The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-03
The 2utlaud daily Glohr.
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 3, 1873.
OUR SOUTHERN CORRESPONDENTS.
WINERY Expcrlcncc-Old probabilities-In Il
Gale-SOuthcrn Weathcr-FIowers and Ncge-
-GcrmanS--An Unlucky Rope Walker.
CHARLESTON, S. G., April 2G. 1873.

CHARLESTON, ;. C., April 90 1873.
Deor Mr.. EdHor:- contrast between
the genial atmosphere of the Sunny South,
and the rugged and bracng weather of the
snow-clad hill of New England, was never
more strkingly realized than by your cor
respondent, during the last weeks of March,
while making trip from the mountains
northeast of your thriving village to this
! place. Leaving the mountain home of
| dear friends, whose cheerful freside and
warm hearts were in striking contrast to
the bowling winds and drifting SHOWS that
surrounded them, commenced my jour
ncy south upon pair of snow-shoes, the
original surface of the earth being some
six to eight feet below, and the fences bur
led far too deep to interfere with this kind
of navigation. AT Rutland did not find
snow enough for decent sleighing; but for
| sixty miles below Troy the eastern bank of
the Hudson seemed still wrapped in the
iron grasp of winter and not until we
passed opposite Newburg and West Point
did we sec the majestic Hudson. or did the
drifting snow cease to penetrate every Gre
vice of the car, as it was driven in binding
| clouds from the frozen river,
New York city we found nearly free
from snow and ice, and the Central Park
performing its ablntions and making its
toilet for the reception of the gay world of
| frOlic and fashion, which swarm through
| its magnificent drives, walks and shady re-
treats during the summer. Now few
carriages and an occasional pedestrian were
visible, but overcoats and munlcrs were
needed as a protection from the keen March
winds. The museum of wild animals and
other curiosities which is large and in
creasng, forms the main attraction at the
park this time of year.
In the top of the museum building is a
government signal station, with all the
scientific apparatus for registering the
various atmospheric phenomena. AL
though the day was most beautiful and
clear, the officer in charge told me that
there was storm approaching from the
far south, which would probably strike
New York in about twenty-four hours.
And sure enough. although that night
closed in clear and fine, and the next morn
ing was staid and peaceful we left the
harbor at four in the afternoon with the
danger signals flying from the government
station, and before we reached Sandy
Hook most fearful gale was blowing
from the south, threatening TO swool
everything tl.at had not iron nails and sin
/, ews to bear up against it, As we pitchct
and plunged in this gale for the next thirty
six hours, we could not help thinking what
Il true prophet 'Old Probabilities was
getting to be; and if Mark Twain hat
been on board he would have heard as many
ION, my's' AS on the first two days of til,
famous cruise of the Quaker City.
few miles off Charleston bar we met {
terrific thunder storm but our first da,
here was clear and beautiful and we have
scarcely seen cloud since -Four weeks OF
uninterrupted sunshine, the first week o
which the mcrcIry reached 50 in til,
shade. seemed Il most striking contrast tt
my snow-shoe walk over six feet of snow
the preceding week. The cotton. corn
rice and sweet pOtatocr came up rapidly
during this warm spell and the rose, il
great variety together with many othel
beautiful flowers, is in full bloom bu
vegetation must suffer if not soon watcrc,
by abundant rain. The city also stands il
great need Of rain to replcnish her cistcrns
for she depends In great measure upon TIN
clouds for her trcsh-water supply.
was surprised to fined so large pro
portion of German population in Charles
ton. They own one, at least of the fines
churches of the city, where the gospel j
preached in the German language. The,
also have their lager beer gardens an,
games, as in New York The past wccl
they have held Il very successful 'schutzen
fest" in the northern suburbs of the city
upon the bank of the Ashley river, whicl
has been made the occasion for pleasan
holiday by thousands; among others you
humble servant. 1t was here that rope
stretched ut an elevation of some 30 feet
broke, preciptatng to the ground a woodel
legged rope-walker, breaking the hip of hi
short leg This man has history. II
was in tho rebel army, and received min
different wounds, one of which caused TIN
amputation of one leg below the knee
With wooden stump pointed at the bot
tom, as we always see it in the pictures o
ouc-legged beggars, he walks upon TIN
rope and performs such wonders as Blon
dins with two feet are west to do. Thi
unfortunate accident to Prof De Houn
Cfor this is his nance caused much sympa
thy for him, and | understand brought on
in substantial form the aid of the kind
hearted Germans of the "Schutzen."
But am writing too much, and must re
serve the physical, social and political fea
lures of this old city of the South TO
another time, W.