West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-12-14

you SincA our arrival IN JnlS real
Gland Of iioNors' My husband
promised yoU, and he insists that
| wis. a. he has not much leis-
urc.
Oa object is TO give to your
reader, (many OF them our own
dear friends, some account of our
journey and OF this wonderful State.
We were so delighted with the first
prospect that we are content to
defer travelling for the present, and
locate IN the picturesque and most
delightful city Of jacksonville.
We took the train at Charleston,
w. Va, on Monday, Nov. T. and
had a pleasant evenings ride, and
stepped aboard the steamer Fleet
wood, which landed us at Cjncin-
natl Tuesday afternoon. At 1850
same evening, we left Cincinnati
on the splendid cars of the G. q S.
r. r., and changing cars three
times, first at Chattanooga junction,
then at Atlanta, and lastly at Ma
con, Ga, we had a rather tiresome
journey, passing at night from Gin
cinnati to the southern border of
Tennessee, then through a poor
section of Georgia, with few excep-
tions, and then at night by Macon
and Maycross, we arrived in Jack
sonville, at $40, a. M, Thursday,
Nov. 10.
After passing the dreary Ever
glades some 20 miles north of this
city, and suddenly emerging from
the almost unbroken pine forests,
extending along our route, with
only hut, OR log railroad station,
with green live-oaGs and magnolias
thriving around, and here and there
clearinghouse where they
charge as though you were the last
customer ever to pass that way, we
came at last into full view of the
wonderful st. Johns river, flowing
in front, and the city of Jackson
vile on the left, and heart-cheer-
ing sight it was to us.
The St. Johns river, though mar
row at this point, looks more like q
lake than a river. Tidal waves
roll far above this place. The river
is one mile wide here, but at some
points far above it is said to be six
miles in width. Splendid steamers
and sail boats touch at our wharf.
Nice fish are caught in abundance,
Fresh oysters are no rarity. One
whale was killed in this river sew
eral years ago, whose bones are set
up in house-yards and on gate posts
as ornaments in this city.
But the St. Johns is not the most
remarkable feature of our southern
home, The salubrious air, o.!
how delightful
Just as our train rushed in sight
of Jacksonville and the St. Johns,
we met the most balmy sea breeze,
which is not constant but very
common here. The breeze though
brisk, is not at all piercing, it does
not seem to penetrate a delicate
frame. To speak more explicitly,
my own nervous system is almost a
wreck, and in West Virginia the
wind was my greatest terror.
Winds here of equal velocity are
not only pleasant but strengthen
ing to me. There seems to be
something soothing and invigora-
ting in the atmosphere. The sea-
breezes of course explain it partly.
But that is not the sole cause.
There is an invigorating oder float
ing on the winds that does more
than medicine for the nerves, the
lungs and the blood. Yet there is
some malaria in Florida.
We have, of course, few gloomy
days, but the sky is generally
clear. The thermometer has varied
since our arrival from "a down to
Sc, until to-day, when it is at So
jacksonville is thriving city of
1900 inhabitants, located on an
extensive level on the northwest
bank Of the St. Johns. The sur
face is just enough undulating to be
easily drained, and the sandy foun-
dation upon which the city stands
is well adapted to natural drainage.
But artificial drainage is not neg
lected here.
jacksonville is essentially a heal
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