Morning journal and courier., 1894-02-09
FLORIDA,s BALMY AIR

Flowers Annually 1ncro1s1ng.
 Throughout Connecticut, and the bal ance of New England, there are, without doubt. many and many rsstive souls, who are weary of wretched winter, with its dis tressingly sudden and violent changes from Arctic blasts to incomparsble slush- ness; one day cold enough to bark the paint of an iron lamp post, the next, rocking with fog and dampness. It Is no wonder then that so many turn their anx- ious thoughts to that garden of sunshine, health restoring, peace-giving, delightful Florida.
 But the Spaniard's land of flowers, looks 8 long way of-it is, in miles, good ways down there, and when we think of rail way travel, there ia in such journey much to the thought of making it. Happily, however, Gods highway" the grand old ocean, affords the perfect, peace full pathway thitherward, while mans energy and enterprise furnish means quite perfect to utilizs it. Each recurring year makes Florida more attractive, better facilities for getting about, ever in- cressing enterprise opening up the out of the way places, bringing the grand beauties of nature to be of easy access.
 
 having comfortable home. for the traveller I near by them; the health-giving pine for I ests, made come -at-able and habitsble; l there where every breath of the balssm- laden air gives new strength and the war rant of health To stroll about these grand pine forests and hear the whisper ipg songs the south wind sings among the | lofty treetops, no other sound save the ! cooling of the mild eyed wood dove, or -Anvn khn frJ Jxr,hf hfos1 <1E he, even one's own footsteps hushed by the thick carpet of fallen needles, is delight beyond expression. These grand solitudes are inspiring, not depressing, for the bright sunshine Is ever dancing down, and above is that rare blue sky that canopies no other spot in the wide world more beautifully.
 This is little of what one gets in Flor ida. Yet there is that there that suits all tastes. The incomparable hotels, scarcely equalled the world over-but we hear much of these, maybe not too much for some readers, yet withsl sometimes 1t se ems that where there is 50 much told of these expensive, though delightful things, our people become impressed that 8 Florida trip is costly, when in point of fact the op- posite condition prevails. In city, town or village, Florida furnishes to its visitors temporary homes at prices quite as req sonsble as New England does. If they only knew 1t, and would just try it once, | there are Eosts of people up this way who would surprise themselves to 6nd that 6 month or two in Florida, from now on, would not set them back financially any thing like what they imagine; indeed, Q couple of months sojourn there, with a little intelligence and common sense exer- | cised, need not cost them 8 dime more than their expenses here will naturally be. One Is pretty spt to get ones moneys worth in Florida; indeed, 1t is known of but just one hotel that has possessed itself of the reputation O: being avarielous. How deserving such reputation is 1t would be l hard to prove, after all.
 | pilgrimage southward. The tide of travel this season will exceed all previous years l by considerable percentage. The tired business man, weary with the worriments | of exacting trade, seeks respite. Those l who lack robust health go and find better ment in the favored climate; the invalid, restored to health, and finally, Fsshion's devetees, fly to tbis-Anerics's Riviers just as Europs's fashion does to the shores of Italy. This ever increasing travel is we'll provided for by excellent means of transportation. For people adjacent to New York, as we are, the model steamships of the Clyde line offer perfect accommodation. Especially con- strueted for this passenger service, they l are fitted with all that can be thought of or desired. A fleet of six noble ships, plying constantly between New York and Jacksonville, with a few hours stop each way at Charleston, permits of tri-weekly service. Every other day, Monday, We'd from the company's pier, No. 20 East River at 8 o'clock. This is why it is 90 easy for our home people to make the journey. Any train from here, up to noon-time almost, will bring one to New York oity with time enough to take the elevated road to Franklin equsre. which is but g couple of short blocks from the ship. From the moment one reaches the vessels deck, the delight of the journey begins.
 The hurrying hustle of departure begets . condition of agreeable excitement which psrvsdes everybody. Groups of friends ! adieus, and what . world of talk they find in these last minutes must be said. Mes. sages given and taken ,the bluff and hearty hsndshake, the tender csress, the cheery "Bon voyagel" then the great ship moves out from her berth into the stream and is of down the bay, with ever-incressing speed, msj jsstically gliding out to the opsn sss, while those whose home she now is look about them and intuitively find that those who an hour ago were but as other | strangers, possess peculiarly agreeable interest-they are shipmstes, condition
 which meaus good fellowship, and for the voyage at least, and often for 6 lifetime, friendships result.
 The morning after leaving brings warm CT weather and 50 on until in a few more hours the ship h in southern waters, and the soft balmy air 1s . foretasts of what Is in store for the happy voyagers. A day | at sea flies quickly by and . restful night is gone when the ship reaches Charleston,
 where 6 stay of sufficient time is made to see something of the many sights of inter- toric story, its wonders of Horticulture, its magnolia groves and rose gardens should
 be told of in letter of its own. To land there after 70 short trip, having left be- hind the biting frosts and chilling snow covered landscape of the north, stepping | st once into an atmosphere laden with the
 breath of summer flowers is. indeed, a
 wonderful and happy transformation.
 From Charleston on to Jacksonville Is
 but a sail all too short-a matter of, say, 1 eighteen hours. Much of the way the the luxuriant palms stand sentinel on the long line of glistening beach. At sunrise
 the mouth of the St. Johns Is reached, and from there on up thirty miles to Jackson
 vile the ship plaoidly picks her way. On either hand close by thrives tropical foli- l age, and the very face of nature everywhere
 wears smile of welcome. J. G., JR. | Mortality for January.
 According to Registrar Carr's report for January, there has been big falling of in the mortality, a compared with the month of January last year. The total deaths for the month were 165, as against 9O5 for the same month last year. The | principal canses of death were: Pneumo- nia 28, phthisis 19. bronchitis IS, diseases l .k s.uafA.n 10 q