Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-02-22

WILDWOOD, FLA, Feb. II. '89.


spending a short while, the weather
Is warm indeed. The foliage is
already in summer hue presenting a
freshness peculiarly delightful even
TO the wintered eye of d Carolinian.
arrived here too late for a gen
erai visit to the orange groves but, I
have passed through some fine ones
Oranges are very cheap il this sec
ton even at retail. A dime gets
dozen or, as many as you want at
the groves 1t looks very strange to
"Iar Heel to see trees growing
along the streets ladened with the
luciOus fruit.
There are but few natives of the
State, comparatively, to be seen.
Most of the people, citizens, whom
have met are from the North and
West or anywhere else than Florida,
There are quite number of English
people resident in this section.
Strawberries are being shipped
already from the Lake LaLachoochee
section at which point | expect to
be on Thursday next
| have met with but few men in
my line Of business yet, there exists
pretty fair knowledge Of the trade
obtained, | suppose, from former
representation
The hotel business in this section
seems to be most successfully Oper-
ated. You cannot visit a place,
however small, but that it has a
fine house for the accommodation of
seekers Of health as we'll as of bus
mess.
The most picturesque part of my
travel here, thus far, was from
Pilatka to Sanford, via Enterprise,
on the St. Johns river This river
is truly a charming stream or, we
might call it chain of lakes for, as
fast aS we get out of one of these
lakes we enter another The whole
surrounding Of this river, for a great
space, is composed of Palmetto trees
which are beautiful to look upon
with their finger shaped leaves and
rough bark.
| have not seen any of the "Amer-
Ican crocodile" as yet. The weather
has been quite rainy and cold, for
Florida, and these creatures do not
come out of their hiding places, in
the mud, until the sun shines hot for
some time. Skins Of these reptiles
can be procured in almost any Of the
towns, where Curiosity shops exists.
in greatest abundance. In these
shops all sizes are kept for sale.
They keep, as we'll, all the different
birds Of the State as a part of their
stock in trade.
One noticeable feature out here
is, that the Whisky traffic is at a
very low ebb. There are only four
towns, south of Jacksonville, in
which the license privilege exists.
These are Pilatka, Tavarir, St.
Augustine and Tampa Therefore
there is but little drunkenness to be
seen. This example, | think, is
worthy and ought to be followed by
the Good Old North State.'
| have met but one CarOIinian as
yet and he was from New Berne.
Our State, however, is quite well
represented but, | have not vet had
the good fortune to meet any save
the one mentioned.
Tell Tommie, (our foreman), I !
would like for him to be along this
week as | could acquaint him with
some of the fair and beautiful, excur-
sionists, who are contemplating
trip to Floral City. I cannot %
with much expectation, from this
source, as have, in North Carolina,
"a girl which l left behind me-"
Tommie, am satisfied, would enjoy
the tri p and occasion.
I contemplate a visit to Georgia,
Virginia and South Carolina before
returning from this trip.
l hope the good people of old
Edenton are keeping sound in mind,
body and estate and will ever SO
continue.
I missed my Sunday school AID
church on Sunday very much
| heard very good sermon
from an excellent preacher, for
which privilege, | ought to be thank
full.
With kind wishes for the FISHER
MAN AND FARMER and best regards
for my fellow townsmen,
l am Respectfully,