Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-12-07

of the beautiful streets and avenues
Of Jacksonville are shaded by large
live oak trees that have quantities.
of moss hanging from the limbs
We saw flowers blooming out Of doors,
orange trees with fruit, IL trees, and Of
course The St. Johns river upon which !
the city is built. Friday noon we left !
Jacksonville On steamboat for Volusia |
one hundred and thirty FIVE miles farther !
up the St. Johns. AS the river at that
place is several miles wide we passed so
far from the banks that we were unable
to see 40 much ss We desired. However,
during the afternoon, We obtained view
of Mrs. Stoves residence at Mandarin,
and OF many other places, and with the
aid of glass we could see the trees with
moss and occasionally an orange grove.
The boat was furnished with q CHECKER.
ING upright piano, aud as we had a pianist
on board the evening was passed pleas.
antly with music. In the morning when
we awoke we were nearly out of sight Of
land upon Lake George, but We soon en-
tered the river again. 1t was now much
mario wer and the near banks afforded US
our first view of the semitropical forests
Of this part Of the country. There were
palmetto trees, live oaks, magnolias and
many others with a dense underground,
all Of which com bined 10 make a beauti.
full. luxuriant forest. 1t was q bright,
sunshiny, warm morning as we sat out
enjoying the novel and pleasing scene.
The mo'ionless dark water Of the river
formed mirror which reflected perfectly
the trees, the white clouds and almost the
blue of the sky, thus doubling the beauties
before us. We soon landed at Volusia,
which consists of small store near the
landing, house beside the store, a
building which answers the purpose of a
hotel, situated back on bank, and vari-
Gus houses hid among orange and other
trees. We went up to the hotel and here
we INDUCED in our first exclamat;ons OF
delight 1t was the beautiful orange
grove which belonged to the house, and
in which the house stood that delighted
US. The trees were beautiful, their
shapely outline. thick foliage, deep green
shining waxen leaves and the golden
fruit hanging in such abundance. Each
large as small apple trees, and these with
attraction. We were all very much de-
lighted with the place, but our descent
from the sublime to the ridiculous wos
accomplished at once, as we first beheld
the collection of ponies, boy and wagon
that formed the conveyance to take us
thirty-five miles across the country. Per.
haps l can describe it to you. This con:
veyance was improvised for our special
benefit by the boy. We had first clum-
sy wagon with large wheels, broad tires,
deep box, and implanted. The team con-
sisted Of small pony, and pony two
sizes larger with saddle on his back, in
addition to the collar, names, tugs and
brides which answered for harness,
and span of ponies for "leaders." The
harness was very simple affair, strap
brides, hames, tied together with rope,
chain tugs, sticks sharpened at each end
for whiff1etrees and narrow strap lines.
Our trunks were placed in the back part
of the wagon, the smallest one IN front
Of the others constituted seat of honor
for the gentlemen of the party. The rest
of US occupied a spring seat in front of
them, and our numerous-I might say
very numerons-valises and parcels were
sandwiched IN. The driver rode the
wheel" horse. Our journey lay through
the open pine woods over level tract of
land and we travelled at the rate of three
or four miles an hour. We occasionally
passed through cypress swamp and
forded stream or pool which we a! ways
found in the middle of it. Occasionally
we saw an orange grove, field of sugar
cane and some houses. This was all very
we'll by daylight, but as night approached
we could not but wish that we we're less
than nine miles from Daytona and no
"bad places" to cross. Our first difficulty
after dark was crossing the Tomoco river
The bridge WIS high and narrow, and the
river deep and dark, having dense
growth Of palmetto and other trees along
its banks. Some of Us enjoyed the dis
tlnction of walking over the bridge. We
then rode some time enjoying all the light
that Jupiter shed. As we jOurneyed
directly east this seemed our guiding star.
AS we neared Daytona we entered the
heavy timbered hammock land and here
the road was so narrow, and the trees so
high that we could scarcely see our way.
The driver soon stopped. saying, 1--WE has
come to one Of these bad Places" think
ing that we might desire to walk, as we
were about to cross short cause-w the
tlmbers OF which were decayed so that
there was danger of breaking through.
We finally concluded not to walk. One
span of ponies were led over safely, but
one pony Of the next span, obeying his
pony instlnct,i concluded to jump over
the place, which would have been well
enough hut for the fact that in so doing
he jumped out of his harness. This
caused US some delay, but after repairing
the damage We were soon on our way
again. The deep forest is beautiful in
the daytime, but at night, to one not &C
customed to such surroundings, 1t is
somewhat appalling, especially under
such circumstances as we viewed it. AT
1000 r. NJ. Saturday night we reached
Daytona and babe farewell to our driver,
who. by the way, had amused US greatly
by his pecul!arities Of speech. We had
also been much amused before by the
peculiarlties of speech of some families
who were on their wav to Florida to make
homes for themselves. We also met
several cultivated and interesting families
who were on their way intending 10 live
here. We soon recovered from the fatigue
OF our journey aud we are now enjoying
our stay here very much. 1t is dry here
and we have pleasant warm weather, an
agreeable change after the rainy weather
which We had in Minnesota during the
fall. We are building cottage on the
bank Of the river among the palmetto
trees and shall move into it this week. I
went out TO our grove on Friday with
Mr.. Mason. I! is looking finely. I
brought home oranges from our trees.
Land IS in great demand here, and Mr..
Mason is busy selling to people that come.
Mr.. Mason viii write Mr.. Davidson about
our surroundings and the business pros.
poets of the country soon.
Ono Experience from Many.
II had been sick and miserable so long. and
had caused my husband so much trouble and
expense, no one seemed to know what allied
me, that was disheartened and discouraged.
In this frame of mind got bottle of Hop
Bitters and used them unknown to my family.
Isoon began to improve and gained 20 fast that
my husband and family thought it strange
and unnatural hNf when I told them what