Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-06
In THE LAND OF FLOWERS.
HOMES, LEGENDS AND PROGRESS OF
THE FLORAL CITY.

Rich Perfumes oS Dainty Blossoms That Fiji
the Air During the Season Of Ice Ia
the North--sociabie Tanehasseans- Pet
Names Of tIorida's Towns.
Every place Of prominence in Floridn has
its distinctive pet name which is used by its
patriotic inhabitants nearly as often as is IFS
proper geographical title Tefnandina Il i'the
Gate city, Jacksonville "the Metropolis
st. Augustine "the Ancient City, palatka
''the Gem City, Orlando "tho Phenomenal
City, Cedar Keys "the Florida Venice, and
50 on through long catalogue Tallahassee
is "the Floral City" or, to include the full
formula, "ihe Floral City Of the Land Of
Flowers Why this formula Is appropriate
Is evident even in the depth Of what by
poetic fiction IS in Florida called "winterp
Nearly every house ia the struggling, roomy
town is hidden Ia a tangled sub tropical maze
Of trees, shubbery and vines, floating from
which are stringers OF the gray Spanish moss
The rich perfume Of the jessamipes scent the
peaceful inland air, and the brilliant blossoms
Of the begoniRs and Offenders burn along the
streets and in the gardens; the roses reserve
their crimson for February aud the punctli-
GUS Spanish bayonots," with their keen
points, guard for the Inter summer the secret
Of their wonderful white hearts. Still, even
IN the winter OF It's discomfort the Floral City
gives ample indications Of the glorious sum
mer before it and the profusion Of its fond,
partial gifts from our generous Mother Nature.
HOUSES AND PEOPLE.
The stranger within the gates OF Tallahassee
is at once impressed with The social character
Of the citizens II, as he saunters along one
Of the billy highways leading out into tho
''back country no chances to speak TO
Floridinn engaged in pruning peach orchard,
the native win leave his tree, climb the zgzag
fence stretching along the road and sit in
hoepitable dignity on its topmost rail. The
Tallahassean has his opportunity now. He
| impsrts information in the most suave man
ner and will not LET his victim escape for half
an hour Should the dinner or ten BELLS ring
ing break in upon his didactic conversation,
he Hospitality insists upon taking his captive
10 tho family assembly. II the cordial invi-
tAtion be accepted, the visitor has a golden
chance 70 view the architecture and domestic
arrangements OF the quaint h0mesteads.
Some OF the houses are little old style cot
tsges, suggestive Of the green lanes and chalk
hills OF Kent, with queer gables and deep
domed windows, hidden behind mounting
masses OF shrubbery. Others are brick struct-
ures OF the Doric style, with spreading porti-
cos and white wooden pillars. Occasionally
n relic Of the early French occupation may
be seen, built flush against the street, with
its decaying porte cochere, inner court and
rear garden. Occasionally, too, may be seen
a blank walled, dismal building with an odd
overhanging jalousie, the monument OF its
| Spanish constructor.
In the realm Of housewifery the spirit OF
laisser fairo pervades. Hospitality is spon-
tAneous and Of tho sincerest kind, but it is
more OF a pleasure than of the duty il often
is among the thrifty matrons Of New Eng
land, for here the supervision Of servants is
all that there is to the duties Of the housewife
Ancient aboriginal legends and later tales
OF the Spanish occupation make Tallahassee
o storied place. Who're the state capitol, q
formal structure Of straight lines and prim
| angles, with Doric columns, now stands, the
Seminole and Yemnssee sachems buried the
hatchet and smoked the pipe Of peace two
centuries ago. Here the Spanish invaders Of
their soil built Fort st. Luis, the ruins Of
which are among the towns curiosities. Here
Andrew jackson. after taking formal poses
sion, in 1921, Of the newly ceded province OF
Spain, placed its chief military post Four
miles to the east is Lake Lafayette, lying IN
the midst of a large estate Of $4,000 acres,
| given to the marquis in recognition Of his as
/ sistahco during Tie revolution. To The west
| is the Murat plantation, Occupied until her
| death by the Princess Murat, the daughter
| in-law of the finest cavalry leader IN the MAJ
poleonic campaigns, Joachim Murat, king Of
! Naples, and brother-in-iaw Of the little cor
poral. The grave Of the princess can be seen
ia the Episcopal cemetery
FOLKS FROM THE BACK COUNTRY
According TO the census Of 1850, the popu-
lation Of Tallahassee was 900, about 20 pei
cent. being of shades ranging from indelibl'
ink to passe cream. On Saturdays the popu
lation doubles owing to the advent OF negroes
from the back country who come to pur
chase provisions for the ensuing week. Tit
visitors come With little milk and honey,
few vegetables and fewer coins. After sell
ing their produce and buying groceries, the
view the urban giories. They favor nor
thener with their especial confidence, an'
show much curiosity regarding northern poll
tics. One Saturday afternoon recently
venerable darby with grizzled wool respect
fully saluted me nc street corner and ia
: quired If / knew Mr.. Blaine personally. Oh
receiving negative reply, he exclaimed il
injured establishment:
"Why, boss you done cum from de nOrf
Bicycle riders viii be interested 20 lear
/ that in Tallahassee Is located one of the thre
wheel clubs Of the state. II is nourishin
, organization of twelve members
Though Tallahassee is a few dozen miles {
, the north of the counties Putnam Marion
! Citrus, fernando and Pasco) growing Oh
heaviest crops Of oranges, yet it ships sever'
q thousand boxes annually. A Putnam count
I grower visiting at the capital estimates th
4 ! crop of the state at 100000 boxes, or,
/. round numbers, 95,0O0000.
. While frozen New England shivers throug
!. its annual visitation Of polar billiards, Flo
: ida's northern tier OF counties is reapin
a wealth from its growth Of sweet and Iris
(. potatoes, boans, peas, sweet corn and onion
y The size to which Irish potatoes grow in Ga
soil is something incredible. Specimens a
occasionally exhibited which can barely /
4 jammed into peck measure. The complain
4 is not infrequently made by New York CO
sgnees that the Vegetables Of certain lots a
too large for the trade Tallahassee Co
New York Tribune.
{ Consumption.