The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-25
FROM LEESBURG, FLA.
Correspondent Tells of Travels
Through the South.

I
impressed with the city as some
other points, yet there are some
fine buildings and elegant private
residences. l visited the Gotten
mills and could but explain. GLOW
wonderful - Such complicated
machinery-llterally "wheels with.
in wheels. l saw the whole process,
from the raw cotton to the thread.
Men, women and children toll all
day in close heated atmosphere,
full Of tiny cotton down. was
very glad to get out IN the free air
of Heaven. The windows are ne
cessarily kept closed, for probably
the slightest breath of air would
break the minute threads.
! alluded in my last letter to the
chain gang system. Doubtless 1t
has its advantages and is preferable
to confinement in the Penitentiary,
yet it appears that the offence is not
proportlonate to the punishment.
One day while sojourning with our
hospltable friends | happened to
glance from the window and saw
AthGt the gang had ceased their work
A'n Ne street near by and were
seated in a grove Of shade trees, to
eat their noon-day meal. "Now," |
sale, "here is an opportunity to see
this system closely.' Without tell
ing any one of my project, for fear
they might think it mot just the
thing to do, l stepped out and
walked boldly to the grove. The
men lolled on the grass, eating
from tin cans, soup, bread and
meat and talking quietly. One
woman stood apart and | accosted
her. She wore the accustomed
stripes like the men and reminds
one of zebras, but her feet were not
chained. She hung her head and
said she was put there for fighting,
but if she once got out she would
keep out in future. | asked her to
call lltCle boy of ten years that |
might speak to him. He llmped to
my side, the chains almost too
heavy for his frail body. He was
IN for seven months for the most
trivial offence; forget what. l
talked kindly to him and gave him
a large orange, which he smilingly
munched. You know oranges do
not grow in that section. Most
other fruit trees do we'll.
In Georgia, in place of wagon
loads of corn and hay, we find a
light cart drawn by one or a pair of
mules, laden with bales of Gotten
coming to market, a jolly whlstling
darkey as driver. 1t reminds me of
Porte Crayon's famous sketches of
southern life and character.
With regret we bid farewell to
our genial host and hostess and
started en- route for Florida, by the
Georgia Southern r. r. The fare
is reasonable. but when you reach
Florida you have to pay four cents
a mile and travelling is very expen-
sive.
have heard it SAID that it rains
every day in Florida (Maryland i'm
pression) but that is a mistake.
This is my second winter here and
in all we have not had a week S
rain. To-day is our first rainy day
in month. We VISITED Northern
Florida a few days and then came
on to Leesburg, Lake county, to
place Willie in Leesburg College,
Mr.. Il. going further south to Kis
simmee to assist in q series of meet
ings.
Leesburgls a lovely. high, healthy
town. Until We could make further
arrangements we stopped at the
Central Hotel. Florida is famous
for its high hotel prices. Some
here charge 81 per day, but the
Central is quite moderate, keeps a
fine table and pleasant rooms. Its
observatory furnishes fine view.
After toiling up several flights of
stairs and two ladders, | felt as if |
was about on Washington Monu-
ment and grew dizzy. but such
view. The city with its tall splred
churches and elegant homes sur
rounded by shrubbery, flowers and
vines, the imposing college build
ings and wide spreading orange
groves, and best of all two lovely
lakes, their waters glistenlng IN the
Sunshine. A steamboat makes a
trip around the lake every day,
stopping at various points; and 1T
pleasant excursion that | promise
myself III future. We are eating
string beans, lettuce and new pota-
toes. The peach trees are in bloom,
oranges very abundant and bring
low prices.
An orange grove, laden with
fruit, surrounds the cottage we oc-
cupy, except in front, which gives
good view and is planted mostly in