The Newtown bee., 1908-05-08

at sea, very little land can be seen until reaching the Carolnas, where the shores are all lined with pine forests.
 We landed at Charleston. February 24, at noon. where a stop of five hours was made, and the time was enjoyed in seeing the city. This is an old city i, which appears to be running down, particularly outside of the business section, where acres are covered with old dllapidated one-story small houses, or cabins, occupied mostly by the ne- groes. Some of the places of interest is the Magnolia cemetery being one of the finest in the South. This contains an old oak tree 800 years old, having . circumference of 2l feet, spread of branches ll2 feet and height 60 feet. This oyershadows portion of lot, en- closed by an iron fence, where hun dreds of Confederate soldiers are bur jed.
 The St Michael's church is visited by many tourists; the pipe organ which was placed in this building in l767 is preserved in good condition, also the pews remain the same. We were shown the one which George Washing ton occupied when he attended this church. The reason they give for not having more up to date city is on ac- count of destruction by earthquake and the war. Some of the traces still re- main of the shells that were thrown into the city at the time of the war.
 Arrived at Jacksonville, the morning of the 18th, and the first thing in or der was to set my watch one hour ahead, being the difference in New York time. After reaching the wbarf it was amusing to watch about 5G of the native niggers, (this is what they call them here) clamoring for coin which was thrown to them by the pas sengers. Stopping here week, I found the first day warm and pleasant, the next six were so cold, damp and chilly, especially nights, that many were out with overcoats. When it is cold here the Northerners are more affected than the niggers. Many of the tourists complain about the chilly winter days, some of them take severe colds, perhaps owing more to the fact that most of the houses are lightly built and not arranged for heating. However, they claim its mortality is the lowest in the United States, averag- ing only ten in one thousand. One half of the 4S,000 population are colored, their death rate is 50 per cent more than the whites, marriages 33 per cent more, and births B per cent more. In the population of the Southern States, 40 per cent are negroes. In Georgia there are 46 per cent, in Alabama, 45.2, in Florida, 46.7 per cent. in Louisania, All per cent, in Mississippi, 5S.5 per cent and in South Carolina, 58.4. Jack sonville built 1, 016 buildings in 1907, which gives an idea of its rapid growth. One of the most exceptional sights of this city is the Florida Os- trich farm and Zoo, which is located on the St Johns River, about ten min utes car ride from the city. and the Palace Industry is one of the largest and handsomest buildings in the state of Florida. a magnificent display of ex- hibits from every part of the world greets the visitor on entering the building. Displays from the counties of Florida, showing her resources, are of great interest to all. Outside the main building consists a large aggre- gation of amusement features, includ- ing the Ostrich farm, which is the largest farm of its character in the world. The farm has 157 birds at the present time, and many of them are trained, some of them trot in harness. They are magnificent trotters and seem to take very kindly to the har- nesss and buggy, feature is given each day including riding and driving of the birds. ~' "/*< a..
 By visiting the County criminal court several times find that they try over LOGO prisoners each year, nearly all of which are the negroes, fined for va, grancy and petty larceny. One col ored preacher was tried and sentenced seven months for forcibly taking $17.50 from an intoxicated nigger. They get one or two months for vagrancy. In asking the clerk about the expense about trying so many, he replied that they made money on them by letting them to contractors at 60c per day. In Tampa. Hillsborough County. they get $20.10 a month for each convict, and they are put to work in the turpen- tine groves. The highest bidder gets them. - ...
 Jacksonville is the business metropo- lis of Florida. :, Their water supply is from eight Artesian wells producing Il, 5OO,OO0 per day. The cost per resi- dence per annum is $500 to $12.OO.
 Now comes the sail up the St Johns River to Sanford, one of the most fas- cinating of all the interior water courses of America, which winds its sinuous length 17O miles through the choicest section of this Land of Flowers, bordered by graceful tropical trees, hoary with age and heavily hung with trailing masses of Spanish moss. The narrowing of the waterway great ly increases the interest of the trip, for it brings closely to the travellers vision all the beauties of this most charming country. The flourishing and unfamiliar vegetation, and the frequent towns and villages are all seen not at distance, as in the sail from Jacksonville to Palatka, but just over the steamers rail. This is one of the most beautiful trips in all Flor ida. Taking the steamer at Jackson