The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-01
The Sunny South.
person.
No. 5.

bra,e Mardi.Gras " in New Orleans, which
as some think, Is worth crossing contInen
to see
If VIC are to judge of the financial condl
ton of Dixie by Witnessing celebration O
this kind, we would conclude at once tina
4 times are not so bad as the people of the south
would have us believe, and that they are no
Suffering, at least, for the necessaries of life
II "A city of the size of New Orleans (2A0,OO =
can raise half million or more dollars tt
celebrate Mardi Gras, il is pretty good evi
dcnce that there is considerable small change
TO spare
i am OF opinion that there is no, city in
the North to-day that could afford to make SC
grand display OF "Foolery,' and expend
half the sum IN such nonsense as did New
| Orleans on this occasion; and il would be
hard to celebrate even the 4th Of July, in the
palmy days before panics had struck the
people, with equal msgnfcence.
From New Orleans to Mobile one passes
through dreary, swampy, dcsola,e section
lof country, IN fact genuine "Dismal
Swamp" with nothing to relieve the monot-
ony of the ride, except now and then an ALI.
gator, crocodile or rattle snake which seems
to be the only crop all of which is visible to
the naked eye
| A seven hours ride brings us to
| MOBILE,
the "Gulf'City Of the South" situated on the
west bank of the gl.terng waters of the Tom.
bigbee river, about twenty five miles from the
Gulf
The streets of the city are pleasingly layed
out, shaded and adorned with beautiful trees.
whose towering branches oyerarch the streets,
and from which dangle In beautiful fes-
ICONS, immense quantities Of the famous and
beautiful southern moss.
There are no harsh, angular lines to offend
the eye, no infexlblc squares, but the streets
travcrs up and down with regularity that is
picturesque From every standpoint We look
upon exquisite bits of scenery and passably
fine buildings. Mobile is doubly blessed a,
this season Of the year, for it Is the height of
spring time, and the trees are georgous with
their green foliage and sweetscented bios.
SONS The Ivy and Myrtle are In bloom, the
Magnolia, Palmetto and Orange trees are In
full blossom, and every dooryard IS decorated
with the choicest flowers. No dooryard is !
complete here without Its orange trees, and
what is there more fragrant than the Orange
blossoms You that have never visited the
orange groves of Florida, nor beheld the
beauties clustered am0Bg the green leaves,
nor shifted those perfumes, can form no con
ception whatever of their fragrance To see
this golden fruit swaying on the branches,
their beautiful colors fittingly shaded by the
green leaves, and just as the dew begins to
to descend, to lnhale the fragrance of their
blossoms, Is perfectly heavenly The hear,
indeed, must be like an empty wine.cup that
Is not touched by such pleasures as these.
Let us add TO this the lovely winter. they
have here, with the mild soft breezes from
the Gull, waiting their fragrance through the
not over crowded streets, suggesting, as it
would seem, comparison ofthe beautiful
June weather with the dark, rainy, slee,y,
snowy frosty anc chilly days that character.
ICES spring weather In the north.
l. Is TO be regretted that a city like Mobile
has not more Of the Greasy Mechanic Gle
men' than it has, for, after all, this is the class
ofpeorle tina. make city, and without them
q place Is not Of much account But Mobile,
like many Of its kind, Is too near larger
city, and hence its drawbacks. New Or
leans is within too close range for its pros
poets OF being ever large place.
Leaving Mobile with its beautiful homes,
ordly mansions and lovely cottages, VIC 81.
ENTITY and sadly take up our march for the
depot, and procure our check for our carpet.
bag" for
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA,
Or, as II is sometimes called, the Eden OF the
SOUTH" a city of about eight thousand in.
habitants, and one of the most beautifully
situated little cities in America Huntsville
Is all that could be desired as place of resi-
dence. Its streets are beautifully shaded, and
Its residences are built with great TASTE show.
ing conclusively the characteristics of It's
citizens Ii has all the modern improve
".n's vi well regulated city, hne church
edihces. excellent schools, a fine college. male
aud female. The business houses are good,
but the business men seem to lack energy.
The country around Huntsville Is as good
as can be found in America and very healthy,
with, as | am told, balmy climate. The
uhoun,a'ns' which are seen on all sides, give
P,cluresque appearance TO the place.
we resume our journey, gliding along Toy
ten or twelve hours through dense pine for
ests' large swamps, and around lofty noun
Ia,ns, ln,erspersed here and there with u
skinned" cotton field. or some hallowed spot
that has connected with Il some remarkable
history oil the war, and now and then passing
some lovely little towns, which once flourish
I'd a. immense plantations, but new are own.
ID and occupied by the Everlasting niyeab. y
he Happy Sons Of Ham
With the present advantages of railroad
facilities, We are able TO get over a wondetful
,mouut OF territory In day, and the rate a,
which We glide around mighty mountain.
charming valleys and over lovely landscape
Is simply astonishing. Here. but few hours
ago. was in the land where the alligator