The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-12

fertility. had no conception
that such a growth of white oek,
hickory, ash and cedar could be found
on this continent. The tr nks lie
In close proximity, and often rise to the
height of eighty feet without limb, while
the diameter frequently exceeds three feet.
Could these native hard woods be marketed
Tor wheelwright and cabinet purposes land
they lie in easy reach of transportation both
by water and rail-, their value would ag
gregate millions.
Breoksville is blessed with good society
and church and school privileges, and sup
portstwo live newspapers and several ex-
celleut hotels. The
These mystical letters are the symbol of
an organization which must commend itself
to the heart of every true patriot and lover
of his country. When interpreted, they
signify United Veterans of the Blue and
Gray" 1t is the conception and outcome
of that blg-souled gentleman and public
spirited citizen,
L. Y. JENNEss,
late of the Thirty Massachusetts, In
fantry prominent real estate agent here,
and the popular proprietor of the widely
known fernando Hotel. A gallant soldier
who wore the blue, but is now thoroughly
identified heart and soul with the South as
an integral portion of the Union and
anxious to stamp out the last spark of an
tagonism and prejudice between the two
sections of a common country, he was
stimulated to inaugurate this fraternal
league between the erstwhile soldiers who
were arrayed in arms against each other
during the late sauguinary war
Accordingly he prepared a stirring ad-
dress to the survivors of both armies in this
section, urging them to meet to-
gether in amity and love and form a com
mon association to perpetuate the memories
of the braves who wore the blue and gray,
and cement the union and fraternal rela-
lions between them now at length happily
restored
The proposition was received with uni
versal favor, and at the first meeting, held
at Brooksville, Aug. 16, 1897 quite a largo
number of soldiers who had fought under
both flags assembled at the fernando hotel
and organized the association which now
bears the name of the UNITED Veterans of
the Blue and Gray All sections of the
Union are represented in the league, and
the members are nearly equally divided be-
tween the former Federal and Confederate
States armies. 1t is proposed to participate
in the union of the soldiers of the North and
South at Gettysburg this summer, and the
U. V. B. c. will be there with their own
tent and headquarters My thanks are
hereby extended to Commander Jenness for
a cordial invitation TO bivouac with them
on that interesting occasion.
left Brooksville for Leesburg on the day
preceding the annual Sunday school picnic
of fernando county, at Pemberton Ferry.
The veterans of the blue and gray were in
vited to JON the excursion, and Commander
Yenness, the marshal of the day, had
arranged as part of the programme to drill
the blue and gray jackets together, and
4 o..
the music Of the "Star Spangled Banner"
They intended to bivouac on the ground.
So much for pretty brooksville-
LEESBURG.
This picturesque town nestles amid groves
of orange and live oak, and with its broad
sheen of inland dotted lakes, singing birds
and bluShinS flowers, moro closely resem-
bles tropical scene than any other spot on
the peninsular. Indeed, all the surround
ings are lively, and the town may justly be
regarded as the
ORANGE CENTER
of the State Here | saw and sampled
luscious oranges that blossomed in June, and
are just ripenlng, while on the same bough
clusters of the young fruit were hanging aud
here and there bud or bloom peeped forth
The climate was as soft as under Italian
skies, and but for the ravenous mosquitoes
whose sharp bills pierce every vulnerable
spot on ones person, that dolce far niente
we read of, might be enjoyed here to your
hearts content.
The county site question continues to be
the absorbing topic of the community, and
it is funny to an outsider to peruse the
duelistic articles levelled against each other
by the press of Tavares and Leesburg The
latter am inclined to think has the best of
the argument, but alas it is out-voted by
the denzens of the former, with the aid of
Eusts and Fort Mason. The final result is
still in doubt and can only be decided by
the arbitrament of another appeal to the
ballot-box.
Business appears to be exceptionally dull,
and the orange trees were shedding their
fruit badly from the effects of the long
protracted drought. H. H. J.