330 NATHANIEL SOUTHGATE SHALER 



I write myself. Of late I have taken an amanuensis who takes my work in 

 shorthand and gives me typewritten "copy," but this will hardly do for 

 family letters. We have won through a hard winter at last, and although a 

 cold wind is roaring about the chimney-tops the boys are playing marbles 

 on the dry spots on the sidewalks, the girls are buying summer dresses, 

 and the British sparrows, daunted for a time, have renewed their impudence. 

 These signs show that spring is upon us. Before we know it will be time for 

 regretting the comforts of winter, though at present we are mightily glad to 

 have it over. 



We expect you on to see our flower-show. We put twelve hundred bulbs 

 in the ground and they need your advice about coming up. If you will not 

 come without me, you will have to come with me as soon as convenient after 

 May first. Don't think of trying to escape the fate. . . . 



ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, Jan. 1, 1888. 



A happy New Year to you and the chicks. Found my way here this 

 evening out of the continental refrigerator and into the frying-pan. Ther- 

 mometer at 9 P. M. 80 and a sticky air. 



This quaint old huddle of a town with some picturesque Spanish works 

 and wonderful new hotels nearly finished. The Ponce de Leon [he had gone 

 to see about sinking an Artesian well for its use] the greatest caravansary in 

 the world, so they say. 



The air is to me extremely unpleasant, like our southerly storms. You 

 would not like its lifeless quality ; it tastes like a doctor's prescription. So 

 far I have felt no malaria and am well. To-morrow I start for Indian River, 

 as far as Lake Worth, probably the southernmost point of my wanderings. 

 The region is perfectly safe, inland navigation in small steamers. I have seen 

 Bradley's friend and gained much valuable information from him. So far 

 my journey has been profitable, not pleasant, for the scenery of the South 

 is indescribably dreary, drearier than the sea. The country has made little 

 gain in fifteen years. . . . 



Steamer near KEY WEST, Jan. 6, 1888. 



. . . We have had an easy passage from Tampa, a summer sky and sea, 

 and an American palace of a boat, " extremely elegant," as they say, but I 

 fear not very seaworthy. In two hours we shall be at Key West, where I 

 suppose we shall have to stay to-night. To-morrow morning early I hope to 

 be in a sailboat running up from Biscayne; this will be pleasant as it makes 

 the beginning of my return journey. I may be subject to a detention, for 

 although the voyage to Biscayne is through the archipelago of reefs in water 

 generally so shoal that you can wade at any point, and, therefore, I 



