The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-03-02
[For the Hcrald.]
TO Florida and Back.

M ESSNS. HDlEOHS - n0 "flCCr
has not claimed any place in your
columns for tho space of a lustrum,
to use an Anglicised Latin torn,
and submits tho following notes
of travel to your good pleasure to
accept or reject as. seemoth good
unto you. The starting point was
u plantation or homestead on Sa.
luda, tho temporary homo of tho
writer. Tho party was composed
Of six persons, fivo of tho gcntlor
sox from tho ages Of seven to thir-
ty-fivo, and tho writer who acted
rs escort. Tho mode of convey
ance for tho first thirty miles Of
tho Journey was novel but judi
cious, considering tho state Of tho
roads. 1t was an army wagon, O
relic of tho Confodoracy, drawn by
four stout mules, and with a mat
trass on tho bottom, and with
blankets and shawls ovcrlaid, it
was even luxurious cquipage, and
ono which, at tho samc time, was
proof against bad roads and pro-
lection from the mud caused by
the recent rains. Tho morning
was not promising, but u very
carly start gave us hopo Of reach,
ing the end Of our first stage, the
Pine House, miles from Edgc-
field, Oh the Charlotte and Angus
tn Rail Road. The last ten miles
of tho journey was tho worst, as
rain set in just us VIC wcro leaving
Aliens, whore wo stopped to lunch
and refresh ourselves with coffee.
Then tho blankets, shawls and
umbrellas did good service, and
though tho roads wore heavy and
our progress slow, from two o'clock
till five wc escaped q wctting, and
the ladies kept in good spirits. 1t
sccmed like emerging into a differ
cnt region when wo struck the
Ridge road with it's clear white
sand, along which wo travelled on
~ milo till we reached Minis
Depot, where VIC decided to stop
and take tho cars, and us the Ia
dies wished to visit the family Of
the gentleman from whom tho
Dcp1t takcs its namo, it was de-
cidcd to be moro agreeable to stop
there than to go on in tho rain to
tho Pine House, seven miles fur
thor, to which point our baggage
had been sent before us. Our Wis
it to tho family at tho Depot was
pleasant episode, owing to their
kind hospitality, tho comfort Of
fire and other pleasant surround
ings. Tho lady Of tho house in
.spirod resp ,ct from our knowledge
OF her christian virtues and tho
UNAFFECTED kindness Of her greet.
ing, whilst the welcome sho gave
us was cheering to weary travel
lcrs. The young ladies Of tho
family, the five daughters, from
tho ages Of seven to twenty, were
very interesting and so unaffoct-
cdly good. They spared no pains
to entertain us but without any
effort or display, and they seemed
so unitod and harmonious as q fam
lily. The gentleman Of tho house
is q man Of very few words and
professions, but not tho less truly
hospitable and not the less n Chris
tian gentleman as wcll rs enter
prising farmer. L noticed as We
passcdt tho barn yards the evidences
Of ordor and thrift, and somo fno
specimens Of cattle, and amongst
thom somo Of tho Brahmin. Wo
regretted that we should havo to
pass ovor tho road at night on
our first trip on it, as wo had boon
told that tho scenery on part of it
is worth sccing. Our baggage
had not been placed on tho plat
form on account Of our non arri.
val at tho Pino House, and as
thore was not time allowed to got
it from tho depot, rs tho cars, like
timc and tide, wait for no man,
wo had to pass on to Augusta
without it, but to our agreeable
surprise wo found it tho noxt
morning in Augusta, having been
scnt on b. an accommodation
train which passed about two
hours after wo did. Tho rain. was
pouring when wo took tho train
and continued to pour until after
wo reached Augusta. Tho cars