The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-06
ORIGINAL.
For he Lancaster Ledger
sKETCHEs OF A TRIP TO FLoRI.
DA, &c.
BY AN ISvALID.

1t is not that we fancy our own pecu.
liar style Of diction, that we, "in the course
OF human events" offer our scribblino to
the pages Of your interesting periodical,
but at the solicitation Of a few distant and
unforgotten friends.
sway down on the Suwanee River"
or thereabouts, we were highly pleased to
meet with your paper, and find that it
was disseminating its truths and fight
among those where our thoughts are turn.
ing ever and anon. It was there to us
like meeting with m old and tried friend,
among strangers in a strange iand-like a
cooling stream to starving pilgrims in
desert place.
We left our present whereabout on the
22nd OF January, for the land Of "howers
and ever green" where perpetual sum
mer reigns, &c.," to t-y the effects Of that
salubrious and genial cline, upon our frail
and dilapdating system. The first day
or two were passed off in gloom and mel
ancholy, travelling, 1--WE left our better-half
behind) to the scenes Of our chi,d.hoo
old home stead,
"Where stands the old oak tree,
Majestic grand as ever"
Thence to Camden, where we met with
the "iron horse" for which we exchanged
our noble and able Monroe. We will
mention that our comrade was a young
man OF good moral habits, affable, and al
times quite vivacious, and witha, this was
his debat. There was nothing remarka.
hie from Camden TO Charleston. only our
friend thought the "steam horse" moved
on rather br,skly. In consequence Of some
detention on tho Railroad, We did not ar
rive Mt the Metropolis of ths Palmetto
State, till after the time for the leaving of
tho "Csrolinian," and consequently had
- take quarters in the city from Satur 'ay
until Tuesday, p. NJ. Lodgings tolerab!y
pleasant. The only thing worth record
ing, Tor that we deem prudent,) during
our soj'urn in Charleston, (Nierchant's
llotel) is, our chum lost his cap, on which
account he scratched hia head little
comically. The kin and hospitable host,
however, soon had him fixed for travelling
with an old fashioned "two-story," bell.
crown Beaver.
Tuesday, 3 l.2, p. NJ.
We embarked for Florida, aboard the
gallant little steamer Florida, rode trium-
phantly over the raging pillows Of the
brny deep. The trip was made in the
usual time. Our Host, Capt. Stewart, is
= most pleasant and admirable gentleman
who with Others, caused US to have rath-
or pleasant anil interesting little voy-
ago. We were struck with the size and
magnifcence Of the St. Johns River. We
would think this river Of sufficient caibre
to beH up above its majestic waters n
vessel Of almost any known dimensions.
Width, from one to three miles. 'Twould
seem that this beautiful sheet cf water il
rather succession Of Lakes, making q
grand and useful stream. There was no
thing very striking or proposing about
any OF the towns or villages on on, track
TO Palatka. Jacksonville is n place of
considerable business, and public resort for
inyalids. The day We stopped there was
rather cold, dark and gloomy, consequent
ly We were not very favorably impressed
with its appearance as q suitable place for
our business. Pikilata is rs good as no
place. We arrived at Palatka on the last
night in January, where we deba,ked.
tu'o c"'u h'Sht " was-said to
nave been the coIdest weather since the
winter OF 80, when so much orange beau.
" ana iragTancy were destroyed. Twas
said there was ice l,2 inch thick, most
rare and unheaFd OF thing in the land Of
nowers.
Ihere seems to be quite a spirit Of i'm
psovement At Paiatka. In consequence
o. On almost daily correspondence between
thst and the Charleston and Savannah
wharves, It IS generally tbronged and
oas'ness hke place. we there met with