Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-03-07

Pullman was true friend of sleep
and comfort. There were somereg-
ular state rooms on this train, bul
they were taken by Northern trav-
elers.
The next morning we awoke
down in Florida, SO I never knew
when we passed through Savannah.
We noticed some ice along, and
when we reached Jacksonville, Sat
urday, we found it still cold. Our
hotel had all water works out of
commission from frozen, bursting
pipes.
Jacksonville is a beautiful city,
lying on the St. Johns river, and is
thriving and growing very fast.
Here we went out to the alligator
and ostrich farms.
I never saw 50 many alligators in
all my life. Some very large. Old
Ocklawaha, weighing as much as
l4OO pounds, and is over 800 years
of age; several from 600 years to
100, and schools OF little baby alli-
gators 1t was rather cold day,
most of the alligators lying
under the water, as tney go under
water to keep warm, and when the
keeper would haul out one and pull
him out of the water, he would snort
and show anger, just as boy hates
to crawl out of a warm bed on a
cold morning.
These alligators looked sleepy,
and were in rather dormant condi-
ton, and will snap mans leg or
arm off, and sometimes his head, if
he is not careful. They say alliga-
tors have less brain to their size
than any animal living. A grown
alligator has about as much brain
on each side of his head as could be
put in an English walnut shell, and
vet they can be taught to do some
strange stunts-such as climbing up
a long, rough plain and then sliding
down into the water. But an alli-
gator in winter is very lazy, mac.
tive being. And while they live to
a good old age, it is very stupid.
sleepy sort of half-dead existence.
imagine the ostrich is avery in.
teresting fowl-a native of Africa,
and Arabia. Is the largest of all
birds, being four feet high from the
ground to the top of the back, and
seven, eight, and even ten, feet to
the top of it's head when standing
erect. It's thighs and sides of tho
body are naked, and the wings too
short for flying. The plumage is
elegant. and much used by ladies for
trimming hats and furs. The speed
of this bird exceeds that of the fleet
est horse, They have clear, bright
eyes, and rather long bill and
a long neck, which is as pliable as
rubber hose, and it has a funny
way of twisting its neck all round,
or back over its body, or down be-
tween its legs, or any other way it
feels inclined, 80 as to look in any
direction. They have at Jackson
Vile large collection of these
birds out on the farm, and they are
trained to be hitched up to a light
cart, and are driven around the
track by negro man. 1t is rather
curious to see them hitch them up.
The man catches the ostrich by his
neck and gets him near the buggy,
and before be can put the harness
on him he has to put his head in a j
bag so he can't seas the ostrich
feels no danger when he can see
none. As soon as the bag is put
over his head, he submits to let
them put on the harness and lead
him between the shafts, and attach
him to the buggy. Then the bag is
taken off his head, and he trots
along the track as gently as a we'll
trained horse. The negro man also
rides him around the track. The
plumage of the male is much
brighter and moe beautiful than the
female.
The ostrich egg is about eight
inches in diameter. The female sits
on it by day and the male by night,
IS the ostrich mates off same as
partridges, each bird having only
one wife. These birds live to be
over hundred years of age when
treated, and are very re-
and profitable, as they
ire not as hard to train as an alliga-
;or, and an alligator is fit for moth
ng useful when trained.
The South-side Park is very gay
and attractive place with a natato-
.ium, where everybody learns. to