The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-02-12

terry to me how such tropical fruit
and gorgeous plants can spring
out of such soil. Of course it re-
quires much fertilizing. In place
of grass many yards are nearly
covered with a carpet of lovely little
flowers, upon which it seems sacri-
lege to tread. Although oranges
are below par this winter, conse.
quent of so much fruit north, many
groves have been picked and it is
an interesting sight. An orange
tree can't be elm bed, therefore lad
ders are placed against the outside
strong branches, on which the men
(mostly colored) stand with large
sack suspended at the side. The
oranges are clipped off with pair
of shears and dropped IN the sack,
then taken to the packing house,
sorted by machinery and placed in
boxes ready for shipping.
The beautiful lakes here are a
great source of pleasure to both
residents and visitors. A pretty
little steamb boat will take you around
che lake for a small sum, the ex
curslon lasting all day. With a
party of friends and good lunch
this is enjoyable. There was a
yacht race some days ago and crowds
went out in steamers and private
yachts to witness it.
Sugar boiling is novel sight,
like our apple butter making, but
on a larger scale. The sugar cane
is mnch liked and considered very
wholesome, but 1t is too sweet to
suit my taste. The one l attended
had been kept gong for several
weeks. as it boiled the sugar from
nelghboring plantations. There
was an immense cauldron holding
hundreds of gallons, built over a
furnace, and several negroes attend
it. A patient horse plods a dreary
round to grind the cane. The
great fire is not allowed to go out
and necessitales all night work.
While we read of the terrible
ravages of la grippe in many Sec
tions of the country, Florida is
free. | meet with persons here
who have sacrificed nearly every
thing. business, homes, friends, to
prolong their lives, by coming from
west and north and to make new
home under Florida's sunny skies.
They meet with love and sympathy,
for never was there kinder, more
gracious and hospitable people than
the Southerners. | met with men
manned, crippled and impoverished
by the war, yet l have never heard
a bitter work. They seem content
to "let the dead past bury its dead. 3"
The colored people are treated
politely and kindly, furnished with
plenty of work and as a general
thing they are well to do and happy.
On my way south | stopped IN
Richmond and finding no depot.
was surprised to learn that it had
been burned a short time before. AS
the cars drew up at Macon, Ga, a
mass of black ruins confronted us.
The beautiful depot, occupying a
whole square, had been consumed
a few days before. There was hard
ly time to save the cars loaded with
passengers and All lnestimable
young man lost his life thereby,
having in lis news stand carelessly
used oil to kinGle fire, which
caused the conhagration.
Mocking birds are flying around
and will soon build their nests.
Peach trees have been in bloom a
long time and will ripen in April
and May. Plenty of fresh vegeta-
bles in market, tomatoes, beans,
potatoes, ETC., and not very high.
1t will not be long before we enjoy
Strawberries. The papers state you
are going to send us cold wave in
few days. Today is changeable.
MRS. d. TAsKER,
Feb 1909 Taeshur0 Fla