New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-04
industry of other nations, double blessing would

i.S,s.rr of other nations, a double blessing would
enure to mankind.
And now is the accepted time. From their three
voors' debauch of blockade running, the Bahamas
have nearly recovered. The gold that overiiowed
these streets and ingled in every pocket has van
ished like a beggars dream of splendor; few
mournful rccollections, with sundry expensive
habits and tenacious debts, alone remain to testify
that if ever was Wrocliing is persistent, but l
trust decreasing evil. destined to be still farther
restricted within few years. And never was a
pcople more in need of industrial chiefs and organ
izers than are those of the Bahamas to-day, while
few countries profier greater inducements for the
iudicious investment of capital
-Icannot bid adeu to Nassau without attcsting the
spontaneous hearty kindness eyinced by her people
universally for the small but increasing colony OF
Americans whereof the nucleus is the Royal Victoria
Hotel These are nearly all invalids with Their
attendant relatives, driven hther by pulmonary
disease and the harShness of our winter
winds. and naturally expecting little sym
pathy or hospitality save from each other;
vet we are treated from highest to lowest,
and from first 10 last with generosity and kindness
which hardly allows us to remember that this Is
foreign country. Civil officers Military and citizens
vie with each other in making our stay pleasant,
so that we may forget that this is not our own onr
native land The few Americans naturallzed here
nav take the lead in this work but their British
born and native fellow citizens heartily second their
best efforts No one need remain a stranger here /;
and the ready kindness which soon surrounds the
new corners with acquaintance and sympathzing
friends very sensbly allevates the pangs of exile
and smoothes the pillow of suffering. am sure
there are none who have been driven by consumption
to spend Winter in Nassau who do not look for
ward 10 repetition of that experience with moli-
fed repugnance if not with positive satisfaction.
And Nassau. though rather slow for robust New
Yorker in the absence Of a telegraph and with but
monthly mail, is a pleasant city. Her houses, sub
stantally built of the universal limestone which is
readily sawn into blocks, but hardens on exposure
TO the air. rise. above row, from the waters
edge, and stretch along the harbor for couple of
miles literally inteIspersed with gardens and shade
trees. which give it the appearance of an improved
tropical forest These broad-leafed evergreens give
the city an aspect of GOODNESS which the rarely absent
sea-breezc does its best to justify and the tercest
heats Of summer less willing than those of New
York, not materially differing from those of Long
B.anch. The nights and mornings are generally
cooler at our seaside watering-places, but judge
the clear days there and here are, in the average,
much alike.
But Nassau has one charm unTiyaled beneath our
h3ISheT SkleS-tnat OF tile uutS VI
iaoent waters. long, low, narrow ridge of the all
pervading limestone rises noTthward between her
and the broad Atlantic forming a harbor mile
wide by three OF four miles long, accessible by YES
sells of goOdly size at either end with depth vary
ing from seven or eight feet to as many fathoms
greatest near either shore and least i'll the middle
where little iset at the east dividing the tidal cur
rent has melted a gradual and still continuing
deposit of the tTituTated limestone which here
does duty as sand. and which threatens
if not cOunteracted serious damage in time TO the
capacity and value of the haTbOr. The bright sun
shining down through the shallow water on this
submerged lime-dust gives to the surface q delicate
vet intense hue of light green which, often mOdi-
fed maintains strong contrast with the dark blue
or sometimes purple of the deeper channel on either
side as also of the separated thererOm by the
narrow strip of low rock aforesaid. i have gazed
intently, admirngly, on this blending and shading
of diverse marine coOrs for hours, without being
ablo to recall anything between the Adratc and
the Pacific and from Panama to Lake Superior that
can compare with il for varied yet abiding beauty
H.. G.