The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-22
GLIMPsBs OF SOUTHERN TRAVEL

The balmy air and cool surging of the
waters decoyed us from the monOtony of
our hotel life, and coaxed US out on a
sailing expedition. Sailing close to the
bar, we drew our little boat ashore, and
walked across to see old ocean; but she
was in one of her dashing moods, and
only kissed lightly the smooth white
sand which formed her boundaries. Still
the soft sound of the foamy ripples, as
they chased one another along the
shore, had in them just enough of the
"breaker's roar" to let you know it was
only the quiet of the day they too were
feeling, and that a touch from the
March winds, to which we had SO
gladly bade goodbye, could lash them
into fury, and make that peaceful scene
one of grandeur.
While sailing, shark swiftly passed
US, that is, was told it was shark, for
all that perceived was one silvered fin
Just above the surface of the water.
The little town looked so quaint as we
approached it, and the old fort, with the
rays of the setting sun gliding its many
turrets, stood out firm against the hori-
zOn, and lazily resting upon its broad
walls were many of the Indians garri-
soned there, luxuriating, as were we, in
the beauty of the day.
And never before have 1 breathed
such delicious air as greets one here; it
makes one feel that just to exist is hap
piness, for one seems fairly to drink in
the "eIixer'' of life. 1t is not strange it
is a place of resort, for besides its
lovely climate, it has so many other at
tractious-gunninga and fishing, boating
and bathing, and flowers always bloom
ing. For consumptives tits truly an
earthly paradise, and many of those
who came here years ago to die, are still
living and comfortably well.
The only drawback to the place is the
hotels, or, rather, the hotel tables. No
tempting early vegetables or fruits are
daintily placed before one, giving pleas
ure to the eye, and tempting the deli
cate appetite of the invalid, and of the
strong and well; for this is not a place
resorted to alone by those longing to
ease the last few hours of life's journey,
for by far the greater number of guests
are those upon whom Dame Fortune
has showered her most lavish gifts.
Those who, with buoyant health and
with wealth at command, can fly from
the chilling blasts of winter to those ia
vored spots where 'snow and frost, ice
and haiI' seem Pigments of the brain.
And then again, when warned by the
migration of the feathered flocks, that
summer, with its sultry nights, heavy
with the incessant hum of insect life is
stealthily approaching, can depart, and
find rest in those regions that are for.
ever famed by the cool breezes of the
North. To such favored mortals life
must seem a perpetual springtime o.
existence.
The only strawberries we have tasted
land those were delicious) were some
NJ purchased from a farmer, WHIT
stopped in front of the hotel with abou
an hundred quarts. And it was anus
ing to see how quickly they disappeared
for in less than five minutes all wert
purchased by the hotel guests, who wer
famishing for taste of something be
sides canned fruits and vegetables.
The orange, the one fruit with whicl
the proprietors are lavish, and I'll
strange, for the price is exorbitant
counterbalances in a measure the depri
! vations of other fruits; for they are s
= fresh, so juicy, so unlike the orang
north, that one and all seem fairly t
luxuriate in them. And the beautiful
trees ever budding, ever bearing, film
the air with their fragrance, and strew
, ing the paths with their blossom;
, makes a ramble in the orange grove
something perfectly enchanting.
q We are again in Savannah, havin
, left St. Augustine on Tuesday, takin
, the short car ride TO Tocio, and then th
a boat sail upon the st. John, which
truly a beautiful river, with its watel
so broad and so blue, and its bank
lined with Florida's noted orang
groves, the branches of the trees benz
4 ing beneath their weight of golden fru
far over the waters edge. Pointed oil
). to US was grove sold the previous yea
for seventy thousand dollars, and froI
= which the owner had already realize
the sum of twenty thousand, the tire,
/ yielding so abundantly.
We also passed the plantation owne
by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the 81
!. uation was so beautiful that it did n,
n seem strange that she chose it for b,
n winters home.
10 At Jacksonville we only remained OF
q day, and though the place does n,
4 compare with st. Augustine, exceptir
! in it's magnificent trees and fine hotel
, still could have remained there qui
q contentedly for some time; but M
> who is weary of Southern travel, ar
impatient to return, entirely chang'
q our homeward journeying, and decide
To take us hack by the shortest rout