The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-05-14
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate
GkEEN Cow SPRINGS, FLORIDA,


being bored than editors, | will trespass a
little on your time Leaving home March
18th, having become used up by an overdose
of Vennor, | started southwark, intending to
hunt and find a warm corner somewhere, that
was controlled by more genial prophet.
Arriving in Baltimore, the question arose,
what route is the best and most direct to
where the sun shines and owing to the over
flow of feeling between the two great railways,
PENNSYLVANIA and Baltimore and Ohio, both
routes appeared very foggy. Finally purchas'
ing ticket via Baltimore & Potomac route
TO Jacksonville, Florida, boarded the $50,
P. NJ, train, and was soon landed in the
kingdom of Fred. Douglass and Jim Blaine.
Registering at the St. James, and 1t being yet
early in the evening, strolled out towards
the Capitol, finding it in darkness, all the
lights having been extinguished. As stood
upon the broad stone steps, gazing upon the
grand old building erected by great people,
where many of the most learned had sent out
DEGREES to govern us, one by one the memory
of our illustrious rulers crowded upon my
mind, when suddenly my reveries were broken
by the plaintive tones of some gentle tcolor-
ed female voice. | listened there in the
stiffness Of the night, and it occurred TO me
that Voorhees, would have enjoyed It, as II
was the old familiar song of "Beile Malone.
To me it seemed strange coincidence. But
this is drifting into politics, and as | am not
educated in that school, will forbear. After
a good nights rest and an early breakfast |
departed for the depot, and as it was some
twenty minutes before the departure OF the
train, spent the time in strolhng about the
station, which, by the way, Is a very credita-
bic building to the city. The time OF depar.
ture arriving. and being comfortably seated
IN a ME "a .
across the great Potomac river and into Nlr-
GINA, with the famous Arlington Heights IN
full view. In a very short time we were pass
ing into the outskirts Of an apparently very
old town, Judging from the tumble down
shanties and houses. with the chimneys ballt
on the outside Of the house, aud when the
trainman called out Alexandria, | felt a
strong temptation to get out and see tAis
quaint old colonial town, with It's gray and
black roofs, gabled, hiPped and gambrsled,
bat as there was not very much sunshine
there. concluded to see the city on my return.
As the train passed out Of the eiiy, we ran
along close to the Virginia Midland Railroad
for several miles, and then crossed IL. and on
at the rate of thirty five miles an hour, through
e very dreary, swampy country, nov close TO
the edge OF the river. then into the swsmps
again, until we crossed the river on a very
long bridge, stopping ior wood and water.
There was a very strong odor OF some Kind
permeating the atmosphere here, and urou
investigation, discovered a bGi.dins- used Sc
a slaughter house for uIuSkrats, aud from the
number Of skins stretched against the side Of
the house, there must have been q terrible
slaughter Of the iuuOeents. Getting under
way again, we were susn whitfield int Quan-
tico, which IS the tras terminus Of the Balli-
more & Potomac Railroad. After changing
engines and trajnmeo, We were soou rolling
on 20 RJchmoRd. On this train occurred my
FIRST introduction 20 a colored brakeman. and
be was the craven image o. cur esteemed
towasman. Perry Clark, even 70 the s,aUeg,
which OF course waited 70 the wAndeTtF yeet
aRd tender memories Crossing the war-
famed RappahannoCk river, vita steamer
lying at the wharf unloading her frcighi. the
pickets OF seniinels Of eiehicea years ago
relieved FROM their beat, and there being no
need Of 8 eountersiEn, ne came 70 a short stop
Ia the once soreiy tried city Of Frederick s5urg,
nov on the road 70 prosperity and increase in
population. aKd there vas eyidcaoc Of active
business, az least ~ snii pes aud haEd boiled
eggs. yended By genuine old NlTEiniAn ladies'
Of color. At the tap Of the bell NC were
again vending our war. and nov tbruugh .
cauGtry where one wouid he more wont 10
lodge, as here and there can be sscH ress-
denes surrounded by time honsred cid oaks.
bearing evidence Of tkc enee COED Old tine
Having noticed an old gentleman ges On the
train 81 Fredericksburg, and being paTiicu.
