THE ST. JOHN'S


RIVER.


along the banks. Alligators are quite wise in their gen-
eration, know the universal propensity of mankind to kill
something, and are aware of their own very tempting quali-
ties as a target when exposed to a boat-load of travelers, of
whom the masculine members are nearly all armed with
deadly weapons; so they do not offer any very extended
opportunity to study their physiognomies, but always rush
for deep water, the principal impression they convey being
that of a scurrying, splashing monster with a great tail
curled upward, plunging head-foremost into the water.
Above Lake Monroe, in the savanna region, alligators are
very plentiful and not shy, but below Lake George they
are very rare, and none are seen from the steamers.
 Ten miles above Jaoksonville, on the west shore, is Or-
ange Park, a neat village of broad gardens, wide streets, a
handsome winter hotel, numerous pretty cottages, a river-


road lined with large oaks (in one of these is built a lattice
summer-house reached by easy ascending stairs), along pier,
and a stylish wharf-house. Five miles farther, on the east
shore, is Mandarin, a cozy and prosperous village of roomy,
airy, neat homes; the orange-groves, gardens, lawns, roads,
fences, and pier all giving unmistakable evidences of com-
fort and good taste. Here, showing prominently from the
river, is the home of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Six


miles above, on the western shore, is Hibernia, a pretty
hamlet, much resembling Mandarin. Indeed, the same de-
scription answers for both, and also for Magnolia, six miles
farther up, on the western shore, equally pretty and thrifty.
 Green Cove Springs is three miles above (thirty miles
from Jacksonville), on a broad, deep bay on the western
shore. This is a charming village of several stores, two
large, well-furnished and finely appointed winter hotels,
and numerous pretty homes. The streets are shady and
neat, making it an attractive resort. The springs, from
which the village takes its name, are the principal attrac-


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