The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-23

TOES. Cit IN tORN, hND sihn"'H'' "
MDwINTgR. ETC.
Sr. AUGUSTINE, FLA.
February Z, 1882.
10 the Editor Of the DiSpdfch:
have forgotten what j told you IN my
last letter OF Green Cove Spring, but as IL
Is place that will bear talking about more
than once, will incur the risk on rcpcu-
ton. First, as TO is situation II Is on the
west bank Of the st. Johns, which is here
four and q bali miles wide and is made up
OF hotels, clearinghouse, cottages, orange
groves. paimottocs. magnollas. ana o'her
evergreenS, and population OF apo.'
two hundred residents all the year roulu.
The balance is now largely in favor OF 'he
hotel and clearinghouse guests, VINO are
seeking health and pleasure in lana "here
the whistle Of the mocking-bird takes the
Mace of the iiugiing sleigh-bells, and your
outlook takes in magnolia and other green
trees wrca;hcd in miSt-like moss, instead
of the leadess branches OF trees pendant
with icjcles OF swaying in the cold wind
over winters white winding-sheet. The
spring that gives name TO the place is
pool OF SULPHUR water that comes up out OF
cleft in the sand twenty feet deep. and oc-
cupics basin some thirty feet square.
The water is clear and beautiful,
and has temperature OF 70 degrees.
There are Two swimmiug-pools adjoining,
each 15xa5 fcct-onc for ladies, the other
for gentlemen. The flow OF water is said
10 lie 3,OO0 gallOns per minute. You can
battle there on this eth day OF February in
the omen air, and without danger OF taking
cold. There arc some pretty groves OF
orangc-trees here laden with their golden
1,.t Istx
msgnoias. liyc-oaks, palmcttoeS, orange
trees, &c. through which runs pathway
for nearly two miles, called "St Dayid's
Walk" that il beautiful beyond eX-
preston. Tho trees are all feStooned
and draped with beautiful gray moss, and
the river. which is here four and half
miles wide, les Immediately in front, and
is well Dotted with steamers and other
water crti'. understand that the Indian
name for the ~. Johns was "Welaka,"
which meats a chain OF lakes, and so it Is,
with width ranging from two to six
miles, and 2 scarce pcrccptiDlc current
A man named Davis, who made his fortune
by "Davis's writing fluid" has one of the
pretticst residences here ! ever saw. and
his grounds are equally pretty. A lot OF
palmettOes. mlCnOliaS, and live oaks.
draped with moss, make a picture that
looks strangely enchanting.
Mr.. Philip Brown and his wife. from the
Blue Ridge Springs, were the only Virgin
ians ! met with at "Green Cove which
place left on saturday FOR tins
"GTY pY THE SEA-"
which is The oldest town in America, and
looks like TIE oldest in the world. ii is
pleasantly situated on the bag, and looking
across the island, You can see the rolling
waves Of The ocean; also, in full view, i,
the lighthouse. The city is full OF northern
and western touristS-as is every place |
have been, including steamboats, and rail-
WAYS.
The shei-gOad for drives, tic bay for
sailing, and the beach for Sca-Shclls, seem
to afford very gratifying means OF enjoy
ment: TO which must be added the very
delightful weather. | can compare it only
to the first days Of October in Virginia.
There il 50 much TO he seen in st. Angus
tine that any attempt ut description would
take too much space in YOU valuable pa
per. The Plaza, with its two monuments,
the one 10 commemorate the promulga-
ton OF the Spanish Constitution and the
other to commemorate the Confederate
dead. Then there is The Cathedral, which
was finished in 1898, and has belfry sup
porting a chime of four bells arranged in
the form Of a cross, one OF which bears the
date Of 1851. At the head OF st. George
street is the City Gate, built when the city,
landward. was protected by wall. Along
the harbor front is a wall built by the
United States Government to protect the
city from the waves of the sea. The old
castle OF San Marco-nOw called Fort
Marion-waS commenced in iC9G and COM
pleted in 17jG. 1t is. as is all the old Struc-
lures built of coquina, curiOus-lOoking
amalgum Of sea shells and sand. The main
streets here are twenty feet wide and the
cross streets ten feet wide. The old build
ings have projecting balconies, and YOU
can almost shake hands across the
street when standing on the balconies.
There are seyera! fine modern-built hotels
here, and some nice winter residences;
amongthem is one owned by Mr.. LOriilard,
OF New York. ldOn't think the orangc-trces
in this vicinity look ~ thrifty as | have
seen on the -. Johns yet they bear fruit;
and the fig-trees look as ii they had been
standing for hundred years. Roses and
other flowers ere blooming in the open air,
and within the past few days have eaten
sliced tomatoes, green peas, new bccts, and
strawberries.
You hear o wonderful amount Of talk
about the profits Of Orangc-groyeS, and al
most fabulous prices are asked Cor Il grove
in full bearing; and if could find the pool
that Ponce dc LEON sought, and could be
reiuvenated by bathing in lis waters, |
would like to cultivate grove. But it rc-
Quires much labor and long time before
you can realize a profit out OF an orange
grove, and, after all, a severe freeze might
set YOU back to the starting point. A great
deal of money i expended here by
northern people, but much OF it goes
back for the subStantials Of life. The
COWS are small and poor, and get their
living by diving for the grass under the
shallow water OF The It. Johns, and when
milking-time comes they 90 after the cows
with boat, ard an obseryant lady says
they put rope over her horns and lead
her to the bank and get a pint OF milk. The
hogs are scarce and sOrry-looking, 1t is
said that il takes two OF them to make
respectable shadow. The poultry is abund-
ant and fish splendid, and you can gel good
beef, mutton, butter, &C.. but not made
here. C.. MIR.
on HIGH GROUND At PALATK A--SANDY
STREETS SHADED BY ORASGE-TREEs-PEO-
PIE WHO VISIT iLORIDA-LIBRARY OF NR.
CA.HOUN-FHoM WINTER TO SUMNER.
Correspondence Of the Richmond DiSpatCh.l
PAIATXh, FLA, February 10. 1852.
Since last wrote you have spent very
pleasant week at the [" old city by the sea-"
st. Augustine. The inyigorating sea-breezc
fits one for enjoyment. and there is in this
little town, with its 1900 inhabitants, and
its surroundings, very much to interest the
stranger. It's age. its narrow streets, queer
buildings, and curiosity shops, mingled
with large ana fine hotels, fine residences
with orpamenteG grounds, and overlook