The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-04-30
CORR ESPONDENL e.
ST.. AUGUSTINE. March 10 1877

Mr.. EDITOR thinking perhaps your
readers would likeato know something in
reference to st. augustine. therefore, if It
does not occupy too much space in your
valuable paper, please publish the
following, giving a brief sketch sof st.
Augustine and a portion CT its surroundings
with asmall portion of Florida In general, &c.
st. Augustine stands on fiat, sandy level,
encomposed for miles, and miles by what is
called "scrub"-a mixture of low palmettoes
and bushes of various descriptions Its bis
tory carries one back almost to the middle
ages, so we see that this part of our country
at least, does not lie open TO the imputation
so often cast upon America, O! having no
historic associations, though, like a great
deal of the worlds history, it is written In
letters of blood and fire.
Whoever would know let them read Park
mans Pioneers OF France" under the article
"Huguenots in Florida" The aspect of st.
Augustine is quaint and strange, in harmo-
ny with it's romantic history 1t has no pres
tentons to architectural richness or beauty !;
and yet it is impressive from it's unlikeness
to any thing else in America. 1t is com.
paratvely free from malaral fevers, and
the sea air tempers the oppressive heats of
summer, so that they are quite endurable
The banana has value simply as an orna-
mental leaf plant, quite apart fro I'm the con,
sideration of it's fruits. Bnt it Is glorious
when the thermometer is going up into the
hundreds, to see the great fresh, broad, cool
leaves ofthe banana-tree leaping into life
and seeming TO joy in existence. In groups
of different sizes they form most beautiful
and effective shrubbery. The secret of gar
deniLg we'll here is to get things that love
the sun. The date-palm has many beautiful
specimens in the gardens of st. Augustine
date palm, at near view, is as quaint and
peculiar specimen OF Nature as Que can
imagine. Its trunk seems butt up ofgreat
scales, in which ferns aud viaes root them
selves, and Irvine and ramole, and hang in
festoons. Above, the leaves, thirty feet long
fall i'll feathery arch, and in the centre
like the::watels Of a fountain, shoot up bright,
yellow, dropping branches that look like
coral. These are the fower-stalks. The
small fruit, In this climate, does not ripen
so as to be fit or good for any thing. The
surprise is delightful. In one garden that
visited, saw century plant, in bud.
The stalk was nineteen feet high and the
blossoms seemed to promise to be similar
to those of the yucca. The leaves are like
the aloe, Only longer. and twisted and con-.
torted in : strange, weird fashion. Ia s~~
What a beautiful sight to behold the mag
nolias. One magnolia saw that deserved to
be called al arch-angel among the sons OF
the forest. Full hundred feet high it stood
with trunk rising straight round, and
branches for full fifty feet, and crowned With
o glorious head of rich, dark, shining leaves.
When its lilYsbloss oms awake, what a glory
will it become, all alone out there in the
silent forest, with only God to see. No, let
US believe. with Milton that Millions of spir>
itual creatures walk the earth Unseen,
both when we wake and when we sleep and
the great Magnoia-trees may spring up tor
them.
1t is asserted with vehemence that there
are varieties of birds 10 Florida uns nown as
yet to any collection of natural history. The
society in st. Augustine though not exten
sive, is very delightful. We met some very
cultivated and agreeable people.
This beautiful country is being laid open,
aud made accessible and iphabitable as a
home and refuge for those who need It.
| The tropical forests of Florida conta in
visions and wonders of growth and glory
never yet revealed to the eye of the common
traveller, and which he VINO sees must risk
much to explore.
G. r.