Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-06
GENERAL.
Land Of Flowers.

..,srvR ouARsts on THE CLIMATE or FIoRIDA--AN-
",ryr ofrY OF sT. kuousTtNE-oRANoE TEES IN
wooM-HIsroRIoAL REooRDs or THE LAND.
rha ancient city OF st. Augustine Is really
h.vne a resurrection to new life. Its genial
Hw,ntsr olimate yearly attracts wealthy people
In, WnVb abe North, and some OF them, like Mr.. As
,,rnWall and Mr.. Howard, two New York nabobs,
InnhrildinR elegant mansions here. The sis
~ m mefcy arc about TO build convent and
hosnital. and the colored people arc 10 have an
nesInm arected for their benefit. The city
ss;hsTa are also awaking from their hip
Van Winkle sleep, and arc filling up the
hog holes in the Streets and contemplate
,hs making Of . shell road one mile iong
70 be the grand boulevard OF the future. wish
n we're possible for me to describe the ioveiiness
~ tbis climate, and it's healing effects upon In
vslids, Saying the thermometer stands at eighty
Sagrees snd that the soft air is made invigora-
ling by contact with the ocean, does not convey
an adequate expression OF its virtues. Recent
latters from friends in the South Of France, who
Snent the last Winter here, say the climate there
4 not 10 be compared with that of Bt Augustine.
Ihe city is nov quite full of strangers, and soon
avery place will be crowded. The band plays
eyeiy afternoon In the plaza, calling out the
crowd In happieet mood, and at sunset the stages
drive in from the depot, blowing their bugles.
Announcing the ARRIVAL Of Northern malls as
we'll as passengers. The orange trees are now
budded, and will soon be in bloom. few peach
trees have also opened their delicate flower
budei out tney Aro n'sio an eA'-NSS - eA-O
Sailing parties are now in fashion, and viii
describe one we recently enjoyed. Our hrst land
lug was at the lighthouse, upon AnAstasiA
island where from the outlook we obtained tine
view OF the Florida coast, and could also look
far OF upon the ocean, beyond the breakers,
while Imagination carried us back three hundred
and fifty years to the days Of those early sdven-
turers who landed hereiwhen this continent was
an unbroken wilderness. Yes, this is the beauti-
f.II u ia uhara
sunday, and fancy / could trace their path on
the water and realize their excitement as they
landed. From the lighthouse we walked TO the
coquina quarries, where most OF The building
uaterial Of b. Augustine 10 obtaiued. The
coquina is shell formation, which, 1 believe.
is fonnd in no other part OF the world.
II is composed Of fine and broken
shells, cementsd by some action Of the water
here Prof Dana speaks OF II in hisirecent work
on corals but gives no geological explanation, Of
lis formation. 1t ia out in blocks suitable for
building and is little soft when hrst taken out,
but hArdens on exposure to the air. The houses
built of IL are in the old Spanish style,
with large balconies hanging from the second
stories over the narrow streets. .
From the island we sailed to the North beach,
whore the dashing OF the waves has rendered
the accumulation Of shells very firm, and where
we took long walk searching for sea-beans.
that are often washed up from dinerent shores'
We returned with voraclous appetltes 10 dine
of the finest OF venison and wild duck, with
vegetables fresh from the garden, and oranges
Just gathered from the trees. At dinner,
while we were holding an animated discussion
on the question OF uniting all the different re-
ligous denominations, Q dove tew in through
an open door, huttered few moments over our
heads and then took its departure, leaving us
to acoopt and profit by the omen If we would.
After dinner we walked 10 the post cemetery,
near the barracks, where long lines OF our SOL
diers are aleeping under the orange trees, ana
where three coquina pyramids cover the remains
Of Major Dade and a hunured Of his command
who were mass acred by 0sceola and his tribe
during the Seminole war. There is now small
force stationed at the barracks, under command
OF Major CorcorAn, 10 protect us from all enc
miles, and our beautiful flag Is always floating
there e.-- Correspondent Toledo Blade.