The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-06-07
what q Stranger saw; I'm Rlor,a.
and What he Thinks or
Talnahassee.
Cor.umprA 8 n

COLUMBIA. s. c.; May 90, 1881
Editor FlOvIdian Having spent about three
months 10 Florida during last winter and spr;nv
more than half the time in Tallahassee. win
note briefly something Of what saw and heard
during my journeyings in the Peninsula State
Coming to your capital city late in December
was there during Christmas week and New Year
experiencing the "cold snap" which mace the
vegetation wilt and humanity shiver. | va,
there upon the assembling of the Legislature. At
the Inauguration Of Governor sBlcxham, At the
inaugural ball, and present wher Hon. c. W.
Jones was reelected United States Senator. /
had the pleasure also of visiting the Insane Asy,.
lum at Chattahoochee on the occasion of the
excursion of the Legislature To- that institution.
But win not 60 into details concerning these
things now, Cor they have already been written
up. Having spent about seven weeks in ITALIA
hassee very pleasantly, forming The acquaintance
of number Of your citizens, is well as mem.
bers of the Legislature from different sections of
the State, left on the 18th day of February for
jacksonville, on The ST. Johns, stopping two
days at the pretty little town of Lake City.
This is charming place, embowered in pine,
moss, and mirrored in number Of beautiful
little lakes, which suggested lis name. Here
in The middle of February the Peach tree was in
bloom, and the mosquito on the wing. So warm
and balmy was the air that slept through the
night without bed cover
found Jacksonville TO be fleming little city
of some twelve or thirteen thousand inhabi-
tants*, many of them being temporary visitors
from more northern climate IN quest of health
and pleasure. The city is well laid of, The
streets generally being wide and well shaded,
and running at right angles. Bay street seemed
TO be the principal thoroughare and the chief
promenade of the city. There are some fine
hotels, churches, school and business houses, az
well as some beautiful private residences But
can't 60 into particulars here. Spending in
all three weeks here, l visited sundry places on
the ST. John river, as Mandarin, Green Cove
| Springs, Palatka and Tocoi / visited also the
ancient town Of St. Augustine on the Atlantic
coast, fifteen miles by rail lfom Tocoi This
is the Oldest town within the limits of the
United States, having been. founded by the
Spaniards in 1865, about forty-nine years
before the Dutch founded New York CITY,
Verify, / felt that was ttamping on holy
ground when visiting the places Of interest in
and about st. Augustine. Old Fort Marion, be-
gun in the sixteenth century and finished in
1855, is an object of great Interest to visitors
The old city gate flor ST. Augustine was origin
ally walled town. commando the visitors at
tention also. The Catholic Cathedral, with its
three bells, one of them said 10 be the Oldest In
this country, next invites attention 1t is not
very large or costly, but interesting and CON-
Portable On the east side, high up on the in
side wall, Is given the date of the first mass No
vember 8, 1861 The churchs however, is not
80 old, having been built in The eighteenth CEN
tury. In the plaza are two rude monuments,
one to the Spanish Constitution and the other
to the Confederate dead. These with the gov
ernrent barracks, the a-wall, the Lighthouse,
and some cid, quaint houses and the narrow,
crooked streets, constitute the places and objects
Of chief interest. ST. Augustine has popula-
| ton of about 1900 Inhabitants, two newspapers,
three or four large hotels, number of stores
| and shops, the latter filed with palm work and
shells, usually held at steep prices. Walking
canes here, as at Jacksonville, constitute an i'm
portant part of the trade. They are chiefly made
of orange, often with gator cut on them
just west Of the town visited an orange grove
having 1900 bearing trees. Although many of
the trees were loaded with the golden fruit, it
was injured by the cold weather about Christ
mas. and sold at low prices-on1y five cents
dozen, when taken from the ground. had 3
nice sail over TO the light honse, from the top
of which had beautiful view of the town and
| the Atlantic
Returning to Jacksonville, Ecame on the noble
steamer St. Johns, via the, outside route, to
Fernandina. Here spent two days pleasantly,
looking at the old as well as the new town. But
l have not space 10 give particulars. 1t may
not be amiss to remark just here, that. In the
eighteenth century, while Florida was under
British rule, the site of Fernandina was an indi-
90 farm, being the property OF the Countess Of
Egmont #IH
And here and now. after my brief sojOurn
and travels in your growing State. bid farewell
TO Florida at least, for time. How do like
it and which locality do like best Take il,
all in all, / like Florida better than l thought
/ would, and. may be. Oh . longer stay,
l might like it still better. Having never spenia
summer there. / can't say how would be pleased
with the country and climate In The hot sea-
son; but am told by parties who have lived there
the year round, that it Is delightful, having
pleasant breezes, either from the Gulf or Atlantic
coast nearly all the time. Is to my choice Of
localities, 50 far as have yet seen, Imust decide
in favor of Tallahassee. think it the most
beautiful site for town or city Of any locality
saw. Moreover 1t has an excellent agricultural
country lying all round il. far better than any
- =
vile, Ga. complete the jacksonville, Pensacola
and Mobile Road; have . line OF steamers to
touch weekly at St. Marks and you win not only
draw immigrants 10 fill up and Improve the sur
rounding country. but win alAo build up ITALIA
hassee and sctatn The ssat Of eotrnp.snt To ihl.
end may you labor not tn vain, b the wish Of
your correspondent. who has SEINE pleasant recol-
lections Of his sojourn in the Capital Of Florida.
{| JV.D.
sOnr correspondent e sghty inAercr TO the pope.
atio1 q Jacksonville. BY the o. 9. Census OF 1852 ns
population IL 5.coS.
Es4s ss3i .--....... = =. r. 1858