Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-02-21
Letter from Florida.
BY VIM. ID. McMASTER

hOulllaii, HOW soJoulni1S III VIC cNel
glade State, to his friend and towns
man, Peter King, Esq, of Bridge
water, will interest the readers of thu
AGE, no Doubt
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Feb. l, 1877
Friend King -
am sure you would like u change
from your land Of snow and frost tol
season. fyou could fully realize
and enjoy this splendid summer
weather we are having here. l can
assure you 1t is hard to realize a
change 50 great in four days ride from
Vermont to Florida. We are having
unremitting days Of sunshine, and ev-
cry one betokens July in Vermont
save the nights are cooler--a little too
much 80, comparing with Vermont in
June. The thermometer changes
about 20 to 25 degrees between morn
ing and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. |
am told that in the interior Of the
State the changes are less, and if one
could well supply the inner man, that
would be preferable to this place for
iuvalids; frequently here they will
come out looking blue, while at noon
day they will be obliged to seek shell,
ter from the burning sun. The Their
mometer here for several days at mid
day has been from 70 to Is degrees
aud no appearance Of storm Tor the
past two weeks, and | am informed
that it is most uniformly fair lii the
winter here. One man remarked yes
tertay that he had known IN winter
here sixty-eight days of fair weather
in succession.
This is reported by far the finest
town in the State, and indeed it is q
very pretty place. The buildings are
mostly of recent origin, ard the streets
are at all times freed from mud and
presents an mir OF neatness which inn
presses one tavorably. The st John ;
River opens out before you, looking
like continuous bay, 1t is very
wide and far up to the South it opens
out, IN places from to 10 miles in
width, and is the home Of the aliga-
tors which we hear so much about
here.
One thing in regard to Florida, l
am sure with all her sunny days and
warmth ti climate, it is no place for
the common farmer of New England.
Hnr coil wnnlA rnrtn"tly disgust him
and he would prove a failure here
AS you proceed up the river you will
see in the distance on shore the live
Oak resting and growing upon what
to the eye would appear fine, white
sand. There is, however, in this soil
something more than silex,-a she'll
formation which gives support to GER
tain vegetable life. The orange tree
will flourish and after many years Of
waiting will yield an income to the
waiting producer, and | AIN not sure
but white beans would grow here
Now, about political matters. All
is very quiet here, but on inquiry we
find deep conviction that great
fraud has been practiced upon them.
They say they are breathing easier
now that Drew is acknowledged gov
ernor, for they say nothing could save
them but q change, as enough was not
left to live upon after what was stolen
and the taxes paid.
On my way here from Savannah, l
fell in with Col. 7. L. Whittock, of
Madison, Fla, who gave me a long
history, and the trials, miseries and
sufferings Of his State and his own.
He says: 81 was planter and a
alave owner, and was opposed to Sc
ccssion and did what | could to save
it, but when my State left, stood by
my State. then had 1000 acres Of
land, rs slaves, 500 hogs, 200 head of
cattle, horses, ETC.; was producing
corn and cotton and my family never
had want that was not supplied.
When the proclamation Of Emancipa-
ton came out, l rode out on my plan
tatlon, called all my slaves together
and told them fit, and that they
were free. gave them much good
advice and tried to hire them to re-
main and help me secure my crops,
but it was no use,-they thought they
were all provided for. l had at that
time 800 hogs ready for market that
fall, and how many out Of that number
do you think | secured for MYSELF"
I said, Perhaps $50" He says,
"But three hogs did l get, and they
dressed over 1000 pounds. My cat
tie, my corn and poultry all went the