Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-18
TEc Great Dismal Swamp.
iCosrcSpoodencc Of the Alexandria Gazette
SUFFOLK, Aug. l6, 1877.

Each person. idea of pleasure is different, Of
course. There is 40 old French proverb which
p.thiIS saith "Chacuu son gout." which l
viii translate for tear some suspicious person
| might think [ was cursiog in foreign language;
it Dears every ooe to her taste, as the old
dozen men and give them summer vacation,
aud there will be exactly dozen schemes to
pass the holiday pleasantly. Most men prefer
ease and comfort to keen and intense enjoy
mcDt. Most women are Bohemians at heart,
and understand how to appreciate life far more
than the c5arscr sex does. 1t has been an oft
commented % fact, that during shpwrecks the
women stood the Lariships and fatigue better
by far han their male companions. Some PEG,
pie Ike Gle thing and some another. Old MIR.
Weller sagcly observes, but as Tor me Ill
choose quiet house and plenty Of wttles." To
those who think with the parent of the ire
pressiJlc Sam, they ought never to travel, q
rough night q hot SUI, a chilling rain, or coarse,
scanty meal would make them msers bic. and
set them grumb!Ing for the creature comforts
they could net DO without. Such men ought
never to rough it., and they should have fat
wives 10 preside over their bed and board ; then
they will be sure OF a long and comfortable life.
Leaving Suffolk by the canal | started for
Lake Dfummond with guide named bob, "
who was the biggest eater, and the largest 70
maCcer had ever met. always got at the true
OF what he said The canal for the first three
| fan, fnoi ia nd lool
like ditch than aoy thing else, its surface be-
Ing covered with green Slime, through which
Bob laboriousy padded his canoe. Along this
point the locomotion aud surroundings arc te.
dious and wearsome few miles further on
we overlook long boat going after shingles.
ADD we hltched our canoe behind. These
lighters carry Shingles TO the railroad and are
propelled by men walking on the back and
pushing an oar. one cod Of which is fastened
to the boat. The path is but one sing le log
laid down, the but OF one touching the end Of
another. These logs are not fastened, but loose
in the water, and though the boatman has the
oar of the lighter to steady himself, be stumbles
every moment and steps kuee deep 10 water.
The canal is 10 miserable condition, and the
life of the lighters aud single makers is one Of
great exposure, as we'll az hardship
Within three miles of the Lake the scene is
the most eEquistcly beautiful | ever beheld,
neither grand nor stirring, out simply naturally
beautiful ; not the loveliness hat stirs the
sonscs but that which touches the heart. The
canal loses all senbauce OF its title, and paddles
have 10 bc used. Reeds, howers and the holly
tree iiuo each bauk, aud nearly meet across,
while away up 10 the air the branches OF the
majestic hemlock, the stately maple. across
which vines, creepers and funeral Expresses trail
log III graceful ftstoons, meet overhead, form
iog grand avenue, So densely shaded that
hardly fugitive suns ray Can steal through.
| AS the boat glides 10 the slrless water the
avenue stretches straight as an arrow, and loses
itself iu dim, uudefaabe aisle. The water
of the canal looks as black as ink, though it is
really the color Of Madeira wine its great pc.
culiarity ia its faithful reflection OF objects.
Every tree, bush, flower and shrub, even the
spider web that spans the chasm, and the gaudy
butterfly, is mrrowed with marvellous dis.
| tinctacss. aod the tint. the color and delicate
shades Of hue are reproduced with such absolute
| fidelity that the effect upon person is start
LOG. By looking in the water as you pass along
| you feel at length that you are really floating
10 the air. There is a very depressing feeling
iu travelling through the swamp. Its absolute
slillnesa, with not sound to break the monot.
ony, max ~ person sad 10 spite OF himself,
and you echo the words of Selkirk
"Oh Solitude, where are your charms.
| Fiat sages have seen on thy face"
At last you reach Lake Drummond, and
it opens to your gaze like the raising of
| the curtaiu OF theatre or a tableauy.--
| II God has ever made iarer sheet of
water, it is yet hid away from gaze and
mortal ken 1t sets in the very centre OF the
great swamp, pure undefiIed and fresh its
waters whether at rest in placid rspose, or
| stirred by the winds. always wear q rich, ruby
hue that CLEANS like gold 10 the sunshine. Hid
away in the midst Of an inaccessible swamp this
lonely lake seems to dream away its life, and
one can almost believe that it was conceived by
Jove himself and made for the chaste Diana to
bathc 10, away from all the haunts Of men. 1t
is novel, weird and strange scene. the stretch
OF water looming all around, for Lake Drum
moDd is seven miles long by five wide, oval 10
shape, and it looks larger than it really is. No
sails cleaning % the waters set oft the dark
back ground no long slender cloud OF
smoke darkens the horizon, showing where
the swift steamer pur5ues It's way; not even
q puugy or tiny sEfT can be seen only
the calm sti lake, radiant in its solitary beau.
to. Hid away, as it is. and bearing on its
bosom no argoses of commerce, the lake, as
contrasted with the Dismal Swamp, is a
jewel ia a toad's head, an oasis 10 the desert, a
precious diadem in miser's chest. There is
tradition that before the colonial times an H.
dian warrior dared to love the daughter of his
Chief, who, like many white fathers, raised the
mischief because the young man couldn't show
up moro wealth than pair Of strong arms and
brave heart No ponies, no blankets and no
nothing The warrior having won the maiden
heart, gained her listening car, and persuaded
h. o(TI 1,1,o 1rL; Ill Id -
the swamp, and live and die together. Both
left, and futile was the pursuit, and they were
given ever as dead, until many years after they
were seen together to cross the lake 10 canoe |
Tradition further tells US that the Great Spirit
was so pleased With the rare devotion and love
displayed that he allows them to return to earth
occasionally as q great marx Of his favor, and |
10 liDgcr in the scene Of their happiness. be.
held Lake Dfummond at twilight and watched |
the night closing in, the shadows on the water
deepen, and the lofty woods that grded it |
! j. IL