Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-08
MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA.

ind Taking Little Chunk of Winter
Where Strawberries Ought to be Gro,c-
ing.
TO the Editor of the Globe:
TOWNSVILLE, Co.,, Jan. 1st, ISL
have now been in and about Thomas
vile, small town in the southwest cor
ner of Georgia, few miles from the
Florida line, for three weeks. A portion
of the time the weather has been all that
could be desired, but the cold wave
struck us three days ago, freezing the
muddy streets solid, making the houses,
built more for hot than cold weather, de-
cidedly uncomfortable. Last night it
poured down rain till toward morning,
when it froze, and to-day the pine and
evergreen oaks hang like pyramids of
ice / noticed some beautiful trees dam
aged by giving way under the weight of
their unnatural burden. OF course, the
Z" oldest citizen" has been consulted in
this emergency, and he has cxhumed
documents Fproving no such weather has
been experienced since 1885. The win
ter gardens of letteuce, onions, etc, as
well as the roses, jonquils, and camclias,
look pitiful this morning. The oat crop.
which was generally planted and sprout
ing, it is feared will be destroyed. Hun
tiers arriving, say the oranges on the 81.
Johns, Florida, were frozen solid on the
trees it was so here.
So far, as have been able TO study the
place and its surroundings, think it is
admirable for a recruiting station.
Thomasvillc is not a city but a large
country village, with a large well, built
and well managed hotel-the Mitchell
house. The location is elevated; COM
parativcly free from the dampness Of
the gulf and ocean fogs. The town is
completely surrounded with pine forests,
at distance of few miles broken by
an occasional plantation. To repeat an
expression of wearicd old gentleman
who came from the busy scenes Of the
North, he wanted 'fpeaccful
rest" This is q natural
hospital for worn out money
makers to rccupcrate. To forget for a
moment the Juror of that passion which
take possession of men in prosperous
business and rescue the overworked and
decaying frame from an untimely grave.
The negroes here considerably out
number the whites, who all seem to har-
monte and work along together most
admirably. Neither party appears to be
in haste either in the line of progress, or
in making the journey through life.
From three winters experience which
have spent in Southern climates, two in
in this country, and one in Southern
Italy, am disposed to conclude that
climate has much to do in softening and
subduing the more harsh and selfish dis
positions of colder countries. have
been much among men here, and in
several families, and | have yet to hear
the first ugly word spoken to or of the
negroes. All parties thoroughly under
stand each other. / had supposed there
might be concealed mutual hatreds, but
if so, it is now marvelously kept it abcy-
ance. Yesterday a local election was
held. so quiet that it passed unnoticcd.
There were two white candidates and one
colored, / understand, yet white candi-
date was preferred. ! have been repeat
edly assured the negroes will not follow
blatant white demagOgue who is profusc
with cxtravagant promises They natur-
ally suspect, fear and dispise them.
Bishop Whipple and family have just
reached here. The most Of our Mime
sofa emigrants have gone further south.
but doubt if they have gained thereby.
From all points Of the compass the ice
king seems to reign supreme. A gentle
man has just informed me that friend
Of his would lose $4,000 by the dcstruc
ton Of unpicked oranges on his Florida
plantation. Yours. etc F. +. VI.