The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-23
From London Society,"
A SPINSTER'S SWEEPSTAKES,
AND WHAT GAME OF IT,.
+-O8 YRQ
AN ISnIA SKETCH.


shattered in health, and broken down
in spirits, by some twelve months of
hard service in the, northern, pro-
vinces, where rebellion had been the
hottest, as to be compelled to take
sick leave; the Spring was then, too
far advanced to make a homeward
voyage throughE the Red Sea,g lpru-
dent step for one in my condition. so
| resolved seeking change and cure
in a cheaper. aud rspeedier fashion, by
going off to one OF the many delight
full sanitaria in the Himalayas. aad 81
The curious among the readers of
this little sketch must forgive me if [
withhold the name of the station to
which | went; and they must likewise
further exercise that Christian feel
ing toward me for Introducing in the
disguise Of fictitious names the vari-
GUS characters that figure here. Il
may be that some Of my readers OF
Indian experiences may identify not
only the place, but also some of the
individuals; to all such, if any there
be, can only say-exeTcise by all
means your memories and perceptive
powers to the utmost, you please.
A pleasant little spot was this re-
treat of mine, among the pine covered
hills, backed by range upon range,
ending In mountain SUBMITS clad in
glistening garment of never chang
ing snow; while, far below, like
gray misty ocean, lay the sandy
plains, traced here and there by silver
veins, fast and broad flowing rivers
in reality, but seen from such a dis
tant height, looking like thin serpen-
tine lines of cleaning light. The pure,
free atmosphere; the cool breezes;
the tempered sumo longer feared
and avoided as an enemy, but courted
and enjoyed as a benefactor-all these,
and endless other beauties, silent APP
pealings from nature to mans better
sense, seemed almost to bring back
upon me tranquility Of spirit, and
delicious feeling Of contentInent and
repose-a state of mind which many
years Of military life, with its. rough
experiences and hardening influences,
had banished for while 7d ~ nsiet &
Iocannot say that civilization and
the congregation Of ones fellow crea-
btnres had added much to what, ma
tnred had done towards making the
place enjoyable; but this view, Of the
case depended of course upon ones
peculiar character and Disposition,
Mine,nI fear, had i'm bibed, from my
profession which had forced me to a
mere existence in some of the dulIesti
and most detestable of the many dull
and detestable places to be found IN
the upper previnees of India dash
Of the cynic, the misapthrope, and the
materialist; a state Of mind wliiel1 Il
| only found to- be acquired randonot in =
herant when my thoughts travelled
back, as they very often did. to the
home far away, and to those among
| whom my earlier years had been
passed. It was then, and only then,
| perhaps, L dscoTsred that there re !
manned in my nature a little of the
sympathy and warmth towards others
which is born in all of us, more or
less 20 .19aTt2 aiBh 90
There was the church, Of course,
/ utterly deserted for six days out OF
/ the seven; but on the seventh hold
ing high gala, for athen were gathered
together in great force the whole
feminine strength, or rather weakness
of the station, gorgeously attired in
the Paris fashions Of the preceding
year A, club likewise, close to,
though clearly an Institution, of utter
antag0uism, but which there is no
denying got by far the best Of it., for
the club days were six dof the seven,
besides the nights too; rarely out of
those zone hundred and forty-four
hours weekly could one pass sbyswith-
out hearing the clicking ofbilliard-
balls, or without seeing, through some
Of its many windows, silent parties of
four seated at whist-tables, shutting,
cutting, dealing, aud going through
the mysteries Of the game, intent as
pended upon their play '.''. - 7.
| Then, topmost on one Of the many
peaks Of the hill over which the sta
ton spread, stood, with the English
flag waving over it, the house of the
governor of the provincg+the center
of world small world, certainly,
yet as brimful as any larger one Of
anxieties and fears, hopes and as
Pi1atGOi,1 INNING PEsrEYith envy Y,
uncharita bleness. Where the golden
calf of seH-inteFest- was elevated and
worshipped INCREASINGLY, as it is every
whare} elevated and worshipPedT7in
this world of Ours-a centre 1t was to
which-aA looked, many for advance
ment, others for Approval a I'd praise
some. tie shortcomers and offenders,
| tor sall,~ i. ,Fatiop land foEgiveness1all
for something or another, from COW
eted appointment down to an invita- :
ton to EdinnefA Ranged round about,
respectfully, yet very moderately sub
ordinate, we're the residences of the