The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-02-28

which they discover the first flaw in their
supposed paradise while Others take the
good and bad philosophically, enjoying
the one and making the best of the other.
You will remember that arrived In
Florida the latter part OF November,
having fingered in Baltimore just long
enough to feel the disagreeablc effect Of
the first keen cold, and in my walks along
its frosty pavements, to be disagreeably
impressed with the muflled up pedestri-
ans hurrying along with their blue,
impassiye faces. But November In
Florida has quite a different air, and
find that these same blue-nosed. reserved
Baltimorans, when transplanted to this
genial atmosphere, blossom out into the
most perfect specimens of the smiling.
indolent, happy lounger, who looks
pleasantly into the faces he meets, and
gets up friendly chat in defiance OF the
rules Of etiquette at home.
THE ALLIGATOR CRUSADE.
1t is, and always has been, delight to
me to look back to my first day in
Florida; to recall the lazy comfort took
in the warm sunshine, and the soft at
mosphere with just whisper of breeze
in it; to feel almost child again as
plunged my feet deep into the warm,
white sand. and sauntered slowly along
the streets of Jacksonville, finding every
thing OF interest, because everything
was new and strange.
When stopped under an orange tree
to admire its glossy. green foliage and
tempting fruit, or under majestic live
oak to catch at the long, graceful hang
ing moss, was not afraid of being smiled
at as specimen of verdancy, for here
we have country of the most delightful
unrestraint. The winter season is a grand
holiday, and all unnecessary forms
and conventionalities are done away
with. You will, by that, understand
that did not hesitate to form one of
crowd that is always congregated before
FLORIDA Curiosity Shop" to take my
turn al poking up the hali-torpid little
alligators in their water trunks, aud to
shy away with an instinct OF fear and re-
.ulsion, at the huge "ten-footer" tied to
tree. By way of parenthasis, will re.
mark that the alligator, or ''gaiter," as
it is commonly called, is the pride OF the
native Floridian, and he presses it on the
Yankees" notice in all styles, stuffed,
vanished, wet, dry, dead and alive, and
in all stages between. And not being
contented with that he forces you ts
wear the reptiles teeth as earrings,
breaches and watch-guards carves his
ugly image on your walking sticks
and parasols, and then offers the oil as o
sure cure for all the diseases flesh is heir
to. 1t takes a well poised mind, assure
you. to Withstand the alligator crusade
HOTELS.
The first thing to claim the attention
of visitors is, of course, the hotels and
boarding houses, and the number of them
very nearly corresponds to the number
accommodations they offer. The accu.
sation OF exorbitant charges is, think,
unfair, when the shortness of the busy
season is considered, and the unpro.
ductiveness 6f the soil. The large hotels,
in both Jacksonville and Palatka, com.
mand four dollars per day. The roomi
and parlors are elegantly furnished, the
servants remarkably well ira ned, and
the table everything that the most fastid.
ious epicure could desire; while the pro-
prietors are unceasing III their efforts to
furnish amusement to their guests.
The boarding houses are superior tc
any have known in the North, East CT
West, and myrlads Of invalids and pleas
ure-seekers in moderate circumstance!
find comfort and kind attention within
their walls for the consideration of two
dollars per day. Still cheaper board car
be obtained in private families, though
believe the price never goes below ter
dollars per week. The number of visitor:
to Florida this winter is said to be fal
below the average; but the inhabitant
account tor it by the hard times tn,
fatigue of the people over the Centennial
and their consequent dislike for anothe
trip SO soon; and, lastly, the prevailing
but erroneous opinion at the North tina
political troubles were imminent il
Florida. The spirit of the Southern
people is crushed to such al
extent by the miscrably hard time
they have had since the war, that the.
will keep peace at almost any sacrifice
1t would be heart of stone that coul,
come into these poor Southern homes
stripped of almost everything but til
bare walls, and see the struggle it la
been for the inmates to get a mere livel
hood and not feel the greatest compas
sion for them. ANY bitterness OF feeling
they may have entertained towards pee
pie from the North has entirely disaI
peared. and settlers as we'll as visitor
are welcomed with sincere cordially.
POLITICAL.
Being woman, and therefore impel
fectly versed ia political matters, touc
n aud ~<,1 -