Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-03-16
and .first,president of the Cen

founder and first president of the Cen
trail r. r. My time being limited, i
could not visit the environing attrac-
tions of the city, chief among which
is Benoventure, the silent city of the
dead, noted throughout the continent
as one of the grandest and most beau
tiful cemeteries in the world. Leav-
ing this charming city (with regret
that / could not tarry longer) in the
late afternoon, the iron-horse speedily
bore us onward towards the Land of
Flowers-Fair Florida. About IL
A. NJ, Jacksonville was reached and
the numerous passengers disem-
barked, and were greeted by the cries
of the runners of about twenty hotels,
all vociferous-but not extensively so
in crying out the names of their re-
spective houses, and leading the way
to the hacks or omnibusses at hand.
Jumping into "bus," j soon was
in comfortable quarters, glad at the
termination of my journey for time.
For three days after arriving here,
Jupiter Pluvius reigned, and the
weeping skies made one impatient and
feel that the Sunny South was de-
fusion; but it was not cold, though
the dampness made the open wood
fires, with their cheerful blaze. very
agreeable. On Saturday: however,
there came an ideal day-blue I'M
clouded skies. a delicious temper
ature, the air resonant with the songs
of hooking birds, and the streets gay
with well-dressed and cheerful peo-
pie, and the hustle and activity of a
great town. Jacksonville, though but
small city, is so crowded with win
ter residents and tourists that its chief
thoroughfare, Bay street, has the APP
pearance of Baltimore street, and the
trade of the place, both wholesale and
retail, is very extensive, as it is the
metropolis of the State. 1t is called
the Saratoga of the South, has many
large and costly hotels.-where the
millionaire and the plutocrat can en-
joy all the Injuries that wealth can
buy-besides numerous smaller ones,
where all the comforts of life (but
with less display are afforded to per-
sons of more moderate means. The
stores are large and well-filled with
handsome goods, the doors are open
all day, and that appears to be the
constant custom. In the private
houses, the cottage style of architec-
ture generally obtains, with yards
planted with shrubbery, flowers and
orange trees. Ample verandas sur
round each house, with easy chairs
scattered about on them, showing how
| Of Ii,rit1
open air. The trade in Florida Curl
ositics seems to be thriving one
alligators, the small ones alive, the
big ones stuffed, sea shells, coral-iew-
elry, made of the 'gators" teeth,
and various other State productions
are displayed in great profusion, and
are eagerly purchased by tourists and
others. The number of people ar
irving and departing from the city is
to me astonishing. Isupposed times
so stringent as we have had for year
or two, and business generally so
profitless, would have had a notable
effect upon travel in this State, but it
seems otherwise. Three centuries
ago Florida was q land of Romance
and Fable, when Pance De Leon was
seeking the Fountain of Youth,
and stories of gold and gems fired
the Imagination of the ardent Span
lars. To-day, to one reading about
the wonders of the Statc-its fauna
and flora, it's mysterious rivers and
funeral swamps, its rapidly acquired
fortunes, and its wondrous posi-
bilitics in the future-hc is apt to
think that the romancers of the 10th
are being revived in this latter part
of the 10Th century in the person of
the writer's about Florida. Certain it
is, however, that no State in the Union
now has such a hold upon the popular
mind, and capital and population are
increasing at 4 rate not seen since the
gold fever in California in 10. am
inclined to think, from natives, set
tiers and travellers. with whom have
conversed, that the "boom" has come
to stay, and that g The Land of Flow
ers'' will be land of riches and
power as we'll. But my hastily writ
ten letter is growing too long, and l
will conclude in saying that as l eN-
pect to visit Middle Florida and In
dian River on the sea coast in few
days, may write again, if you care
to hear from
RUsT1CUs VI-,TOE.