Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-04-07
SOUTHERN LETTER.
At De Funiak, the Chautauqua of The
South.
A Place Where the Sense is Gratified and
The Mind Entertained and
Cultured.
DE FUNIAK SPRINGS, FLA,
March %, 1892.

When about to leave Jacksonville fol
this place, the choice of two routes pre-
sented itself for consideration. One
the most direct and shorter (290 milesl,
is by way of Tallahassee, the capital of
the great State of Florida-a city consist
ing of the enormous white population of
1OOO-very decent, refined and cultivated
people; and in addition about 1000 color
ed persons of partially African descent;
also of flowers innumerable, the aroma
of which fills the air, transcending and
offsetting the fragrance of the aforesaid
C. p.'s. BY this route the train leaves at
Z AN. The other route, the longer (3l6
miles, is by way of Waycross and Thorn
asville, Ca, the former town having a
population of 5OOO-a thriving city, be
ing something of a railroad center. The
latter has been a health resort for a num-
Der of years. Situated, as it is, in piney
wood forest, elevated and dry, it is con-
sidered a good resort for invalids affiict-
ed with pulmonary trouble. Mr.. Paxton
and family of Wheeling, W. Va, have
for some time been spending their win
ters there. Several fine hotels will be
found there for the accommodation of
of which the Mithell House is at
the head. The country along this route
looks more productive and is better i'm
proved than the other. Cotton is raised
and great deal of attention
is given, especially in the neighborhCod
of ThOmasville, to the cultivation of
fruit-nOt the Orange-but pears, plums,
peaches, ETC., of which the Lecont pear
The train on this road
leaves at $50 A. NJ Both roads come
together at River junction or Chatta-
hoochee River The trains leaving ON
both roads at the hours named, arrive
there at the same time, connect with,
and transfer the passengers to the one by
way of Tallahassee, which runs from
thence, on the Pensacola and Atlantic
road to this place, 50 miles. Now we
choose the latter route by way of Thomas
vile, not so much because of the fact
that it is through finer and more diver
sified part of the country-that the train
are necessarily run faster, ,havingfarthelto to
go and less time to do the going,as the fact
that the time OF leaving is one and half
hours later in the morning ;see and that
we would get there all the same. This
afo xx,il
be admitted, is an item not to be over
looked. Then, too, to those who enjoy
the gustatory pleasures of life, or in 9th
er words, a good square breakfast, and
time to eat it, and also time to get leis-
lrerly to the train; ibid you ever see
persons in hustle-bustle to get to
station in time for the train, and then
ind themselves half hour early or
minute too late?-I have; l say these
we're additional inducements to us to
choose the latter route.
By SP. NJ, February 22d, the 3l6 miles
were left behind, the beacon
lights of burning pitch pine, of the de-
cCtdUiC H1tiC City VI OC uuldh AONC III
1iew, and in a few moments we were
'nugly quartered in the Hotel Chautau-
qua, receiving the greetings and con-
of our friends. The Chau-
.auqua Assembly was on, and in full
last, having commenced some five days
,revious to our arrival. The little town
vas alive with people, and the hotel filled
o it's full capacity. Nearly all our ac-
Iuaintances and friends whom we met in |
ormer years, were already here: some at
he hotel, and others in their own cot
ages, some at other boarding houses
II seemed to be in fair health, good
pirits, gay and happy. They come
Mostly from the cold North, from "down
,ast," and from the far West-leaving
ONE when the North Pole tips away
rom the sun; when the New England
ills are clad in mantle of snow; when
and plain of the West and
forth encounters billiards that pene-
rate through five thicknesses of buffalo
ide and blisters the cuticle of the one
eneath; where the mercury goes down
DO degrees below zero, with naught off.
rom thence the cream of the refined,
loral and intelligent society of the stur
y and vigorous people of the East, North
nd West come, to bask in the sunshine,
nder the splendors of the bright blue
outhern sky, amid the piney wood and
ure Iimpid streams that surround
DE FUNIAK,
here congenial spirits meet, and where
le highest order of instructive enter
Iinment and amusements are furnished
nd enjoyed. The little gem of lake is !,
ill here, as round as dollar and mile
.Ound, its waters pure and bright (and /,
ee) as the silver of which the dollar
rec silver is made; sparkling in the sun
yht as beautiful as the CLINT of exquisite /,
ny sun dew of the dorcera. De Funiak
Is never looked so inviting as it does
lis year. Since last we were here, two
,ars ago, some fine new buildings have
zen erected and others repaired and i'm
owed and the grounds beautifed. The
achinery of the Chautauqua Assembly
in much better working condition than
has been on any previous year. The
-erage attendance has very perceptibly
creased-more people are being attract
here from year to year as the place be-
mes better known. and its advantages !
,preciated. 1t is thought the outlook !,
tlattering for continued and increasing
osperity in the years that are to come. :,
he platform talent has been this year :,
the main of high order, both in song ;,
I'd story. Brilliant men, and women
o, for the matter of that, have graced
e platform, have poured forth streams
oratory and song-wit, wisdom and
Ithos, on listening and enchanted
ronps The snhiects embracing 81 wide