Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-05
LETTER NO. ,.

sort, but also i'll very many respects the
most prominent town i'll the State. Be-
ing the entrepot for all the towns on the
st. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers, 1t does
thriving wholesale business. Vessels
arrive weekly from the North, bringing
various articles OF merchandise, and carry
back lumber and the many varieties Of
fruit and vegetables which the State
yields. Lnmber-men, Of all others. seem
to be the most busily employed. From
six to dozen vessels may be seen daily
at the whalvcs, taking on the lumber
brought here for shipment. From the
Custom House Collector, learn that the
timber exported from this port last year
cOastwiSe and foreign, amounted TO over
forty-siX million feet.
As the lower portion of the town has
been built within late years, it bears 4
modern appearance, though many of the
buildings, being frame structures, look
old and dingy. The squares, unlike those
of Northern towns, are very small, con-
tanning only from three to four lots, many
of which are vacant, consequently there
are almost as many streets as houses. Bay
street, fronting on the river, is the great
business thorOughfarc. 1t is closely built
and has somewhat Off, city aspect. Here
may be found all the wholesale and most
of the retail houses, orange stands, Flori-
da curiosity shops, eating saloons and
drinking dens.
Jacksonville cannot, ut this season,
boast of the many attractions that hither-
TO pleased the eve of the visitor. Orange
trees have been robbed of their green and
golden dress, and the flower gardens that
were the pride of the town cannot cXhlb-
it even ''the last rose of summer" The
vanguard of spring that had already
boldly appeared was oItectualiy repu.Sed
and ingioriOusly conquered by the terri
bic winter forces OF 1850. The cold wave
of December cXcellcd III severity any that
has been experienced here within the last
ten wears. In December 1870 the Their
monetcr marked about the same figures
as last month, and the injury done to veg
citation was much greater then than now.
In the freeze of 1870 cold weather con-
tinued for six days; frOStS every night,
followed by bright smShiny days;
whereas tue intense cold of last month
lasted but one night and day, and the
weather continued cool, cloudy and rainy
for two weeks afterward, which was IA
vOrable. Some localities were more light
ly touched than others, but from accounts
received, nearly all portions Of the State
NOIlil ol luc -clll SuIlic
places even farther South, were visited by
the frost king. Frost is reported to have
occurred at ChuchaluSkee you know
where that is below the Goth parallel.
Although very much damage has been
done to the orange crop in this section,
yet fruit growers do not feel discouraged,
but have hope that the following crop
Will be so abundant as to make fair rcmu-
neraliOn for their present loss.
Within the last couple weeks the wealth
or here has been very mild; and the pre-
diction that February, as usual, will be
the most delightful month of the year,
bids fair TO be fulfilled. Sometimes ut
morning and ut night an oycrcOat and
even Il fire contributes to ones comfort;
but | have not yet had reason TO belive
the natives when they tell me the wealth
en- is bitter cold" Poor, deluded souls.
how would like to teach them a lesson
in thcrmOmctry 4 have no dictionary
with me to hold me to true coinagc,) by
planting them for Il week or two OH the
banks of the Potomac, at right-angles
TO 'nor-wcster." They need just such
all ARGUMENTUM AID NESNORCM TO teach
them the difference between the North
Pole and the Equator, and to learn TO
restrain, with becoming dignity, their
,ceth from Chattcring when Il cool river
breath passes over them. 1t is both UNI
pleasant and embarrassing for me when
repeatedly asked: "dOu't you think THIS
A COLD DAYf' 10 answer with an emphat-
ic negative. But my knowledge of that
subject has been too dearly and too re-
Gently acquired to allow me to sacrifice
my opinion for the sake of keeping peace
with my ncighbors.
Yesterday my curiosity led me, in COM
pany with Minnesota man, to visit the
State Fair now being held about three
miles from this town. Although steam
crs run hourly to and from the grounds,
preferred TO walk in order to see the
surrounding country. y raised she'll
road leads directly to the grounds. The
land on either side of the road is too well
concealed by water and coarse swamp
grass to allow one to make correct state
ment as TO the properties of The soil.
Anyone wanting to invest Will have no
difficulty in finding tracts for sale, cheap
for cash, containing from ten to ten thou
sand acres; snakes and alligators thrown
into the bargain. Ifany of your readers,
who own valuable limestone farms, have
any ambition to own Il good-sized county
in this State, they can readily do so by
giving in exchange few hundred acres
of their wcll-imprOycd lands.
Such reflections were suddenly arrest
ed by the thunder OF artillery, the shouts
of side-showmcn, the flying Of banners
and pennOnS, appriSing us of the fact that
we had reached the fair grounds. A high
and close board fence enclosed the
grounds. Near the entrance hole was
cut through the fence, over which was
printed in large letters, TICKET OFFICE"
Here we got our passports, and then en-
tered upon cur round of inspection. We
first examined the live stock. In one
stall we saw ''the best Alderney," ia an
other, 1.-THE best sheep" in another, 1.-The
best hog and so on. have often seen
DR.. Tanners celebrated thoroughbred
cattle, hence ii was but natural that the
exhibition of Florida's best live stock"
should appear to me as very amusing
1t would have been some
satisfaction to me TO have gotten the
worth Of my money out of a good hearty
laugh but the presence of Glue-ribbOned
officials warned me that would thereby
incur the risk of being arrested for CON
TEMPT OF THE FAIR, or for CRUELTY TO An
IMALs.
The next department We visited was
one which reflected much credit upon the
State; early vegetables of every variety;
large sweet potatoes, new early Rose,
turnips, radishes, cabbage, carrots; fruit
in bountiful abundance-oranges, LEM
ons, lines, pine-apples, guavas, cocoanuts,
fourteen in the bunch upon one stem,
strawberries-yes, | must stop right
there; for it is unkind co enumerate such
Il list and provoke the appetite of your
readers, VITO, for months to come, must |
fare OH rice, hominy, beans, and the stale
vegetables OLA winter market.
In another department We saw such !
Fancy and fanciful articles as are usually /
exhibited at State and county fairs, and
in addition, rich display of native !
-rocSoS shells Of yarious form ard color