Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-30
Foreign CORRESPONDENCE.

For the entertainment of our readers we have
solicited the privilege of publishing, as they
arrive, portions of the private letters of popu-
lar citizen Of Staunton, now travelling for his
health in Europe He bears with him the best
wishes Of our whole community, and his pleas
ant letters will afford some compensation for his
absence. The letters are written c,arente Gala
mo, and trace the individual adventures of the
writer. w ,-.-.-- .-,
y . "a At LETTER /. "a ~
A ,Stauntonian's Impression of the Sea-Lye
on the Ocean Waue- Vrginaans Afoat-
Glimpse Of Ireland
STEAMSHIP JAVA, June. 1867:
L wrote you scrawl just as we were debouch-
ing from the "Narrows" at New York into the
open sea. Since then, though on much sea,
there has been little to see and therefore, little
to relate. a1- e
We have about 200 passengers, mostly nice
people, soclable and genteel our party lot Viz
glnlans and Southerners, pleasantly known In
Staunton and Richmond, are jolly rollcking
set, and pretty fair representation of Virginia !;
generally better-looking, fuller of life and good
spirits, and more intelligent than most others
on board. Everybody knows them, and the
girls "cut up Jack" with the handsome young
officers Of the ship-all Englishmen.
Our ship is quite a large one--2SOO tons bur-
den, but she is tossed about on the heaving bo-
nights [ could not sleep well for fear of rolling
out Of my berth. Yet she rides the waves safe
ly and gracefully, and without exciting any ap-
prehension among officers or passengers. She
is an iron vessel most staunchly and firmly built
"a propeller '-rigged with sails and when
all sails are set, and the breeze blowing stif1y,
it is really glorious to see her bounding exult-
ingly 80 er the glad waters" How little, bold
Art, thus bravely struggles with great Nature !
This little piece of mans handicraft thus defy
ing winds and waves, plunging and careering
over Neptune or any of his subjects-whales,
leviathans, sea-serpents, mermaids, or other
nautical articles that might presume to impede
or stay her triumphant course
1t is beautiful at night to watch the motions
of the proud little ship when the waves are run
ming high-now dividing like one of our ducks
as if she would stand on her head and now like
high-bred horse throwing up her beautiful
prov, as if she would strike the stars.
was not so much impressed with the ocean
when after bidding my native land good after
noon," first got fairly launched out upon it !:
it did not seem half what it is cracked up to be-
and Miss says, lit is not half so large, !"
as she thought it was. People, before going to
sea, somewhat expect to see the whole Atlantic
Ocean at one glance, and are disappointed to
find how circumscribed is their view +; from the
deck of our ship we can see only fifteen miles
in any direction, making us the centre ola circle
bounded by our horizon of only thirty miles di-
ameter, and within this nothing but ''water,
water everywhere.
One Of the funniest things is the change of
- IL ~
course it rises earlier each succeeding day as we
speed Eastward Now my watch, which have
not yet changed, is o'clock, Staunton time,
while it is y o'clock here.
Eating (by those who can eat in spite of sea-
sickness) constitutes the principal business of
the day, and the fare is very fair for the sea-
Breakfast at 81 with steak chops, eggs, fish,
toast, &c., &c. lunch at II on ''cold doings'
mostly, sometimes broth, soups, &C., sardines,
picked oysters, cheese, fruits &c.. &c. Din
ner at 4, with good soup, mutton, beef, mode
dishes, vegetables, pastries &C., oranges, figs,
tea at At T. and supper At 10 T. NJ
This morning at 8 o'clock, we entered the
Channel and away in the dim distance, by
the aid Of a glass, we could just descry the
green hill tops of the Emerald Isle Now at
II NJ. the Irish coast is within a mile of our
left, the sea calmer, the sun shining gloriously,
and the shores of Ould Ireland kibbareen
| looking green and smiling.
But the mail master is calling for my letter.
How my heart yearns to follow it across the
great waters to my dear home and friends
With love to everybody in Staunton, reserving
only the sacred part for -.
Yours.
By her fortitude and absolute passivity, Hun
gary, although defeated, won from Austria all
for which she had taken up arms By trucking
acquiesence in disgraceful terms she would have
lost all by frmness she has triumphed, and is
greeted by Christendom as worthy Of all the
glory which she has won. 81
We commend this lesson to those timid and
unrefecting Virginians who believe that they
can find safety peace, prosperity and repose in