The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-02
On THE EASTERN SHORE.
I'V-N y Z III.
From LipPiHcoUs Magazine.
CONTINUED.


costliest Injuries of less favored regions
are here the poor mans daily food. Prob.
ably no family is too poor 10 eat animal
food at least live days out Of the seven.
Oysters Of line quality are to he had every
where for the taking, ar At forty - sixty
cents per bushcl or gallon hy those who
have To buy. While the world renowned
diamond back - trrrapin Is reserved for
the rich mans table, II is the poor man
who catches aud sells A,m ut twelve and
twenty tour dollars per dozen, and contents
himself with the mud-rurtle and snap
per. the = .ordly canvas back - is for
the wealthy alone, but " trash-ducks," n
Guiding many varieties which city gour-
mands re- lIsh, may be- shot On almost a;,y
water. course The musk rat furnishes i
savory dish for any one who will set \
choke snare in the nearest creek. and his
skin will purchase the Accomplishments to
make MP the meal Fish are within reach
of all during the greater portion Of the
year, ranging from the hay-uackcIcl and
sheepsiIead To the catfish aud perch, which
COS, bat a triile under any circumstances
while they may often be had for the ask
ing at the fishing shores. At the spawning
season the yellow perch, or - neddies, -"
ascend the the shallowest streams, and are
thrown out by children with huge scoop
nets. Driving through the branches which
Il ii.
inches deep, 1t is curious to see shoals Of
these fish darting between the horsc's feet,
and even the spokes Of the wheels From
May To October, in ordinary years, fruit is
actually drug. Blackberries aud whortle-
berries and cherries of fine size and flavor
grow wild III great prnfusion, and the
strawberry, the raspberry, the apple and
the peach are sold AZ prices which put them
within the reach OF The poorest. As 4 re-
suit of this abundance, there is but little
poverty, and begeary is very rare. Tramps
there are fele, save the peach pluck. -" who
will sit for his portrait hereafter. During
prolonged freezes there is, of course, dis
tress among those whose living depends
upon open water, but the trouble /, re-
moved as soon as oysters become accessible
again.
Excepting Caroline anu Worcester. every
county Of Eastern Maryland possesses more
or less of bay-shore. the last Famed find.
ing compensation in some thirty miles Of
Atlantic coast line. Wherever some little
creek has Cut out "a tortuous passage To the
Chesapeake, the tides have washed back
into its channel until it has become for
miles al arm of the bay, rather than i
stream flowing into il. Thus, the country
has become a mesh work of uavigabI.
Yates, almost every farm being acceSsibl.
TO craft nj some description. Tie effect
oi this Lpon the resources of the region
has largely influenced the character Gf the
people, no less than It's agricultural features
and antiquarian remains. In the early
colonial times, while the settlers at a distance
from the seaports were obliged to burn the
bricks aud hew the timber for their dwell
ings, the wealthy holder of a grant in Eastern
brick and other building materials from
England, and have them landed within
easy hauling distance of the site which he
had selected, wherever the site mi.h; be
Hence, to tins day the country is cvcrywher-
dotted with quaint, old-tImc farm -housr,
and substantial ancient churches, which
stand undecaycd until pulled down 10
make way fOr more modern structures.
The same vessels which carry the oysters
To market bring back the shells in ballast.
- be dropped on every farm and burned
into lime for the Improvement OF the soil
With water at every man 5 door. the people
take to 1t as natural as ducks. The wealth
ier class send many of their young men 10
the navy-the poorer man the inuumer able
varieties Of craft which navigate the waters
uf the Chesapeake and its tributaries
This latter employment stamps its followers
with distinct individuality, and one can
find nowhere else in the world So many
sailors who have never been To sea. Every
where you meet Nth the weather eve
the slouchIng gait, the saltwater dialect
which Enthusiastically proclaim the mariner
Captains" are as plenty as Georgia majors.
but not one in a hundred knows the roll of
the ocean swell or is familiar with the
handling of square-Tigged ship. The
universal facility Of cheap importation has
prevented everything ike manufacturing
la l,-
Gently, were those for grinding wheat and
saving boards for ueighborhood conye.
nience, and these were run 10y water power
in preference To steam. The railroad and
slow but cheap and easy water trausporta
tiou, and the habit of patiently abiding
the uncertainties OF wind and weather cast,
a subtle influence over the character of the
people which is just beginning TO wear I'll.
But il trM wear of, and the new population
which is coming in will not have all the
credit of the Improvement and progress
which have fairly commenced their march.
The average Eastern Shoreman is thrifty,
intelligent and industrious. lie is begin
ming to set value upon education. aud
takes lively and thoughtful interest III
the great out world. lie is apt tn grnmblc
about the poor returns Of his farming, yet he
rarely emigrates, and should hr I've induced
to do SO, is almost sure to return to his old
home. And no wonder, for the land is
blest with rare gifts Of Nature. The
waters which battle its shores TEEN with
oysters, fish aud terrapin, while their sn
face is alive with tie choicest wild-fowl.
The canvas back and rcd-Lead, though
in lessened numbers, still biacken the
waters of the upper bay, the black head,
or flock fowl, feeds in every creek and
estuary. and the swan and the Wild goose
sit by hundreds on the flats where grows
their favorite food.
The soil, indeed, is well worn and Ie
qnires careful culture. but wherever this l.
bestowed the diligent laborer is rewarded
with abundant crops OF wheat and corn aud
clover, while every fruit Of the temperate
zone is produced in profusion which the