Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-09-20

vASCorv99 lsl AND.
The DelfxAffsl Cmaase which Ia.
traneeA The Priaeess Lsulse.
A correspondent OF the Sc. Louis
essos- Democrat writes. Crossing over
the Straits Of San Juan de Fuca to the
pretty city OF Victoria, ve stood on
British soil and snjoyed the fsr famed
climate OF Vancouver Island. Seen from
the SEA the whole place presents differ
ent character from the raw towns along
fuRes Sound. where shingles and shaw
iass. paint and mortar beds surround
nearly every finished structure to tell of
ITS nevness- The solid red brick ware
house fronting along the hsrbor and the
unmistakable signs of English solidity
and stability on every hand carried
convincing proof of the Briton's rule,
without the Union Jack flying from all
the sfticial hs2staffs and buildings.
There IL little bother with the Gu stom
house inspectors if you wish to land
any baggage at Victoria, bat az duty
falls alike on articles imported from
En2land or the United States, the
stranger cannot Rrumble more than the
colonists themselves
whenever You hear any one descant
upon Victoria, the drives come in for
chief mention after the climate, and in
these TIVE respects Victoria il entitled to
precedence over any small spot on the
continent. English rule had nothing
to do with the climate, which is mild
and equable the year round. with an
average temperature of e degrees for
the month Of January and "a for the
month OF August, and every citizen re-
lstee With loyal pride how the Princess
Louise came here to spend two days and
became 90 much delighted that she re
NAMED two months. and then left with
regret that she could not stay lsneer.
EnRflsh rule is demonstrated. however.
IN every direction from the CITY, and the
summer visitors, who come from the
different parts of the Pacific coast, never
md their longest stay half long enough
to include all the attractive points With.
IN easy drive from Victoria. Convict
labor has been employed in making the
macadamized highways, and convicts
are constantly at work nav keeping
them IN perfect condition. A favorite
drive Is that leading from Victoria to
the naval station of Esquimalt bay,
which Is commonly known as 'Squimo.
The SQuimo road follows part way be-
side narrow and carving arm OF the
sea, through which the tide PUSHES like
the swift current of a river, and half of
the way it unrolls its length between
edges of fern and underground and
walls of solid forest trees, picturesque
rocks, tangles of Wild rose and sweet
briar, and forest hooks dappled with
sunshine here and there, make one con-
tinual picture along the road, and the
occasional red jackets of the English
marines and soldiers illuminate the
landscape with brilliant touches of color.
At 'SauimO, the dagship Swiftsure, I'M
der the command of..Admiral Lyons, Law
1T anchor, with Its portfolios open. and
general varliks and business air per.
tanned to the huge man-Of war and the
lesser ships and cOrvettes at the station.
On the Swiftsure alone there are 600
men, and looking at tbs great vessel,
even the most patriotic Americ n must
blush for DOR own little navy and Join in
the chorus Of Britannia rules the sea-"
All Victoria bfeathes the atmosphere
OF past and greater grandeur, and the
citizens feelingly revert to the time
when British Columbia WAS a separate
colony TO itself, and Victoria the seat of
the miniature court of the Governor
General and Commander IN Chief of its
forcoS- Those we're the old DAYS, to
which no latter day progress can even
approach, and 1t is with no heartfelt joy
that the people celebrate DominionDay,
when British Columbia and the two pro-
vinces OF Canada we're made one. The
recent visit Of the Marquis of Lorne
and all the tittterinR things he found
time to say have gone far toward re-
storing the political o0mplacency of the
people, and 1t requires no insistence to
make them believe that you consider
Victoria the most charming SPOT in the
country. English traits and English
customs are maintained as we'll here as
In the home island, and a charming
friendliness exists between this colony
and the United States. Dominion Day
falls on July lst, and the celebration of
It hardly exceeds the spirit with which
the glorious Fourth Of their American
cousins across the line il observed, and
the nrst week Of July is the gala season
OF Victoria. With only 3 miles of salt
water separating them fr IN American
shores, there is ono material difference
that no ono fails to observe. In Vic
tOris everyone lives easily, and things
move In . SLOW and accustomed groove,
as Il sanctioned by the custom Of GEN.
turtles on this same spot. The stores
close every afternoon at s O'Clock,
although at this season daylight lasts
for three and four hours later, and bust
ness men 60 home to their comfortable
roast beef and padding as if the fever
and activity of American trade and
O0mD0tltiOu we're far avav and uuhaa "a
of. Every separate article that you
wish 10 bay is kept in different kind
OF store than in the States, and be-
tween the chemist, the station-r, the
haberdasheries and the greenxroeeries,
many of the perplexities of London
shopping assail you in Victoria. The
climax comes, however, when the young
man At the postOfiice window turns on
you look of surprise and bids you 60
70 the bookstore to buy postage stamps,
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