LETTERS FROM FLORIDA.


expecting to find Florida


"one vast flower-garden or


orange-grove
tion," and th


by nature, needing n4
at, without a Joshua


3 labor or cultiva-
to lead, they have


but to pass over and possess the promised land, and at


once,


without any


exertion


on their


part, sit down


under their own vine and fig-tree, with none to molest


or make them afraid.


land is


But "the truth is, this lovely


but a wilderness as yet, and those who would


have the garden and the grove, must come and make
them."


 "Is Florida a healthy State ?
tion.


"The sanitary reports of


is a frequent ques-


the army show a much


greater degree of health among the soldiers in Florida


during the late war, and


previously among the troops


stationed here, than in any other section of the Union
and the prevailing disease, intermittent fever, is of


much less virulent type than


in most new countries.


This does not prove, however, that there is no sickness


here.


There certainly is


but it is also perfectly true


that the healthfulness of Florida is fully equal to that
of any other State in our Union."


I have quoted from the best authority


but there


is one point not mentioned, so far as I have been able
to learn, in any report, but which I think it but com-


mon justice to refer to


for it touches on an objection


often made against coming here for health or with any
hope of retaining and securing what one has.
 I can better illustrate my meaning by putting into
shape conversations that one often hears when going
up and down the St. John's River, or crossing over to