The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-13

cut off the tops OF the trees, Duoueu then'
with choice varieties of oranges and carefully
cultivated them, anu now they yield the re-
ward of his labors IN the shape o! handsome
yearly income. Mr.. Norris toresaw that the
time would come when these pine forests
would furnish attractive homes to health seek
ers, and ne bought in one body Spanish
grant of 1000 acres. Since that time MIR. Nor
rls has sold winter homes to tifty-two different
persons. The sales have usually ranged De-
tween twenty and fifty acres to single pur'
chaser though in one or two instances they
reached one hundred He has seen IN those
eleven years a village spring into existence
which can point to its unusually intelligent
citizens, who possess the double endowments
of brains and means with character to back
them, as proudly as did the Roman matron OF
old.
Mr. Charles Delanos name Is very tamil.
lar one IN the town where his youth and early
manhood were passed, and where he once gal
lantly upheld the democratic standard during
the exciting months when the eloquent little
giant and the gaun., homely but great hearted
Lincoln were fighting their intellectual battle
for the presidency of the United States Since
leaving the Ottawa of his early years Mr.. De
lano has travelled widely through the country
and has passed through varied experiences,
not the leas, thrilling of which was the long
and memorable siege OF Vcksburg which he
witnessed from his home on the banks OF the
Mississippi. Mr.. Delano's interests are now
closely allied with those of Florida, tor he
owns various extensive bodies OF land near
Spring Garden Center, occupies seat In the
state senate and is president of the newly
constructing Palatks & Indian River railroad,
which will give railroad transportation to all
those seeking to explore that famous and fer
tile country. In less than year it is proba,
BILE that the whistle of the locomotive Will
wake musical echoes around Spring Garden
Center and when II does one of Mr.. Delano's
ambitions will be realized. That the graceful
hospitalines of Its home circle so cordially ex.
tended to the stranger will not soon be forgot
ten, that the roses blooming on It's grounds
are fragrant and fair as any that have ever hon
ored the lovely family of roses, that those null
berries, which Mrs. Delano so kindly gathered
for us one March afternoon, melted with lus-
cious sweetness IN appreciatlve mouths, are
facts we proved by actual demonstration.
Those pupils who graduated from the Otta-
wa High School years ago before its course
of study had blossomed into that Of first
class seminary, while diplomas were unknown
and its present quarters were dream of the
future, will hold in kindly remembrance Prof
Stone and his wife, who is a sister Of Mrs. A.
&. Freeman and Mrs. W. b. Titus, Of this city
They too have linked their business and social
future with that of Spring Garden Center
Prof stones absence on business trip to the
east lett Mrs Stone sole occupant Of their
pleasant home. There in the genial compan-
lonshlp of her books, IN the social friendship
of the avenue and the supervision of her
thrifty and promising grove, and free from the
troublesome bronchitis which away from the
charmed air of Florida compels her to whls-
per her thoughts and wishes to friends, Mrs.
Stone finds that each day has It's varied respon-
slbiihes and pleasures. Mrs. Stone has seen
the greater portion of her own country, and
for number of years resided at Singapore,
India, where Mr. Stone was United States con
SUI but she is enthusiastic in the conviction
that for her Florida possesses superior attrac-
tlonsIt any portion of the earth she has visited.
Her grounds are full of tropical variety. -Four
hundred pineapple plants, shaded from the
hot sunshine by a tha,ching of palmettos,
were bursting into long array OF odd and
gorgeous scarlet blossoms. Lemon trees show
ed their pale golden fruit shining among the
smooth green leaves The starch plant was
there with its curious brown cone half hidden
by the broad leaves. An immense oleander
threw It's shadow over the roof tree, while In
Its pink blossoms were materials for innumera
bic bouquets The strange, broad leaves of the
fig tree were unfolding into full glory. One
large plant with singular Leaf, bearing a
marked resemblance toa dellcately lovely fern,
was u relic Of Mrs. Stones oriental home. 1t
had been born away from the garden Of its
birth to find, thousands OF miles from its na
tive land, congenial air under American skies
and a home in American soil.
Mr. and Mrs. w. ID. Neif have for nine win
tiers been residents of Florida, and propose
henceiorth to build their household affairs eX
cluslvely there. The air and the sky of the
flower land have won them from their first
love Ottawa and the oran pp groves of the FIJI
ture have proved more attractive than the
northern vineyard of the present. Mrs. Neil
finds in the soft air the balm which her deli.
cate lungs aud feeble health require, and Mr..
Neii is an enthusiast in all that relates TO his
iavorite state. He has made his familiar
friends among its trees, plants and flowers; he
knows their faces and habits. He has sought
and found the hidden springs which fed the
how, bnnIa nd 70 C,,ra hot in tha ,Ia