The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-05
NOTES FROM FLoREDA.
Written Just Before the Late DestructiV
 Cold Wave.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER
 San Mateo, Fla, Dec, 2S, 1894.
 As I commence this letter to you we have just ceased reading of heavy snow falls and low temperatures in the north, and by a glance at our ther- mometer see it registers SS degrees (4 p. m,).
 My acquaintanees hope that the orange groves will not be injured to- night, but are somewhat fearful.
 Well, will attempt to give your readers few details of my southern jaunt thus far.
 I sailed by steamer Seminole out of New York Wednesday, December 19.
 What jolly party we had at dinner in fact, the passenger list was so full that all could not be placed at table or given staterooms.
 | But at breakfast next morning, sad to relate, there were many vacant chairs, and the continued absence of | their former occupants perhaps ex- plains the eheapness of the Clyde line l rates.
 l Notwithstanding these passing af11ic- tions and seasons at fasting the writer Che was not ilD wishes to urge upon all who propose Florida visit to go by water at least once, which gives one rare opportunities of studying human nature in the abstract. And also when l a 11Ao ioI, ie of 1 observing certain acrobatic and jag like proolivities of dignitied and pomp- l ous old gentlemen, which they vainly try to subdue.
 Friday night at 1O:3O we entered Charleston harbor, seeing Fort Sumter on our left, low dark pile pointed out to us by a Charleston resident, who sadly remarked: "There history was made"
 During my thirty-siX hours stay in Charleston I visited many points of in- terest about the city, Magnolia cemetery being truly a most beautiful resting place of the dead, about two miles out ! of the city,, shaded by grand old live oaks and full of roses and japonicas.
 The Battery drive on one side a splendid sea wall, on the other typical Charleston residences with their end to street door entering onto lower piazza or high brick wall enclosed garden, with house entrance on the side within the garden. Grand old houses they are with their three stories and piazzas, though some are very suggestive of former conditions "Befo' de wah."
 They tell you in Charleston that the place is dead in business sense, but only needs one or two terminal rail- roads to resurrect it.
 The writer's visit was made before reading Julian Ralph's impressions in January Harper's, which article. though most Interestingly written and illustrat ed strikes one as rather being over drawn as regards the outward appear ance of the place.
 St. Michael's and St. Phillips are most interesting specimens of old Eng fish church architecture, and by the way it was the latter and not St Michael's that has furnished us the poem of our school days about the burning steeple and the colored boy.
 CAA pAA way oOuIAWdTu H DTleI STOD at Jacksonville shows a most enter prising city of about 30,000 people, with quite northern appearance In fact Florida is about one-half north-so southern people will tell you. Brick pavements would interest our street committee.
 My Christmas experience in Palatka, about sixty miles up the St. Johns river, was a revelation
 Temperature at 10 a, m., 6S degrees; at p. m., 72 degrees.
 Christmas here is the Fourth of July of the south cannon crackers and bon fires being the familiar accompani- ments of the day.
 never expected to be the victim of two such celebrations in one year.
 About one quarter of the male popu- lation, white and black, seemed to have drank not wisely, but too well.
 The hospitality of the southern peo- pie is, of course, proverbial and in Dr. Eaton of Palatka, the writer found (being introduced by a northern friend) most agreeable eacquaintanceand trust ed adviser.
 This place (san Meteo) is only a few miles rom RdIatka, nedrly lUU rect above the St. Johns and the home of the orange grove.
 Dec. 29, 1894 The worst fears of last night have been realized and the freeze of 'S6 has been equalled if not exceeded.
 At z. a. m. only 16 degrees above zero and every orange, tangerine, mandarin and kumquat frozen hard in San Mateo and we might say in the state.
 Not one-half of the orange crop has been picked, which means the loss of four or five millions worth of fruit, not counting the almost inestimable loss on young and growing trees
 This weather, which even in New Haven would have been severe, has plunged all Florida in sorrow in few short hours, and many see the results of wears of labor destroyed and their fortunes ruined.
 Your humble correspondent has no heart to write more at this time from so-caIled Sunny Florida"
 Your Etc,
 FRANKLIN A. GILES.