Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-20

elooN08, tnat the person "no cauuol
find means OF recreation. must indeed
be hard to plesAe. Lii. there is COM
bination If that to be found in Nice,
Naples, Brighton. Scarborough, and
Saratoga durIug the season." hence
one may readily understand that It is
any thing but dull. Boarding houses
seem to be Omnipresent, and for their
pretensions they are quite cheap, the
usual charges being from two to four
pounds per week. The favorite drive
in the vicinity of the city is that which
leads to Moncrief S Springs, four miles
distant, where there is mineral spring
whose waters are said to cure malarial
diseases. Bath houses, q restaurant, a
bowling alley, dancing pavilion, and
the inevitable accompaniment Of an
American fashionable resort, race
course, may lie found there. Leaving
JAG ksonviile Ivy one of the handsome
steamboats, that ply on the river. u run
OF eighteen miles carries the tourist to
Mandarin, which has local fame as
being the winter residence Of the ia.
nous autioiess of "Uncle Toms
Capin," Mrs. II rri,t Beecher Stowe
hlS Inui luib6 haAliCt ID aibAoot OullCu
in grange groves, and moss covered
oaks so that one sees little of it. A few
miles south Of this lies Green Cove
Springs, a small town which is cele-
brat. for its medicinal waters, and
whose hue has given the place its name.
This is crowded during the winter by
invalids and J7ameurs, who come to
drink its waters. The spring discharges
three thousand gallons per minute, and
forms an emerald lake. which is EN-
powered in = grove of gigantic water
oaks, that are almost literally covered
with long festoons Of moss and mistle.
toe. The water has temperature of
seventy eight degrees in Fahrenheit;
and, as it contains sulphates of mag
nesia and lime, chlorides Of sodium and
iron. and sulphuretted hydrogen, it is
considered very beneficial for rheuma
tism, Brights disease of the kidneys,
and equity affections. If one wishes to
shout slligators there, he may enio,
that pleasure to his hearts content, for
they are 30 numerous in Black Greek,
short distance of, that they resemble
large RATS Of small black logs when doz.
ing on the water. As they are harmless
to mxu, unless goaded to desperation
by teasing, one need fear no injury from
al attack upon them, even il he should
TALL into their midst. - Z
Leaving this point the steamer pro
ceeds southwark, aud passes in review
u mixture of semi-tr0pical and norths
ern scenery. The river in some pisces
is covered for miles with wster-lilies in
bloom, and 30 dense are they fire..
quently that glimpse of the water il
all that can be obtained. Wild fowl
are numerous; floating islands of green
60 dancing by ON the swell OF the
| steamer; alligators, startled by the
steam whistle, plunge into the stream
f.om the banks. with lazy grunt OF
tear; and the woUds are omnipfesent,
but their emerald hue il broken at in
tervsls by the yellow of orange ANA
lemon groves, brilliant vines, dens.
( stoons of gray moss. and gorgeous
shrubt cry. "A few dilapidated stations,
which we're formerly thriving Spanish
cities, are passed on the way, until the
steamer haits at Palatka seventy five
miles from Jacksonville, and one hun.
dred from the mouth of the river. This
seems to be secoud edition of Gold.
smiths Auburn" so quiet and lovely
does 1t seem in the morning sun. In.
stead Of the hawthorn, however. one
will see the tropical yucca or Spanish
bayonet. and instead of the apple or
chard the orange grove, while the
rustic swans are represented by
"Caackers' who ride ponies as gaun,
as themselves, and who sell parrOa uet.
and the preserved skins of the Whit
aud pink curlsw, the famingo, swan
wood duck, aud the humming bird, t.
those who deal in such articles. Thu
place recalls visions Of peace and CON
tentment- spot where one could dream
life away; but, like all things earthly
1t has its draw backs, Tor it is infested
with mosquitoes at certain times, anG
these are so numerous and vigorou,
that have heard it stated rs fact tina
they dispersed minister and his con
gregatlon one Sunday. The tourist
still moving south ward, quits the larg,
steamboat here, and takes passage in
smaller one that runs to Enterprise J.,
small town one hundred and thirt,
miles further on, which is the head o
steam navigation on the st. john
river. -
| The scenery after leaving Palatka be
comes enthusiastically tropical, ant
the river narrows into . small stream
only to expand few miles further O,
into series of large and enchantihgly
beautiful lakes, which are throrget
with fish and fowl, and dotted will
charming islands, that seem one mas
OF green aud yellow from the abundanc.
OF tropical fruits. Old Indian sepul
chres and mounds are found OH som.
OF them, and amid these tourists fonC
OF archaeology may be seen rambling al
all hours of the day, while others devote
their attention to the pleasures OF roo
and gun. Boating parties, revealing il
the soft sunshine and the tropical >ceH.
cry, are met With quite frequently, ALI
they glvean air of animation to the other
wise silent scene. The myriads Of wild
fowl and the abundance OF light feath
cred birds are a notable feature of the
Landscape, and do much to enchain the
attention of the tourist. At Enterprise
winch is the great head quarters fol
sportsmen who go to Florida to fiah and
hunt As much as to enjoy it's beauty