Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-05-07
NOTES OF FLORIDA TRAVEL.
A Rush of HOmeward TraveI-Way-
cross Short Line-Eleganee and
COmfOrt-A Delightful Picnic
south Florida RailrOad-Rush of
New Settlers-PersOnaI Mention
Final Paragraphs.

Waycross Fast Line to Savannah, but found nc
train ready to leave until night As l wished
to see the new road in the day time, and also
ride on the new train, we concluded to wait
over until this morning.
Fortunately the st. James Hotel was still
open to special friends, and some thirty de
layed passengers found comfortable resting
place there Mr.. ]. R. Campbell, the genia
and attentive host, ordered out his buggy and
secured the city for fresh supplies, which ena
bled him to entertain us all in fine style.
1t was well that we remained over until to-day
as the train leaving last night was uncomfort.
ably crowded with passengers bound North and
West. The Fred de Barry came down the river
with big load of homeward bound visitors
cots being placed in the cabin for large mum
Der, so crowded was the steamer. Most of the
passengers left Jacksonville on the night train
and filed four sleeping cars.
After an early but excellent breakfast at the
st. James Hotel we boarded the fast train,
where we were cordially greeted by that prince
of polite and popular conductors, Capt. j. d.
Meynardie, who promptly attended to the
comfort of our entire party (some fifteen), Civ
ing as usual his especial attention to the la
dies and children travelling without any male
companion. Although the train was well filled
the Captain managed to give every passenger
the best seat on the shady side" of the cars
which is always very difficult task.
But Sucn Gralnt Iak6n as q WnOl6 think
it beats anything of the kind ever saw in the
South. The light native woods and darker
trimmings of the cars attracted universal
comment of the most complimentary charac
ter. In fact, all the appointments of the train
are elegant substantial and comfortable. The
smoking car, with it's revolving easy chairs
card tables and tapestry carpet, misled party
of ladies and gentlemen from the St James
Hotel, who quietly seated themselves and be.
gan to admire their comfortable quarters
when Capt Meynardle came in and told them
much to their surprise, that the "Parlor Car
was in the rear of the train.
AS the gifted pen of the city editor of the
MORNING NEWS b. H. Richardson, ESQ, has
given a graphic and interesting sketch Of this
new and already popular route, | need only
indorse all the good things he has said about
it, Most of this letter is written while the
train is in motion. yet think your printers
will find it rather more legible than my epis-
ties generally are. This fact will prove that
the road bed is remarkably even ana solid, and
Already this route (or root, as many
pronounce it, has become the
most famous for its speed and comfort, and
without such an efficient, handsome and gen
tlemanly representative in Jacksonville as Mr..
John H. Griffin, it would draw to its patronage
nearly the entire travel by rail from Florida
Col H. S. Haines has won the lasting gratitude
of the travelling public for this last and noblest
as a railroad manager of the highest charac-
ter.
DELIGHTFUL PICNIC.
About ten years ago Mr.. William Beasley
settled at what is now called Maitland select
ing the most charming spot in Florida for his
residence. At that time he did not have q
dollar in cash, but was full of energy and
pluck To-day he owns place worth twenty
thousand dollars, the result of honest industry
and the companioDShlp and cooperation Of a
wife noted for her rare domestic virtues
AS Mr.. Beasley was the first settler and has
on his place beautiful and shady grove near
the margin of the lake. the annual picnic of
the Union Sunday school of Maitland is held
on his grounds. This year the 1St day of NAV
came on Sunday, so the picnic was held on last
Saturday, which happened to be a very cool
and pleasant day Your correspondent hav-
ing received an official invitation from Captain
tendent of the school. and formerly a promi-
nent citizen of Atlanta concluded to attend
and enjoy the happy occasion.
Following suspicious looking basket which
our charming hostess, Mrs. Swoope, had sent
ahead by a colored boy, we my wife and u
rode from her pretty lakeside villa, on Lake
Minnehaha, through the town to the picnic
grounds. Just as we reached the gate Captain
j. G. Eaton, formerly of the United States
Navy the childrens patron saint, was seen
coming up the street i'll advance of
two large wagons profusely shaded and
decorated with moss. howerE and evergreens.
