340 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



luscious-cooking oysters. The bars off the mouth of 

 the Crystal river are covered with the largest and finest 

 salt oysters to be found on the American coast. When 

 he has visitors Mr. Jones visits these beds weekly, and 

 obtains a boat load of these delicious bivalves for the 

 benefit of his guests, who can have them cooked how or 

 when they like, or can open and deposit them when the 

 spirit moveth. Having referred to the bivalve attrac 

 tions of the place, I may as well notice the host and 

 hostess as well as the house and dietetic attractions. 



Mr. Jones is a Bostonian, and served with honor in 

 the First Massachusetts cavalry during the war. Visitors 

 will find him quiet, intelligent, unobtrusive, and ever 

 studious of the comfort of his guests. Mrs. Jones is a 

 native of Bloomfield, New York, and will be found to be 

 intelligent, affable, kind, and ever ready to contribute 

 to the comfort and pleasures of those who favor her with 

 their patronage. She seems to anticipate every want of 

 her visitors, and as a cook and housekeeper she cannot 

 be excelled. Everything was scrupulously clean, and 

 the table in every way unexceptionable. &quot;What the vis 

 itor to Florida seldom meets with, he will find at Ilomo- 

 sassa the best of home-made bread, fresh milk twice 

 daily, and fresh butter at least twice weekly. In addition 

 to a lavish supply of the necessaries and luxuries of life, 

 the visitor is expected to deposit an indefinite number 

 of the most delicious oranges after each meal, between 

 times, and before retiring at night. The house is near 

 the river, one story high, and surrounded by a spacious 

 veranda. The rooms open on the verandas on two sides, 

 the ceilings being very high, and each having a fire-place 

 in it. The beds are such as visitors seldom find in Flor 

 ida. Owing to the limited number of rooms, Mr. Jones 



