The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-04-05
The Bottom of the Ocean.

Mr.. Green, the famous diver, tells singu
lar stories of his adventures when making
sketches of what he saw on the Silver Banks
near Hayti.
The banks of the coral on which my div
ings were made are about forty miles il
length, and from ten to twenty in breadth
On this bank Of coral is presented to thu
diver one of the most beautiful and sublime
scenes the eye ever beheld. The watel
varies from ten TO one hundred feet in depth
and is so clear that the diver can see from
two to three hundred feet while submerged
with little obstruction to the sight.
| The bottom of the ocean in many places
on these banks is as smooth as marble
| floor; in Others it is studded with cora
columns from ten to one hundred feet in
height. and from one to eight feet in diane
ter. The tops of the more lofty support O
myriad ofpyramidical pendanta, each form.
ing myriad more, giving the appearance
of reality to the imaginary abode of some
water nymph. In other places the pendants
form arch after arch, and as the diver stands
on the bottom of the ocean and gazes
through those into the deep, winding
avenues, he feels that they fill him with as
cathedral which had long been buried be.
meath old oceans wave. Here and there the
| coral extends even to the surface of the
water, as if those loftier columns were tow
ers belonging to those stately temples now
in ruins.
There were countless varieties of dminu-
| tive trees, shrubs, and plants in every Gre
vice of the coral, where the water had de.
posted the least earth. They were all of a
pale hue, owing to the pale light they re-
ceived, of every shade, and entirely differ
| ent from the plants am familiar with that
vegetate on dry land. One in particular at
tracted my attention; it resembled sea fan
ofimmense size, of variegated colors, and OF
the most brilliant hue.
The fish which inhabit those banks
found as different in kind as the scene was
varied. They were of all forms, colors, and
sizes, from the symmetrical goby to the
globe like sunfsh; from those of the dullest
hue to the changeable dolphin from the
spots of the leopard to the hues of the sun
beams, from the harmless minnow to the
voracious shark. Some had heads like
squirrels, Others like cats and dogs; one of
the small size resembled a bull terrier
Some darted through the water like meteors
while Others could scarcely be seen to move.
Who Won the Diamond.
A worthy man, full of years and wealth,
wishing to divide his possessions between
his three sons, in order that he might enjoy
in his lifetime the pleasure of seeing them
independent and prosperous. After max
ing an equal division of his property. and
giving TO each his portion, he said: "There
still remains in my possession a very valu-
able diamond. intend it for him among
you who will deserve it best, by perform
ing some generous, noble action, within
the next three months"
The three sons departed, but met again
at the end of the prescribed time. They
present themselves before their Judge, and
the eldest begins as follows:
"Father, during my absence, a stranger
| found himself SO circumstanced as to be
obliged to intrust all his money into my
keeping. He had no receipt from me, and
could produce no proof no security; never
theless, l faithfully restored the whole
Was not that praiseworthy 2"
"You only did your duty, my son." said
| the old man sit would have been scandal
lous to do otherwise, for honesty is duty;
yours was an act ofjustice, not generosity"
The second son, in his turn, related his
story. I'm my travels, came to the Dor
der of lake. A child had just fallen into
the water. jumped in and rescued him
before the eyes of the villagers, who will
attest the truth of my statement"
THAT was well done," interrupted the
father, "but it was simply an act ofhuman-
ity."
At length the youngest brother began
"My father" said he. II found my mortal
enemy, who had wandered off the track
during the night, asleep and unconscious
on the edge of a precipice the least move.
ment would have been fatal, as on awaken
ing he must have tumbled into the abyss
His life was in my hands. took all proper
precaution to awaken him gently, and drew
him away from the danger"
"Ah! my son." cried the father with joy
and embracing him tenderly, without dis
pute, the ring belongs to you"