Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-20

tai hearing shaFpened, We listened and
almost faucled We could hear the
thToDoing, pleading notes of the old
coIored exile nign and clear above the
music OF the harp and violin. Our
dinner was almost forgotten IN the
charm OF the moment, bat when the
arrival or soup brought our waveTing
fancses back 10 the practical pleasures
OF HE We found them none the less
enjoyable.
DsiieAey OF Southern Cookery.
There IS a delicacy and delielousness
OF navor IN southern cookery utterly
unastalnaDie elsewhere. AID our dinner
that day was but foretssle OF the
many that were TO follow, each per-
tsctly cooked and served. When all
had finished dinner, We sauntered
down 10 the rlyer, 4 few rods distant
from the hotel. An immense spring OF
warm sulpher water on the bank of
the river was enclosed by high wall
OF coqulna, and the medicinal proper
ties OF the water attract invallds al all
seasons OF year. An unvarylng tenn
peraIure OF "a degrees Fahrenheit Is
maintained a. all seasons of the year.
Several members OF our party enjoyed
the luxury OF an open air bath IN the
spring where the water gushes out at
the rate Of 5000 gallons per minute.
e1hailng an odor which some term
offensive and others designate by
stronger term. IL Is beautifully clear.
and sparkles IN the sunlight like dis
solving crystals. We enjoyed Il ride
up and down the river In tiny boat
Just as the sun was setting and
the rosy twilight was ushered
IN. Ali along the banks, which
are quite high, tropical foliage,
moss-lsdan. overriding and dipped
into the river which flows swiftly yet
silently, its clear. dark waters hurrying
outward Later. when darkness came.
al the suggestion OF Colonel Elliott
huge bonfires We're built along the
banks, lighting up the river and the
somber woods with lurid etfulgence.
When the flames died down and the
last spark tiuttered, then went out, we
returned 10 the hotel and enjoyed an
lmprompfu hop, the music being fur
nlsned by the orchestra, one OF our
party, the Hon. Chas. ). Hampton OF
Petoskey, assuming the duties of floor
manager IN most graceful manner.
A Day at jacksonville.
We left Suwanee Springs n the night,
arriving at Jacksonville in time for
breakfast, which was served at the 81.
James hotel, the editorial party beng
the guests of the Jacksonville board of
trade. Our stay in Jacksonville was
limited TO half day, greatly 10 the re-
greet OF a majority of the party. No
formal program had been arranged,
and the party dispersed Immediately
after breakfast, some for walk about
the city, while others made a tour of
the curiosity shops, purchasing young
alligators and various other curlosltles.
The Florida State Press association was
IN session at the board of trade rooms,
and an hour was very pleasantly spent
exchanging greetings with the southern
editors, a body of fine appearing men.
A fruit grower from the Immediate
vicinity was present with fine display
or oranges and grape fruit from his
orchard. He brought his fruit on the
branches, which also bore buds, bios
SONS and green oranges in every stage
OF development.
Jacksonville is lively progress
i've city, second IN size IN the
state, beng outnumbered IN population
by Key West, that distant island city.
Jacksonville streets are paved and
beautiful shade trees line all the walks
save in the business portion of the city,
where projecting balconies give CRATE
ful shade from the hot sun and also
furnish shelter from the heavy rains.
There are many parks filled with trUp-
lcal shrubbery, roses, vines and various
kinds of flowers, most.of which were
in blossom at the time of our visit.
Great creamy white roses mingled with
delicate pink and deeper hues of the
same lovely flower, and covetousness
became an easily condoned SIN. IL
was Impossible TO sec such an abund-
snce of bloom without desiring to break
some of the slender stems.
Gold Fishes and AIilgators
Every park is supplied with fount-
aims and dozens of gold fish Turk IN the
broad basins. Several of our party
paused al the fountain IN the center of
the PARK before the ST. James hotel.
The central shaft cast an elongated
shadow across the basin tspering OFT TO
a point. Within this shade were massed
perhaps n hundred gold fish, and so I'M
movable were they that after pro-
longcd inspection their possession of
life was doubted. and we decided that
they were toys placed IN the water for
ornamental purposes. Finally one of
the ladies' touched the water with the
tip of her parasol and instantly there
Was scattering of the golden mass.
The bright little FISH dsrted about the
basin ma great furry after their fright,
thus effectuslly showing that they
were alive.
The alligator business Is booming at
Jacksonville. Every st0rekeeper has
the amphiblan, on tap and the sum of
fifty cents purchases one of the baby
sort N any curiosity shop. Large tanks
are filed with wrCgling. clsuseriug
mass OF the gators varying IA length
from seven to twelve inches. They
emit a peculiar noise which a quite
Ike miniature reproduction OF the
pullfrog's erosk. Nearly every mem-
Der of our party purchased one or more
of the little creakers. and thereafter the
noises which emansted from our car
reminded the weary traveller of frog
pond at evening until the great major
itv succnmhed 10 the inevitable aud
"croaked" IN dead earnest. Many
large specimens OF the live alligator are
on exhibition securely boxed in strong
wire netting IN Yards adjoining the
stores They are repuIsive looking
creatures with their wicked little eyes
which watch you furbvely az II men
tally calculating on The laciness of
your flesh and the number OF good
bites IL would make. We did not liuger
long to inspect the All gators. They are
surrounded ~ an ndefinshle odor,
strong enough TO make horse walk TX.