finger, even upon the very ears, they wore an assortment of
rings, shirt-pins, brooches, and trinkets, of which the value
only equaled the execrable taste. Women, children and
servants, in equally expensive dress, surrounded their hus-
bands, fathers, or masters, who resembled the patriarchs
of tribes in the midst of their immense households.
At meal-times, all fell to work upon the dishes peculiar to the Southern States, and consumed with an appetite that threatened speedy exhaustion of the victualling powers of Florida, fricasseed frogs, stuffed monkey, fish chowder, underdone 'possum, and raccoon steaks. And as for the liquors which accompanied this indigestible repast! The shouts, the vociferations that resounded through the bars and taverns decorated with glasses, tankards, and bottles of marvelous shape, mortars for pounding sugar, and bundles of straws! " Mint- julep !" roars one of the bar- men; "Claret sangaree!" shouts another; "Cocktail!" "Brandy-smash!" "Real mint-julep in the new style!" All these cries intermingled produced a bewildering and deafening hubbub.
But on this day, ist December, such sounds were rare. No one thought of eating or drinking, and at four P. M. there were vast numbers of spectators who had not even taken their customary lunch ! And, a still more significant fact, even the national passion for play seemed quelled for the time under the general excitement of the hour.
Up till nightfall, a dull, noiseless agitation, such as pre- cedes great catastrophes, ran through the anxious multi- tude. An indescribable uneasiness pervaded all minds, an indefinable sensation which oppressed the heart. Every- one wished it was over.
However, about seven oclock, the heavy silence was dissipated. The moon rose above the horizon. Millions of hurrahs hailed her appearance. She was punctual to the rendezvous, and shouts of welcome greeted her on all sides, as her pale beams shone gracefully in the clear heavens. At this moment the three intrepid travelers ap- peared. This was the signal for renewed cries of still greater intensity. Instantly the vast assemblage, as with one accord, struck up the national hymn of the United States, and " Yankee Doodle," sung by five millions of hearty throats, rose like a roaring tempest to the farthest
