Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-09-12
SHELLEYiS FIRST AND LAST
GLASS OF GROG,

spare hour, let's see II we can't put
q girdle round about the earth in
| forty minutes. LIN these docks arc
| living specimens of all the nation
alities of the world; thus we can
90 round it and visit and examine
any particular nation we like, OBJ
serving their peculiar habits, man
ners, dress, language. food, produc-
| tons, arts and naval architecture
| for see how varied are the shapes,
build, rigging and decorations 0
the different vessels. There lies an
English cutter, French chdssce
nlGrec, an American clipper, u
Spanish tartan, an Austrian traba
cola, a Genoese felucca, Sardin
ian zebec, a Neapolitan brig, ST.
Gillian sparanza, Dutch galleot, d
Danish snow, a Russian hernia
phrodite. a Turkish saekalever, a
Greek lombard. / don't see a
Persian dow, an Arab garb, or a
Chinese junk; but there is room
enough for our purpose and to
spare. As you are writing a poem,
Ilellas, about the modern Greeks
| would it be not as we'll to take a
! look at them amidst all the din Of
the docks? hear their shrill nasal
voices. and should like to know IL
you can trace in the language or
lieaments of these Greeks OF the
nineteenth century, a. ID, the
faintest resemblance to the lofty
aud snbIime spirits who lived in
the fourth century, Is z. An En-
glish merchant who had dealings
with them, told them he thought
these modern Greeks were, ifJudg-
ed by their actions. a cross between
| the Jews and gypsies; but here
comes the Capitano Larita;
| know him.
So, dragging Shelley with me, |
introduced him, and asking to see
the vessel, we crossed the plank
from the quay and stood on the
deck of the San Spiridone in the
midst Of her chattering, irascible
crew. They took little heed ofthe
skipper, for in these trading yes
sells each individual of the crew Is
part owner, and has sope share'in
| the cargo; so they are all interest
ed in the speculation-having no
wages. They squatted about the
decks in small knots, shrieking,
| gesticulating, smoking, eating and
| gambling like savages.
Does this realize your idea OF
Hellenism, Shelley ?'' / said.
"No, but it does of hell" he re
piled.
The captain insisted ON giving
us pipes and coffee in his ca bin, as
i dragged Shelley down Over
the rudder head, facing us, there
was gilt box enshrininga flames
ing, gaudy daub of a saint, with
lamp burning before it this was
III Padre Santo Spiridione, the
ships godfather The skipper
crossed himself and squatted on
the dirty divan. Shelley talked TO
him about the Greek revolution
that was taking place, but from its
interrupting trade the captain was
opposed 10 it.
leone away!n said Shelley,
there is not drop of the old Hell
| lenic blood here. These are not
the men to rekindle the ancient
| Greek fire; their souls are extin-
| guished by traffic and supersti-
ton. Come away !"-and away
| we went.
at is but a STEP" | said, "from
these ruins of worn out Greece to
the New World let's board the
| American clipper"
:" had rather not have any more
of my hopes and illusions Knocked
by sad realities" said Shelley.
You must Allow answered,
"that graceful craft was designed
by man who had a poets feeling
for things beautiful; let's get q
model and build a boat like herr
The idea SO pleased the poet that
he followed me on board her. The
Americans are social, free and
easy people, accustomed to take
| their own way, and readily yield
the same privilege to all others, so
that our coming on board, and ex-
animation of the vessel, fore ana
aft was not considered an intrusion
The captain was on shore so talk.
ed to the mate, a sharp specimen
of a Yankee. When commended
her beauty, he said:
/" j do expect, now we have q new
hopper on, she has look OF the
brass sarpeEt, she has as slick a
run and her bearings arejust where
they should he"
Isaid we wished to build boat
after her model.
"Then / calculate you must go
to Baltimore or Boston to get one /;
there is no one on this side of
the water can do the job. We have
our freight already and are home
Hn,,aI wv