The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-31
The November Magazines.


Harper's.
The November number closes the forty
ninth volume Of IIarper's, and, as usual, brings
to its readers rich and varied feast The
number opens with finely illustrated artcl,
by s. G. w Benjamin, on the Bahamas Fol
years the home and headquarters Of bucca
necrs and pirates, then of a more decurn.
| population, consisting mainly Of fishermen
and wreckers, these islanders enjoyed an easy
azy existence until the great American re
The little town Of New Providence, became
at once the grand center to which swarmcC
the Southern refugees, the captains anC
crews of bloCkadc-runners, cotton brokers
rum sellers Jews and Gentiles of high and
low degree, coming money and squandering
ii rs if they owned the secret of the transmu
tation OF metals They played toss penny IN
the verandas Of the Royal Victoria Hotel with
gold eagles The shops were packed to the
ceilings; the streets were crowded with bales
boxes, ahd barrels-cOitOn coming in, Con
iederatt uniforms and pills Of lead and ON.
nine, 10 pepper patriots and patients, going
out. Scmmes and his bold boys twisted their
muStlches nj every corner, danced involunta-
ry reels and hurnpipes from GROCERY to
groggery, from the wGycd floors Of the Gov.
eminent House. where they were always sure
OF cordial reception, to the decks of the Ban.
S3tc and lldbHHd, or brandishcd their revOl.
ycrs in the faces Of Union men, whose lives
were too uncertain to insure whereabouts in
those roisering days. y spiccy l.ttle paper
called the Young PWch, edited by witty
Confederate in Nassau gives glimpse of the
state OF things then existing, and shows that
there was some real fun connected with block.
Undermining, \ rather grim Joke was PLAYED
At the expense of the rebels ria Nassau. A
large invoice of praycrbooks was brought
! from England and rc-shippcd to Charleston
with the express understanding that they
were suited 10 the devotional wants of the
Coniederacy. Quite number bad been dis.
tllbucd before II was DISCOVERED that the
prayers for the President and Congress of the
United States had not been altered"
But all this is changed now. The blockade
runners and refugees have all left; the buc-
cancers are dead, even wrecking no longer
pays, and the islands are now chiefly sough,
as a winter resort for invalids, Cor which they
offer in climate, scenery, and hotel accommo
da'ions, attractions perhaps superior to Flor
ida or any other locality on this side of the
water ..
. Another finely illustrated article is by NJ
~ Howell, whose name is familiar TO our
readers from his connection with the Mar
settles wall paper works. 1t is headed
Among the Waterfowl of the West" and
treats very correctly of the waterfowl of this
immediate vicinity where Mr. IIowells ex
plots among the ducks geese brant, &c, are
well remembered 10y many OF our citizens
II Is difficult 10 give extracts from the articl,
that would not cncroach too much upon on
space. but all our sporlsmcn will read it will
"A greedy interest
! II. ID. Conway continues his illustrated pa
/ pers ON decorative Art and Architecture i,
! England :" and Professor Newcomb conclude
/ his popular talks Of an Astronomer, which
are profusely illustrated. 4 grand poem, en-
titled Sibylla Cumana," illustrated by Fred
ericks. is contributed by Commander William
Gibson.
Senior Castelar's remarkable papers are cor
b tinucd and there is, from the pen of r. II
Horne, thrilling novelette, of twenty-five
pages in length. 4 short story, Woocd b.
an Attache," is contributed by the author o
" Joseph the Jew and " A Sack of Gold"
\ The Rape of the Camp" is continued, an,
there arc poems by Joaquin Miller and Kat
Hillard.