The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-25
DAILY PRESS.
PORI'LANU
Wednesday Morning, November 25, 1863


"ahch rodu taxes you 10 PortruSh q mile.
distant The lands IN this portion OF ireland
are highly cultivated, and there cannot be
much poverty and destitutiOn among the peo
pie Partrusk is the nearest point by rail to
the Causeway, being distant from it eight
miles. 1t is fashionable watering place dur
ing the summer months; Is situated on a
rocky promontory which iuts out into the
Atlantic, commanding an extensive sea view
ana has tine opportunities for sea bathing
a large stone monument erected to the mem.
ory of Rev. Adam Clark, the eminent divine
ana commentator, who was born here, is
placed in commanding situation. The
summer visitors were all gone and the An
trim Arms hotel quite deserted.
The next morning took jaunting car
for the causeway AS this is the vehicle in
most constant use in Ireland description
OF it may be interesting. 1t is a square car
rage OH springs about the shape and size OF
one OF our dump carts, the wheels are small
| er, the seats project over the wheels. You sit
| at a right angle with the horse, resting your
ieet on foot board which when the car is
not in use, IS turned up over the seat The
! driver sits in the middle, or when there is
only single passenger, on the opposite seat
at your back. The car will carry six persons
comfortably, with driver. The horses are
large and strong, and are driven at killing
pace, with the drivers constant $50 on,
The roads are very superior, being macadam-
lied and kept in good repair. The country
through which we rode had the same pleas
ing features that L observed the day previ-
Gus. Well cultivated fields OF rich soil, di-
SiGed by hedges and at this season bright
with yerdure. Stone cottages OF one sto. v
with roofs of thatch, were the ordinary
dwellings, occasionally you would see one of
a better class. The road was along the coast,
giving you a fine view of the Atlantic. The
coast is very rocky, and the waves roll against
the cliffs with great force. Many ruins of
ancient castles and towers are to be seen in
this part of Ireland. We passed those OF
DUnlice Castle, said to be the most pictur-
esque in the country. They are situated up
on an isolated rock 100 feet above the sea,
and connected with the main land by
bridge of only 20 inches wide 1t rained
quite violently when we passed and did not
turn off the road to examine them. They
seem to have been very strongly built. After
an hours ride through the rain we came to
the place where you leave the car to visit the
causeway. The sea was quite calm, except
ing the heavy swell which broke over the
ocks. A guide offered his services with his
book full of American references. A boat was
procured with four oarsmen and with guide
started to view these wonderful works of
nature We We're first rowed along at the
base OF the cliffs, and then into Partcoon
cave, which has been worn out of the rocks
by the action OF the wavee The cave is 40
feet high. $50 long. and has depth of water
IL feet The waves rush in and out, with
fearful violence and at sometimes it is impos-
sible for boat to enter. The boat was
backed in about two thirds the length of the
cave, and the boatmen with their oars kept
it in position, and for short time gave
me an opportunity to watch the waves rolling
into this cavern and receding with
fearful noise. The boat was then rowed
coVoiuN 0iOhS tuC tOChy ouOlO db bDc DdSt Vi
the towering cliffs, about mile. We then
returned, and were landed on the causeway.
This consists of huge piles of columns of
basaltic rocks, arranged side by side with per-
| feet uniformity, looking. such is their regu-
larity, as if they had been cut by the hand of
the stone-cutter. The columns are some OF
them thirty feet in height, and are mostly Of
an octagon shape. As we walk over the heads
of them we observe that they are beautifully
| polished, and each column is fitted to the 9th
er with a nicely that the art of man could not
equal. After spending some two hours in the
storm, viewing the natural wonders of this
attractive place, and listening to the stories
OF the guide which are repeated to every
traveller, respecting the works of the Giant
who, the Irish legends say, were the build
ers of these columns, we retraced our step
to the top of the cliffs, stopping on the wa
to drink from the spring of clear water whicl
flows from the broken stones. Our step
were dogeed by men and ragged urchins, anx
ious to dispose OF specimens of minerals anC
sea plants for which they find sale to th
many visitors who come here. l was quite
wet when l arrived at the cottage Of tn
guide, and / went in to dry myself by th
peat fire on the hearth. This was one OF tn
better class of cottages, but it was lo'
stone building with thatched root. The foo
was OF earth, trodden hard. The hearth AM
space in front was composed of small pavin
stones and the fire was placed under an open
ing to the chimney. The pot of potatoes wa
boiling, and the large iron griddle on whicl
the oaten cakes were baked, was stand
ing against the chimney. Opposite, a wood
en- closet contained the dishes. Some rougl
chairs and a table comprised all the furniture
The room was about twelve feet square
and was filled with the boatlnen an
others, smoking their pipes, and inquirin
about "Americky," telling me they wishe
they were all there.
The car took me back to the Antrim Arm
and l took the train to Belfast 6S miles di
tant, the metropolis of the north of Irelan
Its population is about 100000, and it is tn
seat of the linen trade. Its business wit
the United States is very extended and il
| prosperity 10 very ldl lSciy oWiuS " thC <hnlO
lean trade. The streets are broad and buil(
iugs substantial, and it has the appearance
of an American city. A visit to one of til
large linen manufactures and an inspectio
of the spinning and weaving of flax in th
different stages OF its manufacture, was quit
interesting. But the apparent condition {
the operatives (about 1000 are employed
the establishment did not enhance tn
pleasure of the visit. The work is a gres
deal dirtier than in the cotton manufactur
The female operatives were nearly all bar
foot, dressed in coarse tow garments, a gre;
many of them children, and their count,
nances showing but little intelligence. IL
wages earned by them are from one to thre
shllings a day. Schools are kept for til
education of the children employed an
the hours of labor are restricted to ten
day. A visit to Queens college, church
England institution, and the Botanic Ga
dens, were in the course of my ride about I'll
city. The Presbyterian and Methodi
denominations have each large seminaries
learning.
The excitement respecting the coming eiec
tions for members of Parliament Is very III
tense here, as we'll as all over tue oh'le
Kingdom. On the Irish church que 'tion' 'n
Episcopalians the Conservative fresoyter
.,.,;on of the Methodists sustai