Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-12-28
TO NEW ORLEANS BY WATER.
''AIfred's Observation on a Mississippi
Steamboat.


Eds. TeI:-I am happy to say we have
arrived at our destination at last. and are
snuglY ensconced in the land of fruit and
flowers. Perhaps it will be better for me
to explain to you that our 10 urneyhas been
as direct to this town, Tampa, as it was
possible for us to make it; we have not
been wandering around the world at large
void of destination, as doubtless, it has been
surmised from the time our trip
has occupied, but have, with innocent
hearts and open eyes, submitted to the
wiles of frolic, aided and abetted by all the
delays travel and out of the world places
could, precipitate up US, with all its pleas
ures and pains. When we started for Flori
da, we were no sooner off than we felt our
selves there and we had to keep up the
feeling. l assure you, until we began to
think it was ordained for US to fully bene-
fit from the rejuvenating influence of this
climate, and the spring Ponce de Leon did
not discover. We began to be imbued with
the idea that we were to discover that
spring, or why was it. that we were to
grow old and gray in reaching its reputed
locality. We left Ashtabula Oct. oath and
we arrived here on Dec. ID, only 80 days,
and that in this age of rapid transit; and
yet we are in this world, and have not
travelled outside its limits. Our
ITDVF OE pOIrTE
was direct to Cincinnati by rail; from there
to New Orleans by the Ohio and Mississippi
Rivers; from New Orleans to Pensacola by
ocean steamer; and from Pensacola to Tam
pa by the aid of Providence, knowing of
no other means. As long as we travelled
by rail we got along in good time, but it
was the water tnat played such sad havoc
with our chronology. AT Cincinnati we
engaged passage on a magnificent steamer
named the "a C. Donnally, and resign
ing ourselves to 6x8 cabins and cupboard
beds, we gave ourselves up to the pleasures
Of the river. 1t was new life to US, es
pecially in the diet and water, the latter
more than the former, on account Of its
color and specific gravity. 1t seemed to-
me as if the orthodox peck of dirt one is
destined to swallow in their earthly career,
had been concentrated into the several COB
let's ofswster presented to queneh our daily
thirst. What could temperance people do
under such circumstances? Simply do as
we did-drink it, just shut ones eyes and
receive large deposit of their earthly food,
as our humane tendencies would not allow
the destruction of the animalcules therein.
Our real pleasure commenced in viewing
the
GRAND SCENERY
that enveloped US on either side of the Ohio
River, and in its windings, it presented to
US one prolonged ever changing panorama.
The banks of the river are varied from
bluffs to graduating hills, and covered with
its millions Of trees, with foliage in their
autumn's tints, and various hued wild flow
ers, formed picture that easel could nev
er furnish. Here and there large boulders
projected high above and far out into the
"uACAo3 anu lCtlAAuhCu OuC VI bllO
days of yore when tempest and eruption
reigned supreme. Imagination could
swiftly revert to this river in early days,
and see the Indian padding silently on the
stream midst the glorious light and tint of
the setting sun, lost. in rapture and Won
derment at the beauties with which nature
had surrounded him, and full of love and
reverence for the country that contained it.
1t is not hard to understand why it was
such fight for the white man to possess
such spots as these, for the poor red man
was prone to love of natural beauties, and
living in their midst. Longfellow in his
"Minnehaha" has painted in words this
picture more faithful than artists eolors
could portray.
From the sublime to the ridiculous is
but step, and take it. From the start
we had scenery on the boats, human seen.
cry; refer TO the
MISSISSIPPI TAR.
4 Being a tar, he is naturally black. Our no.
] BILE crew, believeit is rule to speak OF