Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-04-01
CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTER FROM FLORIDA
THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE


y ~ h@''.N y ll.l.lsf ] lAst WE -''f '-'
am writing this morning in the pazza,
where ! am taking a sun bath. and from
which wc have fair view Of the st. Johns
river. which at this point i, about a mile
wide. The street in front ], paved with
shells making smooth hard road, but
very dusty ONE when dry. The street cars
pass our door every six minutes drawn by
mules driven by negroes. Two large trees
at the corner Of the house are beginning
TO leave out. now covered with long gray
moss A Judas tree in front is just going
out Of bloom II has been covered with
small pink blossom for several weeks aud
has attracted much attention from strang-
ers. Across the street is very fine resi-
dcncr and grounds owned by a Mr.. Robin
son, formerly of Pennsylvania. find
him very agreeable acquaintance. lie
has retired from business Oh account Of ILL
health, but La, abundant means and 50
keeps his premises IN beautiful order
50 much for the pleasant part OF our
surroundings. There is. however dark
cr side The dwellings in the main front
ing this (Commcrcial) street are nice, with
large wards: but two doors TO my left is a
another occupied by an old ncgress as an
eating house and shocmaker's shop, and di-
rrctly opposite are two more negro huts,
and these on some Of the most desirable
properly in the city. understand this
properly was conGscatcd during the war
and the title is imperfect. which accounts
for its present condition Nearly all Of
the negro dwellings are Onc-stOry, low, and
about IL by j. feet in size. having usually
two rooms. sometimes but one So Won
can see how thcy herd together with the
large familic, for which they are prONcrh-
ial You may 90 back Of us "a, far as the
cross streets extend and il i, almost solid
black. They do not. however, trouble us
unless il be at night, when, waking up at
most any time Wc can hear them from our
open window. talking like Il lot OF CROW,
and about as intclligibly
Nearly all Of the tramiu- j. done by
mules and negroes, and the negro women
are picturesque especially as you see them
tOtcimg large baskets and bundles Oh their
heads; and they are no less 50 when they
are not totcing loads. for their heads are
covered with all kinds Of hats, the worst
looking things imaginable Some Of the
more Youthful and those Of more means
are decorated in all the colors of the rain
white ! should Judge nearly half the col
orcd population had gone through this
BLEACHING process. one thing more in re
gard TO the negro | have seen but two
drunken ones since we came here and they
made no disturbance. | have not seen "A
single white man drunk, and this in Il
place where liquor is sold openly and free
".
can see but little difference between
the white people here of the better class
and in the North Possibly | should if
had "A larger acquaintance. ! have made
the acquaintance Of "A good many, but they
are mostly Northern men. In fact, nearly
every business man in the place is either
Northern or foreign. Last Monday the
society of New Enganders met al Winter
Park, l45 miles south of here | attended
the meeting and met one Vermontcr who
is an active member of the society, Mr..
Chubb, formerly of st. Johnsbury, and
quite AN active politician, the president of
the society, Mr. Parker from Tampa,
think formerly from Boston, and Mr..
Clough from Dcland New HAMPSHIRE
man. The meeting of these men and the
surroundings which | will have more
to say hcreaftcr-rc reminded me much OF
New England
am stopping with Dr. Webster who is
praclcng medicine here and has drug
store. He formerly preached for the Meth
Odsts, but now confines himself to Drac-
tcc. As a consequence his house is a sort
Of ministers tavern, where they can come
and make themselves at home The Meth
odist people here, while claiming not 10 be
scctarian, decline to work with the Chris
tian Endcavor societies, and upon ques-
tionng one of the clcrgymcn as TO his rca.
sons, he replied that lac did not care t.
work with them and take the chances OF
getting his share of the converts: he want
ed them all We have here the Methodist
Episcopal North and Methodist Episcopal
South, between whom jealousy exists.
and less OF harmony than among sccts of
widely differing views at the North.
Many voters here do not want the ne
grocs to rule over them, neither do they
want the Republican politicians to gct into
Office by the negro vote. so most of them
vote against the party on state issues.
While they all admit that the logic of the
Republican party is all right SO far as a free
ballot and a free count is concerned. none
of them want the negro on top. The feel
inc so far MS have heard if EXPRESSED is I'm
favor of leaving Them 10 work ont the
problem, each state for itself. and this from
Northern men. | have not vet talked with
a native Floridan or negro but / mean Ia
with both before return.
| will. before closing. rive Won my OBJ
scrvations on the farming prospects viewed
from my trip to Winter Park. From her,
To palAtka. A distance of 80 miles. there i,
great samcnrss, land is level and Won pas,