Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-02
FROM BERMUDA.
Notes OF u Winter visit-Tho Climate
Everlasting Spring rho Flowers and
Hamilton, Bermuda, Feb. %, 49,

shay" was the work of moment; and
after settling the matter of charges by
the hour for the establishment, we drove
off the dock, bound on a tour of investi-
cation as to lodgings. 1t being the natal
day of the father of our country, we felt
justified in this mild assertion of our In
dependence, and bound, If possible. to SUIT
ourselves in regard to our quarters before
settling down. We had already learned
from the parties who came out in the
morning on the tender. not only the names
of many houses besides the two large no
tells, but also the fact that The Princess,
where we had expected to go, had no
rooms.
Up the steep lanes, around corners and
down narrow streets we cavorted from one
boarding house to another, looking at
rooms, everywhere meeting our fellow
passengers in the Same search
We remembered how Mrs. Dorr in her
book OH Bermuda, had had lodgings In a
private house, and with meals at the hotel
had been well satisfied; we did not propose
to decide until reasonably sure of satisfac-
ton. Having at length fairly covered the
ground We drove to The Princess for adj
vice and our mail, If pcrchance some friend
had had a white message for us hidden In
the mail bags of the steamer. We were
most kindly received by tho manager, TO
whom we bore a letter of introduction
| from the old-time Bcrmudian traveller,
our townsman. Mr.. George L. Pope. No
rooms for us we knew, but would he ad-
wise us I'm regard 10 the probabilities of
| those we had already found? The result
of our conferences was confirmation of The
| opinion we had already formed, and re-
ceiving from the postal clerk two copies of
! the Free Press and the one message
which had accompanied us across the roll
ing waters. we re-entered our carriage and
drove back to "Victoria Lodge" Here we
could have our meals. with lodgings in a
neghboring cottage. until the steamer
sailed--then we could have a room in the
| house. The landlady kindly drove with us
to show us her resources in the way of
outside rooms. In few moments our
choice was made we had decided to take
the room permanently; had sent our
checks and keys to the custom house and
were ready to establish such household
goods as had travelled with us.
| All day, In spite of the golden sunlight,
we had kept our winter wraps snugy fas-
! tened and been conscious of a chill in the
air by no means suggestive of summer but
gradually it dawned upon US, that the
/ flowers were In blossom: that popping
over garden walls were specimens of tropi-
cal foliage: that the birds were singing in
! the trees; that after all Ii was true that
this was a land of eternal spring, and that
we were in the midst OF II. Still II seemed
cold; the temperature was actually 4S de-
grees; the wind north, and the island so
| to speak in the arms of winter. THE
coolest day of the season." and the rose
beds across the way in all the glory OF
! full bloom! Still it was cold we were
actually shivering in the same garments
we had worn a short six days ago with
the mercury rs degrees below zero. But
II the temperature outside at As degrees
is chilly, what shall that within be called
where the rooms have never known arti-
fetal heat: where the walls are stone, or
rather coral blocks, capable of taking up
moisture like sponges, and everything Is
damp, although there seems to be no
mould or must about? 1t Is sea-damp-
ness, that is all-for are we not still at
sea, though anchored on this coral reef
blown upon by every breeze Swallowed by
every mist which floats it's sivery veil
across the narrow reach of land?
How fortunate, then IL our sea VOYAGE
Is to be continuous, that we have those
thick blanket wrappers to sleep inflow
doubly blessed. that our landlady has q
feather bed to give us for our further
comfort! This Is greater luxury than the
hotel. at twice the money, could have
given us. and we are truly thankful. The
combination of feathers and wool we find
entirely comfortable Uhere is no improv-
ing on Mother Natures ways) though
rather n novelty taken in conjunction with
the draperies swinging about our nest,
which suggest that musical nend, the
MOSQUITO and thus we pass our first night
in Bermuda.
The first Sunday follows. but we are
glad of it's quiet and are satisfied to rest
and absorb such knowledge of our new
surroundings MS NAV come without effort
On the heights onnosite our windows are
the flag poles of the signal station and tho
governors house The English nag is Nv
ing and we realize thu , Voc are under for
eign dominion Tho ueotbar too 10 dacid
ediv fora,an sbowars ora sunsbtna' ai,a,
80 ne Eth 49,, 80, a,ao,hn, a., 49,,
-, ,,o,,. 49,, ,,,ooa 4, 70 ra,,1oS ,',,
thnro a. a' W 's n,nr 80 Ia t., a az aa Ia
NO. .oor Ieorn hou, this roroms stona car'
IL - ~ ,,uora,,o,,l ,.,o,a.uo ,,.a
,na -, 800 q; a." ,I ~ 81 49,. .. ae
w, SIAM 20 ioi l,,eu y, ms s'o.o !. nee.a
. wy me- .e'", oI'e' ."e'o'' -
~ o"., nc o's, .ia'u a,'u "i,'ooti'
an" wiz, nis. snon ."e na.ois Vi ms
W. Va tuifa h,n'u ~ ,ne new eo'ie'' , nien
.ne Wui'S on po'i slue9, NUNS tne iltie
gardens wl,nln' tneh me houses DUH
iioi,' iouiuo''oi' a'o,'e " tie oopihs VI ,lie
foot Oh slaps Oh coiai rocK' theh one sradu-
any hotices now III Utmost every instance
tho stone TOT the mouse mas peen sawed
out Oh inc wall near wnich or upon which
IL STANDS mus bringing material and
workmen close together.
The experience OF the day was, that on
our way to our lodgings after dinner we
were invited TO the rose-garden and shown
us treasures by It's owner. About one
haif OF II was planted to banana trees;
tho other'half was turf sprnkled with rose
heds were thick with n,nnts ana hioo,,, '' -,
all sorts At ono side was n GLASS houso
filed with orchids and ferns Of most Inv.
urant Notwithstanding in the quiet of
their shelter but entirely without nrtiflciaI
la,