FLORIDA.


left us to return to his home in Sanford, greatly to our re-
gret, for he proved a most agreeable traveling companion.
gret, for he proved a most agreeable traveling companion.


He has


a fine, thrifty-looking


orange-grove,


prettily located


on two small lakes, visited by us shortly after leaving Zell-
wood.


remained


all day at Pendryville, driving about,


viewing the prospects, and forming a very favorable opin-


ion of the locality.


soon.


The right class of immigrants are set-


there, and a railroad is certain to tap that region very
 The St. John's and Lake Eustis Railroad is now


within two miles of


the hotel.


After dinner next day,


we drove over to Fort Mason, on the opposite shore of


Lake Eustis.


On the route


we stopped at the home of the


Hon. J. M. Bryan, member of the Legislature, and he ac-
companied us to the town, which consists of a hotel, two


well-stocked stores, and


a cotton-press.


soil thereabout is rich, low hammock.


The country and
ere we met Sena-


being bought and built upon, numerous


orange-groves


have been set out in


the vicinity, population is pouring in with unprecedented rapidity, and the


bustle and stir of a prosperous growth are everywhere visible.


Owing


largely to the skillful and well-directed efforts of Mr. John A. Macdonald,


editor of the


"Florida New-Yorker,"


attention has been attracted to the


advantages of the locality; and in no portion of the State have I observed


more healthy and pleasing


fences,
vated.


signs of progress-such as neat and tasteful


substantial houses, and lands thoroughly cleared and carefully culti-


young


orange-groves,


too, looked exceptionally well, and


markably early returns have been obtained in some cases that were called


to my attention.


Moreover,


saw more


much more strikingly with its scenic attract


of the country, I was impressed
veness. Rolling hills and undu-


lasting slopes are the characteristic features of the


region,


bold bluffs front


the lakes on almost


every side,


and from certain points on the northern


shore of Lake Dora (about five miles from Pendryville) views are obtained


that are unlike anything seen elsewhere in Florida.


The lake itself nestles


at the foot of wooded bluffs over a hundred feet in height;


on the oppo-


site shore still higher hills lift boldly from the water; while farther away
still, beyond Lake Harris, at the distance of twenty-eight miles, a misty


line of heights


rises almost mountainously against the horizon.