National Republican., 1883-02-27
FAIR FLORIDA.
Escape from the Realm OF storm TO Visit
the Region OF sunshine-Tbe Winter
Home OF Mrs Mary A. DenDIson.

Escape from the Realm OF Storm 10 Visit
the Region OF sunshIne-The winter
Home OF Mrs Mary A. Dennlson.
SDeciai Letter.
BATToNvILLE FLA, Feb. 21.-The reports
of intense cold, snow, ice, sleet, and in conso-
quenco delayed trains, reaching us here In
this sunny region in tho interior of Florida
induces me TO write and give brief account
of a recent trip, escaping all these northern
discomforts. Mrs. Mary A. Dennison, tho
author of "That Husband Of Nine" and
other graceful works, resolved to seek
winters home in Florida, and for this pur-
pose, inviting few friends TO accompany her
on an exploring tour, started out the last Of
January, determined to purchase before re-
turning.
The party, consisting Of five, accordingly,
procuring their tickets, left Washington alto
a. m, reaching Jacksonville the second day at
in the afternoon, making a comfortable,
journey of one night and two days, passing :
through Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlosle
ton, Savannah, and other intervening cities
before landing at their place of destination.
At Jacksonville we caught the first glimpse,
from our hotel window, of the summer
aspect. Magnolia trees and the stately
orange, laden with their golden fruit
were so near that we could almost put out
our hands and gather them. This, with
the changed and mild temperature, gave us
fresh delight, and we employed the evening
and the following morning taking hasty
view of the advantages and beauties of the
city, until our hour for leaving for Gaines
vile, and from thence ten miles to Baton
vile, arrived. The train carried us through
forest of pine trees, at intervals frightened
by orange groves and vegetable gardens,
which were interspersed the whole distance,
but mostly an uninterrupted succession of tall
pines fringed the road on both sides.
From Gainesville the country began to im-
prove. Tho ground was high and undulating,
and, to our northern eyes, much more inviting
until we reached Battonville, our place OF
destination. Here we were met by Col.
Palmer, the owner of 1000 acres Of land,
which was formerly a cotton plantation
owned by two brothers, but deserted ut the
time Of the war, and since sold for taxes. This
land, purchased six years ago, Is the highest
and said TO be the best in the state, some por-
tions of IL being hilly and rolling and very
much like our northern lands. This has
been already taken up in sections Of
forty acres each by many intelligent
and cultivated people who have been in
duced to come for their health and other
purposes to seek q home here, and it is sur
prising and interesting to notice, as we wind
in and out among the pine trees in our elei
giant carriage, the neat little houses, with theiy
orange groves well started and their fields OF
strawberries and gardens Of vegetables which
cover acres, already productive enough TO pay
for their places and all their comforts and inn
provements.
The owners of lands here offer them at such
prices as to encourage northern purchasers
seeking investments, and if q lovely climate,
highly productive soil, with healthy location
is any inducement, certainly all these invite
you in this beautiful section of Florida.
Here Mrs. Dennison has determined to find
n winter home or retreat, and for this pur-
pose has just decided to purchase lovely
house built for gentemans son, with broad
piazzas and whole-souled rooms, surrounded
by magnolias, orange trees, and pOmegrau-
atos, and embowered with vines and roses,
with an outline Of forest trees covering tho
100 acres of which the purchase is composed,
and with all facing and sloping to the rail-
road, which Is in convenient distance TO con-
vey friends to and from her home, making IL
just one Of those places which seem de-
signed and prepared purposely for tho
very ones who at last come into posses
sion. The people of Battonville (the name Is
to be changed to Palmer are proud that this
mansion should have fallen into such desira-
Bile hands, and gave many complimentary
evidences of their appreciation of the advan-
tages of securing such magnet IL their midst,
and / have no doubt upon this ,thorough.
fare to Cedar Keys that Mrs. Dennson's re-
treat will be one of the attractions Of that
section of the country, as Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stoves is'upon the st. Johns. This
location being only forty miles from the Gulf
OF Mexico, led our party to improve the oppor-
tunity to visit Cedar Keys, a description Of
which will reserve until another time.
A. n.