The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-12-25
The Difference.

tiers, Thought you never had cold in /
Florida ~ We acknowledge that it is |
something seldom experienced in this /
latitude during July and August we
answer him that his nose is not frozen |
as it would be at home, but only red by
reason of the frosty air, and assure him
that we only have with us the icy horrors
Of his Canadian spring, occasionally, as
in 1885 and last winter But all our et-
forts to molIify HIM are unavaiiing until
we suggest row. He enters the boat
eagerly, he takes the oars himself, tnd
seeing how the land lies, we lean back
and light cigar. AS our late hypochon-
drisc warns up, he throws off his coat, re-
pudiates the horrors with scorn, and gives
us chestnut for a joke as the little craft
swings out in the warm light of cloud
less sun, and begins to rock on the heav-
ing waters of the river, which kiss its
sides and ripple from the bow with muir
murs musical as those of Tennyson's
brook.
How can the grumbler who is ! OF
hungry exist in Florida: That, to us, is
our study of humanity, which we could
never solve. Our railroads wind IN aud
out through scenery ever new and always
wonderful, because outside the expert
ence of those who spend their days in
mar sher chimes. How can a man grum
BILE who finds himself suddenly hurried
from spacious snow fields, monotonous
in level white from the Jingle of sleigh
bells, which regard for our fingers and
noses forbid us to follow from the con-
/ finement Of brick walls and the discom-
/ forts of artificial heat, TO the soft glory
of our winter sun, the music of our
river which is never bound In slavery to
! the scepter of Jack Frost, and the
myriad shades of green. the splendors of
our exuberant vegetation, and the luxury
of sleep lulled by the melody Of a eoft
wind breathing sweet dailiance in the
harps of lofty pines and feathery
palms: Such incapacity of appreciation
/ for Gcd's loving kindness is worthy only
| of the dying consumptive, or Burdette
with a carbuncle. Can the Imagination
of the painter give us fairer picture than
yon lakelet set in green pines: The
azure waters modestly hide their beauties
under the broad leaves of the lilies, and
Undine becomes Eve, and the lake is
being, clothed with the warm glow of
(! legend, and the light of mans choicest
fsncies drawn from every land and
cline. The broad st. Johns rolls its
waters for two hundred miles through
woods full of beauties which seem too
delicate to be real and too strange for
aught but the dreams of poet.
Under our spreading Expresses the dismal
genius of Dore seems only true TO nature,
and the funeral moss Is a curtain real
and tangible placed by nature &c. cover
scenes more fearful than those merci-
fully shut from the sight of Pos's heart
broken dreamer. When the woods break
away and reveal a cottage EMPOWERED IN
orange trees and bananas, under whose
leaves of vivid green merry children
seek shelter from DEFENDERS sun,
does it not seem that the primal curse
is removed and nature surrounds with
guardian glOries the innocent pleasures
. Vi human Ire. w no udIt Iiluh Ol Gllll-
plant hen Heaven and earth and the
waters and the balmy air is full of God S
own bright blessing proclaiming to heart
and mind his eternal love? Who would
be surprised to see the glory of Heaven
and hear proclaimed the peace on earth
and good will 10 all which pulses in liv-
ing letters of dazzling light over
the broad face of our Florida Sky: In
kissing wave and dancing leaf, in sing
ing pine and swaying tendril of clasping
vine, in lily and in palm, in soft light and
balmy air, in fair face and loving heart
the Father of all has attested the love
which culminates on Christmas day
when he gave himself to us and denied
to mankind forever all right to doubt OF
grumble, deny or despair.
Has it all become dark to us because
it is thrice-told tale, vexing the dull ear
of saddened man: Show it to lovely
youth-look through the eyes of child
hood and find it again-or light n cigar
as l do. and dream. 1t is all real-Ihere
can be no doubt on Christmas day, and
we can only mourn that our earthly ma
ture shuts from our view the greater
glory which is around and above, but. as
yet, beyond us.
| Along the shadowy summer sea I saw the
White sails drifting,
And sunset Elorcs 81 emily tLeir golden
Heights were lifting.
My love sang low sank the glow
Along the homewarI river,
'The day may die but you and will
Live and love forever:
Forever and forever
Where the shadow fslleth never"
The following. which is editorially en-
dorsed as the ''coIfect view" by the