Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-12-07
Tho Palmetto State.
LETTER FROM MRS. BENZ. MASON.

LETTER FROM MRS. BENZ. MASON.
I'VE cannot possibly deny our readers
the privilege Of reading part of a very
interesting private letter from Florida,
written by Mrs. BENZ. Mason. We hope
TO receive something more from this
source socn, written especially 70. the
TRANsCRIPT--ED.
PALMETTO House,
DAYToNA, Fla, November 81, 1881.
MI DEAR Mrs. DAVIDSON The arr.
val of the TRANSCRIPT last evening, the
first news from Austin since our depart
ure three weeks ago, has brought to mind
the familiar faces of our friends there !;
and reminds me of my promise to write
you, so l will employ leisure hour this
morning in fulfilling promise.
YOn may imagine your correspondent
seated at an open window, looking out in
one direction three tOurths of mile across
the Halifax river to narrow, low, wood
ed peninsula, from beyond which comes
the roar Of the ocean and the delig htful
ocean breeze; and in another direction
upon the beautiful palmetto trees, few
Of which grow along the low banks
of the river, while further back these SYM
metrical trees, with live oaks, and other
trees peculiar to tins part of the country,
form forest. II is like our Minnesota
summer here now. The trees are green,
roses and other flowers In bloom out of
doors and the thermometer at 8 a. m. to-
day. stood at 49, F., though it is warmest
here In the morning before the wind rises.
am delighted with our present surround
ings and could be contented here an indie
finite length of time.
Perhaps it would be interesting to hear
some of the incidents Of our journey. We
separated from the huJrying, bustling
,hrong of Chicago Tuesday evening Nov.
8, leaving at S.p. N. on an eleg ant sleeping
car for Cincinnati. The next morning We
observed q pleasant, thriving country as
We passed through southern Ohio. AT
Cincinnati the depot bore dingy appear
ance and our ride of one mile in car
riage to another depot was over cobble
stone pavement and through an unpleas.
ant part of the city. We found the rest
Of our party waiting for US at the depot OF
the Cincinnati Southern K. R. as we ex.
pected, and at $50 a. M. Wednesday we
started on crowded train on our way
south again. As we started we looked
across deep ravine or little valley to the
opposite side where cars were being drawn
up the inclined side of the ridge that part
ly inclosed the valley, by a stationary en-
CINE at the top. Crossing the Ohio we
found it TO be comparatively small at
that place and the waters clay colored and
muddy. The scenery of the Ohio judg-
ing from what we saw seemed very tame
as compared with the scenery of the Mis-
sissippi where we cross at Prairie du
Chen and Lacrosse. Through Kentucky
we found the land TO be undulating and
wooded. The peculiarities that we MOTTO
ed were, houses having large brick or
stone chimneys built from tho ground up
on the outside, people riding on horse.
back, an increasing number of co1ored
people TO be seen, and the beautiful roads,
smooth and evidently we'll cared for We
stopped frequently through Kentucky but
the places were small excepting Lexing-
ton. There we saw the monument over
the grave of Henry Clay as we passed
near the cemetery. In the southern part
Of Kentucky the scenery becomes more
wild and picturesque. In one place we
noticed that we were passing quite near
the edge of what seemed TO be deep
chasm, but soon nearer view enabled
US to see at the bottom a turbulent stream
which proved to be the Kentucky river,
and at high bridge We crossed this river.
The view was very fine, but one is able to
contemplate 1t with greater satisfaction
whe: seated quietly and safely in room
at home than when riding at high rate
of speed on the cars, now SO near the edge
of the precipice aud then crossing over
the chasm on what seems to be a frail
bridge, the only comforting Thing about
which IS the fact that it IS short. We soon
crossed little valley on high, frail-look-
ing trestle. We looked down upon the
small houses and people below and enjoy
ed the view of the surrounding mountain
scenery.
The brakeman soon passed through the
car closing all the ventilators, this on a
warm afternoon to the unsophisticated
traveller seems rather strange proceeding
but while we are considering the matter
our reveries are interrupted by sudden
impenetrable darkness, the air becomes
hot and sitting while the car Is filled with
smoke and gas; we are underground and
passing through tunnel. We suppose
that as all things have an end so in time
we will be through, and at last to our in
tense relief comes the daylight. This
congratulates himself that he is through
the tunnel and his thoughts are busy with
the scenes about him, he observes the pic
turesque mount tain scenery about him still
when, TO his discontinue again enters the
brakeman, like one who bias an unpleas.
ant duty to perform, and solemnly closes
the ventilators, one at a time, closes the
windows, and this time lights lamp that
we may he able 10 see each others distress
instant darkness brings US face to face
with the grim fact Of another tunnel; we
can see no ray of light, not even friend
ly spark from the locomotive without,
while within endurance seems to be writ.
ten upon all faces, the roaring and rattllng
Of the cars seems to be increased again
and again, the car Is filled with smoke and
gas, and the locomotive in its attempt to
scream gives only a hoarse gasp. Very
many in the car have no fear or anxiety
but certainly no one looks comfortable.
Weare atleng,h through the tunnel again.
Here would say that persons not having
love for the terrible should moi heed the
circulars Of railroad companies that ad-
vertise tunnel as special attraction of
the road. We passed through Tennessee
IN some places at the rate of nine Of these
"horrors" an hour as some of the passeD-
gers counted. Just before dark VIC stopped
for supper at PointBurnside pretty little
place in narrow valley between the
mountains We took sleeping car and
in the morning Wednesday, awoke in the
depot at Chattanooga, Of historic fame.
There were Lookout mountain and Mis-
sionary R.dgeto remind Us of the bravery
of our soldiers and the sad events of the
war. Chattanooga is built against the
ridge, so that the railroad instead of pass
ing through the place terminates there,
and we 60 back several miles on the same
road to 60 on south. Our journey Wed
nesday was through Georgia. The pano.
rama that passed before our eyes was of
diney negro huts, dingy and small VII
lagos, cotton warehouses Of various sizes,
cotton fields. much poor land, many un-
cultivated fields, little winter wheat,
and 4 few small cornf1elds. During the
forenoon from Chattanooga al the way TO
Atlanta we passed near or in sight of