The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-04-23
Masonic Temple, Eelfast

C. A. building with its magnificent
lobby; the Y. w. C. A. building, former
ly the Livingston mansion, owned by
Mr. Livingston of the firm of Drew,
Hazeltine and Livingston, and given by
his widow to tie Y. w. C. A.; the inn
mense Windsor Hotel, the Hotel Mason.
the department store of Cohen Bros,
which is the largest in the south, the
colored peoples Masonic Temple, and
other buildings of interest. also went
to dinner with Mr.. Morrison and enjoyed
very much the home-like atmosphere
and the delicious fare of his chosen res
taurant and returned to my hotel very
grateful. to him for all his courtesy.
Leaving Jacksonville at $40 Thursday
morning, the way lay through forests
and swamps, with here and there snow
white dogwood tree, bush filled with
bright pink blossoms, yellow wild flow
ers growing close to the ground; then
fields of what supposed we're sweet po-
tatoes, peach trees full of beautiful pink
blossoms, then stumps and clearings,
negro cabins with beds of gorgeous
flowers growing in the front yards, trees
full of bright purple bloom, then acres
and acres of plowed ground with colored
men and women busy with their plant
ing. In the swamps, huge cypress trees
draped with Spanish moss-and this, with
variations. and with more and more
plowed ground, was the country while
daylight lasted. Next morning awoke
near Lynchburg, Va, the ''Hill City,
as young lady who left the train there
informed me. All winter l had longed
for the sight of hill-even mole hill
and my eyes Toasted on the ups and
downs of the country as the daylight
grew and we steamed on through "Old
Virginia." And as the charm of the
country grew upon me felt like clap
ping my hands and shouting. The train
rushed on through the ''cuts" in hill af-
ter hill, and in the valleys between we
came suddenly upon wide, shining
river, or a fine old mansion with cluster
ing negro cabins, or another river. And
in the distance the hills were blue and
the sky was blue above them. "Old
Virginia." l said to myself again and
again.
From there to Washington The country
was full of interest, which reached its
climax when we crossed the Potomac
River and soon after came in sight of the
Capitol at Washington. Our train was
late and the train for New York would
leave in a few minutes. My plan had
been to stop in Washington and look
around for half day, but suddenly the
"whole current of my being" set towards
that New York train, and scrambled on
board without so much as backward
glance at the glories of Uncle Sans
headquarters. All that remains to me
is the view of the splendid dome, the
avenues leading to the Capitol, and one
more glimpse of the Union Station. On
we flew to Philadelphia, and then to New
| 1OIh-dllu VII IHC cCloSy 1SAAy Oo"e
had the exciting experience of being, to
all intents and purposes-kidnapped. At
Jersey City fine looking man and
woman boarded the train and sat down
opposite me. On the ferry boat the
gentleman came to me and said "You
are going to the Grand Central Station,
are you not?" l took frmer grip on
the handle of my precious umbrella, and
signified that such was my destination.
"My wife is going that way on the sub
way and will take you along with her if
YOU wish" he said. And with mental
reservations, and with glance at the
conspicuous sign, 'Trust no strangers,
l thanked him and he went back to his
wife. Soon she came over to me: Il
was stranger in New York once my
SELF" she said affably. "Shall show
YOU some of the interesting buildings?
That is the statue of Liberty you see
isn't it beautiful-and that is the Singer
building, etc., etc." but her conversa-
ton was lost to me. was cudgelling
my brain to think why had been select
ed from all that crowd of travellers to be
victim of kidnappers. 1t wasn't my
good looks or my good clothes-and /
finally decided that it must be the um-
brella. l clutched the handle still more
firmly and prepared to sell it dearly.
When we landed on the New York side !
had almost decided to assert my indie
pendence, and take taxi across the
city-but my new friends laughed at the
"needless expense" and followed
them up to Broadway, still gripping the
umbrella handle, and refusing to give up
nv suit case. The man paid my fare
into the subway, found me seat in the
car, his wife got out at the first stop AND
he at the next, after telling me that the
next stop was the Grand Central and
that II must push my way out, because
everybody pushed In New York" Ano
my kidnappers proved to be just kind
hearted people. reaching out helpful
hand to very weary fellow traveller