The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-26
THE LAND or FLOWERS.
where she Flowers Are Not IN b'ocm ho'-
Experience or vireinian In Jaek'on'''e
and ~. Augustine Pine Fishing.


fs..scIa, Correxpondencc If the Dispatch.l
sr. AUGUSTINE, FLA,l
. January 81, 1888.
One week ago. when j lett savannah, Tue
weather was somewhat cloudy and cool,
and by the time reached Jacksonvliie' anu
during the whole forty-cight hours that i
rcmai.,cd there. II was rainy and cold
enough for fires. Indeed, began to think
n was poor economy 20 leave my own fire.
aide and at much expense 10 come thou
sand miles and pay four dollars day for
the privilege OF staying indoors all the time
and sitting at somebody else's firesidc.
Northern visitors were grumbllng, and the
landlord and such citizens a. i saw were
apoioeizing for what they termed the
worst season" they had ever known:
Rain and frost had alternated for several
weeks, and in some localities ice had formed
half nm inch thick. The bad season mas
given dreaIv look 10 many OF the bright
scenes OF last season. The flowers have been
killed or kept back by the unfavorabie
weather. and many Of the orange groves
that were loaded with their golden frllit III
February OF last year now show nothing
but their green foliage, fear OF injury Dy
frost being the cause OF the early gathering;
7 left Jacksonville just a. the coveted
change of weather was about to take place.
and since have been here more delightful
weather could not DC desired-brlgnt,
warm. and calm. On yesterday mercury
stood nj $40 In the shade, to-day az ~, ana
for several days past il has not been below
$50 at O'Clock p. NJ.
Among the large number Of visitors now
here I meet with few whom | saw last
winter. but most OF them seem to be OF
new brood and largely from the western
States. ! said 40 much about this delight
full old city last winter that can lind but
little 70 write about now unless were to
repeat the old story about its varied attrac-
tons, aud now every body knows OF them.
A railroad from Jacksonville to this
place (thiIty-six miles long, will soon be
completed, and will prove great conye-
nience to tourists. Mantanzas bay Is being
extended to Indian river, distance OF
some eighty miles, by canal, thirty or
or forty miles OF which are already made.
When that is completed there will be n
long line of inland navigation that opens
I'D large amount OF valuable lends suited
TO semi-tropical productions. and. Will save
much distance and avoid the danger OF
coast navigation. SO you will observe that
this Oldest OF American towns must event
ualy become considerable business point.
AS well as q reatresort forinyaIids andplea-
sure-seekers. The drives here, with the eX-
ception OF two miles OF shell road, are very
indifferent. but the beautiful bay and large
number Of sail craft make amend for it.
Indeed, sailing is more pleasant and much
cheaper than driving, and, unless the par
ties have counting business on hand, Is
generally preferred. When loye-making
is desired the Sea-wall. the old fort, and
the orange groves afford the best oppor-
tunities. The fishing here would be called
superb in most parts OF Virginia, but after
fishing in Indian river you are not con-
tent with the "whitings" and "yellow-
mouthcd trout" that you catch here, and
although ! caught sixty on yesterday, |
shall soon move on 10 Indian river, where
can handle fifty-pound "bass."
JANUARY ODD. .
left Off last night, intending TO fin
ish my letter this morning, and with the
hope that a bright and balmy morning
would inspire me with such poetic powers
of description rs are demanded by the
situation and its accomplishments, but du-
ring the night regular and severe
"norther" has set in, and everybody is
shiyering with cold. Mercury is now Sc
degrees below what il was at this time on
yesterday, and am about frozen up, both
mentally and physically. &. NJ. X.