Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-04-13
HIS PATAGONIAN WIFE.
BY JOHN c. CREMoNT.

by JOHN c. CREMoNT.
1t was an intensely stormy evening,
in the winter of 1868, that Jack and |
sat, in comfortable slippers and flowing
dressing gown, surveying our almost
luxurious surroundings, and thanking
Providence for the blessings of health
and comfort.
"By Jove, Con, this is, indeed a lux
ury. To be lying off here with you, old
fellow, with all the creature comforts
around US, and to hear the terrible howl
ings of that storm, form a contrast
which heightens enjoyment"
"Jack, your easy manners, quiet ad-
dress, and conversational power have
made you a decided favorite with the
ladies'. Pray let me ask how you have
managed to escape the tolls of matrimo-
ny? Your means have been sufficiently
abundant, and your disposition, if [
judge rightly, is rather of an affection
ate character A saddened expression
crept over his face; but, dispelliug it
with an effort, he placed pillow under
his head, lighted a fresh cigar, and said {;
"Con, did | ever tell you about my trip
across South America, from Bueuos
Ayres to Valparaiso?' "No, never nor
had any idea that you had visited that
part of the world so, yes, and as it
was the most important and interesting
episode of my whole life, | will, with
your permission, tell you now"
1t occurred at the time John Fairfield
was Governor Of Maine. We were
very intimate, and as business called me
to Buenos Ayres, he gave me strong
recommendation to his brother, William
Fairfield, who possessed immense stock
ranches in that country, aud frequently,
visited the city to dispose of his hides,
horns, tallow and wool. William was
living a life of what is called a gaucho
answering to your Californian title Of
7onchero aud Was universally esteemed
for his many admirable qualities. Our
trip out was rendered as agreeable as
possible by Captain Cammett, of the
good ship, CadmuS; but in other re-
spects was as uninteres,ing as siXty-niuc
days at sea may well be conceived
Abreast of Buenos Ayres, the La Plata
is forty-nine miles in width, and the op.
posite shore is, OF course, out of sight
so that one looks out upon an immense
expapse of fresh water, about the color
of brick-dust. The current is quite
swift, and vessels drawing from fourteen
to twenty-four feet Of water are obliged
to anchor seven or nine miles from the
shore. Not hill or even hillock greets
the eye while scanning the land-noth
ing but one illimitable dead-le of SOL
id earth on one side, and an equally un-
picturesque field of rolling water on the
other. Owing to the difficulty of going
ashore and back to the ship, together
with the time lost by the crew, all cap
taias of vessels reside in the city dur.
ing their stay. In due course of time
we pulled off from the Caom,tS in q
stanch whale-boat, with four men, the
second mate, Cammet, and myself
When we were within a mile or less Of
land, the boat grounded, aud dozen OF
more OK carts, mounted on wheels ten
feet in diameter, made out to us. Sc
Letting one we rode to the shore, paying
half-a.dollar each for the passage. The
first thing that attracted my specia
wonder was the extreme cheapness o.
beef. Cammett purchased the two sides
Of a slaughtered and dressed OK fol
$3.50; he then ordered that the boa
should return every third day, for fresl
meat. You must know, Con, that moth
ing can be preserved with salt in tba
climate, whereas nothing in the shape o
meat will spoil if you expose it to thu
air; hence the name of the place, Bue
nos Ayres, which means "good airs.
If, on the contrary, you desire to 70
meat, or render it tender, it is only nee
essary to pickle it well, or bury it il
salt. In consequence of this character
istic, all vessels are compelled to saw
their sailed provisions for the retur
voyage; while the extreme cheapness O
beef veal and mutton is a very favorabl
item in the general account of expenses
Buenos Ayres is II very pretty city, reg
ularly laid out in squares of $50 yard
each, and contained, at that time, abou
50, 600 inhabitants, including many EN-
lish, French, aud Americans. 1t il
adorned with many handsome buildings
and the majority of residences are @
hree stories, roomy and commodious
nearly all with brick floors, but ueatl
Kept. Fuel is exceedingly scarce, ther
being no trees in the vicinity, excep