Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-01-18
In FLORIDA.
TWO M1DDLEBURY MEMS EXPERIENCES.
BELLEvIEw, MARION Co, FLA,
Ian II 1919

of my travelling companion. Mr.. Wright.
who has lust dOnned The editorial boots
and starred out for game. will eudeavor
to give YOU brief history of our trim To
| the "suunV South"
Our Journey to Charleston. 5. c.. was
without incident. We remained IN the
city only u hours-loi Y enough. how
ever, to convince us thar The majority of
/ its citizens are not vet aware OF the fact
that the war i over. We walked down
to the battery, with large bloodhound
| for escort, aud looked out on Fort Sum
ter. which naturally revived recollections
of our late unpleasantness" aud of
Sherman's march "from Atlanta to the
sea- " From the battery we walked to
the ship-yard and witnessed the loading
of cotton, destined mostly for foreign
ports. The wharf hands were without
exception tie LATEST lot of colored men
we eyer set eyes ON. They seemed to
have cultivated one habit which to our
minds was quite amusing. They could
see two ways at once, keeping one eve
on the sun and the other on ''the boss"
We concluded that they were experts on
that part of the job at least. We next
visited the market, which is in low
building, and, AS near as we could Judge,
about One-eighth of mile in length
Here we saw everything in the line of
meats, fruits and vegetables that the
South can produce. The booths are kept
mostly by Spaniards and colored sis ers,
who display not little talent in CRYING
their wares A. | am unable to commit
music to paper, will defer the ilustra-
ton. After passing through market of
this kind one with sensitive stomach
does not have the keen relish for food
that lac will after visiting one of our
northern markets. for Tie ofal is mostly
left under foot to be devoured by the
numerous turkey buZzards. which are
considered almost sacred bird through
out the South. If 1t were not for these
scavergers should Judge the place
would soon breed pestilence. After GO
ing 30 the park aud viewing some of the
public buildings, we took our departure
without Investing dullar other than for
board and lodging, which, in justice to
the Hotel Charleston, were both very
fair.
On our arrival at Savannah, Ga, the
following evening. we almost felt that
we we're in northern city. We found
everybody. cOlored rs well as white,
alive and hustling Their public build-
inos are fine. the city is tidy and
the parks are something to be proud of,
all owing, we were Informed, TO north
ern capital and enterprise. the coming of
which had so encouraged the natives
that they seemed to be working for one
interest. Their motto is "UpWard and
onward.
On the morning of December Is,
learning Of the great northern blizzard,
We fastened toward Jacksonville. where
we were greeted with beautiful sunshine
but very Keen air. by this we realized
that the cold was on our heels, cOnse-
|GfIHntIX made for hntpl nh a
lire. which afterwards proved wise
decision; Otherwise we might have suf-
feicd an additional dose of the grip. rs
on rising the following morning. frost
was IN the air ANA the beautiful orange
trees (many OF them yet laden with their
golden truD were in mourning. A
black frost in Florida means mourning,
indeed. not only for the groves. but for
. the growers. Five million dollars lost on
"A single crop in one night means IA
heap for state like this.
Fron Jacksonville we went to Ocala, Il
city of about 5000 Inhabitants. We found
the hotels alive with land spectators and
"phosphate men, but saw nothing Of
startling interest in the town other than
people trying to take inventory and if
possible find "where they were at after
the freeze.
During the last two weeks we have
, been staying IN Belleview, small viii
Iage. something like East Middiebury.
located on i pine ridge and about 40
miles inland from the west coast. 1t is
reached by the Florida Central and Pen.
insular railway. Here we found Il colony
of ABB ut GO northern people, mostly from
2 New England, the majority of whom
. own orange groves In this vicinity and
| live North during the summer. We were
happily surprised in meeting several peo-
e pie in BellcView whom we had formerly
known in the North. Among them were
Prof. Bush, once on the faculty of Mid
dlebury college; also Edward Mitchell.
editor and publisher of the Belicuic,r
Bidde, and DR.. G. i. Beach. my old col
: ege chum, whose home is in Hartford,
Conn, but here with his family for the
winter.
While the beauty of the country is
spoiled by frost for the present, We sill