Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-06-11
The Sunny South.

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was so fine the morning left that 1 did
not think it necessary to be burdened
with an evercoat, especially as / was
going to such warm country. Before
/ got to Milwaukee, however, 1 found
1t growing chilly, and going forward to
the Mann Boudoir, which contains the
art gallery of Messrs. Clifford & Murdoch,
l secured the loan of winter ulster,
which | surrendered at the Elizabeth
street depot. Friends in Chicago where
| stopped over Thursday took pity on
me and loaned me an overcoat which
never had occasion to put on after leav-
ing there. Indeed, | find no use for
even an under-coat out here. The
amount of clothing necessary ON the
Ranch is just enough TO keep from get
ting sun burned. But to return to my
journey: | went to Louisville by the
Monon Route over three different roads.
AT Mitchell, Ind, we learned that
wreck of seventeen freight cars ahead
would prevent our reaching Louisville
by that road so we switched off onto
the 0. & M. At Seymour we again
switched onto the j. M. & l.. which be-
ing interpreted signifies Jeffersonville
Madison and indianapolis, which
brought US into Louisville about four
hours late. The cause of the disaster
was satisfactorily explained by trav-
cling vender of "clodin's," of the He
brew persuasion, who declared himself
Schooner, ,and said that the train
was always late when he was aboard;
that it had never failed. He told this
to each passenger separately, and then
to all collectively. | had never heard
that Jonah travelled by rail, was noted
for causing delays, or sold or wore
much clothing; but he seemed to think
the analogy complete, and the delay
natural consequence of his presence.
None of the passengers going south,
however, were at all Inconvenience by
the delay, as the south bound train on
the Louisville & Nashville does not
leave until 1915, SO we still had an hour
to spare. Among my distinguished
fellow travellers was Mr.. Hess, of the
Hess Opera Company, who was on his
way to New Orleans to make arrange
ments with the Mexican band, at the
close of its engagement there. to come
to Chicago. We spoke of Mr.. Fair
weather, and Mr.. Hess spoke very high
ly Of him, both as a vocalist and as a
gentleman. Miss Bessie Bernard. who
has been connected with the Grace
Hawthorn troupe, both as press agent
and as an actress, was also on board,
returning to her home in New Orleans.
She is a sister of Mrs. NJ X. Field of
the New Orleans Picayune, well known
in Southern journalism as "Catharine
Cole"
did not choose to avail myself of
the Twenty minutes for supper at
Nashville, preferring to patronize the
buffet, and spend my 20 minutes look
ing at the city, saw but little of the
place, but enough to convince ME that
it is a beautiful city. Over the door
way of one elegant stone mansion was
the inscription, cut in stone, "Salve."
Whether the owner made his money by
selling salve and takes this means of
advertising his remedy, or whether 1T is
from the Latin and signifies welcome. 1
had no time to stop and inquire, but
made haste back to the train, and we
were soon speeding on toward summer.
Our next breakfast station was Mont
gomery, Ala. and from this point on we
felt that a collision with summer was
imminent In many fields the corn
would average four feet in height, and
cotton was looking we'll. When the
tram stopped, as it sometimes will, in
the midst of vast wilderness, l would
get out and pick blackberries beside the
track.
| arrived at Pensacola Saturday after.
noon, intending to spend the night
there, but friends from Milton whom l
met just taking the train for that place
GO miles east), insisted in their hospit-
able Southern way that l should go up
and spend the night with them. About
half of the business part of that little
city had been destroyed the week be-
fore by fire, and one would scarcely
recognize it were it not that the people
are the same cordial, friendly people as
ever.
took the early train Sunday morn
ing for Lake de Funiak. and there found
my greatest surprise. If Milton is
changed by losing so many buildings,
DE Euniak is still more so by having
gained SO many. l should never have
recognized il as the place where | lived
year ago. But of DE Funiak. more
anon. | waited there for the heat of
midday to have spent its energy, and
saddhng a horse set out toward Alaqua
Creek. The sun had sunk below the
tops of the tall somber pines. which
east their cool shadows across my sandy
road, and sunbeams glanced through
the long aisles of their trunks. By the
time reached the corduroy bridge that
crosses the Alaqua, the sun has dis
appeared and when reached the ranch
house, few minutes later, light was
glimmering through the cracks. l
called out ana aroused chorus of dogs,
and brought the young men to the door
In response to their invitation to Get
down and come in," and their assur-
ances that the dogs wouldn't bother
me, tied and entered the cabin, where
upon u shout went up that showed how
complete was their surprise and how
hearty my welcome.
A description of West Florida sheep
ranch might be made interesting. but
cannot find time, and besides think
this letter has been sufficiently personal
already, so l shall drop my adventures
aud my business right here and shall
speak of the success of Lake de Funiak,
90, :, - 70 ha callod in tho f,f,,,