Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-24
NO. so.
Correspondence.


I NOu VI btts ISL 4 nave sdlitu 20 ullltS vi
the st. Johns river, to Pilatka, the home Of
Capt. II. l.. Hart who was born in Gull
ford, VT. He attended the teachers insti-
tute at Brattlehoro, under the instruction
of Rev. A. Brown and his first business
efforts were made at Brattleboro east viii
lage, where persons now living there have
| pleasant recollections of him. Mr.. II. in
formed us that he came to Florida some
years before the war, and under the most
discouragingc Repeated and
long-continued hemorrhage Of the lungs
with labored breathing, from asthma, had
so enfcebled his whole system, he and his
friends greatly feared he had ventured upon
the Florida experiment too late to receive
any benefit. lie came here actuated bv the
sentiment
! ~ can but perish II Igo
am resolved TO try,
| For if stay away, know &c.
| The same wisdom and sagacity which di-
rected his steps to these shores has guided
his movements ever since, and he is to-day
one of the greatest business men in the
State. He has dredged the bed of the Oc-
klawaha river, making it navigable for
steamboats,, thereby opening to market and
cultivation a vast amount Of the most fer
tile and desirable lands in this State. He
is the owner of two steamboats,, which run
100 miles south and IS miles north of his
residence. lie has large store of miscel-
laneous goods, which reminded US of the
store of the late Mr.. G.. C.. Hall, of Brattle-
boro, in his palmy days Of the olden time.
Mr.. Hart is also a successful horticultural
ist. On the extensive grounds where stands
his large and elegant mansion, he directed
our attention to many orange trees in full
bearing, from gratis set by himself less
than three years since; also bed of Will
sons Albany strawberries in bloom, gigan-
tic century plants and cactus 10 or II feet
high, and banana trees much larger and in
better condition than any we have seen in
Jacksonville on the opposite, or east side
Of the river from his residence, Mr.. Hart
has an orange grove of 600 old trees. over
10000 oranges have lately been taken from
this grove for market, and ye: almost every
tree seemed bearing fruit to its utmost ca
pacity, and many of them were propped TO
prevent the limbs from breaking. We be-
lieve that another more wonderful exhibit
tion of horticultural beauty and utility is
rarely if ever seen on ground of equal di-
mensions. We learn that the income from
this grove is about $4,000 per annum, and
the owner has refused the offer of 81, 900
for it. Mr.. Hart appears equal or ready to
any demand upon his capabilities. If you
had witnessed his mastery horsemanship,
had you been in that carriage as he guided
his span of fiery steeds, when they fairly
,,.ifb -,
which swayed and bent beneath horses and
carriage as safely onward we went regard
/ less of obstruction, you would feel as if
with Ph9bus in the car of day. or scme fat
bicd genii or oastorn rornnnoe i,he tsrsatt
est natural curiosity we have yet found in
Florida is Mr.. Hart. He is an honor to the
town of Guilford, the State of Vermont, and
the human race everywhere. Conscious
that he owes his life TO this genial cline,
'where soft winds and sunny skies
With the green earth harmonize'
the remainder of his useful life must hence
forth be spent in this home Of his adop-
ton.
On our return to Jacksonville, in the
steamship Dictator" from Charleston, we
stopped at Mandarin" the winter home of
Mrs. II. b. Stowe. At the south end of the
unpretentious house is grove Of large ev-
ergreen live oak trees. On the side of the
house fronting the river is a dense thicket
of orange trees in bearing, and a few rods
south is a field of sugar cane as fresh and
green as a corn-field at the north in July.
Our steamer was detained at this place talk
ing on board a quantity of sugar cane. The
boat also stopped at Picolati, and received
on board some red cedar logs, which we
learned are for expectation to France in the
"Aline," now in port at this city. AT Pico-
lati was a camp of L. S. soldiers during the
Indian war, and it is here passengers by
boat take the stage for journey of Is miles
to st. Augustine.
From venerable citizen of Brattleboro
we received verbal order for an alligator's
tail and half a bushel of bullfrogs. After
| travelling in Florida, on land and water,
more than sufficient to go twice the length
of the State of Vermont, we are disappoint-
ed that we have not seen an alligator, a bull
frog or a snake. We find plenty of veni-
son and shad equal in iatness and flavor to
those caught in Connecticut river. If the
gentleman citizen aforesaid, can or will
!
more easily obtained productions of this
market, we shall be happy to answer his
order.
1t is not a favorable account we gave Of
religious privileges in this place in our last
communication, therefore it is with pleas
ure we can give different view Of the mat
ter in this one. Last Sunday evening we
visited the Presbyterian church, whore the
exercises were conducted decoutly and in
ORDER silence was at first broken by what
seemed more like sounds from home than
anything we have heard before during the
last three weeks. As the superior beautiful
solo singer OF the quartette choir commenc-
ed the voluntary, and in enchanting tones
of strength and sweetness uttered those ia
miliar words, "Hear our prayer" the sub
stantial form of GOV. II. and many other
familiar faces came before us. The oiliciat-
ing pastor gave out as his text, 81 60 to pre-
pare a place for you" His whole theme
was Heaven. With an attractive interest
ing style he unfolded his arguments. "Some
very good persons" said he, "beleve that
heaven is in no definite place; it is simply
a condition of the mind or soul, and is en-
ioyed by spirits of men in this very atmos-
phere we breathe" "Divine authority has
given us no reason for this belief, but in
every allusion to this subject the idea of
definite place or location is ever made prom
inent." Without giving the least hint Of
his belief in a place of opposite character
he said: "Next Sabbath evening our theme
will be the location of heaven
with the thermometer standing zoe i'm the
our back piazza, whore it is warmer because
bathed in sunshine.
Yours, IL.
The house of representatives of WASH