Huntsville gazette., 1883-08-04
A JAUNT OVER THE HILLS.
BY J. F. BLUNT.


especially as there are many points of stri-
king similarity between this distant pro-
vincial village and Huntsville, our own
little "Gem Of the South
The clear, sparkling waters Of the Corn
wallis River, flowing on toward the Basin
of Minas, bring fresh to our minds the
bubbling and the tumbling of the Big
Spring while the projecting cliffs, fringed
with low hanging trees and tangled masses
of vine make the illusion more complete.
Kentville is indeed charming village
abounding in long shady avenues winding
up the sides Of the heights and affording
many beautiful sites for the residences scat
tered along the terraces.
The Workshops of the w. & A. Railway
are located here, and considerable bust
ness is carried on, owing to the large farm
ing communities surrounding the town on
all sides which have no other convenient
market.
Then various stage lines, leading from
the North and South shores, have their
common terminus here.
The business part of the town occupies
the lower streets and spreads out like fan
over the rolling surface of the plain from
hill to hill, save here and there where some
winding waterway with. its trail of willows
takes its course. But the greatest charm
lies in the rustic beauty of the houses peep
:. E.. T. Al. l. 80 <la
hills. As in other towns we have visited,
large proper ton OF the residents ara
NEGROES.
At first it was a matter of surprise to US
to see so many dusky faces, and we could
almost fancy that We were again in the
State of Alabama.
Upon inquiry we found that the colored
population is the result of two causes; first
the loyalists, who evacuated Boston and
other cities OF the North at the close of the
Revolutionary War took their servants with
them, thus laying the foundations of new
when the North star alone pointed to free
dom, it is not strange that some of the
many refugees, hurried on by the "Under
Ground Railroad should find refuge in
Nova Scotia.
Society of to day consists of mixed races,
English. Irish. Scotch, French, Germans,
Indians aud negroes. enjoying equal rights
and privileges, and mingling in apparent
sympathy, SO far as outward appearances
are concerned, but rarely inter marrying.
! As class, the Negroes are most frugal
and industrious people, having attained by
economy, in many instances, a comfortable
property, while all seem well clothed and
amply provided for.
Transportation being Impossible at sucn
an hour as would accommodate US, it was
our fortune to start early in the forenoon
one hot day of June for
TRAMP ACROSS THE HILLS
Leaving our trunks to be forwarded BY
the regular conveyance from Kentvilie, we
donned tourists satchel and were soon on
our way. Striking back into the country,
we found ourselves in the very midst Of
the orchards and upland farms of The
''Garden of Nova Scotia
From the car windows and at the various
stopping places of the previous 3 weeks,
we had seen much to admire, and had tar
ried long in our descriptions for the pa
pers we were representing, but now we
were at leisure to look about us and learn
more fully how the people lived in their
very homes, and what were their peculiar
custom and resources.
Here and th ere the farmers were busily
hoeing their crops and we noticed the
orchards were almost invariably devoted to
potatoes, not spear of grass being permit
ted to remain between the thrifty trunks
BY this method, the soil is kept loose about
the roots of the trees and open to the be-
nignant influences of light and heat, as
we'll as moisture. With the exception Of
fruit reserved for home consumption. most
of the apples are exported to England
where they command the highest price
In all instances where competition has been
invited, Nova Scotia has readily sustained
her reputation of raising the premium
fruit. excelling il flavor and keeping quail
tiles that Of the ether provinces, or the
most favored of the States.
Apples and potatoes are the main depen-
dence Of the farmers for revenue many
Thousand bushels of the latter being anna
ally exported 10 the States notwithstanding
the duty Of l5 cents per bushel However,
almost to man. the farmers will declare
themselves in favor of Free Trade, which
evidently would be great benefit to them.
Here ID the agricultural district q strong
sentiment exists il favor of
! ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED STATES
and, We're the question submitted to The
people to dav, | nave no doubt there wouId
be strong majority, who would desire a
release from foreign, or rather Trans-At
lantic, dominion. True to the preiadlce of
the 'Mother Country not an Irishman