Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-31

most unalloyed pleasure. A few OF the
passengers were Obliged 70 heed the calls
Of Neptune, but the rsst wandered at WILL
up stairs and down, on deck or In the cab
In, while the air rang VITA I" God save the
Queen. {" Mary and Martha's just gone
along" ETC., frequently interrupted by an
impromptu stanzs Of the Siege OF Belle
Isle .-------
About noon we reached Dlgby, and those
who were not 10 the dining-room watched
the busy people on the wharf. At this place
the tide rises about 80 feet. 1t was flow
ing In at the time, and necessitated rapid
work on the part Of the baggage-masters.
In twenty minutes the water had advanced
three or four feet. The steamer is built
with three decks, and there Is sort Of
double wharf, the lower one being used at
ebb tide, and the upper one at food.
There is yet another part Of 1t at which
the vessel can be moored, and by these
means the captain can accommodate him
self to the changes OF the tide. In the
northern portion OF the Bay OF Fundy the
tide rises 10 feet.
At two o'clock we reached Annapolis,
where we were met by members OF the
press who had travelled from Windsor to
greet US. BY courtesy Of the railway ON.
clals we were assigned The rear car, and
In 1t we travelled the whole afternoon
through country Of surprising beauty.
For a description OF the happy valley,
we refer the reader to the poem OF Evange.
line, written by the late II. w. Longfellow.
In the Annapolis valley we saw sloops sp-
parently sailing through the green meadow,
As the CORVALLIS River itself was hidden
from view. One OF our company secured
piece OF willow which grew by Evsnge-
lines early home. 1t was speedily broken
into fragments aud distributed among the
occupants OF the car. The conductor. q
genial. courteous man, kindly gave US
an opportunity to leave the train and stroll
about little in Grand Pre- and Wolfville.
At the latter place We parted with Prof.
Elder OF Colby University, who had given
Us valuable Information in regard to the
formation Of the coast OF the Bay and Dig
by Gut. There are the beautiful buildings
Of Acadia College, established by the Bap-
lists. Surrounded by the beauty Of Ma
ture, and the atmosphere Of Poetry, her
alumni should take high stand among
the workers OF the world. "The view
from the belfry OF the college Is said TO be
the finest In the Eastern Provinces" Un-
fortunately there Is now q debt upon the
college, which We hope will soon be IL
quidated.
Our Nova Scotia friends LEFT US at Wind
sor, but not before informing US that their
town Is the seat OF the oldest college in
Canada, and is also the birthplace OF Judge
Halliburton, better known as " Sam Slick "
the comic writer.
We journeyed on, with no perceptible
dlmlnution of gaiety, until nine O'Clock,
when we stopped at Halifax. Fortunately
the ample proportions OF the Halifax
House saved US the trouble Of house-hunt-
ing at so late an hour. In short space
OF time we were doing justice to q very
palatable supper nicely served, and soon
after yielded ourselves willing prey 70
Morpheus.
Morning brought US yet new pleasures.
The members Of the press In Halifax had
arranged a programme for the day, but
during the early hours We rambled about
the town. Up and down hills as steep as
those OF Augusta, past dingy wooden
houses much like those Of Portland near
the wharfs, we wandered on, and asked
ourselves over and over, "Are we really In
foreign country"
Finally We reached the citadel where
relocated, whlte-helmeted sentry paced
to and fro. Our blue ribbons seemed to be
q sort OF "open sesame" for we were al
lowed to pass unchallenged. We climbed
again, and soon glorious view was
spread before US. The earth was clad In
robes Of brilliant green. dotted with golden
gems OF flowers. Hill and valley were
flooded with sunshine, while nearer to us
were the lines OF scarlet coats, their
brightness rendered more intense by the
surroundings. We thought they would
make the finest Of targets and wondered
at the choice Of that color for Q uniform.
The soldiers were at drill and some of our
party preferred watching their movements
to gazing on the country.
After passing our opinion on the cannon
aud various sort Of balls and shells, we
turned our feet In the direction Of the
wharf. There, at eleven o'clock, We found
the little steamer Bertha, chartered by
our friends for the day, on which we en-
barked. We were accompanied by several
Halifax gentlemen and ladies, who were
appointed to entertain US. Among them
We're Messrs. Barnes and Fielding, with
their wives, who were well known to
many Of US, as this was not the first time
they had shown their kindness and hospi,
tality.
A. - - y A.