Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-09-13
Foreign Letter.

/ lORE OAlDg I1GlElt nus. - O..
One OF the ugliest spots on earth is Port
Said-depot harbor, what not, receptacle
for the scum of Christendom. Standing
at the European end of thelSuez canal it
opens its arms of unequal length to en-.
brace the shipping of the world. A low
struggling series of wide streets-tumble.
down sets of wooden shanties, ingeniously
constructed out of whisky boxes-cross
one another and recross in picturesque
confusion, while dresses of all nations fit
hither and thither in the sunlight, and
coins from every mint in the world find
their way into the capacious tills of innu.
merabe drinking houses. Vendors of
gaudy shawls and cheap trinkets force
their wares upon the tourist rival boat
men gesticulate in his face and shout gut.
teral Arabic into his ear; goblin imps
seize upon him and black his boots despite
all protest. \ busy, thriving, hideous
little place is Port Said in time of peace.
Wherein does its condition differ when
Bellona has sounded her alarm? Port
Said is in a state of panic-it has disgorg.
ed its Europeans, and inimical Bedouins
parade its streets-so was told in Alex
andria two days back. Not bit of it.
Save and except that iron clads occupy its
waters, its the same unpleasing spot which
is familiar to so many travellers. The
Monarch" the " Northumberland" and
Penelope rock in graceful line,
hanked by trim gun-boats, A French
man-of.war gushes constantly with music,
it's interchangeable band pouring forth selec-
lions from Offenbach, Lecoeq, Herve,
which seem some how to permeate the
atmosphere, making the heart glad, the
sun more bright, the air more clear,
while far out at sea lie other ironclads,
one belonging to each country, ready to
take on board the people of its nation,
as hens gather their chickens in moments
OF sudden peril. Yes, there is danger,
and England means business. That much
is certain. The great ships are full of life,
each within its own domain. Drill is
going forward under the white awnings;
polishing of arms that are polished
already to blinking point; maneuvring of
guns. No sailors arc allowed on shore;
they have on board rs much work as
occupies them thoroughly.
You have business at the British consul =
ate? 1t is locked, the flag hauled down,
its verandas desolate. On its closed por-
tails there is a document which advises all
British subjects to depart at once, offering
even to pay the passage to Malta Of such
as are impecunious. The Arab thirsts for
the blood of Christian men; the British
army is approaching; the horrors of war
are about to burst upon the land; the
civilian element should make itself scarce
with all the speed that may be; why
should merchants, agents, ship chambers,
elect to linger and impede with their
cumbrous presence the movements of the
real workers? the massacre of Alexan
dria conveys no warning, aud they decline
to bulge. Ladies stroll languidly under
sunshadcs, while their husbands sip mus
tiQue or brandy and soda under the avn.
ings of the English bar. True, all but
the pettiest trade is at standstill; but
home is here and the neighborhood of the
ironclads instils comfort into the soul
There is even a ca .chautaHt open, where
in at shutdown an..orchestra of young ladies
fiddles off fantasies and struggles tooth
and nail with the mysteries of Wagner
damsels who have drfted from Trste and
seem happily oblivious of dark threats
and the undercurrent OF Moslem curses.
People are resolved to dance on the volca
no so long as there is = crest to dance on
and so they bow and scrapc us usual, and
exchange small gossip, as if Arab were
not and Tewlik reigned in Cairo.