Litchfield enquirer., 1869-10-28

LAY. OCT. 28, 1869
 which lies half score of miles distant
 down the river. The location of Manda
 rin IS exceedingly pleasant, and the view
 line and far-reaching. 7a.
 aa@ MRS sTowE's PLANTATION.
 The water near the bank of the river or
 the Lower St.. Johns is quite shallow, ne
 cessltating projecting pier of some lenetl
 at all the landings; and this is especiall,
 the case at Mandarin. Mrs Stowe's house
 is near the bank, and but few rods to thu
 left of the shore-end of the pier. It is o
 dark brown color, of very moderate cot ttage size, wholly unpretending in appear
 ance. and quite inexpensive. The chiet
 feature of her. place, as seen from the riy
 CT, IS it's magnificent towering shade trees the water oak. They attract and faster
 the eyes of all by their unusual size anG
 beauty. Their widespread and over
 shadowing branches give an air of secIu
 sion and dignity to the quiet home be-
 heath. Her place, we are informed, con slsts of some forty acres in the rear of he, dwelling, with three or four acres of or
 ange trees large enough to bear fruit. This grove is being added to-, and doubtless in
 tlmo she will possess very large and beautiful orchard, and one of great value. ALLEGATIONS.
 Alligator shooting is among the finest o1 sports, and besides is strange and pleasing to most visitors, who, fresh from northern snows and Ice, take to the fun with rare relish. A bright day is necessary such npn ahn company, we set sail for the mouth of the river on the south side of Lake Monroe. The Hattie puffed vigorously across tbe lake, but, entering the river, slowed. ."and quit her "wheezing. 'all assembled on deck and with rifles plenty, we had not long to watch for the amphibious monsters. They are soon seen swimming across our bows or lying lazily on the shores. as is their habit; when crack, bang, and pop % tbe rifles, and an alligator founders down from the shore into the water. Sometimes a half-dozen bullets would strike the mon- ster at about one and the same time: and the huge beast would writhe in agony. lash ing the reed grass with his powerful taiL and lurch into the dark waters with a des. pairing and desparate plunge. Again a lucky or scientific shot back of the fore- arm would bring the scarlet tide, when with a sudden whirl upon his back, and with uplifted. quivering limbs, he was off to the land'of shades without further ado. These cases were valued, since it afforded an op- portunlty to draw up to the shore. land. and decapitate the giant, bringing his head away, not only as a trophy, but for the purpose of practicinga a little dentistry on his teeth; and in time these became, in the hands of some expert, a beautiful whistle, or carved into various forms, were prized as charms. A
 At first our shots were wild, owing to the excitement; soon all became practiced, and could aim the deadly missiles with rare ex- actness; yet comparatively few were killed outright, though numbers were wounded. This was attributable to our finding the majority of themin the water; for, hearing us, they would slip off of the bank and 8a 88at tthes sap1afaG6 when nothing could be It takes keen and practiced eva t4a ao Tatsr, Yattsr, an alligator, they SO closeIy resemD1e rot. ten log half submerged and motionless.
 If a ball enters their eye squarely they are finished; but to achieve this is difficult. A good loud rap on their heads can be giv- en them, however; and the way the water flies when they are thus hit and hurt is both amusing and wonderful. It is beaten into perfect foam ere they plunge from sight. One was a mighty fellow. He was seen at distance, lying on the marshy banks at the bend of river, and appeared the great-grand- father of all the alligators. Experience had taught him it wasn't safe to wait for excursion parties, and he began to move ''ear1y," but our crack marksman drew bead on him, and at the vital spot. Halting to take final observation before making a plunge, the sharp crack of the rifle, and Q dull thud for the echo, told the story. His delay had proved fatal, and he went down to his grave with Q gorgeous display of gymnastics. Suddenly throw ing mp his forearm he rung down the cur tain and his own life at the same time.
 THE CLIMATE.
 2 The chief interest, perhaps, that the state of Florida possesses for the people of the North is it's delightful climate, and the reputed beneficial effects thereof. on the health of certain classes of invalids.
 Its location is the most southern of any portion of the United States, and is the most tropical in character. Reaching al- most to the tropical zone, and extending up to the thir.y-frst degree of latitude, it's entire coast lines are bathed by the warm waters of the surrounding seas while the gentle trade winds cool and purify it's at mosphere, making the peninsula, as. a place of residence, both healthful and de- lightful. $: 5f1' The winters are not so cold as to freeze during the night, or to necessitate artifi- cial, overloaded air in the dwellings; nor are the summers so sultry and heated as to deprive you of rest, as is the case in the severest hot weather in nearly every other portion of the country. The mercury nev- CT settles as low or rises as high as at any point between this state and Canada, The lowest point reached in winter isa seldom below thirty degrees, while in midsummer it rarely exceeds ninety-fve degrees; the average being, for the three summer months about eighty degrees. In New York, Bos- ton, and Montreal, every summer carries the thermometer to a.greater height. The earliest frost recorded occurred on the 27th lof October, in 1857; and the latest frost wasin February (the 14thIS1S59. Severe frosts usually occur in January, when ice lis usually formed in pools of water or buckets, if left exposed. Since 1885, no very destructive periods of cold weather have been experienced; then it was cold. AI- l1- -.l