Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-13
NAPLES ON THE GULF.
A Florida Resort That May Rival the
Famous Italian City.
MISS ROSE CLEVELAED'SEEW HOME
A Perfect Paradise for SpOrtsmen Using
Either Rod or Gun.
RELICS OF THE PREHISTORIC AGE

NAPLES, FLA. January 9.-Naples is
like the lady's loot of Punch's shoemaker,
remarkably long and narrer: Two years
ago the town had no existence at all. but IL
lustrates a side of American character in
the fact that it is direct result Of business
energy, push and advertising. The loca-
tion was discovered, surveyed and plotted,
and in three months after the survey was
made one thousand town lots were sold.
A vivid imagination, touch of Thacke-
ray's wit, and Dickens inventive genius,
are much more valuable to correspondent
than the mere faculty of reproducing facts,
but facts, facts are enough to boom Naples.
The uniqueness of the location-away from
frosts, with roses in December. roasting ear
corn in January, surf bathing, fishing
and yachting every day-hotels have
beep built, and the world rushed
to sleep in them. Those with
money in their pockets find it burning
until they have bought villa lot, but the
q reat telling card, the pet and pride of the
iand agents theme, is Miss Rose Elisabeth
Cleveland's preference for Naples over all
other Florida points.
A GREAT SCHEME.
The land agents achieved q veritable
coup d'etat when they induced Miss Cleve-
land to 60 and invest there. She is one Of
the pioneers of the little town, and during
the past summer built neat cottage in
which to pass her winters hereafter. No
one is enjoying the winter more than the ex-
Presidents sister. She fishes some, as every
one does at Naples, but is more devoted to
Yachting. A great deal of her time is given
up to experimenting the work on her lemon
grove.
In recent conversation with Miss CleVe-
land she shows how truly satisfied she is
with Ii e as she finds it in this pioneer part
of Florida, and says: Something fascin-
ates and feel the charm which lotus eaters
must have experienced after partaking
of the fruit of destiny. Certainly
1 am getting more true pleasure
out of life, than when presided as first
lady of the land, superintended fashiona-
BILE Young ladies' school in New York or en-
joyed the notoriety my first literary venture
gave me.
Miss Cleveland's contentment in primi-
tive Naples, away from society's garden, re-
written by her for The DISPATCH about Q
year ago, and proves. too, the sincerity OF
her sentiments. In the article she said:
"Get green place as far removed as pos
sible. and find there garden where green
thoughts annihilate the tyrannies OF fashion,
fuss and feathers" She certainly has found
such a spot at Naples on the Gull, but the
course OF empire is southwark, and soon the
forest primeval and the free pioheer days of
this new city by the sea will belong to the
past.
Naples is situated on the Gulf of Mexico,
with the bay back of the town. 1t is the
last point on the main land on the southern
coast of Florida, and destined to become a
point of great maritime importance. But it
is enough to speak of it as resort and as an
historic spot. To sportsmen, whether with
rod or gun, no more delightful spot can be
found.
AN IsAAK WALTON PARADISE.
1t is here that the tarpon, lord of all game
fish, is found, and here anglers find the
acme of angling. The fishing is probably
in Southern waters, and the ex-
citing part to the angler is that when he
casts his line he does not know whether it
will be taken by minnow, a whale, or
something intermediate.
Mr.. j. A. Paul, OF Pittsburg, was one OF
the fortunates last winter who immOrtalized
his name throughout Florida by catching
something intermediate. 1t proved to be
the "silver king"-the tarpon, and with
such success he proudly mounted the
piscatoriaI platform with Senator Quay.
The hotel tables are constantly
supplied with deer, wild turkey and bear
meat, as well as the most delicious fresh
oysters and turtles from the sea- The climate
is so thoroughly tropical that one never sees
frost, and the whole nature seems to under
90 change under the sunshine, and sur
rounded by the sea air. Whether ones taste
inclines to hunting, fishing, boating, taxi
dermy, conchology or archaeology, he will
find q fruitful field, but, as prehistoric
point, Naples, to scientists, has the most
charm.
MANY MOUNDS THERE.
Before the Indians invaded Florida,
higher civilization certainly existed on the
peninsula. Mounds and rude earthWorks
still remain, while running Immediately
through the town site is a long dIsused, but
we'll preserved, canal. 1t is proved to be ar
tifcial. The earth taken out in excavating
is thrown up, making an elevated bank upon
each side. The SeminOles say it was there
when their fathers came. 1t is prehistoric,
it is strange, it is a puzzle. Such
canal Gould be almost equal to Chinese
wall as measure of defense. The COM
pany have reserved this ancient earthwork
in their survey, and will restore it to its
original proportions.
The cottages and hotels at Naples are
being built as much like "all out of DOORS
as possible, with abundance of piazza
stretching on every side. Just now there Is
a flavor of combined Bohemianism about
the place, which adds to its charm. A
clam bake on the beach after a yachting
cruise Is one of the daily charms of life
here, and the air as pure, the sky as blue,
as ever dreamed of in the land of Latin and
NJ. M.