Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-03-29
IN FLORIDA.

been making us flying visit at Tampa,
we began our journey northward, arrlv-
ing in the city of Orlando at II 80. |
Dinner over, we hired livery and with
your correspondent for reinsman drove
four miles to Winter Park. Prof. Aus
tin, late of Middlebury, received us at
the gate of Rollins college. "the pride of
Florida" The buildings are all new and
finely located on the high bank of beau
tiful LAKE. The grounds are ample and
well laid out with tennis courts and
shaded with the Florida pine and water
oak, the latter trees filled with hanging
moss. The institution is cO-educational,
and judging by observation during our
short stay, the students both male and
female were about on a par with those in
Mlddlebury. 1t was our intention to
call on DR.. Hooker. whom most of your
subscribersL have favorably known in
former years, but learning that he was
in another. part of the State attending
a church convention, we only drove by
his residence, and admired the location
and surroundings. On ou journey back
to the city we called at the "Chateau
Nalette on Lake tComo." Mr.. and Mrs.
Nallette were quite surprised at seeing so
many NermOnters and at first recognized
only the driver. All were no sooner
alighted from the carriage, however.
than there was a hearty Handwriting
and cordial welcome to their cosey and
very conveniently home on Lake Como.
They own - acres of fine grove and
vineyard land, a part of which is already
in oranges and grapes. The remainder
has been Ileft in forest, which, together
with the lake, makes very fine protec
ton againstl frOsts. As an indication of
the healthfulness of this locality one
has but to enjoy the hospitality of the
Vallettes. who seemed to have aged but
little since leaving Middlebury. Night
approaching, we were obliged to make
our visit brief, and after partaking of
cake and wine s(frut Of their own vine
Yard, Iand the usual leave-taking, we
completed our journey in safety. reaching
our hotel in time for a late tea. On the
following morning the Fishers left us
for their home at Lake Weir and
we settled down to the quiet life of
the town. This being the county
seat of Orange and court in session,
we found very pleasant way to kill
time was to attend court. Since the
town is largely composed of northern
settlers, the majority of whom live here
only part of the year, it becomes neces-
sary to make lawyers, judges and county
officers out of the natives Crackers,
who have a dialect peculiar to them
selves. They afford muchj amusement
to those unused to their ways. For in
stance, the witness takes the oath on
and kisses "the book, seats his long
bony frame inside box, tips back in
his chair, throwing both feet (Which are
usually creased in No. II bOOts) over
the rail, looks around the room with
very satisfied air and says mentally,
Snow am ready hear me- After the
usual form of answering to his name
etc, he seems AT once to be on very good
terms with his interrogators and will
answer a direct question by saying,
"Wall, now, my dear fellow. that ques-
ton just gifts me and | cant swear
whether that was a game of poker or
just ordinary cards. You know | am
not acquainted with gambling games
,Dl,, -, l..
ence to see if he has made the proper
impression as regard his morals; and so
the case drags on, the examiner remain
ing always pleasant and fOrbearing with
the witness, until eleven coons are tried
for gamblngsat the fair grounds on a
Sunday. Then followed the Judges
charge to the jury, in which he recon-
mended them to find them all not guilty
for the reason that the good morals of
nearly all the witnesses prevented their
knowing one game of cards from an
other; again. there was but twenty
cents found on the whole party when
taken by the officers, andI therefore the
pot must have been very small if it was
anything at all, and, lastly, the accused
taken collectively had previously borne
"A good reputation for being very honest
niggers. Thus we had the pleasure of
attending a "cracker court, and the
satisfaction of knowing the colored race
occasionally get Justice away down
South.
Friday, the llth, court having adjourn
ed for the term, we having did the
town and the weather being uncom-
fortably warm, we thought best to
round up on the east coast at st. Angus
tine, where we had agreed to meet
friends from Tampa, making 1t our last
stopping place in Florida. On our ar
rival at st. Augustine we found the
hotels well filled with northern tourists,