Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-27

| Leave us again!
| Herman MeriUdle in the London Spectator
| --------.----
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
FLORIDA.
TROPICAL BEAUTIES AND oUR1osIT1Es-A QUIET
OLD TowN-HoTELs THAT ARE THE WON
DERs OF THE woRLD-A DESCRIPTION OF
TIE ''PoNoE DE LEON" AND THE "oAsA
MONICA HOTELS.
| Correspondence of STAUNToN VINDrcAToR
FFRNANDINA, FLA. April, 1888. The
Sub-Tropical Exposition at Jacksonville
has attracted great many people South
this winter, and if all enjoyed it as I have
they will never regret having come. The
principal building is Ii very large one and
built of brick, with the roof composed OF
glass windows to let in the sun and light.
This building is divided into lots, as it
were, each county in Florida being allowed
one to arrange their exhibits to suit them
selves. A few counties have their exhibits
in smaller buildings on the grounds. AS
you enter the main building, such variety
Of displays meets the eye, that it is rather
bewildering. There are three aisles run
ming the whole length of the building, and
between the aisles are arranged the prod
ucts from the different counties. Opposite
the main entrance is huge Goddess OF
Liberty, which has been much criticized
and laughed at, because of its extreme
awkwardness; still it is an interesting feat
ure, as it is made up of Southern products.
The hair is of long Florida moss, the dress
of raw cotton, with tobacco around the bot
tom to represent a ruff1e, a wreath of gra in
| around the head, and bunch of oats in Ell
| uplifted hand. On the left is an elevated
| stand decorated with palmettoes, air plants
and ferns, which is used by the Exposition
| band, while to the right short stairway
leads to the art gallery in a separate depart
| ment.
In some parts of the building, beds of
earth have been carefully made, and in
these are growing and blooming, rare and
beautiful flowers of every description. You
could we'll imagine you were in a beautiful
| flower garden Then there are beds # earth
also containing trees bearing tropical fruits,
such as bananas, oranges, cocoanuts, pine
apples, &c. The oranges are the principal
display, everywhere are to be seen large
pyramids of them, each representing a off
| ferent county.
In the centre of the building is large
fountain some Twelve or fifteen feet high,
composed of rocks, corals, and pink shells
which, with the water running and spark
ling over them, make a very refreshing pic
ture after the hot glare of the sun outside
Something of everything in Florida
| - ~
waters. Green Cove Springs is represented
by pretty little summer house, or arbor
all white and gold with fresh water within
from the original springs. for all who wist
to try it. Of course, every variety of vege
tables and fruits are there, some of which
l had never heard of or seen before. Very
fine grape-fruits were displayed, some a.
large as a good listed cantelope they are
one of the principal fruits here; also, the
Japan plum, little yellow thing that re
sembles a crab-apple more than plum; i
has quite pleasant flavor, though a bitter
sweet Both of these fruits are foreign tt
Virginia, suppose, as had never before
seen or tasted any.
Florida's woods also, are well represent
ed. Some Of the timber being sawed through
the middle, and others into different shapes
polished and vanished, in order to SHOW
how it appears when utilized.
Fancy articles made out of alligato
teeth, corals, fish scales, shells, palmettoes
&C., are seen in all parts of the building
for sale.
Passing out at door to the right, in tn
rear of the building, you cross over lons
rustic bridge thrown across al artificial
lake, into lawn containing flowers
shrubs trees, and fountains. Pet fawn
play about the lawn, and in the lake or OF
the banks are alligators of all sizes, baskine
in the sun. At the termination of the lon}
and winding bridge is a building contain
ing the displays of two counties. This il
called the hustle" 1t is built OF yer,
small, unplaned cedar logs, and thatched
over with palmettoes. The architecture il
very quaint and pretty. This building ha
only one large room, and the exhibits are
about the same as those in the main build
ing.
is pretty little town of about 5, 900 inha
bitants, situated on the St. Johns river.
has three or four elegant hotels which
have pleasure grounds adjoining them TO
tennis, croquet, hammocks, promenading
&c. great many visitors go there during
the winter season, every train brings il
quite number. A great many go there il
order to take the steamer, which ever.
morning leaves there and sails up the fam
GUS Ocklewaha river to the great Silve
Spring. Another object which attract
many travellers to Palatka, is Hart
great orange groves. They are just acros
the river, and little steamer is in waiting
every mornings at the platform, to TAX
visitors over. The groves are beautiful
innumerable rows of dark green trees
loaded with their rich fruit glistening il
the sun, while above is cloudless southern
sky. That is the picture that 1 will Away
carry in my mind of an orange grove. .
From Palatka next visited ''the eve
faithful city of
SAINT AUGUSTINE"
We have all heard great deal about tn
antiquity of the old Spanish town-ant
there is this about the place, that stranger
feel as if they must write something o
what they have seen there. It we'll de
serves all that has been said in its favo
and more besldes-any one might profit b,
making it study for weeks. 1t is no
now the lazy inactive town that it wa
twenty years ago, for new and handsom
buildings are being built in all parts o
the city, and the streets are alive witt
travellers. Orange groves, pleasure gard
ems and parks with beautiful playing foun
tains, rustic benches and flower plots ar
dotted here and there all over the town
giving it the appearance of some rare an
pleasing tropical garden-together wit
the host of historic associations, lend it
peculiar charm, which every one must feel
The historic old Fort Marion, is an especia
object of interest to all travellers. It i
built after the Spanish castles of old, ant
has very high watch tower, from whic
place in 1882, q think it was) the astronc
mers watched the transit of Venus. O.
entering the walls of ths fort through