The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-05-23

FROM coLToN's DECK AND PORT.


In mrrored wildness, sweep
Their shadows round the mermaid's bowers,
Our steadfast anchors sleep,
Valparaiso, at first glance, instead Of
iustifying the name it bears-the vale Of
Paradise-might rather be called some
outpost of purgatory. Its wild crags.
its scorched hills, and dark glens ght
we'll be supposed to lead to that interme-
date abode of condemned spirits. You
are puzzled to know why city should be
there. Without encroaching on the sea,
there is hardly room enough, between the
base of the steep activities and the surge,
to set up fsherman's hut. The harbor
is but little BETTER than an open road
stead. A Norther is an admonition to all
vessels to slip their cables.
Yet Valparaiso is a city, and one
which, having once seen. you will never
forget. 1t will stand alone in your after
dreams like Jacobs ladder. Like the
rounds in that airy vision, its buildings
ascend, roof over roof, till they seem to
topple in the sky. One violent shake Of
an earthquake would precipitate the
whole into the sea. And yet these terri
BILE visitations are constantly throwing
out their premcnitions. There is not a
building whose walls have not vibrated
to their force. There is not rock on
which they rest, but is ofvolcanic origin.
The soaring peaks of the Cordileras,
which overhang them, rest on craters
that may at any moment throw them
heaven-high. And yet who does moi
sleep sound in Valparaiso Such is per.
il, when it has become an old familiar ac.
quaintance.
We landed from our boat on the jetty
which has been thrown out from the beach
to prevent the necessity of debarking il
the surf. The quay was alive with boat
men, cracking their jokes over theil
water-melons and coarse bread. A fat
friar was seen straying among them
willing to shrivo the most wayward fol
large melon. One fellow, who looked
as if he had obliquities enough to justify
some effacing process, made light of tn,
profered shrift. He thought greer
melon would pay.
Near by sat Chilano on a stone
which swelled up from the pavement
tantalizing the strings of guitar, while
little cloud of tobacco-smoke curled W
around the high cone Of his felt hat
The only accompaniment was the sharI
creak Of file. with which muleteer wa
sharpening the rowel of his spurs, whicl
resembled circular saw, except tina
the teeth were much longer.
Here beggar, who had lost n leg
hobbled up to us, wearing around his necl
label, showing that he had permission
of the police to solicit aims on Tuesday
and Saturdays. Poor fellow ifhis liml
was lost in good cause, he ought to b
allowed to solicit charity when he can &c
it. And if it was lost even in a scuffie
it would not be in my heart to deny hin
penny What world is this in whic
we dwell How it is filled with paupers
spurs, tobacco, guitars, water-melons, an
absolving monks; all jangling and jar
coming along together to dusty death
What an incongruous mass the gray
covers
SUNDAY, MARCH 8. Divine service o
board; large attendance of American
from the shore Subject of DISCOURSE
cause and criminality of indecision i
matters Of religion. The state religio
of Chill is Roman Catholic. Protestar
forms of worship are tolerated, but in
private way The erection Of churcht
for the purpose is not permitted A ha
may be used, if it has no symbols of col
secration. Think of that, my dear Pap,
brothers in the United States, kneelin
in your sumptuous cathedrals, while yol
vesper.bells summon from their loft
steeples the faithful to prayer. And ye
talk to US Protcstants about toleration
Why, there is more liberation in n
Uncle Toby's teapot than can be found
the whole Papal See.
Before you assay the ballot-box agai
because the Bible, without note or cor
r ment, is permitted in our public school
look abroad and see what privileges "
extend tn Protestants. In those cou
b tries where your religion and laws are Q
paramount, you do not tolerate the co
secration of the humblest chapel and
for steeple and bell, they would n
stand long enough to knell their own rui
And yet you talk of federation, and le
' ture the whole world on Christian charity
. The language Of forbearance and frate
|, |, nal love melts from your lips softly
dew on the flowers of Hermon. Ol
would think, from your professions, Pro
estants must have perfect elysium
your lands. But somehow it strange
happens that they are disqualified f
llali:.- ann, ofE "A Of oiuil frnai o..