Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-03-15
DRAWBACKS everywhere
CLOSF-RASGe OBsIRvArloNS OF
1aE LAND oF LIZARDS
Ssighb = Brye Mites & HIS journey "a
fioIids-Sszu-Bsok Hogs IN Evi-
detee n Alt Hands
HiLLIABD, FLORIDA. March a

have been published in cur good old
home paper from the north. east and
west, and scanned with such interest
ny the many Others residing all over
tue different states of the union. that a
few words from the south would per-
haps be of some interest to the CENSOR
tnd its many readers. But knowing
my inability and lack of practical edu-
cation for correspondence. | have hesi-
tated 10 write, thinking it would only
be waste of time Reasoning the
matter, concluded the worst that could
happen would be to find its way unread
TO the waste basket. ] could console
myself with the thought that mine was
not the first nor only one, so decided to
take the bull by the horns AID make
an effort
| left Viroqua, February 6. ground
covered with snow and good sleighing.
Arrived in Chicago at Z o'clock the fol-
lowing morning, that city being block
ed with snow and every available vehi-
Gle pressed into service to remove the
blockade. Stayed there from 700 a.
m. until $3.50 p. M, leaving on the
Dixie Flyer" The first ten hours on
the train were of no interest; being in
the night nothing could be seen Of the
country we passed through. The next
morning we made a short stop at
Evansville, Indiana; then through Ken
tuck to Nashville, Tennessee; through
Tennessee to Chattanooga. The trip
through both these states was some
what of disappointment to me. The
ONO and Tennessee rivers were over
flowing their banks and running at ram
dom, lnundatlng vast amount of ter
Mt NJ. I.
dreariness, Nothing could be seen but
dilapldated buildings, barren fields
mostly covered with water, empty
barns with weather boards torn of and
laying about. A few razor back hogs
were the only live stock seen. PLENTY
of negroes loafed at each station, with
a sprinkling of typical Tennessee
whites. What has become of this great
and glorious country that has been
written and sung about so much? The
great graveyards with their lofty mar
BILE shafts and thousands of foot stones.
tell the sad story as we pass by. Soon
we view Lookout mountain lowering
sky high above US. the greatest monu-
ment of all, where some of the best
lives of the north as well as the south,
were sacrificed that this great union
might be preserved. Who can gaze
upon these historical scenes without a
sad heart? ] can't.
We pass on to Atlanta, Georgia. Be-
ing at night no comment is worth offer
ing. Next morning at Z o'clock, arriv-
ed at my destination, billiard, Florida.
My first impression of northern Florida
was not of the highest order. As
stepped off the train, several land
boomers stepped up with offers of an
automobile ride to the new Hilliard. /
politely declined their kind offer and
started acrcss the street IN ankle-deep
sand TO the nearest store porch, where
! deposited my suit case somewhat in
doubt as 10 whether | was fully awake
or dreaming. Directly | came to the
conclusion that | was fully awake in
the land Of Florida, for the razor. back
hogs were everywhere-on the side
Ialk, on the store porch, in the street,
around and under the freight cars, in
the flower gardens and orchards. Next
saw multitude of negroes driving
three TO four Jokes of oxen attached TO
their high wheeled wagons. Next came
a cracker. typical Florida white,
riding an old mule hitched to an old
two wheeled cart, Lastly came South
ern white woman with one OK hitched
to a top buggy. | knew then, for sure,
| was in he land Of Dixie. made
some inquiries and was directed to
colony town as the southerners call
the new billiard After walking a
short distance came to a two-story
building WITH its " Tie versndas sur
rounded by one Of the lovi,cs. g5wes gar
dens have ever seen. Roses of every
color and tint were IN full bloom, the
most fragrant OF flowers. palms, mag
n)lias ard dozens of other towering
shrubs, the names Of which | 10 not
know Peaehes. pears and oranges
were also in full bloom ! walked on
and directly came 20 the demonstration
garden Of vegetables, radishes Of all
sizes, ions lettuce, feaa ard cabbage
large enough to use. viewed this in
bewIidermenl pnched myself but il
WIS 10 dream. | walked on Shop and
store buildings are in course of con-
struction; low bungalows as well as
modern dwellings are springing up in
every direction Passing on ! finally
reached my destination after two days
and nights travel
have now at this writing been here
nearly a month. in which time we have
had two cloudy days and one small
shower. The weather has been beauti-
fnl all the time with the exception of a
couple Of days that blew a cold breeze
from the northwest. A person can
work every day in his shirt sleeves; no
cold, no mud. or slnsh to speak Of All
this land at some time was heavily tim
bored with pine, which has been cut
of The stumps have TO be removed
before the land can be cultivated.
Breaking Is done mostly with OK teams.
Land ought 70 be broken up one year
before it Is fit for crops, with the ex-
ccpticu of swee. Potatoes Some fer
,ilizer has to be put on with the crops,
although some not. Twoor hree crops
can be grown each year Fruit Of ev-
cry variety is at hand, pca ches. pears
and oranges as well as 8ppIas balfg now
In full bloom Grapes Of III kinds have
their home here and grow w!d as well
rs under cultivation. Irish potatoes are
and marketed in Nav; straw
berries ripen in February and March.
Corn is planted on potatu ground after
The potatoes are harvested. with pea
nuts between the rows for the hogs to
dig
The natives are slow and easy-going
They have no conception
Of the north. they never saw thresh-
ng machine, self binder and few a
mover They Use the old cradle to cut
heir grain; and If you tell them that
we have a separator TO separate the
,ream from the milk, he simply puts
you down rs the biggest liar that ever
walked. Northern people are coming
n from every state in the union to buy
-, Ion rod land that five vaarG AGO s0ld