''what shall I NEED?" 175 



walls, just as cosy and comfortable in cold weather as any 

 residence in the North ; but these are the exceptions and 

 not the rule. They are only found where the owner has a 

 surplus of money, and usually it is the old settler become 

 well-to-do from the profits of his grove who is the fortu- 

 nate man ; although of course among the incoming settlers 

 are a few, here and there, who come for the climate and 

 not to carve a fortune, who are able to build such a house 

 as they choose, with every improvement and convenience. 



Some prefer open fire-places, and certainly there is some- 

 thing cheerful about a great, roaring blaze, with the bright 

 flames leaping and dancing up the broad chimney. But 

 then in Florida such a big fire is very rarely needed, or 

 even comfortable, and all the rest of the year one is con- 

 fronted by either the blackened ''hole in the wall" or by 

 the screen that conceals it. To many it is an item to be 

 considered that these great chimneys cost far more than the 

 simple flues needed for stoves, the difference between fifty 

 and five dollars being considerable. To our mind the small 

 and ornamental stoves that are now in the market, costing 

 from eight to ten dollars, with doors that slide back from 

 the front, leaving a pretty little grate exposed to view, 

 where the oak wood glows and sparkles, is far preferable 

 to the old style of open fire-place ; the heat can be regula- 

 ted as desired, and when not needed, which is the case at 

 least for eight months of the year, it can be removed from 

 sight ; it has all the cosy effect of the open fire-place with 

 none of its disadvantages. 



And now, before we turn from this subject of Florida 

 winters, we will give our readers an insight into those few 

 days of 1886, the counterpart of which neither they nor 

 any present adult inhabitant of Florida is ever likely to 

 see again ; at least the chances are fifty to one that they 

 will escape such a cool visit from Jack Frost. 



