Connecticut western news., 1891-03-11
REV ROBERT HUNTS LETTER.

Editor of Neaos
 know you will look for letter while am on my vacation. February 23d, l took passage on the Cherokee, one of Clyde line of steamers plying between New York and Jacksonville, and we had au unusually rough voyage. The Cher okee makes one stop of about eight hours at Charleston, which is very in- teresting point and ever must be to the American people, for there it was that the seed d-thoughts of secession entered the brain of South Carolina's greatest citizen, John c. Calhoun, of whom l saw an excellent portrait in the city hall His nulli6cation doctrines eliminated in the late Rebellion; and there stands Fort Sumter at which the first Rebel shot was fired. Poor old Charleston, what penalties she has paid for her wild and bloody transgressions. Decay and death are suggested on every hand as you look about you. My attention was drawn to 8 long. low. large building with broken and leaning pillars, and l was told by our negro driver ''that was the Planters Hotel, where the notable planters and citizens of the state gather ed to talk abont the price of cotton and triggers. D It IS as dead today as slav- cry itself.
 I sauntered along and entered an old grave yard and church yard and made discovery of Congregational church that was in existence yelrs before the l Rebellion. I had been told that the socl- ety had no church south of Mason&Dix- on's line, before the war, and l felt at once interested, and made inquiries of black and white, and could learn noth- ing of it's history that could regard as reliable, so consulted the monuments and read inscriptions and here follows part of one of them: In memory oi Mrs Catherine Bryan, wife of John Bryan and daughter of Solomon and Mary Swinton Legare. Borne 2l of June 1794 Married 10th of Novemb Der 1910. Died 18th of June lS42. She was the mother of sons and l2 daugh- ters. Eight of her children departed this life at so early an age that of thelr salvation there can be no doubt. and for 1 the salvation or the 13 who survived her | the unceasing efforts of this matchless mother, both by precepts and example. in leading and directing to the Cross of | Christ, the only way to Heaven, was truly exemplary" Her useful, Christi ian life was declared on the monument 1 to have been an ornament to this circu lar Congregational church of which she | was member for 40 years. And said "Thank Heaven. Gods curse is not on everything here"
 | Traces of the late earthq uake. after all the plastering and repalriug, are stil visible in many places. St. Michaeps church, with it's famous chimes, still | stands showing now but little, trace ot war or earthquake.
 We took our last lingering look at about 5 p. m. Thursday, Feb. 26, and was struck by tue cold wave from the North, just beyond the "Bar" and it blew and blew and then took hold and yanked, but with all the howl of winds and the clank of monster chains, and the groan and grind of mighty machin- cry, aud the roll and plunge of the ship | 1t pleased God to give me a sound night 'e | sleep. We reached Jacksonville, siIiv- ering with the cold aud we could scarce l ly make ourselves believe that the whit. sand piled along the shore were not snow drifts. Friday night, ice formed in Jacksonville and some damage Wa> done to fruit and truck i'll the state, but not much to fruit.
 I took the steam boat from Jackson vile to Sandford, the head of navIga- tion on the St. John's river, and on the boat I had all amusing but distasteful experience I was alone and as there was not state rooms enough for ever. single gentleman, had man from Kentucky, where they drink Bourbon from principle, and who was thoroughly drunk, assigned to my room and whe'. we met at the door of our room the waiter was removing the cork from a large bottle of whiskey, and he insisted that I should share the contents with him saying that we might as we'll Con solidate" at once. I went to tue cap tain's office and got relieved from tn. consolidation,
 In later letter will give your read -rs my observations of the changes which have taken place siuce last vis- ited the state five years ago.
 | Yours as ever,
 RoB'T. HUNT. l