The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-02-01
Correspondence Of TIE RECORD
A WINTER In THE SUNNY SOUTH.
LETTER No. 5
GULF PARK. ARao P. o.,

GULF PARK, ARao P. o..
PAsoo Co., FLORIDA, Jan. %, 1913.
MR. EDTToR:-The picturesque and
famous river St. Johns is noteworthy.
1t rises in the southern part of the
State, and differs from other rivers in
that It runs in due northerly course for
distance of about two hundred miles,
when il abruptly turns eastward and emp
tiesinto the ocean, at point eighteen
miles east Of Jacksonville. This river is
to eastern Florida what the Hudson is to
eastern New York, aud from its mouth
to It's head-waters, is purely tropical.
Its waters. shores, scenery, vegetation,
etc., and the birds in the air and ON the
water, and the fish and reptiles within its
depths, are mostly strange, but rather at
tractive and interesting to the northern
traveller.
Quite a number Of boats ply this river,
and furnish excellent transportation for
truckers. On either side OF the river may
be seen numerous old and beautiful orange
groves, laden with that finely favored
fruit, for which the State of Florida is so
noted, and on the shores may also be seen
bold bluffs and declivities, everywhere
covered with extensive forests of great
live-oaks, sweet-gums, Expresses, willows
and an occasional magnolia. These for
eats tower up grandly, their widespread
ing branches loaded with waving festoons
OF soft gray Spanish moss, while the soil
beneath is mostly free from The heavy un-
der-brush, presenting romantic, park
like appearance.
Ne doubt scores of worshipers OF ma
turc's beauty, have gladly permitted the
windows OF their souls to fly open, and
rapturously linger upon the sylvan beauty
which graces the banks of this stream Of
transparent water. In vain do we bring
TO bear the full force Of our mental pow
ers In efforts TO portray TO the world by
pen pictures this stretch OF romantic love-
illness. All along the river are the pal
mettoes and water oaks, interpreted with
bays and hollys. / don't think any one
would ever regret moonlight trip on this
beautiful river, for it is one continuous
representation of natures architecture
from first 10 last and portrays the excel
lency OF His work In the rarest forms Of
loneliness.
There is little place on the river
knoya IS Hawkinsville, which, tradition
tells us, Is one of the earliest settlements
Of Florida. The river makes bend In
Its course right here, which only tends to
enhance the rural beauty of its surround
lngs. This scene would furnish poet
with beautiful realities, which no doubt
have often engrossed his fanciful mind as
vain imaginations. The opposite bank is
shaded by one vast expanse of evergreen
forestry. Some of these old monarchs OF
the forest loom toward the heavens with
kingly appearance, and their outspread
branches. festooned by hangings of long
gray moss previously described), and
huge sntanglements of Towering vines,
form robe of network texture, which
would do honor to the dress OF fairy.
You would indeed womb. where you
could ever behold scene of equal beauty
and picturesque appearance.
Large estates having commodlous resi-
denceas with wide. roomy verandas,
standing in the midst OF neatly cleared
house-grounds, and surrounded by broad
fields OF orange groves, and pier pro-
jecting into the river, (for nearly every
one residing on the St. Johns river, must
have q pier and feet OF boats to com
pletc bis happiness), are everywhere along
the shore and charm the traveller with
their manifest evidences of comfort and
content. Nearly all tourists who come to
Florida, generally ''do the st. Johns"
In thls river you may see the hideous-
looking alligator, basking in the sunshine
along the banks. Alliealors are quite
wise, too, In their generation, know the
universal propensity OF manhood to kill
something, and are aware Of their own
very tempting qualities asa target when
exposed to a boat.load Of travellers, OF
whom the masculine members are nearly
all armed with deadly weapons. So they
do not offer any very extended opportuni.
ty 10 study their pbysiognomies, but al
ways rush for the deepest water, the
principal impression they convey being
thai OF scuryibg, splashing monster
with great tail curled upward, plunging
head. foremost into the water In some
parts Of this river alligators are very plen-
tiful. The scene is also enlivened by the
bright plumage, snowy white or brilliant
red predominating, Of the many beautiful
birds and watcr-fowls, as they gracefully
skim through the air, and The large white
heron present fine sight as they majesti-
cally wheel In slow curves through the
air. f
The lower st. Johns presents an at
tractive Southern scene; the middle St.
Johns presents semi-tropical scene of
jungles and orange groves, while the up
per Ut. Johns is the truly tropical region,
deeply impressive and more easily remem-
bered than described. MoRR Anon.
Elijah Potts, OF Quakertown, has
been granted pension of IS per month,
with about 1915 back pay and David
Snyder, Of the same place, had had his
pension increased from 81 to So per month,
with about 5000 back pay.
Doctor Yourself
And save money, and perhaps your life.
Send three 2-cent stamps to pay postage