The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-13
For the Dispatch.
FIorida-Contintaed.
ST. AUGUSTINE.

n was late at Right when, an invalid in
nnrsnit of health, rode into old Angus
.f;ne I.sndinc at Picolata, miserable,
onn.horse town on the st. Johns, waited
fnng with impatience, for the stage. we
nasscd over a most uninteresting country
fiat. sagCiv. wet. covered with pines ana a
thick, sscrthby growth of bushes ina,
looked as though they had tried very marc
TO he trees, and failed after long effort,
wing to poverty Of soil, natural debility. OF
Constitution. aud the bad example Of the
other trees in the neighborhood. The
horses were wading through mud and water
fully one-third Of the way, ana When l
called the drivers attention to the clrcum-
stance nc very quietly informed me that TINS
1.-THE winter was the dry season. and That III
summer it was wet sure enough. There
was absolutely nothing OF interest," 10 pc
seen more dull and lonesome, cheerlcss
road. il was never my lot to travel.
The chief inhabitants were large colonies
of .SaIamanders clustered among the pines.
WHY the name should be given 10 tneSe
brrrowing little earth-ratS nobody can tell,
except, perhaps. that as they are very much
afraid of water they must he correspond
ingly fond of fire. They answer TO the
Drair;c-docs Of the western country, are
about the size Of rats, dig well, i've IN com
munitics. and connect their hablfatlonS by
tunnels. They are very pcaccable, quiet
citizens, and, acting on the wise maxim OF
Winding their own business, never inter-
fcrc with that OF others.
Crossing n ferry over the st. Sebastian we
rode into thc-narrow streets OF the ancient
city, our driver rejoicing his heart and an,
nouncing our coming by long ana loud
blasts unon his horn. He had been dumb
ard silent during the journey; the most
gently insinuated cork-Screw queStlons n;lu
failed TO uncork him; nothing could be got
ten ont of him, and | had concluded that
there was nothing in him :; but was mis-
taken. lie had kept his breath in him all
the ride that he might have enough ut the
end of it to blow his own trumpet. Inc
two objects in life for which he lived seemed
to be TO drive four horses back ana forth
along this drearv road and to blow his horn
at each end of it. This, with an occasional
chill. made up the sum OF ms existence.
We drove through the narrow, silent, I'M
naycd, and unlightcd streets. No one
stirred; not even barking dog welcomed
our coming. There was no flashing OF lights,
no eager faces, no busting crowds, no array
of porters When we drew up before low
house called hotel our vehicle fairly nlled
I'D the street. There was no room 1or
another to have passed, and our drlper,
with his four horses, had, after dischargnS
lis. to push on out of the city gate IN order
iINl 1T lllgHl"lttl lOu'it tx Wv pm ~AN'>>
hcyond. 10 obsequous landlord met us.
Guests were no rarity, although accommo-
dations were, and with difficulty we OBJ
tanned part of room and seat al the
second table In this strange old city l
spent a month. 1t is like no other III our
country. and resembles more than anything
else some town of Old Spain taken up bodily
and transported to the shores Of Florida.
You sec odd-looking houses built of Coqulna
stone (of which due mention shall be made),
none of more than two stories III height,
the uppcr story always balconied, thus
overwhelming the street. so that two friendly
neigiIbors in opposite houses can shake
hands from their respective balconies.
These houses oil stand in gardens sur
rounded by high walls or fences, so close
and tall that the females of the family can
secure complete privacy. This is necessary
in climate so constantly warm as to neceS-
state loose robes and scanty garments, and
where living out OF doors among vines ana
Ii" trees is more common and more pleasant
than life within the house. There Is some
thing Moorish about the secluded AR OF
these establishments. The stranger feels
shut out, he catches glimpse OF grape
treilis and orange tree he hears the sound
of voices and the merry laugh Of children
bat the lower part of the house is closed
and kept closed, and the enclosures are
high; the family is shut up within itself.
Enter one of these houses and you will find
much to wonder ut and remark upon. You
miss many things that VIC call conycnlences.
You will enter large room from the street,
for there is no hall, and into this two Or
more small ones open, and here, If any
where in the house, will be fireplace.
This floor is made Of cement and is some
times covered with mating. The old Span-
ISL houses, most OF which no longer exist,
had no climneyS, and no openings on the
north side. They were also tlat-rooted and
covered with tiles. These have now given
way to wooden roofs, and cbimneys are
generally erected. The only mode Of warm
ing q room i'll former times was bya bra
Zier of burning charcoal; and then, as now,
most Of the cooking WAS done in the open
air.
The room Of which ! spoke is the main
room of the house, where every one assem-
bed to eat, to receive guests, etc. 1t was
dining-rOom, parlor, sittlng-room, and eve
ryihing, all in one. The smaller ones were
merely riches to sleep in-comfortless bare,
and dark. From the main room you enter
tie porch, and if there is second story the
steps are outdoors, in this porch; the
upper story copied the lower. The ceilings
were never plaStcred the beams and planks
were smoothly dressed, however. Gene
/. rally, however, no SecondStory was needed,
and in place of porch large, luxurious
grapevine on a tall frame served every pur-
pose OF one. What more could family
Want i'll such climate: a stone house,
cool in summer and warm in winter-a COM
mon living-room for all the family and for
I'll purposes, and closets to sleep in; these
for rain and cold weather, and all outdoors
for warm days and summer weather. A
productiveSgarden, and tg and orange
trees so thickly planted as to make dense
shade, added both enjoyment and comfort.
Nor must the we'll be forgotten. Every
house has one. They are built up OF
Coouina stone, square in form, with curb
about two feet above the surface, III order TO
prevent small children, dogs, and chickens,
from falling in and spelling the water. -Four
feet is sufficient depth; for although this
soil is sandy and dry on the surface, 1t IS
very juicy ; you scratch it and you Ind
water.
The children of Israel would never have
murmured against Moses and dreaded death
by thirst if their sandy desert had been
these desert sands Of Florida. 70 obtain
this water no windlaSS, or sweep, or pump,
isused; every well-curb has lying across 1t
rally merely the rough stick from the woods
with one short branch attached; to this
hook YOU hang your bucket, pitcher, or
mug, and draw water rs you need 1t. The
figure of Rebecca ut the well is common
one in ST. Augustine. There houses are
plainly furnished we should say scarcely
furnished at all ; and there people live i'll a
very primitive manner. Seine houses are OF
stately build, and, expressed in Spanish
ideas, magniticence. The Governors house,
or palace, even In its ruins, showed in its
size, at least, something of grandeur.
There are no two of these houses alike.
Every man has consulted his own taste i'll
building, and although nearly every house