The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-02-26
M-fDR1S,
illumination o. the SURF in Honor o.; The
Prince.

Prince.
The city of Madras, including the
whole of the various divisions of which
II is composed, extends along the coast
from north TO south for a distance of
nearly niEe miles. 1t differs from all
other cities OF maritime importance from
the fact that it has no harbor, but fronts
directly upon the sea, and the waves,
which sometimes rise to the remarkable
height of fourteen feet, break immediate
iy under the walls of the city. Along
the shore leading from the cantonment
of st. Thomas to Fort St. George, where
the English garrison at Madras is quar-
tered, extends the Mount Road,
beautiful shaded avenue about six miles
in length. From this road the most at
tractive view of the city is obtained upon
the one hand, while upon the other the
attention of the visitor is constantly
drawn to the beauty and popularity of
the surf as it breaks in ridges CT curling
foam three hundred yards from the shore.
During the visit of the Prince of
Wales to India he was witness of the
remarkable spectacle known at Madras
rs the illumination of the surf" This
wonderful display of artificial lights
among the frothing waves is accomplished
by the discharge of rockets from the
ships around, and the piers, together
with scores of coiorcd lights which are
attached 70 the hfe-buoys and carried
about by catamarans propelled by ma
tives. Many of these lights are made
from materials that are inextinguisha-
bic, and these are placed upon the surf,
aud burn there with an effect that ap-
pears almost miraculous in its strange
beauty. The correspondent of the Lon
don Times says:
Never has been seen in India or else
where spectacle at once so grand and
50 awful as the illuminat ion of the surf.
Neither pen nor pencil can give any idea
OF 1t. 1t was weirdly beautiful, exciting,
grand. rs if to render homage to the
occasion, the wind had risen and the suri
was unusually high, while the night was
sufficiently cloudy to prevent all rivalry
between the stars and the lights upon
the SEA.
After the usual state dinner Mt the
house of tine governor, the prince and
his party left the table to prepare for the
drive to the beach. The road from the
government house was Illuminated. and
the triumphal arches were outlined with
lanterns, and bore stars and other de-
vices. The fort, which also comprises the
council-house and a number of civil and
military offices, was outlined with lamps.
as were all the government buildings
within the city. On alighting from their
carriages at the fort, which had been
selected as the best point for viewing the
liluminations of the whole csplanadc rs
well as the fireworks, the royal marty
walked to the end of the pier, where pre-
partitions for their comfort had been
made Seats were placed for the prince.
the governor, his family, and the suit,
out of the reach of the spray The build
ings along the beach, transparencies, and
trIumphal arches, all brilliantly illumin-
ated, formed background above which
rose steeples, columns, and lamps. South
ward, where the rollers swept up to the
roadway, there were rows of natives with
blazing torches and blue lights, and fac
ing seward there was an ocean of white
turbans. The Scraps, Osborne, and
Raleigh, were illuminated outside. Be-
tween the outer darkness and the beach
the moonlight now and then revealed
dark objects rising and falling on the
pillows.
AT the moment the prince arrived on
the pier with the commander-in-chief
there was a grand discharge from the
Raleigh, accompanied by flight of one
hundred and ninety colored rockets. 1t
seemed as if volcanoes were emitting VOL |
lmes of colored flames. Presently an
Deared fires here and there seward.
midst waves drifting landward, like fire.
hips from afar. These multiplied, dip
ping, rising now and then through the
waves, while occasionally came a light
rom the other side. 1t had an immense
fleet. Suddenly from the beach dashed
he black forms of Masouwah boats and
'atama; ans, which, amidst the widest
Tells, charged into the serried ranks of
he foam-crested breakers, and dark OBJ
ects seward were revealed, as the boats
ossed violently Oh the outer ridge Of the
'reakers. There never was such an awful
egatta. Amidst sea now black az ink
low like fire-glistening jet in a creamy
urf, the catamaran men were swept off
nd either regained their crafts or were
wept beneath the pillows. There was
n awful suspense until they were landed
afc on the beach. The Masouwah boats,
wepH from stem to stern by the breakers.
,rced their way out into the smoother
"a, to return still more animated. Their
Kill is beyond praise. These hardy fel- {
TVS, watching an opportunity, keep the
Up of the wave by tremendous efforts, ,
nd are borne past with wonderful We s
city, yet emerge safely from each sue ,
,eding breaker. This extraordinary spec .
lcle was renewed repeatedly. To the |
sitor it seemed like combat of water
IDS, for the people. amidst the blue |
yhts, the rockets, and the boiling surf,
manned almost speeches. Altogether 9
re effect of these scores of brilliant col t
ed lights amidst the lines of seething '
Irf was superb. The prince himself was
eatly pleased and interested, and even f
med in the amusement by throwing v
bm the pier some of the cases Of m ,dern r
reek fire with which this magnificent t
'rotechnic display was made. e
EARLY INFLUENCEs.-The can be "
greater blessing than to be born in .
e light and air Of cheerful, loving v
me. 1t not only insures hapny child IL