The Republican journal., 1914-01-22

informed me. She gut in ut the next
station, and shared my seat. She was .
Southern woman with big brown eyes.
who had r ever been out OF Sou Car 'lina.
and that she loved her native State was
soon evident. She pointed out ite beau
ties until she left the train at Columbia, S.
c., and truly they were many. Through
South Carolina and Georgia the earth is
pink sand, varying from rose color to
pale pink, and the effect, with the green
grasses and foliage, is most beautiful.
Here and in Georgia the log cabins of the
south began. Small cabins, most OF them
fenced in, having big chimney on the
outside and with several little black pigs
running about and perhaps few hens
and now and then a COW. This is the
typical home of the southern colored peo-
pie as seen from the car windows; and
each and every colored face seemed to
wear care-free, happy smile as the
train whizzed past.
The road, upon which kept an eye,
with view to using it at some future
time, seemed to follow the railroad near
ly all the way, except in the swamps,
where it probably went around or under
the water-anyway it always appeared
again, very narrow unassuming little
road, sometimes looking like a mere
path-but in that level sandy country
good enough. Once, in Georgia, l saw
ten or fifteen men working upon it
dressed in stripes from head to heels
and / felt thrill Of pity as l realized
that these were convicts from the At
lanta prison, many of them no doubt as
good as many of their more fortunate
fellowmen except for the sin of having
been "found out" At some station be-
fore we reached Jacksonville there was
an immense lot of cotton ready for ship
ment. and about here l saw the first
orange tree full of fruit-and the big
pine trees, which are much more beauti-
full than our northern, pines, began to
have growth of glossy green palms un-
der them, about like our big brakes at
home-or like the poor, foolish palm that
in my family we have cherished for sew
eral years, waiting for it to become
tree. About five clock we reached
Jacksonville, where l decided to remain
over night to rest, and also that the half
davis trip from Jacksonville to Daytona
might be made by daylight.
The Western Union sign in all the sta
lions where had stopped had been, as 1t
always is to all employees, sign OF
friendliness and good will, and here it
did not fail me. The operator directed
me to the Hotel Flagler for a good
nj xht's rest, and | can recommend the
same hotel to all weary travellers. In
the morning l started for Daytona,
refreshed and rested and prepared
to enjoy the wonderful tropical beauty
as it was unfolded. 1t is quite be-
yond me to describe these things. |
feel more like simply saying to my friends
at home: Come Come all of you, and
see for yourselves. The sky grew con-
stantly softer and warmer; the sand
grew white; the palms grew gradually
taller, until they became large trees;
the orange trees became more and more
frequent; the magnolia trees and live
oaks were hung more and more thickly
with the beautiful Florida moss; the pine
forests grew more and more stately, and
miles and miles of them were tapped in
way similar to our maple trees at home
only those were tapped to supply the
big turpentine stills, one of which we
passed. We saw more and more of the
little black pigs; in one town, in fact,
they were running about under the train
in perfectly unconcerned manner and
nobody seemed to care. All the teams
were mule teams; most of the people
were colored people, and this was, indeed,
the sunny South. thought now of home,
where the snow was piling up, with less
and less regret-but with more and more
of desire to have my dear ones with
me in this land of sunshi,e and summer.
Soon after one o'clock reached the
wonderful city of Daytona, and the Des-
pland Hotel, where my lot is cast for the
winter months. My letter is so long
already that will not attempt to des-
cribe either of these places, but will re-
serve them for another time. Georgia
Ford of Searsport is at the Ridgewood
Hotel near by and we enjoy being here
together. E. P. Frost and Evelyn called
to see me Wednesday and were very
welcome indeed. With best regards to
The Journal and all Belfast friends.
R. 7. NEWELL.
United States Senator Edwin G.. Bur-