Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-08-02

The DISMAL SWAMP.-A Virginia paper
tells some things which are not generally known
about the Dismal Swamp. Itis not q vast bog.
suuk loW 10 the ground, into which the draio-
age of the surrounding country flows. o. the
ccolrary it is above the level erouod some fit-
teen or tWcuty feet, as was demonstrated by
actual surveys. ILstead of being receptacle
toto which rivers and streams enter and & w, it
is in reality al immense reservoir that. in it's
vast sponge like bulk, gathers the waters that
fall from the heavens and pours them into the
five different rivers which flow onward to the
sea. Any one would imagine that the Dismal
Was veri.able charne house that spreads its
mlasnas throughout the country. On the con.
trary, it is the healthest place 90 the American
contloept. The swamp is entirely Of green
timber. There is absolutely 10 decomposed
wood one sees trees lying around the forests
and swsmps. The two principal woods that
grow in ;he place are the juniper and cypress,
which never rot. They fall prone on the ground
like other trees, but, instead of the wood de-
COMPOSING, 1t turns into peat, aud lies indissou.
BILE by air or water for ages perfectly sound.
There is nothing IN the swamp to create miasns;
90 rising of the tides and decomposition Of rank
vegetables; 90 marshes .Xposed to the burning
ra;s OF the suo. All is fresh and sweet, and
the air Is laden With as sweet odors as the fra
grant woods 10 May, wheu the fragrance Of
the fjWers mipgles with the pungent scent
of the piue and dogwood. 10 the aute-bel-
lum days all planters We're auzlous to hire their
slaves to shinse makers 10 the swamp on ac-
couot of its beslthfuloess. Mr. Rsddick, q we'll
koowo contractor, says be worked gang Of so
hands 10 the Dismal, getting shingles. aud 10
all that time there was not single Gaze Of agus
aud fever. have seeo numerous afhdavits Of
oVerseers aud agcots who have liVsd 10 the
swsmp their whole Lifetime, aud they never
knew death caused by miasma or solitary ia.
stance of ague and fever. The air is pure and
sweet, and the water, tiagued to q faiut uiue
hue by the juniper, is as potent medical driok
as is to 10 touod OF the famous watering places
OF the Virginia mountain spars. 1t is often
used by vessels going on foreign cruise on
account of its heathfu properties and also
because it keeps fresh aud clear for years. 1t
is strong snd iavigorating tonic With pleas.
ant tss:e.
KING ARTHUR's CAsrLE.-The county of
Cornwall is so rich aud varied 10 it's scenery,
and possesses so many poiuts of interest that it
Well ropays visit 10 the summer mouths;
whether the tourist be geoloeist, botauist,
ere e )'ogiat or simply 'ous FIR holiday"
and. wishing to made the most of it, he ought
not to be disappointed, OF all it's ancient monu.
moots, not oac batter repays visit than King
Artbur's Castle, 10 the parish of Tiutsgel, or
Duudagil, as it is written by old ckr,nicers. 1t
is supposed stronghold of that wonderful AT.
thur whose sayings and doings have been handed
down to US through sgos aud ag ,s now past, and
who has at las! been mm ortaIlz ID in verse By
the laureate. Here between "the tbunderiue
shores of Bu1e aud Boss" at wild Duudagil
BY tho Cornish Sea, tho infant Arthur was by
q fosm!ug wave cast up aod left when it re.
treated high, if not dry, on the saudy beach
at least SO says Tenuyson in his "Idylls of the
King That such persoo as Arthur ever ex
isted, ,rXceptin the miods of the poets and legend
monge,s. We are allowed to doubt, and that
be. if existing, ever resided at this Castle OF
Tintsgel which bears his name is problemstical,
though of tho worry great antiquity Of the fortress
there can be no doubt; but the idea is one to
take the fancy even of a prosAic person, who
stands on the csstle height. now csrpetsi With
turf and bright with the lovely blossoms of the
sea pink. and looks from it over the wide e1-
pRnse RESTLESS sea and listens ID the rosr of its
waves a. they dash against the rocks beneath. Tue
whole scene is 80 grsnd-so fitted to the history
of the msu for whom Excslibur was forged be-.
meath the waves by fairy fingers. The outer
works OF the castle are built on perpendicular
cliffs on the mainland, bu. the principa fortress
is on q wild hesdlsnd projecting into the sea and
separated by 8 wide chasm IRON the mainland.
The two parts are said 10 have been 3nn scted at
one time by drawbrdge, but no trace of such
an erection now remains Indeed, little of the
castle Itself is in exiatence-s few crumb bling
walls pierced with loopholes for the discharge Of
arrows. Two or three bold srchways and brok
en- q zht of steps here and there being all that
remain Of this aged fortress.
WINDSUR COFFEE POTsI