The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-01-29
LErrERFRomF FLORIDA.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS. Fla, Jan. gath, 1890.
DIToRs DEMOCRATIC PRESS:

LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS. Fla, Jan 24th, 1890.
EDITORS DEMOCRATIC PRESS:
A few items in regard to this place and its
may be of interest to some of your
readers. though in these days when so many
gifted correspondents are furnishing the public |
with descriptions of almost all the places and |
peoples in the known world we. who are I'M
known to fame. must be content if our produc-
tions are read by a few.
My mother. my daughter and left Ravenna |
on Erie tram 8, Dec. 1sth and of course arrived
at Cincinnati next morning. Weleft Cincinnati |
in few minutes on the Louisville and Nash
vile R. R , and enjoyed the day very much in
watching the succession of interesting things
as we passed rapidly by them. Owing to the fog
we could not get good view of the OHIO River
as we crossed over into Kentucky but in lit
tie while the fog cleared away and the day was
bright and pleasant.
We noted at once many things different from
the country around home. Here and there we
saw little cabins some on the hills. some by the
side of little branch. - but all with the CHM
ney on the outside. The country is quite broken
and in me places the scenery is very fine. We
saw many hillsides cultivated which a Portage
County ftrmer would consider it hard work to
climb Sometimes while winding around the
side OF high hill you can see the wooded hills
in the distance and a little stream meandering
through the valley between; and sometimes
while passing through tunnel you can't see
anything unless they light the lamps. which
they do for the longer tunnels We passed
through Louisville little before noon but did
not see much Of the city,
A few miles out from Nashville, Tenn. we
passed National Cemetery where large num-
Der of small marble slabs mark the burial
places of Union dead.
ell we saw of interest at Nashville was the
Capitol which is built up on a hill, reminding
me of the views have seen of the Aeropolis at
Athens. We passed Though the famous city of
Birmin CHAM about midnig hit. so could not see
| much but coke ovens and big depot.
When we were again favored with daylight
we were in Southern Alabama. and found the
country very different from that passed through
the day before. Left Pensacola about noon on
the Pensacola & Atlantic Railway, and ior 20
miles the ride is quite interesting including "a
miles of bridge work across the bay. Along
| the road are beautiful gardens with loses and
other flowers in bloom, live ak trees. spanish
moss. SC, sc.
| Not to make my description as long as the
journey was in fact. we arrived at DeFuniak
| at pm. We had already become acquainted
| on the train with an elderly couple who have a
| Winter residence here, and a couple of youu G
ladies, who like ourselves. are here for the rst
time.
DeFuniak Springs is ON the Pensacola & At
| lantic 4. r., 50 miles east of Pensacola. and
| halfway between New Orleans and Jackson
vile. 1t is the county seat of Walton County.
and is a LARGE place-laid out on grand scale
All it needs are people and buildings to be a
| city. Here is located the Florida Chautauqua.
| The Assembly grounds enclose the lake which
| is circular. just mile in circumference. and in
| places 64 feet deep-an enormous spring with
no visible inlet or outlet
The next Assembly begins Feb 20th and con-
| tinues five weeks As Wallace Bruce, the Pres
| ident. has been sent as U S. Minister to Edin-
boro. Scotland. Vice President C. H. Harris is
| acting President. The Florida Chautanqua
suffers great loss by the recent death of Mr..
c G. Banfill who has been Secretary since its
organization. and contributed very largely to
its success. They date here from 1.-The AS
sembly, ,"-plan their work and business SO that
they may a. tend as much as possible.
| There are two churches Acknowledgements
aud Methodist. The morning after my a, rival
| I had quite a chat with Bishop W. F. Mallaiien
| and the next day had the pleasure of hearing
| him preach.
The Hotel Chautauqua has been re fitted and
re-furnished throughout, and Messrs Ring and
Williams propose to make it a first class house
Mr.. and Mrs. J. c. Scott. of the New York
House, are adding to their accommodations
They are here for the fifth season. L believe and
keep the Longfellow Cot age at Chautauqua
| N. Y, through the Summer.
There are various other hotels and boarding
houses here.
AS for ourselves, We are pleasantly located
in furnished rooms. In our immediate neigh.
borhood are people from Ohio. Indiana Iowa
Illinois, Michigan. Wisconsin and Nebraska
In fact, the town is mostly made up of good
class of Northern people. 1 am told that the
resident population is about 200 There are
but comparatively few colored people here
The houses are much better on the average thar
| / expected to find
On Christmas Day my little girl and went
out for walk. and got some holly and some
wild flowers. The Winter here as North, has
| been warmer than usual. There were two OF
| three frosts in November 1 am told. 1 think
| there has been but one frost since have been
| here. Two or three mornings there has been q
cold wind. The weather has generally been. SC
far, delightfully."- pleasant-truly the Sunny
| South" We are told that there will be more
rain next month.
l attended three Christmas entertainments
but though they had tree and presents at each
one. failed 10 get even an orangei
At the entertainment given by the colored
Sunday School, arrived too late to hear the
literary exercises. but was in time to hear the
remarks of the Supervisor" and to witness
the distribution of presents, which was mighty
interestin - to the little da rkies.
The express and freight rates are very high
here. which is given as a reason for the extra
cost of some articles. AS the pine woods are
all around us. fuel is cheap. The only place 1
have seen coal used is at the depot, Sweet
potatoes-excellent quality-are so cents bu !;
irish potatoes, 80 cents peck. Flour costs about
4 cents q pound; condensed milk 10 cents
pound; "cow's milk" 10 cents quart. Butter
costs now 25@s0 cents pound. and is very good
quality. In the words of one of my neighbors
1T amt SO expensible as it used to been" Beef
and pork are cheap; also venison when it is in
the market. Fish and oysters cost much more
than in Rayenna, as they come here by rail
from Pensacola. oysters cost "bit'' dozen.
Copper cents are scarce here. 1 do not think
have received anything yet in change smaller
than nickel. Frequently they make change
by giving little more of the article called for
Ripe strawberries are not very plentiful yet.
though there are some.
In another letter muy write more in regard
to soil and crops, the people, and places of
interest in the surrounding country About
these expect to know more in few weeks
than do at present.
W.T. JEWELL.
RANDOLPH.