The Hartford herald., 1880-04-14

ana nOwers, including several varieties
of roses now i'm bloom. There are, I'm
front Of the house, several large shade
trees, including magnOlias, live and red
oak and hickory, also Grape myrtle and
Grape jessamine. The house Is situated
on a knoll about two miles from, and
i'm full view of the Capital" had
the further pleasure during my stay
here to meet with several Kentuckians,
one of whom was Ex-Governor David
Shelby Walker, now Circuit Judge of
that district, and formerly from Rus
sellville, Ky. beg to say that am
greatly indebted to him AMI my friend
Capt. Council A. Bryan, Clerk Of the
Circuit and County Courts, for many
personal favors and cOurtcsies shown
me during my stay In that city.
On my return | passed through many
fine farms and towns, of which would
like to speak, but will have tn omit
that now; further than to say, ~ we
were about to cross the Suwannee river
Judge White, who resides near there,
called my attention to it, beauties; and
the thought at one flashed before my
mind that this Is the river that ''our
sweethearts, pretty girls" In years
agone, used to sing thusly: Away
down upon the Suwann,e river" l
will say further, for the benefit of those
interested. that this, Tallahassee coun-
try, particularly Gadsden county, has
been long noted for its tobaccO-growing
lands The culture of tobacco In this
region appears to owe its origin to Gov.
VIM. p. Duvall, who, ss far back as
/ 1928, started the planting of certain
small-leafed variety of Cuba tobacco,
afterwards known as the Little Du-
vail" Gov. Duvall was formerly of
Kentucky.
! JACKSONVILLE IN MID-wINTER.
This city, named in honor of old
hickory himself, is situated on the st.
Johns river, twenty miles from Its
mouth, where IL empties into the At
lantic ocean, and contains about fifteen
thousand inhabitants Of rather mixed
class of people, many of whom have in
the last few wears come from the North
and settled here permanently. This
city too, bears about the same relation
ship, both geographically and CONNER
cially,so to speak to this State that Lou
isville does to Kentucky. In fact, and
in stronger words, il is 1.-The city,"-the
crown Jewel in the Floridian casket-
the light house, To which all the many
thousands Of health and pleasure seek
ers coming to this f1Owery land, steer
for and radiate from aud indeed, Is n
kind of a general base of supplies, par
ticularly to the inner man, which one
il inclined to return to and not venture
too far from and i'm fine, one only has
to see its beauties, feel and inhale Its
pure air and balmy breeZes a. they pass
over from the old Atlantic on the one
hand and return from the Gulf of Mex
leo upon the other, and enjoy its almost
perpetual sunshinein order to fully take
IN and appreciate the situation, then
and when, one and all, are ready and
involuntarily exclaim, Eureka!
This city too, j. very regularly and
Systematically laid out and has grand
frontage on the ST. Johns river, of a
full mile In length and Its many streets
and broad avenues are lined and dotted
with the many venerable old live oak
trees, occasionally interspersed with the
orange tree, i'm full frlitage. On many
of the streets, these large live oaks span
and arch over, tls same forming q
beautiful canopy and protection
against the warm, semi-trOpic,l sun, ~
the mean temperature OF the thermoin'
eter here this winter was about 1O' r.,
and ranging sometimes as high as S5'
in the shade. These old live oaks are
seemingly perpetual green, inasmuch
rs they imperceptily doff their leaves
and put forth new ones. On many o
these live oaks, one will see proftisely
mterspersed the Spanish gray moss
hanging pendent in clusters, beautifully
contrasting with the dark green foliage
making rare combination of silvery
age, blending with the freshness o
youthful vigor.
On general stroll around and about
this city, on many Of the streets, one
will see many large and well appointed
hotels, elegant churches and elaborate
private residences, comparing very fa.
vorably with the more pretentious
Northern cities. The most of the pri-
vate residences here have been laid out
i'm style, beautiful yards and flower
gardens; the former adorned with the
magnolia and the orange tree loaded
with its rich, red aud yellow fruit, and
the latter decked with the rarest flowers
In full bloom. Bay street il the princi.
pal business, rs well as the general
promenade street Of the city; II runs
parallel with, and fronts on the St
Johns river, which IL but few PAGES
until one reaches the long line of docks
or wharfs where can be found any
kind of steamer or sail-vessel of min
ature size, to that of the largest ocean
steamers, schoOners and brigs.
In a letter written by me and pub
! lished in the OwensborO paper, from st
Augustine, the oldest city in North
America, l gave descriptive account
of the st. Johns river, and several
} places of note situated thereon, ~ high
up rs TOcoi.
On the last day of the old year, in
!, company with two of my friends, We
procured small boat, doffed our coat
and rowed across the river opposite hert
To the orange grove and gardens Of m,
friend, Dr. Davis. who, by the way, j.
not only an elegant gentleman and .
Republican, but one of the cleverest %
mem; here We found the citrus family
generally, growing ID great perfection
especially the oranges and lemons
: Here we found too, the routine of veg
. etables planting, growing and matured
, In his flower garden We culled ana
J plucked the rarest roses and flowers
? and each made large and beautifu
bouquet. The st. Johns river here /
? about mile wide, but as one ascends
, it gradually increases in width n far uI
I as Palatka until Ii reaches breaths q
+ from four to six miles wide.
|, The climate here this winter has beel
: exceedingly midland agreeable; 80 mucl
] so in fact, that not bud or flower ha
4 been tinged by the cold breath from TIN
D North.
! The markets here have been supple,
: with, and we have enjoyed fresh new
D vegetables embracing the catalogue, In
e Guiding Strawberries, during this ant
{ the last month.
5 During the Christmas holidays tn
!, sun shone 40 warm that one would Q
] necessity seek the shady side of tn
: street, aud the ladies had to carry thei
j parasols for protection. One in loiterin
! around or taking an easy stroll alon
Il the sidewalks on many of the street
o will see and meet with people from
u almost every State in the Union, from