The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-29

hN'lEliN IIItuS ~ Nll''lS
rs seen in Mexico, Central America or where
ever else the Spanish are found NooI
| the beauty of the country and mildncSs Of III,
'Iclimatc We're made known abroad and grca
lnumber, ockcd to its shOrcs-abOut rs they
are doing now, with the hope of finding al! tn,
tabled rumoIs rcalizcd-.and THUS we learn thu
over three hundred years ago this section %
Florida was enjoying fair proportion of civil
lizatlOn rs 1t existed in those days. But the
people, always warhkc did not allow thcil
passion for arms, boodshcd and strife to cool
for the better arts of husbandry.
But ancient ST. Augustine (hcrc pronounced
" st. Au.gus.tecnc") must have been model
city IN its time, and looking at to-day through
the spcctaclcS' of three hundred years, We
cannot but wonder at the striking contrast be.
tween it and the city where "a few years later
landed the pilgrims and Others. Religious in
tolerance, political hatred and sectional strife
reisncd nearly the same, but how different the
people? which perhaps accounts for the vast
difference to-day.
As all things have their day 50 too with old
St Augustine The ancient part of the city is
getting into very tumble down condition and
seems to be gradually disappearing and unless
there is some care taken of what is left, or u
"l,t UP" to the advance of modern civilization
IN this quarter few more years will see but
few of the ancient landmarks which now 50 IN
tcrcst the antiquarian or lover OF strange
sights. except the old Fort and Cathedral
which look As though they could brave the
storms of centuries yet 10 come.
The first remarkable sight thai attracts the
attention Of northern visitor in -. Angus
tine is the wonderfully narrow streets, many
of which are only fourteen feet wide few
eight or ten and one only seven. In many
places there is scarcely room enough for car
riagcs to pass, while on others pedestrians are
compelled to hug" the wall or side of "A house
when vehicles are passing. II is said the streets
were not originally intended for carriages, and
that during the time the town belonged to
Spain, many Of them were tloorcd with an ar
and that no other vehicle than IA hand barrow
was allowed to pass over them. Granting that
this is true, it must have been heaps" of fun
for the "boys' to give their swccthcarts an
" airing" in 50 prccntious rig rs Il wheel
barrow-a very enjoyable paStimc, no doubt
provided there were no heavy weights among
the Spanish women But here comes in one
of those charming uncertainties as to how the
Ia hiy ina i'm, tbhIa DAVIS
The streets remind one of alleys, though
many Of them are not 50 wide, but the most
striking feature about them is their clean and
neat appearance. 1t Is also sad that there
was u method in their madness" in building
narrow streets, for they created a breeze or
draft, were cooler pleasanter and kept of the
sun during the heat Of the day.
THE OLD HOUSES
are peculiarly interesting and at once attract
our attention by their queer styles of archi-
cctural construction. They are low, adobe
like, with high, peaked roofs built OF stone and
shell, which is found in great quantities a
short distance from the town in the bay. 1t |
IS Wlarricd out in blocks of whatever size de
sired, and SO soft at first that i resembles peat
" turf and from exposure to sun it solditcs
nto an enduring solid rock OF Il dark or tarIy
;olor There seems to be Il difference Of opin-
on as regards the exact age Of Hlany of the
structures some asserting that $50 years IS a
air estimate OF their age while the more rusty
inhabitants claim for them nearly 800 years.
,l,,J
queer sights and styles you are struck with
at the great wooden balcony'S front
ng nearly every house and extending to al
most within II few feet of the opposite Z" man
ion" There seems to be no exception to this
ulc and indeed Unjust have been very pleasant
orthc people ofthose days to sit on their balloon
cs, do their visiting and hold their little con
abs without having to go to the trouble that
Between the houses are great high walls, built
# the same material before mentioned, behind
Which are beautiful gardens tastetully land
mt and fragrant with the odors of orange bios
oms and other flowers, giving them the air
nd appearance Of little paradise in them
elves.
THE CATHEDRAL
) the next important point to visit, and which
IL appearance does not differ much from the
many such structures found in Texas, Mexico
md California. This is an oblong building
he material is that same shell and mud, which
orms what is called coquinC stone. Just how
Id this cathedral Is, 1t is impossible to tell rs
10 two agree on the same date. 1t is not the
'ld, original church-as many suppOsc-com-
ncnCcd in 1920, but rs | understand, erected
N the ground on which stood the old cathed-
al This is not by any means a prctenuous
office but at all events it represents an are
hat will never return both as to expense, ma
erlal and architectural design, for let it be
aid that priests built churches in those days
more for use than ornament, and it is very evi-
Al a,