in which were gathered the smaller children of
the school, whose happy faces bright eyes
and white dresses showed that they were out
for day of real pleasure. Captain Eaton and
his assistants had given them fine start, and
every countenance beamed with joyous expec-
tation of q continuance of the programme in
like manner to the close of the day. Nor were
the children disappointed in any respect
The crowd had hardly taken posSe ession of the
grove when the announcement was made that
the May Queen was approaching. Marching
slowly down the slope came the royal process
sion, the Queen. a Miss Ada Lewis, of Ken
lucky, cousin of Mrs. Beasley, being escorted
kNrvT Tsnhr InnpG n 4
followed by her gallant Knights and Maids of
Honor, the Rev. j. j. Henry, of Canada, acting
as Grand Marshal with great dignity On
reaching the handsomely decorated throne,
Mr. Jones, in one of his eloquent and classical
speeches, addressed the lovely and queenly
lady who had been chosen Queen
of the May" and taking from the
bright.eyed crown bearer Master Volnev
Taliaferro, of Atlanta, the floral crown, grace
fully placed it upon her head, while all the
people present paid homage to their lovely SOW
ereign. After this ceremony came the basket
dinner, which gave everybody a chance to have
a free and easy lunch. judging from the
cakes pies, nuts, raiSinS and candy that saw
scattered about, am sure the children were
we'll looked after by their teachers and friends
am told there are very few servants in Matt
land which may account for the rare excel
lence Of the eatables. The ladies do their own
cooking
The crowning of the Queen was interesting
and the dinner good, but an intellectual feast
was next given, and surpassed in attractive
ness all that had preceded it. Capt. Richard
son, in a few appropriate remarks, introduced
Rev. G. w. Ward (son of the late Admiral
Ward), rector of the Episcopal Church, who
first read with much tenderness and pathos
Tennysons IS familiar poem of the May Queen, ~
and then gave most excellent rendition of
"Biddy McGinnis at the Photographers" The
piece is long and difficult, but Mr.. Ward main
tanned the rich Irish brogue" to the end,
and won hearty applause. Inever heard bet
ter rendition from any professional reader on
the stage. Major Sidney Herbert, in response
to a call for the MORNING NEWS. made few
scattering remarks, after which Lewis Law
renee, ESQ. a venerable aEi philanthropic
capitalist from Utica, N. " gave the people
a stirring talk. He was enthusiastic in his
praise of Maitland, and his words of COM
mendation follow several large investments in
and around the town. He has proved his faith
in Maitland by his good works At the close of
Mr.. Lawrence's lively speech Captain Richard
son told the children they could spend the rest
of the afternoon in their own way. This was
the signal for lots of fun, and with Captain
Eaton and Rev. Mr.. Ward to help them, the
young folks bad merry time indeed.
Your correspondent sat around under the
shade of massive oaks enjoying the strong.
refreshing breeze from across Lake Maitland,
and watching Mr.. James Bear, the handsome
around the lake, while Capt. Eaton was equally
attentive to the children. / have seldom en-
joyed such delightfully."- cool and pleasant
May day, and the meeting OF old friends made
list was Rev. w. g. F. Wallace son of the late
Rev. j. A. Wallace, D. D., of Clayton, Alabama,
who is now preaching for the Presbyterian
church at Apopka, at Orlando and Maitland.
He is young man of fine abilities and was
glad to find him in such desirable field of
labor. also met Mr. James M. Lewis, form
erly a printer in Clayton, Ala, and later a
compositor in the MORNING NEWS office, but
now residing at Maitland. These gentlemen
and Messrs. Beasley, Richardson, Heard, Ven
JrerS, Mayo, Taliaferro and Veers, helped me
TO pass a very delightful afternoon on the
beautiful and breezy banks of Lake Maitland,
around which are scattered so many charming
lakeside villas and attractive winter homes.
SOUTH FLORIDA RAILROAD.
Last season this new railroad enterprise was
being pushed ahead from Sanford to Orlando
but the first trains did not go through until
about the 1St of June. OF course there has
been a great rush of travel during the past
winter and the road has made money under
Superintendent B. r. Swoope's efficient man
agement.
But was not prepared to see such costly
and substantial wharf improvements at the
Sanford terminus. The track runs TO the river,
where large and strongly built wharf, which
can accommodate five or six steamers at the
same time, is being finished off in superior
style and with an eye to future wants.
A depot building is provided for the river
freight, but another one will soon be needed
to meet the constantly increasing business.
The rapid development of the country along
the lins of the road has created many new en-
terprises, and thereby nearly doubled the
amount of freight daily carried out from San
ford in years past.
A glance at these wharf and depot facilities
will convince any person that the South Flori-
da Railroad is to be something more than a
mere local road to Orlando. It must soon
stretch away toward the distant coast
and open up to easy and quick transportation
q large and rich section of the State that is
now sadly in need of such facilities.
Nor will this be all. 1 think it more than
probable that several important franchises