Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-15

quarters we COnlu6nCeu 10 90 tue CllN
Of Savannah, reported to have 10000
people. We first inspected the follow
ing monuments: Jasper, Pulaski,
Greene, Gordon, and confederate
monuments which are conspiciously
situated in the heart Of the city. The
next places which attracted us was the
colored churches where services were
carried on wholly by this race. The
shouting was absent.
The Savannah Theatre built in 1918,
was next visited, This is the only
building now in use for this purpose.
1t is truly a curiosity. Vernon Park
and track of the Savannah Jockey Club
where Bicycle race was on, was the next
point of interest. Thunderboldt and
Yacht Club stations, five miles out Of
the city, were very attractive places,
where hundreds of people were spend
ing the Sabbath. One feature, to the
credit of this city, is in the fact that it
is almost impossible to obtain a drop of
liquor in the city from Saturday noon
to Monday morning.
A ride to BOnaventure cemetery was
an interesting feature Of our visit in
Savannah 1t is noted for its beauty
and visited annually by thousands Of
tourists. Live oaks of gigantic growth
we with the palmetto, water oak and
native Southern trees for distinction.
The magnolia has leaves sometimes
six and eight inches long, thick, waxy,
and dark green, with flowers which
grow in clusters near the tops, the
flowers are white, lily-like blooms very
beautiful and highly priced. The
avenues of Savannah are lined with
giant trees and some of them have a
line of trees through the middle of the
street thus making charming drives.
The first impression obtained on
entering Savannah is that of ancient
times. The buildings are all low, one
and two stories h1gl, mostly frame
structures. The architecture is that of
ancient times, of course the homes
erected during the last five years are
modern, but there are only few of
these. A great many residences are
covered with the creeping ivy which al
most covers the building. We noticed
that the Whites and colored people
reside largely in the same parts of the
city, but all railroad stations and trains
have their colored and white apart
ments. Our opinion Of the colored
people while South last year is verified
more and more as we proceed south.
They are lazy, shiftless and uncleanly
in their appearance and habits. We
would be southern democrat before
we would submit to be ruled by such
an ignorant and shiftless class of people.
Those who are educated and know how
accordingly. We find the whites of
the south very hospitable polite and
entertaining people who never spare
an opportunity to be courteous and
pleasant. A stranger is always well
come to the best they have Our stay
here has been very pleasant one.
The city while slow and inactive has a
great future before it, if they import
some active northern blood in her
commercial business relations.
Leaving Savannah on the evening
train we missed much that would have
been worthy of note. The gradual
change of scenery from the mountain
Gus regions to the fiat tropical beauty
of Florida took place while we slept
the sleep of the just. BY the first peep
of dawn we catch glimpses of trees
shrouded in the gray moss that we
hear sung in story and told in song. 1t
looks weird and somber and strange to
us. Since leaving Savannah a new
interest is awakened. Leaving Savan-
nah the country is sparsely settled
Negro huts are seen here and there
An occasional camp of tar-makers
lights up the darkness of the night ride
FLORIDA
This has been a memorable day in
the history of this excursion. 1t has
been one of great delight and pleasure.
Since we entered Florida the scenery
has been varied from anything yet
seen. The growth of pine looks some
thing like O1r Norway nine and the