St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-03-30
ORANGE PARK, Mar. 10, l5o

overlooking with northern tourists.
Hotels were so crowded that they laid
heavy contribution upon private resi-
dences, and permanent residents said
they never saw their city so full of
people before. The population of this
town is reckoned at twelve thousand,
but this seasons travel has added fully
five thousand tourists. But Jackson
vile is only a receiving and delivery
port. Few pleasure-seekers remain
here more than a day OF two, and then
push off ''up the river"
jacksonville now reminds one of "A
beach resort, or of Saratoga, i'll July
and August. The hotel verandahs are
filed with people enjoying the remark
able change from zero weather to 20 OF
80 degrees above. Bands of music play
in the hotel parlors evenings, and on
the piazzas in the morning. Carriages
and saddle horses pass up and down
the streets freighted with northern
people in summer dress, and it is hard
to realize that fOrty-eight hours ride
would take one to the deep SHOWS and
frigid atmosphere of Vermont.
The st. Johns river Tor as all call it
here, 'the river,") mpresses one
strangely by its size and grandeur. Fol
sixty miles above Jacksonville it is
from two to five miles wide, with banks
covered with live oak, cypress, mag
nolia, sweet gum and orange trees
This river is the highway of this side
of the state. For two hundred miles
steamers ply upon its waters, and Il
ride on this series of inland lakes Oh
one of these bright and balmy days OF
March is something long to he remem-
bered.
A dozen miles up the river from Jack
sonville is the old town of Mandarin
known chiefly now as the winter home
of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. 1t is q
lovely spot, and Mrs. Stoves unpre-
/ NOllslSt - sllN dNS 'plhlN'l WI
to travellers, and is easily recognized
by reason of the immense oaks which
overhang it. Mandarin is said to he
one of the earliest settled places in the
/ United States. Its oak and orange
groves are very striking, the former
because of the immense size of the trees
and the extensive drapery of hanging
Spanish moss which completely envel.
ops them. There is one thing lacking
to make the place perfect-green grass
and that is lacking everywhere. Ii
| Florida it is, sand, sand, sand.
The Stowe family take much comfort
in their pleasant home. Mrs. Stowe was
walking alone in the garden as We
passed her grounds, holding i'll one
hand "A bunch of flowers she had just
plucked. Her face is yet striking, al
though age begins to tell upon it. She
remarked to friend not many weeks
ago that her literary work was done
Certainly if any woman in this coun-
try may rest on her laurels Mrs. Stowe
is that woman. Her husband, the pro
fessor, is considerably her senior and is
quite heavy and intirm. He was walk
ing on the verandah, leaning heavily
on his staff, and enjoying the balmy
breezes which come up the river and
| fan the bluff on which their cottage
| stands.
Across the river from Mandarin, (tht
river is over three miles wide here,) Is
Orange Park. Six years ago w. G
Benedict of Boston secured this large
plantation of several thousand acre,
and a stock company was formed q
which Mr.. Benedict is president and
David LOring treasurer. The place i,
laid out into lots and small farms, Will
public streets, a boulevard along tn,
river bank, and everything in READINGS,
for settlers. Perhaps a third of tn,
property has already been sold, anC
more or less of this is improved. A,
fast as any money is realized it is pu
right into improvements. Some lot
already have good residences and Their,
are quite a number of young Orange
groves, some just in bearing. Judg,
A. c. May of Milwaukee, a native o
| Vermont, has fine lot on the bluf
overlooking the river. He spends hi
winters here and finds health in tn,
climate and endless enjoyment in car
ing for and watching the growth of hi,
young orange grove which is now be
ginning to fruit quite abundantly. An
other season he will build pleasant
cottage on his lot.
The orange season is now over anC
the trees are in full bloom for another
crop which will mature in the early
winter and be gathered from Novem
Der to February. The crop seems t,
mature earlier here than in California
as have seen the trees about Los An,
geles loaded with the golden fruit a
late as April.
Tomorrow our party intend to star
up the river and explore the wonderful
Ocklawaha river, and before we return
we hope To see something of the int
rior of Florida with its orange grove
and hammock land. c. VI. :.
OCALA, March %, 1883.
The entire voting population of Or
ange Park is forty three, about equal,
divided between white and colored
There is a Catholic church in which n,
services are held, an Episcopal chapel
a cOlored Methodist and colored Bap.