The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-03-27

08u&nt H12lBY9 u A0NkS0t.As O>NlSAt 81
on the old 81 augustus rood, on tie suul'
NIT Of the highest hill between this poiil
and the Gulf Of Mexico, only twenty y.fvt
i miles distant. NWas : znaanin incont s6kuat
nre In its palmy days, being planned hg
i It's owner, Judge j. G. Ncl3hee, 0ns y
the most cultured Of Southern RSn}femen
with the view Of having his viii, to whosz
he was especially devoted, pass her a.
clining years amidst every oopfost aEad
luxury that thoughtful love md abnndaiii
wealth could provide In those days therp
were two equally handsome avehnesI Il
| approach, the one from the rear and ths
other from the front Of the house, which
was built in the Gothic styIe, with point
ed roofs and stacked chimney, while the
most symmetricAlly massive arches sup
ported the extensive piaxzaA This, to ma,
was the greatest beauty Of the whole, fol
it seemed ! fitting framework for the
landscapes Of id yllic beauty on svery side.
As you entered there we're two halls di-
| vided by an arch, each 20x20, and on eii,
ther side, communicating by arched fold.
ing doors, two drawing roona l8x9O fese
in aises With der bay - Adioxn.
ing the lower hall Was'tsle s<iinine room,
with china closets and ante-rooms attach
ed, and across from it large sleeping
apartment, with bathroom and conve-
niences Above this floor were two stb-
ries with four large rooms each, while
over the front entrance, one on each floor,
were the ladies' and gentlemen's boudoir.
The gentlemen of those days were by no
means efeminate, 90 the boudoir designed
| for their use was converted into q wine
room, but more exquisite gem in mp
holstery and general appointment than
this ladies' private room one could hardly
imagine. The walls were in the dainty
color of the sea-shelE with circles Of faint
blue and gold overhead. The one mann
moth window was heavily corniced, and
richly hung with lace and silken drape-
ries, that blended artistically with the
sumptuously dainty carpet of white vel
vet with its pattern Of flowers In their
natural hues. The marble and inlaid ta-
bles were strewn with the productions OF
the best authors in richest bindings, while
of the statuary, the only remembered ex-
ample was "Nydia, the Blind Flower
Girl" with her pathetic offering of rarest
flowers. On the back of the house wing
extends on either side, forming . court in
the Spanish style. On one side was the
library with its walls lined with books,
and easy chairs and tables filing the
room; and joining it bed chamber. In
the other wing were the most thoroughly
appointed domestic arrangements, con-
sisting of kitchen, laundry, store-room and
china closets In connection with the
house, besides the farm, on which the
finest sea island cotton was raised, were
the stables, henneries, vegetable gardens,
vineyards, and last, but not least, the
flower garden.
AT this time there were some sadly va
cant chambers in my heart, and how the
brightness and beauty Of the flowers dis
pelled the cold and gloom therefrom!
Ever since have loved them, and deriv-
ed unspeakable happiness from them
Flowers of all kinds seem to thrive here
Bulbs of the different varieties bordered
the beds, which covered quite an acre,
eGdiftggfAade lHdr Pdftayy,@55 @5de dRv Jhbsadseasia
celled any have seen elsewhere in size,
coloring and fragrance. The camelia ja-
ponica, too, assumed the proportion of
trees here, and one accustomed to the
florists specimens grown in pots would
scarcely believe it possible that the flower
could attain the wonderful development
it reaches in our sunny Cline They could
be gathered by hundreds daily from No
vember until April. The pecan grows to
perfection here, and the orange can be
grown with profit, as few trees planted
incidentally thirty years ago are still
dourishing, notwithstanding the neglect
that the vicissitudes Of fortune have
brought upon this beautiful plantation
home In fact, there is place beneath
the shelter Of the hill, surrounded by wa
ter and q heavy growth of trees, where
the requirements of the orange are met
more perfectly than in most ether places
] know Of Il is place Of wonderful re-
source, for during the war am told that
everything was made on the place for the
comfortable support of . large white fam
lily and over hundred slaves. The best
of -four was grown and prepared on the
farm.
1t was patriotic feeling which made the
Judge pride himself on the resources of
the country, and he spared no pains or
expense to develop them. The lumber
for the house and furniture was al cut
from the plantation, and machinery and
men imported TO make it up after the
handsomest modela
During the Indian war General Taylor,
afterward President, was on his way from
East Florida to the Cherokee nation to
procure an interpreter In order to confer
with the hostile Indiana The only high
way then was the old ST Augustine road,
and - Chuleotah was on the diract line