Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-02-28
IN THE SUNNY SOUTH.


the Poppy Blows-On the st. Johns |
River-Enchanting scenery-From |
Sanford to Tampa.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Feb. 21.-The Clyde |
ships en- route for Jacksonville touch at
Charleston; thus opportunity is had there
for few hours sightseeing. The inter-
esting features about the place are it's rose
gardens, st. Michael's church, the Citadel
and the magnolia gardens. At this season
the Traveller from the north, who but a few
hours before has left behind him the chill
atmosphere and the bleak, barren land
scape, most enjoys the complete trans
formation which is afforded by visit to
the beautiful grounds of General A. 9.
White, German consul to Charleston. This
gentleman, by the expenditure of large
amount of money and an equally consider
able portion of excellent good taste, has
surrounded his delightful home with
grounds adorned by all that is needful to
make them beautiful. Even thus early all
the semi-tropical trees and plants are grow
ing finely.
Many Towering shrubs are already in
bloom, lending their bright colors and
welcome fragrance to make the charm COM
plete. Other features add interest to this
lovely spot. One of these is an artificial
grotto, of such extent that (hsving entered
by a narrow passsge) there is quite room
enough for at least a dozen people to stand
about. The place, however, is evidently
better adapted to two people; indeed, it is
said, the secluded nook has been the scene
OF several episodes, where that little word
"yes" proves to mean 80 much. Besides
this fairy cave there are rockeries over
which trail running vines, whose leaves
are alive with bright-hued chameleons.
There are lakes in miniature, where gold
feb play, and an aviary which contains
quite number of tropical birds of the
most brilliant plumage. General Whites
garden Is open to strangers visiting the
city. Courteous attendants intelligently
point out its many charms.
There is an old church in Charleston.
st. Miohaeps-it has stood there maybe Q
hundred and fifty years, and now, sur
rounded by It's fringe of tomb stones,
which bear names illustrious all along dur
ing century and half, from old colony
days on down to the present. But with
its quaint square pews, it's clerks station,
where that official was land still Is, be-
lieve) won't to stand and, as an irreverent
one of our visiting party said, sass back"
at the rector reading service. The story
| of it's existence is sad one:
twice, at least, it may be thrice
has it known the shock of bombardment.
Once the guns of British warships were
trained upon 1t by the hands of men whose
lips whispered the eelf same peac eful
prayers taught within it. Later and more
aaH rufth he .f
many who may read this, still sadder
| condition of 'grim visaged war" left it's
| blighting marks on ST. MichaePs VALE;
while again, but few years ago, when the
earthquake threatened the total destruc-
ton of the city, this venerable landmark
was much damaged. The only really pleas
ant temporal thought that this old edifics
suggests is that its repair and restoration
have been made by generous brethren
from the north, The sail out of the har-
Dor shows you the memorable forts,
Moultrice, Sumter and Morris Island,
or better the ruins of them, fol
the hand of Time is leveline
: these wretched evidences of sectional
passion and prejudice The day cannot
too soon arrive when these tangible re-
minders are removed and what of the I'M
, holy strife that memory holds, shall bt
only, the heroism that fastened to the de
|
one eide and the gallant protection of the
homo and all that is dear to men, on tn,
other, while the sad circumstances that lee
up to such war is deplored and the vii
u, lainy which inspired it, is condemned.
, As the ship carefully picked it's way on
1 of harbor and across the bar, the sun wa
!, low down upon the horizon. but left be
8 hind it enough of warmth to make tn
deck a rendezvous for nearly the Who'll
ships company; then many song wa
; | sung and story told, but of all said O
sung, this little hearthstone idyl WAS tn
). best, and 1t has never till now been seen il
J. print. Let me first tell you that the writ
or of it Ia Edgar Wade Abbott of Boston
the circumstances that suggest the line
% that the authors two little are put off t
bed, one, the babe at six, the other
couple of hours later, and that the title IL
THE POPPY LAND LIMITED EXPRESS.
u u The first train at six p. M
q For the land where the poppy bio rs:
1t And mother dear, is the engineer,
"A And the passenger laughs and crows.
f The palace car is the mothers arms,
The whistle a low sweet strain;
II The passenger winks, and mods and blInks
AND goes to sleep on the train!
At eight p. NJ the next train starts,
For the poppy lands afar;
The summons cIear, falls on the ear
Il 'All aboard! for the sleeping carr
But what is the rare to the poppy lends
hope 1t ia not too deary
And it'e paid to the engineer!
Sol ask of Him, who children took,
On His knee In kindness great,
Take charge pray, of the trains each day
That leave at six and eight.
Keep watch DER the passengers thus pra,
For to me they are very dear;
And special ward oh! gracious Lord,
Ger the gentle engineer.
Morning found us gliding gracefully u
to Jacksonville, which is the ''Gatsway t
Florida" 1t is one of the PLACES that one
. feels like getting away from.
Jacksonville Is at all times hurry an
skurry, perpetual coming and going
trunk and gripsack sort of place; the bust
ness street crowded to the exclusion of al
most all else with ticket agencies and ssori
entail bazsrs," where wretched littl
stocks of catoh.penny gew gaws are pre-
sided over by ''orientals" from the con
fines of ancient Jerusalem or its moderl
counterpart-the Feast side" of New Yorl
city.
ON THE ST. JOHNS.
Gladly we go aboard the Clyde steamer
Frederick DeBarry, for the beautiful sal
up to Sanford, run of about 200 miles
. This Is one Of the Florida tourists happi
est experiences. An excellent boat-com
Portable, handy and smart-s commander
Captain Leo Vogel, whose experience O
many years on the st. Johns, togethe,
} with his habit of carefulness and hi
kindly manner to his passengers, makel
him remembered by all whose good for
tune it is to meet him. Captain vogsl ii
we'll known by northern people, as we'll al
southerners, for he formerly was COM
mander of the steamer ST. Johns, which
ran from New York to Sandy Hook.
The enchanting scenery of the St John,
river is famous the world over; tn,
luxurious tropical foliage, the retreatine
vistas of well-lsden orange trees, the deel
blue sky that lends Its color to the spark
ling waters through which the boat dances
on, frightning from their rest the brigh
hued water fowl, that with labored flap
ping and many soreech and quack, grace
fully rise and are lost to view in tn,
cypress swamps. The sun, as 1t sink
down to rest, lights up the clouds an6
paints picture beautiful, beyond com
parison; were all else of beauty
absent-a sunset on the St john
would be reward sufficient for mills
of travel or dollars of expense
Many towns, villages, groves and villa
line the bank on either side, all intere st
ing, either beautiful or quaint. Sanford
the terminus of the Southern Florida rail
road, and the main Office of the Plant In
Vestment COmpanv has eanaoia1 claim fo