Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-07-24
THE SPORTS OF OTHER DAYS.

Far in the west, where sunsets parting beam
With brighter spendor tints the grassy stream,
| Pinckneys green island home yet bears the name
| OF one whose virtues share his country'S fame,
4 soldier proved, without reproach or fear,
A statesman skilled new commonwealths to rear,
To field and forum equally Injured,
| What arms had won, his eoquence secured;
| With stern resolve his country to defend,
| He spurncd the arrogance Of foe and friendi
War crowned him with the laurels of the brave,
Aud civic garlands Peace as amply gave;
With care he watched the anarchy that waits,
In ambushed strength. TO crush revolving states,
And strove with yea, all jealous fears above,
To bind them fast, by tics Of social love:
! In this alone his generous spirtsaw
For peace, security, and rule for law,
Safety from border strife, from foreign foe,
And the long ills that feeble nations know.
Here every work Of patriot duty wrought,
His peaceful shades the veteran statesman sought
With ready anccdotc the livclongday
i Or playful wit, he charmed The grave and gay,
And taught the art to brighten and refine,
With cheerful WISDOM fc's unmarked decline.
With ready sympathy he loved to view
The April sports, aud to partake them too;
To watch-at early dawn, when skies are bright,
And dews lie sparkling in the early light
On leaf and l,wcr-the sail and glistcning oar,
Launched OH ebay from every creek and shore,
The favorite rock, the noted shoa to reach,.
Their landmarks tracing on the distant beach,
Far rs the eye commands tho sea around,
Gay fleets glide swiftly on the shining Sound;
With shouts and taunts the daily race is run,
The sail is furicd the wontcd station won,
The line prepared, the hook with caution tried,
The various bait with artful care applied:
All cagcr-slaycs and maStcrs-to behold
Their annual prize, with glittering scalcs of gold,
/. To fcel the line through glowing fingers glide.
Watch where the victim shows his FURNISHED side,
With Iatient skin his various efforts foil,
And seize, in triumph; on the conquered spoil;
Then boast and jest cxultingly proclaim
New trophies added u the yictOr's fame,
And the broad grin and shining face declare
How true n joy the negro sportsmcn share.
Now, with declining day, on every hand,
The londcl boats turn slowly TO the land,
Spread the light sail, or ply the bending oar.
And seek warm shelter on the wooded shore:
The boat songs chorus, wthits wonted charm,
} Imparts new vigOr to each sturdy arm;
The camp, the hamlet catch the wcll-knOwn note,
With sharpcncd appetite, the joyous crews
{ Prolong their feast Of savory 'teaks and stcws,
And join where campfrcs glimmer through the tree
, The light laugh floating on the western breeze
Describe the fish and fortunes of the day,
, How slv the bite how beautiful the play;
;. Tell with grave face, the supcrsti;ious charm
-, Tharm wrought the fisherman success or harm;
Recount the fcas Of fishing or Of fun,
In other days by older sportsmcn done;
In dreams renew their triumphs through the night,
And wake to others with the dawning light;
Not Marshfeld's MASTER in the palmicst day,
= For feast or fish could reader skill display,
Chowdcr exp0und with more consumate art,
!. At the full trcnchcr play manlier part,
q Or, more secure from each intrusive carc,t
e The JOY participate and feast prepare
n Not Elliott, early trained, with easy skill,
s Old Wal.on's various offices to fl
The sport to lead, the the willing ear bcguilc
Y And charm with rare felicity Of style,
: The strainng line with nicer art employs,
v With kccncr zcSt the marly sport cnj'ys,
+, Or takes the lisli and fortunes Of tue day,
$ Sunshine or showers, more buoyantiy gay.
( But If the wayward fish fuse the l'it,
; Ifhoating lines for Stacker tides await,
n II trick and fun the idle moment brings,
From boat to boat Iight-hcartcd laughter rings;
= The novice .,art, alarmed, his slumbcr broke
:, BY the sly veterans oit-rcpeatcd joke,
' Or Dupc or Jester. stretched in drcnmlrss sleep,
: Lie rocked by biliows rolling from the deep,
i Famed by the southern breeze, that on its wings,
7 From the blue sH refreshing cooiIrSs brings:
: Nov reused hy hunger every hand explores
Il | t,s,t1 \ IL t,, Nf..
Fish from the lnoruins feast the onteous maize
OF grst or -four, al amplcr dish displays;
: lyiili al..A-li,~ s-..1tt ia the fasr,
They feast, and kings Iuay covet the rcpad
, Or more alert the crew, nu pleasure htnt,
G I'm the gay race the idle hour is spent;
! The ailyliurs lifted from from their 0ozy bed,
The long lines coilc'l, the snowy canvas spread;
! With pcnnants streaming, Oh the sparkling lay
Their speed or skill the SNifcr boats di.pay;
The liril and Falcon stretch their pointed wings
Thr,ush the Eight foam the rapid Dolphin springs,
The peerless Nautilus with broader sail,
Skins Ia, green wave and courts the trcshnins sal'
2 Eat other Genes attract the spurtsman's gaze,
, And turn his wandering thoughts to other days,
When on these streams the Indians swift canoe,
Light as the gull, to sport or battle flew;
Light as the noisy focks that meet the eye,
S On restless rinions iiitting gaily by;
, A iamclrss ocean brood that love to rove
{ The shore and scd, but shun the quiet grove,
5 in Idle sport they chase and are pursued,
With sudden dart surprise their minnow fool,
The rising diver watch, the wcll-carncd prize
: Snatch from his bill with sharp, cxuins cries,
, Or in the stream their glossy plumagc lave,
And sit with graceful .is!tnCss Oh the wave,
FROM GrdysonS LGreiing dai TIE Sdrc.