The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-07-07
rhe Florida Everglades.

There is a great deal of truthfulness and
noetry in the name that has been given to the
beautiful openings which occur in the swampy
scenery of the Peninsula of Florida. Formed
in low and yet absolutely level country, these
magnificent examples of semi-tropical richness,
strike the beholder with surprise and it seems
waste of Natures grandest exhibition to have
these carnivals of splendid vegetation occur
ring in isolated places, where it is but seldom
that they are seen by the appreciative eye OF
cultivated and intellectual observers.
In the wars which have occurred in times
past with the aboriginal inhabitants of Florida,
we became familiar with the name OF the
"Florida Everglades" and have insensibly as
sociated it with the sad "reminiscences OF mas
sacres and defeats of our troops, under the lead
of Scott, Jessup, Taylor, and others OF our Ia
nous generals who fourished some two score
years ago. These everglades are places where
Nature is most profuse in her gigantic vegeta-
Bile productions-forest trees heaven-towering
in height, vines and cactus plants, struggling
for supremacy in the rich soil, and uniting to
form these strongholds under the protection OF
which Osceola and other great native chlettalns
made their most effective struggle for indepen-
dence, and most severely taxed the patience
and courage of our troops; and it was in these
places that the savages often gained great but
only temporary triumphs
Upon obtruding high ground, associated with
these everglades, grow the ive-oaks of the
world, the far-reaching branches of the individ-
ual tree often extending over surface OF
ground equal to the area of 'city square; 5"
while every possible variety of vegetation, IN
exaggerative proportions, crowd all available
space Parasites fasten upon projecting limbs
and increase the variety of foliage. Vines with
trunks foot in diameter, like huge serpents
seem to have sprung with one leap, fifty feet
into the air, and then grasped in their constric-
tor folds the forest giants, which, under the
pressure, struggle almost hopelessly to retain
their vitality.
But the great feature of the everglades is
exhibited in the countless variety of the feath-
cred tribe Myriads of cormorants constantly
ibis, the gayly-decked wood duck, the beautiful
mallard, the gigantic blue heron, the delicate,
song bird and the imperial eagles, are con-
stantly in sight, mingle their dscordant voices
and the shrill sounds of their whistling wings,
suggesting a profuseness of animal life that
rivals that of the vegetable world.
The deer, most favorably situated for sup
plying itself with food, and thoroughly protec-
ted from the deadly pursuit of man, grows
larger than elsewhere on the continent, and as
permitted monarch of the wastes, breaks
through the tangled foliage which lines the
banks of the inland lakes, and with the aqua
tic inhabitants, enjoys the luxury of bathing in
pure water, taste which the graceful animal
seems to indulge even to excess.
The sun seems everywhere to shine with the
may be the heat the cool sea breczes of the
Mexican Gulf constantly temper the atmos-
phere, and produce geniality of climate that
can only be understood by realization. But
under the influence of this terminating heat
the rapid growth of vegetation seems unbound
cd, and ever full of the vigor of youth. There
is no evidence of decay anywhere. The frosts
which make the Northern forest in the fall
notified with gay colors never garnish these
Southern landscapes; ali is one intense but
cver-varying green. 1t is this feature which
makes it quite impossible to reproduce these
tropical exhibitions on canvass, and renders all
exaggerated displays of red, yellow, blue and
scarlet, as peculiar to tropical regions the falls
est things of all the demonstrations Of meretri-
cious art.-4ppieton's Journal.