Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-29
HOME SWEET HOME.
No rlatter low Humble there is no
Place Like Home.

sight seeing and pleasure. There ii
something about "Home" associated
with mother and her hallowed infu
ences that makes 1t the most attractive
place on earth to US. On our return
from the South after two weeks o
unlimited pleasure the old home Will
its familiar freside and surrounding
never looked more dear to us. Ever
the pet dog and cat seemed to welcome
our return with indications of joy
When seated at the family table, though
it was not laden with the tropical fruits
Of the south to tempt the appetite, i
was pleasure to sit down at table
where in its simplicity and furnishings
there was an abundance to satisfy the
cravings of a country editors stomach
Prodigal like, We have never found il
the glitter of the South, West and NORTH
anything that yet suits rs any better
than Wisconsin and home
On our return to Wisconsin we lef
Jacksonville, Florida, Sunday night a
9 O'Clock and reached ThomasvilIe,
Georgia, Monday morning in time fol
breakfast. The Wisconsin delegation
were assigned quarters for the day al
the Stuart Hotel, one of the best in the
city, and the South Dakota party were
assigned to the Randall" =" After q
good breakfast the Hon. S. @. McLendoI
of Thomasville, welcomed US to the city
with appropriate remarks after which
we were shown the city and suburbs by
a carriage drive. Thomasville is city
of 5000 people noted for its advantages
as winter resort. 1t has four large
hotels, the Mitchell, Piney Woods,
Stuart, and Randall, all frst-class in
their accommodations. Our reception
in ThOmasville was a most cordial one
and the day spent among this hospital
and entertaining people will long be
remembered. Especially will we
remember the cordial and generous
manner in which we were received by
the proprietor and hostess of the Stuart
Hotel where we made our headquarters
From here We continued straight home
via of Atlanta, Chattanooga, Cincinnati
indianapolis, Chicago, reaching home
Friday morning.
Since our return we recall incidents
that took place on the trip which bring
with them pleasant memories In
visiting the negro sections of the
southern cities we learned the traits
and habits of this race in their every
| day life. Among them, as you find
them Ill their homes, you realize fully
the need of their education. They
apparently have no aim in life except
to have enough to eat, little to wear and
a good time. Very few of the homes
are as good as the poorest ones in Grand
Rapids. Usually they consist of a
small frame building with one old home
made fireplace from which the smoke
passes into the room and darkens the
wall of a common board cabin until
the face of it is as black as the coal
itself. Within you may find few
wooden chairs or benches, table and
the windows boarded up. Altogether
the impressions left of a darkie's home
present to us only a dark, dingy, dirty
little place so different from the homes
of northern laborers that we wonder
what will ever redeem this race. The
! better educated classes emigrate north
and accumulate property and are more
apt to become good citizens in the
north than where they are raised.
Our impression of Florida is that of
a level country with light, powdery,
white soil that is greatly in need of
fertilization and irrigation to make it an
agricultural state. The long distances
between the large cities convince the
traveller that there is little wealth in
the rural districts rs there is but little
life and activity which would indicate
prosperity and success. Itis principally
a state of winter climate for he retreat
OF northern tourists to avoid the cold
and vigorous storms of the winter
months. st. Augustine, Tampa, Orlan-
do, Winter Park, and other points are
noted as winter resorts and flourish on
northern capital which is left there in
the months of January, February and
March
The highest elevation in the state is
only about 400 feet above the sea level
while the average is less than 80 feet.
The timber of Florida is largely pine
Live oak tlourishes and is among their
most handsome shade trees. Gum and
bay trees are common and are found in
all parts Of the state. Plant Life. is
largely of the palm and cactus families
Flowers and plants of all kinds bloom
the year round and roses are as
common in January as we have them in
June. The summer season must be
very warm if we are to Judge of it from
the temperature we enjoyed while
there in December. We also believe
the malaria germ mnst prosper there
during the summer season.
If any of our readers desire to leave
home for the winter months we believe
they can find 10 better places in which
to spend that time than Savannah an6
Thomasville, Georgia, and st. Augustine
Florida. We recommend any one O
these places to our readers.
'THE Boss"