The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-28

ed by friends, yet the thought God
grant that may never be laid here, could
not but arise in my breast, and with that
feeling left the cemetery.
As we leave Mount Hope and proceed
towards Panama, we begin to more fully
view the beauties of the isthmus, For a
distance of at least fifty feet on each side
the foliage has been cleared away and re-
placed by a growth of aquatic plants, prom
inent among which is Il species of Gala
and pond lilies which fairly perfume the
air with their fragrance, while beyond
them the different species of palms and
other trees are so closely interviewer that
we can hardly penetrate the depths of the
forest until we reach Mindce, a small set
Element, the inhabitants of which are
chiefly engaged IN the raising of bananas.
passed there few days ago, (the dry be-
fore the departure Of the steamer tor New |
York; and to use an old expression, the |
ground was literally covered with bananas. |
A large number of pack ponies also stood
by, on each of which bananas were piled |
about as high as they could he, and |
thought to myself that the horses were
pretty well loaded, and 1 guess they were.
Three miles from here is Gatun, (Gatoon)
the first village from Aspinwall. This
village, which consists of some two hun
bred matched houses, is on the eastern
bank of the Chagrcs, which ut this place
makes a large bend, and is about fifty yards
wide. The village is situated on the edge
of broad plain, and from the cars pre-
sents n very picturesque view. If there
are any of your readers who crossed the
isthmus before the railroad was construct
cd they will possibly remember the place
when / say that here, during the California
fever in 1S49 so, steamers used to leave
their passengers, the river being navigahle to
this point, and where travellers used to take
refreshments, paying most cxhorbitant
prices | have been told that in those
| days eggs sold for twenty-five cents apiece,
and nights rest in a hammock cost two
| dollars. Here travellers embarked in the
native "bongos,' and proceeded to san
| Pablo where the took mules and finished
the journey to Panama. might as well
say here that the hammock is indispensable
rich and poor, and | really believe that if
the native were to have the choice between
a good bed or a hammock he would take
the latter, and | don't know AZ | should
blame him.
TIE STATION HOUSE
at this place is a fair sample of all on the
line OF the road. 1t is built on n little rise
of ground only n few feet from the river,
and is large two story house, with tin
roof, blinds on every window and broad
vcrandah extending around the house. In
the rear is the store house and cook room,
while in front is fine garden, in which
have noticed roses, peones, and pinks,
that reminded me of home, growing by the
side of tropical plants. This station, to my
mind, is one of the pleasantest on the road,
and would be a fine place to spend the dry
season in, think.
About mile beyond Gatun, we cross a
river of the same name on an iron bridge
ninety-seven feet in length. All around is
one dense swamp, while to the left of us il
seen what are known as Lion and Tiger
Hills. They are quite attractive, being
covered with dense growlh of green
foliage which always presents beautiful
appearance. These hills, at the time of
the construction Of the read, were inhabit-
ed by large numbers of bowling monkeys,
whose cries were taken for those of some
other wild animals. AT present, however,
a tiger cat is occasionally found in this sec
ton. They are not very large as a general
thing, but are quite handsome, and the
skins of them make beautiful mat. In
pleasing contrast to these bowling animals,
here are found large numbers of the beau
tiful flower of the Isthmus, known as the
'Espiritu Santo" or flower of the "IIoly
= Ghost" They have been before spoken o.
in your columns, so will not write very
fully in regard to them, but will only say
that no description of them Can do then
justice. 1t seems impossible that any
flower can be so delicately and beautifully
= arranged. These flowers are just begin
nlng to blossom and am in hopes to sent
some home so that you all can see them
1t IS laden with beautiful fragrance ant
/ do not wonder at the superstition of the
Catholic residents of the Istbmus who be
lieve it to be of divine origin and alwayt
reverently kneel and cross themselves
when they approach it.
e THE FOURTH.
! suppose that Rutland was fully aliv'
! on the fourth although ! saw no reference
4 to celebration IN any papers received by
t the last steamer, which brought dates NJ
e to June Goth. We however, who wer'
< some two thousand miles away from home
0 did what little we could TO celebrate tn,
day In the morning we fired nationa
e salute from the balcony of the Washington
a house, and as we had no artillery, we uset
I Demng's revolver, which spoke quit,
$ loud. In the afternoon few of us Assem-
a bled and had the ''Declaraiion of Indie
q pendence" read by one of our number, an(
f this, with dinner, not extra well gotteI
: up, were the exercises on the fourth. TIL,
c day was quite well celebrated, however, Al
/ far as bunting was concerned, for thcr,
/ were flags of several nations displayed, tn,
A stars and stripes, however, being largel,
a in the majority. The fifth was observed
as holiday, but very little work beinl
! done, and / was one of the unlucky onei
! who had to labor. The engines ''Sar
r Francisco and ''New York" were finely
Y decorated with flags and evergreens, ant
0 really looked quite handsome. The u s