The Delta independent., 1906-04-13

hands and going through thousand
genuflexions, until we left at eleven
o'clock, and they kept up the perform
ance until midnight What an emo
tional people!
revclled in the most exquisite roses
during all of our stay in Eustis, our
hostess keeping our room filled with
the choicest varieties, so marvellous in
color. so rich in perfume, as to almost
intoxicate us with their beauty.
Where Winter Strawberries Grow.
March 18th we took the train for
Ocala, the next day reached Lawtie, a
quiet little town settled by northern
erS devoted to strawberry culture. Here
we spent a week driv .lg, walking, sit
ting on the broad piazza of the hotel
in the sun, getting tanned and fat.
Nothing here is cultivated but acres
and acres of Strawberries, little tiny
plants; but raise the leaves and you
can pick nearly a quart from one vine.
The number Of quarts shipped north
during the season is fabulous, but oc-
casional freezes do damage.
The mornings and evenings were al
ways cold so we had wood fire in
the big fireplace in our room, of fat
pitch pine wood, and it was very fas-
cinating to watch the fire light, as 1t
flickered here and there, lighting the
room so that we needed no lamp. All
through the South the mocking birds
were singing, calling and answering
each other day and night. Returning
to Jacksonville we devoted the few
hours we had to visiting the shops and
the Exposition building. Here in the
,1,n,. of ha
uncanny looking beasts. the largest of
which was ten feet long, so utterly
hideous and ugly that he was most fas-
cinating to me. Our next stop was at
Savannah, where we drove all over the
city and out on the beautiful shell
road to the old cemetery, called Bon
aventure" beautiful Way), where the
trees, great live oaks, covered with
gray moss, are hundred years old.
Great Natural Arches.
Roads have been cut through the
woods and the effect is indescribable;
it is like driving through great cathe
dral arches, so sombre and solemn, and
so grand withal, a fitting place for
the dead. Savannah is beautiful old
city, with many parks and squares
planted with palms and palmettos,
right in its heart. The magnolias
seem the favorite tree, and they grow
to a great height. The houses are large
and broad, with verandas all around
the two stories, and they must be
needed in the hot summer. We had
very full day, and at seven o'clock took
the sleeper for Richmond. We rode
all the next day, reaching our destina-
tion in the evening, and drove TO
Fords Hotel where we had stopped
thirty-five years ago on our wedding
trip. But the hotel had changed, the
city has grown, and nothing looked
natural except Sunset Park and the
old Capitol Park. The grass was turn
ing green and the numerous gray
squirrels were so tame they came and
ate from my hand. We drove all the
morning. visiting the beautiful statue
Of Gen. Robert f. Lea bronze eques-
trian on an immense granite pedestal.
In the afternoon we drove to the park
and hunted up Mr.. Pollard. the Vir-
ginian who captured my husband dur
ing the war. 1t was their first meet
ing since that memorial time when they
were mere boys. one wearing the blue
and the other the gray, and they had
a most interesting "war talk"
The next morning we took our train
for Washington exactly five weeks from
the day we left. 1t has been truly
delightful trip beneficial in health and
education, perfectly charming in every
way, whose memory will go with me
through life. C. G. G.