The record-union., 1899-04-14

hospitable as that of our Government
to their Embassy The temple of Siogee
in the city of Yeddo was fitted up for
the reception and entertainment Of our
officers
The great city of Yeddo was laid out
daily during our stay into interesting
districts for visits of inspection
The routes along which we We're es-
corted, as a rule, closely packed with
natives, who were curious to see the
white. foreigners for the first time in
their lives But in no instance during
these excursions was any incivility or
rudenesS manifested, though on all
sides there was that natural curiosity
to get a closer look at the long-haired
white man. In this the pretty japanese
woman was, as a rule more conspicu-
GUS than the man, and / dare say there
are many matrons living now in Toxic
who can remember a bright button con-
ferred in response to- some rogulsh I'M
Dortunity.
After our mission had been COM
pleted and the presents from our Gov
ernment to that of Japan had been
landed we started on our return 10
Chinese waters in the winter OF looo-
81. Reaching Hongkong, the Unlteu
States Minister Mr. Ward, had author-
ity to return to the United States, ana
the Niagara was directed to take hifn
to India, and thence to the mouth VI
the Red Sea, where he took another
steamer for Europe, and ultimately
home
This duty performed, the Niagara
proceeded from Alden to the Comoro
Islands, northwest of Madagascar ana
lastly to Cape Town, in South Africa
Our voyage home was in length some
what longer than that going out, anu
nothing was known of the fall election
that had already taken place, although
there was considerable anxiety on
board among the officers and men, as
our complement included many lroiu
both sections.
On the day of election, however,
vote was taken on board ship, Wlth TIE
result that Mr.. Lincoln received ma
iority of the votes cast. Until the snip
had reached the highlands of cape Cou
Mass. we were in utter ignorance. oi
the portent of this vote, taken away
off in the China seas.
The absence of ships, however, along
orr coasts about the latitude OF cape
Hatteras as we We're approachlhs
home caused painful forebodings lest
some disaster had befallen the couh-
fry we loved so we'll. The mutterlngs
in the South of the year before the
in the event of a certain electlon
caused some anxiety, and the absence
of vessels in regions where IN years
gone by they were as thick as the
leaves in Vallombrosa, was helo py
the older heads to be ominously sig
nificant. but it was not until we
reached the highlands of Cape Coo
that we were to learn the full extent
of the great calamity that was upon
MS. The election we had held on board
the ship way off in the waters OF
China. on the other side of the globe,
was only the prelude of the more gen
eral one at home. AS Mr.. Lincoln was
tbe choice of the majority of the Off
GERS and men of the frigate Niagara, SO
we were to learn subsequently ne was
also the choice of the nation.
When off the highlands pilot poat
was discovered near by, and the pilot
put off in boat with his pockets Iuli'
as is customarily done, OF the latest
papers. He was awaited with an I'M
patience that seemed almost palnful,
and the moment he had crossed the ran
and reached the gangway he was asked
by the Captain, dear old Commodore
Mexican, than in whom no more loyal
heart ever beat for the flag, this ques-
ton:
pilot, what is the news?"
The pilot, Doliver was his name
looked around at all standing about
the quarter deck, apparently amazed
at the question, for what he was about
to tell us as news was quite old to
him, and instead of replying at once
to this question, the pilot, as so often
happens, asked the Captain with some
SURPRISE
Where in thunder have you come
from, Captain?''
When told more politely, if less en-
phatically, by the Captain that he
had come from Hongkong, the pilot
followed this information with another
question:
"Ain't you heard nothing at all since
sailing?"
mo" replied the Captain. Nothing
at all, as we have touched nowhere
since leaving the Cape of Good Hope.
There was no news there when we
sailed
Delivers reply to this assurance L
shall never forget. 1t was as forcible
as it was emphatic, and as impressive
as words could possibly make it, even
if it was a little inelegant.
well. gentlemen, the country is ali
busted to hi"
While this colloquy was going on
between the pilot and the Captain, the
ships company had crowded aft in
both gangways, and, like the officers,
were intensely anxious to hear what
the news might be. What Doliver had
said so emphatically had reached their
ears, and had touched their hearts.
Tears started from eyes that We're not
accustomed to weeping, and coursed
down the cheeks of those bronzed old
heroes. 1t could be seen that a firm
resolve to stick Loyalty to the old flag
that had fioated in honor over their
lives and fortunes had gone deep into
their souls, for almost Immediately
every eye was turned upward toward
the peak, where the old flag was float
ing peacefully and majestically, and
intuitively, every head was uncovered
in homage
1t was an experience never to be
forgotten, and the sight of those
bronzed old heroes, with heads uncov-
cred to the dear old flag, taught my
young heart in a few moments a whole
volume of patriotism. l had been born
in a slave holding State, and had been
reared surrounded by colored children,
and was influenced to some extent by
the prejudices which the institution OF
slavery had engendered, but when it