The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-12-31
.r!IE SUWANUE RIVER,
Description of the Beautiful Scancry
Through Whici, It Flows.

The other day two or three of lis.
boon ccmpanioas-wcll, there were
some thirty OF. forty in the excursion
went 10 that spot famous in scng and
story-the Suwanee river. Tho ride
to the gulf has already been described;
suffice 1t to say that the trip Was swift
and agreeable. The jungles had lost
hone of their beauty, lhc splendid
magnolias were in bloom, the grand
oaks were garlanded with gigantic
grapevincs, and the moss was as gray,
silken, and fantastic rs ever. One
takes a small steamer going for some
distance along the gull, and, after q
nights rest looks from the sheltered
deck upon tho lovely Suwanee. the
sriver is quite as large as the upper st.
Johns. bending in and out in innumor-
able curves for over one hundred
miles. In its clear waters you can SEQ
the fish leaping an.i swimming Every
bend throughout its entire course seems
more graceful than the last; every
stretch more romantic and beautiful.
Nowhere i. the verdure more tropical,
and as Tar rs the eye can reach one
sees an unbroken line of symmetry. Ii
some gardener had the care of the
trees on either side his work would
call for hearty admiration, hut it is all
the handiwork of nature, that magniii-
cent wall OF green-not shrut seems
TO be broken. not faded leaf can be
seen, on long vast. unbroken hedge
OF emerald, and underneath a green
sward like carpet, interlaccd with
lines OF gold and bars of silver, wheA
the sun throws vivid or fainter beams
down athwart the cool, deep shadows
Oars whar dc old folks lib,'' saws
q swarthy dcckhand, as he DOTS his
rlmiess hat, showing broad white
!vories and laughing back TO laughing
faces ashore. Sure enough, in yonder
tiny bend is little hut built of logs,
and two or three colored children
stand on the sreensvari to see ''de
boat ride" AS if to add pa;hos and
reality to the poets vision, there comes
out an old. Old man, his head whitened
with the frost OF age. aid stands lean
ing on stick to watch us out OF sight.
And later on comes the moon to add
20 the witchery of the surroundings.
Over yondcr the river has washed in
under the live oaks, the tall cypress,
and the pines. Years ago tie Indian
and his wigwam dotted these shores.
have no doubt they were as wild, and
perhaps rs wayward, as their brothers
OF the west-rejoicng in scalps, BRAN
dishing the war-knife with savage sat-
isfaction, and setting fire to the peace
ful habitations of the white settlers
along the borders. In all probability
the poetry of the spleldiI river was
much Of it lost upon their uncivilized
natures, though its waters may have
kept them cleaner than the majority of
their race. They did have some music
In them. however, for notice the names
OF their towns and rivers. BY and by
we reach a plantation. but it is in ruins.
Yet it blends well with the soft sad
beauty of the night. Whether or not
It is .'de ole piauiation. who can tell.
We know that once it was peopleG
with happy family groups, massa's
children and massa's s;a:es. The |
tinkling Eotes of ''do banjo" were
heard under the caves, tho negroes
sang their plaintive melodies, while |
''do white folkses' took their ease on
the now deserted lawn that slopes SO |
gently down to the waters edge. We |
stop at several landings, at one of |
which are the famous iron springs,
and. wherever we go, the wonders of |
foliage. of color. of water and sky,
challenge our admiration. 1t is the |
paradise of the South-the wonder
wilds of Florida-and tourists who do |
not investigate its beauties have lost
much that would make memory
pleasure.-C0r. san francisco Chron-
irf1