The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-08-24

: CHARLoTrE, june I, 1886, u ; s,as-l
THE eREA're DROUGHT. Z
'5sssss3 3D. CHATTER I.s.sH,-; y
In the spring and summer of 1S-,
rain began 10 fnH, and the first things
that perished for want of water died
that year. But the moisture of the
earth Wass still s,abnndants and the
plants which took deep root found
sustenance below, SO that the forest
trees showed an abundance of foliage,
and Che harvest, IN some kinds, was
plentiful Towards the autumn, rain
returned again, and everything ap-
peared TO be recovering its former
ondar; hnt the dry winter, dry spring,
dry summer of next year, told on
the face Of creation. Many trees
put forth small and scanty leaves, and
1aany perished altogether;' whole
species were cut of: for instance,
except where they were artifcially
preserved, one could not find q living
ash or beech; few were kept alive by
means Of man, for water began to be
boarded for the necessaries of life.
The wheat was watered, and, where
such thing was possible, the hay
fields also; but numbers of animals
died, and numbers were killed this
year-the frsts from thirst and the
Last 10 reduce the consumers of the
precious element. Still the rich
commanded the necessaries and many
of the luxuries ofs1ife; and the arts
which required a. consumption of
water were carried on as yet, and
continued in practice even longer
than prudence warranted-so strong
was the force of habit, and the pres
sure Of the artificial necessities which
they supplied. The railroads were,
as yet, in activity, and when water
failed along the line, it was brought
irom the sea by the rich companies
concerned in the traffic; only the
fares were raised, and the trains
which ran for pleasure merely were
suspended. But in the midst of
business and interest there was q deep
gloom. Projects which affected the
fortunes of nations were in suspense,
because there was no rain; cares for
the succession Of crowns and the for
nation of constitutions, might all he
futile if there should be no rain: and
it seemed as if there never would be
any, for this was now the third year,
and the earth had not yet received a
shower. And now ceasing to be sup
pied from their usual sources, the
springs and rivers withered and
shrank. Water became, iu many
places. not dear, but unattainable
The greatest people of the land left
IT, and used their wealth in chasing
the retreating element from place to
place on the earth. In some cases.
among these luxurious spirits, there
were scenes of extrayacant reyelrv
still; they had no employment exceut
to live, and they endeayored to make
the act Of living as. exciting as thei,
old amusenaents had been. But nc
counts of foreign countries came
more and more rarely to England
for. when the fourth rainless Yea,
arrived, drought and famine had
slain three-fourths of its inhabitants
Z and commerce and agriculture were
alike suspended. When vesse
came rs far mp in the mouth of 6
river as the sinking waters permitted
1T brought tidings of desolation from
Whatever port IL had left. Stories
began to be spread of dry land in
parts OF the ocean, where it had neye,
been seen before; marks which had
stood in the deep of the sea might
now be walked around at all times OF
the tide, and thick crusts of sal,
were beginning to spread upon
tracts OF the great deep These It'd.
!ngs came from foreign lands at long
1ntervals-aad at long intervals was
ship sent from any English haven.
The few dwellers on the coast knew
not if there were any dwellers in the
interior; for England was become
like the desert, and there were no
beasts to carry once across it. and no
water to be boarded in skins for tho
passage. Traffic Of eyery kind
ceased; industry was gone; the