Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-25
sTAUNToN, VA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1866

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| fighting cock. However, the monotony OF my
4 voyage became irksome, and [ longed for tero
| fr7aG again; so, when directly over Peter VIII
kins' Island, SO celebrated for its flying inhabi.
tants, I opened the valve, and gradually de-
scended-saluting several of the winged beings
on my way. You have, doubtless, read Of
these curious people, gentlemen, and will have
patience with me while enter into the details
Of my romantic adventures in that region"
Here the Major drew small flask from his
| side-pocket, and unscreWing the metal stopper,
man with long draught. smacked his lips and
| proceeded.
"E ahghted on the summit Of a mountain
some fifty thousand feet above the surface of
the sea, and having discharged the gas from
the balloon, [ folded it up with the network,
and placed it safely beneath ledge of rocks
The air was surcharged with the perfume of a
thousand flowers, for every tree seemed to be in
full bloom and birds of brilliant and variegated
pluinage filed the woods with their wild music
Same of them sang duets and even trios and
chorusses. took down the melodies of many
of these warblers and have them now in my
secretary at home arranged with a piano forte
accompaniment. Those that have been given
to the public and are extremely popular, are
the Bird Waltz, Bird of Beauty, Jenny Lind S
Bird Song, I'd be Bird, the Mocking Bird
ct cetera.
My first object was to obtain food, and I
looked around me to ascertain if so beautiful a
region could be without the means of sustaining
animal life. found grove or rather orchard
in the middle of verdant plain every tree of
On close examination, [ found it filed with
liquid matter, and, thrusting my knife into it,
a stream of wine like the sparkling anchor
brand champaign, gushed forth. After tasting
it [ found that [ was perfectly safe on the score
of an exhilirating beverage Of water there
was plenty leaping from the mossy rocks /
was attracted by the strange appearance of
fungus that grew in abundance on the edge Of
the cliffs | examined it minutely, and found
it to be vegetable roast beef! Well baked
loaves of wheat bread and buttered biscuits
trees, and l had nothing to do but to make
myself perfectly at home in that Paradise
After partaking of the luxuries so bountifully
thrown in my way, | stretched myself on couch
of aromatic flowers, filed my meersehaum,
(which, by the way, was presented to me by the
Emperor Of Siam) with delicious K1lliheaic, and
enjoyed glorious siesta. [ was thinking of
the renowned Peter Wilkins, who had visited
that beautiful Island before me, when rustling
among the branches Of the trees attracted my
attention. Through the dim veil of tobacco
eihoAe Ihdo e1Vtlopcu mc Saw lOVeiy cfea-
ture bounding s'on mighty pens through the
air. Gracefully she wound through the space
between the limbs of the trees, and, with light
and airy step, reached the green sward few
yards from whore | was lying; then, folding
herwings, she stood for few moments as if in
doubt whether to approach me. [ assure you,
gentlemen, the pen Of the poet or the brush of
the painter would fail to portray her charms. =
Such beauty exquisite symmetry of form
never before pictured in my Imagination,
which is naturally poetic She appraaehed ms
tlmldly, and, when attempted to rise slio vel
come her, she would expand her wings and
prepare to fly away. Assured by my smile that
her company was agreeable, she came nearer
to me, and at length sat down beside me. [
have travelled to all parts Of the world-I have
admired the beauties Of France, England Ger
many, Spain and the haram of the Sultan, but
[ never before or since beheld such perfection
Of beauty
She spoke to me, and her voice was music it.
self, but although l speak and understand sew
enty-two different languages, yet hers was un
known tome. However, you all know that the
language Of Love is universal [ soon found
the Flying Islanders that she had seen my bal
loon descend from the upper regions to the
mountain, and had determined to crafty her
curiosity to know what kind of being I was.
She gave me to understand that she was a friend
to the cause of the South, and intended to per-
suade her father to acknowledge our indepen-
dence. Pee-tee, for that was the winged Prin-
cess name, was merry little sprite. She
laughed and chattered like beautiful macaw,
and when | expressed wish for some wine,
she spread her wings and bounded through the
me several of the largest wine fruit, which, on
being tapped, yielded their generous fluid, and
while it gratified my thirst, inspired me with
love.
Our love was mutual, and I obtained her
consent to go with me to my home In order
that this might be accomplished and our happi-
ness consummated, the balloon must again be
inflated, for though she could journey through
the air, would have to depend upon my aerial
ship for travel. Where was the gas to come
from ~ = ~ i@ ar 5to
The Major paused at this question, and Smi-
lax, turning to me, whispered -'sHe's cot
enough in him to initiate dozen balloons.
Il was completely non-plused, resumed the
narrator; for Pee-tee had given me to under
stand that her father, with a thousand warriors,
would seek her as soon as she was missed. A
thought struck me that the mountain on which
we stood might be volcanic-in fact had all
along smelt sulphur. Examining the crevices
of the rocks closely, found that ] was correct
In my conjecture, for large streams of gas were
emitted from the assures of the rocks, and |
found but little difficulty in initiating my balloon,
the appearance of which, when filled, delighted
! the beautiful Pee-t tee not little. ~
| Having freighted the car with some Of the
luxuries Of the fairy island, we took our seats,
and arose majestically from the earth, she fold
ing her wings in as small space as possible
We had not reached an elevation of five hun
dred feet above the mountain apex, when we
deserted in the dim distance the King and his
warriors making their rapid flight toward US
As they approached, the sound of their wings
became almost deafening, and their battle shout,
not unlike the trumpet notes of flock of mi
grating geese, added to the terror of the young
Princess, who clung to me as her only hope of
safety. L calmed her fears, assuring her that
she was perfectly safe, while | examined my my
brace Of shooters, each discharging one hundred
balls in the short space of two minutes These
pistols, gentlemen, were presented to me by
Colonel Colt himself, in consideration Of some
useful suggestions made by me and adopted by
him In the construction Of his firearms.
The army of flying warriors came rapidly to-
ward US in the form of q column of attack
guide IN the centre. They were armed with
sings, javelins and huge clubs-evidently, they
we're not aware of the danger of explosive weap-
ons,, for they came up fearlessly in the wake of
the balloon. | aimed my revolver at the fore
most OF the column, but the gentle Pee-tee
pushed the weapon aside, and gave me to un-
derstand it was her father. [ levelled it at
another by his side-she said it was her brother
A third would have fallen under my unerring
aim hyt Sba cold II moe bor Io,,o,t T,l,;r ,a