Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-03-07
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA,
February 80, 1874.

WSiiS " liaiiiSOHoui - you AoIOhS GU HlC
there, and every week for nearly two
years found you in my box Ill, ready
to give me all the news from Shepherds
town, where | have so many precious
friends. The other day / went TO the
Post-otfice in this city, and, behold
there you were, nestled away among
some letters and other papers, in box
1O2. How glad was to see you, my
dear old friend, away here in the Sunny
South" | am greatly obliged to you
for hunting me up, and now l hope you
will continue to come, and we shall Of
ten hold sweet converse together.
| suppose you would like to know
something OF my movements of late
Well | will tell you. During the last
five months l spent in Harrisonburg, l
suffered greatly with bronchial catarrh,
and was advised to come South and see
if | could not get well. So on the Sec
ond Of December, 1878, with sad heart
and moistened eyes, took the train
and after having spent few days with
my family in the eastern part of the
State, left Alexandria on the night OF
the 11th. My first point was Macon,
Ga. l took "ihrough ticket" via Pc
tersburg, Weldon, Wilmington, &c. l
had a rough time of it, assure you. AT
Weldon we changed cars, at Whining
ton ditto, at Columbia do, at Augusta
do, at Millin do. From Columbia to
Augusta the coach (the best in the train)
was not fit for a white man to ride IN.
Dirty. dirty everywhere, no water tor
half the distance, and when it came 1t
was put into superannuated cooler,
without top, and we had to drink the
stuff from dirty fye-cent tin cup. At
Augusta we were hitched to the tail OF
freight train, and dragged in to Mil
lin, where we enjoyed the luxury of an
other change, and reached Macon after
night would advise you to keep off
that line, / shall not take it again.
Macon is beautiful city. 1t has been
called the CITY of Palaces" There are
many very splendid residences. Here
YOU may find as many truly elegant la
dies and gentlemen, in proportion to the
population, as you can any where else
in this country. With a little expense
it might be made one of the most char
ming cities in the world. The streets
are the widest | ever saw, but sadly ne
glccted-washed by the rains, no paw
ing, no parking sand, sand, holes, gui-
lies, comparatively few shade trees.
With all this, however, it is grand
city. We should like TO live there. At
ter spending nearly three weeks, max
ing many delightful acquaintance, and
enjoying the splendid hospitality Of
those whose names will never fade from
memories page, we left on the Macon
& Brunswick Road for this city.
Here we were again dragged all day
at the tail of a freight train, averaging,
we would suppose, not more than fit
teen miles per hour The road runs
through vast pine forrest, nearly all
the way. There is little to be seen but
saw-mills and great piles of lumber.
Whisky seems to be the curse OF this
whole section. | don't think that there
is one station between Macon and Bruins
wick where you may not see from one
to three bar-room signs staring you III
the face.
At Brunswick we took the steamer
Lizzie Baker Now we had a good
time, good company, good bed, good
breakfast, we embarked at l-2 L. NJ,
and next morning we steamed into the
mouth of the St. Johns River New
Years morning yet how sweet and
balmy the atmosphere, how bright and
warm the sunshine. Look out along
the shore, see the deep green forests 1.-The
tall palmetto, spreading out at the top
like great umbrella. This is Florida.
Now we are in sight Of Jacksonville, the
largest city in the State Here are more
than dozen large schooners, several
steamers, and an host Of small craft
We land, and come up into The city.
Every thing seems new and strange, as
if we had been transferred from one
world to another. The streets are beau
tiful, running at right angles, and beau
tifully shaded from end to end with live
oak and other trees of perennial foliage
The orange trees are loaded with fruit,
how bright and beautiful the contrast
between the deep unfading green Of the
leaf, and the rich golden color of the
fruit. The city is said to contain apop-
ulation of thirteen thousand. | don't
believe word of it. 1t may have
population of ten thousand. Many OF
the hotels are large, and well kept.
There are hundreds of boarding houses,
where board can be had at prices run
ming from twelve to twenty-five dollars
per week. Thousands Of visitors are
here from the North, and elsewhere,
spending the winter, and spending their
money. Some are here for health, many
for pomp and show, and many looking
for something to turn up" This is a
lovely day, the windows are up, We have
no fire in the house, the flowers are
blooming in the yard, peaches and
plumbs are in full bloom, the gardens
are in their glory, the market is we'll
supplied with vegetables, also with shad
and all manner of fresh fish. We had
a trout the other day that weighed not
less than ten pounds, enough for two
meals for the whole family, but I must
close now. | will tell you more about
this country before long. Give my love
to all my dear friends. May God in his
goodness watch over you and thine.
J. b. +.