West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-11-19

BILE; the ground level and covered
with stunted pines. Habitations
and villages are few, and the abb
sence of thrift and Industry are OBJ
servable on all sides.
On we go to
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA,
where we stop over for another rest
and look around. This is a great
naval city. Vessels come here from
all parts of the world and down on
the docks there are great many
low dives and bad characters,
which makes it a dangerous place
to visit during the night. Away
from the bay on which the city is
situated, it has beautifully laid
out streets and avenues and fine
public and private residences. The
city is situated on Pensacola Bay,
seven miles from the Gulf of Mex
ico,. This is as nice body of wa
ter as have ever seen. At the
mouth Of the Bay tressel crosses,
on which the train passes, and it
seems as though we are SWIMMING
along on the waters surface. This
tressel is 2 miles long.
Leaving Pensacola next morn
ing, we pass on through Northern
Florida to the city and
CAPITAL OF THE STATE, ITALIA
HAssEE,
built on range of hills, surround
ed by good country. This is
called the "Flower City, as many
flowers are in perpetual bloom, in
numerous varieties.
We look with all eyes for the ma
tive weeds, grasses, sands, pines,
FLOWERS, &c, of which we had read
as being in Florida, but were dis
appointed, as we were told and
could see that this was a barren,
level, unsettled section of country,
through the whole way to Jackson
vile on the st. Johns river. One
of the few attractions on this route
is
LAKE DE FUNIAK,
which is called the Chautauqua of
the South, and is, in fact, "a, they
advertise it, winter resort, owned
and operated by the New York
Company. Il is a splendid sheet
of water Cd feet deep, 275 feet above
sea level. Euchre Annie is anoth-
er interesting place, as far as the
name is concerned.
On this long, tiresome, all-day,
slow coach travel, | have had a
long conversation with Mr., C. G.
Dabney, gentleman repsesent-
ing the Cherry Hill Nursery,
Westchester, Pennsylvania, who
has spent 5 years travelling all
over Florida, and IS well posted re-
garding all that one could desire
to know about the State in all par
ticulars. He gave me many points
of interest, which I shall under
take to give in future letters.
On my trip have met with a
great many people, have seen q
large scope of country, and en-
joyed many rich, rare, and racy in
cidents, and some grave and un-
pleasant ones, but the length OF
this communication will not allow
even a mention of them or their
effect upon nae.
Arrived at
JACKSONVILLE,
which I am assured is not Florida
and very thoroughly have | taken
in the place, Here, however, l
will merely say that all the mar
velous stories told about the won.
derful climate and products of
Florida have been more than re-
allied already in my mind, right
here in this city, though the PEG
pie here laugh at me when I ex-
press establishment at anything I'm.
usual and say: ATS
"Wait till you get to South Flor
ida; then you will have your eyes
opened to their utmost tension
with surprise" 5HteF
Well, | am waiting, and for feal
you will find these rambling, has
tily written thoughts too verbose
for publication, I will reserve ar
account of Jacksonville and my
4 e. 1T