New-York tribune., 1890-01-12
THE FLORAL CITY.
ITS HOMES. ITS LEGENDS AND ITS PROG
RESS

trRoM An occAsroSl1 CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuSEl
Tallahassee, Fla, Dec. 29.-Every place Of promi-
nence in Florida has its distinctive pet name. which is
used by It's patriotic inhabitants nearly often is
its proper geographical title. Fernandina is the
Gate CITY" jacksonville the Metropolis, st. Angus
tine the Ancient city, Paatka - the Gem City,"
Orlando the Phenomenal City" Cedar Keys " the
Florida Venice and on through a long catalogue
Tallahassee is the Floral city, to include the full
formula the Floral City OF the Land of Flowers"
Why this formula is appropriate is evident even in this
month of December the depth Of what by a poetic
fiction is i'm Florida called awnter.' Nearly every
house in the struggling, roomy town Is hidden IN
tangled sub-trOpcal maze OF trees, shriiDDery ana
vines, floating from which are stringerS OF the gray
Spanish moss 1t will be weeks before the rich
perfume Of the jessamneS will scent the peaceful
inland air. and the brilliant blossoms of the bcgonias
and Olcanders burn along the streets and In the gar
dens the roses are resetvng their crimson for FEB
rrthry and the punctOus "Spansh bay0nctS'' "lth
their keen points, are guarding for the later summer
the secret of their wonderful white hearts ana more
than two months will eapse before the new life OF
the magnOlias and muberries will burst INTO Dlooih
STILL even in the winter of It's discomfort the Floral
CITY gives ample indications Of the glorious summer
before it and the prOuson Of its fond, partlai g's
from our generous Mother Nature.
The stranger within the gates of Tallahassee Is at
once impressed with tho social character OF the cl'
IT, ne SaultcTS dlOHs OlN VI thO iiAhs 'A'o'
ways leading ont into the back country" he chances
to sneak To a Floridlan engaged in pruning peach
orchard the native will leave his tree, climb the zglag
fence stretching along the road and SIT in hoSpaDle
dignity on its topmOst rail. The TailahasSeah mas MS
opportunity now lie mpars Information IN the
most suave manner and will not let his victim escape
for half an hour should the dinner or tea bells ring
ing break in upon his ddactic conversation he nos
ptably insists upon taking his captive to the family
,sse1nbly II the cordial invitation be accepted, tle
visitor has golden chance to view the drcin'c'tuo
and domestic arrangements Of the quaint home'cads
some Of the houses are little old style cottages sug
etivc ~ thc green lanes and chalk hills of Kent, with
ouccr cables and deep-domcd windows, hidden Dehlha
manning masses of shubbery. Others are DITCH
ructres Of the Dorc STYLE with spreading portlcos
and ,vhito wooden pillars. occasionally a relic OF the
carly French occupation may be seen, DulIt hush
against the street. with its decaylng porte cochc'o'
inner court and rear garden. OCCASIONALLY 100 may
be seen blanli-waled, dismal building WIN an ou
ovcrhansing jalousc, the monument OF It's SPANS"
constructor. III. . ,,issor
In the realm OF housewfery the spirit OF lalsSer
f. peryade, Hospitality is spontaneous ana oil Inc
,nccrc,t kind but it is more of pleasure thdn Vi '
duty il often is among the thrifty matrons oil
land for here the supervision OF servants Is oil ln"'
there is to the duties Of the housewife.
Ancient aboriginal legends and later tales Oh INC
Sn,nish occnpation make Tallahassee stored place
''''NN'''N
line, and prIm angles with Donc columns, no"
t,nds the seminole and Ycmassec sachcms buried
tbc hachc and smoked the pipe OF peace two centuries
ago Here the spanish invaders OF telr SOL D'IiO
Fort san Luis, the ruins of which are among INC
towns curioslties. Here Andrew Jackson ai'er oa
lus formal possession, in l-2l, OF the newly oeueu
nrovuce Of spain placed IT, chief military post
Four mile, 10 the east Is Lake Lafayette, lying Ill inc
midst Of a large estate OF 5000 acres, given to the
NarIul- in recognition Of his assistance uuIlhS inc
rrv6lntion ro the w,t i, the Murat plantation, 0c
d, ,h.r nm law Of the finest cavalry leader OF the
%,nolconlc campaigns Joachim Murat, King OF Naples
ana brother mia" Of the Lite '0 PoIt hv
of tine Princes, can be seen III the kpiscop oenq'cIS
According To the CENSUS Of io3O, the population o, %
Tallahassee va, 2.9Oo du"ul 'lNN pr .cl' O'- .,,
shades raneln- from indclble INK 10 pass cram
ON SATURDAY., the population doubles OWING 10 e M az
vent oi ncgroc, from the back country Wiz III 9ho
! IA uurcla>c provisions for the ensuing "eeh, ny
visitors come with nttlc milk and honey lew Sese
table, and fewer coins. Ater selling thelr pIVuaoo
,Hd bnyiug groceries. they view the urban sIorles
TAcy favor Norherucr with ther eSpc'iSl tIlim jim
deuce and show much curiosity rrgaTilng Norllyrn
| minis On. saturday afternoon recently yeneraDh
darhcy with grlllcd wool rc.pet tiuly sauu @ az r
etrrrt corner and inquired II knew Mr; Blaine per
,onaiiy ON receiving negative reply lie eA'iai'nc'
in INJURED yom Done cum from de Nor!'
uiry,e riders Will bee interested TO learn that IL
Tallahassee j. located one ot the three Weel SIum &
| thr state. II = hourshns organization oi t"cN'
Tbon-h Tallahassee is few dozen miles 70 the
north OF the counties putnam Manioh' cr,ni ~
| tSr,I,,rn ,ouutv grower visiting at the capital
estimate. the present crop Of the state at l3oo0Oo
! h,I.. or IN round NUMBERS l95.oOoOoo ana Is con
/ e,,nt hat tle state Will produce the largest croi
F., ha. ever raised. This estimate. added TO tne IN
! nn,tiouable fact that the Tallahassee section VII
IL vrer narkot the largest crop OF early vegetable,
Which il ha, grown in lis history explains mnGn o.
1 ,na bubbIing good humor of the citizens. WINE
| -, Nr,r England ,hivers through it, annual
yi,ittton Of polar billiards Florida northern tiei
! Of counties is reapng wealth rom us gromDh g M ="
,c.t and irish potatoes. beans. peas sweet corn ana
onions, The size 10 which Irish potatoes grow III
| yi. .ou il something Incredible Specimens are
! ,,i,',,llv exhibited which can barely be iammed
! mo a peek measure. Tie complaint Is not lnirc
! 0ucntIV made by Sew York con'gneeS tst u'
ye,abes of certain lots too large for the trade