Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-19
Letter from Florida.

about eight o'clock p. M; warm and oa'my Us
lime The woods are musical with insect life,
reminding rne little of camp meeting, which
at one time in my life was so attractive and.
fascinating All day l have been working,
without coat or vest, aud this evening l am
wearing the thinnest clothing have and for
tuuateiy for me, one OF the children put a thln
summer coat in my vallsc, which have used
constantly siuee came to the State. This Is
laud of sunny skies, and beautiful flowers and
delicious fruits. OF course you will iud many
unimproved places, aud then again you will see
such beautiful spots which will, at once, secure
your heart aud tempt your purse. | have seen
many orange groves suce | came here; one
particularly at Palatka, on the st John $ river,
andi I could own it and live there during he
winter mouths, should desire no other earthly
Eden. Where - lives everything is not only
uuim proved but primitive. He has laid out
grove, aad Dr. French, from Meenvile,
another situated 90 beautif ul slopes, and when
more advanced will be as beautiful spots as
the State can furnish. The land undulates
gracefully, aud the tall pine trees, through
whose towering branches the wind is CONSTANTLY
signing, presents landscape worthy OF an
artist pencil aud poets peu. But still 1t is
rustic we live in log cabin chinked with
pine splits and through the crevices the moon
beams dance, and the zephyrs sing all through
the wee slna hours Of night" and our sur
rouudings are, of course, immature, and lncom-
plete Society is scarce; school privileges un-
known and religious services, few and far be-
tween" indeed have not heard of but one re-
ligous meeting 10 the ueighborhood, aud that
was several miles away; and to get to 1t through
| the everlasting sand was au lmpnsslblllty. These
losses hinder the development OF the country,
but as population increases, these wants will be
supplied; and if wood ticks aud tleas could be
choked off, this would become the world para
disc. But still, person 10 quest of health is
willing to forego the destinations aud emptiness
of fashionable society, and With all the diSad
vautages attending him here, if he is not more
than satisfied | miss my guess Just think OF
it; that while you are freezing, sneezng blow
ing noses, aud Wheeling like sick cat, we are
out in the sunshine, snuffing the health giving
| breezes, which hoat over orange and magnolia
fields, and feeling as light, as if we could as
cend the skies, and ride on the clouds, if any
there be, to be harnessed to shining car; and
| everything, even the coarsest food, tastes sweet
and good Coffee aud tea without sugar or
milk is nectar, and sweet potatoes, which
never used in all my life, l Gao devour, and
feel satisfied with my meal if have nothing
else But we have vcnson often, for the woods
are full Of deer; and trout the most delicious
ever eat, and squirrel, and wild duck, When
ever we are not too lazy to hunt them, so that
no person need to be hungry, if be has energy
enough to secure his meal. If had no en-
gagumeDts elsewhere could be satisfied 10 this
country, and not only that, but could feel at
home Here is a large field, white to the
harvest, inviting christian sympathy and labor,
and if person wants 10 work IN that depart
ment, and thus secure jewels tor his crown 10
the skies, | know Of 90 more favorable spot IN
the Uuited States But this is needed every
where, in the city tuil' and desert waste, aud
it is surprising 60 me- that so few appreciate
their privileges or feel their responsibilities.
| This evening one Of the natives called at
IS place, riding mule hitched to a cart,
on his way to MelIeuville, with an alligator's
skin about eleven feet loug, aud sixty alligator 5
teeth, which he was taking to market. He ex-
poets to realize about nine dollars out of that
poor animal, which will furnish him needed
supplies tor mooth. Sweet potatoes the best
| ever ate 10 my life, are raised in great abun-
dance, and furnish the best food that the peo-
| ole get They are most excellent substitute
| for bread, always at hand and always very pal
atable Since [ have been here | have made
many hearty meals on this most excellent vege-
| table. 4.
w. & O. R. R.-The report of President
MCKENZIE which we published last week, gives
80 favorable view Of the Increasing trade, aud
| the general faancial condition Of the company,
that we cannot believe that it will be difficult
to raise the money necessary to lay the track
to Purcevlle, and to keep the work, 90 the
grading 10 Snickersve, going at lively rate
The receipts on its f5rsy-tour miles of road
| completed last year, were over nlnetytWo thous-
and dollars enough to pay the ruoDlug expen-
! SEES, aud the interest upon Its whole Indebted
ness. Every mile completed will add largely
to these receipts. Complete to Purcevlle,
the receipts will be increased at least one thou
sand dollars month For it will begin then
to draw trade from the valley of Virginia, and
trade which has heretofore sought a market
oyer the B. l. o. r. r., and the Chesapeake
| and Ohio Caual Purcclville itself will become
at once lively business place, and probably a
large summer boarding house there will give
mpetus to the travel, as we'll as to the freight
business Of the road
Now is the time for the friends of the road
to give a strong pull, a long pull, and pull al
| together, and then they may,glve the w. q y.
r. r., such start that, afterwards, It's own
nome ntum will take it onward to the Ohio
river. -Lomloun Enterprise. -,
AGAssIz. The Daily Graphic publishes COM
plete, from advance sheets of the Atlantic
Monthly, the article Of the late Professor
Agassiz on Darwin. 1t is welI-known that this
was to have been followed by others in refuta-
ton of the Darwinian hypothesis of the origin
of spccies-an hypothesis which has small
but uosy school of devotees; aud has been COM
bated by the Christian world far more than it
deserves, from any dagger of its leading astray.
Professor Agassiz had all the authority of
recognized teacher. He was possessed of abili-
ty, force and penetration far greater than Oar
win; and it is, therefore, to be regretted that
his contribution to the Atlantic will forever re-
main Incomplete. Religion and science have
been thought to be 10 antagonism in certain
respects; and to be scientific man is imagined
BY many excellent but narrow minded men to
be necessarily an unbeliever in Gods plan of
the creation, mistake which is tostered by
la Ill o,t1 otborc gbo