Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-08

CRUsoE's IsLAND.-At a distance of less
than three days voyage from Valparaiso, Chill,
and nearly In the same latitude with this lm-
portant port on the western coast OF South
America, is the island of Juan Fernandez, where
Alexander Sekirk, during solitary banlsh-
ment of four years. gathered the material for
DeFoe's Robinson Crusoe" This island, little
thonght of by tbe inhabitants of the Chilean
coast-land, has lately become of some interest
by the fact that in December 1869, 1t was
ceeded to society of Germans, under the
guidance of Robert Wehrhan, on engineer from
Saxony, for the purpose OF colonization. Weh-
rhan, left Germany II years siuce, passed sew
eral years in England, served as major through
the war between the American States, and was
subsequently engaged as engineer with the
Ceropasco railroad in South America. He and
his society, about sixty or seventy individuals,
have taken possession Of the island. They found
there countless herds of goats, some thirty half
wild horses and sixty donkeys, the latter ami
mails proving to be exceedingly shy. They
brought with them COWS and other cattle, SWINE,
numerous fowls, and all the various. kinds OF
agricultural implements, with boats and fishing
apparatus, to engage 10 different pursuits and
occupations. The grotto, made famous as
Robinson S abode, situated in a spacious valley,
covered with large fields of wild turnips-a de-
sirable food for swine-has been assigned to
the hopeful young Chilean gentleman to whom
the charge Of the procine part of the society S
stock has been entrusted, and he and his pro-
teges are doing well in their new quarters. Juan
Fernandez is one Of the stations where whaling
ENERGY AND INDUSTRY. correspondent
of the Richmond Dispatch from Botetourt Co.,
Va writes as follows
1--WE had the pleasure this morning of visit
ing an ex Confederate soldier who lives IN this
neighborhood, Mr.. Mike Haymaker, who lost
his right arm in one of the fights near Rich
mond when he was seventeen years OF age.
Since that time he has accomplished more with
his one arm than=many others have done with
both. He goes into the forest and cuts and
puts up cord and half of wood per day, tel
ling large trees, aud in other respects makes an
efficient farm hand But what is more remark
able, he has recently, without the instruction OF
carpenter or wheelwright made an entire
mill, receiving no assistance except IN moving
the large timbers He even went to the noun
tains OF neighborng county and hewed there
from the upper and neither stones for his mill.
Though frequently baff1ed in his efforts, he per
severed, and has succeeded finely, tor your cor,
respondent thinks he never saw better meal
than that he examined to-day made by this
one armed, self-mad carpenter, wheeIWrlght,
and miller We we're little puzzled to know
how he would hold and drive nail with only
one hand; this he did very quickly by grasplng
the hammer and nail, with the point OF the nall
directed toward the wood, and It's head under
that part of the handle immediately under ms
hand Holding it in this posltlons ne could
easily start the nail into the wood With slight
lick, then drive it home with the face or the
80 ,,.,,1 NJ, 1nuht tho anarpy and
Industry displayed by this young man will be
rewarded" ..C i'"'; ...'.'
HoTEL LIFE IN LONDON AND PARIS. Mr..
&C. Fulton, editor Of the Baltimore Amerl-
can now travelling in Europe, writes to his pa
per from Paris. .str2, ,,t
are so Indifferent to the enjoyment OF any: one
but themselves, the stranger. unless ne nap,
pen to have personal acquaintances VINO WIN WI
nav him some attentions, meets 10 his wander
ines at every turn something to annoy and vex
him, He is made to pay heavily tor even com
mon ciyilities. Both the railroad advertise
ments and city directory are SO arranged that
no one but an Engishman can understand
them. They seem to regard all the rest OF the
world as outside barbarians to whom they owe
nothing, not even those little attentions, when
distinguish the Christian gentleman 10 oil otner
countries. When a room is engaged at no.
tel, YOU are told the number and. on what moor
tits, but are left to fnd it as best you may, oy
hunting up the attendant on that floor, Then
the waiters and attendants, in their black coats
and white neck ties, whom you might suppose
10 be the proprietors or head clerks, are con-
stantly casting anxious glances at you, or init
mating that shilling would be acceptable.
AN things are different in Paris Here their
attention to the comfort of their guests is con