, and
hens is sOld all is consumed on the plapta-
ton. ...tt ft
This plantation of I 500 acres also affords
rare sport for the huntsman. The red and
grey fox, deer, partridge, quail sea fowl, for
est hen, &C., furnishes, with q fine pack of
hounds, fox hunt; or with settlers, on the
| moor or marsh, bird hunt; sport 10 the visit
ors of this plantation equal to English hunting
which had just been gathered, is the great
crop; two or three hundred acres of corn were
planted for home use.
|. Mrs. Harding, a fine, capable looking ma
tron, constantly carried, as all Southern ma
irons do, large basket of keys on her arm.
Alusion being made to the fact that Northern
women never kept anything under lock and
key as general thing, she remarked that if
Northern women had years provision on
hand to take care of they would be likely to
keep it under lock and key. She said that
they put up 800 hogs, and other articles in
proportion, all Of which was under her charge.
Nearly all the cloth used was Of their own
manufacture, for the reason it was much more
se-vieeable than that bought She, with her
own hands, assorted the yarn, warped it, and
after the cloth was dressed attended to the
cutting OF all the garments worn by family
OF over 100 persons. She also made all the
soap used on the plantation. From this simple
statement We see that she can not be an idle
woman.
As the time of our departure drew near,
Mrs. Harding inquired if we wished any fresh
butter, milk, vegetables, &C., DC. Milk We
considered rarity, as We had taken our tea
and coffee several days without it. But our
ideas of Virginia hospitality were very much
modified as We came TO our boat. We there
found a large group Of servants, all bearing
something for our comfort. One with a large
box OF ice, another with jug of milk, another
with bag OF apples, DO, &c; so that on our
arrival at the brig We had q stock Of potatoes,
beets, cabbagss, apples, ice, milk, huckleber-
ries, pears, onions &C.; and besides all this,
they promised to come to the brig and visit US
We were compelled to remain much longer
Yhis- visit amply repaid us for our detention Of
i've days on the Wightioomioo Shoals. Is. -
The ArLANrIc-GULr STREAM. Il a..
We had 6ns sail down the Bay, and passed
IN pa Ham ha~ A.
place, with only a lighthouse to relieve the
scene, at a. M, in company, some smaller
and some larger than our craft. The light
n b. wind soon classified the feet-the timid
soon tackled about and followed the coast, while
the bold and experienced kept an easterly
course for the Gulf Stream.
Our brig, commanded by a captain who has
navigated almost every part of the world for
the past thirty years, faced pirates in his early
voyages, and knows by experience what IL Is
TO remain on wreck f0rty-two days, a shreyd.
keen, far-sighted, bold and fearies. Yankee,
OF the Gen Putnam stamp, stood for the Gulf
Stream. He says that on no account would ho
run along the csast he preferred a plenty of
ses-room. By night all our company of brigs
and schooners had left us, and we were alone
on the broad, blue Atlantic, standing for the
Gulf Stream. In tho morning the temper
ature and color of the water had changed.
showing that We we're in the Gulf Stream,
D
degrees warmer. than the Chesapeake or the
Atlantic. We passed nearly to the eastern
edge before We made northerly course
VIsIroRs-MorHER CAREr's CHICKENS. DC.
Our first visitors were Mother Carsy's ohisk.
ems, those little petrels 80 much thoupht'of by
every sailor. As the wind sighed it's last breath
they came in focks to the vessels side made
our acquaintance, and fed on the rumbs we
threw overheard. do not wonder that these
birds are the universal pets of sailors: they
accompany ships on all seas, and bring forcibIy
to mind the chickens at home, thew are 40
tame. very much wished to have several OF
them as pets.
The monsters Of the deep also seemed nm.
usually neighborly. Our first visitors were
large school Of black fish, blowing and puff ne
the water on all sides. These were soon fol,
lowed by one of fin back whalss-fhese were
quite numerous, and were easily recognised
oy the dorsal I'm, very large and hooked. We
were informed that these whales are not hunt
ed when any other kind can be found, for thew
are so quick, and run 30 fast and long, that it
Is very difficult to capture them. During the
same day, while sailing before fresh breeze,
a very large school of porpoisss came around
the brig. They seemed particularly pleased
with the prov, and played around it for long
time. They are very smart fish, about 81 or
4 feet long. 1t was very amusing to watch
them, and served to relieve the sn,,ui that
hhQ Degau 10 overcome some OF our company.
We were also visited by some half dozen sperm
whales, They did not como as near as our
other visitors, but we're easily recognised by
their low oushy spout. They played and spout.
cd at a respectful distance till evening, when
they came near, and on all sides Of the brig.
The next morning the whole sea was enliyened
with thousands Of porpoises, sporting and
Jumping out Of the water in every direction,
Of our neighbors of smaller sire, L cannot
speak, for unfortunately, We had no micro.
scope on board. Doubtless every bucket Of
ocsan water is full Of organisms, each having
iA own habitat, az variable in climate and
locality as those of the land. The pearl oys,
tar on the lower Mexican and Central Amer.
lean and Pacific coast has over one hundred
distinct species Of animals living on and in his
she'll There is no field Of inquiry now open
70 the naturalist % inviting, Interesting, and
promising as the study of oceanic Organisms,
both animal and vegetable. A scientifio knowl-
edgs Is not even necessary; it only requires q
good observer and an ability to give accurate
delineations These organisms cannot be pre-
served; they must be deiineated when frst
seen under the glass. Many attempts 10 pres.
erystion have been made, but hundreds of