The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-09
observation-disclosures.

I have mentioned tnat FlOllua II efci!
way suitable IS winter resort for lnTaiiGS
suffering under chronic complaints. VIII
now proceed to state why it IS beneficial
md for whom. In the first place, then, this
atmosphere is always damp. On the coast,
especially, it is always highly charged with
moisture. Those patients, therefore--some
ssaSthmatcs, for lnStance-Who cannot
breathe well in damp air, should avoid IL !;
or. il they 90, should keep as far as possible
from either coast, for Florida IS merely a
tongue Of sand thrust down TO keep the
Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico apart
Such patients should remain IN The interior,
and dwell among the pine forests.
Again, there are many feeble persons VINO
sulIcr from relaxed condition OF the skin !;
.fhcy are always moist, and easily thrown
into profuse perSpiratiop. For these Il
dry air is best it will aid in carrying OH
this excessive moisture. Air already nearly
saturated with moisture, rs that OF florlda
generally is, will not readily remove TINS
condition of skin, but rather aggraVute II.
For such cases the dry, bracinS air OF MIN
ncsota is best. Still, there are many cases
IN which moist, warm air is.soothing ana
nrietinr to the lnngs and throat. We have
MI seen or felt how the inhalation Of vapor
Ghe infusion of hops in warm water, tor in
stance ! will relieve cough and help to
cure. " -,
The chief advantage. however, Of the
winter climate of Florida is that you are
not compelled to stay in the house by either
cold or wet. You can always take exercise,
md in the open air. You are not compelled
to WRAP up in warm and at the same time
heavy clothing, as in our winters, so That
You are burdened and fiitigued by the very
Garments YOU carry to keep you warm.
II is this opcn-air lift-the freedom from
Il burden-this soft, balmy air-that pro-
duccs benefit in Florida. A man who can
gather flowers and eat green peas in Janu-
arv torcetS the almanac even when 1t speaks
of snow, imagines that spring has come,
that he ought TO feel better because he has
lived through the cold harShneSs of winter,
and does become better because Of TINS very
feeling, | consider that this is the great hcnc-
fit derived froma winter iii Florida, and the
cause Of it. You have spring feeling; you
arc constantly in the open air--Walking,
riding, sailing; you gather flowers and see
vegetation blosSoming:' winter dress and
winter feelings are alike laid aside, and Il
spring of health bursts up within you and
sweeps away every sensation of being inTa-
lid. and utterly dcpri4es you OF all pill
taking propcpStics.
The best thing you can do is to get on
horseback and travel through and over
the country. The only fear is that you
will feel too well and, again forgetting the
almanac, come home too soon.
You have had SO long 4 spring that you
think it must be midsummer at home; you
leave Florida in May, and you find Febru-
airy at your journeys end and thus you
will suffer, and perhaps severely.
4 Florida invalid should ever remember
that there are degrees Of latitude, and that
New York and st. Augustine are not upon
the same one p; that the truth is compare
,,,l tl,t oil, tz-bi1a If InS
about Florida, probably tells the truth
about the climate Of Washington. This
early homecoming is the chief reason why
so many persons derive no benefit from
winter in Florida. You may 90 there at
once. But come home slowly feel your
way 80 to Savannah, then to Charleston,
then to Aiken; there halt, andread the pa
pcrs to learn if there has been snowin Bos-
ton; wait until it melts, and the bluebirds
are heard :; then proceed leisurely, and let
only the 1st Of June lind you In Richmond.
One thing necessary for health is to be OBJ
served all through this southern country,
and that is TO drink no water from springs
or wells. | do not mean that one should
drink spirits, and for the best of all reasons
| found none good in East Florida. Very
little is drank, and only common New York
whiskey is TO be had-a drink mean enough
20 make man steal his landlords spoons.
Strange, that people who have the sugar
cane and can grow the pineapple, and who
thus have opportunity to make the finest
rum, equal to the best Santa CruX, should
consent to imbibe SO vile a liquor 1t eX-
hbits the laZiness and perversity OF human
nature. Best, however, for the traveller to
drink only water, and only that which
Heaven sends. Many hotels have large
tanks or reservoirs, and ice can be procured
wherever the steamboats, run. Even this
rain water requires tiltering, and every III
valid should have q charcoal strainer for his
own use.
The fault OF the surface water is that it
comes from swamps, and may be full OF in
visible animalcules. The deeper waters
pass through the rotten-shell limestone,
which, formed from decayed coral, under
lies the whole country. The deeper the
well the cooler and more dangerous the
water. In many parts, however, the wells,
fifteen or more feet deep, do not penetrate
the sand, and the water in them is merely
surface water from swamps, filtered through
bed Of sand, and is perfectly pure and
wholesome. On the coast you lind this
pure rain water (sand-fltered) anywhere by
digging hole few feet above tide.
water mark. Thus barren, dry, sun
burnt, sandy desert will yield abundant
springs whenever you choose to make
them. This matter is more important than
most invalid travellers are willing to con-
slider it. A pleasant thirst-quenching drink
can always be made from the wild orange,
which grows abundantly in the woods
either the bitter, sweet, or the sour
Squeeze the juice into cup, add water and
sugar, and you will think that you have
never before drank lemonade.
- OF course the wise old woman's advice to
her son on going out into the world should
be followed in Florida, as everywhere else
Read your Bible, wear flannel, and keepyour
system open. Avoid the towns--eSpecially
the hotels. Florida inn-keepers follow the
advice given TO Chester, Charge, Chester,
charge,) and charge you double price for
what they do not furnish once.
tt l have come to the conclusion that Flo
lida inn-keeper never goes to Heaven
they are the publicans and sinners spoken
Of in the Bible. You will anywhere in the
country find acountryman who will at once
take you in, and yet not take you In !; and
Il you know how to use your tongue, and
can tell the news, you will be cheaply and
gladly entertained.
Remember that there are. no natives in
Florida, except alligators and q few new.
born babies; it is land of strangers, and
where strangers meet. found men from
every State and Territory in this Union.
travelling or setting. Ifyou fall into neigh-
borhood of South Caroinians or Yirgnians,
;snd !, are real white man, youwill get along
Wen and be well treated.
Aast FLORIDA would seem to have been