The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-03-29
Jacksonville,
THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF 4 WINTER
PARADISE.

THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF \ WINTER
PARADISE.
Jacksonville. the commercial center of Flori-
da, Is the objective point of the Southern-bound
tourist and the recipient of more maedictions
from him than any other place in the line of
tourist travel. In the first place, quite likely,
the weather dsappoints him norther is
blowing when he arrives, chilling him With
its icy breath, or if warm it is wet and foggy;
then at first glance the town appears tame and
uninteresting.
one straight. wide business street along the
waterfront, lined with stores and warehouses
of brick. long lines of docks on the river. most
Of them empty. here a river steamboat loading
oranges. there trim schooner taking in lum-
Der, beyond them great SuW-millS graphing logs
aS though they were twigs, hauling them up to
their gang-Saws, and converting them into
boards, lathes. shingles, and blinds with mar
velOus rapidity; three large hotels, Of the type
familiar to frcauenterS of Northern summer re-
sorts. and outside of these miles Of sandy streets
shaded by beautiful live oaks, and lined with
wooden dwellings of the conventional Southern
type-these are the salient fca ure> of the town.
There are the street cars, propelled hy mules,
each with Il Veritable Jim Crow on the front
platform, who. with Il Sngu ar ntOnation Of
the voice. forces his Steed> along at Il gallop;
and there are the curiosity shops and their
keepers. FestOons # Spanish moss hang over
their doors. and a parrot ol mocking-brd is
generally suspended in Il cage before them. A
Il.
ing its TAIL or perhaps a cane in its tore paws,
is faNOritc symbol with the guild. rhe keeper
Is very suaVe and aCcOmmOdaC ing. He has for
sale concheS and beautiful shells from the West
Indies: coral in all its varieties: spOngPs lust
from the sea; sea beans, rough, polished, and
made into various articles of jewery: canes of
native orange, rattan and palmetto wood; pen
holders and paper cutters of orange wood nap
kin rings and card cases of holly, with Florida
scenes painted on them; plumes of the white
heron; beautiful pampas feathers. and a full
| line of alligator goods the hide and teeth carved
into all manner of trinkcts, small specimens
stuffed and even alive The latter he offers at Il
dollar Or dollar and a half each. according to
the size and will guarantee that they will live
a month"; while You are in transit, without food
or attention. one dealer has menagelie in the
rear of his shop. aud among his wild cats
snakes and turtles an alligator large enough to
bolt one whole.
Of the city'> $4,000 inhabitants, probably one
half are negroes. They perform the labor of
the city, are pOrterS, walters and cooks in the
hotels, deck hands on the steamboats,. steve
doreS, market men. truckmen. street laborers.
and house servants. \ great gulf exists be
tween them and the whites. They form a
community by themselves, have separate
churches and schools, separate compartments
in public convevanccS and a separate resting
place for their dead They are the same shift
less. indocnt, mprovident, goodnatured race
as before the war. As a class. freedom has not
elevated thnp, ulthDuuh ;n,liyiJn.l, have r;.o
- =, ~ ,.,,'', ''''',N NY ii>Vh
hibition Of this in their burial place which ad-
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