Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-07-11

The body OF the island indeed resembles that
OF some huge monster Of the antediiuWan world
even as its capes and headlands resemble such
monsters unsightly limbs and claws.
A more terrific solitude than this isle OF Desc
lation does not exist upon our wrecked planet.
Neither the SHOWS OF Himalaya nor lhe sands
of Sahara can outvie its terrors.
No inhabitant is there, not even savage no
house, no tree, 10 shrub, no fence nor road, no
field nor garden, no horse, no dog-not even n
snake or a wolf.
Lone, blasted and barren, it looks like tho
skeleton ola land that has persisted.
II may indeed be that Desoation is the relic
the surviving fragment-of continent that
went down here ages ago, with hosts OF inhabi-
tants, in some vast CONFUSION of nature
1t has certainly undergone dreadful vista
tons been rent by earthquakes, pulyerized by
frosts, dashed and wasted by fierce lempests.
It's mountains are only of moderate height
but are capped eternally with snow.
It's vegetation is limited to a few dwarfsh
plants, including some MOSES, species Of
hchen, coarse grass, plant resembling a
small cabbage and a sort Of cress.
Its winds are raw and piercing, it summers
cold and frosty, its winters those OF thu Polar
Cr~' a.
The interior OF the island is occupied by i'm
mense DOGGY swamps, where the ground sinks
at every step.
The rains in Desoation are almost incessant
In their season, and the island is accordingly
veined with numerous torrents OF fresh water
some of which have worn out Of the solid rock
tremendous cavities and gullies. The only
other season than that Of the rains is one OF
almost constant snow.
The fogs Of that ghastly region are well
worthy OF the rains, being of a cloud-hke dem
sity and lowering almost continually over the
whole face OF the island.
The sun OF Desoation is usually hidden by
canopy Of lead-coored clouds, and appears,
on the rare occasions when it is visible, scarce
ly brighter than the moon In other attitudes.
As to the moon itself, and the stars, the clouds
and fogs rarely permit them to betray their
existence.
No fish worthy Of note, not even fishes Of
prey, abound in the adjacent waters, by rea-
son, perhaps, OF their containing poisonous
minerals, or deadly eIhalatlOns from the vol
canic fires beneath them.
Yet the dark grim sea inclosing Desolation
has done something to repair the sterilty Of
the island.
Peguins, ducks, gulls, cormorants and other
marine birds are plentiful in soma OF its bar
bOrs.
Seals also abound.
Strange and terrible land
Not single human being, so far as Is known,
nh5 over nNeu IueIei Saw hb ID uOW W " TO
corded IN these pages.
Near the middle of a dull, dismal afternoon,
some eleven weeks later than the date Of the
preceding events, the good ship Flying ChQders
drew near to the island of Desolation, shaping
her course toward its northernmost bay, called
by Captain Cook, Christmas Harbor.
A tair breeze was blowing from the North,
and the ship was carrying every stitch OF her
canvas, including studding-salls
Der e-ew-both watches-wer busy about
the deck, and her passongers-a score in num-
ber-had gathered in groups, mostly forward,
and were gazing with great interest upon the
wild rugged shores before them, 30 far as the
fog suspended upon those shores permitted
them to become visible.
The ship had come here for water, nearly all
her water casks having been stove or started
during squat ten days previously, and every
soul aboard Of her having been since that date
upon short allowance.
Upon the quarterback stood Capt. Luke
Pedder, looking unusually happy, with Will
Hawley beside him.
81 mean to get our water aboard before
dark, Captain Pedder, and so avoid losing a
night here" said the young executive, totally
unconscious Of the plot to leave him alone on
the desolate island, and OF the extraordinary
adventures which were before him. The
strange events that happened there, and indeed
the whole of this thrilling story, will be found
only in the New York Ledger, which is Low
ready and for sale at oil tue bookstores and
news-depots. Ask for the number dated July
story from the place where it leaves of here.