The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-02-13
A FLORIDA SKETCH.

Correspondence New York Evening Post.
 To nde through miles of pine barrens in Florida, on lazy pony with an equally lazy southwest wind blowing; to come every few moments upon group of quail which do not think it worth their while to move any the faster for seeing you this way of spending ones day has its advantages such as do not often come in a Yankees life, and which l felt should be improved to the uttermost
 have read advice to horsewomen that was comprised in these words: "Always ride as if all the world were looking at you" When felt that the small DOT ton of the world resident in De Land was gazing upon me, sat straight in the saddle and held my elbo~s straight in, but much feai that when l tound that the turkey-buzzar Is were my principal observers l lounged along in a very rep rehensible way. As vert further and further, beguiled by the sameness of the scene all about me, l wondered if should not see deer bounding across some long vista that stretched betore me. felt that my ride would be complete if, be. tween the straight boles of the pines, saw the antlers of that creature which gives picturesqueness to these barrens. Twlce the swinging forward of vine, the sudden dropping of branch, seemed to me to be the tossing head wished to see. f-r
 do not believe there is anywhere in the world place more confusing, if one is trying to keep a direct path, than in these miles of pine lands. There is not change in the aspect the same straight trees, looking as if the pitch would ooze out of them at touch the same coarse grass, nov dead and brown; the same quails; the same look as if you might see deer; the same buzzards always circling, about so high in the air, with one descending indolently on wide wings :; the same mocking birds, who are nothing if not szucy: the same general feeling as 1t tue wood would close in and be thicker people have been here you know, because there are marks of horses feet and wheels. Occasionally the track turns, or branches into two, and you have nothing to suggest that you should take one rather than the other. solved all these questions as to direction tha: rose In my mlud as 1 went on, by letting the pony do just as he pleased; my only restraint upon him being not to allow him to turn directly back.
 do not know why it is, but to me there is in these Floridian solitudes a sense of safety, of perfect security. Per. hsps have no reason for this feeling, and l am sure should not have it if | were wandering in strange country at the north. But here the soft sweetness of the air may take from ones senses their natural alertness. By my watch had been riding an hour, at a gait of about four miles, and the scene had not varied in the least. 1 began to feel as if l were enchanted and destined to go on through an everlasting southern forest and the feeling was not unpleasant. My wise Ii tie steed pricked up his ears, turn ing his head as he did SO. looked, and within few yards of me, down a side path, were coming a very small yellow mule and a very large negro mounted upon him, apparently astride a bag par. tialiy filled with grain. The negro was grey but extremely robust-looking, and his legs dangled far down each side of his beast, which wore no bridle, but was 61A0C4 " O AORC n6ikCf 60Out HIS HECK. The darky pulled of his remnant of a hat, and said "good evening" at the same moment that my horse came to a dead stop, much to my indign ation. But directly pretended that had halted te ask question.
 How far am l from De Land2" asked.
 The man looked in a dsz.d way at me, as if had ina qiired the distance to New York. repeated my question, and he deliberately got down from his mule, still holding his hat in his hand, and came nearer to me.
 "I'se sho' donno no sich a place." he said in the gutteral tone which seems the natural voice of the black man. l must confess that a feeling of horror thrilled through me as heard his answer, and thought that l really might have been under ench .ntment and had gone thous. ands of miles through this forest to a country where no one had ever heard of the city from which had ridden an hour ago.
 Again said De Land with loud and painful distinctness, and he shook his head, and now replied, "l'se sho' of no sich place bout hyar. Ise ben Twin hyar years n years n never heerd bout dat ar place noways"
 l now became convinced that further compensation with this man would be neither instructive nor amusing; than ked him for his kindness, and suggested ts my pony that it was time to move on. had been secretly afraid that the animal would not start, as he had stopped of his own will, and l vas unacquainted with his xicks. But he did go, and began his slow lope, while the darky scrambled or his mule again.
 WAen the stranger was entirely out of sight, 1 stopped, that l might commune wifh myself . moment, for felt . sense of coafusioa coming upon me. It vas vszy fDolish to look about me. might = vea sssk instruction from . blank