Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-10-07
GUERNSEY ISLAND.
The Democrats Foreign Cores
pondent writes up" that Little
World.
A Delightful Spot where Weary Lon
doners Enjoy themselves.


name heads this letter. | seem to
have left London with all its rain
and smoke, far behind, and in few
hours to have come to what seems a
little world, where the sun shines,
the people seem prosperous and
happy. where there is nothing IN
particular to do, and no particular
time to do il in. In fact, a place,
where one tired Of brick walls can
mildly enjoy himself, and, SO long
as it does not rain, wish that he had
never to 60 away.
All around this triangular little
world, whose longest side measures
only nine miles, stretches the sea. ex-
qusitely blue, and in it to the north,
east and south can be seen the
islands of Attorney, Sark and Jersey,
and family along the east the coast of
Brittany Thirty miles Of as grand
and dangerous a coast line as even
Cornwall can boast, twenty-five
miles Of good land, climate as
eluable as any in Europe, and Guern-
sey stands forth physically con-
fessed. Thirty thousand people live
here, and although they are English
subjects, they are still French, Nor
man-French, in language, customs
and appearance. The products
Of this wonderful island, ! shall
leave to your imagination merely
suggesting. Ia Mr.. Pickwick, few
of the staples, such as caulitiowers,
granite, early potatoes, Guernsey
COWS, and hot-house-grapes. can
find only one fault with Guernsey,
and that is the trouble one has IN
getting here; for although it is only
nine hours from southampton, still
the passage is enough to upset the
strongest Of mankind The other
night, at least nine-tenths of the
passengers wished they had never
been born; or better still, that the
boat would sink quietly to the bot
tom of the channel. In the early
morning as we passed the Gaskets,
the sight in the cabin Of the ELLA
was one never to be forgotten.
Already | have been over the
principal parts Of the island, but !
feel that could easilypass weeks here
in exploring the coast and visiting
the different bays and promontorles.
Inland there is not 50 much to be
seen; the country is not very inter
esting, and in places is almost tree
less. There are numerous little
well-wooded valleys, however, and IN
places where the dreaded east wind
does not find its way. are trees and
shrubs Of almost tropical appear
anee. | find great attraction IN
the cottages, all of them SO plctur-
esquc, and many of them 50 old as
to seem almost part Of the land
they stand on 1t is quite common
to see little granite cottage with
steep-thatched roof, entirely shut in
BY fuchsia trees hanging in flowers,
a myrtle or geranium bush covering
its front, and a clump of beech or
eln-trecs making dark green back
ground. Attached to each cottage
is the winery generally larger than the
cottage itself, and just now hanging
III those delicious grapes that bring
such fabulous prices in Covent
Garden market. The fields when
not used for grazing, are gardens
whose produce goes to the same
market. and the tales of the profits
made out of these bits of land with
their three crops year, are almost
marvellous. Just now we are seeing
! the last of the second vraic harvest
4 Of sea-weel, and men, women, and
children, on every beech can be seer
busily engaged III carrying away the
4 sea-weed left by the tide. Many are
the quaint and curious customs con
nected with these harvestS. The
present one suddenly ceases ut sun
down, August 3lst.
Yesterday morning went 10 thu
market and found it as picturesque
as it was enjoyable. The marke
\ house itself is very handsome, anc
is built on the side Of the I'LL il
very irregular fashion; but it was il
the market people and their pro
duce that took the most interest
the pleasant looking women sittin!
around in groups, chattering volubl,
to each other in the soft Guernse,
, patois, and the men assisting then
and looking Is if they might b
, sailors, farmers, fishermen q stone
masons, 50 all comprehensive wa
| their costume. On little stands i,
! rows was the produce laid on daint.
. white cloths. Here were new lai
eggs and mammoth plums; butte
| that would make Londone
weep for joy, and tomatoes TO max
! al American homesick; apple
, mixed with green figs, peache:
t pears. grapes and French melon
! grouped together and all look
/, ing 50 delicious that it was a
, impossibility not to purchase.
- - 81 E-I L.,