Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-21
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-SUNDAY, JANUARY H. 1894.

here by boat and rail for many points
East and West. Leaving Palatka astern,
the river begins TO narrow rapidly. but
II IL too dark now for stght-sceins, so L
lie back I'm my chair and listen 10 the
swish Of the water In our wake. The new
moon hangs low down In the southwest
and overhead the heavens seem 10 DC
fairly ablaze with light. the water Is
fun OF phosphorus and sparkies anu
CLEANS like rare gems In the bright hshl
OF the stars az our good steamer spseu'
her way .outhward. There Is mosic from
the main saloon, for merry party mas
gathered around the piano ana are
having a lively time. Suddenly the strains
OF Dixie" break upon my ear anu my
mind turns instantly to deariy-lo'eu oid
Richmond. The puislng OF tne mighty
engines below seems ~ Keep I'M"
with the throbbing OF my own heart IN
IT'S intense longing for home anu hrien"s'
and wonder to myself II every WANDER
Ing son OF our grand old nolneF o'a''
yearns for her as 10.
AT SUNRISE.
At $50 A. NJ. hastily dress ana hurry
on deck to see the sun rise. Ihere Is u
slight fog on the river. but TINS soon NJ
and the scene that opens beloIe nv -
grand indeed The banks are iuli ol -
tropical vegetation, and we pass 'hiousn
forests OF cypress hanging iuli OIL Nus
and mstletoe. while the palme',o, pn''i q,
or cabbage" palmetto, whose trunk -
larger al the TOP than the bottom, SHOOTS
nm ON every hand. have pointed OUT
60 mo ali kinds Of trees like the whlte
and black ash, magnolia, water-oah'
pIane-tree. etc, and the azalea' poppy
nettle. sensitive plant, and otherS 700
numerous TO remember. AS the sIsaH'1'
elides along we disturb many Jachud",
bIue-wing crane, and other WATERFOWL AZ
breakfast under their cahloS VI
nutter on every side. ~
49,, ~ In vhat IL called the Upper
Ct Johns. and the river has narrowed
10 n width OF about thirty-hve yarns ana
g. exceedingly tortuous and winding the
"sinuoeity of snake does not besIh
o. describe IT'S turns and bends, and there
f. many an opportunity for "Dutch Zap
canal Indeed some Of the turns are -
short that our stern Is often withih s'A
feet OF one bank while the bow IS amos.
romned into the other. and 1t Is wen
for US that these steamers aic pi o
with separate engines for each wheel
os IL frequently becomes necessary 70
hacI, with one while going forward with
the other. We occasionally pass through
rlacea 81 narrow that | can pun the lo"-
o. Of the vine which covers some tree
ton that brushes the side OF the steamer;
There are plenty OF alligators IN the
river. but IL was not my good Iu.A ~
500 one The water Is OF the same oidCh
hue that has characterized every 90 90
have seen SOUTH and is caused by STAIN
ing from the rank vegetation that INES
the banks. We have passed several camps
of sDortsmen. all busy cooking their
breakfast under their cantos or canvas
fonts and ! saw the thatchea nut OF m
Indian that seemed TO be Oullt en'Heiy
rf hsnano-stalks. At $50 i. NJ. we
enter Lake Monroe, six miles woe. anu
soon reach the wharf al Sanford.
IMPORTANT PLACE.
This to,rn IS 200 miles south Of Jackson
Vile by water, and IA as high up 'Ho
river az the large steamers can us',i'"'
I only spent day here. but iouhd II
very important little place. WIN p.pu-
Ia,ion Of about 800. II Is an important
r,ilroad-center. and H. the gateway for
the whole OF South Florida, CONT cticn
also being made here FOR Tampa and for
tho beautiful Ir6ian-river country u -
a neat little place, having fine orange
,,-ovas around IL, and IS d paradise Tor
snor,srn.n. the lake Astounding IN trout
and black bass while partridges' fhlpe'
and wild turkeys are said u Dc lIehu-
ful. .--,...
There is a fne hotel here with extensive
grounds. in which is u sulphur spring.
and there are numerous neat boarding
houses Directly across the lake Is me
town Of Enterprise, which ! dd nor Nlstr
Leaving Sanford via the South Flofldd
railroad, the first thing 20 attract my at
tention as we pull out OF the depot was
tho following sign on the side or smaIl
house "Sam Perkins cleans clothes anu
then on the back Of II sam Perkins -
dyelng." We stop at Longwood - take on
wood. and ! can but admire the leisurcly
manner in which the fireman losses II
on the tender (this Is sub-troplcal Florida
/ now. YOU know. and every thing is done IN
Il slow and easy way)
But why hurry? There is plenty OF
/ time. 80 | lean back and listen 10 the
/ birds. and enjoy the warm sunshine. IL
/ "a more like perfect day In june than
1.,!yviuter, AID tbs perfume OF Tos IS ana
. other flowers comes in AZ the window.
/ on the left little lake f. shimmcrns IN
1 the sun. the air it, SOFT and mild. OK We
go AGAIN. however passing the lOveliest
! OF winter r.sorts-SIlycr Lake, Altamontc
Springs. Winter Park, and Maitland, BE-
ing the largest After AN hours ride,
i Orlando. twenty-five miles from SANFORD
/ IL reached.
ORLANDO
has the reputation ~ being the cieanost
/ and hed,thiost city IN flJuII. II is Loo