The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-24

about the rest is equally happy for Newfoundland
st. Johns is not a New York nor Hoboken. but
quiet, od-fashoned town with comfortable class OF
esidents, numbering thirty odd thousands am
Informed that business rather dull here just now but
shall postpone any extended remarks about the place
until some future letter. after shall have had leisure to
see for myself wiz merely jot down in passing that
the bulk o. the houses plain but substantial; while
some tine buildings that would ornament even your
metropolis To be found here There is al eas one
good hotel, the Union kept by Mr Warrington, cosy,
pleasant homeko spot, very unlike she general run or
| hstes one meets In travelling
EARLY TRADITIONS ABOUT siAsDrs AeoRiGiNEs AsD
PRODUCTIONS.
Respecting the country in general very little has been
written yoare aware, and that little has had
tendency TO misrepresent and dsparage Persons who
have undertaken to write about it have for tic most part
based their opinions upon very hasty tour Of the
Island; rather, should say, of part OF IT, combining
themselves to ride about the capital and rapid elances
other the well known thickly populated
districts Naturally enough the consequence has been
gross misstatsment OF silly fabrication.
It's customary 10 speek Of Newfoundland merely as
foggy, barren nasty fgd abandoned and God orsaken
lump on the terrestrial globe inhabited chiefly by rude
fishermen shaggy dogs, whining seals, hungry wolves
and other specimens of the brute creation Tbiss notor
Ously the popular estimation of Terra Nova. Now,
what is the real truth OF the matter Why the act Is
that Newfoundland il nj all what il is cracked
down 10 bc OF IL is subject fogs; but is
Maine along the greater part OF it's sescoast New
Brunswck and is the fertile and blooming seat
Of the Arcadians and Haligonans Newfoundland the
foggiest of them all doubt bnt that is why
perpetual fog should be allowed TO hang around her
history, her people and her have used The
word history; but until very recently there almost
nothing worthy Of the name in existence. Scraps OF
general information respecting her might have been
found accidentally it in works upon other sub
jects, and they the only upon which ea
Of the country might be derived, always excepting Of
course, intelligent personal observation and travel Is
1t extraordinary that country claiming
discovered four centuries anterior 10 the birth Of
Columbus should be thus sighted by hisoransa
try too, not without its romance and its fablesy
In the year of Lord 1901 Il is said You aware
that Biorn king of Iceland, only knew OF
the existence Of Newfoundland, but actually took
possession OF It. and settled somewhere in the
peighborhood OF Harbor Grace This may be fable on
may not; but is al all probable, claimed
by some, that early the eleventh and twelfth
centuries the Norwegians attempted its colonization.
The original inhabitants savage OF Indians,
differing in many respects from the aborignes Of other
parts Of North America. Though fierce IN disposition
they uncommonly shrewd aud clever, and spent
tcir time largely in hunting the deer and fishing in the
beautiful lakes ponds that abonnd all
try, even the very tops Of the Their
has been that Of the Indian everywhere ese-extermna
ton before the march OF civilization and the white
Not one Of the tribe be met with the island
having been driven of Labrador by the European in
vaders and the Micmacs Of Nova scotiaa tribe indigo
The soil Of the Blne Noses traces Of their
rude skill still remain, showing degree Of ingenuity
highly credable 10 supposed to have been so low
down in the scale OF civilization. fence thirty miles
long, used Of net TO en,ap deer and built from
water 70 water with gap in the middle, where the
hunters wont 10 lie in wait for their prey, among
these relics OF aboriginal genius still lett standing
Hut 10 return Newfoundland is by the bas-
waste has been represented to he The rocky
hosphable look of criterion for the OF
the country short distanceinland the evidences Of
soil that could he made richly productive by cultivation
abundant, and the fact has boon tested successfully
Wheat, potatoes, apples pluns cherries, raspberries
currants g0oseberies and other fruits and vegetables
are grown in abundance Notwithstanding the fact that
the suitable for such cultivation is but Of brief
duration makes up degree however what il lacks
in time. Many Of these fruits flourish in wild state
also the red and white clover and Eoropean
American grasses.
WATERING
| The climate is not by many degrees is
myself here already and what the people themselves
be OF any value the climate is in the highest degree
Iubrious The temperature just is delightful the
pure and cool breeze being my q CRATE
full change from the torrd blasts gets the
eligible Of the watering places in tbe States y
This IN the true watering place for young America II
not very much mistaken, and think the time is not
far distant when the fact will be generally recognized
What finer place in tho world, for instance could there
be than this for the lovers OF the noble art Of angling
Here you have and salmon, habut mackcrei and
cod in prodigous and inexbaustibe abundance. What
more does the sportsman dcsrcs II you spear
Holsters hook ecs catch herrings here Is the spot
for you II yoo want go hunting n extensive
scale there are wolves enough hero had
for the seeking Land and aquatic birds also very
numerous
SOMETHING ABOUT sySrkssnASs.
proof the high sanitary condition Of the island
told that the inhabitants live TO pstrarchsi old
age. -Four score and nine is nothing unusual, while
there living who said 10 have reached
their centenary anniversary IN 1897 am quoting
from historical records''Martin Galen Of Placentis
bay hundred years Of age, lived in excel
lent health, and in company with bis brother, caught
that year nine quntsls of fish, Seventy years prcvi-
GUS he bad poted Captain Cook into the bay lady
named TAFT lived TO the ripe old age Of hundred and
twenty-five years in the neigbborhood, and
other woman reached equal degree OF longevity at
place called Torbay, not far from the city OF st Johns
or the latter IL s related that shortly previous TO her
death she bad for the doctor attend her sick
child innocent little prater OF only ninety years
age That what New York boy would call Ga high
old infant" But whether they live long die early,
thing certain and that Is that 6nor type Of peo
pie, physically, than the Newfoundlanders bred an q
born, not easily to be met with They healthy
blooming, robust good looking and splsnddly developed
r'IE UNIVERSAL RESOURCES
Besides all these advantages Newfoundland can boast
| Of mineral resources Of contemplate character.
There not wanting scientific theorists who See
fancy they see Indications OF gold and silver in
tain districts Coal formations bccn discovered on
the west side OF the island aud copper only known
exist but Is at present being worked by English
i mining cnmnaniee GYrsum L. abundant MngI of