Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-10
Communications
WRITTEN ron THE VERMONT PHdxIx.
LITTER From FLORID.r.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. Feb. p, 1871.
"When the Master tell old Ncodemus he
must be born again, it surprised the old
gentleman much; he confess hisself very
much aStonish. Like some of this congre-
CATION, he couldn't seem to understand it
after Christ tell him he must be born in the
womb of the water and come right up out
of the water. Now low do you suppose
you can come up out of the water if you
dom go down into the water? You needn't
think you can get along with this matter by
just having wet finger put on your face.
Why, my brethren, | am very much inter
csted in my remarks; you don't know how
much interested | am in my remarks
The foregoing we heard from a colored
Baptist minister addressed to his congrega-
ton. Last Sabbath the colored bishop
Brown-of the Methodist church preached
to a large and attentive audience, composed
mainly of colored people. His fine voice,
wide range of thought, well chosen scholar
ly language, winning style and expression
would render him an acceptable preacher
to most northern congregations of his faith.
He received his education at Oberlin, O.
Feb. ~. Passing the winter in this city
is gentleman about 65 years of age, for
merly merchant in New York. His health
has much improved, and having a large
share of the phlanthropic in his nature he
desires the truth in regard to Florida as a
winter resort, for northern invalids, be so
widely disseminated, that all who need the
information will obtain it. Though many
come here with the last grasp Of death on
their heart-strings, and for the last time
'Iay their garments by upon their beds to rest
thereby discouraging some who would be
benefited by coming here, from making eff
forts TO do so; yet evidence is rapidly ac-
cumulating in favor Ola change of location
ms a mitigation or remedy for chronic all
ments, and many for whom the evidence is
all sufficient, find ii extremely difficult, if
not impossible, to act in conformity to their
convictions. Shortening time and cheap
ening the cost of travel by improvements,
which have been in constant operation
since the days of Fulton, renders it possi-
BILE for larger class than before to avail
themselves of these advantages. But the
ultimatum of these improvements will not
be reached until we have wings, or their
equivalent.
Insurmountable difficulties seem to be in
the way of practical aerial locomotion; but
shall we conclude this never can be accom-
plished because no one of this generation
has yet shown sufficient power or skill to
solve this problem? Must man, with all
his wonderfully Godlike abilities, be ever
inferior to the fowls of the air rs well as the
would suppose that those now reposing on
their laurels, in consequence of successful
exercise of the inventive power, would be
foremost in giving us reason to hope the
day is not distant when can he realized the
poets aspirations as addressed to birds
"oh could fly, Ia fly with thee" sc.
But generally inventors are nveterate con-
servatives in regard to anything but their
pet schemes; they have performed their
mission and lilo down to rest.
The men who stride over centuries-the
inventors, the worlds regenerators-appea
where least expected. The salvation of the
race comes not from bowers of ease or halls
of state. There is ever some place akin to
Nazareth-away from lofty shrines and
earthly splendor, far down in obscurity, in
poverty, in sorrows nght-where, germin-
ating for long years, or, II may be, for,ages,
there finally comes forth to the gaze Of the
astonished, oil unappreciative multitude,
the rarest virtues, the brightest gems of hui
manity.
The longest steps or greatest progress in