New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-04
A CASE OF STUFFED BIRDS.
WINTER NOTES IN FLORIDA.
THE SERIOUS AGENT - MRS. TABoR's yAvoRITE


In this town IL who does not think It worth his
while to smile, he may have conscientious scrupies
against such relaxation Of his facial muscles II you
have ever talked with person who has this peculiarly
YOU will know how very embarrassing 1t Is ; you arc
some way Immediately put at . disadvantage. You
unconsciously and servilely keep smiling yourself
until you feel like Corker; you arc almost willing
TO make buffoon Of yourself II in that way you could
cause tho mans to wrinkle rsby, or oven anaoiy
But no. 1t Is we'll for your selrespcct that you arc
convinced that all such efforts would DO fruitless
had been up and down centre-st here nquirlng Tor
a book or something. that shonld give mo q nttlo
definite information about Fernandina- Having de-
ded suddenly that this Southern seaport should be my
destination had had no time to road up" concerning
tha locality Therefore had only dim idea that
the place was settled by the spanlards, but did not
know whether that bloody Menendez had done any
wholesale murders hero, and was uncertain on many
other points Naturally wanted to know how to DO
affected when looking at certain spots In themselves
without interest.
There was a place. said to be circulating library,
to which We were directed, but which was not ono
The man thcro said he want runnIn' lib'ry now
7 asked II he had any book about Florida, or even
about Amelia Island No, he hadn't. He had thought
of cettln' in book about Floridy some time but he
hadn't got IL in yet still no might 10 reckoned they
had such books in Ncw-York Should no send TOT
one4 No, no need not send But had he a map'
No he hadn't got map; therc want much call ior
maps. Hero young female volce rom place un-
seen behind q curtain called ont,
apaw Won know Mr.. Newton's got . map
reckon he'll let the ladies look at IT, II they wants ter
was grateful I followed their directions, and
thus we came to the Office Of tho man who will not
smile. Hero, indeed, We found map Of Nassau
County hung on the wall near tho door.
We stood looking at 1t, and presently Mr. Newton
came soemnly forward.
Did we wish to buy any landT NO, We didn't
want land We only wanted little information about
Fernandlna: we were very Ignorant We had heard
about the Spanish settlers, etc. without knowing why
we should do So yet tried to propate this person
Immediately; we FRUSTRATED ourselves unexpectedly
we were very humble and very ignorant
Mr.. Newton evidently did not know anything about
tho town, but he quite impressive in his manner
Of speech.
There was no possible way in which We could learn
anything concerning Fernandina, he said unless we
went to Colonel Raynham who knew all the old ira
ditions who was, in fact, a walking encyclopaedia
Was Colonel Raynham a resident OF this town. MT.
Newton looked at in pity as we'll as surprise. DID
we not know the COoDel lived herei
More deeply abashed than ever, repeated what L
had previously told him, that we wero strangers
entire strangers. then asked about Dungeness and
apologzed for many questions by mining that per
haps | might write article II could get slight
framework upon which to build
"Tbere Is nothing more to write about Dungcness,'
he said declsively. Everything has been written.
You would not think of adding anything more Re
Sides you would not, hope try to go there without
permission from Mrs. Carnegie
said with humility that knew good deal hah
bccn written on the subject and well written; did
not say what felt that | ashamed Of having
thought for a moment, Of adding to tho Dungcnoss
literature.
But. said Mr. Newton with even moro seriousness
than before IL you want find something new,
completely new, take tho steamer Marthy that goes
up the ST. Mary's here" pointing on the map. Hero
he interrupted himself to tell that the top of the
map always north.
When YOU arc growl NJ and have left school, 1T is
exasperafing to DO told that the top OF the map Is
always north I had a strong desire to inform this
gentleman that was aware Of tho fact thai he had
inst stated More knew also that when you stanh
with your toward tho north and your back 10 mo
south your right hand will be toward tho east anu
your left hand toward the west. was longing 10
tell him this hut he talking on about ST. Marys.
II wa, "a beautiful town. n lovely spot, but much
deserted since Tho wah The river also was beautiful,
deep and narrer 1t the very opposite OF the ST.
Jobn,s which had been so much spoken oi-that was
vast expanse but the ST. Mary's, though deep. was
narrcr charming high banks. Creat historic IN
tcrcst connected with this stream, and enrcly new"
II seemed as I listened, that this river between
Florida and Georgia had just been discovered and that
n wonld only take the Marthy" up to Kings Ferry
should be ahIo to be the first to give description OF
tho st. Mary's to the world. In short was gvcn
ncrmss,on IN write about this fortunate river although
there was an intcrdlct on word about Dhngcncss
thanked Mr.. Newton with craven proiiiscness'
and We left his Office receiving from him serious
farewell The moment was in the street my indie
nondence returned to me. and stopped smiling MY
friend drew a long breath and remarked that the only
o,.,I y-nr
on a map which is north, and that tho St. Mary's IS
narrer These of course, Interesting facts bnt
they were not calculated 90 a great ways In gen
rral estimate OF Fcrnandina. Such Is tho contrary
spirit Of human nature that Mr.. Newon's words ABOUT
pungeness had given me- now that was not uhder tho
spell OF his presence, violcnt wish 10 compose anu
put forth a complete and ornate description OF that
lovely home as II 1t had hitherto been as unknown as
the st. Marys River
7, ,s GOOD TO be outof-doors IN this old town IL
would no better STILL II one did not have feeling that
when ono has to Florida. 1t is wicked mol 10 DO
out all the time when is not sleeping. Tho sense
that It Is a duty to under tho mild skies OF course
detracts something from the pleasure Even with tho
drawback that this of doing right gives, to us
wicked human beings. 1t Is happiness lnexprcssloe
for IL, to sit on po of lumber on the wharf hero and
snuff I'D tho sadness and the sweetness There Is tho
perfume of yellow jessamne abroad on tho air now
Rut II 20 on in this way shall be reminded that
Mr. Newton would probably tell that Florida air and
skies have been much written about as Dungencss
The temptation to give the rein to my pen and to DO
even more Of a bore than usual is very great when
am wandering about In such an air as this is There
IS good odor Of turpentne from tho barrels on the
wharf and great odor of fr. a hard pine from tho
lumber sauntcring about at one end Of the wharf
we came upon nook made by the panks, and pecping
round the corner found four children the 'hree
blacks directed by a small ragged white girl W.
earnestly talking about the way In which collection
OF shells should DO arranged in the small apartment
On ono end OF the panls the entrance fast
encd laboriously with huge rusty nails largo square
piece of pas aboard, evidently the side OF old box.
on this placard printed, children print, with
much use of ink and periods, this announcement:
They. that. have. pins. come.
In and. buy.
Them that. have. nome
stand. of. and cry