Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-03-15
SOUTH FLORIDA LETTER.
Tampa soclety,,&e.

classes Of people, that are to be met with,
everywhere one travels. They are those
who can enjoy themselves everywhere, and
with everything, and those who can never
enjoy anything whatever. We may be
placed, or classed in the happy medium;
the shade between the two; and if favor
ing either, rather the former than the lat
ter. In visiting cliInes foreign to US, the
first enjoyment comes from the decided
change in everything; this sndures as long
as its freshness lasts, but as soon as We
get used to this change, the enjoyment is
gone, and others must be sought. As far
as South Florida is concerned in this, l
can assure you, withsue, this freshness is
still lasting, and with US al. We have
the happy contemplation that We are en-
joying the beautiful weather here, every
thing so fresh and green; flowers luxuri
ant in hues and fragrance; fruit rips and
luscious; birds sweet in song; and hun
dred and one other invigorating concOmi-
tants: While you up North, are perhaps
surfeted with chilly blasts, ice and snow.
Remorseless wrstches, aren't we, to call
this happy contemplation?
OF course by this time, We are thor
oughly at hume: We have had the honor
and pleasure of being introduced into so
cieTy here, one we sincerely appreciate.
1t is a prevalent idea in the North, that
the people Of the most southern States. are
very turbulent; one-half dsspsradoss, and
that each individual is a travelling aTmo-
ry; that provoeations are numerically
strong, and answers to the same, with
stssl and ball, an every day occurrence.
For South Florida, let me say, this is a
huge mistake. In the city of Tampa, (and
with other towns surrounding u.s. the peo-
pie comprise class of refined, genial, so
cial, sober, God fearing beings. Almost
the entire community are communicates Of
the churches. They have a hourishing
Lodge of good Templars, a Memorial So
ciety, Nickle Club, 3 Masonic Lodge,
an I. 0. O. F. Lodge, and otfe- Societies,
the names of which, am not informed.
These Lodges thrive by united efforts.
and not by individual aid. Besides these,
and other social parties eyer occurring,
there is an entertainment given for some
charitable and worthy object about every
month; entertainments that reflect much
to the good of the towns-peOple, as the OBJ
jsct in view is scarcely ever confined to
beneftting the town alone, but also to
visitors coming here.
Our entrse to society, occurred at the
usual meeting of the ''Nickle Club This
is a social gathering at different houses in
the town, every two weeks: for aiding the
Cemetery here. A choice selection of mu-
sic, singing. reading, &c., is afforded; and
from experience l can assure you the
quality is excellent. The fee is one nick
le, or as much more as ones philanthropy
prompts. Besides this, one obtains the
social intercourse that.prevails, which, in
itself, to strangers like US, is great pleas
ure. | will say here, that all visitors are
cordially invited and received. Just
think. why l, attended one, the first
to me, and at the same one,
felt so much at home, that felt no bashful-
ness in reading selection to them, and
have continued to help ever since. Had I
found people, that were, not so ingenu-
Gus and cordial, my sensitive nature
would not have allowed me to do as 1 did.
You know how curious mankind is, Tor is
it wOmankind; strange should forget
which, however, am curious, and hav-
ing heard a great deal of southern beau
ty, was ready to be critical on the pres
entation Of the beauties. My icy intention
just wiltsd like snowflake under June
sun, and am not easily ;wilted either.
There are in Tampa large number Of Ia
dies, married and single, whose claims to
pretty, beautiful, and sweet, are undisputa-
able; indeed, was surprised at their
number. 1t was treat to me, to look on
faces lit up with intelligence, and over
shed with a sweet grace that makes one
feel at home with the face at once. They
all have the faculty Of pleasing, and if I
had to fall in love with one, "a single one
CT course, notwithstanding the married
ones are covetable,) it would be a hard
matter to decide the choice.
The gentlemen are all clever, kind and
obliging, and spare no efforts in assisting
navr oo,parS Tbav 80. sb,orr5 o,5 -
spicuous in business, and Tampa can show
more than one, who has raised himself to
afiuencs, receiving no start in life, and
due alone to his own exertions.
The ladies too, are braue. Why say
this, is because it is my earnest convic-
tion. Let me tell you why.
One evening, on our way to attend the
Nickle Club, our ambition to create sens
alton at the gathering was more than aug
mentsd. You know how one dresses
up, so nice, and just so; especially
when you go to meet the elite
of city. We were dressed up, and by
soma evil destiny, we had accompanying
us young gentleman, who, that eve
hing, was to make his debut to Tampa
society. He too, was as anxious as we
to look well, and create an impression.
While We were iourneyi1g down to-
ward the house, the night being dark, OBJ
jects were not easily discernable, and
well, to make the matter short, what we
thought was a chicken, was not one.
Whoever saw chicken with two ears
and vertical tail, with an equal distribu-
ton of hair on each side of it, and a
well it does not matter, but if we had not
stopped to settle the doubt, this would
never have been written, and a sensation
forever lost. We did stop to ascertain its
generic marks, species, &c.; but one mo-
ment, one single fitting second. and that
was sufficient. We knew the animal too
well; and at least we snseH so. Had all
the odors of the universe assailed US, it
would have been but flea to our sls-
phant.
The most wonderful effect of this pole
catastrophe was an acceleration of speed,
innumerable ''phews," and cry for an
aPothecary. Our SudTciency of perfumes
'0as tanctfed. But we did not 90 back,
oh no, we went right on, into the hons.
and we did create sensation.
Isn't it u moving sirht IN n.se -.