The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-19

family reached home from Florida last
week He went there three years ago on
account of a bronchial trouble, from which
he obtained entire relief. That northern
people probably take more interest in
Florida at present than in any other one of
the Southern States is not surprising. We
were glad, therefore, not alone for our own
sake, to get Rev. Mr.. Webster's view of
matters after three years residence there.
In general, it seems that he was happily
surprised by what he found both as to the
country and the inhabitants, owing perhaps,
to his not having had great expectations -
concerning either. AS to the seasons, he
prefers the summers in Florida before the
winters. For one predisposed to consump-
ton, he thinks the climate particularly ad-
vantageous oftentimes, though to the aver
age man it is enervating in the long run.
He would not advise one well-fxed" here
to pull up stakes and move there lust
" for the fun of it," While there are in
stances of marked success attending remov-
ais to that state, we judge that he regards
them exceptional rather than the rule There
are some things, however, in favor of poor
man there. Regarding eatables, outside the
native products many, II not most, of the
fresh northern varieties are obtainable,
though canned goods are main-stay. While
condensed milk has been largely used, an inn
provement in the home article is being
made; and Florida beef even, has been
shipped of late to northern markets. But
of more interest than the country are the
people who dwell in it, Mr.. Webster's re-
port confirms what comes to the people gem
orally through our best journals regarding
white and black in the South, and matters
of church, society, education, intelligence,
etc. He found a hospitable people, and saw
improvement all the while in their cond-
ton. The colored people he found treated
better somewhat than he expected. Like so
many others, he inclines to the opinion that
at present separate churches and schools,
as the rule, for white and black in the South
are preferable. (And for that matter, both
races prefer it, we are elsewhere told.) He
sees, too, as he could not have done before
going South, a Sh0W ofredSon in the attitude
of the whites toward the blacks in some
other respects-an attitude that possibly we
of the North do not fully approve always,
because we cannot understand all the facts
in the case. But he has no sympathy with
some of the methods pursued by the whites
! to counteract what may be real evils. How
ever, the work of the church and the COM
mon school amongst the blacks will, in due
time, remedy much of the condition of
| things. As to " the lost cause" subject of
| late revived by the tour of Jefferson Davis
in the South, he finds that some of the Flor
idans of his acquaintance regret the failure
of the South to achieve what it attempted
by secession, though it is not true of all of
them. Altogether, he is hopeful for both
races in Florida, and the peace and prosper
ity of our Union henceforth. What is
needed, in part, is a better acquaintance
with each other on the part of both North
and South. Our people will be benefited by
hearing from Mr.. Webster himself, as or
portunity offers, his observations and expe-
riences in the South. - The justice trial
in the case of Mr. Hiram Dexter Us. Mrs.
Ralph Whitney, appointed for last week,
was postponed two weeks. - Mrs. Lib
bic Tarbell is in poor health and under a
physicians care.