larry impressed with bis face. that seemed 50
full Of kindness and ealare, yenigred 10
draw him into Conversation. believing him 10
De one Of the real old Virginia gentlemen 70
converse with and be entertained b. whom,
is not every one s good iortuHe, especially
one Of the pgresi type, for he pToved 10 BE-
minister, and thoagh perfect stranger, be
VERY kindly invited me 10 visit bis orsnze
grove hone in Florida when J ARMED, aad IA
Bis name ] wpaid be nzds - feel q, bone,
aRd thns again vas Virginia hospitality Ga.
tended, AEd With cordial shake u the hand
he lcft me al Richmond Tbs srAla was rua
under = very dingy she'd Of a station, which
surprised the, as | certainly had associated 20
my mind greater and better thlnss for 50
prominent city, and the railroad company
should have 10 peace uatii they bald depot
that would be . credit 10 themselves as wcH
as The city, aud ! su sure they you'd receive
the benedioiiou Of the Traveller. AtlaT q
transfer 10 the cars " the Richmond & Das
vile road. Nc crossed on very high bridge
the famoas James river, sud as ! stood on tae
platform Of the car aud took IN The view Of
the river, with IL bed Of huge sand boulders,
and turbid water. thAi lashed itself iaio foam
IN the struggle 10 fad its way into a wider
channel, and With the city stretched along iis
bauk, aRd ia water divided By the PRISON.
famed Belle Isle, bay mina vas Impressed
With the scene, and vas glad % see tie smoke
rolling from the chimueys Of the iroa furnaces
and rolling mills, making The metal tor the
plougkshsrs instead Of the gun agd sssFd,
aud why shoHld the people nos eonliDue -
prosper II lei aloae After getting = good
dinner, the cid familiar ''all aboard vas
heard, and We we're agaIn uader way, and thia
time over the great air ligo and the Pennsyl
VaAia railroad Of the S9alh, the Richmond
Danvdle- The ears are Yery comfortable and
run on very good time, using wood for fuel,
giving the passengers fan benefit Of the cara
tive properties Of pitch pine smoke. The
negro becoming still more prominent, a. an
employe, By the addition Of = fireman, Or 20
native parlAnce .'asod casters. Once again
fence posts and telegraph poles ceased 10 Hy
past the car window aad we came 90 rest IN a
large airy depot, aud were informed that Il
was the junction With hGaoas' railroad, the
Ohio 4 Mississippi, aud poor isii0F, evPn
here be was being berated for selling out. both
himself aud the road, and thus Purchasing
himself into power, and that the speaker
knew whereof be spoke to the tame Of ten
thousand. Getting aBder Eay once mort, aud
the noise Of the tfHlu uFoNuthE tue aptateF :
voice, began 10 bum the old familiar ians,
'sWhea will his labors have an cad, Of bar
gain, eO6a, end dead lock stories, when my
musing was interrupted By the very sudden
stopping Of the train, aud, Of course, out the
wisdows went everybody's head 10 see what
the matter was, and 1t proved freight traia
10 the way. Moving along slowly We halted
by novel and curious scene, and the hrst
thought that came into gIy Rind vas another
dead lock-" II vas 0 regular ed log lsblp,
with its mud chimney aRd ons window but
no glass in it; the door stood wide open, re
vealing the large open hearth with bright
fat wood FIRE, about which was gathered hall
q dozen negroes, one fellow picking the banjo
and the others doing the hoe down. Hang
ing out the window was old black Dlnah, and
standing in the door was a Sambo, handling
some silver. IN the hasp on the door was a
paddock and over the door was painted IN
rough letters keep OUT / asked the Tel
low in the door who they wanted to keep out
and his reply was, democrat niggers.
asked him what crowd was that on the inside
and was told 'De Malone Club, y with va
va and showing very hne set OF corn cake
polished iyorys, be joined the others in the
tear down, and the way those nlggers put It
down with their quarter acre shoes was
caution. Reaching Danville, Va, IN the
dusk of the evening, and it being too dark to
distinguish the city, we passed on to Greens
bero'. n. C. and then 10 High Point, arriv-
ing at $50, p. NJ, where leave You, at least
for the present, and after reach the sunshine
and e-af tharred ont | will try to give you q