Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-19
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
FIRST 1MPREssIoNs-THE LAND OF FLOWERS
NOT ALTOGETHER PARAD1sE-soME OLD
ACQUAINTANCEs.

rtnsr 1NtpRrssroNs-rHE "LAND OF FLOWERS
NOT ALTOGETHER A PABAD1sE-soME OLD
ACQUAINTANcEs.
AnnEpoNpA, ALAcHUA Co., Fla.,l
January LIST, 1888.
Dear Phanir: As many of your readers
are looking toward this state az their future
home perhaps few lines from me may be of
interest to such. left New York city on Fri
day. Dec /, via Mallory line of steamers, and
landed at Fernandina, Fla, the following
Tuesday We had a very pleasant voyage,
and my first experience in the Land OF Flow
ers was on as bright and lovely day as ever
saw in June in Vermont. We took the cars
| for Arredonda the next day, and arrived at O.
G.. Perry's residence the same night Our
Journey from Ferpandina took us through
some of the worst-looking land | ever saw.
When was boy I used to live on hillfarm
in the town of wardsboro, VT, and conceived
the idea that that was about as dreary place
as one could live in but since seeing this re-
pion in Florida have come to the conclusion
that no town in Vermont can compare with
portions Of Florida for desolateness. Imagine
one vast forest, perhaps 80 miles in extent,
with shanty once in mile or so. Ii the
shanty was a first-cass residence, 1t would
very likely be whitewashed and have chin
ney made of mud and sticks on the outside
otherwise, il would show the natural grain Of
the wood, and have stovepipe protrudng
through its roof or side. All Florida houses
stand on spiles or mason-work, in order to
have circulation of air underneath; but
person travelling through this region would
naturally suppose it was to keep them out OF
the water, which stands around in puddles in
every direction. The region is almost one
dead level, and of course water doesn't run of,
but simply stands about till the sun dries 1t
up. Swamps occur every few rods to enliv-
en- the scenery. Very likely you will find no
description Of such a section of the state in
any of the books and pamphlets which are
being sent broadcast through the North to en-
courage immigration to this earthly paradise,
as they call il but started with the inten'
ton of telling the truth, and propose to do SC
in whatever | say about the matter. There
is enough that is pleasant here without gloss
ing over the unpleasant features. On near
ing Gainesville We found ourselves in diff
ferent looking region. the land becomes high
| er ana TOllluE, anu mas Nolg ithpNS'HSiu NJ
pearance. Gainesville is II thriving busy
place of about 5000 inhabitants, and is quit,
a pretty place From here to Arredonda,
distance of six miles, the land is high aud DR..
and generally good. Mr.. Perry lives fv'
miles from Gainesville, and has one of tn
most cosy, homelike places have seen in tn
state Many Of your readers will doubles
+ remember him, as he formerly lived in Yer
mont and of late years has generally spen
his summers in Brattleboro Col. Hodgkins
d whom all Brattleboreans of course remember
l has lust moyed into one OF Mr. r,rry's hous
n es, and intends to make this his Lone for th
J., future. he has been for the past tire
n months in Nashua, small place on the 81
Johns river. He thinks that is no place for
n poor man, as tho land is poor and not mucl
ID, can be raised except orange trees, which re
qure several years to grow, giving ma
e plenty of chance to starve in the mean
u time. He says he has but little hair on hi
- head, but what little there is used to stan
right on end when he got to thinking over hi
IS prospects for the future-9O cents a day 70
chopping IN the woods or 10 hungry. He
Al all right now, having got into PLACE VheE
% he can grow something to live on. ! sper
or last Sunday with him. he and his famil
seemed to be contented, and to have a pro-
pr pect of getting good living until he can g
a, an orange grove into bearing Mr.. Farr an
S l have taken a contract to build house
"a this place, and are busily at work on it. W
Y. expect il viz take until about the first {
March to finish il. Larpentsfs see4 70 fin
plenty of work in this state aud generally g
good wages. We live in a shanty, and hire
colored woman to do our housework live iii
nabobs on ham, sweet potatoes, griddle cake
etc. Our sleeping accommodations have bee
rather primitive. When We first arrived, IL
shanty had more occupants than beds, and v
tried the barn we soon tired of that, al
, then TUNED cur attention to shanty less {
egant, but, after lying uN-h one o. ~
nights thinking over all the good things Y
, ever did IN our lIV,a, louBed for chang
Fortune favored us at last One OF our nuI
Der had the good sense 10 move to Gaine
willie and take partner for life. This caus,
vacancy, which we took advantage Of
once, and suGe thou We have thought less
our good deeds, and slept more No one Ii
nights are here until he sleeps where he CT
look through the cracks and see stars Ith
: been cold here--mush more 60 than l e4pst
. ed the mercury has been down to % abo
lch zero. Besides it is SO damp that ono war
ess a good fre. It has been very wet the pl
low month-muph more 50 than usual, the natiy
on on say. The New Year has opened bright a.
1w- pleasant, and just warm enough to be CO.
bSSs Portable My health has boen good sin
Gus coming here the climate seems to agree vi
yssss me- and have gained several pounds. T
ess coored people make the pine woods resou
5a- with their singing Their church is viii
all sight Of tho hpAss w 4rs al work GU aud
New Years they kept up their shooting
us- night Their ben Is holsted on a log houst
few rods from the church, and darky elm
up on the house and rings it with all
Il strength, sometimes keeping it up all mig
Quite go8d W9py QIaRgeg afe raiaed
this region, aud sometlme perhaps, l Y
write about that business also about tri
took up the St. Johns river For this tim,
think your readers mRst have had anoul
Yours, go, T. ?. WHIrE
------------------------7------=
NEWS AND NOTES
ABOUT THE WEST RIVER VALLEY BAPT
CHURCHES AND THE VERMONT ACADEA
SENT ny REY. pR COW TO THE NEW &C